Free How to Raise the Perfect Dog by César Millán Page A

leadership abilities don’t translate well between human and dog worlds.
    Did the Obamas choose the right breed and energy-level dog for their family? They are all athletic, high-energy people, which is a good thing, because Portuguese water dogs, by virtue of their working nature, are not couch potatoes. “I wouldn’t say he’s excessively high in energy,” claims Bo’s breeder, Martha Stern of Boyd, Texas. “But he’s still a little bit more than middle-of-the-road. On a scale of five, he’s probably a three.” If the Obamas can find time in their busy schedules to walk Bo a lot every day (that’s a proper walk, with Bo next to them—not pulling them along on the leash!), they’ll start to drain his overabundant energy and to create the kind of bond between human and dog that can cut through even a high-energy dog’s excitement. They also need to make sure he’s tuckered out and hungry at meal-times—that will give the dog a routine and help him see that the family is the source of his food. Of course, being the First Family, they have plenty of household help and support, not to mention access to the best dog trainers in America, to fill in the gaps. But I’d like to see a First Dog who honors and respects his president and family as his indisputable pack leaders. Nearly every resident of the recent White House, to my mind, has failed my “pack leader” test when it comes to having a well-behaved, calm-submissive dog. I have my fingers crossed that the Obamas may prove to be the exceptions.
    SELECTING FOR ENERGY
    Above and beyond breed, finding an individual dog with the right energy level for you is the most important first step you can take in creating a fulfilling lifetime with your pet. Yes, many dog breeds “come with” a certain activity level attached, but each individual dog’s personal energy level will vary. An older German shepherd with low energy may make a better pet for a laid-back family with children than a boisterous golden retriever puppy. For an inexperienced dog owner who wants a small dog, a medium-energy terrier may well make a better choice than a nervous, high-energy Chihuahua. When it comes to choosing a puppy, understanding how to read a dog’s energy level is as vital a skill to hone as an encyclopedic knowledge of dog breeds.
    Dog Energy Levels
    Every dog is born with a certain energy level. Those levels are:
    1. Very high: Constantly on the move, from dawn to dusk. Can walk or run for hours on end and still have energy to spare.
    2. High : Very athletic, prefers very vigorous activities, but tires normally and is ready for sleep at the end of the day.
    3. Medium: Seeks out normal physical activities, sometimes vigorous ones, but balances them with equal periods of rest.
    4. Low: Your basic couch potato dog. Prefers rest to activity. A couple of regular walks a day will be plenty of exercise for him.
    As a good rule of thumb, I recommend that people choose a dog with the same energy level or a lower energy level than their own. If they have other dogs at home, it’s even more important not to choose a dog with an energy level higher than that of the dogs or humans already in the family pack.
    Some breeders employ a method called puppy temperament testing, 7 an exam administered by a professional at around seven weeks of age that attempts to predict what kind of “personality” the grown-up dog will probably have. Based on the puppy’s responses to several basic challenges, the test attempts to quantify responses in such areas as social attraction; following; restraint; forgiveness; acceptance of human dominance; willingness to please; touch, sound, and sight sensitivity; and energy levels. Breeders use the results of these tests to help categorize their dogs from cautious to aggressive and to assess how likely they are to be suited to certain specific jobs, such as therapy dog, search and rescue dog, police dog, and so on. If you are getting a puppy from a breeder, you