Stop Blaming Breeders for Every Nervy Dog
I’m tired of hearing, “Oh, I bought this dog from so-and-so, and you should’ve seen him—so unsocialized, the poor thing was petrified of everything!”
Really? Come on. Not every anxious or easily frightened dog is the result of poor socialization. Sometimes, it’s simply who they are. Just like people, dogs have different personalities. Why must every sensitive temperament be blamed on someone’s wrongdoing?
I exhibited dogs for 25 years. I’ve handled every type—from the natural-born show-offs who adored the spotlight, to the nervy, anxious, and shy ones who found the ring overwhelming. The confident dogs were a breeze to exhibit. They loved people, loved the world, and soaked up attention like sunshine.
But the sensitive ones? They were a challenge. Without clever handling (if I may say so myself), some would’ve bitten the judge—and I’d have been disqualified. That’s reality.
As soon as my puppies were fully vaccinated, I took them to every weekend show. Even if they weren’t entered, they came along. I asked other exhibitors to handle them, helping the pups learn that people weren’t a threat. I walked them in the ring during lunch breaks, letting them meet other dogs and absorb the sounds and energy of the show environment.
Every show dog I raised received maximum socialization. Did it change their core personality? Not a chance. Because temperament isn’t taught—it’s inherited. One of my favorite clichés rings true: Show dogs are born, not made.
A dog’s personality is determined at conception. It’s genetic. I breed for temperament—even now, long after I stopped showing. It’s been a slow, deliberate process of elimination, but in my own dogs, I’ve achieved the temperament I want. When I’ve brought in dogs from other breeders whose temperament didn’t align with mine, I’ve parted with them—often at a loss. That’s what ethical breeding demands.
So to those quick to point fingers at the breeder of your “unsocialized” dog: pick up a good book on canine genetics and educate yourself. Better to learn than to bad-mouth. Because sometimes, it is what it is—and that’s not a flaw. It’s nature.
Really? Come on. Not every anxious or easily frightened dog is the result of poor socialization. Sometimes, it’s simply who they are. Just like people, dogs have different personalities. Why must every sensitive temperament be blamed on someone’s wrongdoing?
I exhibited dogs for 25 years. I’ve handled every type—from the natural-born show-offs who adored the spotlight, to the nervy, anxious, and shy ones who found the ring overwhelming. The confident dogs were a breeze to exhibit. They loved people, loved the world, and soaked up attention like sunshine.
But the sensitive ones? They were a challenge. Without clever handling (if I may say so myself), some would’ve bitten the judge—and I’d have been disqualified. That’s reality.
As soon as my puppies were fully vaccinated, I took them to every weekend show. Even if they weren’t entered, they came along. I asked other exhibitors to handle them, helping the pups learn that people weren’t a threat. I walked them in the ring during lunch breaks, letting them meet other dogs and absorb the sounds and energy of the show environment.
Every show dog I raised received maximum socialization. Did it change their core personality? Not a chance. Because temperament isn’t taught—it’s inherited. One of my favorite clichés rings true: Show dogs are born, not made.
A dog’s personality is determined at conception. It’s genetic. I breed for temperament—even now, long after I stopped showing. It’s been a slow, deliberate process of elimination, but in my own dogs, I’ve achieved the temperament I want. When I’ve brought in dogs from other breeders whose temperament didn’t align with mine, I’ve parted with them—often at a loss. That’s what ethical breeding demands.
So to those quick to point fingers at the breeder of your “unsocialized” dog: pick up a good book on canine genetics and educate yourself. Better to learn than to bad-mouth. Because sometimes, it is what it is—and that’s not a flaw. It’s nature.
