Friday, November 21, 2008

IF - Opinion

Opinion - for Illustration Friday - in Corel Painter

Have you noticed that opinions seem to bloom whenever they are given a chance? I remember, when a teenager, that a classmate said she hadn't realised she had so many opinions until she went to a dinner party and was asked what she thought about this and that.

Today I realised I had some strong opinions about Miniature Schnauzers - we met one that was a couple of years old and its owner told me very forcefully that:
  • Miniature Schnauzers all bark
  • Their recall, when called, is bad
  • That they are terriers
Now I do realise that I've only had Teasel for a few weeks but one of the things I did before we got her was a lot of research about dog breeds and once I'd started to seriously consider a Miniature Schnauzer even more about them.

One book did warn that many of them bark as a hobby - however not all the owners I've met so far have had barky dogs and Teasel is the quietest, least barking puppy in the puppy class we go to - she can bark and will give the odd bark but not repetitively - and her mother didn't bark at us as far as I can remember - so although I do know it could be a problem its not necessarily so. (Any hints on what to do if she starts to get barky would be appreciated!)

On the recall... Teasel's is currently good (most of the time and especially when there is sausage in the offing) and certainly very good compared to the older ones. I assume that this is something we'll have to keep on working on. However I have noticed that none of the other owners take treats of any sort out to reward their dogs for returning - its as though they assume that just because the dog knows that its meant to come back it will and this is despite also knowing that their dog isn't that good at coming to them when they call... we currently take the tastiest treats with us when we are going to the park and I think that is something I'll continue for as long as necessary... it may well be that she'll always needs some sort of an incentive.

Miniature Schnauzers are Schnauzers, not terriers. In this country they are in the same kennel club category as the bigger Schnauzers (utility dogs), in the US the American Kennel Club has them in the terrier category but they were not actually breed from terriers so have no more genes in common with them that with other types of dogs.

What they do have in common is that they were breed to hunt rats and other small creatures. This means that they like to shake things and can be very persistent. But they don't have the same argumentative nature that so many terriers have though here too there are, of course, exceptions in both directions. As a child we had two West Highland Terriers - the first was as sweet as pie, the next an absolute monster!

14 comments:

andrea said...

They will insist on being individuals! My friend Deb's MS, Digger, was a sweetie, lots of character, not much bark. Digging for faux rodents was a problem, though, hence her name!

Caroline said...

Andrea - yes I think they will! Digger sounds funny though maybe not so funny if she's just dug up one's best plants...

Connie said...

Hi! The colours in the illustration are gorgeous! And I like the simple lines of the face.

I hung on your every word about Teasel. Just got off the phone to a lady about puppy classes to start in Jan. Wish us luck. Go off to visit Sophie this Sunday and collect her on the 7th Dec. Will be in Bristol for doggy gala in Sept 09!

Caroline said...

Connie - great to hear you are already booked into puppy classes before you've even picked up Sophie! Please do send me a photo from your Sunday meeting if you get a good one - its lovely to see her.

Webradio said...

I agree with Your text...

Caroline said...

Webradio - very kind of you to say so

neena maiya (guyana gyal) said...

Your painting reminds me of a dance scene, it's glorious.

Thanks to James Herriot, I've always wanted a terrier.

Anonymous said...

I think perhaps, just like with people, there may be inclinations towards certain behaviors, but they don't develop them if they aren't given a reason to - or are given an incentive to develop a different behavior...
What a nice floral. There's an award waiting for you on my blog, by the way. Though I just saw your post below with 6 random things already - so you may not want it, after all!

Suzie Ridler said...

That really shows that people don't know much of anything. We get our minds set on something and it can be total bogus. Your dog sounds like such a sweetie!

I'm doing the draw today! Hopefully I won't lose power. Good luck my friend!

Joanna said...

Love all the different layers in your illustration, we had a Jack Russel when we were small, everyone says they're such yappy dogs but Patch was a good pet! Seeing Teasel makes me want a miniature Schnauzer, (Keith has just said what would I do with a dog.....well walk it of course)

soulbrush said...

my son and dil have a min shnauzer, she is a barker, but they have trained her very well not to.calling her is fine as long as we have a small treat for her. she took ages to train, but at 3 years old is a real sweetie pie now.

Suzie Ridler said...

Good point! I could hang it that way, thank you for the photograph. I may actually just use cord instead of metal, that could work. I'll give it a shot, thanks!

Anji said...

It reminds me of a dress I was given to dance in at school, The skirt was paper in layers and layers. Heaven to a 6 year old.

I think that dogs reflect the attitudes of their owners (dare I say a bit like parents with their children?) You will reap great rewards for your loving care

Tony LaRocca said...

You schnauzer sterotyper! :)
Seriously - cool artwork and interesting commentary as always