Dogs choosing their owners???

[DD4MSpock]

I've come upon a series of YT videos recently where the subject is Dogs, choosing their owners in re: "adoptions." Apparently, the shelter (or wherever the dogs are housed), brings in a bunch of people who are seeking to adopt. They sit them all in a room, and then, one by one, the dogs come parading by the chairs of people. And, if a dog stops at a given chair and interacts with the person seated in that chair (i.e. "jumps up" on that person), that dog has then "chosen" the person for adoption.

Here's a couple of sample videos:

Has anyone seen or heard of this practice? I'll be honest, I have some mixed/ambivalent feelings about it. Certainly, any process which facilitates the adoption of needy dogs into loving families has to be a good one. But I have to wonder about the "fairness" (or lack thereof) involved, here. In these videos, we see people sitting as the dogs walk by. But we also see a lot of them crying/sobbing, holding their heads, etc. and reaching out to pet them, as if to say, "Pick Me! Pick Me PLEASE!" Of course, a dog is going to react to a human showing that level of emotion differently. Seems to me there's a bit of "gaming the system" going on there. If I were running it, I'd make it a requirement that the humans would not be allowed to show that kind of emotion until the dog actually chooses the human. This to be more "fair," I guess. One can certainly show a warm, "smiley" type face, of course. None of the dogs would choose a person with an "ugly/get away from me" face. But I think that level of emotion is just way too much "inside baseball." Maybe it's more fair to do it the standard way where individual humans visit the shelter and letting the dogs' emotions attract the humans.

I dunno. It would be just my luck that a dog I'd like would pick someone ahead of me without giving me a fair shot at it. What say you?

 

[GennyB]

I have worked in rescue most of my life and can say I have never heard of this other tham youtube videos.
First I have to say that most of the rescue dogs I see are not that well trained. Occasionally you run across one that knows basic house manners but that is not the norm. It was a sight for me to see all those dogs sitting politely waiting to pick their new owners. For the most part dogs are given up to a rescue becuae that are not trained and out of control. Shelters generally have to put some work into the dogs so they can be adopted. The shelter I currently work with teamed up with Purina Farms and their dog trainers to help get the dogs to a place they can be a good companion. If this works I say go for it!

 

[DD4MSpock]

I have worked in rescue most of my life and can say I have never heard of this other tham youtube videos.
First I have to say that most of the rescue dogs I see are not that well trained. Occasionally you run across one that knows basic house manners but that is not the norm. It was a sight for me to see all those dogs sitting politely waiting to pick their new owners. For the most part dogs are given up to a rescue becuae that are not trained and out of control. Shelters generally have to put some work into the dogs so they can be adopted. The shelter I currently work with teamed up with Purina Farms and their dog trainers to help get the dogs to a place they can be a good companion. If this works I say go for it!

So, (in re: the videos) there may also be a bit of "clickbaitness" involved here, then.....

 

[JanS]

So, (in re: the videos) there may also be a bit of "clickbaitness" involved here, then.....

There is in many of them and it's getting worse by the day.

Shelters generally have to put some work into the dogs so they can be adopted.

Yes and in many cases there are stipulations you must meet like needing to be the only dog or "not good with cats" or adult homes only, etc.
I admittedly haven't rescued but our breeders will pick the right pup for you after asking what you plan to do with it and what kind of personality you are looking for. Before we got Albert I said we wanted a dog with some drive but not through the roof and we got exactly that from the breeder.

 

[GennyB]

So, (in re: the videos) there may also be a bit of "clickbaitness" involved here, then.....

Definitely!

 

[BG1]

Hey who is cutting the onions!
If BW and I ever go to a shelter (like to donate stuff, or time)
we have to say; "we are not bringing a dog home!"

But, of course, we usually do...

But, yeah, clickbait... Its youtube...
and
If this works to get more dogs out of kill shelters, I'm good with it.

 

[Gelcoater]

If this works to get more dogs out of kill shelters, I'm good with it.

plus one!

 

[Gelcoater]

There is in many of them and it's getting worse by the day.

Yes and in many cases there are stipulations you must meet like needing to be the only dog or "not good with cats" or adult homes only, etc.
I admittedly haven't rescued but our breeders will pick the right pup for you after asking what you plan to do with it and what kind of personality you are looking for. Before we got Albert I said we wanted a dog with some drive but not through the roof and we got exactly that from the breeder.

In my mind, not good with cats isn't a deal breaker. Many dogs do not like cats. The "needs to be the only dog" is code for " dog aggressive"

The whole "dog chooses it's owner" thing could mean a wonderful dog/human relationship.

While it wasn't a rescue scenario, my first Doberman picked me. I know I've told this story before but it was many moons ago.
When we went to the "breeders" home to see the litter (a total byb) we were disappointed that A.. they were all reds. I was looking for a black and tan dog and B.. the males were both spoken for.
But? we were there so lets make the best of it and enjoy the time spent with 9 puppies running around doing puppy things. We chatted with the gal for an hour or more, my kids were loving all the pups antics.
While we sat there talking with the gal one pup curled up on my foot and camped out. I led her back to the pack and she played with them more but ended up back on my foot.

We said so long to the gal as she didnt have what we were looking for. No blacks in that litter, only reds.
It crossed my mind later that day that one pup with the gray collar was pretty sweet. I slept on it that night and called the gal back the next day and told her I was coming back. I wanted the pup with the gray collar. That's the one in my avatar, Daisy.
That dog could read me like a book, she knew what I was thinking before I could complete the thought in my head.
She proved herself on so many occasions I couldn't count, loved my kids,got along well with other dogs, fearless towards anything. Except a vacuum cleaner

So the idea of a dog picking it's person? It's quite refreshing. No "reputable" breeder I know of would consider such a thing.
For a dog that needs a new lease on life I say why not? They already got burned once or they wouldn't be there.

 

[MyBuddy]

I haven't watched the ones you posted here yet but yes, I have seen these videos come across when I watch those "short videos". I actually thought it was AI. Some of it didn't look real. Also I'm not so sure that's the best way to adopt a dog. I think a lot of people go in with something in mind. Big, small, long hair, short hair whatever. So they may not get what they really were looking for. But I guess I'd go along with what was said about, if this gets more dogs adopted.... But I'll bet there's people at the end of it that say, you know what? I really don't like this dog even though he picked me. It looks fun and it pulls up people's heartstrings but I'm just not sure if it's realistic. Might be fun to see what chooses you. But did I choose him/her?

 

[MyBuddy]

Wow just watching half of the first video you posted and I think it's AI. I've seen a lot of videos that show AI and I'll tell you what... The funny thing is, the talking is always the same. They use the word "buddy" all the time and they also will say, "you're safe now." A lot. Whether they're talking to an animal or a human . If you listen to it, it's not something somebody would normally say. Especially in some of the videos I've seen. It's always it's, " okay buddy, you're safe now." As soon as I heard that in this video above I was suspicious. So yeah I'm not even sure that's real.

Actually the videos I have seen, they let the dogs off leash and loose in the room.

 

[Rits]

Wow just watching half of the first video you posted and I think it's AI. I've seen a lot of videos that show AI and I'll tell you what... The funny thing is, the talking is always the same. They use the word "buddy" all the time and they also will say, "you're safe now." A lot. Whether they're talking to an animal or a human . If you listen to it, it's not something somebody would normally say. Especially in some of the videos I've seen. It's always it's, " okay buddy, you're safe now." As soon as I heard that in this video above I was suspicious. So yeah I'm not even sure that's real.

Actually the videos I have seen, they let the dogs off leash and loose in the room.

You're right! Its definitely AI. Key ways to pick up are what you said, the audio is "off" and the movement of the dog is "off" but also check out the people in the background. Their mouths are a blurry mess. Especially look at the "person" in the black puffy jacket, their head isn't even fully there, lol. Literally only the front side of the face.

 

[BG1]

You're right! Its definitely AI. Key ways to pick up are what you said, the audio is "off" and the movement of the dog is "off" but also check out the people in the background. Their mouths are a blurry mess. Especially look at the "person" in the black puffy jacket, their head isn't even fully there, lol. Literally only the front side of the face.

View attachment 158268View attachment 158269View attachment 158270

Good catch! Eww creepy - once you see it.

 

[Ravenbird]

I skipped looking at the videos because of the "cover" used on the videos. Crying anguished faces inches from a dogs face in itself is click bait that repulses me. I like a feel-good story, but not fake drama.

 

[BG1]

Heh. Good point!

That reminds me that its generally not considered best practice "to just stick your face right in the face of a strange dog"...

could get you a puppy nip...or worse by s trauma triggered or fear reactive dog...especially in a shelter...

Our vet said that btw.

 

[JanS]

Our vet said that btw.

That's pretty much common knowledge for dog owners. It's the people who think they're "dog whisperers" who really don't know much about dogs who thinks the dog is going to love them so they can assume it's safe with all dogs.

 

[Ravenbird]

That's pretty much common knowledge for dog owners. It's the people who think they're "dog whisperers" who really don't know much about dogs who thinks the dog is going to love them so they can assume it's safe with all dogs.

Or heart-string pullers who want to draw you in to watch the video. X number of views pays the producers, whether real, staged or AI, doesn't matter. It's number of clicks. That's why I see a front like that and just say no.