Dog Culture in Germany Vs. My Dog

I really wanted to title this Dog Culture in Germany Vs. Dog Culture in America.  But what I'm comparing dog culture in Germany to is my dog Louis, which isn't an American dog, but also wasn't raised by Germans.  B and I bought him from a French Bulldog breeder in Germany and he's never even been to the States yet.  But, he was raised by Americans and definitely acts like an American dog.  (And I am not saying that every American dog is not well trained and that every German dog  is).  Let me explain.

Germany has a really great dog culture

They love their animals and take them everywhere...because they can.  I don't know about Northern Germany but in Bavaria, dogs are allowed at some malls, in restaurants, stores, trains, buses, and generally any place that a well behaved dog can go.  They are not however, welcome in certain places like grocery stores.  Just look for the signs.  When I got Louis, I was excited that I could take him everywhere, but in actuality he is not well behaved like a German dog.  Also a cool thing about German dogs is they get their own passport which is great for keeping track of their records.

        How dogs act in retaurants in Germany (Source) + This dog not giving a shit Vs. Louis begging + being needy

He isn't calm and aloof like German dogs

If you are looking at him, his butt (not tail) is wagging and he is drooling on himself wishing you would come over and pet him.  German dogs seem not to give two sh*ts about who is around them.    This also applies to the above image.

He's going to do what he wants 

Maybe this is because he's only about a year old or.  Or because he's a bulldog and they are notoriously "bull-headed" but if he doesn't want to walk he's going to stop in the middle of wherever we happen to be like in the middle of town.  He will just lay on the ground like he's dying and it's funny but also embarassing.  He also doesn't like to wear his harness so he will roll around on the ground trying to get it off. I've literally had people point and laugh.  It is funny so I don't mind but come on, Louis!  With that said, I'd find these spoiled behaviors not so endearing in a human child.

Well behaved dog Vs. Louis throwing a tantrum

He's not okay without a leash 

One of the biggest things I am impressed with in the German dog culture is that there are tons of dogs that follow their owners around town without a leash.  The owner can be way ahead and here is this dog, slowly but surely following his/her owner.  Sometimes the dog is even leading the owner like it knows exactly where it is going.  Louis would never be able to do this.  They must do some intense training here because it's pretty awesome.  Germans, what are your tricks for this?  I've actually witnessed a training in progress once when I saw a man who was watching his dog from blocks away.  The dog knew his owner was watching and he just waited there.  Even as his owner went in and out of stores.  Amazing.  Louis would run away or get friendly with everyone.

Louis taking me for a walk

He knows three commands

Louis isn't a dummy.  He knows a few commands like "sit", "lay down", and the ever cute "high five." (He's really good at lay down by the way). But beyond that I don't think he will learn much more and it's probably because he's spoiled.  He's so ridiculously cute that he gets away with everything which I think is something common with American owners.  On the other hand, German dogs are usually well behaved.  When I take Louis to the kennel, the lady that takes him is also an amazing dog trainer.  We don't take him to obedience school there just "puppy camp" but one time we picked Louis up and the lady told us she tried to teach him a few tricks.  We asked her if he learned anything.  She said, "nope."  Typical Louis.

This dog is well trained Vs. Louis who has mastered the art of couch napping (and he looks pissed I woke him up).

He's a jerk to other dogs 

So embarassing and I will attribute this to him being a bulldog and still having his nuts, but he tries to dominate every dog he meets.  He's a total asshole to other dogs.  He's annoying and in their face and worse he even tries to hump them.  Maybe it's time to get him snipped.  I'm embarassed when I bring him around these well behaved German dogs and he's trying to dominate them.  We have two neighbors with Dobermans and he really thinks he is a suitable match for a fight.

Louis being a total d*ck.

He thinks he's people 

And this might be our fault.  He sits on the couch.  He needs his ass wiped like a baby which is totally gross but necessary. He sits upright sometimes and it's goofy.  And I think he can talk.

 Louis sitting like a human

In Germany there are tons of Frenchies 

This is another positive about German dog culture IMO.  There are Frenchies everywhere.  I'd say they are easier to find than even German Shepherds. B and I get so excited when we spot one.  Recently, Louis met one of his kind for the first time and it was the cutest thing ever.  They just sniffed each other and smushed their faces together.  It was adorable.

Two Frenchies meeting is magic

All behaviors aside, he's pretty perfect 

Though I long for Louis to walk besides me without a leash or stop trying to hump the neighbors dog, he is pretty awesome.  He's seriously the funniest dog I've ever had. 

I love Louis

So what do you think?  Are your dogs well behaved or are they spoiled?  And what is the dog culture like where you live?

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