Love-Hate Relationship with My Takin: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

A Love-Hate Relationship with My Takin: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

summarizeEditor's Summary

We've had our Takin for a few years now, and it's been a wild ride. This high-energy breed is a handful, but also a sweetheart. She's got a unique personality and always keeps us on our toes. One thing that's been a total game changer is how well she's adapted to our family. She's got a best friend in Mars, our cat, and they're always cuddled up together. That being said, there are some things that've been a total letdown. For one, the initial housebreaking process was a nightmare. I mean, we're talking accidents all over the house, and it took months to get her trained. But, with patience and consistency, she's finally gotten the hang of it. Another thing that's been a challenge is her energy level. This dog needs to run, and I mean RUN, every single day. If we don't give her enough exercise, she gets destructive. But, when we do, she's the happiest pup in the world. All in all, I'd say our Takin is a total mixed bag. She's got her good days and her bad, but we love her to pieces.

settingsSpecifications

Kararİyi

Enerji9/10

Kalite8/10

Sürüş7/10

Hello everyone, thanks for checking out this review. I'm excited to share our experience with our Takin, a high-energy breed that's been a handful, but also a sweetheart. We first got a cat, Mars, who's a bit of a diva, but he's learned to coexist with our new furry family member, Nikki.

We brought Nikki home in the fall of 2020, and it was love at first sight. She's a total sweetheart, very calm and friendly. The breeder told us that if we had any issues, they'd be happy to take her back, which gave us peace of mind. We got in the taxi, puppy in a carrier, and she started whining. The taxi driver let me take her out, and he cooed over how cute she was. It was 2020, and we were both wearing masks. The puppy started trying to lick my mask and not making a peep. My husband joked that we had instant love at first sight. And he wasn't wrong. Out of all the family members, this little pup loves me the most.

No fuss on the first day. She settled in really quickly. The cat took the new addition without much enthusiasm, but also without aggression. He tried to climb higher and observe her from above, but would quickly retreat when she tried to get to know him. Our family council decided to name the new addition Nikki. By the way, the cat's name is Mars. We don't use the name we originally gave the puppy anymore, and I'll explain why later. We got Nikki a big, plush dog bed and even a few outfits since we got her in the fall, and it was chilly at home.

First problems:

I noticed a small sore on the dog's back that was scabbing over. And literally the next day, she had parasites. I won't go into the gory details, but there was no doubt it was them. We'd already been to the vet with our cat, so we knew the drill. We switched up her food and gave her anti-parasite meds. The sore cleared up, and the new food seemed to work.

The Takin is a high-energy dog, and I'm jealous of her enthusiasm. She loves to run, play, and explore. She's always sniffing out something new to dig up. Our calm and laid-back cat, on the other hand, seemed completely unimpressed. He didn't appreciate being constantly provoked into play. But credit where credit's due, he never got aggressive. When Nikka was sleeping, everyone around her was cooing and sighing. You wouldn't think that such a sweet girl could be mischievous.

What's surprising is that we didn't have any major issues common with young dogs. She picked up potty training quickly, and when we had to leave her indoors, she used her potty pad without any accidents. There was no mess to clean up, and she only took a few toys or socks. She even taught the kids to pick up after themselves. No wires, baseboards, or furniture were damaged.

Grown-Up Dog:

Honestly, her personality is a bit rough around the edges. She only listens to me, and I can easily remove anything from her mouth. If I scold her, she listens right up. My spouse comes in second, but she'll occasionally growl at him. She's not a fan of my youngest daughter, and she'll nip at her if she gets too close. It's almost like she's turned into a different dog, like Kusya.

The kids don't like her, period. We've taken her to meet our older kids, and the youngest was almost 9. Even now, if she hears the little ones crying outside, she'll start barking. She's not interested in getting petted by the kids, and she's very selective with the adults too. I read that this breed loves kids, but I guess ours is an exception.Problems at this age:

I've had to teach her not to react to other dogs for ages. She's always eager to get into a fight. She hates the mailman, barks nonstop, and can barely hear the doorbell. The only one who can calm her down is me. She loses interest in toys quickly, except for sturdy balls. And if something lasts for a couple of months, but she eventually manages to chew it up, I wouldn't recommend buying the same thing again. She's learned the trick and will get through a new one in no time.

She's prone to making a break for it. She can get distracted by chasing something and run off after it. I have to keep a close eye on her at all times. When she's in this mode, she completely forgets all her commands.

She's always hungry. She'll try to get your attention by giving you the sad eyes and making you question whether you've actually fed her.

She's incredibly loud. Don't let her size fool you - she's got a bark that'll make you think she's a Doberman, not a Chihuahua. We once rented a cottage in the countryside, and I was taking her for a walk when the staff member came over to check on us. She heard the barking and asked to see the dog. When she saw her, she couldn't believe it - she was only 35cm tall, but had a voice that could shake the rafters.

She's a sweetheart and loves to cuddle. She can sense when you're not feeling well and will come to snuggle with you. But only with me. That's also a downside - she's extremely jealous. If anyone tries to hug me, she'll start barking and whining.

She gets along great with the cat. They sleep together, play together - it's adorable.

She's super curious and loves going on long walks. But she's not a fan of the cold. That's why she's got a whole wardrobe - a windbreaker for early fall, a jacket for colder weather, and a coat and boots for winter.

She's clever and picks up new commands quickly. But she's also sneaky - if there's no treat involved, she won't do anything. Speaking of which, check out the photo below of the poor leash thingy. It was a disaster - she'd pull so hard, I thought she'd rip my arm off. As soon as we switched to a regular leash, the habit disappeared. Yeah, this breed has its pros and cons, but I'm not regretting our choice. I used to work from home before, and the dog would just chill next to me, quietly waiting for the kids to come home from school. She was basically my work buddy, never causing any issues. To me, she's the perfect dog.

live_helpFeatured FAQ

How do you deal with the high energy level of a Takin?

We make sure to give her a good run every single day, whether it's a walk around the block or a trip to the dog park. This helps her burn off some of that excess energy and prevents her from getting destructive.

How do you housebreak a Takin?

We started by establishing a routine and sticking to it. We took her outside to the same spot every time she needed to go, and we made sure to praise her when she went potty in the right spot. It took months, but eventually she got the hang of it.

How do you keep a Takin from getting destructive?

We make sure to give her plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. This can be as simple as a game of fetch or a trip to the park. We also make sure to provide her with plenty of chew toys and treats to keep her occupied.

How do you deal with the fact that a Takin can be a bit aggressive towards strangers?

We've been working on socialization from a young age, and it's paid off. She's still a bit wary of strangers, but she's not aggressive. We also make sure to introduce her to new people slowly and in a controlled environment.

How do you keep a Takin from getting fat?

We make sure to monitor her food intake and adjust it as needed. We also try to limit treats and snacks, and we make sure to give her plenty of exercise to keep her active.

How do you deal with the fact that a Takin can be a bit of a food thief?

We make sure to keep a close eye on her when she's eating, and we try to limit her access to food when we're not around. We also make sure to provide her with plenty of healthy snacks to keep her occupied.

How do you keep a Takin's coat clean and healthy?

We make sure to brush her regularly, and we take her to the groomer every few months for a professional cleaning.

How do you deal with the fact that a Takin can be a bit of a handful?

We make sure to be patient and consistent, and we try to provide her with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation to keep her occupied.

check_circlePros

•She's a total sweetheart and loves everyone she meets.
•Her energy level is infectious, and she's always up for an adventure.
•She's super intelligent and picks up commands in no time.
•She's got a best friend in Mars, our cat, and they're always cuddled up together.
•She's a total cuddlebug and loves to snuggle up on the couch.
•She's got a unique personality and always keeps us on our toes.
•She's great with our kids and is always gentle with them.
•She's a quick learner and picks up new tricks in no time.

cancelCons

•The initial housebreaking process was a total nightmare.
•She needs to run every single day or she gets destructive.
•She's a high-maintenance breed and requires a lot of attention.
•She's not great with strangers and can be a bit aggressive.
•She's a bit of a food thief and will steal food from the counter if you're not careful.
•She's got a tendency to get overexcited and can be a bit of a handful.
•She sheds a lot and requires regular grooming.
•She can be a bit vocal and bark at everything.