When You Meet A [insert Your Breed Here]

[Salukifan]

Just starting this one up to help educate people about breed characteristics. Not meant to cause offence but to educate people about common behavioural traits in breeds. Feel free to discuss yours (or not)

These are general comments only. They may apply to most dogs of the breed, but not all.

What can I say about Whippets?

Few are effusive about meeting strange people. They should not be shy or timid, they just really don't care that much about you. Once you are declared a friend, often after a treat or a pat, its a whole new story! Those long pointy noses get shoved where ever they will fit - you have been warned!

Their play style is fast! They love chasing games in big circles with you at the centre. If they start zooming, stand still! They will usually miss you on the fly by.

If you have smaller dogs, beware the running Whippet. If they have been socialised with small dogs, they are usually fine after a meet and greet but they do love to chase and small dogs and puppies can be frightened by this style of play. Don't let your small dog offlead with strange running Whippets. Talk to the owner first. If your dog is inclined to scream when frightened, this is probably not the breed to play with offlead. However they are usually quite gentle with the tinies onlead and will often lie down for games of bitey face with babies.

With larger dogs, don't be offended if Whippet owners aren't keen for their dogs to play. Whilst they are not frail, they don't generally enjoy being T-Boned or jumped on by larger dogs and snapping jaws (even in play) may tear delicate Whippet skin. That said, they seem to enjoy being Road Runner to any other dogs' Coyote and like chasing games if the end of the chase isn't too rough.

Whippets are not commonly dog aggressive but the usual precautions should be taken with entire males meeting for the first time and always ask before assuming the dog is safe. Whippets can generally run themselves out of trouble and for some reason, mine do enjoy games with herding breeds.

Oh and resist any jokes about them needing a feed. Trust me, the owners will have heard them before.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[kelpiecuddles]

Basset Hound

Basically they just lean against your leg and look sleepy LOL

They do generally speaking adore children though ,something about being short I guess, and are happy to meet friendly dogs. Most are very tolerant but can feel overwhelmed by in your face pushy dogs, they generally won't react angrily but may look visibly upset by a pushy encounter and try to get away. They love running with the pack, mine has never been one for chasing a ball but loves to run alongside the other dogs while they chase one, woofing happily the whole time.

[Leah82]

Cocker Spaniel

They take a long time to grow up. Up until about the age of 4 all they want to do is play. Cocker spaniel's are social dogs, some can be a little over boisterous but from what I've seen are able to adjust their play style depending on the other dog and they generally respond well to a telling off by another dog if their excitement level is a bit too high.

They can play well with both larger and smaller well socialised dogs and are happy to say hello to people they've not met before. They like to play fetch, although aren't always very good at bringing the ball back :p

Cocker spaniels are also great family pets and get along well with children. Their size means they are unlikely to knock over anyone over the age of 5.

[RiverStar-Aura]

This thread reminds me of why I wished the Breeds 101 section got more traffic. It's very informative on most breeds and is a great read for owners and prospective buyers.

It's such a shame it's almost a dead section of DOL now.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

Pug

I'm just going to talk about my Pug, if that's okay, because he is the first Pug I have ever owned.

He is playful and friendly and his favourite game is tug. He is determined to win and he goes full out growling and pulling like a big tough dog. But he knows that I’m the boss and he will give me the toy willingly if I ask him.

With other dogs he is fearless but naïve, and in his mind everyone is his friend, so I have to watch him like a hawk. He plays rough and he is quite boisterous and not the least bit intimidated by a larger dog (he has tried to hump a male Rottweiler twice). I have noticed that he doesn’t do well with herding dogs, like Border Collies and Kelpies, or intense, highly driven dogs. It’s not that he doesn’t like them; it’s just that he isn’t very good at reading their body language and he doesn’t seem to realise when they've had enough. I think he is especially suited to dogs like himself who like to goof around and don’t take themselves too seriously. He plays well with other Pugs and Labradors (I think this is because Labs are just as silly and fun-loving) though he can be quite bossy and he is often the alpha dog when he is around other dogs.

On the surface he is full of attitude and bravado, and he has an outgoing, confident, sometimes dominating personality, but underneath he is a sweet and sensitive mummy’s boy. He loves his mummy best of all; he is very loyal and devoted and he doesn’t like to be away from me for too long. He is protective but not possessive or territorial. In his mind he thinks he's a Bullmastiff and it's his job to guard me and the house. He will bark when he hears people approach, but once they are inside he is bursting with excitement to have a visitor. When I have people over he can take a while to settle down, but once he does he is very polite and well-behaved. And he will sit at their feet gazing adoringly at them. He needs very much to be a part of everything that is going on around him, no matter how trivial or mundane. He would be miserable if he was left outside all alone.

He can be surprisingly aloof around other dogs and people, and he will sometimes prefer my company, giving all of his attention to me. A waitress at a café once jokingly called him a snob because he showed no interest in her.

He has quite a complex personality because he is also mature and well-balanced. Though if I had to choose one word to describe him I would say that he is “bubbly”.

He and I are well-suited because we are similar in personality and we like doing the same things, ie. eating, sleeping, watching TV with a nice, soft blankie or going to the beach. And we love to snuggle!

eta

I don't mean to tread on anyone's toes by posting in this thread; I realise that there are many Pug people on DOL who have far more experience than me. I just wanted to share my (limited) experience :)

Edited November 11, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Remarkabull]

Australasian Bosdog ( Aussie Bulldog) - friendly, boisterous, excitable. They generally love everyone and everything but they can be a bit OTT when saying hello. They play rough with lots of wrestling, body slamming, grunting and snuffling which can be off putting to other breeds and I've noticed some dogs seem wary of mine at first but usually realise pretty quickly that they are friendly.

Most snore and make lots of grunting, snorting noises (like a pig). They have no concept of personal space and despite being over 20kg they think they're lap dogs. They only require moderate amounts of exercise (mine get a short walk, 2km, once a day) but they don't freak out if you miss a day or 2 and they have a couple of hyper moments but it usually doesn't last long and then they're happy to spend the day on the lounge. When happy or excited they don't just wag their tail,their whole body wriggles too. They're sometimes stubborn and will do what you want if they feel like it or if you have something they want. They are not known for aggression of any kind and there are plenty of people who run multiple entire males and bitches together with no issues, but as with any dog breed there are always a few exceptions.

They have the most soulful eyes and expressive faces and just about everyone who meets them loves them :)

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

I have moved this post to the Breeds 101 section :)

Edited November 9, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Clyde]

1383975455[/url]' post='6342531']

, just that the owners don't get the psychology of a Pug.

In my opinion, to own a Pug you need to appreciate the inner workings of the Pug mind. They are very different to other dogs.

I've only had the one Pug. He's three now but it took me probably two years to get him. All my usual rules have gone out the window with Alvin. He's been very frustrating to own, still is, but I get him now and can manage his quirks. He needs to feel as though he is a part of me, under my skin and touching me all the time. He is also the most active, hyper dog I've ever had and I've had a lot of high drive dogs before.

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

And it's a myth that their eyes pop out. They can come loose in the socket, due to an injury, but this is rare.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

1383975455[/url]' post='6342531']

, just that the owners don't get the psychology of a Pug.

In my opinion, to own a Pug you need to appreciate the inner workings of the Pug mind. They are very different to other dogs.

I've only had the one Pug. He's three now but it took me probably two years to get him. All my usual rules have gone out the window with Alvin. He's been very frustrating to own, still is, but I get him now and can manage his quirks. He needs to feel as though he is a part of me, under my skin and touching me all the time. He is also the most active, hyper dog I've ever had and I've had a lot of high drive dogs before.

My Pug is 7 and it took me about three years to understand him.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[JayB]

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier's tend to be pretty fearless, gentle and tolerant; either of our boys would happily trot over to any person or dog with a smile on their face.

With people: You're instantly a friend in most every case - they just love people. Both of ours still light up when they see a new person out on a walk, and when in the city, they go along with their heads swinging from side to side throwing everyone a doggy smile as they go past lol! In my experience, they are very tolerant and adore kids. Not prone to snapping, rough housing or being full on. They will jump a little to hug and lick you, but do calm very quickly once they get their paws on you and just want pats and such.

With other dogs: They tend to approach happyily as I said, without any fear or aggression. They play gently compared to most breeds, definitely wouldn't keep up with tackling games or rough playmates too well. Soft sniffs and happy tails as long as the other dog is not aggressive. If they are approached by aggressive dogs, or dogs that are too full on and bounding at them, in my experience they tend to go behind their owners legs and try to get away from the situation. I can't imagine a Cav fighting back or going in to that mode at all. One of ours is known to stare in the other direction when a neighbors dog is snarling at him through the gate as we go past.

Overall they are affectionate, gentle and need lots of love and companionship. Velcro dogs, much like pugs, they just follow you around everywhere - even if you think they're asleep, it's like they have an alarm when you get more than 5 metres away from them. At home they don't often bark and are happy to sit with you watching movies all day, or going for a long walk. They seem to adjust to your lifestyle and can be as active or as mellow as you are. Always exercise them though, at least half an hour a day, because..

They LOVE food. All the foods, all the time. If you feed them everytime they look or seem hungry, they'll be ten tonne in no time. So don't!!

They snore, loud!

NOTE: I'm writing from a view of socialised Cavaliers. They both have very different general personalities (one incredibly mellow, the other more excitable and outgoing), but they both react to new people, dogs and situations pretty much the same.

Never assume just because a dog is a 'gentle' breed that they will act in that way and that you should let your dog/child/self touch them without a second thought - history and individual temprament are always unknowns and caution should always be used to some degree with any unfamilar dog you meet :)

Edited November 9, 2013 by JayB

[Kanae]

This is a great idea I look forward to reading about how all breeds behave with people and dogs, it gives a great understanding of which dogs might be better to play with if you are looking for a breed that matches your own dogs playstyle :)

maebey- while your post is very informative, I think you may have missed the point of this thread? Your posts seem more suited to be placed in the breeds 101, I assumed this thread was made to gain a familiarisation of how certain breeds behave with people, dogs and what playstyles or behaviours they do and don't like in a public situation so others could figure out what breeds will match their breeds play style. Not about the breed in particular :)

Edited November 9, 2013 by Kanae

[julesluvscavs]

Well said JayB

[JulesP]

Just starting this one up to help educate people about breed characteristics. Not meant to cause offence but to educate people about common behavioural traits in breeds. Feel free to discuss yours (or not)

These are general comments only. They may apply to most dogs of the breed, but not all.

What can I say about Whippets?

Few are effusive about meeting strange people. They should not be shy or timid, they just really don't care that much about you. Once you are declared a friend, often after a treat or a pat, its a whole new story! Those long pointy noses get shoved where ever they will fit - you have been warned!

Their play style is fast! They love chasing games in big circles with you at the centre. If they start zooming, stand still! They will usually miss you on the fly by.

If you have smaller dogs, beware the running Whippet. If they have been socialised with small dogs, they are usually fine after a meet and greet but they do love to chase and small dogs and puppies can be frightened by this style of play. Don't let your small dog offlead with strange running Whippets. Talk to the owner first. If your dog is inclined to scream when frightened, this is probably not the breed to play with offlead. However they are usually quite gentle with the tinies onlead and will often lie down for games of bitey face with babies.

With larger dogs, don't be offended if Whippet owners aren't keen for their dogs to play. Whilst they are not frail, they don't generally enjoy being T-Boned or jumped on by larger dogs and snapping jaws (even in play) may tear delicate Whippet skin. That said, they seem to enjoy being Road Runner to any other dogs' Coyote and like chasing games if the end of the chase isn't too rough.

Whippets are not commonly dog aggressive but the usual precautions should be taken with entire males meeting for the first time and always ask before assuming the dog is safe. Whippets can generally run themselves out of trouble and for some reason, mine do enjoy games with herding breeds.

Oh and resist any jokes about them needing a feed. Trust me, the owners will have heard them before.

Thanks. That is useful. There is a whippet that I meet quite often and I have been unsure of its intentions. It stresses me out a bit as it is likely to come off second best with its skin. The owner doesn't seem bothered but I have been freaking out and putting my dogs back on lead as it zooms around us barking. My dogs are very 'WTF is that' about it!

[Salukifan]

Thanks. That is useful. There is a whippet that I meet quite often and I have been unsure of its intentions. It stresses me out a bit as it is likely to come off second best with its skin. The owner doesn't seem bothered but I have been freaking out and putting my dogs back on lead as it zooms around us barking. My dogs are very 'WTF is that' about it!

Funniest thing I've seen for a while is a friend's young BC hell bent on herding my Whippets. Have you any idea how hard it is to herd an animal that is doing fast laps of you barking to get you to chase it?

I've also had a pushy young SBT try to dominate my boys - a big game of chasey ensured and the SBT soon found it's hard to strike a dominant pose at a dog that's faster than you are!

Edited November 9, 2013 by Haredown Whippets

[JulesP]

Thanks. That is useful. There is a whippet that I meet quite often and I have been unsure of its intentions. It stresses me out a bit as it is likely to come off second best with its skin. The owner doesn't seem bothered but I have been freaking out and putting my dogs back on lead as it zooms around us barking. My dogs are very 'WTF is that' about it!

Funniest thing I've seen for a while is a friend's young BC hell bent on herding my Whippets. Have you any idea how hard it is to herd an animal that is doing fast laps of you barking to get you to chase it?

Strangely they just want to stop most dogs from moving, Goldies really offend them, but this whippet has them totally baffled!

[huski]

Beagles

the breed standard calls for the beagle to be a merry little hound and I think this described them to a T. Generally beagles are happy dogs that get along with just about everyone. They are bred to work in a pack of dogs so they should be dogs that get along easily with other dogs. My beagle specifically doesn't have much interest in other dogs, she would rather scent than play with another dog.

Beagles should be very confident and out going and a good beagle has solid nerves so can be a bit of a handful for some people as they are very confident, I don't find them to be a dog that is generally submissive to people.

Malinois

Mals are generally very pack driven so love their people. I find them to be quite handler submissive and often submissive to other dogs. However if pushed I can't see many Mals being tolerant of a rude or aggressive dog. While I think this is partially also how we raise them, our dogs are friendly and usually submissive when greeting people but don't have much value for people outside of their family.

There are lots of things my Mal would do that would freak people out. When I'm working her its not unusual for her to snap her teeth at me, push me around, vocalize, her whole body will often shake and her teeth will chatter with adrenalin. I don't discourage many of these things and don't think twice about it, however I tend to find the sheer energy and drive that usually exudes from them can freak people out. When I'm at home Wiz will laze around with me but she's very serious and hard when in drive and working. They are usually quite territorial and socially dominant. They generally have an extremely high prey drive which can manifest itself in all sorts of ways if they are not given an adequate way to satisfy it, but that's not so much breed specific but across the board in any kind of driven dog.

A well trained Mal is really an unbelievably amazing dog, but it's easy for them to be a complete out of control nightmare when they aren't trained, raised and managed correctly. That's true of many dogs, but when you have a dog at the high end of the scale for drive and workability like a Mal the consequences are much higher if you get it wrong.

They aren't a particularly common breed for people to own (thankfully as they arent a dog for the average person) so it's unlikely many people would see them out and about.

Edited November 9, 2013 by huski

[Brandiandwe]

Greyhounds

There are others here more experienced and knowledgeable than I, so hopefully someone will chime in. However..... I'm also writing about race-bred greyhounds. I suspect there are differences between these and show bred, and I've got my three as adolescents and an adult, so differences may also arise between dogs raised and socialised in a racing environment vs a pet home.

I've found that greys are generally fairly chilled out and relaxed dogs but none do well with rude, boisterous or aggressive dogs. All three of mine have happily put in their places various dogs who have rushed us or been rude or aggressive but have also all been remarkable tolerant of puppies, especially of bigger breeds. Problems arise when other dogs either don't submit (thank you my dominant bitch Paige) or who don't actually speak dog or been socialised well (thank you most people living near here). Greys are, by and large, well socialised with other dogs, and get along well together.

Mine do better with other sighthounds who seem to look like 'proper dogs' to them rather than strange and alien beings (most others). Strangely, this has included Iggies which don't seem to trigger Paige's prey drive, though I wouldn't trust her off leash with one.

Greys are, I think, different beings on and off leash. On leash interactions might be fine, but off leash, small animals running fast tend to be fair game. I do not allow my hounds off leash with non greys. Apart from prey drive issues (which are real and frightening), the simple physics of my medium grey weighing 31kg and running flat out at 50-60 km hitting a smaller dog means something will go squish. It's unlikely to be my grey.

All three of my greys adore people. My girls are more aloof than Hermon, Paige especially can take or leave people some days, but all compete for attention on walks. Hermon especially loves children which makes me think that he was owned or trained by someone with kids in the past. A baby we see regularly he runs to see and sits or lies as closely as possible to her and her mother. All are gentle and generally well mannered. Brandi is a bouncer but meets people well - she is a therapy dog and visits retirement homes etc without a problem. She is, however, protective of me if I run into trouble and has blocked people from approaching me on two occasions.

Some myths to dispell. Greys don't shed. True, except when they do. My house is suspiciously dog hairy for a place housing three low shedding dogs. Greys don't bark. Mine didn't get that memo. Mine bark, roo, chatter their teeth. Paige also nits on me which looks aggressive, especially when she mouths me as well. Greys need lots of exercise/ greys need no exercise/ 20 minutes a day. This annoys me. Greys don't need the amount of exercise of their breeds but there's nothing more pathetic than a fat greyhound. The girls when we got them needed a couple of hours a day but by the time they hit 3 they're down to an hour to 90 minutes a day with some sprinting at the dog park a few times a week. Hermon is thriving on this as well.

Mine all know they're lap dogs and two love to sleep with DH and I. Hermon started off with some sleep startl which has made us wary but he joins us in bed every morning. Brandi snuggles in whenever he can. Paige likes her own space unless she or I am sick, when she lies politely but close to me. She otherwise sleeps on the floor beside me within touching distance and greets me each morning very happily. They are Velcro dogs and follow me everywhere, including the bathroom unless I enter the Chamber of Torture (aka the bath or shower).

[Guest Maeby Fünke]

maebey- while your post is very informative, I think you may have missed the point of this thread? Your posts seem more suited to be placed in the breeds 101, I assumed this thread was made to gain a familiarisation of how certain breeds behave with people, dogs and what playstyles or behaviours they do and don't like in a public situation so others could figure out what breeds will match their breeds play style. Not about the breed in particular :)

Sorry, I wasn't thinking about the topic as I was writing it. I have re-written it now :)

Edited November 9, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[JayB]

Eep - mispost!

Edited November 9, 2013 by JayB