When You Meet A [insert Your Breed Here]

[~Anne~]

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.

Sorry, I have to correct this. It's not rare.

Due to the shape of the skull the eye sockets are much more shallow than your average dog. This means that they are at an increased risk of proptosis.

A brief idea from my perspective of Pugs:

Pugs are boisterous, poor at reading the body language of other dogs and they are often misunderstood by others dogs as their body language doesn't seem to be understood easily.

They're friendly, have little prey drive, low aggression and will generally get along with all species. They appear to me to have a higher than average rate of food aggression however, although this aggression is rarely directed to humans. Food is their number one love in life, their owner the second.

They are less motivated by praise and instead are highly food motivated.

They are laid back and child friendly.

I have re-homed more than 55 adults pugs over the years, from the young to the old, from the deaf to the blind to the deaf and blind and I only saw one in that time who fretted for their previous owner. They seem to easily switch their love and devotion of whomever feeds them and shows them attention.

[denali]

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

They snore, loud!

I agree with that entire previous post :)

However I have one cav that doesn't snore!

He probably will later in life. My previous cav snored like a freight train...

re. the playing with other dogs, my cavs will play rough with other cavs, but with other breeds of dogs they really only play chasey games.

They have a few other breed friends that theyve known for a while who they'll play tug with. But no rough and tumbles.

Also, if you see one, try and figure out if it is ACTUALLY a girl before saying "OMG! She's so cute!!"

Happens to my boys on a daily basis haha

They're too pretty for their own good.

[Clyde]

When you meet a Maremma:

This is based on my own dogs... they are all quite varied, one raised as a companion only and adores people, lousy guard dog but good 'working' dog in terms of foxes - he would do well in any home, town or country. They seem to switch off indoors and not bark, hence some do well in suburbia provided they're indoor dogs. The others are more working Maremma but here, they are companion and working.

I have done a medium below if I were to 'average' out the dogs temps.

Be confident, keep your arms down, don't eye ball them and don't reach out to pat them.

They will come and seek out a pat once they are comfortable (maybe). Will paw at your leg and nuzzle your hand provided arms are by your side, this means they are okay with you. Mostly prefer strangers not to pat them at all.

Enter property through the front gate, don't ever climb the fence for a shortcut even if the dogs know you well.

You could visit every day for a month and have the dogs love you, but if I am not home the dogs won't let you in.

New stock must be introduced well in order for the dogs to realise they are part of our pack, not intruders.

Prone to food aggression but live in packs well.

Bark loads, most shed loads, I have 3 who really only shed seasonally and then it looks like disemboweled cushions all over the paddock. One sheds copiously 365 days a year.

Like a routine, set in their ways and have their own rules about the way things should be.

They shut down away from their territory. What might seem as a well behaved dog lying at their owners feet at the vet, could well be a Maremma very stressed. Mine breathe up slightly and get very faint red rimmed eyes. To other people they look like angels, totally relaxed.

Awesome dogs to have once you 'get' them, low maintenance in terms of neediness and they provide their own stimulation via working. Incredibly affectionate and loving with their people. Do well on the smell of an old rag, food wise.

Can be black with mud one day and white as snow the next. Don't smell and are bathed minimally, if at all.

Overall, very healthy dogs.

Not all Maremmas are automatically good with stock, some require a lot of training and commitment and need to be taught this.

I read online somewhere that having a Maremma is 'a partnership, not an ownership' and I think this hit the nail on the head.

They are dogs which deserve to be treated with truckloads of respect and give you their heart and souls in return. Very loyal dogs (unless the gate is open :laugh:).

Edited November 9, 2013 by Clyde

[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.

Sorry, I have to correct this. It's not rare.

Due to the shape of the skull the eye sockets are much more shallow than your average dog. This means that they are at an increased risk of proptosis.

Sorry, I was being lazy when I wrote that :)

I meant that their eyes don't actually just pop out of their heads of their own accord and fall onto the ground. A lot of people seem to think they do. There has to be an injury for the eye to become dislodged, but it is still attached to the socket by the optic nerve etc.

I didn't know that it had a name (Proptosis) or that it was common.

Edited November 10, 2013 by Maeby Fünke

[W Sibs]

(this is my experience with my 2 dogs :) )

Japanese Spitz

With people - She is shy and takes a while for her to warm up to people, but once she does, you have a friend for life. Out and about, she is curious about people enough to air sniff them but wont approach them, if you get a poke from her, that's means she likes you. As she gets older she is more calmer and not as shy. Jap Spitz are meant to be a little aloof with strangers though. But if you're a friend, she will be on you like a rash. She can't get enough of cuddles and makes an awesome lap dog.

With dogs - She just stick to her own breed or the dogs she has grown up with. She knows their style of playing and is comfortable with that. If anything, she rather just hang out with her pack. But, you will rarely see her play with dogs at dog parks. She will say hello or let other dogs say hello to her, then she will ignore them and go explore or follow her humans.

With the family - Best family dog I've ever own. She loves her family and most confident at home. She is always trying to please us so training her as been a breeze, she doesn't like us being mad at her so she never does anything wrong, she loves her cuddles (and we love her cuddles too), she is territorial, she keeps Skeeter in line. She is big on routine and is learning to adapt to changes. Cuddle monster to the max.

Samoyed

With people - They are all his best friends.. they just dont know it yet. For some odd reason, old people really really really like him. We get stopped more often by elderly people who wants cuddles, tell me stories about their dogs and sometimes to share their food with him. He is awesome with kids, he knows to be gentle and he will always seeks cuddles from them.

With dogs - he is an idiot. He loves other dogs and he total Mr Social butterfly when we go to the dog park with him. He loves all dogs and will adjust his playing style to suit the other dog. He sometimes needs a reminder of his manners because he can get too pushy and in their face.

With the family - he is the sweetest and most gentle giant of a dog. Love his cuddles, hates being left out on things, always has a say in everything (even when you dont ask him). He is the real baby of the family. He likes his routine but he doesn't care if you change it up for him.. as long as you still walk him. He loves adventure and likes to work. But once you satisfied his needs, he is pretty much as awesome home dog. Lays around and being a goof.

Samoyeds takes a while to grow up mentally and Skeeter is no exception. They are confident dogs and there is no need for them to try to please you therefore they do need a strong/firm owner who has a sense of humour. They are happy dogs that love life and live life to the fullest. They are loud, in your face and sometimes can be drama queens. Saying that, they are also the most lovable, cuddlest and loyal dogs you can own too.

Edited November 10, 2013 by W Sibs

[BlackJaq]

When you meet a Weimaraner:

Please don't try to pat the dog until the owner either asks you to or the dog initiates the contact. They don't seem to be keen on the "pat on the head" thing, asking owners about where to pat might be a good idea.

The dog may sidle away from you, show general avoidance behaviour or even react defensively, depending on temperament and level of socialization, if you attempt to initiate an unwanted contact. This is normal and does not mean the dog is timid. They tend to be stand-offish with strangers and may take a few meetings to come around.

If you have small dogs or young puppies I would be wary of letting them play with a Weimaraner unless the owner says their dog will be fine with them, many Weimaraners can have a high prey drive that may switch on in inappropriate situations, especially with dogs "without a job" i.e. an appropriate outlet. Cats and other small animals should be avoided unless the dog was raised and well socialized with them. Play can be rough and include grabbing other dogs on the neck or ears to throw or pull them down. They will run and wrestle. They may be very vocal when playing, growling and generally making ferocious noises. This is also normal.

I would avoid putting your face near the dog or trying to hug it or otherwise physically confine it, but that goes for all dogs you don't know. I would also avoid running at a Weimaraner you don't know or making them feel threatened in any way (raised arms, shouting at the dog or owner etc) because many can and will react violently, either in their own defence or in their owner's. This is normal for the breed and of course early socilization, thorough training and desensitization will help train the dog to react a certain way but not all owners will have great control over their dogs. Again this probably goes for many breeds.

When first meeting a Weimaraner, it can quickly become apparent how well trained and socialized the dog is, since the more calm and confident the dog appears, the more effort and training his owner has likely invested. Personally, I do not approach dogs that shy away from sounds and people (other than dodging "head pats") or seem to move about endlessly, never standing or sitting still. Obviously if the dog is hanging in the lead and trying to charge at animals or people this is a red signal. Barking, yipping and other vocalization can indicate high level of arousal and general lack of control on the owner's part.

All this goes for other dogs, too, of course, but with Weimaraners you can generally quickly and accurately make a judgement on the amount of owner control and since they are a decent sized, generally high drive dog (not only prey drive but also guarding may be an issue), I go out of my way to avoid them (and any other dogs who act in an uncontrolled manner) if I notice these behaviours.

Edited November 10, 2013 by BlackJaq

[DogNerd]

(this is my experience with my 2 dogs :) )

Samoyed

With people - They are all his best friends.. they just dont know it yet. For some odd reason, old people really really really like him. We get stopped more often by elderly people who wants cuddles, tell me stories about their dogs and sometimes to share their food with him. He is awesome with kids, he knows to be gentle and he will always seeks cuddles from them.

With dogs - he is an idiot. He loves other dogs and he total Mr Social butterfly when we go to the dog park with him. He loves all dogs and will adjust his playing style to suit the other dog. He sometimes needs a reminder of his manners because he can get too pushy and in their face.

With the family - he is the sweetest and most gentle giant of a dog. Love his cuddles, hates being left out on things, always has a say in everything (even when you dont ask him). He is the real baby of the family. He likes his routine but he doesn't care if you change it up for him.. as long as you still walk him. He loves adventure and likes to work. But once you satisfied his needs, he is pretty much as awesome home dog. Lays around and being a goof.

Samoyeds takes a while to grow up mentally and Skeeter is no exception. They are confident dogs and there is no need for them to try to please you therefore they do need a strong/firm owner who has a sense of humour. They are happy dogs that love life and live life to the fullest. They are loud, in your face and sometimes can be drama queens. Saying that, they are also the most lovable, cuddlest and loyal dogs you can own too.

Agree with this completely! You just summed up Barney.

[HazyWal]

This is a great thread :) Really interesting learning about different breeds, especially breeds I have never met IRL like the Maremma, they are definitely a dog I admire but I have never met one, thanks Clyde for the informative post

Like Brandiandwe I don't have the experience with Greyhounds that Maddy or Rebanne have but what I do know from my own two greys and fosters that yes greys are generally a laid back breed. My two are at polar opposites of the spectrum when it comes to greyhounds. As most know Stan is lazy as they come, when they say greys sleep 20 hours a day they are describing Stan to a tee. He loathes exercise and would definitely suit apartment living. Maddie is like the "eveready bunny" she would suit an active family, someone that loved jogging or the outdoors and she just adores kids. Both of them love people, Stan is the "love sponge", he would happily get in a car and drive off never to see me again where Maddie keeps an eye on mum every second. I do think they are low shedding (compared to my last dog) require minimal grooming and the best thing is no smell. I often forget that doggy smell until I pat other breeds.

When you meet a greyhound, look past the race dog, look past the muzzle and see the gentle giants that they are, they really do make great pets.

Edited because not only have I not met a Maremma I can't even spell it

Edited November 10, 2013 by stans mum

[Christina]

When you meet a Toy Poodle

Hmm after owning many over a lifetime I have to say there is no set rule or generalisation except if in doubt RUN

Because you & your dog may get licked & loved to death or

You may suffer deafness or headache from the whinging or squealing for mummy or daddy or whoever is on the other end of the lead to pick them up because they are scared or

They may be snooty ones & completely ignore you & your dog & stroll past with their nose in the air :laugh:

They are a people dog & love people but some have to know them a little more & some just love anyone at first sight.

May be ok with other dogs depending on their socialisation but they can be timid or shy if not exposed much.

Not a dog to worry about being aggressive overall although some are at the groomers if they have been roughly handled but that is fright more than nastiness.

If there is any problem with meeting one on the loose it is more likely to annoy you & your dog if its a naughty one than do any damage. They are not brave dogs.

They respond to kindness & are eager to please, sensitive little souls & are very affectionate & clever. Tough discipline does not go down well with this breed. Gentle but firm gets good results & makes a happy little dog.

[Trisven13]

Basset Fauve De Bretagne, or Fauves, generally are very happy to be approached by strangers but normally only the young ones are effusive in their greetings, the older ones tend to have a sniff, a quick tail wag and move on.

The young ones (and by this I mean under 3 years of age) will love everyone and everything and will happily sit for 8 hours at a Royal Show on top of a trolley talking to the public for the entire day. They are unlikely to ever attack another dog BUT hate rude dogs who are in their face and have poor manners. If my Fauve is backing back from your dog please keep your dog out of its face - they don't like to tell your dog to behave itself and prefer to avoid a confrontation in all circumstances BUT they will eventually tell your dog to piss right off.

If you smell good they won't leave you alone, if you smell like food they will really not leave you alone.

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Saluki

Much of what HW said about whippets but turn it to 11.

I don't want to give away a trade secret, but the fastest way to a Saluki's heart is to ignore it. The more you lay on the cutesy insistent meet and greet, the further away most of them will want to go. Ignore the Saluki, chat to the owner and keep your hands by your sides and be prepared to feel the nose of inquiry. Then open your hand and let them sniff, then venture a pat from underneath (i.e. don't got over the top of their head).

Also, they can have a very rough free running play style. They are fast and resilient and while they may not bite, they can still cause injuries by slamming into another dog at what is a high speed. This is a dog where prey drive can be triggered by any small and fluffy thing running fast, do not take a small breed into a free run area with a Saluki without speaking with the owner first.

Most dogs tend to be most comfortable with dogs like them, but Salukis can be particularly breed snobby. They may not love your spitz or bull breed at all, and it's not personal. They will usually be pretty OK with other Sighthounds but I've noticed they can be particularly unimpressed with border collies. I've theorised that it is that border collie "eye" that annoys them but I don't really know. They are a bit Greta Garbo tho', so it would make sense (i.e., I want to be left alone). Socialised correctly, they are OK with all dogs but still may not care to mix with them.

In all other things, imagine they are a 22 kilo cat.

[Nekhbet]

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.

If by submissive you mean jam their heads into peoples laps and hands nudging for a pat NOW then yes lol none of mine would every roll over for anyone. I don't think I've ever seen many submissive to other dogs either unless we're talking young pup to some harder, older dogs. Malinois tend to be racists and breedists from what I've seen over the years. They warm to new things slowly, if at all.

I think by far the safest thing if you meet a Malinois is follow the owners direction and always ask first. Calm and quiet in public, absolutely, but not all are teddy bears by a long shot particularly if you invade their personal space. It's a very one sided relationship ... they can invade yours, you don't invade theirs :laugh:

[Maddy]

This is a great thread :) Really interesting learning about different breeds, especially breeds I have never met IRL like the Maremma, they are definitely a dog I admire but I have never met one, thanks Clyde for the informative post

Like Brandiandwe I don't have the experience with Greyhounds that Maddy or Rebanne have but what I do know from my own two greys and fosters that yes greys are generally a laid back breed. My two are at polar opposites of the spectrum when it comes to greyhounds. As most know Stan is lazy as they come, when they say greys sleep 20 hours a day they are describing Stan to a tee. He loathes exercise and would definitely suit apartment living. Maddie is like the "eveready bunny" she would suit an active family, someone that loved jogging or the outdoors and she just adores kids. Both of them love people, Stan is the "love sponge", he would happily get in a car and drive off never to see me again where Maddie keeps an eye on mum every second. I do think they are low shedding (compared to my last dog) require minimal grooming and the best thing is no smell. I often forget that doggy smell until I pat other breeds.

When you meet a greyhound, look past the race dog, look past the muzzle and see the gentle giants that they are, they really do make great pets.

Edited because not only have I not met a Maremma I can't even spell it

I guess the only thing I'd add to the greyhound information already given is a bit more about prey drive. I've seen dogs who were otherwise totally solid show interest in a dog when it was squealing from fright or pain. And being the joiner-inners that they are, things can quickly go downhill if two or more greyhounds are present in that sort of situation. If your dog is fearful (especially of bigger dogs), offlead play with greyhounds is probably not a good idea (even with muzzles on).

For small dog owners generally, I think it'd be sensible to ask the greyhound owner before encouraging smaller dogs in to play- accidents can happen and when they do, the bigger dog generally gets the blame- not all greyhound owners want to take that risk.

[Little Gifts]

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.

I often still go in there to find out about a breed that is new to me, particularly if I meet one at a dog event.

[Little Gifts]

Double post!

Edited November 12, 2013 by Little Gifts

[Lhok]

When you meet an Akita, you should ignore them. They seem to like to be able to make their own mind up about you. Usually if you ignore them they will come up and lick you and lean all over you. My guy likes being patted on the chest and will duck and avoid you if you try to pat him on the head. I am not sure if this is typically of the breed or not but Raiden wasn't a fan of being patted on the head either.

Some can be overly interested in other dogs like Treble is others couldn't care less like Raiden did. From chatting to other owners it seems if the handler isn't comfortable around you then the Akita is more likely to be wary of you.

--Lhok

[W Sibs]

When you meet an Akita, you should ignore them. They seem to like to be able to make their own mind up about you. Usually if you ignore them they will come up and lick you and lean all over you. My guy likes being patted on the chest and will duck and avoid you if you try to pat him on the head. I am not sure if this is typically of the breed or not but Raiden wasn't a fan of being patted on the head either.

--Lhok

That goes the same with most Jap Spitz actually. Maybe it is a spitz thing.

[huski]

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.

If by submissive you mean jam their heads into peoples laps and hands nudging for a pat NOW then yes lol none of mine would every roll over for anyone. I don't think I've ever seen many submissive to other dogs either unless we're talking young pup to some harder, older dogs. Malinois tend to be racists and breedists from what I've seen over the years. They warm to new things slowly, if at all.

I think by far the safest thing if you meet a Malinois is follow the owners direction and always ask first. Calm and quiet in public, absolutely, but not all are teddy bears by a long shot particularly if you invade their personal space. It's a very one sided relationship ... they can invade yours, you don't invade theirs :laugh:

Particularly compared to GSDs I find Mals heaps more submissive and softer to the handler. If I raised my voice it would be ears back 'oh crap, sorry Becky, *cue pathetic look*'. My bitch would roll over for a belly rub from other people. Once in drive and working though it's a different story!

Lots of Mals I meet don't like strangers invading their space, they don't generally have much real value for other people but I have never met a more affectionate dog when it comes to 'their' people. Our dogs would crawl inside our skin if they could, no personal space issues with us :laugh:

We don't really run our dogs with others but mine is generally submissive to dogs she knows, even my beagle, lol. A random dog that ran up to her or didn't greet her politely would be a different story.

Edited November 12, 2013 by huski

[Nekhbet]

Nope none of mine would ever roll over for a belly rub or crawl up to strangers. Even the big fairy Trigger would rather sit on you then roll over lol, it's always on their terms for attention. Handler sensitivity I would rate different to submission though, a mal pulling a face when you've roused it can come back at you with guns blazing no problems.

[huski]

Nope none of mine would ever roll over for a belly rub or crawl up to strangers. Even the big fairy Trigger would rather sit on you then roll over lol, it's always on their terms for attention. Handler sensitivity I would rate different to submission though, a mal pulling a face when you've roused it can come back at you with guns blazing no problems.

Maybe your dogs are different to the Mals we have and others we meet and work with, ours are naturally submissive (there's no mistaking it) to us when they aren't in drive. It's one of the biggest differences I would see between Mals and GSDs.