When You Meet A [insert Your Breed Here]

[Kavik]

Kelpies

With people:

All of mine LOVE people! Wiggle bum, lean on, jump on , with some you have to watch or you will have a Kelpie in your face giving you kisses even if you are standing :laugh: . I have noticed though that some people who work theirs on sheep have more standoffish dogs with strangers. They will not necessarily obey others though.

With dogs:

Many don't like to have their space invaded, and are not impressed with forward greeters/body slam type of play eg Labs and Staffies. Some can be standoffish or not interested in other dogs, preferring to play with their human instead. They tend to get on best with other herding breeds - other Kelpies, BCs, Koolies.

[Rebanne]

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.

Yeah I like the breeds 101 section as well.

[Diva]

Saluki

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

That made me laugh ssm.

Borzoi (based on the 7 I have owned, I wouldn't dare speak for all of them)

An adult Borzoi may not be much interested in you if you are a stranger. They will be polite and might even deign to grace you with their interest for 5 minutes or so but then they will be back to important 'zoi business like resting, playing, resting some more, and looking good.

If they know you, and like you, it's a different story, and you might end up wearing them like a fur rug. They are incredibly dedicated to the people they love. My young Borzoi have liked everyone pretty much, they were all affection tarts as puppies, but some can be shy at certain ages - either way, they often find very pushy people a bit tacky, best not to force yourself on them.

Telling them they are beautiful and clever is usually welcome, and it shows you have good taste. They have a fine sense of their own place in the world and also a well developed sense of humour which doesn't mind using humans as the butt of the joke. And leaning on humans, any human, is a good way to take the weight off their feet they reckon. They also like to back up to chairs and sit their bottoms on them like a human, front feet still on the ground. And they assume the most awkward contorted upside down and folded positions to sleep in, and are perfectly comfortable.

They tend to be fine with small dogs and cats if they have been socialised with them as youngsters, but don't let your small dog run with a loose Borzoi unless you know for absolute sure they are fine - they are fast and most love to chase. Be doubly careful if there is more than one 'zoi running, they pack up, chase harder, and even if they mean no harm a collision at high speed is hazardous. If they haven't been socialised with cats or stock or kangaroos or whatever, assume they will chase until you know otherwise. Mine have good recalls and I still don't let them loose within cooee of a road or possible prey animal - they may recall 99/100 but the 100th can be fatal. At a gallop they can cross an oval faster than I can say their name.

They are good with children if used to them and will play with them, but they don't generally like a lot of fuss and rough handling so if they aren't used to kids the kids need to be well mannered. Training a Borzoi is not difficult if you recognise they don't have the need to please that more traditional working breeds have. They might seem to have a good food drive at home, but that can also evaporate when out in the big exciting world. Positive training methods combined with clear boundaries and a calm rational trainer work well. They are naturally clean, and very easy to housetrain. They are usually very well behaved in the house, a 'zoi breaking something (after puppyhood) would be very rare. They are very touch and voice sensitive, and seldom require much in the way of correction - and many may offer a little sheepish tooth display in apology if someone they love has expressed displeasure, or a big, lips back, top teeth on display, grin of pure welcome at first seeing a loved one after an absence, which can be disconcerting if you aren't used to that kind of smiling.

They don't do well with people who lose their temper easily. There is nothing much servile about them and they can be very stubborn if they don't like what is going on. On the other hand, in a crisis mine have always just known the seriousness of the situation and been impeccably behaved. You can sweet talk them into just about anything, but if you try to force them, they may just remind you that you are are only human, and they are rather more.

Edited November 12, 2013 by Diva

[trinabean]

Diva, that is beautifully written. I feel like I know more about Borzoi now ( I've only ever seen one).

[Diva]

Diva, that is beautifully written. I feel like I know more about Borzoi now ( I've only ever seen one).

Thanks :) , I am very, very fond of them but I know their challenges too.

[Weasels]

Kelpies

With people:

All of mine LOVE people! Wiggle bum, lean on, jump on , with some you have to watch or you will have a Kelpie in your face giving you kisses even if you are standing :laugh: . I have noticed though that some people who work theirs on sheep have more standoffish dogs with strangers. They will not necessarily obey others though.

I've been thinking I might need this sign