I know I often joke that my spirit animal is a labrador or that I am a human labrador and in some ways that is true because there is a part of me that can be very silly and friendly but then there is a very very big part of me that is SUPER serious. So for more than anything Harley pulls me out of my SUPER serious place, because while that is a very good place to be for some time it isn't healthy for me to be in that state of mind all the time. My question on this thread relates to my limited knowledge as a dog owner, of other types of dogs. I know why we wanted a labrador but when we were considering a dog we were only looking a limited few breeds even though we were going to take in an older, rescue dog originally. The rescue society advised us to rather look for a puppy that would have a higher chance of fitting in with our cats. In our local rescue there are very few labs or lab types that come in but very many BC, BC crosses and staffie type crosses. ANYWAY. I am rambling. I am reading https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Ani...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QYQ9HJNVRGNT6BDVYPM9 and https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Assis...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=QYQ9HJNVRGNT6BDVYPM9 I have read both books previously, as I prepared for the decision of getting a dog. And in sections they advise what you would look for in a puppy and adult dog. Some of it I agree with completely, but some not completely. And yesterday I was at the vet with Harley for a check up and she was, as always just vomiting love and friendliness on everyone. Customers, staff and everyone she saw she would beam at them and wiggle and waggle, hoping they would decide to come over and say hello. But if they didn't she would just settle until the next person arrived. Inbetween all this I was getting my fair share of loves and cuddles, usually as she was "telling" me about the person. And people are so drawn to her. Even if they don't come over they comment on her friendly face and smile and say "she must be so loving". And I know that if I am somewhere I also, often get a certain type of sense of a dog. And it isn't just breed specific. There is a Min Pin that comes to agility that is the nicest, happiest little dog but overall it hasn't been my experience with that breed. So my question is: Some types of people are attracted to some types of dogs and in my observation some dogs are a little more needy than giving with attention. It is a different type of attention - almost like cats, who are so loving...when they want to be but it is not just to be handed out to everyone for every reason (with exceptions). I have been thinking a lot about unconditional love, which dogs are credited with, but is it always truly unconditional? We had the experience with the little stray dog that we had for two weeks before have to euthanize her and she suffered with severe megaesophagus. This little dog was starving to her death regardless of what we did, so little food would reach her stomach. She had pneumonia for half the time we had her. And we had to hand feed her, and give her medication, her life was very limited. But she beamed love at us every minute we were with her and she did it with everyone she met. But I think there are different in there affection and display it more under different situations?
I love your thread and I am going to reply soon as I have some nice things to reply with...but Maxx is unwell and taking all our time just at the moment so I want to reply when I have the right amount of time to reply properly. One thing....I have had two dogs after growing up with cats, both Labradors and I can't imagine having any other breed
I think of myself as just a doggy-person. I am attracted to most dogs regardless of breed. When choosing a dog to live with me, I would opt for medium-large given a choice. But all dogs, whatever their size, appeal to me and I will approach and coo over them with their owners.
Interesting. I have a friend that is a Siberian Husky owner. They currently have 4 sibes, all rescues. They have been on the committee for the husky rescue and are on the committee for the sled dog racing. She has done some obedience work and trialling with one of her boys and has had limited success. She has also just acquired a pedigree Aussie Shepherd as she really wanted a dog that was suited for obedience and agility. A week into puppy ownership and she said to me "he follows me everywhere and just wants to be with me. It's so strange". I asked her about the Sibes and she said "they're the cats of the dog world. They only follow you if they want something. I'm just not used to a dog that wants to be with you all of the time" Anyway, my long story says that not all dogs are as 'human' as ours
@Emily what your friend says about the Sibes is so interesting because I think it is so good that there are different dogs for different types of people. Not just energy level wise but also the "way" they love and need love. Everywhere I look I see people with Yorkshire terriers, they are incredibly mass produced/puppy milled in our country and I really struggle to connect with them, I find it difficult to "read" their expressions. Definitely not a problem I have with labs or most dogs. And like I said, the little Min Pin who comes to agility just beams personality and is super involved with his owner. Maybe it has something to do with the puppy milling that these little dogs are coming from, and that they have poor socialisation from birth until they leave for their new homes? I don't know. But I think I would be completely too love needy for some dogs.
I guess it's the result of however many thousands of years of selective breeding for specific purposes, since mankind first domesticated the most amenable wolves. I imagine a husky thinks people should be following him, rather than vice versa Growing up we always had gundogs as household pets and members of the family, my Dad believed they had the best temperaments for such a life. Spaniels, retrievers and a setter. I have a bit of a theory that we tend to like the types of dog we grew up with, Cassie is my first Labrador though. In the meantime I've lived at times with lurchers, border collies and jack russells, all of which were fabulous in there own ways --- but still I come back to gundogs. The only other type of dog I would consider now would be a whippet lurcher. My son and daughter grew up with collies, and love there dogs who are working farm dogs, a very fulfilled life. They adore Cassie, but took a little while to absorb the differences -- the mouthy ness and the being governed by her sense of smell much more, and her out going friendliness with everyone.
Hmmm...interesting. I don't have a lot of experience with other breeds. First time lab owner, never had a family pet growing up. I think that there is a gelling of personality between animal and owner(s) and certainly my experience of labs, they adapt to the situation they are in. Our SILs lab (certainly when younger less so now) was always on the go, moving, jumping, licking, pestering for a ball throw. Half a day with us and she calmed down. At the end of her 2 week stay my SIL jokingly said "you broke my dog". Her household had younger children, all busier and active. We are more laid back. Lilly is mostly calm and content and happy in her own space rather than cuddly. I don't think we are a very touchy feely family so this sort of fits. And apparrently (at work) I am regarded as calm and laid back.....though I'm not inside, I'm really not!! I'm now wondering about the owners of the Sibes and the MiniPin
I have three different types of dogs. My lab, BC/Husky cross and Jack Russell are all very different in general behaviour and characteristics but are all the same in their need to give and receive love. They look adoringly at their dear old mum and love to meet new people with a grin.
My canine soulmate is my pug, Reggie. He will turn 14 in a couple of weeks and his health isn't the best. I love him in the heart in your throat kind of way. While pugs are breed to be companions, they aren't generally known for their trainability. However, Reggie has always been different. He was good off leash (deaf now so we no longer do that), went hiking, learned hand signals after going deaf, passed his Canine Good Citizen test... I attribute a lot of that to my bond with him. I took the time to bond with him. My days off work were spent with him and other friends who loved their dogs. Even now on my days off I drive him to acupuncture. So I think I'm trying to say that, I feel, a lot of the returned love stems from the amount of love and devotion you give to them. We have a new lab now who is a year and a half old. I see how he looks at me and I know he's already imprinted on me as a his person. He's very patiently waiting to be my next heart dog and I feel so lucky to have such a strong bond with a second dog.
