I'm sure it'll depend on your breed in many instances.
I have been thinking about this recently with Bailey. When he was a puppy, it was "omg-I-loooooove-dogs," all the time. When he was in puppy classes, he would scream in frustration when it wasn't puppy socialization time. I was definitely second on his list of favorite things, the first being other dogs.
Now that he's two, that seems to have changed. He does fine with other dogs -- he goes to daycare every weekday and he really enjoys it. He LOVED the neighbor's dog last year. OTOH, when we're at the beach, he interacts fine with other dogs, but he'd rather play fetch in the water with me (and any dogs that want to play fetch with him (and who aren't too pushy)). Recently, at the dog park, I've noticed the same thing -- he'll sniff other dogs and greet them politely, and he's fine to play fetch with them, but he otherwise just hangs out around me or wanders around sniffing. He growls a warning sometimes when another dog is being pushy (and he was, of course, the little PITA puppy that liked to push buttons!). He still likes the dog park -- he gets really excited when we go -- but then he's all chill when we're inside, lol. And I think the dog beach might be his favorite thing ever.
Anyway, I just thought it was interesting. He's my first dog as an adult and it's kind of interesting to think about how he has changed over time. (I'm also a little sentimental these days as his "gotcha day" is coming up soon!)
I have been thinking about this recently with Bailey. When he was a puppy, it was "omg-I-loooooove-dogs," all the time. When he was in puppy classes, he would scream in frustration when it wasn't puppy socialization time. I was definitely second on his list of favorite things, the first being other dogs.
Now that he's two, that seems to have changed. He does fine with other dogs -- he goes to daycare every weekday and he really enjoys it. He LOVED the neighbor's dog last year. OTOH, when we're at the beach, he interacts fine with other dogs, but he'd rather play fetch in the water with me (and any dogs that want to play fetch with him (and who aren't too pushy)). Recently, at the dog park, I've noticed the same thing -- he'll sniff other dogs and greet them politely, and he's fine to play fetch with them, but he otherwise just hangs out around me or wanders around sniffing. He growls a warning sometimes when another dog is being pushy (and he was, of course, the little PITA puppy that liked to push buttons!). He still likes the dog park -- he gets really excited when we go -- but then he's all chill when we're inside, lol. And I think the dog beach might be his favorite thing ever.
Anyway, I just thought it was interesting. He's my first dog as an adult and it's kind of interesting to think about how he has changed over time. (I'm also a little sentimental these days as his "gotcha day" is coming up soon!)