Favorite and least favorite boarding/daycare breeds
- Thread starter Julee
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I'm going to base my answer off working in a shelter, even though that's not really the same... lol.
I agree with Laurelin that GSDs were pretty bad. We could never have them in play groups or really near the play groups because they would scream bark and then hide on a loop. It was funny because we actually had quite a few (assumed) GSD lab mixes that were super stable, great dogs.
Loved every aussie that came in. Ever. Wanted to take them all home.
HATED POMERANIANS. I can't even communicate how bitey, unstable and just VICIOUS every single one of them was.
I agree with Laurelin that GSDs were pretty bad. We could never have them in play groups or really near the play groups because they would scream bark and then hide on a loop. It was funny because we actually had quite a few (assumed) GSD lab mixes that were super stable, great dogs.
Loved every aussie that came in. Ever. Wanted to take them all home.
HATED POMERANIANS. I can't even communicate how bitey, unstable and just VICIOUS every single one of them was.
GSDs - nervy, shrieky basket cases that never played appropriately.
Huskies - a GSD in an aloof "oh did I not tell you? You aren't allowed to touch me now, good luck catching me for that time-out" body.
PWDs - never settled, inappropriately mouthy with people (oh you didn't want that shirt ripped? But you weren't paying attention to me), OH GOD THE SCREAMING. And yes, just frantic.
Doodles - either totally clueless derps without two brain cells to rub together, or anxious/nervy fretters. And the barking was so shrill. SO so shrill.
Young retrievers - "LET ME PUT ALL THE OTHER DOGS IN MY MOUTH WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. HAHA I CAN DO THIS FOR A FULL 10 HOUR DAY."
Schnauzers - "STOP YELLING? THIS IS MY WHISPERING VOICE, HUMAN."
Wheatens - barkbitebark.
Bostons - WHAT IS STOP? I can't nap or even sit down at a time like this and as a result I will make sure NO OTHER DOG GETS ANY PEACE EITHER.
Generic pit bully things - I will do perfect for a while, long enough for you to fall in love with me, and once you love me too much to just cut me off I will start being a huge **** with the other dogs.
English Bulldogs - Same as pit bulls except you will never love me because of me drooling on your shoes while I sleep, and the two dozen creams you will need to rub in my nasty rashy crevices.
BCs - totally over threshold when other dogs start moving, turn into anxiety bags in a group environment.
I did three years at a doggy daycare. For a lot of the dogs it was a poor fit with the environment, not a complaint about the individual themselves but I would still inwardly cringe if I heard that the new dog coming tomorrow was an XYZ breed.
Huskies - a GSD in an aloof "oh did I not tell you? You aren't allowed to touch me now, good luck catching me for that time-out" body.
PWDs - never settled, inappropriately mouthy with people (oh you didn't want that shirt ripped? But you weren't paying attention to me), OH GOD THE SCREAMING. And yes, just frantic.
Doodles - either totally clueless derps without two brain cells to rub together, or anxious/nervy fretters. And the barking was so shrill. SO so shrill.
Young retrievers - "LET ME PUT ALL THE OTHER DOGS IN MY MOUTH WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. HAHA I CAN DO THIS FOR A FULL 10 HOUR DAY."
Schnauzers - "STOP YELLING? THIS IS MY WHISPERING VOICE, HUMAN."
Wheatens - barkbitebark.
Bostons - WHAT IS STOP? I can't nap or even sit down at a time like this and as a result I will make sure NO OTHER DOG GETS ANY PEACE EITHER.
Generic pit bully things - I will do perfect for a while, long enough for you to fall in love with me, and once you love me too much to just cut me off I will start being a huge **** with the other dogs.
English Bulldogs - Same as pit bulls except you will never love me because of me drooling on your shoes while I sleep, and the two dozen creams you will need to rub in my nasty rashy crevices.
BCs - totally over threshold when other dogs start moving, turn into anxiety bags in a group environment.
I did three years at a doggy daycare. For a lot of the dogs it was a poor fit with the environment, not a complaint about the individual themselves but I would still inwardly cringe if I heard that the new dog coming tomorrow was an XYZ breed.
GSDs are usually a pain. They all seem very insecure around the other dogs. I can only think of two that actually play. Most of them just lunge and snap/bark at the other dogs. Wicked fun police. They sort of listen when you tell them to stop but only for a minute.
We've only had about 5 weimeranars but all they do is pace, pant, and drool or sometimes stress bark and try to scratch through the door.
Standard sized doodles. Most of them are very rude and in your face with the other dogs, several are severe humpers, and all of them won't shut up. They just bark and bark for no reason.
Huskies. I love huskies but hate having them in camp. They are all too rough, do not listen to you or the dogs, do not care about your yelling, water squirting, and attempts at intimidating body language, and think it's funny when the other dogs are afraid of them. They're either crazy all over the place bouncing off the walls or they're bullies. VERY few makes it through an entire day of camp without getting kicked out, at least for a nap. Oh, and they all dig on the water bowl and make the whole room a wet mess (we're an indoor facility).
Newfoundlands. Now I'm only basing this off of three dogs, they are regulars. They do not care about their size, they are way too rough. They like to smash other dogs up against walls. We have one that especially like to target small dogs (we put sturdy, playful little dogs like frenchies, some puggles, and similar sized mixes in with the big dogs). They tend to fixate on a dog and then are just relentless in trying to play with it whether he likes it or not. Just constant following, barking, pushing, nipping, will not leave that poor dog alone. And they are nearly impossible to stop. Shouting doesn't even get an ear flick, if I try to body block they just stand there or push me aside. Trying to pull the dog away is very difficult because of their size. Squirt bottle gets a very slight response if you really load it in their face, but that's about it and all it gets you is a very seconds of peace.
And pretty much all of our chocolate labs eat poop, though they vary in how ravenous they are about it. Not to say other breeds don't. Our three most notorious poop eaters are a chocolate lab, a yellow lab, and a GSD. Oh and most pugs eat poop too.
I can't think of any breed that walks in and makes me instantly worried as far as aggression goes. Though I can usually tell by looking at a dog in the lobby if they're going to be iffy. They just hold themselves very stiffly or have a very tense face or something.
We've only had about 5 weimeranars but all they do is pace, pant, and drool or sometimes stress bark and try to scratch through the door.
Standard sized doodles. Most of them are very rude and in your face with the other dogs, several are severe humpers, and all of them won't shut up. They just bark and bark for no reason.
Huskies. I love huskies but hate having them in camp. They are all too rough, do not listen to you or the dogs, do not care about your yelling, water squirting, and attempts at intimidating body language, and think it's funny when the other dogs are afraid of them. They're either crazy all over the place bouncing off the walls or they're bullies. VERY few makes it through an entire day of camp without getting kicked out, at least for a nap. Oh, and they all dig on the water bowl and make the whole room a wet mess (we're an indoor facility).
Newfoundlands. Now I'm only basing this off of three dogs, they are regulars. They do not care about their size, they are way too rough. They like to smash other dogs up against walls. We have one that especially like to target small dogs (we put sturdy, playful little dogs like frenchies, some puggles, and similar sized mixes in with the big dogs). They tend to fixate on a dog and then are just relentless in trying to play with it whether he likes it or not. Just constant following, barking, pushing, nipping, will not leave that poor dog alone. And they are nearly impossible to stop. Shouting doesn't even get an ear flick, if I try to body block they just stand there or push me aside. Trying to pull the dog away is very difficult because of their size. Squirt bottle gets a very slight response if you really load it in their face, but that's about it and all it gets you is a very seconds of peace.
And pretty much all of our chocolate labs eat poop, though they vary in how ravenous they are about it. Not to say other breeds don't. Our three most notorious poop eaters are a chocolate lab, a yellow lab, and a GSD. Oh and most pugs eat poop too.
I can't think of any breed that walks in and makes me instantly worried as far as aggression goes. Though I can usually tell by looking at a dog in the lobby if they're going to be iffy. They just hold themselves very stiffly or have a very tense face or something.
I work at a small dog only daycare/boarding kennel.
Every doodle I've had come in is a frantic, anxious mess. So much for hypoallergenic dogs with golden/lab temperament lol.
Cockers are derpy and clingy in a really annoying way.
Terriers and chis all seem to be dog-aggressive and resource guardy little beasts.
Bostons and frenchies are a whole new level of hyper that I could never deal with.
Every bichon that's come in just screams non-stop. Same with the beagles.
I love every cavalier that comes in. They're just love bugs but they back off when you want them to. Same with all the havanese and shih-tzus. Also pugs are awesome little squishies. And there's this one mini aussie that's awesome.
Every doodle I've had come in is a frantic, anxious mess. So much for hypoallergenic dogs with golden/lab temperament lol.
Cockers are derpy and clingy in a really annoying way.
Terriers and chis all seem to be dog-aggressive and resource guardy little beasts.
Bostons and frenchies are a whole new level of hyper that I could never deal with.
Every bichon that's come in just screams non-stop. Same with the beagles.
I love every cavalier that comes in. They're just love bugs but they back off when you want them to. Same with all the havanese and shih-tzus. Also pugs are awesome little squishies. And there's this one mini aussie that's awesome.
I've only done a short stint at a dog daycare, and the rest at segregated boarding kennels.
Weimsweimsweimsweims are just the worst. GSDs runners up. Bull Terriers can have wicked dog aggression/reactivity. They get super hot if they are DA.
Labs are ok but spill their water and food everywhere. Schnauzers are not good boarding candidates. Chihuahuas are usually either sickeningly sweet or awful nasty but I can handle angry little dogs just fine.
Cockers are one that I didn't think I'd like but I met so many cool ones, I love them.
Weimsweimsweimsweims are just the worst. GSDs runners up. Bull Terriers can have wicked dog aggression/reactivity. They get super hot if they are DA.
Labs are ok but spill their water and food everywhere. Schnauzers are not good boarding candidates. Chihuahuas are usually either sickeningly sweet or awful nasty but I can handle angry little dogs just fine.
Cockers are one that I didn't think I'd like but I met so many cool ones, I love them.
Most of the pugs and Frenchies that we get are nice and playful but if a dog does really upset them they show no mercy. The pugs especially can be very difficult to stop when they decide a dog needs to be taught a lesson (these are the playful pugs, then there are the pugs that just come to camp to nap). Bostons can go either way but the ones we see tend to lean towards not so great. They are playful and it starts great but then they get over aroused and try to attack their friend. Shih-Tzus tend to be nice little dogs and a good deal of them are playful. The mini-doodles are pretty good too. We have a good number of playful and nice yorkies as well.
I had an awesome group of little dogs today actually, very playful but not too rude or over aroused. There was a beagle/dachshund mix, a chihuahua mix, a mini poodle, a dachshund, a cockapoo, a Boston Terrier, and a pug mix that all played really great together. Most entertaining small dog group I've had in a while.
For big dogs....I can't think of a breed where I see them come in and assume it's going to be a nice, playful, not rude dog. We have a lot of nice boxers but also a few jerks. The goldens don't tend to be rude or aggressive (except one) but only a few of them play. Most of the ones we have either just want to snuggle up with a person and ignore the dogs or obsessively bark (like the doodles). We have a lot of great labs and a lot of not great labs. My least favorite labs are usually ones with severe humping problems though we have a few who get into fights on occasion.
I had an awesome group of little dogs today actually, very playful but not too rude or over aroused. There was a beagle/dachshund mix, a chihuahua mix, a mini poodle, a dachshund, a cockapoo, a Boston Terrier, and a pug mix that all played really great together. Most entertaining small dog group I've had in a while.
For big dogs....I can't think of a breed where I see them come in and assume it's going to be a nice, playful, not rude dog. We have a lot of nice boxers but also a few jerks. The goldens don't tend to be rude or aggressive (except one) but only a few of them play. Most of the ones we have either just want to snuggle up with a person and ignore the dogs or obsessively bark (like the doodles). We have a lot of great labs and a lot of not great labs. My least favorite labs are usually ones with severe humping problems though we have a few who get into fights on occasion.
I'm basing this off what I've experienced volunteering in a dog rescue, but all the dogs are in play rooms together, so it's basically like doggie daycare except none of them know their names.
I really like most of the Shih tzus and generic 'poodle mixes' we get. They tend to be real sweet with people and other dogs and don't cause much trouble. We also get a lot of really nice chiweenies and Chi mixes, but the purebred chis tend to be nervous wrecks that fear bite.
GSD's are hands down my least favorite. Super anxious and whiny and bark a lot, and have no social skills w/ other dogs. Also a lot of the GSD type mixes tend to be unpredictable with the little dogs.
Most young labs are very inappropriate players, and they are always the ones that spill the water bowls.
Doodles are like the young labs, except they're furrier and more exuberant.
The poms are usually mean to other dogs AND people. 2x the fun.
If there's a dog that's going to scale the fence, it is most likely a terrier.
Also this dog is just the worst:
drpem3xzef3kf.cloudfront by fablethecattledog, on Flickr
I really like most of the Shih tzus and generic 'poodle mixes' we get. They tend to be real sweet with people and other dogs and don't cause much trouble. We also get a lot of really nice chiweenies and Chi mixes, but the purebred chis tend to be nervous wrecks that fear bite.
GSD's are hands down my least favorite. Super anxious and whiny and bark a lot, and have no social skills w/ other dogs. Also a lot of the GSD type mixes tend to be unpredictable with the little dogs.
Most young labs are very inappropriate players, and they are always the ones that spill the water bowls.
Doodles are like the young labs, except they're furrier and more exuberant.
The poms are usually mean to other dogs AND people. 2x the fun.
If there's a dog that's going to scale the fence, it is most likely a terrier.
Also this dog is just the worst:
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Worst were probably the labs/doodles, just based on energy level and lack of manners.
Herders/BC-type mixes were worst with other dogs, we had a few that just barked and started herding every time another dog moved quickly or started playing. Which was often.
Other sporting breeds, weims, pointers, viszlas, all seemed really anxious and would cry for a while getting dropped off and lose their minds when owners came back.
Best were probably frenchies, ridgebacks, boxers, goldens, pugs, cavs. The small dogs who were shitty were mainly either terriers (JRTs are so not city dogs especially when they're in day care 13 hours a day and spend 70% of that time in time out), or isolated individual poodle mixes or something.
Herders/BC-type mixes were worst with other dogs, we had a few that just barked and started herding every time another dog moved quickly or started playing. Which was often.
Other sporting breeds, weims, pointers, viszlas, all seemed really anxious and would cry for a while getting dropped off and lose their minds when owners came back.
Best were probably frenchies, ridgebacks, boxers, goldens, pugs, cavs. The small dogs who were shitty were mainly either terriers (JRTs are so not city dogs especially when they're in day care 13 hours a day and spend 70% of that time in time out), or isolated individual poodle mixes or something.
I worked at a boarding kennel for a couple of years in my tender youth. We had group of dogs that we saw regularly, an Otterhound and two Bouviers. I loved those dogs. The Bouviers were some of the most wonderful boarders we had. The Otterhound was not the brightest candle on the cake, but he was just a sweetheart.
Beagles were the bane of our existence... Schnauzers and the shriek barking thing they do *shudders*
Beagles were the bane of our existence... Schnauzers and the shriek barking thing they do *shudders*
We actually only have one mini schnauzer that does that terrible barking, but holy god is it awful. He just emits this low scream the whole day. The other schnauzers (mini and standard) are pretty quiet actually.
I don't mind beagles. They don't play much and we have a couple that do bay for a while when they get excited, but I wouldn't call them the most annoying barkers, the doodles are worse.
I don't mind beagles. They don't play much and we have a couple that do bay for a while when they get excited, but I wouldn't call them the most annoying barkers, the doodles are worse.
King had trouble with a lot of dogs at day care, I always kind of felt bad about it, but the workers there all said, "He never starts it, he just retaliates!", so I just kept bringing him. He was basically a loner and I watched him (on the cam feed)walk around other dogs that would keep it up until he got fed up and got angry. A lot of the time, all he did was glare at them, and that would be enough to make them go away, but some just didn't get it.
His main problems were with a Shar-Pei, who seemed drawn to him and would try to hump him, or just get in his face. They always had to be separated after King finally had enough and decided that an pre-emptive attack was better than a retaliation. Another one who never seemed to get it was a Redbone Coonhound who would give King shoulder shots and do "flyby" butt bumps. King slammed him and pinned him several times and he would scream and holler like he was being killed, but a few minutes later he would be back if he got into the same area with King, who would try to ignore him, and then finally get fed up. He almost always had some sort of staredown or something every time he went with some other dog. The really crazy dogs, like the BC that seemed to be hallucinating(Jumping at invisible stuff above him), the oddly colored Lab (Kind of Golden Retreiver colored who never stopped panting and moving), and the whackiest of them all, the Poodle sisters who chewed on all the other dogs, for some odd reason, ignored King and he did the same. Once in a while, they would run into each other and King would glare at them, and they would leave. The owner's Eng Bulldog attacked King and it didn't go well at all for him, but he would keep trying to start something anytime he saw King, who would just stare at him like he was totally insane.
His main problems were with a Shar-Pei, who seemed drawn to him and would try to hump him, or just get in his face. They always had to be separated after King finally had enough and decided that an pre-emptive attack was better than a retaliation. Another one who never seemed to get it was a Redbone Coonhound who would give King shoulder shots and do "flyby" butt bumps. King slammed him and pinned him several times and he would scream and holler like he was being killed, but a few minutes later he would be back if he got into the same area with King, who would try to ignore him, and then finally get fed up. He almost always had some sort of staredown or something every time he went with some other dog. The really crazy dogs, like the BC that seemed to be hallucinating(Jumping at invisible stuff above him), the oddly colored Lab (Kind of Golden Retreiver colored who never stopped panting and moving), and the whackiest of them all, the Poodle sisters who chewed on all the other dogs, for some odd reason, ignored King and he did the same. Once in a while, they would run into each other and King would glare at them, and they would leave. The owner's Eng Bulldog attacked King and it didn't go well at all for him, but he would keep trying to start something anytime he saw King, who would just stare at him like he was totally insane.