Herding breeds people?
- Thread starter Laurelin
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We're pretty certain Lucy is a border collie mix, and regardless she herds dogs at the dog park, so there's herder in there some...
She loves people. Loves loves loves. She tries to go home with everyone who comes to visit, and wants pets from everyone she meets on the street. There was one time the exterminator came, and she was leery of him, but that's it. He was a really big guy, and I was a little nervous around him, so that might have been part of it.
She loves people. Loves loves loves. She tries to go home with everyone who comes to visit, and wants pets from everyone she meets on the street. There was one time the exterminator came, and she was leery of him, but that's it. He was a really big guy, and I was a little nervous around him, so that might have been part of it.
Sawyer goes back and forth. When we're at home, or it's dark out, he's pretty reserved and keeps a wary eye on people. During the day and when on leash, he likes to say "hi" and turns into a big attention wh*re. It's subtle though, his version of "OMG YOU ROCK" is to sit on feet and lean into a person. Now, if he really knows you, like when he sees Smkie, then he starts doing the PogoStick thing. So he's a good mix of in the middle...there are some Aussies who won't have a single thing to do with you until they've known you for a few weeks and others who act like Golden Retrievers in merle coats.
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Don't own one...
but from what i've observed is (borders especially) that they tend to not care much for strangers and cling to their owner...
I don't know if thats just the owner not socializing the dog enough or what... i've only been able to get near and pet ONE border...and it was a pycho (love everyone) puppy.
but from what i've observed is (borders especially) that they tend to not care much for strangers and cling to their owner...
I don't know if thats just the owner not socializing the dog enough or what... i've only been able to get near and pet ONE border...and it was a pycho (love everyone) puppy.
The above post made me think of something.
WHERE you meet the dog will have an impact. Sport if he is at class and is 'working' he has little to no interest in people other than his person. He could come across as stand offish. I imagine he will be even more like that at trials and as he gets older. Most herding dogs take their jobs (what ever that may be) very very seriously. Even the BCs I know very well, have no time for me if there is 'work' to be done.
If you meet the dog when it is 'off duty' then you might see a different dog.
WHERE you meet the dog will have an impact. Sport if he is at class and is 'working' he has little to no interest in people other than his person. He could come across as stand offish. I imagine he will be even more like that at trials and as he gets older. Most herding dogs take their jobs (what ever that may be) very very seriously. Even the BCs I know very well, have no time for me if there is 'work' to be done.
If you meet the dog when it is 'off duty' then you might see a different dog.
The best way to describe Nikki was diva. She would come when she wanted to and would lean all over you and bark (sheltie) until you petted her. But then she'd be done and ignore you, lol. Rosie was pretty friendly but wouldn't have jumped and licked everyone and acted all silly like the papillons would. She really just wanted to play with everyone, pets and cuddling weren't nearly as fun!
And that is Trey 100%. He's not under-socialized, he was dragged everywhere as a pup. He's just very aloof. He never seeks out a stranger, but if a stranger came up to him he'd them pet him. He doesn't really enjoy it though and will leave if he gets the opportunity. If you let him come on his own terms it takes a while, maybe not weeks, but a few hours of observing you. (He'll watch from across the room until he decides you *might* be okay). Even then, in order to really snuggle up to him, you have to know him pretty well generally. There have only been two people he's befriended on his own immediately. No idea what it was about them. They were both my good friends and dog people. One is my room mate, Anne, she was over for like 5 minutes and there he was asleep with his head in her lap. It was quite startling.
And that is Trey 100%. He's not under-socialized, he was dragged everywhere as a pup. He's just very aloof. He never seeks out a stranger, but if a stranger came up to him he'd them pet him. He doesn't really enjoy it though and will leave if he gets the opportunity. If you let him come on his own terms it takes a while, maybe not weeks, but a few hours of observing you. (He'll watch from across the room until he decides you *might* be okay). Even then, in order to really snuggle up to him, you have to know him pretty well generally. There have only been two people he's befriended on his own immediately. No idea what it was about them. They were both my good friends and dog people. One is my room mate, Anne, she was over for like 5 minutes and there he was asleep with his head in her lap. It was quite startling.
All my guys adore people (including Lizzie- the mittel was traditionally a 'small all-purpose farm dog' and Lizzie gathers chickens very efficiently) but I'm not sure how much of that is socialization. Kaylee is not as outgoing as the others- she's friendly, but not in-your-face-love-me like Mal, Lizzie and Indy are- unless you are under the age of 15, in which case she adores you.
Rittie is MUCH more aloof- she has no PROBLEM being petted, simply no interest for the most part, unless she already knows you or you have food.
Rittie is MUCH more aloof- she has no PROBLEM being petted, simply no interest for the most part, unless she already knows you or you have food.
mine it depends on the situation and the dog
) My female aussie is very friendly , my male more standoffish unless he knows you.
My GSD's, my male's middle name is "aloof",,he could care less about anyone but me..My female puppy is all over anyone that comes in the house,,out in public she likes to check things out before she makes up her mind)
Other's that hve passed,,kinda the same,,either they were all over you, or could care less about people.
) My female aussie is very friendly , my male more standoffish unless he knows you.My GSD's, my male's middle name is "aloof",,he could care less about anyone but me..My female puppy is all over anyone that comes in the house,,out in public she likes to check things out before she makes up her mind
) Other's that hve passed,,kinda the same,,either they were all over you, or could care less about people.
Harry well... not good. Despite early socialisation and us not letting any bad experiences happen, I think the mix of being a poorly bred ACD cross, and whatever happened to him at his first home before we got him pretty much condemned him.
Buster, I love his attitude with people. As long as I make sure he gets pretty regular exposure to them. He will let them in if we are okay with them. He will sit at a distance and watch them for a while and eventually once he decides they are okay, he might approach them to check out closer range or just decide they arn't worth the trouble and leave. If they are guys around my age that he doesn't know well, he's glued to my side wherever I am.
When outside the yard he couldn't care less, they are nothing to do with him and as far as he's concernced, pretty insignificant. Thats how I like him.
Buster, I love his attitude with people. As long as I make sure he gets pretty regular exposure to them. He will let them in if we are okay with them. He will sit at a distance and watch them for a while and eventually once he decides they are okay, he might approach them to check out closer range or just decide they arn't worth the trouble and leave. If they are guys around my age that he doesn't know well, he's glued to my side wherever I am.
When outside the yard he couldn't care less, they are nothing to do with him and as far as he's concernced, pretty insignificant. Thats how I like him.
Thunder is a lot better than he used to be. When he was a puppy he used to bark and growl and then run away from new people. We've taken him to hundreds of public auctions and other places as well and he's soooo much better now. Now when he meets someone he is very aloof, but allows them to pet him. There are only a few people that he just plain dislikes and I usually trust his instinct... if he doesn't like someone, there's a reason. Now with children, he is wiggly and very friendly.
Blaze is "aloof", he doesnt care to meet any one, he lets people pet him with out a problem, and lets children of all ages all over him with out a issue. But if he doesnt need to meet any one, he wont go out of his way to do so. Even at the dog park, while all other dogs are begging for treats being handed out, Blaze is off smelling a bush or chasing a ball. And if some one walks up to him to offer a treat, he will gently take it from them, then drop it and walk off lol. He snubs most people. At home, he is all over people he knows. I do like his aloofness though, becuase I never have to pull him away from some one passing us on a walk, he will go out of his way to stay away from them.
He was HIGHLY socialized as a pup, taken every where, met tons of people, and to this day still taken every where meeting new people and things. But he just doesnt care for people, and to be honest, Im glad he doesnt, Like I said Im glad I dont have to worry about him pulling the leash to meet a stranger, or going up to any one with a treat.
He was HIGHLY socialized as a pup, taken every where, met tons of people, and to this day still taken every where meeting new people and things. But he just doesnt care for people, and to be honest, Im glad he doesnt, Like I said Im glad I dont have to worry about him pulling the leash to meet a stranger, or going up to any one with a treat.
Izzy will throw herself at strangers for attention and is very good at getting people to pay attention to her. Anywhere, anytime, anybody. Total attention *****.
Frodo doesn't really care for people, he either ignores them or is reactive to them outside of the house. However, inside the house he's just as bad as Izzy after a few minutes of making sure the person is okay.
Frodo doesn't really care for people, he either ignores them or is reactive to them outside of the house. However, inside the house he's just as bad as Izzy after a few minutes of making sure the person is okay.
Hmm. Blaze went through a big fear period between 4-6 months where he'd have nothing to do with strangers (barking at them mainly).
On the other hand, from the first time he met my trainer, he was "Mr Wiggle Butt" with her, yet would turn down a pet from another person the next monent.
His temperent today: He will greet a person. But if they make no contact with him, he usually could care less about what they are doing and concentrates on me and/or the ball. But he's still very, very much a puppy and if I'm talking to a person and they are having nothing to do with Blaze, he'll go Mr Wiggle Butt on me and slink over to that person and be giddy with happiness.
But most of the time, his temperent is one of: If my owner isn't doing anything with me, then I go cause mayham (i.e. bark at new person), if my owner is paying attetion then I'm a good dog.
If I'm away (example: I might tie him to a fence while I go work another dog at the end of the field) He'll be fine and cuddly with other people.
IMO, if a herding breed dog is aloof with strangers, that doesn't change my opinion of the dog much. Herding breeds are ment to be aloof and only have eyes for his owner.
On the other hand, from the first time he met my trainer, he was "Mr Wiggle Butt" with her, yet would turn down a pet from another person the next monent.
His temperent today: He will greet a person. But if they make no contact with him, he usually could care less about what they are doing and concentrates on me and/or the ball. But he's still very, very much a puppy and if I'm talking to a person and they are having nothing to do with Blaze, he'll go Mr Wiggle Butt on me and slink over to that person and be giddy with happiness.
But most of the time, his temperent is one of: If my owner isn't doing anything with me, then I go cause mayham (i.e. bark at new person), if my owner is paying attetion then I'm a good dog.
If I'm away (example: I might tie him to a fence while I go work another dog at the end of the field) He'll be fine and cuddly with other people.
IMO, if a herding breed dog is aloof with strangers, that doesn't change my opinion of the dog much. Herding breeds are ment to be aloof and only have eyes for his owner.
Bamm can be growly with strangers. If they come into my home then he'll usually look at me first and if I'm relaxed then he'll relax and be ok with the person, but still slightly reserved.
Now... if we're outside and out for a walk that's a different story. If he sees someone coming close then he'll growl at them until they're walking away from us. Doesn't help that some of the people in my neighborhood are obnoxious and when my dog growls at them they'll try and instigate him and make the situation worse.
Now... if we're outside and out for a walk that's a different story. If he sees someone coming close then he'll growl at them until they're walking away from us. Doesn't help that some of the people in my neighborhood are obnoxious and when my dog growls at them they'll try and instigate him and make the situation worse.
I've noticed as Thomas gets older he's less interested in meeting every single person. This is probably just socialization, because he lives in an all-male household, so is mostly just crazy for women and children. I can see him growing out of that, but I still don't think he'll ever be aloof. Just not "pet me pet me" crazy.