he was very friendly. he loved everyone. he wasnt overly friendly on introductions, what I mean is he wouldnt just go up to strangers and start trying to get petted or lick them. he would stay next to me and wait for me to introduce them, then hed approach and sniff them, and let them pet him. then after about 10 seconds of that he was their new best friend, and never forgot anyone. aside from appearance he was almost exactly a german shepherd except for 2 major points (there were some minor ones but dont spring to mind at the moment, maybe as Im writing they will) one was he never barked. a couple of times I heard what I would call a chuff, kind of like a grunt or heavy sigh? and he would yip when he was excited, and he would howl. only heard him growl once and that was while camping. I didnt hear or see anything, and didnt let him go run off, not that he was trying too, he was actually gluing himself to my leg. but the next day spoke to a family camping about 1/4 mile down the trail. they said a smallish black bear came through their camp about 15-20 mintues after Kiowa growled, from the direction of my camp site. I have no idea if he would have faught it, I dont mean actually attacking and biting but if he would have tried to scare it off. the other difference was anytime we were around other dogs, if they tried in the slightest way to assert dominance he wouldnt fight or growl, or even put up his hackles. he would simply spin around on a front foot and slam his butt into their head or chest and knock them down. looked like he was smiling the whole time. hed do this untill the other dog walked away (or was pulled away).
he was very easy to train. I taught him sit, lie down, heel, shake hands, roll over, play dead, beg, bow, bring and leave it. he loved to chew bones and his toys but never chewed any furniture or anything. he was good with the cat. every morning we'd get his toys out of their basket in the corner and play, and several times a day he would carry them all back to the basket, something I didnt train him to do but he did from day one. he loved car rides, would beg but would stay atleast a few feet away and patiently wait, and rarely get anything. his recall (off leash, "come here") was better than most of the german shepherds I've trained and met.
he was very clear on the pack order and never challenged it, after the first few weeks that is, once he learned that I was 1st in command and he was second. in fact the first week we were dating my (now) wife was puppy sitting him for a few hours. he had already accepted the fact, minutes after meeting her, that she was higher rank than him. she tried to get him to get on the sofa with her and cuddle while she watched tv. he had never gotten on the sofa before but I had never told him not too either. he would snuggle up to her legs, and lay down on her feet, or rest his head in her lap while she petted him but he wouldnt get on the couch, even when she offered him a hot dog.
but like any breed of dog, that was an individual and I have heard more stories about wolf dogs being kept by people who didnt do the proper research, and the dogs were uncontrollable. but I've also heard a lot of stories like that about domestic breeds. so it of course depends on the individual animal, the owner, the home, the amount of love, etc. from what I've heard (never let it happen with Kiowa so dont know) if you let them disobey a command once, they'll try to get away with disobeying other commands. but again, thats the same with dogs.
oh, he loved snow and water. when it was snowing, raining, or when we went to a creek or lake he was happier than any kid on christmas morning. and he LOVED kids. my neices learned how to stand and walk by grabbing handfulls of his fur. hed just stand still, not even wag his tail to avoid knocking them over. and if the kids would allow it, hed lay down and position them so they were leaning against his belly. everytime he was around them he had a huge doggy smile. and was always reluctant to leave them.