- Joined
- 3/24/14
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- 1,106
When it comes to Labs and Goldens and that kind of OMG-fall-all-over-myself-you-complete-me-I-must-love-everyone temperament you often hear them described as loveable goofballs, doofus, derpy, etc and what not. These are terms I have rarely heard employed when it comes to Spoos. I've certainly never met a Spoo that acted like that, though I am sure some do. When it comes to those I've met in person the vast majority were kind of "meh" when it comes to strangers. They really had a take it or leave it type of attitude. They didn't approach me or seek out any interaction from me. If I tried to interact they....endured it. They accepted it, enjoyed the pets or scratches and then went back to doing their own thing. They were all tightly bonded and highly in tune with their owners, though.....and I have seen them be totally derpy with family. Much like with the Schanuzer family the smaller breeds are noticeably different from the larger varieties. Lots of similarities, but many differences.Huh. I always thought they were like Goldens/Labs where they're just I-LOVE-EVERYONE sort of temperament, but if not that, maybe just a bit less? It's amazing to hear that. Do you have any thoughts 'bout Airedale Terriers? I just want to put out my feelers for different dog breeds. I don't know if I'll go with a Standard Poo but they've definitely gone up my list. I haven't met any yet, but I've met some Airedales and a good amount of Schnauzers, so I'm confident in their temperament more so than I am with Poodles.
And seriously, THANK YOU so much for understand... I've posted on a couple of other forums and I really received a lot of hate for that. My current dog was just flat out aloof when I didn't give the OK, so I was sort of comfortable with her. Still, wished sometimes that she was a bit bigger, but I knew that she'd try to protect me with everything in her.
I know very little about Airedales. There's a guy up the street with one, but otherwise I have no real life experience with them. They aren't common around here and haven't ever been in my lifetime. Generally speaking I like a biddable dog, terriers aren't known for biddability.
The truth is, dogs are a deterrent and a very good one, too! Most criminal acts are crimes of opportunity and the presence of a dog makes said opportunists look for an easier target. Studies have shown that even the presence of a tiny lap dog deters property crime.....even more so than posted signs about security systems. Criminals want easy, low risk, low exposure targets. Dogs make them think twice and move along.
I backpack, hike and camp alone. The wilderness is actually statistically quite a safe place, but there is something about being entirely isolated and meeting a weirdo that stands your hair on end. Meeting that same weirdo in a more public setting and my heart doesn't skip a beat. Ya know what I mean? When I am in an area that allows the dogs I have certainly noticed that the "caliber" of person I encounter on trail improves noticeably. It certainly could be that less strange people are congregating in those areas and so my sample is biased, but honestly I think the dogs make the weirdos keep their distance or at least keep their weirdness in check. Perhaps I am acting differently because the dogs provide some comfort? Perhaps just having dogs around lowers blood pressure and makes everyone "nicer"? I don't really know, but the tenor of conversations and interactions changes for the better. There's the odd curmudgeonly get-off-my-lawn dog hating hiker, but they certainly aren't going to stick around and share space with my filthy animals. Other than that, it's just a more pleasant experience from the people perspective with the dogs there than not.