I had a German Shepard as a child and she was by far the best dog we ever had. But to google German shepherds she was nothing like the characteristics listed. She was terrified of next doors cat. Think nobody told her she was a German Shepard. Had a collie who ticked every collie box and then some. What's your dog breed? Are they anything like you expected them to be?
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The doghouse
Micah ·
29/12/2019 12:06
Yorkie here.
Everything the breed is supposed to be- great ratter/mouser, loyal, happy sitting on laps or out for long muddy walks. Easy to train. Friendly with dogs and people, but needs to approach on his terms as he tends to get grabbed or bounced on 
Not at all like people’s perceptions of the breed, not yappy, i had to teach him to bark when the door went, not snappy. It surprises me how many people comment he doesn’t bite or constantly bark. I do treat him like a dog though, and make a big effort to stop people carrying him round and treating him more like a baby or a toy.
Judashascomeintosomemoney ·
29/12/2019 13:06
My greyhound clearly didn’t read the greyhound handbook. She doesn’t sleep all day, up and down like a yoyo, wants to go in the garden, come in the house, follow me round, watch me cook. She barks a lot, usually to demand her food (three times a day), her walk (also three times a day), to be allowed access to whichever room has taken her fancy if somebody has stupidly left the door shut. And she keeps on barking til she gets what she wants (we’re all her slaves). She sheds everywhere (really wasn’t expecting that one!). She eats tons of food (approx twice as much as our Labrador) though of course, remains slim and slinky (unlike the poor old Labrador!). She doesn’t know she’s a sight hound, obviously thinks she’s a bloodhound, as her walks takes forever so she can sniff everything she sees throughly. She loves cats, especially next doors, though can’t say the feeling is mutual 
. And finally, and probably most shockingly, she refuses to get on the sofa 
. She is adorable though, and so funny, she loves everybody and everything and demands attention and strokes from everyone she meets by kicking them
Judashascomeintosomemoney ·
29/12/2019 13:06
(My Labrador, otoh, definitely read his handbook, twice in fact )
adaline ·
29/12/2019 15:00
We have a beagle.
He's super food-orientated if it's food he likes.
His recall is shocking if he catches a scent, but on somewhere like a beach or in an enclosed field he's fine and comes back every time.
He's great with children/elderly people and seems to know that he has to be calm and quiet around them.
He is very stubborn and has been known to tell us off if we ask him to do something he doesn't want to do
But in terms of training he's actually been surprisingly easy to train and we get a lot of compliments on his behaviour. He knows all the basics and then some - sit, lie down, wait, stay, come, weave, paw (both paws), high five (both paws), roll over (both directions), spin (both directions), and he can jump through hoops/over jumps as well.
He's a big snuggly baby for the most part and is happiest when he's under a duvet cuddling one of his humans!
Judashascomeintosomemoney ·
30/12/2019 18:32
Super
Sorry only just seen your question. I don’t actually know as she’s so old her ear tattoos have faded so much we can’t work them out to check her records. We weren’t her first adopters, she had a lovely home before us but her owner sadly passed away. She was in a scheme with Dog's Trust whereby, in the event of an owners passing, they take the dog on and rehome them. We were looking for an oldie to be a companion to our old boy Labrador after his Labrador sister died and Dog’s Trust said she’d be perfect. So we never had her training/racing record. She’s lovely but definitely Diva tendencies
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k1233 ·
30/12/2019 21:40
Westie I researched a lot when working out a succession plan for my staffy (the only way I could cope with the thought of him dying).
I could not have asked for a more perfect dog. I knew he was exactly what I wanted from the minute he walked in the door. He is cheeky and rascally and stunningly handsome. My heart flutters everytime I see him - he's 4.5yo, so not new LOL
They seem to have some really common quirks:
- sleep on pillows - westies love to find pillows to sleep on
- the nose bump on your leg - just to remind you to take them too
- westitude - I haven't seen it with mine, but then I love his cheekiness and boldness
- bark at animals on tv
- the westie wuffle
- tunneling behind legs when you sit down
I also have a cocker spaniel, she's 7yo and I got her to be a buddy for the westie pup. She seems not smart but is definitely smart when it is something important to her. On one of our walks we pass a drink fountain. One day on the way back I stopped there to give the dogs a drink. Every time since, only on the way back, she makes a beeline to the water. She's also pretty brave. I don't think she had the best start to life - I was her 4th home before she was 3yo. She took a while to get confident, but is a pretty good girl these days.
If I want the westie, I call the cocker LOL The westie is a suspicious little thing - if you want him it must be for no good LOL
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