Can they really recognise other breeds ?

[Lab_adore]

Coco loves all dog types. He doesn't care if the don't like him, he still loves them. It's a bit of a nuisance sometimes really.

Ditto with Maxx. I think he simply doesn't understand that some dogs don't want to play or if they do they may have had enough. He can be a right pest so we monitor carefully

 

[Candy]

Coco loves all dog types. He doesn't care if the don't like him, he still loves them. It's a bit of a nuisance sometimes really.

Oh, but what a sweetheart! Joy would love him without doubt! She's already sending kisses.

 

[Cath]

When I had my Lab Robbie (black Lab), I also had Charlie a Border Terrier and they were great friends. Charlie also liked my friend's (yellow) Lab too.

 

[MaccieD]

My understanding is that all breeds of dogs communicate the same way, whether a GSD, poodle or bulldog. Extremes of breeding can make interpreting the nuances of canine language difficult, (brachy, posture, cropped ears, loose folds on face, lack of tail...) and so mistakes happen. Bit like us trying to understand someone in a balaclava, OK that may be a bit simplistic, however, that I think was the gist of it from my adolescent training classes. I guess if this has to lead to a previous negative experience with a bulldog, then this may in part account for the incident.

No I think you're spot on. Different breed characteristics can make it more difficult to read what a dog is saying. I find brachys and short/no tail the most difficult so French Bulldogs are an interesting challenge sometimes for assessment.

 

[Jennifer]

I wonder if there might be something in the scent of different breeds. We all love a lab smell right ?My two don't like poodles or anything with poodle in it. Two standard poodles are often walked up our lane. Even with out seeing them my two know if they are ahead of us. They sniff the air and Scott's hackles will go up. Watch out poodles about The scent of Spaniels on the other hand has the opposite effect especially cavalier spaniels. We meet a couple quite regularly and Scout adores them follows their scent all the way back with great excitement. Body language is a good point. My dogs are very sensitive to body language particularly staring. Some breeds, mainly bully type breeds inc rotties and boxers but also dobermans and German Shephards naturally stare it's part of their breed characteristic to do with the "job" they were originally bred for.