Do they know the difference between breeds ?

Jennifer

Jennifer

We had an interesting meet and greet this morning. Hunter still greets new dogs on lead like he did when he was small. Sniffs nose, bounces away, barks, bows, bounces about, especially if the other dog is interested in him. He also still greets new humans that way too. This morning on our walk we met a man running with two black lab bitches. An 8 year old and a 2 year old. We all had to stop as a train was passing and got chatting like you do. Hunter went to the two very well behaved labs. They all sniffed noses, tails wagging and ALL behaved unbelievably calmly. At no point did Hunter bounce away. The runner commented on how big he was and that he still had more growing to do.:shock: He did make his two look small although all from Drakeshead lines. Hunter’s reaction to Labradors completely different to any other breed. I remember Murphy was the same. Scott and Scout wanted nothing to do with any dog whatever the breed :wasntme:
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
From my experience I would say 100 per cent yes! Joy is my 6th dog and every one of them has always been visibly pleased to meet others of the same breed. ( First dog was a Lurcher, all subsequent ones Labradors). Whenever Joy sees another Labrador she HAS to go and say hello, even if they've never met before. She also recognizes other breeds of dogs that she has friends from, so since knowing Keir she has to greet GRs, she loves Loki nextdoor, so has to greet all Spaniels, she has lots of friends who are Doodles, Cavapoos or similar, so has to greet them, and all in all walks can take quite a while! Also she is afraid of and will do all she can to avoid dogs of a type who she's had a bad experience with, so is very wary around any fighting type dog and German Shepherds. I have no doubt at all that she recognises breeds!
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Yes, I agree that labs recognize others of their breed. I would even say that Poppy thinks she is a black Labrador - she especially loves black labs. Her mother was black, so I wonder whether that is what she automatically looks for?? And when she came home we had Bones, who was also black.

Merlin is nervous of small white fluffy dogs; they completely freak him out. No idea why!!! :wasntme:
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
It would be amazing if they didn't, wouldn't it? I'm certain they recognise variations and similarities, although of course we're the weird ones that put breed labels on certain characteristics. Kipper still looooves a spaniel and will always make a beeline to play with any we come across. I'm pretty certain we must have had a puppyhood experience that imprinted his love for them although I can't remember anything specific.
 
Lab_adore

Lab_adore

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Sydney, Australia
100% for sure! If Maxx sees another lab or a golden retriever a waggy, sniffy, kissy meet and greet is mandatory. We have to keep him away from pugs and bulldogs just as @kateincornwall mentioned as he immediately bristles and growls if they come too close so it must be the laboured breathing that comes across as aggressive. All of the little dogs around here love Maxx as he is a gentle giant around them; he patiently stands as they lick his face and in fact there are two little dogs that live together that we call his 'fan club'. As soon as they see him in the distance they start pulling and dancing to get to him. We keep our distance from all other large dogs unless he knows them as he is 99% ok but just sometimes one sets him off - mostly if they have curly hair on their face. We think he was picked on in the kennel back in 2019
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
I call it the Labrador Club. Thanks to the @Beanwood gang's initiation, he now forever and always MUST greet all Labradors, especially the chocolate ones (#BensonLove). A lot of dog breeds are clannish, but Labradors seem to rival chihuahuas in their sublime passion for Dogs That Look Like ME. 😂

Of course this does not detract from the fact that Carbón still thinks he is a Galgo, because that was the breed he spent his formative first year with (Spanish shelters in the area he came from are about 90% Galgo, a Spanish hunting breed that looks like a massive greyhound). When I first took him from the shelter, he made zero noise unless he sighted a Galgo in the distance and then he made this keening cry like he'd DIE if he didn't go to the other dog. It was really pretty sad.

I thought after the Beanwood initiation, learning to swim, walks with all the Labs in the SW walkies group, etc., he would have figured out he was a Lab, but when we were in Spain year before last and saw a Galgo, he did the same darned pitiful noise.

pee ess. He also goes bananas about any dog that looks like any other dog he's spent a lot of time with and counts as an 'amigo'. Cockapoo/cavapoo = his friend Ted or Curly Murphy, working cockers = his buddies from Porthcothan, chihuahuas = amiga Fine. He never forgets a friend and I think that's wonderful. ❤
 
MrChew

MrChew

Chewie loves Labs and Goldens. And when they greet it's mostly sniffing and wiggling rather than over excited carrying on. Except Toffee, because she likes to shout her joy about meeting Chewie to the whole neighbourhood...

He is also into staffies, possibly because as a pup he had a staffy friend (Basil) and they are boofy and silly.

With little dogs Chewie very much takes cues from them. If they are indifferent he will be calm and walk on. If they are angry he tries to appease them (he makes himself so small!) and if they are excited he becomes an idiot.
 
Kelsey

Kelsey

Interesting reading everyone’s dogs experience’s! So far, Hugo does not discriminate, he sees every dog as his very own best friend and tries to lick them to death. He would also play with all the neighbourhood cats and ducks and squirrels if they would let him 🤦🏼‍♀️ But he is still a baby so this most likely will change! Will be interesting to see as he matures :happy:
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
Kelsey said:
Interesting reading everyone’s dogs experience’s! So far, Hugo does not discriminate, he sees every dog as his very own best friend and tries to lick them to death. He would also play with all the neighbourhood cats and ducks and squirrels if they would let him 🤦🏼‍♀️ But he is still a baby so this most likely will change! Will be interesting to see as he matures :happy:
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Awww, I want Hugo to have a squirrel friend for life!! They could have all kinds of adventures and you could write a children’s book about them. (The squirrel would have to be ‘wisecracking’, obvs).
 
Kelsey

Kelsey

HAH said:
Awww, I want Hugo to have a squirrel friend for life!! They could have all kinds of adventures and you could write a children’s book about them. (The squirrel would have to be ‘wisecracking’, obvs).
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Hahah sounds like a good book! They are already mocking poor Hugo 🤣 Today Hugo could smell one but couldn’t find him and was doing circles sniffing everywhere. The squirrel was sitting on the fence eating a chestnut in peace, watching Hugo go in circles 🙈
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Yes -- in Cassie's case :). She most definitely greets other black Labs as her long lost friends, still even now in her less rambunctious days. Like @MellowYellow I have wondered whether it is some sort of imprinting days from early life with a black mum and all black littermates and in her case extended family as well. It's fair to say that in general she's pleased to see Labs of other colours and gundogs in general.
Even in the afore mentioned rambunctious days she always seemed to have an innate suspicion of small dogs and over time with good reason has learned to avoid larger dogs especially those with sticking up ears.
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Selina27 said:
No indeed.
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Not at all daft! My Rotties and my pit bull had breed preferences based on their experiences (any dog who looks like an existing friend is also a friend) but I’ve only seen chihuahuas act as ‘clubby’ as Labradors.

Though it must be said, chihuahuas close ranks amongst themselves to show disdain (often taking the form of trying to murder the other party) for anyone outside their circle more than having to greet every other chihuahua like a long lost sibling. And I say this as someone who loves chihuahuas. Seriously, don’t mess with a chihuahua. If they were even a little bigger (and if people would stop dressing them in cute pink dresses), they’d be the most respected mammal on the planet. 😁
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Selina27 said:
Interesting isn't it?
I had a good discussion with a lovely young vet about this topic - not chihuahua s in particular but as part of the bigger picture around the pit bull legislation.
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I won’t wade into that too much - as with the breeds have had and fostered, my viewpoint is likely obvious.

But I will say that simple visuals DO make a huge difference in how certain breeds are perceived. I found out by accident that putting anything pink on my pretty pittie girl Mama Jodhi instantly erased her pittie-fear-factor for 99% of the public. I’m not much of a fan of the color Pink, but after that discovery, she never went out without wearing at least one item of pink.

And of course my well-known bandana addiction started with me trying to make my first Rottweiler less intimidating: “Look how friendly I am because I’m wearing a rubber duck bandana and a fishing hat !” 😝
 
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