So what's your Shikoku like with people?
The comment about Rakka vs Duane got me thinking.
So how is your Shikoku with new people and children? I was a bit worried because of the comment on both breeders web sites about Shikoku being standoffish with new people, so I took Kuma out to MANY, MANY places to get exposed to lots of people early on.So far, he has not one standoffish bone in his body. He ADORES everyone and only gives tons of kisses to anyone. Away from home he is very polite (no jumping, just polite kisses), but at home we are still working on staying down (no jumping) and off of new people because he is so excited to see them (even if he has never met them before).
I am just wondering if he is more unique in that the standoffishness has not appeared yet (at 6 months). How about your Shikoku, how are they with new people? I am just trying to get an idea of the diversity of temperment. Also, if you could say who the parents are of your dog, maybe there is a difference between who the parents are?
Kuma is from Peggy (TK and Sweety breeding).
Comments
Well, Sora, like I said before, is not very people-motivated. We had a party on Sat, and the 1st people to show up were two couples, with their small children - 3 yrs, 18 months, 6 months, so we put up a gate for the dogs b/c the border collies can be pushy with wanting to be pet, and they sometimes knock the kids down accidentally. So, the gate was up, but Sora kept trying to dig under it, and barked, so I let her out, and she just wandered around. Let the kids pet her, didn't try to steal the food they were holding...wasn't really interested in them, but didn't mind them messing with her. Then, when more (rowdier) people came over, she'd wander over to investigate, allow them to pet her (she doesn't really invite petting from strangers after the 1st 20 seconds...she says "hello! Hi!" then, "whatever, you can pet me if you want, I'll permit it I guess") then wander away to the next person. Everyone was amazed at what a calm, laid back dog she was, esp at 6 months! We were all standing in the kitchen, laughing, people talking loudly, etc, and she was just laying on the floor in the middle of the circle, completely at ease. She was great! We let the other dogs out later, after the babies had left, and they were running, wiggling up to people, being attention hounds - completely opposite Sora, but all I can ask of her is that she accept it. She's friendly with us, and she allows people to mess with her, pick her up, treat her well but do whatever they want, and she's fine. There was a couple guys that would pick her up and cuddle her, and she'd let them, then when they'd set her down, she'd look up at them, then go off to the next person.
We've also found that Sora doesn't like large exuberant dogs - old english sheepdogs, bloodhounds, great danes, bernese mountain dogs...she's great with dogs her size, up to ~50lbs size, loves little dogs, but she definitely has to warm up to large pushy dogs. She doesn't like that they can reach to smell her butt before she can smell theirs. She doesn't want them jumping over her. A friend brought over his beagle/aussie? mix, ~40 lbs, female, and Sora and her were playing like crazy, and he said that his dog usually acts dominant, but they were fine.
Anyway, that's my long post.
Hmm. Interesting to compare the full siblings. Kuma is very people oriented when they first arrive at our house. He will fuss until he can be with them. However, he does quickly settle and lay down quitely after a few minutes of attention. But he is very insistent on the attention at first. Sounds like his sister (Sora) does have a bit more standoffish attitude.
At this Pet Expo, I swear we could not walk more than a few feet without 10 different people stopping to pet him and ask about him. He loved all the attention. It was only towards the end of the day (8 hrs later) that he got a little tired and wasn't as attentive to new people petting him.
Interesting that Sora wasn't interested in the kids. Kuma tries to make a b-line for children whenever we are out. He especially loves toddlers. He is very good with them too.
Ahi LOVES people, the only issue she has had with people is if they are wearing something she doesn't understand - like extremely baggy pants (think Goth or '90s skater style). She hyperly attacks people with love, and is way over excited meeting people. She is the same way with kids but seems to understand she needs to be a bit more gentle with them. Ahi will scream if a very dominant person is petting her, its really odd... she doesn't pull away from them, just screams and begs for more attention.
Loa seem to like people too, but she is pretty timid at first. She kinda checks you out first, then once she is cool with you she is all kisses.
I think the comments come from the breeders when comparing to a lab or something. If we are walking our dogs and person is slowly walking towards us our Shikas will stop and watch that person before they get excited to see them. With a lab I think they would probably just run right up to that person. So, relatively speaking, our Shikas are a bit standoffish.
Our other pups are the same way.
Tenji is not at all standoffish. He is very curious about people and continues to be very open and friendly when we are out walking. When we have people to the house however he is cautious and protective until he knows that they have been invited. Then he is all cuddles and kisses. He is wonderful with kids too. However, our neighbors tell me that when we are not home, and he is out on the gated patio, he will not allow anyone to come near the house.
So Tenji is a good watch dog too? Ahi is top-notch! Loa, not so much - I have NEVER heard Loa bark, she only lets out this awful, rather demanding, high-pitched "chirp".
Jen and I were just chatting about how cool we thought it was that Tenji gave me "five" when I met him. :c)