I currently have two dogs... a Chocolate Lab and a Siberian Husky. NEITHER are even close to adhering to breed characteristics. For example:
The Siberian LOVES the water... is obsessed with water actually. When out for walks if Roxy, (the Siberian), spots a puddle she's going to dive in. Doesn't matter the weather.. rainy, cold, she's getting in the water. The Chocolate Lab? Lab's who take to water like a fish? Doesn't care for it that much. He will get in but only cautiously and sparingly.
Siberians while known for being gentle dogs DO possess a stand-offish demeanor, (or should according to breed characteristics)... at least around strangers. Not Roxy... Roxy loves people, any people. That Axe-Murderer about to exterminate your entire family? That would be Roxy's best friend. And Rocco, the Lab? Labs's.. known for loving any human being alive and so gentle that they make a diehard 60's Hippie seem a sociopath? Rocco, (the Lab), is schizophrenic. Wont' attack, (bite), but will bark threateningly from afar.. WHILE wagging his tail hoping the 'stranger' will "think" he's a bad ass while in reality isn't.
Rocco is bigger than Roxy... and older. BUT.. Roxy controls the dinner plate. Rocco must wait his turn. If we scold Roxy for not being more 'sharing' she pouts. Then after we depart she will give Rocco the cold shoulder for the best part of a day.
Neither pays a lot of attention to commands. They WILL show guilt but then both will continue with their instinctive bad behavior unable to ward off discipline. They exhibit their guilt very differently, however. Roxy, the Siberian, will stay close and do her best to hit you with a guilt trip... sad eyes, you know the type. Rocco, on the other hand, will go far away and cower... and note: neither has EVER been physically admonished. I think Rocco wants us to think we are terrible people who have abused him terribly... even though it's the exact opposite.
They both love us, her family... as long as us, (her family), are not out with them... in which case they vie for our attention to the point of nipping at each other. You cannot pet one without petting the other.. and when you pet the 'other' then the 'other' will throw a hissy fit and try to physically remove your petting hand from the 'other'. Jealousy is rampant.
The UPS guy has gotten into a very bad habit... he will drop my packages off all the way out by the road, (a good distance)... the FedEx lady, on the other hand, had made life long friends of both and after dropping off the package will spend another few minutes frolicking with Roxy and Rocco in my front yard.
Ok, so... does your dog(s) exhibit typical breed characteristics? - JamesJM
