Do You Think We Form Our Doodles' Personalities?

[shelly]

I often wonder if I did something along the way to form Tori's personality.  Of course, as you may know, I blame myself (as all moms do) for Tori's 'fear' of visitors because I feared her being exposed to something instead of socializing her more when she was young.  She loves being outside, but in the summer I am worried about her frolicking in the grass for MY fear of ticks, and most recently, she had a difficult few minutes in her crate.  It was the night before Christmas Eve, and we were setting up the tables for our Christmas Day guests.  We have a desk next to her crate which had to be moved to fit the tables.  After we put her in and went up to go to bed, we heard her actually crying, not barking, but whining... she didn't like the desk moved, so I went back down pushed the desk back and off to sleep she went.  Guess she too is a creature of habit!  But - on a positive note... she is so lovable and VERY smart - I guess I was responsible for that TOO! LOL

   Is there anything YOU did to make your doodle the way he/she is today?

[shelly]

Everyone makes valuable points... THANKS!  Thanks Adina also for your confidence... As I think of my own two (human) sons, - BOTH raised by the same parents, same 'rules' discipline, etc and they are very different personalities... I too believe that we work with what nature gives us and go from there... I guess you're right, Adina, about not causing the 'fear'... And many of you make good points about these doodles conforming to our own lifestyle.  

   Years ago, I never would have even thought twice about the 'right' way to behave around our "DOGS", and if I was doing all the 'right stuff'.... thanks to all of you, I have learned so much!!!  

[ej]

Interesting discussion. 

 

I often comment that K takes his cues from us especially from my DH.  I am mellow, non confrontational, and I believe that everyone is rather decent unless proven otherwise.  DH is the opposite and he believes that he is a good judge of characters (??!!).  Months ago I shared about how K seems to bully this particular neighbor from the same apartment building.  Even prior to that, DH commented that this guy gives off a strange vibes.  DH is also not fond of the current team of security guards we have here so he prefers not to chat with them.  And he is extremely weary of the stray dogs transmitting their parasites or diseases to our two, hence he would shoo them off.  And because K grew up witnessing these behaviors and sensing such "animosity", he has become very protection and fierce towards these characters.  

 

That said, K is quiet and confident when meeting anyone and everyone walking through our door.  We meet strangers and dogs (with their humans!) on daily basis when we take them for walks, and we have no problem introducing him to new "friends".  He stands still to be pet, and he is unfrazed by screaming or rowdy kids although unlike Z, he prefers to avoid kids if possible.   

 

So I do agree nature has a lot to do with the development of their individual personality traits, but nurture plays a huge role as well.  Z is by nature a coward, and skiddish dog, hence she chooses to avoid and defuse any stressful situations rather than confronting it.