My Goldendoodle got mistaken for a sheep!

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

So Fenway, Dustin, and I were at the dog park today and Dustin was getting lots and lots of attention form the two Australian Shepherds that also come to the dog park. They were "herding" him all around, which didn't please Dustin at all. He's very submissive to all dogs so he was not sure about all of this attention he was getting. I couldn't figure out why they were chasing him around until the lady that runs the dog park mentioned that they may think that he's a sheep. I know I shouldn't have, but I had a good laugh about this. They thought my doodle was a sheep!!! And you know what he really does look like one. Just thought this was pretty hilarious and was wondering if any other doodles out there have had this experience. Have any other doodles been mistaken for sheep by people or other dogs?

[Caroline]

LOL! Bless Dustin!
My Christy would be more of a lamb than a sheep (size wize). Have not had this particular experience, but she does attract a lot of dogs with high prey drive who chase her because she runs so fast, and ends up having to be "rescued" a lot.

[Adina P]

How hilarious! This happened to Rosco at the dog park. With a border collie pup. Pup never herded him around, but would stalk him as he chewed on his toy from 10 feet away or so...and as soon as I'd throw the toy for Rosco the border collie would run a length behind him and then stop and crouch down and stalk him. Breed brains are so neato in action!

[Linda,Yankee & Finn]

Yes, we've had this happen with border collies especially when we had several doodles with us.

[Lorraine Bromley]

I get comments on Neelys Sheep resemblance all the time. I THINK its cute too. I also know a family that had an Australian Shepard nad young kids and they had to rehome it due to the fact the dog kept hearding the kids. Poor puppy was just doing his job.

[Diana Allen]

So funny... we were at the pet store one day and bought a sheep for Cagney.. it might be in one of my pics not sure off the top of my head.. but it looks like the cartoon "Shawn the Sheep"... we like that cartoon and when my boyfriend saw it he had to buy it for Cagney... one day my neighbor looked over the fence and thought it was my Shipoo Timber laying dead on the ground... tooooo much.. was good for a laugh.... Cagney loves his sheep toy... I am having some trouble getting pics uploaded after my son did something to my computer so will work on getting some pics in soon... to update my site...

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

I have been told Hannah reminds some people of a sheep ...the coat type wether it be long or short just reminds them of the fur on a sheep...I think it's cute also and does not bother me at all when said.

[Richard Crowe]

Slightly off subject - But, I need to get this off my chest:

It is pretty well accepted that some herding breeds, especially the Great Border collies have an in-bred instinct to herd. If they do not get the opportunity to herd sheep, they will herd just about any animal or human. There are other dogs which are equally accepted as having in-bred instincts to accomplish one act or another, retrievers retrieve, bloodhounds follow scent, sight hounds course, etc., etc.

However, it is politically incorrect to state that some dogs have inherently more aggressive behaviors towards other dogs and even humans. The standard cop-out is that the dog is not inherently aggressive, it is just they way that dog is raised. I refute that statement. When have you heard of a dog fighting ring that uses Golden Retrievers as fighting dogs? It is nature, not nurture that makes certain breeds fighting dogs.

I and my late Springer Spaniel were attacked by a Pit Bull one day. The Pit had my Springer by the back leg and I kicked the Pit Bull so hard and so long that, even though I was wearing high military boots, I was completely black and blue from my instep to my shin. It didn't faze the pit. I have never in my life seen such singularity of purpose in any dog. My Springer and I ended up pretty badly chewed up.

I just read in today's paper that the U.S. Marine Corps had clamped down on the presence of aggressive dogs living in their base housing and has identified several breeds or cross breeds as being inherently aggressive. I am sure that there are many dogs in these categories that are docile, calm and gentle pets. Wolf-hybrids are one of the many dogs identified. In fact, I once owned a Golden Retriever - German Shepherd - Wolf hybrid who was the most gentle dog in the world.

However, as I said earlier; there are some dogs that are just inherently more aggressive than others. The Marine Corps ban on certain breeds resulted from the death of a toddler in North Carolina by a Pit Bull. Sure there are nice Pit Bulls but, when is the last time you have heard of a child being killed or maimed by a Golden retriever or Labrador.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I do think we animals are all a combo of nature and nurture. Nature certainly has arole to play.

[Adina P]

Pit Bulls are, by breed standard, supposed to be NON-aggressive with humans. It is a flaw in their breeding, or whatever, if they show aggression to humans. IN other words...it's not part of the goal for a pit bull to be a human-aggressive dog. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen...

On the other hand they were bred to fight other large animals. They have a tenacity and persistence (that lead to the myth of their locking jaws) that keep them from giving up. They have a high pain tolerance. That is very unique to the breed. They also are more likely to be dog-aggressive UNLESS you're lucky OR the dog was very well socialized and trained from the start. That's why they DO typically make good fighting dogs.

[Adina P]

http://www.badrap.org -- this was recommended by a trainer friend I trust. Good info on pit bulls.

[DeeDee and Sheila]

My 68 lb. yellow lab was downed and neck pinned by a pit bull that was let loose in our park. It took less than 2 seconds Luckily Sunny laid very still and submissive and I made the owner get his dog off her (he didn't want to). I nearly wet my pants and had to rest at an apartment and the man there told me the pit bull had killed its house mate (another pit bull). I got them evicted from the apartment building with no regrets. I was lucky my labrador survived.

[Becky and Bella]

I think that describing Pitbulls as most of you are as an 'awful breed' is simply unfair. It is bad breeding and misconceptions that have led to this. I bet if golden retrievers were taken into the hands of dog fighters and only the most agressive ones were bred and taught to fight, that there would be a large population of mean goldens out there, but we all know how sweet a golden can be. Our dogs have been attacked by a golden retriever many times, as well as a dauchsund (sp?), mixed breeds, and a german shephard. Outlawing pitbulls is like racisism. Judge the dog, not the breed.
Back on subject, I think that it is totally hilarious that Dustin was mistaken for a sheep, I wonder why Fenway was exempt?
Katie, Becky, and Bella