Are GDs "rude"?

[Ellen]

I attended an agility class last night with my mini goldendoodle Riley, and the instructor made an interesting comment about GDs. But I need to give you some context, so bear with me.

It was a great class, but at the end, one of the dogs suddenly lunged at Riley and another dog with teeth baring and lot of growling/barking. Everybody was startled, including the dog's owners. The instructor explained that dogs that are otherwise fine in a leash-free environment sometimes are leash aggressive, which I've heard before.

I piped up and said that it doesn't help that Riley starts wriggling his butt and jumping up and down eager to play with a leash-aggressive dog that clearly has other plans. At this point, my instructor asked if Riley was a goldendoodle and said "Don't be offended, but I've worked a lot of goldendoodles, and they tend to be rude".....i.e., GDs will make the situation worse by approaching a leash-aggressive dog or directly facing an leash-aggressive dog instead of turning its body or head away to alleviate the situation.

I wasn't offended, but I never thought about it in that way. I always thought Riley was just an uber friendly dog that just didn't catch the signals from aggressive dogs. But then I remembered that at the dog park, Riley goes out of his way to avoid aggressive dogs; as soon as a dog growls at him over a water bowl or tennis ball, Riley is out of there! So, I find it interesting that he doesn't act the same way when we run into a leash-aggressive dog that is lunging and growling at him, clearly ready to tear him apart.

So, I put it out to the DK community.......Are goldendoodles "rude"?

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

Your instructor probably chose the word "rude" because of an article called "He Just Wants to Say Hi", by trainer Suzanne Clothier. (She is well known in the agility world.) In the article she talks about doggie communication and how "friendliness" can be viewed as "rudeness" in doggie language. (see article below)

I never realized why certain dogs (especially border collies) hated my male labradoodle until I read the article. It made me realize that my dog's over the top, in your face greetings, were like going up to a stranger and french kissing them, hahaha!! ;) Labs are notoriously "rude" because they're so darn friendly and not always good with the "doggie etiquette". Goldens seem to have a little more etiquette than labs, but that's just my opinion. :) Check out the article and see what you think! :)

www.positiveway.us/Downloads/HeJustWantsToSayHi.pdf

[GBK]

I have heard this said about Labs also. They totally ingnore proper doggie language and go all out no matter who they meet. Hadn't heard it about GD's or Golden's though.....

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

"like going up to a stranger and french kissing them,"

You mean there is something wrong with this? No wonder all the neighbors go inside and close the blinds when I step outside.

ROTFLMAO!

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

Ahahahaha!! :)

[Ellen]

Thanks for sharing! This was an interesting article. I'll have to observe Riley's posture (e.g. ears foward, etc.) next time.

[Kelli, Fenway, & Dustin Pedroia]

You know I never thought of it that way. I have both a labradoodle and a goldendoodle and both are over-exuberant greeters They don't meet a stranger (dog or human) and when we are on leash especially and we meet other people or dogs I always say to my dogs, "Not everybody wants to play and be your buddy!" The thing is that most people and dogs do give them attention so they still greet everyone like they're a long lost friend!

[Adina P]

I've heard that before, not of any one breed...but any dog that doesn't respond appropriately to another dog's 'signals.' I think it's a little silly to blame it on a breed mix. GD's can't 'tend' to be rude unless goldens and poodles also 'tend' to be rude, after all that's where they get their genes.

Did the trainer offer some method of teaching a dog 'how to be polite'? Or was 'rude' used as both an adjective and a life sentence? To me it seems that training would fix that so he'd stand or sit politely by your side when he's not running the course.

[Janie]

I believe Adina said it best.

[Ellen]

The trainer offered some suggestions for keeping Riley at bay .....getting him to sit or lie down, distracting him with yummy treats, divert his attention with a toy, etc. I've been trying all of these techniques for the past year or so, and it's hit or miss. Sometimes he's great and I'm amazed, and then there are instances where I am doing my best to restrain him....but I think part of the problem is inconsistency on my part.

[Tammy]

Zoe thinks that every dog we see wants to play with her and doesn't understand when they don't want to.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I'm still picturing the french kissing thing....too funny.........and that is exactly what it must seem like to unexpecting dogs!!!! My goldendoodle is just oblivious to other dog warnings and just hops, skips and jumps circles around everyone he meets.

He is starting to "get it" tho, that when they ignore him, he's outta there, looking for his next new best bud.

[Jersey, Jasmine, Jypsy and Diane]

Jersey isn't, she is respectful of all other dogs, but my friend's doodle is. It bounces all over everyone and everything.