My dog isn’t friendly. He’s a big, oversized Sheltie and everybody wants to pet him because he’s so beautiful. But he’ll have none of it. He retreats from every hand that comes his way, and barks his head off if anyone tries to pet him. He’s indifferent to all blandishments, including food.
There’s a lot of variation among and within dog breeds when it comes to being friendly and sociable. Some breeds are more aloof - and there’s a good chance that the gene described in the study may account for some of the differences.
If this theory holds your dog has a long face, upright ears and a big tail. Amirite?
Interesting. My aunt has two and both were very standoffish, head shy as they say.
I didn’t give up on them and just went slow in physical interaction.
Now they are very sociable with me. Strangers, nope, they still try to eat them.
That’s unusual for a Sheltie. I had an ‘oversized’ one who was somewhat stoic, but never barked at anything but cats and door knocks. Knew someone who bred show Shelties. She had 15 IN her house, at once. I visited, as a stranger, and was enthusiastically welcomed by all but one, blue merle, male. He was standoffish, but eventually got in bed with me-along with two others. IMO Shelties are the most near-human thinking dogs around.
Have 2 Shelties and can confirm. Neither like strangers. I’ve had a lot Shelties over the years and only one was user-friendly.
Yeah, not all dogs are “friendly”. Dogs should be respected as animals with different characters, not simply “googoogaga-loved”.
But you’ll have tons stating how “dog” is “God” (only in English), how they are nothing but wonderful unselfish loving creatures, etc. That’s like gushing over humans. For all the pabalum gushed for dogs (often coupled with aspersions against cats), one must remember how many maulings there are by dogs - and as opposed to cats.