soft/hard dogs

[loverocksalot]

Well then Rocky is definately a soft dog fits your definition 100 percent. But ocasionally he will sass me. Test me. but if I raise my voice or say the f word he knows I mean it.

[valliesong]

The way I usually describe it is that soft dogs want to please you, hard dogs want to please themselves.

Soft dogs will look to you for approval, and their world revolves around you. They want to do things to entertain you, please you, and do things with you. They are very sensitive to your feelings and reactions, and very people oriented. Most pit bulls I have known have been soft dogs, as have been the shepherds I have had, but it does depend on the dog. Many golden retrievers are also more on the soft side.

Hard dogs look to please themselves, and their world revolves around them. They are the "jocks" of the dog world, dufuses that do their own thing, and seem to forget that you are at the end of the leash. They want you to entertain them. Many are more environmentally driven than people driven. Most labs are hard dogs, as well as chessies and a few other sporting breeds.