Is this a good thing?

[Horsefeathers!]

Two of my Standard Poodles are believed to be littermates who were separated for a year or so and are now both living with me (they are four years old, neutered males). They are extremely bonded to each other and to me. They are also very social and well mannered. They don't mind pushy people, other dogs, loud noises... usually nothing seems to bother either of them. Except my husband. It took them a LOT longer to bond with him. Perry used to be aloof and would grumble in fear if my husband directly approached him and Pauly seemed downright terrified of him and would just cower. My husband is great with the dogs and works wonderfully with them and I know it's nothing he has done. Maybe it's the facial hair (he has a beard), or maybe someone in the kennel they came from looked like him and was aggravating, I dunno.

Anyfreakinhoo, now they get along with my husband great. The thing is my husband and I like to play and rough house sometimes (yeah, so we're not THAT old :o )... tickle fights, wrestling and just other goofiness. Perry and Pauly, who I trust implicitly with strange children or anyone else and who have never shown ANY form of aggression to ANYONE else seriously try to attack him. They get between me and him and charge him and they mean it! Ok, I know THAT'S not a good thing and we certainly do not encourage it. They can always be called down and we don't reward that behavior. They are all friends afterward, but it's like if they think I'm threatened, they react. What I'm wondering is if they would do this if I were in public and a perfect stranger rushed me. I'm only curious. I mean, I'm not planning on hanging out in the bars with them and taunting passersby to find out, but I just wonder if these dogs would react the same way to someone who was indeed a real threat. I don't get it. They are so perfect with anyone. People can reach right into the car with them, anyone is welcomed into our home by them, they aren't territorial at all and put up with anything. They're Standard Poodles, for crying out loud! I have read that they can be very protective, but it's kind of tough wrapping my brain around that.

Any insight from some of you behavioral minded types?

[DogPaddle]

Kavik charges my brother if he and I roughhouse. He barks, charges, sometimes raises his hackles, jumps up and . . . that's it. He's run out of bluffs at that point, interestingly if we include him in the roughhousing he is fine, he also seems to enjoy jumping up and grumbling at people who are hugging till he is included. So I guess I'm saying, I don't know exactly what's up but I can relate.

[Horsefeathers!]

At first, I thought maybe they were just trying to play, so we tried to include them. It's hard to explain... my husband can wrestle and rough house with them all he wants and they are happy. He can play with me and they charge at him. Figuring they were playing, too, and it was a bluff, he charged back, just playing along (he thought) and, good grief, what'd did he want to go and do that for?! I nearly had to pull them off! They were dead serious and he had to talk them down. It's almost like they didn't even recognize him. :-?

Maybe I just have stupid dogs. They sure wouldn't be the first. We have a regular Island of Misfits here. :-?

[Guest Anonymous]

Cody goes after my husband when we rough house around. he runs after him barking and growing at him and then i have to tell him it's ok then he will lick hubby and kinda give him this "i'm sorry i should know by now look" by sitting there rolling his eyes and tilting his head.. lol i wish i could show you a video of it.. it's just too damn cute!

[StarFox]

Yup I have the same problem with Zebra. My brother and I push and play punch eachother allot (just for fun) and Zebra get realy upset and runs and growels at my brother. Today my brother grabbed my hand and Zebra comes running up takes my bro's hand in his mouth and pulls him away. I guess it's just his way of saying "Don't touch my master!". :roll:

[ellieangel]

Rio does this too I'm so glad I'm not alone :roll:

He 'shouts' at the kids if they fight too(which is often :roll: )

[Peng1zrule]

I see this as dominance--they simply don't want him to be playing with you. OR, they could still see him as threatening, in which case, if they are still jumping when he moves quickly, licking thier lips and nose when he touches them, moving away the second he reaches for something they have, I would say they are protecting you from someone they consider scary--and they would do it in any situation.

[kendalyn]

Standard Poodles can be protective. Kody, my standard poodle who died a year and a half ago was like this. He was very distrustful of UPS men for some reason. He was fine with anything or anyone else, but when the UPS men came we had to put him in another room because he would growl and he meant it.

Another time when my sister and I were young, we were home alone and a salesmen came to the door. We answered the door (we weren't supposed to but we did anyway) and Kody was going ballistic. He knew that guy was bad and he was right. The "salesmen" started getting very mean with my sister and I and picked up a metal pole that was used as a driveway marker and was threatening to hit Kody and my sister and I. He broke our porch lights. Kody barked and growled at the man from the second we opened the door.

[courtnek]

HF they consider YOU Alpha. It's as simple as that. As long as no one
threatens their Alpha, they're ok with your hubby. They would probably react the same way to a stranger who tried to attack or assault you. Freebee is the same with my son. And she used to go after my ex if he yelled at me or seemed threatening. She doesnt attack, but gets between
the combatants and breaks up the fight. Laurel outright growls if anyone
enters my room, an issue I'm trying to break her of.

They may never like to see you play fight, so if you want to you'll have to keep them out of the room, or leash them and calm them while you're playing. The calming needs to come from you, not your husband.

[MajiesMom]

Your dogs are smarter than mine. When my fianc

[Guest Anonymous]

my Taz does that. (elkhound). If I make ANY kind of squealing noise, like if my husband is tickling me or we are rough housing Taz charges in barking, pulling on my husband's arm and getting between us. He also plants himself directly in front of me if my husband and I are arguing and we are yelling. I think Taz would do this in any situation, if I were being threatened by anyone or anything. I don't mind it.

[kendalyn]

The most interesting thing about this thread is finding out how many people roughhouse with their significant other! I had no idea that so many people did that :-) I thought it was just us... :lol: