Looking at extremes, I would think most wouldn't choose to have a reactive, aggressive, etc, dog. I mean, who really SEEKS that trait/behavior out in a dog? It's just something that sometimes just happens and you work through it, and fall in love with that dog anyway, flaws and all.
My life would be made somewhat easier if Jackson was okay with strangers handling him, or loved everyone right off the bat, etc, in the sense that he could be boarded without worry, go to daycare without worry, have a pet-sitter come in the house easier if needed. But the whole thing is, those aren't huge issues for ME because it's not like I go away without him a lot and when I do, I have family to watch him. But the option of boarding him or dropping him off at daycare is something I wouldn't do to him. Not because he's aggressive or reactive, he'd be absolutely terrified. It's something he'd survive, but I just don't like the idea of doing it to him. If I had done these things from the time he was a puppy, I think it'd be different. But his whole life, it's just been me and him and then close family.
But just because he's not 'OMGHAI' to everyone doesn't mean he's not perfectly behaved in public. He's the easiest dog to travel with and is up for anything new. He never is reactive towards dogs or people, and accepts being pet my strangers. But generally could care less about strangers (unless you have food, LOL). He's somewhat distrustful but not to the point of biting or aggressiveness. So it's really not that big of a concern.
But I will say when it comes time to picking a second dog, it would be nice to have one dog who is 'easy'. I'll probably pick a few days a month to let future puppy go to daycare, and that type of environment, so I have the option. Also socializing at the vets will be a big one. Jackson is horribly frightened at the vets, he lets them do their thing and examine him, etc, but he's terrified the whole time. But I do think these are things that I could've done differently as a pup and he wouldn't be the way he is with certain things.
But overall he doesn't have any major behavioral issues. But the little fearfulness that he has is something I wouldn't have chosen, but it's not something that effects our every day life, so it's not a huge issue.
My life would be made somewhat easier if Jackson was okay with strangers handling him, or loved everyone right off the bat, etc, in the sense that he could be boarded without worry, go to daycare without worry, have a pet-sitter come in the house easier if needed. But the whole thing is, those aren't huge issues for ME because it's not like I go away without him a lot and when I do, I have family to watch him. But the option of boarding him or dropping him off at daycare is something I wouldn't do to him. Not because he's aggressive or reactive, he'd be absolutely terrified. It's something he'd survive, but I just don't like the idea of doing it to him. If I had done these things from the time he was a puppy, I think it'd be different. But his whole life, it's just been me and him and then close family.
But just because he's not 'OMGHAI' to everyone doesn't mean he's not perfectly behaved in public. He's the easiest dog to travel with and is up for anything new. He never is reactive towards dogs or people, and accepts being pet my strangers. But generally could care less about strangers (unless you have food, LOL). He's somewhat distrustful but not to the point of biting or aggressiveness. So it's really not that big of a concern.
But I will say when it comes time to picking a second dog, it would be nice to have one dog who is 'easy'. I'll probably pick a few days a month to let future puppy go to daycare, and that type of environment, so I have the option. Also socializing at the vets will be a big one. Jackson is horribly frightened at the vets, he lets them do their thing and examine him, etc, but he's terrified the whole time. But I do think these are things that I could've done differently as a pup and he wouldn't be the way he is with certain things.
But overall he doesn't have any major behavioral issues. But the little fearfulness that he has is something I wouldn't have chosen, but it's not something that effects our every day life, so it's not a huge issue.