Dog Reputations

[cocker_luva]

What dogs do you think have a wrong rep? Like fancy, ugly, snooty Poodles; aggresive bully-type dogs, that all Labs are the perfect family dog, etc.

[Cheshirekatt]

I think almost all breeds have stereotypes linked with them. Mostly I think it's because people don't do enough research before they get a dog and wind up with one totally inappropriate for their lifestyles.

Of course I think pit bulls suffer terribly (they're near and dear to my heart).....as do rottweillers, shepards and dobies.

[cocker_luva]

I also hear people call small dogs, expecially Chihuahuas, 'ankle-biters.'

[cocker_luva]

And Cockers 'snappy.'

[Cincy'sMom]

Love the picture of the pit!! Too cute!

[captain]

I'm with Cheshirekatt - Pits have a bad rap, one they don't deserve.

So do Rottweilers and GSD's - they don't deserve it either!!!

The only "bad rap" my spotty dogs seem to get is "aren't they are stupid?" - Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad: . Stubborn is the word - STUBBORN!!! :D

[primabella]

Any dog can be "stupid" ;)

I think Pits, Rotties and Dobies get the worst rep. I also don't agree with labs and goldens being the perfect family pet. Of course they are great family pets but Rotties can also be one too. And even if Shelties are notorious barkers, they don't all do that. :rolleyes: Also, I used to think that Chi's and small dogs were all hyper, barky, little things but that's only from what I would hear or see on TV. Then I found out here on PT that that isn't so.

Any dog can be agressive or friendly. The owner and environment usually plays a part. (Unless its a health problem) I think people should stop relying on "rumours" to judge a dog and get to know it's charactar first.

Okay, I've said my bit...:p

[tifiblanc]

It is so funny you mention that. I recently adopted a pit bull puppy from a kid who's landlord would not let him have a dog. And so far everyone I've told about our new addition has said something to the effect that they are dangerous!, and oh I guess I cant let my kids go to your house anymore... So here I go defending the whole breed, because of the bias against them.
My doggie, is a sweet mush. Its very frustrating!!!
Tifi

[cocker_luva]

To Captain, I've heard too that "Dalmatians are the dumbest dogs." Well the people who say that must have owned every single dog to say that that one breed is the dumbest!!!

[cocker_luva]

Another dog with a bad rep. is the Bull Terrier. I went to the pet store to see the animals and I saw one. So I asked to play with him in the play area. The whole time he was with me he didn't leave my lap. Even when I put him by my sister to see he just came right back to me and tryed to climb back into my lap. (He was having a bit of a struggle since he was only about 2 months, so I had to help him!) I fell in love right there!!!

[tifiblanc]

I recently went to the Pet Co. near me in NY and I was asking for a training book for the Pit Bull Breed. They are NOT ALLOWED TO SELL PITBULLS! Thus didn't have a book about them.... That shocked me. But I guess with all the irresponsible & terrible owners out there they don't want to be responsible if the dog gets wild. (Though that can happen with any breed). Poor Pit Bulls, they get such a bad rap.
Tifi

[Dakota's Mommy]

So many breeds have stereo
I think almost all breeds have stereotypes linked with them.
Yes, I agree!

The ones I hear the most bad things about are Pits, Rotts, Dobermans, and even Dalmations.

Personally, my dalmation is great! So many people say they aren't dogs to have with kids. Destiny came to us from a home that had 2 children and the youngest was falling all over her and she just sat there. It was amazing. She was so tolerant of the children that I couldn't believe people said that dalmation aren't good with kids. Amy's lab/dalmation mix is the same way. I could not imagine those two (the main dals I know) attacking anybody for no reason. Oh and to this:

"Dalmatians are the dumbest dogs."
I wonder who really thinks that. My dalmation is very smart. All of my girls are. I can see them thinking half the time when I look at them. I would never think my girls are dumb, not after observing them like I have, especially my dalmation!

[Jessica12345]

some people say maltese are prissy little dogs with an attitude of im miss perfect. maltese are definately not that! they are playful, curious, active, and of course cuddely. a lot of people actully think that about small long haired dogs.

[tikeyas_mom]

pitbulls for sure,

[Jessica12345]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
pitbulls for sure,

definatley:(

[jaquetta]

Definitely pit bulls !!! I had one who is in rainbow heaven now, but she was the best dog I ever had.. She will have a place in my heart forever...

[jaquetta]

Ok, after reading these post..I have to put in my two cents worth about pit bulls...They most definitely have a bad rep which they DO NOT deserve..

I had for for 17 years until she passed away from old age. I have to say she was undoubtedly the best dog I ever had. She was very sweet, gentle loving and loyal, unless told otherwise. But she was protective, though ONLY on my command.

They are NOT dangerous unless trained to be so, and that is the humans fault. The dog just gets the blame.

Jaquetta

[cocker_luva]

I agree with jaquetta, people blame dogs because they don't want to put the blame on humans. Because humans never make mistakes and that we never do anything wrong!!! What a load!

[captain]

Jaquetta,

You will not get any argument from me or CheshireKatt about Pit Bulls - we LOVE them too!!!

The don't deserve the BadRap they get.

[aly]

I agree that just about every breed has a stereotype, whether it be "dangerous", "stupid", "froo froo", or any of the other numerous silly things people say. I think we, as responsible dog owners, should take every chance to educate the public that they simply cannot stereotype our dogs. There are some people who won't listen no matter what, but there are still some people's minds who can be changed.

I know there are a lot of stereotypes about my Poodle and I enjoying proving them wrong and watching how shocked people are when they see how wonderful he is :D :)

[jaquetta]

I agree Aly.. Poodles are very sweet little dogs, not to mention being very smart.

I do stand up for pit bulls every chance I get, as well as other breeds with a bad rap. I owe that to my beloved Duchess, may she rest in peace..

It is reassuring to know lots of you feel the same as I do about pit bulls, as well as the other breeds..If only we could get the rest of the world to feel the same way. But we can only do what we can for their cause..

Jaquetta

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Pits have such a bad rep:( they are such great dogs too! And i think goldens do too, some people think they are biters, or nippers, not true for my baby Daisy!:D

[Cheshirekatt]

I usually put it to people like this:

SUV's kill thousands of people ever year. Pitbulls kill like how many? 10?

[cocker_luva]

Yea rite, and yet people still LOVE suvs. stupid, i think.

[stacwase]

My Sheltie isn't the least bit barky, or "neurotic". I get that a lot. People say "I heard shelties are neurotic." So - shelties have a bad rep.

But pit bulls and rottweilers definitely have it bad.

[cocker_luva]

i've never heard of a sheltie having a rep? expecially a bad one!

[turner]

I think every dog has a rep.....some worse than others for sure. The ones I have heard most are:

Pitbulls - very aggressive dog...not good with children, fighting dogs

Rotties-bad temper, not good with children

Poodles-very yapping

Ok so now in their defence (unfortuntely)

Pitbulls-my friend had 2 of them and 3 children. The biggest babies I have ever ever seen.....very protective on command though. Um and the kids are still alive......imagine that!

Rotties-have 2 of them......very protective of my friends kids...big babies. Have met tons of rotties-very good temper and most of the people have children and they wern't harmed at all....imagine that!

Poodles-my girlfriend has 1 and the only time i ever hear that dog bark is when someone comes to the door, or you are playing with her...........

[clara4457]

Isn't that the truth - I have a rott/chow mix - both of which are supposed to be so called "aggressive" breeds. Leo never meet a dog or human that he didn't like. The biggest problem is that with large strong dogs (if they aren't socialized and trained properly) can overwhelm people that aren't experienced with the larger breeds. That is why I always recommend the Gentle Leader or equivilent when my friends get large dogs.

[primabella]

Shelties don't have a big, bad rep...just known as comulsive barkers. I hate hearing "oh yeah, Sheltie? They're so barky and annoying." So what? I can come right back and start saying, "Oh yeah Pit Bulls? They're so agressive and such a threat!" and then nobody wins :rolleyes: (I'm trying to make a point here, I wouldn't really say that)

I hate these reputations, it makes every dog look bad in some way.

[cocker_luva]

Except labs and golden retrievers, they have no bad rep (that i know of) and are considered the perfect family dog for EVERY family. That is the reason i hate labs. i like goldens though.

[cocker_luva]

once i was walking my cocker, jesse down the street to the vet. she had just gotten shaven and looks more puppish. then some lady said " oh a puppy! can i pet her!" and started to walk over. i'm like sure, go ahead she loves attention. but then i told her that she was a full grown adult, and she said "oh she's not a puppy." made a DISGUSTED look and walked back to were she was sitting. I was shocked! no one has never disrespected my dog before, i was so angry i was about to tell her straight!!!!!!! but luckly, for her, i held back. :mad: :mad: :mad:

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Originally posted by cocker_luva
Except labs and golden retrievers, they have no bad rep (that i know of) and are considered the perfect family dog for EVERY family. That is the reason i hate labs. i like goldens though.

why do you hate labs?:confused:

[kai]

Yea..I think pits have a really bad rep...but I really want one. It sucked to walk into the spca and see most of the dogs that are pits, GSD's, and rotti's. I really want a GSD though....

[primabella]

That's true. They are all GSD's, Pits, Rotties, Dobies, and I saw a few Huskies. All the big dogs. I remember they asked us if we wanted to see some of the other dogs that were all bigger. We said okay and they led us into this separate room and all you heard was the cages moving and this vicious barking. I felt so bad for them but my Dad was like, "I'm not going in there!" Not for anything, they sounded like monsters but I would have checked them out anyways. :(

[cocker_luva]

yea i also read somewhere that if you have bully breeds and some other "dangerous" breeds that some insurance companies won't sell you insurance! no matter how much you pay them. also some airlines won't let those "kinds" of dogs on there planes.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by cocker_luva
also some airlines won't let those "kinds" of dogs on there planes.

It's actually only one airline that had this restriction. And I believe they lifted the restriction by compromising and putting the dogs crates in a reinforced bulkhead section. This all came about because an am staff in flight chewed through his crate and then the bulkhead! I think the reinforcement idea was a really good one. I mean airlines fly all types of animals, not just dogs and none of them should be able to get out and freely roam any section of the plane. :) Just another good reason not to buy a cheap airline crate.

[fernmoney]

No one is probably posting to this anymore, I am a newbie. But of the 6 dogs I have, my pit is the most affectionate, loving dog you will ever have the privalage of meeting. It is all in how you raise them and treat them, just like any other dog. She didn't even know how to bark until she was 4 years old. She is getting older now, and I am thankful for everyday, and luckliy I have a boss that understands that when I do loose her, I will be taking time off for the loss of a family member. She is by far the best dog that I have ever owned, and it has been nothing but the best.

[Cheshirekatt]

Originally posted by fernmoney
No one is probably posting to this anymore, I am a newbie. But of the 6 dogs I have, my pit is the most affectionate, loving dog you will ever have the privalage of meeting. It is all in how you raise them and treat them, just like any other dog. She didn't even know how to bark until she was 4 years old. She is getting older now, and I am thankful for everyday, and luckliy I have a boss that understands that when I do loose her, I will be taking time off for the loss of a family member. She is by far the best dog that I have ever owned, and it has been nothing but the best.

I couldn't agree with you more! My pits are the best in my book. :D

[cocker_luva]

I think i love the dogs with the bad reps. even more b/c everyone hates them.

[Layka3000]

Well from my point of view Rotties get the worst, I have a friend :) a few years ago her cat go killed by a Rottwiler, the Rottie was of its leash (owners fault) and it jumped on the cat. It satarted wrestling it but soon it turned in to blood. THe Rottie severed the cats throth. And killed it. From now on she has always hated Rotties. But that is just her. I personally like Rotties they are soooo cute. I tink people get the wrong impression from one bad experience with it.

[Kfamr]

Reputations, or what people assume of them. Any dog can have a bad reputation. Most have the same rep as their owner. In which the owner is the reason they act a certain way. Pit bulls, Rotties, numerous other breeds have bad reps because or people. I hate people.


You hate labs because people think better of them? :rolleyes: :confused:

[cocker_luva]

of course every dog has a rep, i just wanna hear some that u've heard.:rolleyes:

[fernmoney]

Unlike the other dogs I own, we had to teach my pit to bark..she didn't learn how until she was 4 when my friend brought her Rottie over. She will let anyone in the house, and the big joke is that if you rub rub her tummy she will show you where everything in the house is. Giver her a treat, and she will follow you home...a big baby, that is all she is.

[cocker_luva]

yea, pits can be really BIG babies. they're so cuddly and affectionate! :D :p :rolleyes: