"mean" dog stereotypes

[SheltieLover234]

Your right dogs get bad names all the time !I mean before I came on this site I thought that Rotties were very mean dogs because of movies.Then when I started reading Rotties messages, and I realized that their not as "Mean" as I thought they were at first.Also when dogs are "mean" its usually has to do with their owner.Some owners take things out on their dogs and they`re dogs are completely scared of people and protect themselves and become well,"mean." I think if everyone went on this site they would see that dogs get bad names just for entertainmemt.

[RachelJ]

I wish our school systems would take the responsibilty of teaching our children the care and reponsibility of pet ownership. I pay a phenomenonial amount of real estate taxes, the majority going to the schools, and there is so much lacking in the educational curriculum about the realities of life, the treatment and responsibility we have to domesticated animals is a prime example. Okay, I will get off of my soap box for the time being at least. Does anybody get my drift? It is time that we stopped animal abuse, neglect, overpopulation, etc. etc. etc. Where are our school systems in this mission? There is a failure to educate and I am mad as hell!!!

[Genia]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RachelJ:
[B]I wish our school systems would take the responsibilty of teaching our children the care and reponsibility of pet

Rachel, I feel you frustration but I believe
it all starts at home. My parents taught me to respect all animals. I grew up in a home with dogs, fish, rabbits, horses, and a deer (until he grew spikes then he was given to a petting zoo). I got my first dog when I was five. It was my responsibilty to feed, walk, and bathe him. We lived in the country and my father would take me to the woods and name every bird and animal we would see. He also taught me not to approach a strange dog. I was taught to ask permission from the owner before petting and then to allow the dog to sniff my hand with my fingers curled under. Schools play a big part, yes, but I am responsible for teaching my daughter ethics, morals, values, and plain old human kindness.

On the subject of mean dogs, I think I read on this forum a while ago something about big dogs and insecure owners. I know that is not the case with most big dog owners, but maybe that's why some people think they need to train their dogs to be mean. They are insecure and beleive they have an image to uphold. Television doen't help. As I sit here at my desk with my Bandit giving me little Pug kisses I don't understand how anyone could train their dog to be so mean and vicious and miss out on the joy of true unconditional love.




[This message has been edited by Genia (edited December 23, 2000).]

[BoxerLover]

Yes I was taught to always ask the owner if I could pet it and to put out my fist, not my palm.

[carrie]

Genia, I wasn't suggesting that it is the act of docking or cropping that makes a dog aggressive but it does change people's perception of the dog's character. Brilliant story of the vet waiting room illustrates the point I was trying to make perfectly.
I still find it rather shocking to see so many cropped ears on this site as you never, ever see them in this country. I'm glad to say there are more and more traditionally docked dogs being left with a tail too. Springer's look wonderful and Boxer's stunning!

[Genia]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by carrie:
[B]Genia, I wasn't suggesting that it is the act of docking or cropping that makes a dog aggressive but it does change people's perception of the dog's character.

Carrie, I guess I didn't say that right. I agree with you totally. I meant cropping and docking may make a dog look intimidating, but that's not what makes him mean.

[carrie]

Don't worry, matey, I'm probably the one that got the wrong end of the stick - it's a pretty common thing with me! I think it's really down to the way different countries understand the way each other talk and I have major problems with my own!!!!! I'm much better at talking with dogs - honest!

[KYS]

Carrie,
I think most people are better talking with their dogs.
They listen so well, do not talk back and
never have a mean thing to say.
Well most of the time.

[RachelJ]

Genia, Yes, it does all start at home. But I just want there to be some hope for all the children of the CLUELESS parents who don't bother to care themselves. Sometimes "a child can lead us" if they are given the information. That's where the schools come in. The staggering numbers of animals who are abandoned and neglected is evidence of a problem in our society that needs to be addressed and obviously can't be left to the parental instruction or it wouldn't have reached the state that it is in today.

[shais_mom]

I wanted to say that after seeing Nkki's picture, I don't know how anyone could think she was mean!!
I want to tell BoxerLover that normally I don't get overly excited about Boxers. My aunt and uncle used to raise them and I wanted one but was never allowed to get one, but I played with the puppies.
I will go out on a limb and say that I admittedly thought they were just dumb - not mean!!
I am going to put my neck out and tell a story that I was uncomfortable telling earlier. But even after this story I never thought they were truly mean.
My aunt had a very large male and female, and lived on a farm. Tyrone was the male, early in his life Tyrone got in with the baby pigs and killed some of them, and they didn't do anything with him. Personally I would not want a sire that did that to be the father of my beloved pet. Anyway, a couple years later, my aunt let the dogs out and got ready for work, as she was leaving she called the dogs and they didn't come, so she told my uncle to get them. When he went outside, he couldn't find them, but he heard some noise in the barn. He went in the barn and the dogs had killed one steer and were trying to get the other one down. Needless to say the dogs were put down immediatley. I realize this doesn't have a happy ending, but there is no way it could have one. I feel when any dog gets the kill instinct activated then it should be dealt with.
I grew up in a small rural farming community where dogs were farm dogs, working dogs. Not the pampered pet that I have. And in no way shape or form can a dog that kills livestock be a safe pet. Tyrone should have been dealt with when he killed the piglets.
But looking at Nikki she is one of the prettiest boxers I have ever seen and you can see the love and intelligence in her eyes.
Thank you for letting me share my "bad boxer" story. I again apologize for the unhappy ending and my aunt and uncle are NOT bad people!!
Congratulations on your beautiful boxer baby and keep the pics coming!!!

[carrie]

The story above rather illustrates how we have come to take the good nature of dogs for granted. The number of times I've heard people say that the dog has never shown any signs of biting before - just after it has bitten a child or chased and attacked livestock. It is a reminder that a dog is a dog and is still servant to the instincts and drives buried deep within it and this is so often overlooked. I'm as big an offender as the next person and have leant heavily on all my dogs good natures.
The working collie from the next door farm to us in Cornwall was a hard working and trustworthy dog. He worked the sheep and cattle on the farm, never strayed and would defend his territory. One day he savaged four of our sheep, three of which died and one had to be put to sleep. Three others lost their lambs. We heard the commotion and got there as the next door neighbour did. The dog went back to working on his own farm and was never a problem again. One of our own Greyhounds, who walked quietly past the chickens every day of her life for two and half years, was left out of sight for a couple of minutes. We ended up with five dead chickens. In both cases it was lack of respect on the part of the humans concerned that caused these incidents. We should of known better than to leave the Greyhound loose on her own and the farmer the same with the collie.
What is viscious and what is a dog acting naturally with no leader in sight?

[ownerof3dogs]

my dog Felice is a really nice dog but she hate small animals. Sje has killes 3 skunks at least 5 rats and the worst of them all She killes two puppies. We had a litter of mixed breed dogs. We almost got rid of her because of that. But the vet said that sometimes when A litter of pups is born to a female that is not the Alpha the Alpha female(felice) will kill the pups. Because they don't have the strong genes of the Alpha.She also hates small dogs.
I hate when people say "my dog would NEVER bite." I don't care how friendly your dog is if it is provoked or frightened their instinct is to bite.

[BoxerLover]

Shais Mom, thank you for the complements on Nikki and what an awful story! Again, it wasn't the breed that acted this way, it was the dog. And yes, I agree that people should'nt say that there dog is harmless because it may not be. Owner of three dogs, some bitches kill puppies in there litters if they have a lot and they know they won't have enough milk to feed them all. This is natural, dogs did it in the wild.

[Angels3]

I agree with you, BoxerLover, that certain breeds get wrongly judged. So breeds like boxers, dobermans etc are believed by some people to be big & rough & unpredictable.
One area of dog 'work' has proven that this is not necessarily so...& that's pet therapy. Pet therapy dogs work among very vulnerable people...sick children, frail elderly people, & patients with severe injuries. And big dogs do very well in this work & they're on a website to prove it.
Go to www.therapydogs.com On the home page are 2 magnificent dobermans. Click on News at the side. The news story tells how a doberman roused a serious burns patient to respond, for the first time after admission.
Click on other E-Mail Stories & chose 'Mindy'
Up will come a story about 2 boxer pet therapy dogs, Mindy & Brandy...with a lovely photo.
At the children's hospital where our little dog does pet therapy, there are 2 huge, gentle german shepherds co-workers. Child patients, well enough to play, tumble all over them.
Also friends who own a small tibetan spaniel tell us how he plays great games with the huge rottie next door. The game finishes with the small dog draped over the rottie's head gently chewing his ear...to both their delight.

[shais_mom]

BoxerLover- you are right. It could have been any breed of dog, it just so happened that they were boxers. Our neighbor had a Great Pyrnees and several people tried to shoot him, b/c there was a dog in the sheep!!! It wasn't until he was caught eating an already dead sheep, that people worried. To my knowledge he did NOT kill the sheep.

Another neighbor of ours had a very mean dog and you couldn't get near the house when he was out. Then one day the owners came home and found their dog mutilated and torn all over their GARAGE, we started to wonder what would do that! Rumors were flying around that it was a bobcat, coydogs, even a cougar(and in our area of OH its highly unlikely), or possibly another neighbors boxers(?not sure)/pitbulls. We never did find out what killed that dog, unfortunatley.

I agree with Carrie, a dog will follow its natural instinct. I believe that is why when my greyhound gets loose, she just runs, she is following her primal instinct to run. And there is little I can do to stop her, even tho basic obedience training would help I am sure!!
happy new year!