Quote Originally Posted by anna_66
I don't take it personally when people say they don't like the breeds I own. To each his/her own.
I agree with you to an extent. It doesn't bother me when someone says "I wouldn't want a golden because I don't want a bigger dog with a coat that takes regular brushing." or "I wouldn't want a lab because I don't want a high energy dog that loves to jump in every mud puddle."

But it's when the stereotyping and blaming breeds for poor owners that gets frustrating. If I said "I don't like pitbulls because there are several always running loose attacking little dogs" I'd be told it's the owners of those dogs to blame, not the breed. But 'rambunctious young dogs with no manners' is blamed on being a lab or golden? That makes no sense.

Basing an answer off a factual breed trait, i.e. appearance, care level, lifestyle, is different than attributing negative personality traits to a whole breed. Just like pittie and bully owners get aggravated by stereotypes, so do those of us with other breeds with negative stereotypes that are borne of poor ownership practices. In my view, it IS similar as Staci mentioned to lumping a whole race of people together because of a stereotype when it has more to do with upbringing, environment, and so on.

Lots of people new to the world of dogs choose a golden or lab because of their "family dog" image. Lots of 'macho/gangster' types choose bullies because of the image. Some of these people ruin the individual dogs but it is just not fair to label the whole breed negatively because of this.