what breeds dont your DOGS like

[Twisterdog]

Originally posted by Shelteez2
See and I would agree if my experiences had shown that the dogs didn't like these certain dogs after getting close enough to meet. But for my co-worker's dog Sydney to get worked up on sight of a boxer, even way across the park doesn't seem to point to it being the boxer's bouncy friendly nature that he is taking offense to. We also have to be careful with him when bringing boxers in for baths at work.

Same with my boss's bouvier Virgil. He went after Husky's and husky like dogs on sight.

Dogs have eyes and while their eyesight isn't their best sense I think it is accurate enough that they can recognize other breeds.

However ... there has to be some original experience that leads them to that, I would think. If a boxer bit Sydney once, then perhaps Sydney remembers that and dislikes dogs that look like the one that bit him. In the same respect that a dog who was hit by a man wearing a hat may not like men that wear hats. I have a hard time believing, though, that he knows the difference between a boxer and boxer mix and a pit bull that happens to resemble a boxer. There has to be some visual cue that he recognises ... pricked ears and bushy coat, or floppy ears and short legs, etc. The dog may recognise a certain combination of physical characteristics, but a dog does not know which breed each dog is on sight, and then make a value judgement as to whether he likes or dislikes that particular breed as a whole.

I'm not saying that a dog can't recognise a husky vs. a chihuahua. I'm just saying that dogs are not born with some innate prejudice, and decide to hate an entire breed with no reason. Only people are that stupid.