Doggy stereotypes?

C

Cedars

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Ok, before I start writing I would like to add that I have NO intention of insulting ANYBODY. This is just something I was thinking about today and we've touched on before - I really don't want to offend anyone so pleaseee don't be offended.

Right!

Do you think dogs have stereotypes? And what do you think fuels them?

I.e. Pitbulls are chavvy, Rotties are vicious, Poodles are spoilt, etc etc etc?

Do you think we can ever break those stereotypes? And if you own a dog with a stereotype, does it affect the way people treat you, OR the way YOU treat your dog (i.e. extra careful with a rottie around kids, for example).

Thoughts?

xxxxxx
 
Spaniels are maaaaaaaaaaaaad!

Which is of course not...that is to say it isn't......well somtimes it doesn't.......











OK, it's true
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I have issues with this when the terriers (stereotyped as being snappy and yappy) get avoided by people when they 100% with people and other dogs and then the same people make the assumption my lurcher (stereotyped as soft as poo and lovely) is fine to approach any old how both by dogs and people when she really really isnt!
Vizslas have the stereotype of being completely bonkers.....that one is right at least!
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I dont actually know what the greyhound stereotype is meant to be
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I have realised why I love the breed so much though, I am just like them
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Little burst of energy then most of my time I am happiest when lying around asleep
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I think people with any breed of dog should be extra careful around kids.

I try not to stereotype people, so I try to do the same with dogs.

I was born and raised with GSDs and even as a little girl with my mum and our dogs, people used to cross the street, shout abuse etc and I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The only dog I have been properly bitten by was a Rough Collie
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I am pleased to say our two bitches, in their lifetime, converted many people who thought GSDs untrustworthy, treacherous and vicious and won them round in a few minutes.

I also never let my dogs run loose when there are other people and dogs around as I know how some people feel about them and might be scared etc even though they are big softies with people, I try to improve the reputation of the breed at all costs!
 
Yes I think they do. I have a rottie who is a real softie however she can be a bit overprotective when other dogs are around.She gets jealous if I stroke the cat. So when I am walking her I am always aware of other dogs about.I never let her off the lead in public because you just know that the silly cow from down the road will let her dog run up to you and get upset when my rottie grumbles about it. And it will always be the rotties fault won't it ?
It wouldn't matter whether I had a rottie or a shitzu I would never leave a dog unsupervised with children.
 
My terrier can be yappy (if you take too long putting her lead on
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) and snappy (if pissed off) and does kill anything small and furry that she sees.
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She loves to conform to stereotype. She also does the running and spinning in circles thing quite well.
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Ye sorry I know obviously I'd never leave a dog unattended, I just meant I am always aware of Chloe but I trust her so when we're with kids I watch her but not watch her like a hawk, if that makes sense!

xxxxx
 
A commonly thought one is that staffies are hardy little things (which often then are) but they come inot the vets and suddenly become sobbing, wimpering wrecks! bless!
and are often ssoft as anything!
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Collies are mad and make terrible house pets and should only be working dogs! Part right, but some make fab housepets!
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And spaniels are mad! (Yes i said it!!
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) but are also FAB!!!!
 
GSDs have had a really bad press over the years but I do think it is a bit better recently, probably because poor rotties and the like have taken on the "killer" dogs image (not my view by the way). Like CC I gew up surrounded by GSDs and have never been bitten by one, was once nipped by a JRT though. My 2 children have also grown up with GSDs and again have never been bitten by them, though both have been bitten and scarred by a neighbours schipperke
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The trouble with these stereotypes is that they often lead the breed to attract the wrong sort of person, who have no idea to look after and train the dog so it perpetuates the stereotype. Not just talking about big dogs,as an example how many people have poodles and treat them like babies and turn them into neurotic little horrors, and yet poodles are very intelligent dogs who can be trained to a high level.
Sorry, will get off my soapbox now.
 
New York City has its own stereotypes within the dog owning community. All of this is tongue in cheek
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Pit Bulls: Walked exclusively by dodgy lads or twentysomething hipster couples dressed like the Olsen twins.

Larger mixed breeds: Again, the preserve of hipster lefties who take enormous pride in owning a rescue dog, especially if it has three legs, one eye etc.

Yorkies and poodles: Upper East Side ladies or gay men in Chelsea. I cracked up laughing when walking behind a man and his Yorkie one day, when the dog refused to budge and the bloke tried to reason with the thing, by saying, "Now look here, Sister..."
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Boston terriers/French bulldogs: The favourite of downtown NY' ers who want a small dog, but definitely not a purse dog.

American cocker spaniels: A hit with older people, perhaps living in the outer boroughs, on account of fond childhood memories, and the fact that they prefer a breed regarded as a classic and not currently trendy.

Viszlas/Huskies/Pointers: Yep, these dogs are surprisingly popular in NYC, and the owners are clearly nuts. You only ever see a Viszla a. Doing fifty laps at the dog run or b. Attached to the end of a bungee cord and dragging along a human jogger.

Labradors and Golden Retrievers: Walking sedately alongside a Bugaboo stroller, or else on Saturdays running alongside a stroller around the jogging path in Central Park.

It's interesting to me that certain races and nationalities seem to gravitate toward breeds from their part of the world. For example, it's all Pugs and Pekingeses in Chinatown, and among the Japanese, if they're not young women bearing a 3lb chihuahua, they do love their Shiba Inus. Of the Brits I've met in NYC, many have Jack Russells or Lakeland Terriers.
 
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I was born and raised with GSDs and even as a little girl with my mum and our dogs, people used to cross the street, shout abuse etc

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I used to find this very stange. When out walking the two GSDs people would cross the street to avoid them (always on lead). Come the weekend and the dogs doing a display, parents would happily let their kids stroke the dogs afterwards despite having just watched said dogs taking down a full grown bloke in the man work part of the display. Never could figure that one out.

We did worry a little how the GSD's would react to our first child. From the moment we brought her home they took it in turns to lie down beside her cot. There would always be at least one of them watching over her. Beautiful dogs.
 
When H was born I was slightly concerned my 6 year old GSD , who I had a great bond with, would be jealous, but from the day I brought baby home Kaja appointed herself as her guardian. When H was a few days old she was screaming her head off in her pram. My SIL went to pick her up and her way was blocked by Kaj with a very steely look, no growling or even lifted lips but her expression said it all, leave my baby alone. I always made sure she was shut away if anyone other than my parents babysat, just to be safe. She was actually a great ambassador to the breed as through the playgroup and early school years she converted many children and parents to GSDs
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CC - AWWWWWW!!!!!!
Beau loves kids, but if they are in a pram or stroller he always likes to have a peek inside first!(which often is not very good! but luckily only doneit with people I know, who found it hilarious, but he now will wait to be introduced, most of the time................ hmmmmmm collie stereotype still going........)
 
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I have issues with this when the terriers (stereotyped as being snappy and yappy) get avoided by people when they 100% with people and other dogs and then the same people make the assumption my lurcher (stereotyped as soft as poo and lovely) is fine to approach any old how both by dogs and people when she really really isnt!

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How funny, that is the exact opposite of the problem that drives me mental! We've got Leah, a black lurcher, and Poppy, a fluffy little Jack Russel. Leah is a total softy - she's not the most demanding dog for affection, but she would never hurt a fly - whereas Poppy can be quite snappy and I would never trust her around a child. But kids always run straight up to Poppy because she's small and cute, and when my big(ish) black funny-looking Leah comes over to them they get scared and run away.
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It annoys me - just because she's not what you'd call pretty, and she's a bit bigger than Poppy (she's not a large lurcher, she's about the same size as a Border Collie), they assume she's going to hurt them. Grrr.
 
People have a image of gundogs generally as being big soft dogs I think, especially labs and spaniels (I know there are lots of other types of gundog but these are the ones I have experience of!). I am constantly amazed at the liberties people take with Henry and when we had him with Barney! Some people let their children climb all over them without saying a word to me
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Henry has been grabbed from behind and had his whole head enveloped in a huge hug from a woman who walked up behind the pair of us when we were sitting outside a coffee shop once and just grabbed him without saying a word - many dogs, spaniels included, would have taken the stupid woman's face off.

I also got a dreadful 'daggers' look off a father once - Barney and I were standing outside a shop waiting for the family, and he walked up behind us with the little daughter and again without saying a word let the child grab Barney. Barney was excellent with children but this was when he was an older dog and his sight and hearing were duller so this caught him by surpise, and he jumped and turned rapidly to find out what had grabbed his bottom, as you would! The child jumped back into the road
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lucky no cars were coming. Stupid man - this was a few years ago so I didn't say anything to him about it - wish I had done.

It's not a bad stereotype - better than people running screaming for the hills - but it is annoying that people behave this way and if Barney or Henry were different it would be a nightmare.
 
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