Dogs and image - how important to you?

CaveCanem said:
"dogs that are automatically perceived as friendly by the general public"

But that's a danger, assuming all dogs of a certain breed are friendly, is how people get bitten. I've been bitted by a Rough Collie - a Lassie dog.
If everyone started with the assumoption that ANY dog has the capability of biting or growling at them them and therefore should ask permission to pat or play or rough-house, there would be less accidents.
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Undeniably true CC, but not sure that the general public is that educatable (is that a word?!) sadly. And isn't it better for the general public to assume that most dogs are nice and friendly, and risk the odd bite, than encourage the view that all dogs are potentially unsafe? Don't know really, just musing. Not all bad stuff that happens is necessarily worth preventing, if it means losing some good stuff iyswim.
 
I actually think it would be safer to assume all dogs are unpredictable and, not to live in fear of one's life, but to behave carefully and ask permission before touching them if you don't know them, TBH.
Assumptions and dogs are not a good mix.
 
Katie_A said:
Is Bryony the GSD in your avatar, or a different dog? How sad that she has inspired such a bad reaction in your neighbours - must be v frustrating for you.

None of my immediate neighbours has dogs and one is v v scared of dogs (to the extent that when my older dog was a 12 week old ball of fluffy cuteness she cowered away from her), and I would certainly have been persona non grata in my road if I had brought home a type percieved as agressive or scary :(
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Nahhhhh- Bryony is a flubberly wubberly chops- Some sort of Bull breed cross.... and beautiful
 
My dog is a bullmastiff and loves everyone and everything.

In terms of people's perception its very clear. Dog people love her and aren't bothered at all, non dog people are very wary.

Took her into town to the cashpoint a couple of nights ago and got some very obvious avoiding actions.

It'll get worse though as am rescuing another in a couple of weeks assuming they get on.

Don't much care about people's reactions tbh those I care about love her and those I don't know can either meet her and see how gentle she is or remain scared.
 
I have had lab crosses, mongrels, sbt's, jrts and a GSD fleetingly.

I currently have Jrts. I did try and buck the stereotype in some respects - they aren't scrappy, overly yappy or snappy which are all things that people chide when you say you have a jack.
 
Our local post lady has a very good take on the local dogs having crossed swords with a few:rolleyes:

I was in the garden with mine on their first meeting and they bounded towards her, I called them back and invited her to meet them, she is a doggy person and asked first and gave them both a doggy biscuit. She told me the only dogs she is really wary of are the ankle biters and Labs. having been bitten and persued out of the gate. But to the general public these little dogs and Labs couldnt possibley bite them and therein lies the problem. All dogs are very capable of biting given the right circumstances and the general public need to be aware of that.
 
Well interestingly enough "I probably chose for image" I have always had and preferred big dogs, grew up with no fewer than 20 shepherds in our household (not in the house) lol.
When I first moved in with OH, I had been converted to whippets/lurchers as he had them (so we had whippets and lurchers and a deerhound).
My 1st big dog was a shepherd I took from my mams rescue (because I preferred them as my big dog and I really liked her) I sadly lost her to an auto immune disorder:( and this left me dogless for (lone night shift working) I was very young and at the time worked in a rough area.
I borrowed my mams shepherd and waited patiently for another shepherd to come through her rescue.

It was a rotti that caught my eye and she looked the part (a good protector) ;) I had never had rotts and never gelled with her in the beginning as I did my shepherds and her guarding instinct was fierce (even with staff):o a beautiful big long coated shepeherd boy came into rescue a few weeks after I took her and I was ready to swap the rotti (regan):eek: and I just could not do it:o
So I put the hard work into her and got a fantastic dog at the end of it (best dog I ever owned) I love her to pieces and it frightens me to think I could have taken her back:eek:
I then thought, 2 big fierce beasties where better than one (esp as I had a few bad experiences with people trying to break into work) and I took an AKITA from my mams rescue:eek: she did not look overly fierce to me, but I really liked her and her attitude (she had a fair few issues):D and we where worried as to where to place her.

I love my big beasties and I have indeed changed opinion on these dogs from what folk would percieve when first meeting them, we have even had people come to the rescue stating "I don't want an akita/rotti/s.b.t or anything like that:rolleyes: then they clapped eyes on bubba and regan and with me of course (adored them):D, I always get comments on their behaviour.
When regan gets a bit older I will indeed search out another rotti (I love them) now, not jsut her but the rotts we get in the rescue (they are fab dogs) and I will no doubt always have an akita. (doubt I will ever get another bubba):D

Suprisingly enough my wire haired pointer (not kept by choice) and OH's shaggy lurcher are the meanest dogs we own, as in they won't just warn you! if they don't like you or you act odd or try to get in the house when we are not here "they will have you" but they are cute looking and shaggy;) so folk are more scared of the rotti, who is truely soft, apart from her gob;)
Obs the rest of my lot are a mish mash of rejects too:p
 
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Katie_A said:
Is Bryony the GSD in your avatar, or a different dog? How sad that she has inspired such a bad reaction in your neighbours - must be v frustrating for you.

None of my immediate neighbours has dogs and one is v v scared of dogs (to the extent that when my older dog was a 12 week old ball of fluffy cuteness she cowered away from her), and I would certainly have been persona non grata in my road if I had brought home a type percieved as agressive or scary :(
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That's Tyson, this is Bryony

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She's a sweet thing, some kind of bully cross. We suspect American bulldog x boxer but have no real idea. She's a big girl, but that's not her fault.
 
Well I have 3 staffies or possible 2 staffies and 1 staffie cross (youngest one is a bit longer legged than the other 2). Firstly people very often don't know what my dogs are because they are breed standard (so smaller than people think staffies are) and secondly because they are on an ordinary lead behaving themselves. This is with the exception of the boy trying to mug all humans for a new home as he takes "people loving" to a new extreme. He also is very pretty (even by SBT standards) and all 3 exhibit the staffie smile.

And I am possibly not the kind of person they assume would have a staff. When I say I have dogs, the normal assumption is a weinaramer (sp?!) - who are quite beautiful IMO but are not the dogs snoring in the background and draped over the sofa as I type!

Ferocious elder staffie bitch...

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I think it is far better to assume that all dogs are not safe than all dogs are friendly.

It only takes a few seconds to ask if you can pet my dog and that will potentially save that dogs life. Because if you launch at a dog without asking you get s dog bite and the dog gets a death sentence.

As for my did you would terrify him and set him a mile back in life. I have become a wonderful body blocker.
 
don't care about image at all, wanted a rottie because they are beautiful and a fabulous breed. So i was bought one for christmas! Best ever present he was and just as soft as our labrador. only 11 months but doubt he'll change at all as he gets older.
 
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I don't care what people think about me due to the dogs I have on the end of the lead. People do generally respond well to Poppy the Staffy as she is with a boring middle aged couple and with other dogs. I guess it is pretty evident that she isn't a fierce fighting dog! If she is running on the beach people with other dogs do comment that they are pleased that I call her to heel when they pass as they do think she will savage their beloved pooches. It is actually the JRT they need to watch out for........... :D
 
Well i've grown up with Spaniels ... so that's what i have! Couple Labs chucked in there too!

So i own spaniels, status? That makes me mad, scatty, wild, irrational, loud, playful and totally insane but hey, someone has to be!!! :p;):D:D:D
 
Having grown up with GSD's and Border Collies, smaller dogs were never an option for me and my BF when we bought our first pup - a Bernese Mountain Dog. The reason we settled on the breed was our last (rescued) Border Collie, the vet thought he was crossed with a Berner so we started researching them, and fell for them!

He is a big boisturoius soppy thing, just turned one.....people either ask us what he is or comment as they walk past "look at that Newfoundland/St Bernard" Only a handful actually know straight off what he is. He gets lots of attention which is nice - and good for him too!

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image is has never been an issue but function has - but in my previous career i worked from home & hosted meetings in my house - so the last 2 dogs have been non-shedding types - poodle & bedlington - as i was advised that fewer people would be allergic to them
i would love people to have the chance to ask if they can pet the current rescue bedlington - but as he takes his meeet & greeet responsibilities [ including car securiy] very seriously & has usually leapt into the car of any [surprised] visitor - i feel the decision is somewhat out of my hands
 
gina2201 said:
Having grown up with GSD's and Border Collies, smaller dogs were never an option for me and my BF when we bought our first pup - a Bernese Mountain Dog. The reason we settled on the breed was our last (rescued) Border Collie, the vet thought he was crossed with a Berner so we started researching them, and fell for them!

He is a big boisturoius soppy thing, just turned one.....people either ask us what he is or comment as they walk past "look at that Newfoundland/St Bernard" Only a handful actually know straight off what he is. He gets lots of attention which is nice - and good for him too!

DSC02538.jpg
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Gina I have to say imo Bernese Mountain Dogs are the most beautiful dogs in the world and yours is really lovely, love to see more pics of him.
 
I didn't really consider what other people may think of my chosen breed when we adopted. On the whole the greyhounds seem fairly well liked, we often get people stopping us to ask questions & to stroke them, but we also get some that fear them perhaps due to size or concern that they'll eat their little dog. My new grey is currently muzzled on walks while she adjusts to dogs coming in various shapes & sizes other then greyhound as a precaution and the stigma that causes has been quite noticeable.
 
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