r/dogs • u/YorkyLives • 8h ago
[Breeder Etiquette/Review/Recommendations] Breeds that suffer from bad PR.
I have a Dogo Argentino and she is the sweetest goofball you could ever meet but a lot of people when we see when we walk around cross the road when they see us. Or sometimes when you say what dog you have people think it's weird to have one. What prejudices have you encountered?
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u/05tn3021 7h ago
Opposite end of the spectrum I own a jack russell and when I see bigger dogs I have a tendency to pick him up and walk across the street. It’s not because i’m scared it’ll maul my dog it’s more so my dog will start violently humping the air and growling
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u/Eastern-Pass-5478 7h ago
Lol if they were larger, they would be banned
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u/Cool_Bodybuilder7419 Czechoslovakian Vlcak 7h ago
Them and Dachshunds
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u/nosecohn 7h ago
And Chihuahuas.
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u/YorkyLives 7h ago
Imagine a 80lb Chihuahua lol.
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u/nosecohn 7h ago
I'd rather not. Every one I've met is kind of an a-hole.
On the other hand, every Rottweiler I've met has been an absolute sweetheart.
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u/Sjamsjon 6h ago
If i had constant migraines because my brain didn’t fit my skull, i’d be an asshole too
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u/Dazzling_Sell1238 7h ago
I have one and he thinks he can take on any large dog. They’re hilarious 😆
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u/Different-Agency5497 7h ago
Not sure if its prejudice, but that dog is bred to take on large predators. Its fine to be a bit sceptical.
And I agree its weird to have one. Over here you need special permits to own one that proof you are a capable dog handler.
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u/Prestigious_Scars 7h ago
Seriously, the only Doggo Argentino I know needs to have Acepromazine in order to go to a veterinary hospital. This is extreme, most dogs that are aggressive just get Gabapentin and/or Trazodone. In fact it's the only dog that has ever needed to be prescribed this at the veterinary hospital I work at.
OP's dog most certainly is not typical of the breed , I'm wondering if it is still a puppy, under 2 years of age.
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u/YorkyLives 7h ago
She is 3 years old.
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u/LucifersAdv0cate 5h ago
Isn't there 4 different lines of that breed with one line being a family line?
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u/YorkyLives 4h ago
Not heard that but entirely possible. I believe there is a difference between show line and working line with the show line being bigger and bulky and the working line being smaller and more streamline. Mine most probably if that's the case is working line as she is tall but lean and about 85lb with a defined withers.
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u/YorkyLives 7h ago
Honestly mine is a goofball. She loves everyone and everything. She goes to a doggy daycare and plays well with small and big dogs. She met a cat for the first time recently and got on like they were long lost pals. She is the most joyful dog I have ever owned and is more of a Labrador than the labradors that I have had previously 😂
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u/unde_cisive mutt mix 7h ago
That's great to hear, but someone who doesn't know your dog personally has no way of knowing that your dog's temperament is off-standard for the breed. I hope you aren't taking it personally that people prefer not to gamble on that.
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u/plastic_venus 7h ago
I find it so odd when people label reasonable and understandable reactions to breeds as prejudice or discrimination. Like, I’ve always had GSD’s, and my last one was hands down the most placid friendly dog I’ve ever met. Like, he once gave an intruder his teddy. Do I think it’s prejudiced that people would always cross the street when they saw him? No. He’s a GSD. You own a large powerful breed bred for hunting. It’s not unreasonable for people to want to avoid it.
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u/Kamsloopsian 6h ago
Exactly how it should be, people I agree 100 percent with what you're saying. It's the right thing to do and should be acceptable as breeds are a predictable outcome for the most part of what the dogs traits should be. As you say it's not carved in stone but, a damn good starting point.
It drives me nuts how people buy dogs based on appearance alone without even addressing genetics go along with it and are stuck on the it's all how they're raised bs.
But it only seems offending to certain breeds like I've not met a heeler that isn't nippy, or a coon hound that wants to make that noise, or a beagle that is somewhat demanding in their own way.
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u/unde_cisive mutt mix 7h ago
Many dog breeds have a reputation based on the characteristics defined in the breed standard. One can assume that a dog of a certain breed will match its standard in terms of behavior, temperament, and drive. A dog who by definition is made to hunt pumas, and fiercely loyal to its owners, but can be aggressive to outside threats... Do you blame people who don't know your dog personally for having the self-preservation instinct of not wanting to be perceived as an outside threat? That's not bad PR, that's a breed standard.
ETA: I think small dogs get a bad rap. I'm a dogsitter and I've looked after so many impeccably behaved, chilled out, friendly dogs that weigh 7kg or less.
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u/starbellbabybena 6h ago
Chihuahuas get a bad rap, but all of the ones I have known and the two I own are so sweet. I get some people may not train them or think it’s cute when they are mean, but they are sweet cuddly little things.
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u/Much_Permission_2061 6h ago
Chihuahuas and small dogs in general have a really bad reputation. It's not that they're bad on purpose, it's just that a lot of small dogs have their personal space and boundaries constantly disrespected and aren't trained a lot of the time.
I own a small dog that I constantly have to stand up for because of people trying to grab him or people letting their big dogs approach mine without asking but if my dog dares to make so much as a peep he gets the "Not surprised the rat is being loud" (big dog owners call my dog a rat a lot)
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u/YorkyLives 6h ago
Honestly was only joking. Chihuahuas are great. The problem is when people forget they are dogs and neglect training etc because they are just small babbies they can turn out to be little demons. Seen It many times. If dogs are socialized, exercised and trained properly then there is rarely any issues. 99 times out of a 100 it's the owners fault and not the dog. Also I absolutely hate when people let their dog approach you without asking first. Like as said my dog is extremely friendly but I would never dream of doing that. It's also the unleashed dogs with no recall that drive me batshit. Luckily I have a non reactive dog but it's still extremely annoying.
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u/Much_Permission_2061 5h ago
Unleashed dogs and owners that are unable to hold their dogs back properly are absolute nightmares
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u/faceless_alias 7h ago
I dont blame anyone for being cautious. Because I'm cautious too. Ive raised 7 large dogs. Fostered and trained a good deal more. Couple of rescues. Ive been bitten and I can only imagine how terrible a true mauling is.
The difference is I can tell dog body language and I feel comfortable if you affirm the dogs kindness. Someone completely unfamiliar with big dogs is trusting your word with permanent disfigurement on the line.
For some people a strangers word is not enough and thats okay.
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u/JRocleafs 7h ago edited 7h ago
Where’s the bad PR here? Doggos were bred to hunt some of the largest and most dangerous game in South America. They are an extremely powerful and prey driven breed that realistically have no business living in a busy city.
The way you use the word “prejudice” is framing characteristics that were purposely bred into dogs as a negative.
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u/YorkyLives 7h ago
Prejudices means pre judge and that's exactly what you have done. As said to another poster. Mine is extremely friendly, plays with all other dogs and is super submissive. She plays with cats, small dogs, loves everyone she meets, I have never seen her growl or bare her teeth. She goes to her doggy daycare where they use her as a non reactive dog for evaluating new dogs that come into the facility. She is truely a ultra happy sweetheart.
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u/JRocleafs 7h ago
This is the exact type of response I expected. It’s clueless dog owners like yourself that do more harm than good for the very breed you’re “advocating” for.
The entire reason different breeds exist is to have pre existing ideas of size, temperament, drive, capabilities etc. I don’t think you have the capacity to understand that though.
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u/YorkyLives 7h ago
Maybe it's because I have spent a lot of time around the daycare,trainers,dog classes etc. But all the large powerful breeds I have met have been brilliant,my dog has play sessions with cane corsos,Presa Canarios, Malinois, German shepherds,great Danes and her bff a large male Rottweiler
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u/wickybasket 6h ago
And no stranger you meet can possibly know that, and finding out would mean a lot of invasive questions from people you don't know. I love dobermans. I still get out of the way when I see someone with one because it's impossible to know if another owner even bothered with basic training or if I'm going to risk getting bitten cuz they wanted a macho dangerous breed and the POINT is to scare people.
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u/YorkyLives 6h ago
I don't get out of the way of any leashed dog tbh.
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u/wickybasket 6h ago
That's up to you. I've seen leashes just be a tether by which to drag the owner around seven out of ten times. Leashes don't at all mean a dog is safely under control ESPECIALLY if the "leash" is one of those retractable ones.
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u/YorkyLives 5h ago
My dog walk at heel beside me with a short leash. With all the dogs I have had I have made sure they are trained to walk properly on the leash.
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u/wickybasket 5h ago
Again, mate, nobody knows you from the random person about to be yanked into traffic by their 50 pound dog that just spotted a squirrel. You are a stranger. Nobody knows you. Nobody knows what training you've done and it's better safe than sorry when dealing with unknown powerful dogs and complete stranger owners. And people stopping to ask questions would be seen as just as rude and invasive if not moreso than just getting out of the way. It's sensible, not some slight against you or your dog.
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u/unde_cisive mutt mix 4h ago
I feel like at this point OP is just being deliberately obtuse. "Yeah but ME AND MY DOG..." is entirely besides the point of why people are cautious around certain breeds.
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u/magicpenny 7h ago
But does your individual dog get prejudged based on the breed standard even though her temperament makes her an outlier for the breed? That’s the part you maybe should consider.
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u/Auxiliatorcelsus 7h ago
I have a German Shepherd. Not generally a bad reputation.
People still cross the street sometimes.
I guess it has more to do with people who are afraid of dogs. They may be comfortable with someone who has a small dog (easy to control). But a large dog will trigger their fear more.
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u/DreamsOfLife 1h ago
Rotties look like they could maul you in 5 seconds but they're often very sweet dogs.
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u/DonnaDonna1973 7h ago
Definately Doberman. I was co-mama to a Dober and when out, people would change the sides, walk around us in biiiig curves and when I happened to have chitchat, most comments were something along the lines of „…Dobers are dangerous, aggressive, creepy, daaaaark & need A LOT of training“.
Well, all dogs need proper training and yes, Dobers can be veeery daaaark but actually, I have yet to meet a breed that’s as goofy, cuddle-obsessed, easily scared by anything, mama‘s boy, adorably soft-hearted and very faithful to its humans.
The dangerous Dobers I met were usually abysmally trained and often somewhat psychologically damaged by attracting the wrong type of owners (…). If you train a Dober with love and care, usually you’ll find one of the sweetest dogs inside an arguably fiercely looking Cerberus.
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