fear of specific breeds?

When I was about 5 or 6, I was terrified of a GSD approaching me but he turned out to be an absolute sweeheart. I once got chased by a Dobie when I was 9. Now, I have a big dog, Shadow. And he is the only dog to have bitten me. It was only once and completely my fault and I don't say that to defend him or protect him. And, when he did bite, I called the vet, not a human doctor. We live in a rural county and so he may be used to that from ranchers and farmers getting nipped, usually from us humans misreading a situation or making the wrong move, which was my mistake.

I had Shadow sedated so that I could clip his nails, as he was extremely reactive with his paws. Well, I accidently quicked him. I called the vet and he said to put direct pressure on it with bandages. I did. Shadow finally woke up. He was hungry and thirsty. I was letting him eat a few bites and have some water. One of the bandages was coming loose and I didn't want him chewing on that. So, I came up from behind and was trying to remove the bandage and he got me. He's groggy, sore, thirsty, and paw-reactive. And I blindsided him and paid the price. So, I called the vet back, mainly to ensure that we don't have a rabies problem here, which we don't. I rinsed, sterilized, and bandaged my own wound. The knuckle of my right index finger hurt for quite some time. Since I've had broken bones before, I think he stress fractured that knuckle.

Anyway, I never got mad at him or punished him. About 30 minutes later, he was laying in his side and I was rubbing his belly and and pulling off the bandage, bit by bit, until I had it off, no problems.

I have to chuckle at that Ron.  When Misty, the crazed cocker, kept starting fights with Thor, I was holding her back one day and when she lunged I honestly think Thor was trying to stop her from getting me......he fractured TWO fingers and I went to the vet for xrays!  Of me.  Not them.  I didn't want a bite on Thor's record when it was accidental.....

I am not afraid of specific breeds but I am wary any loose dogs -whether the owners are present or not - when I walk my own on leash because we had an incident when Spip was around two. A chow (sorry, Willowchow!) actually crossed the street to come at us while its owners were raking leaves in their front yard. On the other hand, my husband is uncomfortable with GSD; I do not think he would ever consider us adopting one. Sounds strange to me because that's what my parents mostly had when I was little and they were great dogs.

I've never been bitten in anger by a dog.  Our old lab/husky mix bit me once...  We were rough housing I was young and I bit him first.

I'd be more afraid of a pack of strange dogs than any one dog.  I'm generally nervous around any dog that chases while I'm on my bike too but thats cause I'm afraid they'll dart into the pedals...

As you and I know, they didn't mean it. There are times when were playing and we both zig at the same time and I get grazed by a tooth. Total accident.
 
In all honesty, when I got bit, I wasn't thinking about Shadow's liability. I was calling the vet to make sure we didn't have a rabies problem in our county. But, in hindsight, who knows what would have happened if I had called a regular doctor. As it is, I'm used to dealing with pain and never went to a doctor for what I am fairly certain was a slightly broken knuckle.

It's very sad. I think that a lot of people buy dogs & they're very uneducated about dogs or they just don't care to learn. So their dog ends up in shelters, loose, dump, send to another home, or even killed at a young age, theirs so many purebreds then mix-breeds that are in shelters. I have been bit by a Miniature Poodle & a Cocker Spaniel, I think you guys are most educated people, it's to bad that theirs not a lot of you out there that are welling to study dog's behavior & willing to take care of your dogs. Mentally, Nutritionally, & Health wise  We should take a step outside of the Internet, & educate people whom has dogs! Why bother having a dog that you don't care to do research on? I'm afraid of dogs whom are caution, unattainable, that's whom are skittish, or/and odd. Like some of you said.  I most likely blame the owner of the dog not the dog itself. I have volunteered at a non-kill animal shelter, I have worked with dogs that are tiny to X-Large dogs. I will just say. Some people have had VERY bad
experiences whether it's a cat or a dog. The fear will always be stuck. 

ORIGINAL: Dulce Pit Bull

I am amazed by the amount of you who have been bitten by a dog!

Could some of you tell me how that happened? I'd be interested to know.

I've never had bad experiences with dogs. I too, am the owner of one of the most "feared" breeds out there today, so I don't "hate" against bully breeds specifically.

However, I will shamefully  admit that Rottweilers occassionally terrify me. [] Sorry!


my aunts chow was VERY mean it would try to bite anyone who knocked on teh door. I was walking down the stairs and it came up behind me and was biting me in the butt and legs lol i was maybe 10 at the time so this was a long time ago.. but it was definitely not a friendly dog.

The chihauhua that bit me was probably a puppy mill dog. He seemed to be well socialized for the most part, but did not like anyone strange in the house. He would be ok for a moment & just snap. There was another female one in the house who was just sweet as could be. The mean one is just the one that seems to stick in my mind the most when I see others.

I've been bit by our family's old English bulldog before (drew blood & left a nice 3 inch scar), but that was my own fault & I can't say I'm the least bit afraid of them today. She had just had her eyelids worked on earlier that day and was pretty cranky still. She got a hold of something she shouldn't have & when I tried to take it away (I was probably 12 yrs old & had no sense), she bite me. She was quite a bully (no pun intended) to other dogs & my younger brother, but never acted like that towards me in the past or later on. Just a bad day & some wicked strong meds that hadn't completely worn off yet.

I've never been bitten by chows, but I think so many years of seeing such a territorial, hostile dog & being told that it WOULD bite me have left a lasting impression. In addition, chows aren't extremely popular here & I've never gotten to meet a friendly one.

Try walking down the street with an Irish wolfhound-it is like being Moses and the other passers by are the Red Sea.....And Wolfhounds are not very barky, and mine are socialized early to sit in front of a new person rather than to charge up to them or jump on them.   Still-sheer size seems to conjure up a whole lot of negative association for people.  I have also owned German Shepherds, Dobes, and Akita, and have noticed that people often react to them as well, even though the animal in question is quietly sitting next to you, under control and on a leash-blame the media for that.  Think about all the movies you have seen and what jumps out of the warehouse, factory, garbage dump, etc at the poor hero but a German Shepherd, a dobe or a rottie....They are always portrayed as hissing, spitting, barking, frothing and jumping creatures.  That is why it is so great to have the chance to go to dog shows, and have some of the myths and stereotypes shattered.

I agree with Willowchow that it is a shame more people have not gotten to know chows....or even MORE of a shame that some people are allowed to own dogs. Chows are not for everyone, nor or chis or GSDs or Pitties or any other breed. Proper upbringing...just like with children...is oh-so-evident. Chows are independent, strong willed, observant, intelligent, clean, loving, attentive, fair, curious, and loyal. Like most dogs. I have three dogs...a lab mix, a peke-pom, and my chow girl. And I could not be happier or love any of them more. I love the diversity that the various breeds bring to us. And I love the similarities.

And I would love you all to get a purple kiss from my Cinnamon Girl.

I've been bitten/snapped at by so many JRTs that I just assume they are all killers and try to keep my distance. Wouldn't say I'm afraid of them though, just very cautious. When I was working in the animal shelter, we were all very careful around the little dogs. Big dogs rarely if ever showed aggressive behaviors, but at least half of the little guys would growl, bite, and snap. Mind you, they were all scared and stressed about being dumped at the scary shelter with a bunch of strangers.

I'm not afraid of any one breed over all others, though I tend to be cautious with dogs I don't know well.  I have noticed that a lot of people are wary of my black Lab/Border Collie mix, simply because she is big and black.  I've seen people cross the street to avoid her when we're out walking.  

Hi, Hope you don't mind if I jump in, I'm new here. I'm not afraid of any breed, but I am wary of Chesapeake Bay Retrievers. They are unpredictable in my experience with them.
    I've had two of them sucker me in to petting them and then they snapped at me. The head and tail was up the tail wagging all the body language of a happy dog. So it really took me by surprise. Of course I just had the back of my hand out so they could sniff it or I could have gotten bit. Now this was two separate dogs and two separate experiences.
    Thats the only breed I have come across that I had that happen. I am used to big dogs, I have had Two Rotties and two Dobies and several German Shepherds in my lifetime. So I am comfortable around any kind of dog.
 
Elizabeth

Are you sure you didn't just misinterpret dominant behavior?  It can be really tough to tell.  If the head is up and the tail is waving slowly, it is a show of dominance, not friendliness.  I'm amazed I haven't been bit for making the same mistake.  I've only met one Chessie and he was pretty sweet.  He's one of the ones who trained me to work with dogs if that makes any sense.  He always kept me on my toes trying to keep him from running out of the kennel between my knees. 
 
I've been thinking about it and I realized that my worse animal attack was definately the cat attack.  This little black cat got into a fight with a tabby at least twice his size, so I pushed them apart with my foot, trying to keep from getting bit.  I picked up the little black one and put him in a kennel.  I felt so bad for pushing them apart like that I pet him once I had put him back in the kennel.  Bad move.  He got ahold of my arm.  He chewed on my wrist while scratching my forearm with his front claws and my elbow with his hind.  I'm still a bit nervous around black cats, but it's not that big of a deal. 

Wow, I haven't heard anyone mention Dalmations--I know, I know, who could possibly be afraid of a Dal?

My friend had a deaf Dal when we were about 12 years old.  The dog was wary of everyone, and had already snapped at a few of the neighbor kids.  She was chained up on a run in their backyard and my friend and I were running to her swingset out of the dog's reach.  Well, the dog thought I was chasing my friend to hurt her, I guess, and she snapped the chain and took a good small chunk out of my inner thigh.  I still have the scar.

My husband has this WONDERFUL fireman friend who has a Dal named Blaze.  He's a great dog, but I'm scared of him, and he knows it.  He stays away from me and I stay away from him.  He's great with everyone else.  I feel awful too because I'm such a dog lover, and it's not his fault, but I just have never gotten over that.  And my husband's friend just can't believe me and Blaze haven't made friends.

My great grandma had a Chihuahua that was an absolute maniac.  Never could housebreak the dog, he'd mark all over the house, and yap and jump at everything.  One time I was pointing at something and he jumped up and bit my arm, I was maybe 2 years old?  I don't really remember it and he never bit me any other times, but he never really came near me either.

I've never had a bad experience with a Chow, and I don't fear them, however I haven't really been around them either.