"mean dogs"

You would be suprised how many are afraid of my great dane..in the eyes of an educated dog person this seems ridicuals..my boy is not the least bit "scary" and certainly not agressive..all people see is a massive, tall dog. I dont know how many times ive had to explain to people that Malakai wouldnt hurt a fly and that he dosent bite.. I was walking malakai into petrsmart one night and this lady would rather jump in front of a moving car then walk past malakai, it was pathetic..it really is quite funny, how people act around them. once you know this breed well, you will see that they are just oversized babies..as for those so called "child killing, good for nothing but fighting, human biting" pit bulls, just take a look at the pics below..real child eaters those pits..lmao []  

oh and dont get me started on those rotties!!!!

 
ok..im sure you get my point lol...most fear comes from ignorence..ignorence leads to BSL, its ridiculas really...ALL dogs of these breeds suffer because of the actions of a few...

When I worked at a kennel in high school there was a Great Dane that kept coming in, and everytime I turned my back on her she'd pop her front paws up on my shoulders.  Scared be crapless the first time it happened, but then it became funny.  She just wanted a little extra attention.  I was surprised at how little she weighed for her size, though.  I guess that's only natural after growing up with Saints.

Danegirl, those are some beautiful pics, both the dogs and the kids.  I've had several rotties, and let me tell you, when they wanted to be they were vicious.  I had one that licked me so much I couldn't breath.  That beast almost smothered me! LOL  OH and don't let a train pass during the night (especially at 2am) you'd find out just how small a queen size bed was.
 
Keedokes, I've only been around one great dane.  Friend of mine had one.  We would meet at her house to study and I'd hang out afterwards to play with the dog.  She (the dog) played peek a boo with the kids and tug of war with Connie.  So I'd take her out in the yard and let her tear me up LOL  She was awesome.  She'd tackle me and drag me around the yard all day long unless one of the kids came out and then she turned into a (BIG) lap dog..

ORIGINAL: keedokes

When I worked at a kennel in high school there was a Great Dane that kept coming in, and everytime I turned my back on her she'd pop her front paws up on my shoulders.  Scared be crapless the first time it happened, but then it became funny.  She just wanted a little extra attention.  I was surprised at how little she weighed for her size, though.  I guess that's only natural after growing up with Saints.

 
lol very funny im just trying to imagine my boy doing that [sm=uhoh.gif] that would be pretty scary he'd knock me right on my but lmao

All this sounds very familiar. I have a 1 YR. old Red Dobe and he's quite tall so when I'm walking him I've also had people cross to the other side and give those looks which I'm sure many of you may be familiar with. I had 1 great experience though when I was walking him and there were a bunch of younger children and a couple of their mothers, when 1 of the mothers commented on what a pretty dog and if she could pet him and pretty soon he was lapping up all the attention he was getting from everyone. I have 2 small children so proper socialization was a must with him and we are still going to obedience classes. However he is such a big suck and loves both kids so much. I think the most vicious dog I've known was a standard poodle that my in-laws had, he was just pure mean. I think the only person he liked was my Father-In-Law. I don't have ill feelings toward any one breed, just the irresonsible owners that made the dog the way it is. I've been around Danes, Rotties and GSD's Etc. and have nothing but respect for these great dogs and the owners for taking the time to turn them into the great pets they are!
 
 
Scott
 

Some people are afraid of my Aussie because she has blue eyes...some are afraid of Maska because he's big (someone once asked me if he was a Pit Bull), and some are afraid of Sioux because she looks so intense when she barks.  I owned a Dobe in the 80's and people actually crossed the street to avoid us (she was a marshmallow).  I don't think fear has much to do with breed, though.  Most people who aren't "doggy", don't know a Basset from a Bichon anyway.

My husband and I have run our Canine Hotel for three years now... We are NOT a kennel. We are a high end vacation spot for dogs... dogs that come to us... sleep in the beds with us, lay on the furniture, watch tv, eat prepared warmed pampered meals with a human and music, tons of supervised fenced playtime.. ect... In that time period we have handled many many different breeds....
 
My list of "most aggressive" in order of being bite myself
1)Chihuahua  usually the ones that are under 5lbs are the nippy ones
2) Dachunds , I know refer to them as alligator lips
3) Cocker Spaniels  only had 1 out of 13 of them not growl and bite at everything and one.
4) Boxers  I think this has more to do with where i live. I am only miles from Fort Drum NY and many of the soldier buy Boxers but know little about good breeding. The boxers that have come from a good responsible breeder have been wonderful dogs..
 
My list of LOVE BUGS and Favorites
1) Rotts, One of the most affectionate emotional breeds i have met
2) GSD's Very Talky breed, and love to be around humans
3) GSD mixes
4) Dobie's  Intelligent, Dignified breed... love to play fetch
5) Pitt /Pitt mixes   loving loyal breed, faithful companion comes to mind. It is ashame that Idiots have made this breed or mix so hated.
 
 

Cocker Spaniels only had 1 out of 13 of them not growl and bite at everything and one.

 
Sigh....
It's no better to stereotype the small breeds. My cocker loves everyone and I get sick & tired of hearing about how they're biters. I imagine chi owners aren't pleased by hearing about their "yippy ankle biters" either. Let's just all agree that ANY breed can be aggressive and leave it at that - please???

I agree, any breed has the potential to be agressive. When I was really small my mom used to clean houses. She went to one particular house where there was a male Afghan Hound and that dog wanted to kill everyone he saw. I currently know a couple that has two of them and they are total goof balls.
 
My step dad also knew this guy who owned a male Rottie. The first time I saw the dog he had been left outside tied to a tree in my backyard (I was about 10 and living in NY) I absolutely melted at seeing such a gorgeous dog and brought him water and some treats which he took out of my hand quite nicely. I spent about 20 minutes petting him and when I got tired of standing up I went to get a chair to sit on. Well that dog jumped back and bared his teeth as soon as he saw the chair, but as soon as i put it down he relaxed again. When his owner came back he told me 'The Dog Bites." And me being a kid I told him 'Yeah he probably bites you because you hit him"
 
But my point is any dog can be agressive regardless of breed. My sons grandmother had a pair of chis mother and son. The mother was very vocal and a true ankle biter until she got to know you, and her son was and still is a big sweetie pie. Depends on genetics and how you raise a dog

I have heard many people tell me how mean cockers are.  Mind you, I've never met a mean cocker, but for years I thought most of them were biters, just because I believed what I heard. 
 
Then I met Sally and was forced to revaluate my opinions on all dogs and consider myself reformed. []
 
Although I have been biten by a GSD, a dachsund, and a Dane, I really can't say that I would consider any of those breeds "mean."  I was afraid of GSDs for a while, but have mostly gotten over that (with time and help from some very nice GSDs) and realize that my fear is not the dogs' fault
 
The three dogs that I have known that I have been most afraid of have all been mixes.  A friend of mine had a chi-poo that tried to bite anyone who came to close to it and she also had a wolf hybrid that turned into a hardcore fear biter who would lunge at any woman that caome into the house (she was terrified of men to the point that she would run away at the sight of them, so DH always went first when we went to the house).  My friends mom would say things like "Oh, she won't hurt you, she's just silly" as I literally feel the breeze from her jaws snapping at my leg.  She attacked the chi-poo mentioned above on several occasions before finally killing her while the family was away [].
 
The other one is my landlords dog.  I don't know if I'm really afraid of her as much as I am very cautious.  She too is a fear biter.  Although she doesn't do serious damage, she does bite kids like it's going out of style.  She's snapped at DH and biten one of the other tenants.  I just make it a habit not to put any part of my body near her that I'd like back in one peice.

I have only been bitten by one dog.A GSD that my sister had adopted several months ago.He started out attacking her husband.They thought it was a one time thing and maybe he had been abused and felt threatened but it continues to several unprovoked attacks,including my amply padded backside.They tried everything to solve the problem but it escalated quickly until one day he went completely Cujo on them as she put it and the dog had to be put down.It turned out that he had a brain tumor that was causing it,most likley due to poor breeding.She has 2 other wonderful GSD that i love to death so i do have anything against the breed,just against bad breeders.
I also have a big teddybear of a rottie and a big baby of a great dane,not to mention my ragamuffin cocker spaniel who just loves hugs from everyone.

I went to an acquaintances house to meet her Scottish Deerhounds, after ringing the doorbell I felt like I was being watched, even though there was no barking at all.  Looking out of the bay window at me were 3 big beautiful SDH girls.  When the door was opened 2 of them wanted to meet and test me, the third was just observing.  The largest of the three put both her paws on my shoulder and was looking DOWN at me and sniffing, the second one decided that taking my hand in her mouth and tasting me was the way to go.  (I never felt teeth at all.)
 
I was thinking: "If I had a different background I might be intimidated or even frightened by this."  Especially by the big girl that was looking down at me.  Later on I met her biggest boy...he made himself right at home and stuck his entire head into one of my pockets.  It makes me sad that I don't have the space to accomodate one of them in my home yet.

While on our way to get a spot to see the fireworks last night, we had to walk through many crowds of people. On many occasions, parents pulled their kids away from Sasha. Even though I had her tightly at my side, and her head couldn't go anywhere but next to my leg. (Only through the crowds of course, common courtesy) Sasha did not bark, growl, or even give a dirty look at anyone, but yet people must see her tail wagging and body wiggling as a sign of aggression [8|]
 
Look how evil she is...
 
 
 
 

Ohh please don't get me wrong... I know their is cockers, Chi, that don't bite... I am only telling you MY experiences... NOT sterotyping as a whole.. since i have not met EVERY dog in the world i couldn't possiably do that

Well, I can give you the other side of the coin...Chinook is a mean dog...

Chinook is a very friendly dog, but she's got a mean streak a mile wide towards little breeds. We've had her since she was 8 weeks, socialized to no end, never so much as huffed at another person or child...but throw a little dog her way, and BAM! she's a holy terror!

Case in point, I'm walking Chinook along a busy park, and a little mini-schnauzer mix is heading our way, off-leash, owner well behind.

I put Chinook in a sit, and stand in front of her.  Mini-schnauzer owner waves and says "Oh, don't worry, Sammy is very friendly".  I say "Thank you, but Chinook is not very friendly" (it's just easier to say that than "Chinook likes her space, and doesn't tolerate disrespect from other dogs very well".

She responds with "It's okay, their tails are wagging, just let them sort it out...".

I continue to block access to Chinook, and she is really good. Not a sound or a movement...until the schnauzer gets around me...[sm=smack.gif]  Chinook had that dog pinned in a millisecond.  No bites, just lots of teeth, noise (from the dogs and the lady) and posturing.  I barked "back off!" at Chinook, with a quick snap of her leash, and she did, reluctantly.  That little schnauzer took off like a dart, yapping over his shoulder as he bolted.

The lady says "you should keep an eye on that dog, he's mean!", to which I reply, "you should keep a leash on your dog, he's suicidal".

So you see, it's just as important to keep your 'friendly' dogs under control.