Do we sterotype certain people by the type of dog they own?

I've found that people assume the small dog in the house must belong to the woman. I've got 2 adult smooth Collies, and my fiance' has a Westie.  When people see the dogs out, they ask how I "put up with his big dogs"!  lol

ORIGINAL: Xebby

Do you think you choose your dog because it best matches your personality and style?

Absolutely!!!

But I do know a standard poodle breeder who is one of the manliest women I know.

Standards are such doggy dogs, though. I've not met many prissy Standards.

I think I'm very much like my dogs. We're small girls with big attitude, and not one of us stops moving, unless we're asleep[]

In the looks department, I only wish I were like my dog - Tall with long, thin legs and an elegant, noble appearance....  Most folks presume I own a cocker spaniel when they see me... 
 
As for attitude, I am very much like a Doberman - complex in some aspects; don't like change much; loyal and protective; and as strong as I appear, sometimes a mean word can easily upset me.

Most working Border collie people I know are excruciatingly brainy.  I've known more MDs, DVMs, PhDs, and ThDs among my border collie friends and acquaintances than when I was in grad school.   They are control freaks, precise to the point of boredom, tremendously geeky, and obsessive.  They are also enthusiastic, passionate, and generally gregarious (though social functions can be a little snippy with the multiple persons trying to exert control over the activities).  They prefer to work on their own rather than being directed. 

Trying to get them to agree on anything is like herding cats - everyone thinks their own teeny permutation of the solution to anything is the focus and anchor of the truth.  I've been on the committee to forward a Breeder Code of Ethics for the breed club, and we are in the second year now of working on this.  I'm learning a lot about mediation.  []

I don't know.
What do you all think I'm like?  Here are my dogs:
Stockdog type Australian Shepherd
Aussie mix
Border Collie/Spaniel mix
English Foxhound mix
Yorkshire Terrier
Dogs I've owned in the past:
Dachshund, Beagle, Doberman, Mutts
 
Does all that mean I'm "eclectic"? [sm=rotfl.gif]
 
 
 

One of the things I love to do at the dog park is try to guess what dog is with what person. I am always amused at how much of the people's personality is reflected in their dog. I really believe that people gravitate towards breeds or dog personalities that match their own. From what I've seen there is definitely a correlation between breeds and types people.

My best friend has a Chihuahua and an Italian Greyhound. Both of her dogs are a little nervous, and fairly high strung. Just like my best friend. She's also tiny, fast moving and always in motion just like her dogs.

I don't assume much just by breed or size, but I do think I often see similarities in invididual personality between dogs and their owners... particularly when the people have raised them from puppyhood. Dogs who don't listen well often belong to people who don't listen well, laid back dogs often have laid back owners, fearful dogs have nervous owners, etc. Of course this isn't always the case but I do sometimes stereotype in that manner.

I hope people don't judge me by my dog....I'm not a dim-bulb, goofy hound dog with a penchant for chewing crayons ha ha...as much as I love her...Ginny is, well, not the most graceful example of man's best friend

My favorite breeds are black and tan coonhounds (beautiful sound), border collies (smarts) and dobermans (athleticism).

Maybe it's just something that we try to look for, so then we find it even if its not there?

And what about people wholook like their dogs thats always made me laff!

On the surface the saints don't seem to match me at all. I am very small, a total girly-girl, very neat and clean. On the surface a Italian Greyhound, Poodle, Japenese Chin or any other delicate toy breed seems to be the dog for me. I am sure strangers are surprised to see me walking my saints.[8D]
 
In reality all my favorite breeds are huge and droopy. I don't mind the drool one single bit. I love my Saints, and all the other big mastiff type dogs in the working group. I like goofy dogs that are LAZY, and can lay around sleeping all day. I also like the droopy hounds like bloodhounds and bassets. I don't mind wiping the drool off my designer shoes and handbags. I don't mind getting dressed up to go out for dinner, and having a saint drink water, and then leave a trail of slobber across my cloths.Saints are almost my opposite, but they are what I love. A true saint like Shaq is a lot like DH. Big and intimidating to some people, yet soft and sweet on the inside.
 
Inside I am a very tough girl. I am also athletic. I think that Marley is really my mirror in a dog. Her saintly half makes her sweet and adorable, while Marley's pyr half makes her athletic, dislike strangers, and bossy. A perfect blend of tough and sweet. Marley and I are just alike.

I am EXACTLY like Gypsy (except she's in better shape than I am!). We are both short and stocky with an amazing amount of strength in our muscular bodies--I can easily lift my DH (all 200+ lbs of him) and Gyspy has pulled him on a rolling chair when she was a tiny puppy. We like everyone and are true social butterflies. However, DO NOT make us angry! When we are aroused, we can very easliy defend ourselves and both of us have sent grown men scurrying for cover more than once.