How does your dog break the stereotype?

Jamison hardly ever barks or aroooos at anything, something most beagles do all the time.

Deb W.

mehpenn

I have a toy poodle, Sadie. I think generally when people think of poodle, they think prissy, froo froo dog. However, my Sadie is a rough and tumble farm dog. She handles farm life like a pro... she follows us on trail rides, plays in the pasture and her favorite no-no is rolling in horse apples. She is an awesome little dog. I couldn't have asked for a better match...

 Aaww, Sadie sounds just like the Toy Poodle we had when I was growing up on the farm.  She even looks a like Rags.

The thing that comes to mind about Caleb breaking the Lab stereotype is how calm and mellow he is.  Don't get me wrong- he can butt tuck with the best of them.  But he's not perpetual motion like a lot of young Labs.  From the time he was old enough to go out in public, people commented on how calm he is.  The other things have more to do with training, I think- he's not destructive, doesn't counter surf, etc. 

My guys are actually mostly pretty close to what they are described as.

They are appropriately prey-driven, to the point they will go off independently to "do their job" (Gaci even more so than the other two)....however they can all be off-leash so it goes against the "never let your terriers offleash!!!!!" mentality that a lot of terrier owners have. Gaci has to be on leash in certain areas, but it's more about knowing thy dog and situation than a blanket statement.

None of them are "yappy", as is sometimes mentioned. They are appropriate alert dogs - bark when people come to the door, if people peer in the car windows, or if they feel threatened. They don't bark just for the sake of barking, and they quiet down fast. But then again some people label "any" barking as being yappy so if people want a silent dog, don't get a Mini schnauzer.

Shimmer is very much reserved around strangers but once she decides she likes them she is a forever friend. Zipper likes everyone, but with a really laid back demeanor. He does not get in people's faces so much as he just lets people come up and see him. Gaci is the anomaly in that she doesn't like other people much....she has severe trust issues.

Everything I've heard about Golden puppies says they are supposed to be psycho hyper and chew everything the minute you turn your back...Maggie has really never been hyper OR a chewer...people in the neighborhood are amazed she's as well behaved for as young as she is.

Big bad GSD, Heidi can be aloof with people which is typical.  She is especially so when we are on walks and people walk by.  It seems she displays this behavior mostly when I am around.

However, I have observed her with the meter reader and other service people when I am watching through the window.  She turns into this wiggly waggly dancing, bouncing bundle of puppy (at almost 3 years old).  Yeah, some guard dog I've made.  LOL

She loves, loves, loves kids.  I so wished I had the camera in my hand the other day at Thanksgiving.  She was in the backyard running and skipping (yes, she skips) and playing with all the kids that were over.  She was in kid heaven and loving every minute of it.

And, sweet as molasses (when she is not in full swing houligan mode).  She loves up on Buddy constantly, always respectful to him; although she has placed herself in the top spot of the pack (behind me).  She lets me kiss her up; hug her up all the time. 

My dog is a rescue and most people seem to think rescues are unruly dogs with tons of behavior issues (even our vet expected her to be a mess when we came in the first time).  She came with no behavior issues at all: didn't jump on people, no aggression, friendly with all adults, kids, dogs, and cats.

She's a border collie/retriever mix who's not high energy and doesn't retrieve?

 I really don't have much since she's just a 50 lb black mutt.  What do people expect them to be like? lol

My GSDs are pretty much GSDs.  They work hard, are easy to train, very loyal and attached, "one person" dogs that are steady in crowds but more aloof than other breeds.

I guess Coke is also the stereotypical rescue dog that has gone through several homes - he is loving, social, outgoing, lives every moment to the fullest, completely lives in the "now" despite his past.  I don't believe dogs have human emotions, but I can see where people say their rescue dog is "grateful".

Vizslas are supposed to be super high energy dogs. But if it's raining, or cold in the winter, Rupert is perfectly happy being a couch potato. With a pillow and blankie, please. Don't get me wrong, when we go out for a walk, bike ride, swimming, play date, etc. he is go go go wheeee! But if he doesn't get to run for a few days (except in the yard), he doesn't get destructive or have any behavioral issues.

Poms are supposedly yappy ankle biters that are bad with kids, but mine are not like that. Rickards is incredibly quiet (unless startled, he gives a pathetic attempt to bark lol), LOVES kids of all ages, super cuddly and friendly with cats and dogs. He also loves to run and play fetch. Skyline does bark, but only when the doorbell rings, after that she is quiet. She is not a biter, she doesn't mind young kids, although she does prefer calmer kids. She also isn't fond of being held, she wants to run and play, she loves the freedom. And she loves cats and dogs, although she prefers cats more than dogs lol

Aesop is not reserved at all..he loves everyone. He's not all that aloof either..though we call his selective hearing his 'attempt at aloofness'.

Jules is pretty typical yorkie. He's all terrier, which surprises some, who I think forget that Yorkies are still terriers.

 I don't think there are any preconceived notions about elves or generic brown dogs

As I read through all of these posts, I realize that....in essence it is NOT our dogs who break the stereotypes.  Its US, the proud mamas and pappas of these wonderful dogs who keep the stereotypes at bay.

YAY US!

Reggie, the JRT, is content to be a couch potato.  He has his moments where he gets all wound up but for the most part, he is content to just lay around the house and sleep.  If given the choice to be outside or inside with me, he always takes me!  But in his later years he has become quite the yapper.

Jake, the border collie/beagle-mix, is dumber than a box of rocks.  He's the only dog I know that loves to chase balls but if you throw one at him, he will let it hit him right in the face!  He may be 50% BC but he is not a herder at all.  He did get his prey drive and nose from the 25% of beagle in him.

Bella, she's a boxer through and through.  She doesn't break a single stereo-type.

Being a mutt I can't say there are too many stereotypes for my boy but the one that surprises most is his energy and agility for a dog over 100 lbs.

Oh and for a very muscular large dog he is a BIG baby LOL - some old dog yapped at him at rehab the other day and all the staff laughed at him  - his mantra is definitely why can't we all be play buddies

TysonSS

Tyson doesn't howl :[

Lucky! Apollo, the Labrador, HOWLS a lot. It was funny at first, but sometimes it gets annoying. Like, when a fire truck drives by w/ the sirens on he thinks it's his job to let the entire neighborhood know by howling for a good 15-20 mins...LOUDLY. He also yodels, whines, barks, cries, etc. He's a very vocal dog when he's excited as well as when a siren goes off. He used to howl and bark when my brother played the saxaphone, too.