Changing your mind about certain dog breeds

I used to think Poodles were froo-froo dogs...until I met a Standard that belonged to a friend in high school.  I was blown away with how normal and fun they are!

I also used to think poodles were just 'fluff dogs'. Then I saw some standards that weren't clipped into that puffball style, and I loved them!

I used to think (like way too many people) that Pits were awful and would hurt children and etc etc till we had one a few years ago (named Little Debbie because of  her markings) and she was the biggest baby youd ever see.....shed let my sisters kids romp and play and pull and roll all over her and shed just lay there eating up the lovin!!! Her fave thing to do was chase bubbles!!!! She was the best dog ever!!!! Now i adore the breed!!! We were blessed to find Tink but would have taken any rescue including a Pit...my husband loves that breed as well, he had one growing up and knows what sweet dogs they truly are..

ORIGINAL: Tinks_mom

...she was the biggest baby youd ever see.....shed let my sisters kids romp and play and pull and roll all over her and shed just lay there eating up the lovin!!!

My cousin's female Pit was the same way.  A big baby, wonderful with her young son and would allow the same sort of things like climbing over her and tugging.  She was very friendly to me on our first introduction, as well. Although I didn't have any real negative thoughts about the breed, this sure opened my eyes.

Before we relocated to NH, we had a neighborhood Pit that roamed as he pleased.  He started joining our walks (only had Willow at the time) and took on the role of protector.  There was another large dog that would come barreling out of his yard at us...the days that the Pit was walking with us, he would run up to this large dog and keep him from coming at Willow and I.  He just blocked this dog, no teeth and ugliness.

I used to think terriers where stubborn and untrainable and bitters.  Then I met Joey.

I was right, they are stubborn and almost untrainable, doesn't bite, but growls occasionally.  But, I have found that terriers fit my life style and personality along with my husbands.  So, it's terriers for me for life.

I hope this doesn't get me in trouble....I used to really dislike Shih Tzus and Lhasas. They all seemed snappy, with bad additudes. I've been working with a groomer for about three years now and I see many come into the shop. I held my opinion until I met Tinkerbell, she is a Lhasa and when she was a puppy she was quite onary. Her Mom has done alot of training with her and she is now the most loveable, silly and playful little thing. I absolutely love Tink! There are several other dogs as well, that have shown me it's not the dog or it's breed most of the time....it's the owners and their lack of expectations for the dogs behavior. They have not become my favorite breed by any means...but I have changed my mind about what kind of companions they can be.
On a possitive note..I think owners of small dogs are starting to really get into training them. This past weekend I went to a flyball tournament with my dog and was amazed at how many people are now involved with their little dogs..not terriers, which is common..but dogs like a Poodle, a Lhasa, a Havanese and on my own team we have a Coton and two Chi's that we run as height dogs. I have seen with my own eyes how different these dogs are when they are trained and I will no longer think of them in the same way.
 
Just the opposite..I used to really like Cockers..after working with a Groomer for three years ..not so much.

I'm going to agree with everyone else on the poodles.  I always considered them yappy little "foo foo" dogs until I met a chocoloate standard named Henry Fudge who had just the regular field hair cut.  He was such an amazing dog - changed my mind completely about poodles. []
 
Joyce

I used to think pits were horrible dogs and should have been banned.  I now know that they are some super sweet dogs, and I hope that I'll get one one day.
I also thought beagles were annoying and weren't cute.  That was until I started researching breeds and found that beagles really fit my lifestyle.  Then I started looking and got Carley, who is a great dog.  I love this breed now, and I know that Carley won't be my last beagle.

You guys all felt the same way about poodles as I did!

I never liked poodles but finally decided to give them a chance because of an allergy problem. Got our puppy a few months ago and we are totally in love with her!! I should never have judged them.

I used to be scared of Dobermans because I got bitten one as a child (totally my fault) but my friend got one and he is the biggest goof and nothing but a gentlemen with Rory!
I dont care for little dogs, not because of them literally but becuase of the owners (please dont take it personal). They turn into yappy lil monsters because the owners coddle them like they are going to break. We walk in petsmart and you hear lil dog owners gasp and pick up "their baby" or they jerk their leash back which puts the little dogs on guard yet they have the nerve to look at your average sized dog like its the monster!
I've seen many lil dogs put big dogs in their place and a lot of lil dogs can handle themselves pretty darn well. Not to mention that if I'm bringing my dog in a public place it obviously has a respectable level of obediance, do I look like a idiot? Or their was this lady in petsmart with her dog in a lil designer bag and she is standing in line going "hows my poopy do? shooby dooby, dooby do!'Oh man that drives me crazy!
 
I understand not all are like this so please dont take offense.

I used to not like chihuahuas because all I'd ever seen them do is shake and look nervous. There was a teacup chi that lived at the used book store in the town I used to live in and seriously this was the smallest full-grown dog I've ever seen, like it could sit in the palm of your hand small. All it did was shake and look like it was about to spontaneously combust out of fear. I was fascinated with it, but in a science-projecty kind of way.
 
But I met a sandard sized chi that was living at our temple for a year and this dog rocked! It was like....an actual dog. It did dog things. He was really well socialized, obedient and pretty much was the boss of the rest of the temple dogs. I took Conrad out there one day and this little guy totally let him know: You want to do anything around here? You gotta check with me first. Anyway, that little dog definately changed my mind about chihuahuas and about little dogs in general. If their owner treats them and trains them like an actual dog, they turn out okay.

I've always loved poodles .

I didn't used to like the terrier breeds, but I like that they have high-energy now.

And I've never liked American Eskimos, because I've been bitten by four dogs and three of them were Eskies!

I used to think Poodles were stupid and stuck up.  I used to hate Pugs, Bulldogs, any bully breed or anything with a pushed in nose.  I also used to hate dogs that drool!  Obviously all dogs drool, but I used to hate the ones that drool excessively like a Mastiff or St. Bernard.