Stereotyping........

Maisie-westie- TOTO![sm=banghead002.gif]

A lot of people think cocker spaniels are nasty dogs... vicious, mean, crazy, etc., and they also have a reputation for being submissive eers - Russell is certainly not the former but unfortunately lives up to the latter stereotype. [&:]

GSD- of course, extremely aggressive...will turn on me. Even worse, black GSD. I don't know how many people i have argued with trying to tell them that he is purebred. "Is that a black lab/german shepherd mix? " "no, he's a purebred shepherd." "Well, that there dog aint got no brown on him!" Now, i've gotten to the point where i just say, okay and keep on.
 
Most people don't know much about rhodesians, if they do most people don't really have much of a stereotype. I've had one guy tell me he's heard they were aggressive. Most people jsut ask me if he's angry because his hair is sticking up, or why i shaved his back that way.

I get so many mean comments, and stares. People avoid me on the street, walk around me, stop if I'm waking behind them, go to the other side of the street when they see me coming.

It really hurts my feelings, but there really isn't anything I can do to change peoples minds. It's the ignorant people who aren't willing to learn that really frustrate me. However, I have changed LOTS of peoples minds about my Pit. She's a LOVE BUG, and they coo over her, and talk baby talk-the whole bit!

So there are ups and downs when it comes to owning a Bully breed.

Yep, Rocky gets a lot of stereotypical comments too, like all bully breeds. Even though I sort of expect them, they still drive me crazy!
 
- "Does he bite?"  or the most used "He bites, right?"
- "He'll be walkin you when he grows up." Uh no he won't... They say this as Rocky is in a nice heel by my side. [:@]
- All the usual bully breed comments that I need to learn to ignore.[&:]
-And I hate how whenever a kid sees Rocky they hide behind their parents and say, "look mom there's one of those mean doggys." and once again they are saying this while Rocky is behaving.[:@]
 

Most communicate their displeasure with Roxie's rottie appearance by avoiding us during a walk.  On the bright side, it keeps the annoying kids and rude people away.  Sometimes I encounter an idiot who asks if she bites while trying to pet her.  Well, no, but if she did, why would you be extending your unprotected hand towards her mouth without knowing?  Idiots.  Some can see how she is a mixed breed, but will insist that she would be vicious if she were a purebred rottweiler.

The other day I put Roxie in a sit-stay and let a mother and her son walk by.  As they passed, I told the lady how I understand the fear some kids have of bigger dogs.  She thanked me profusely and said her son was afraid of dogs around Roxie's size.  I felt nice about it, because I felt as if I'd helped disprove a big dog streotype and possibly a rottweiler or rottweiler mix stereotype. 

I'm always willing to help people understand how Roxie and dogs like her are not always bad.  Sadly, with deep-rooted stereotypes in place, I'm not given the opportunity to help the cause very often.

I have a rescued mutt. People always think she was abused and that, as a mutt, she is "beneath" purebreds. They are surprised when they find out that she is an indoor dog, has clothes (well, just bandannas), nice leash sets, homecooked meals, toys and the like. I also get the insinuations that mutts are dumber; many people are amazed when I tell her to sit and she does. [8|] I'm not sure why; it's not like I asked her to pull a rabbit out of a hat. They always say, "Wow! She knows how to sit!" Um, yeah, it's not very difficult and all dogs are supposed to be trained in the basic commands anyway. I also get the typical "Does she bite?" [&o]

As Shadow has gotten older and his features and colors became more defined, people often think he is a wolf or part wolf. If I had a wolf, a) I wouldn't be walking him in human population, as that is an unnatural habitat for a wolf, b) the wolf would be in a rehab or released.
 
The worst stereotype is the silly humans and it happens to be true. They loom up on him and wonder why he shies away and then ask "does he bite?" Or they allow their rambunctious kid to barrel ahead, arms outstretched squeeling "puppy". Granted, I use public excursions to work on his socialization and he is a good dog but, just once, I would like to barrel up on them, out of the blue, and see how they like that.

So true.
Some think my little Pom is stupid and spoiled.  In reality she's a quick learner, loves to swim, fetch and play as hard as her big brother (ES) and sister (GSD). 

Everytime I walk Otto, some jerk feels they need to make some comment like "is that a dog or a rat" or "oh I didn't know they make guinea pig leashes" It's oh so funny- can you all see my eyes rolling

They loom up on him and wonder why he shies away and then ask "does he bite?"

Conrad's a little bit hand-shy and when people loom over him and come in to pet him from over his head, he tends to shy away and back up a step and avoid their hand. People look incredibly offended at that, and sometimes they'll say, "Oh, is he not friendly?" He's perfectly friendly as long as you don't have the body language of someone who is about to knock him out and drag him away to be eaten! Once he's able to size you up and get a whiff of you, he'll let you do whatever you want, but geez people, either learn how to approach a strange dog or don't judge the dog's friendliness if you yourself have no clue as to dog behavior!

When I was trying the GL on my female Sibe, this husband and wife walking by looked nervous and thought the dog was an attacker!  Silly, she was so tiny and a pup.  Wagging tail mean anything to stupid people.?
 
"Siberians aren't friendly, they are work dogs"
 
"Siberians don't get along with other dogs"
 
"The blue eyes look scary"
 
I actually liked this one.. "Oh, you have a baby wolf!"
 
I love my baby wolves!

My wolf says hi to your wolves.
 

How are these for wolves?[]
 

I here this one alot  -  Poodles are sissy dogs