"_____" breed is not like other dogs!

How do you feel about these kinds of statements?

"-insert breed of dog- is not like other dogs!"

I see it a lot, but I almost feel like *every* owners of a certain breed do it, lol.

I know each breed definitely has it's special needs or requirements, etc, and there's a reason different breeds appeal to different people for unique traits and temperaments and whatnot. And obviously a person who has had x breed of dog for a lot of years is going to feel they are special, just like the person who has had y breed for just as many years feels THEIR breed is "not like other dogs". There's nothing wrong with having a favorite breed obviously!

But I'm not sure I'd go as far to say it has to be THAT different in terms of training, exercise, feeding. At the base of it all, they are all dogs.

I don't know - just thinking aloud. Thoughts?

Yep, I'm definitely one to believe they're dogs first, not "insert breed here" first.

I see that a looooooot lot lot lot lot with border collies. Yes, they are an active herding dog... no, they are not an entirely different species altogether.

It's super annoying. I'm sure owners of EVERY breed could come up with reasons why their breed is "not like other dogs." But too bad, they are still dogs

Dog first, sure. But if they all didn't have their own substandards, there wouldn't be breeds. Some breeds LOVE their owner. Some don't, and the training needs to be altered to fit. Some breeds were developed in such and such region, others were developed in a different region entirely...thus the differences in nutrition. Exercise may be exercise...until you get to extreme differences such as dachshunds and sighthounds. Some breeds were bred and designed to RUN. Others tend to retrieve better...happy with a throw of the ball.

Each dog is an individual, but the breed is still VERY important. Some breeds just AREN'T like others. The statement isn't entirely false, but it is sometimes overused.

And I'm the first one to say it....if you are a dog person, don't get a Sibe. Lol.

I got with the concept that a dog is a dog is a dog. The same can be said of cats. The breed really doesn't play into it. They're individuals, when you read breed personality charts it can be like reading astrological personality charts. Some qualities will be spot on and others will be so inappropriate that they're laughable.

I was warned a ton with the Dutch Shepherd, I did fine with his energy. I was warned about working-line GSD, he is by far the most favorite dog I have *ever* had. We were warned about the Border Collie and so far, Finn has been the easiest puppy/dog we've had. Now I'm warned the same thing with working-line Kelpies, and we will be finding out tomorrow LOL I think it's a WAY overused phrase. The purpose of breeds is they aren't supposed to be all alike.

Honestly, working hands-on boarding/training/grooming thousands of dogs of all kinds of breeds, some just ARE NOT "doggy" dogs.

Border Collies are not your average "doggy" dog, and it's not simply because they have high energy. They have immense brain power. They need to work. They develop creepy, insane behaviors if they aren't properly exercise and trained, where your average dog would just get fat & lazy. They are sensitive and aloof and peculiar, they don't just romp around wagging their tail and panting like "woof derp I'm a dog!". They are highly specialized, specially bred dogs who have been bred strictly based on their work ethics since day one... for hundreds of years. Nope, not your average dog who has been bred primarily as a friendly companion for many generations. That's not to say that ALL Border Collies are like this, but to me, a real Border Collie is not like other dogs. Hence the fact that most BCs only get along with other herding dogs or small, unthreatening dogs. Typical dogs are confused by their personality and play style unless they grew up with them.

I agree with Lyzelle, too. Huskies are not like "other dogs"! They are all about me. And for good reason, that's how we have bred them to be. If you don't respect, admire and accept that you won't last a day with a primitive breed. If you really appreciate a Lab personality (not arguably the most "doggy" dog in the world), you probably won't understand why anyone would want a Husky.

I think you are just crazy!!! But in a good way. The "average" person who values the "average" dog really wouldn't be able to tolerate a Dutchie. An average family in our puppy classes who some how got a hold of a Dutch Shepherd puppy are baffled as to why their brindle GSD is sooooo insane. They really think she's plotting against them.

It's easy to scoff but the truth is some breeds are easier and more "your average dog" than others.

Pit bulls are easy dogs in many ways. However their intense dog aggression (that many of us are lucky to not have to deal with, my two currently are very mild), is not "like other breeds". My malinois is a dog aggressive brat but mostly he avoids other dogs and frankly in a fight it's a snarky snap brawl. My pit bulls in the past have lost their ever loving minds seeking out other dogs to fight and they never came away with minimal damage. Arnold can and has sent dogs to the ER vet in a matter of 30 seconds, he's just that stupid dangerous in a fight. That, in essence, is not exactly "your average dog".

My malinois are "not like other dogs" because they are obsessively energetic, highly guardy in instinct, extremely impulsive, and there for make very frustrating dogs in many ways. Of course some mals are easier.

FWIW The dutch I have dealt with have always been harder dogs in power but never as busy and they always needed to be convinced of a real threat before they bothered to turn on. Then again, some people will warn away from their energy, however you also have to realize that you may not be the average dog owner.

The japanese spitz style dogs I train with at work are not like other dogs. They are hard to motivate, hard to read, and over all very "cat like". Is that an elitist statement? Hell no. Honestly? I would never own one. I can't see myself enjoying them.

^ Yes. Malinois are NOT like other dogs! Nor are APBTs. To say that they are would be to disrespect the intensity of both of the breeds, in different ways.

Are you talking about Shiba Inus? Talk about not dog-like at all... they are cute, but I couldn't stand living with one!

Well if we get a big enough list of breeds that are "not like other dogs".... then I guess they aren't that "different" then are they

They're all different. Boxers are not like labs which are not like huskies which are not like cocker spaniels and so on and so forth. They're all dogs. And it seems that most of the people that say things like "you wouldn't understand, X breed is not like other dogs" really don't even know what they're talking about anyway and are just repeating what someone else told them/what they want to believe to excuse behaviors.

Plus if you're talking to the average person, their image of what a "typical dog" is would be the family lab - biddable, gentle, social, happy-go-lucky. Which A LOT of dogs don't fit into - neither of mine do!

Yeah, I have a Kishu, a Hokkaido, a couple Shibas, and two Akitas as regulars at my work. They're all very... different. Not at all what I recommend for the average joe to get.

My poor shiba client was recommended the breed because it was "going to stay small". They had a GSD, an Aussie, and now a mini aussie if that shows you at all what kind of dog better suits them.

Breed types tend to help describe "like one another" pretty well actually.

Mexidogs aren't exactly a "breed", but I think those of us on this board that own Mexidogs would probably agree that they are not like other dogs. Sure they are dogs and you will find similarities between them and other dogs, but in their own way they are way different than "your average dog".

My experience with Cricket is that she is insanely smart... Smarter than me at times it seems. She can solve just about any obstacle that challenges her. She also has a very wise beyond her years mentality. Maybe its because she is a primitive type dog and because on the streets only the strongest survive... I don't know exactly and if Sizzledog sees this thread I'm sure she can explain it so much more better than I can. Cricket has a LOT of energy though thankfully she did come installed with a working off switch lol. This girl keeps me on my toes and she is the kind of dog that would need to be with someone who constantly works with her on new things since she can get bored once she has figured something out.

I think the statement would hold a little more weight being a bit more personal. Say someone who owns a Maltese asks me what its like to own a Border Collie. I can say "They are not similar for x, ,y and z reasons". Ultimately its about what you like in a dog. I've yet to ever meet a BC that annoys the snot out of me. I like them. They are dogs to me. Yet I find labs much more obnoxious but they are apparently as much of a "doggy dog" as you can get.

Meh. A dog is a dog is a dog is a dog. Instead of focusing on the specific breeds I think the traits are really what people should focus on. Can I really adap to dog aggression? Nope? Well, that is a known trait in the pit bull breed so for me they may not be like other dogs I like to spend time with. Do I want an obsessive kind of dog? Nope? Well, maybe I should refrain from a Mal as those dogs are not the kind of typical dog that stand out in my mind in a positive way.

Im rambling.

If that were true, why even have breeds?

This. Said better than I could have.

This is pretty much how I feel!

Like, obviously to some -- Labs are like the "ideal" dog but I could never live with one personally.

This came about in my head because on another board, someone came asking for help for their energetic and OCD yorkie. I suggested exercise. She considered exercise playing one-on-one around the house and following her around the garden and being put outside in an expen. When I said something about a 4 mile walk... a few seemed to think it would be WAY too much for a yorkie (and could "kill" them). Another said "You cannot treat or train a Yorkie like a Lab, horse, or pig. They are totally different. They are different than all other dogs." I just found it a bit extreme. I think some people get in their head that little dogs CAN'T do certain things when... in my experience they very easily can. My friends 4 and 5lb yorkies walk easily 4-5 miles, and sometimes the one even goes harder than Jackson my 16lb active boy! No, Yorkies are not THAT much different or special... some may be really active and NEED a lot more to remain calm, some may be content to lay around all day. But to just base the fact that their small or whatever on that they can't POSSIBLY walk as much as a big dog.

I dont like it...everyone always says "oh well MY breed is not your typical dog". ALL depends on what your definition of a typical dog is. The basics, learning theory, nutrition (to an extent, more important in some breeds), etc are the same...they are DOGS!. Now, of course breeds have different inherent traits, different drives, jobs, etc that are going to make them different from each other. They are also each individuals, again, being different. But at the end of the day, they are still dogs which have a WIDE variance.

I hear it a lot...oh, "that" doesnt work with MY dog, they are a *insert breed*. They are different

Well I do agree with this. I think there will always be just those specials dogs, in general, but I'm not sure it's necessarily relating to breed per say. Like, Jackson, to me... is not an "average dog" but what are we basing "average dog" off of, you know?

If an average dog is always happy, loves everybody and everything, is derpy and dorky, I have a feeling most dogs AREN'T that lol. Nothing wrong with that of course! I dunno, I am bad at wording what I'm trying to say right now lol...