Do people ever say negative things about your breed?
- Thread starter crazedACD
- Start date
Podencos are nervous and make really bad pets. They can't stand still, they are only happy hunting.
Right... Natasha might have energy, but give her a sofa and a blanket and you don't have a dog anymore. And someone explain me how can she be better being fed once a day or every two days, alone most of the time and with very few shelter than at home, where she is loved, cared, exercised and cuddled with.
Right... Natasha might have energy, but give her a sofa and a blanket and you don't have a dog anymore. And someone explain me how can she be better being fed once a day or every two days, alone most of the time and with very few shelter than at home, where she is loved, cared, exercised and cuddled with.
Well yeah, take a look at my signature and I'm sure you'll understand 
I think the worst is when kids are all over my guys and they're parents are all happy and smiling, then one of them will ask "What kind of dog is he/she?" and when I say "An American Staffordshire Terrier (or Pit Bull mix, depending on who I have)", they flip out, yank their kids away, and start mumbling about how they can't believe they let their kids pet a Pit Bull, how mean those dogs are, etc. It's sad.
I think the worst is when kids are all over my guys and they're parents are all happy and smiling, then one of them will ask "What kind of dog is he/she?" and when I say "An American Staffordshire Terrier (or Pit Bull mix, depending on who I have)", they flip out, yank their kids away, and start mumbling about how they can't believe they let their kids pet a Pit Bull, how mean those dogs are, etc. It's sad.
Most people don't seem to know what an Ibizan is so a lot of times they assume I have a greyhound or greyhound mix and will make comments regarding greyhounds.
Cricket is brindle so people have assumed she is pit bull when she looks absolutely nothing like a pit. I've also gotten GSD mix guesses from people and was once told my shepherd will turn on me because they are trained to bite. Umm wtf? And she is not a shepherd at all. I've also gotten whippet guesses and have been told that she must be a nervous neurotic mess and I'm brave for taking her with me everywhere in public. Whattt???
Cricket is brindle so people have assumed she is pit bull when she looks absolutely nothing like a pit. I've also gotten GSD mix guesses from people and was once told my shepherd will turn on me because they are trained to bite. Umm wtf? And she is not a shepherd at all. I've also gotten whippet guesses and have been told that she must be a nervous neurotic mess and I'm brave for taking her with me everywhere in public. Whattt???
I've realized with those people there's nothing I can do. It usually comes from the 'I have a 'real dog' that sits in the back yard 24/7 and does nothing' crowd. We can do agility, barn hunt, nosework, rally and... it doesn't matter. Little dogs are stupid.
In general the dog crowd is pretty good. Most the agility folk have heard of papillons and are complimentary. At dog events I mostly get comments like 'I heard those dogs are really, really smart!' Sometimes I do get the comment 'I wouldn't get a toy dog, but if I had to, it'd be a papillon.' Which I guess is a weird kind of attempt at a compliment.
In general the dog crowd is pretty good. Most the agility folk have heard of papillons and are complimentary. At dog events I mostly get comments like 'I heard those dogs are really, really smart!' Sometimes I do get the comment 'I wouldn't get a toy dog, but if I had to, it'd be a papillon.' Which I guess is a weird kind of attempt at a compliment.
I love that everyone is like.. "I have ____ so, yes..."
Really sad that the general public has a negative stereotype about EVERY breed... We'll never be able to please anybody!
I certainly get positive comments from people from time to time, but...
I own a Pit Bull, German Shepherd, and Border Collie.
They're going to kill me or destroy my house and run me to death, basically.
Had a woman in the store yesterday tell me to get a thundershirt for Recon to calm him down. Why she thought he was so high energy is beyond me since he was just chilling next to me while picking out cat treats. I told her I managed his energy just fine and liked him high energy and she said "Well let's see how long that lasts."opcorn:
I was like, "Lady, he's a year and a half old, I've made in through the worst already." :rofl1:
I pretty much ignore people who even look like they're going to make a comment about Sir, but I love the ones who meet him, love on him, tell me how good he is, then ask what breed he is. I usually ask them to guess at this point. Because you know the ending to this is that as soon as I tell them pit bull, they hate him. -_-
Really sad that the general public has a negative stereotype about EVERY breed... We'll never be able to please anybody!
I certainly get positive comments from people from time to time, but...
I own a Pit Bull, German Shepherd, and Border Collie.
They're going to kill me or destroy my house and run me to death, basically.
Had a woman in the store yesterday tell me to get a thundershirt for Recon to calm him down. Why she thought he was so high energy is beyond me since he was just chilling next to me while picking out cat treats. I told her I managed his energy just fine and liked him high energy and she said "Well let's see how long that lasts."
opcorn:I was like, "Lady, he's a year and a half old, I've made in through the worst already." :rofl1:
I pretty much ignore people who even look like they're going to make a comment about Sir, but I love the ones who meet him, love on him, tell me how good he is, then ask what breed he is. I usually ask them to guess at this point. Because you know the ending to this is that as soon as I tell them pit bull, they hate him. -_-
Not to my face, we get lots of compliments and most people don't know what he is....
But do any kind of reading on the breed and it's all horror stories. All of it!
They're hyperactive.
Destructive.
Have separation anxiety.
Stubborn.
Need 1000000 miles and 100 hours of exercise per day.
Are escape artists and can scale 600 foot fencing.
They only live to hunt so don't try and walk them!
They're not obedient and are hard to train.
And it's ALL true you know
But do any kind of reading on the breed and it's all horror stories. All of it!
They're hyperactive.
Destructive.
Have separation anxiety.
Stubborn.
Need 1000000 miles and 100 hours of exercise per day.
Are escape artists and can scale 600 foot fencing.
They only live to hunt so don't try and walk them!
They're not obedient and are hard to train.
And it's ALL true you know
Rocky is smaller than Baxter so with him I generally get:
"Small dogs are useless" - he makes a pretty good companion to me.
"Yorkie's are yappy. He barks all the time, right?" - No, only when the doorbell rings.
"My so-and-so had one, mean little thing. Yours has to be like that too because all Yorkie's are the same." - No, really he couldn't give a crap that you exist right about now. Notice how he's not even paying attention to you?
"They're so hyper. How do you deal with all of the energy?" - he likes to sleep 12 hours a day now that he's old. When he was younger he still took periodic naps. Walks tire him out
"That's not a dog, it's a rat" - no I have rats and I'm 100% sure he's a dog.
With Baxter I usually get:
"All fluff and no brains. All dogs like that are stoopid!" - No, you're stoopid!
When I had my Cairn a lot of people in my neighborhood were under the impression that only larger dogs could be protective so I would get a lot of "that dog will never stand up to anyone. Someone could probably walk into your house and he wouldn't do anything" - Ya ok... Try it!
"Small dogs are useless" - he makes a pretty good companion to me.
"Yorkie's are yappy. He barks all the time, right?" - No, only when the doorbell rings.
"My so-and-so had one, mean little thing. Yours has to be like that too because all Yorkie's are the same." - No, really he couldn't give a crap that you exist right about now. Notice how he's not even paying attention to you?
"They're so hyper. How do you deal with all of the energy?" - he likes to sleep 12 hours a day now that he's old. When he was younger he still took periodic naps. Walks tire him out
"That's not a dog, it's a rat" - no I have rats and I'm 100% sure he's a dog.
With Baxter I usually get:
"All fluff and no brains. All dogs like that are stoopid!" - No, you're stoopid!
When I had my Cairn a lot of people in my neighborhood were under the impression that only larger dogs could be protective so I would get a lot of "that dog will never stand up to anyone. Someone could probably walk into your house and he wouldn't do anything" - Ya ok... Try it!
Top **** offs when I'm out with my dogs:
No one knows what a greyhound is. "Is that a whippet/great Dane/Doberman/saluki/Italian greyhound/afghan?"
"Oh, race dogs are so hyper! Do you actually keep those in your house?" - Uhhh... you mean these couch potatoes that sleep 18 hours a day? Yeah, they sleep in my bed.
"They're such beautiful dogs. Too bad they're so dumb!" - My dogs are better behaved than yours to begin with, and they are obedience and agility trained. I'm not going to claim they are the smartest dogs on the planet, but I certainly take offence to them being called stupid!
Also, why would you call someone's dog stupid? Or ugly. I've had the odd person call them ugly. Most people say they're beautiful but I get that they're not everyone's cup of tea. Kind of like I don't particularly appreciate the beauty of the squishy faced breeds. But I still coo over them and call them cute. I'd certainly never call them ugly in front of the owner even if I thout so! Tact people... Tact.
No one knows what a greyhound is. "Is that a whippet/great Dane/Doberman/saluki/Italian greyhound/afghan?"
"Oh, race dogs are so hyper! Do you actually keep those in your house?" - Uhhh... you mean these couch potatoes that sleep 18 hours a day? Yeah, they sleep in my bed.
"They're such beautiful dogs. Too bad they're so dumb!" - My dogs are better behaved than yours to begin with, and they are obedience and agility trained. I'm not going to claim they are the smartest dogs on the planet, but I certainly take offence to them being called stupid!
Also, why would you call someone's dog stupid? Or ugly. I've had the odd person call them ugly. Most people say they're beautiful but I get that they're not everyone's cup of tea. Kind of like I don't particularly appreciate the beauty of the squishy faced breeds. But I still coo over them and call them cute. I'd certainly never call them ugly in front of the owner even if I thout so! Tact people... Tact.
Most of the time Menchi gets cooed over and adds people to her fan club
There are times though when we get the whole spiel about aren't Pei mean, aggressive, weird, and so on. Questions about her health are also common.
We have also had folks tell us how nice it is to meet a friendly Pei...
Watson when people recognize what he is instead of assuming him some sort of terrier mix gets the aren't those dogs all nasty and mean thing.
There are times though when we get the whole spiel about aren't Pei mean, aggressive, weird, and so on. Questions about her health are also common.
We have also had folks tell us how nice it is to meet a friendly Pei...
Watson when people recognize what he is instead of assuming him some sort of terrier mix gets the aren't those dogs all nasty and mean thing.
Variations on "wow, they're so skinny!"/"don't your owners feed you?", which is especially since Cricket is actually pretty fat at the moment
"I bet they need a lot of exercise, huh?"
"Aren't these dogs pretty shy?" (This was said by a man as he was petting Cricket, after she went up to him to say hi)
Most of the comments I get are very positive though, especially from the general public and from performance people, so I shouldn't complain.
"I bet they need a lot of exercise, huh?"
"Aren't these dogs pretty shy?" (This was said by a man as he was petting Cricket, after she went up to him to say hi)
Most of the comments I get are very positive though, especially from the general public and from performance people, so I shouldn't complain.
Most people don't realize Watson is a Welshie, but they guess springer or cocker. The main comment I hear is "those dogs need a lot of exercise, don't they?" I don't think it's meant in a particularly negative way though. I did have someone tell me about how she had one just like him who bit her in the face and had to be put down. Ok? She was talking about an ESS anyway and I find it funny that even ESS owners don't recognize that he's a different breed.
At one of his first shows, a very well known Labrador handler came up to me outside the ring and said "A happy Welshie! You don't see too many of those." I have seen some who aren't totally comfortable in the ring, but honestly I think 90%+ of Welshies I've seen at shows have been plenty happy. I think they still have a poor reputation among some show people who remember when the breed had a big issue with timidity.
At one of his first shows, a very well known Labrador handler came up to me outside the ring and said "A happy Welshie! You don't see too many of those." I have seen some who aren't totally comfortable in the ring, but honestly I think 90%+ of Welshies I've seen at shows have been plenty happy. I think they still have a poor reputation among some show people who remember when the breed had a big issue with timidity.
I get a fair share of both positive and negative with Aiden. Most people comment on how well behaved, smart, gentle and handsome he is. A lot of people ask me if he's purebred or a puppy because he's "smaller than their 120lbs Shepherd", but I'm not ever offended by those comments.
There are the occassional people who literally cross the street or drag their child to hind behind them or make comments on how their small dog would obviously be a "snack" to him...While their small dog is yipping and running at us and Aiden completely ignores them anyways.
Most people in public don't even know what Carma is, so we generally just get comments on how beutiful she is.
There are the occassional people who literally cross the street or drag their child to hind behind them or make comments on how their small dog would obviously be a "snack" to him...While their small dog is yipping and running at us and Aiden completely ignores them anyways.
Most people in public don't even know what Carma is, so we generally just get comments on how beutiful she is.
Sure they do. All the time, actually, lol. Aaaaaall the time. I know lots of "Labs" that can't be more than 50-75% Lab but have general Lab-like characteristics or are solid black, chocolate, or yellow. I know some "Labradors" who are 30 lbs soaking wet and um, probably half Dachshund. LOL. GSDs too, this lady had a little 45 lbs bitch who was definitely part GSD but no way all, and she just called her a "German Shepherd." I've also seen it with Goldens, Jack Russels, and lots of "Poodles." (It's got curly hair and it's small, so it must be a poodle!) We had a guy make a grooming appt, and on the phone he was like, "She's a Maltese!" He came with with a Westie mix? lol. But it's white and small! Maltese!
I can't agree with concept that if you don't have papers it's a mix, though. lol. Neither does the AKC, or we wouldn't have programs like PAL. Plenty of people rescue dogs that are clearly and undeniably purebred but don't have papers. I think it's silly to say any dog without "papers" is a mix.
Granted, I do understand this situation with "pit bull type dogs" is much more dire and more exaggerated than other breeds, but it does happen plenty with other common breed types.
Regarding my breeds, I get to hear awful **** about corgis and Cocker Spaniels all the time. Corgis are mean, snappy, child-biters, etc etc. I had a lady at an OB club tell me about how the most awful dog she ever had was a corgi; he bit the mailman and guarded his food from other dogs!!! ZOMG NO!!! NOT THAT!!! LOL. I've also had a lady, who's kid was petting Keeva, say, "Oh like the queen's dogs? Aren't they really snappy?" UM well ma'am, you might wanna remove your child from her vicinity then...
And then there's the snappy Cocker thing. ("Oh, a Cocker bit through my lip when I was kid, they're mean!!! Snappy!!!") I've met some weird Cockers, usually the American version. But both the Cocker and Cocker mix I live with are excessively sound. Good genetics will do that for you. "Cocker rage" too, I've had people mention that. That's what we say when we rough house with the spaniels.
Oh, and the sporting dogs don't focus thing. LOL don't tell that to mine, they'll make you feel silly. It varies breed to breed and by individuals, obviously, but IME the working or sport bred retrievers and spaniels are outstanding working dogs. I personally haven't been impressed with the showlines (springers and Cockers) and maybe that's the difference people are seeing. I don't know.
The Mal... eh. Only from dog people. Average people don't know what they are, and that's good. I was at a WCRL trial this summer with Keeva, and two dog people looked at me like I had fire-breathing dragon living my house when I said I had a Mal waiting for me at home. LOL. One lady was like, "Oh wow, you must be crazy." I just said, "Well... a little." lol It's more like what the Dog Snobs said, "A need for speed and worrying lack of concern for your personal safety." I can admit to THAT. :lol-sign:
Average people like to regale me with tails of their GSD or GSD mixes, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I've heard that they will "turn on you" a lot. They're "biters" (well maaaaaybe LOL ). "Our neighbors have a German Shepherd and he'll bite you if you stick your hand over the fence!" Uh huh. I just smile and nod. I got nothing, folks.
Oh, there was a guy who asked when Blossom was going to grow. He was already pushing my buttons for other reasons, so I said, "She's not."
"Well then she's really small for a German Shepherd!"
"Yeah, she's not a German Shepherd." And I walked away. I just couldn't play nice anymore.
I can't agree with concept that if you don't have papers it's a mix, though. lol. Neither does the AKC, or we wouldn't have programs like PAL. Plenty of people rescue dogs that are clearly and undeniably purebred but don't have papers. I think it's silly to say any dog without "papers" is a mix.
Granted, I do understand this situation with "pit bull type dogs" is much more dire and more exaggerated than other breeds, but it does happen plenty with other common breed types.
Regarding my breeds, I get to hear awful **** about corgis and Cocker Spaniels all the time.
Corgis are mean, snappy, child-biters, etc etc. I had a lady at an OB club tell me about how the most awful dog she ever had was a corgi; he bit the mailman and guarded his food from other dogs!!! ZOMG NO!!! NOT THAT!!! LOL. I've also had a lady, who's kid was petting Keeva, say, "Oh like the queen's dogs? Aren't they really snappy?" UM well ma'am, you might wanna remove your child from her vicinity then... And then there's the snappy Cocker thing. ("Oh, a Cocker bit through my lip when I was kid, they're mean!!! Snappy!!!") I've met some weird Cockers, usually the American version. But both the Cocker and Cocker mix I live with are excessively sound. Good genetics will do that for you. "Cocker rage" too, I've had people mention that. That's what we say when we rough house with the spaniels.
Oh, and the sporting dogs don't focus thing. LOL don't tell that to mine, they'll make you feel silly. It varies breed to breed and by individuals, obviously, but IME the working or sport bred retrievers and spaniels are outstanding working dogs. I personally haven't been impressed with the showlines (springers and Cockers) and maybe that's the difference people are seeing. I don't know.
The Mal... eh. Only from dog people. Average people don't know what they are, and that's good. I was at a WCRL trial this summer with Keeva, and two dog people looked at me like I had fire-breathing dragon living my house when I said I had a Mal waiting for me at home. LOL. One lady was like, "Oh wow, you must be crazy." I just said, "Well... a little." lol It's more like what the Dog Snobs said, "A need for speed and worrying lack of concern for your personal safety." I can admit to THAT. :lol-sign:
Average people like to regale me with tails of their GSD or GSD mixes, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I've heard that they will "turn on you" a lot. They're "biters" (well maaaaaybe
LOL ). "Our neighbors have a German Shepherd and he'll bite you if you stick your hand over the fence!" Uh huh. I just smile and nod. I got nothing, folks.Oh, there was a guy who asked when Blossom was going to grow. He was already pushing my buttons for other reasons, so I said, "She's not."
"Well then she's really small for a German Shepherd!"
"Yeah, she's not a German Shepherd." And I walked away. I just couldn't play nice anymore.
Sure they do. All the time, actually, lol. Aaaaaall the time. I know lots of "Labs" that can't be more than 50-75% Lab but have general Lab-like characteristics or are solid black, chocolate, or yellow. I know some "Labradors" who are 30 lbs soaking wet and um, probably half Dachshund. LOL. GSDs too, this lady had a little 45 lbs bitch who was definitely part GSD but no way all, and she just called her a "German Shepherd." I've also seen it with Goldens, Jack Russels, and lots of "Poodles." (It's got curly hair and it's small, so it must be a poodle!) We had a guy make a grooming appt, and on the phone he was like, "She's a Maltese!" He came with with a Westie mix? lol. But it's white and small! Maltese!
I can't agree with concept that if you don't have papers it's a mix, though. lol. Neither does the AKC, or we wouldn't have programs like PAL. Plenty of people rescue dogs that are clearly and undeniably purebred but don't have papers. I think it's silly to say any dog without "papers" is a mix.
Granted, I do understand this situation with "pit bull type dogs" is much more dire and more exaggerated than other breeds, but it does happen plenty with other common breed types.
Regarding my breeds, I get to hear awful **** about corgis and Cocker Spaniels all the time. Corgis are mean, snappy, child-biters, etc etc. I had a lady at an OB club tell me about how the most awful dog she ever had was a corgi; he bit the mailman and guarded his food from other dogs!!! ZOMG NO!!! NOT THAT!!! LOL. I've also had a lady, who's kid was petting Keeva, say, "Oh like the queen's dogs? Aren't they really snappy?" UM well ma'am, you might wanna remove your child from her vicinity then...
And then there's the snappy Cocker thing. ("Oh, a Cocker bit through my lip when I was kid, they're mean!!! Snappy!!!") I've met some weird Cockers, usually the American version. But both the Cocker and Cocker mix I live with are excessively sound. Good genetics will do that for you. "Cocker rage" too, I've had people mention that. That's what we say when we rough house with the spaniels.
Oh, and the sporting dogs don't focus thing. LOL don't tell that to mine, they'll make you feel silly. It varies breed to breed and by individuals, obviously, but IME the working or sport bred retrievers and spaniels are outstanding working dogs. I personally haven't been impressed with the showlines (springers and Cockers) and maybe that's the difference people are seeing. I don't know.
The Mal... eh. Only from dog people. Average people don't know what they are, and that's good. I was at a WCRL trial this summer with Keeva, and two dog people looked at me like I had fire-breathing dragon living my house when I said I had a Mal waiting for me at home. LOL. One lady was like, "Oh wow, you must be crazy." I just said, "Well... a little." lol It's more like what the Dog Snobs said, "A need for speed and worrying lack of concern for your personal safety." I can admit to THAT. :lol-sign:
Average people like to regale me with tails of their GSD or GSD mixes, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I've heard that they will "turn on you" a lot. They're "biters" (well maaaaaybe LOL ). "Our neighbors have a German Shepherd and he'll bite you if you stick your hand over the fence!" Uh huh. I just smile and nod. I got nothing, folks.
Oh, there was a guy who asked when Blossom was going to grow. He was already pushing my buttons for other reasons, so I said, "She's not."
"Well then she's really small for a German Shepherd!"
"Yeah, she's not a German Shepherd." And I walked away. I just couldn't play nice anymore.
I can't agree with concept that if you don't have papers it's a mix, though. lol. Neither does the AKC, or we wouldn't have programs like PAL. Plenty of people rescue dogs that are clearly and undeniably purebred but don't have papers. I think it's silly to say any dog without "papers" is a mix.
Granted, I do understand this situation with "pit bull type dogs" is much more dire and more exaggerated than other breeds, but it does happen plenty with other common breed types.
Regarding my breeds, I get to hear awful **** about corgis and Cocker Spaniels all the time.
Corgis are mean, snappy, child-biters, etc etc. I had a lady at an OB club tell me about how the most awful dog she ever had was a corgi; he bit the mailman and guarded his food from other dogs!!! ZOMG NO!!! NOT THAT!!! LOL. I've also had a lady, who's kid was petting Keeva, say, "Oh like the queen's dogs? Aren't they really snappy?" UM well ma'am, you might wanna remove your child from her vicinity then... And then there's the snappy Cocker thing. ("Oh, a Cocker bit through my lip when I was kid, they're mean!!! Snappy!!!") I've met some weird Cockers, usually the American version. But both the Cocker and Cocker mix I live with are excessively sound. Good genetics will do that for you. "Cocker rage" too, I've had people mention that. That's what we say when we rough house with the spaniels.
Oh, and the sporting dogs don't focus thing. LOL don't tell that to mine, they'll make you feel silly. It varies breed to breed and by individuals, obviously, but IME the working or sport bred retrievers and spaniels are outstanding working dogs. I personally haven't been impressed with the showlines (springers and Cockers) and maybe that's the difference people are seeing. I don't know.
The Mal... eh. Only from dog people. Average people don't know what they are, and that's good. I was at a WCRL trial this summer with Keeva, and two dog people looked at me like I had fire-breathing dragon living my house when I said I had a Mal waiting for me at home. LOL. One lady was like, "Oh wow, you must be crazy." I just said, "Well... a little." lol It's more like what the Dog Snobs said, "A need for speed and worrying lack of concern for your personal safety." I can admit to THAT. :lol-sign:
Average people like to regale me with tails of their GSD or GSD mixes, sometimes good, sometimes bad. I've heard that they will "turn on you" a lot. They're "biters" (well maaaaaybe
LOL ). "Our neighbors have a German Shepherd and he'll bite you if you stick your hand over the fence!" Uh huh. I just smile and nod. I got nothing, folks.Oh, there was a guy who asked when Blossom was going to grow. He was already pushing my buttons for other reasons, so I said, "She's not."
"Well then she's really small for a German Shepherd!"
"Yeah, she's not a German Shepherd." And I walked away. I just couldn't play nice anymore.
And certainly exceptions exist in certain circumstances. But most of the time, I do feel that without a verifiable pedigree, it's not fair to call a dog purebred.