Do people ever say negative things about your breed?

[*blackrose]

We had a client come in to work today with an American Bully. I got to educate the staff that no, it wasn't an American BullDOG, and no, it wasn't an American Pit Bull Terrier. He was a very handsome boy, and very well behaved. After the appointment, on of the vets on staff asked, "So, what did your American Bully look like?" and the doc said, "Like a hippo. A hippo with a waist." ROFLMAO

I suppose that could be taken as a negative, but he meant it in a good way. LOL

(The owner was kind of coocoo, though...she *breeds* them, and said that she has their ears cropped short because that makes their head grow bigger. Um, no. No it does not.)

 

[Zhucca]

Oh, sure. I have a lab.

It's a well known fact that Labs are:
-hyperactive
-stupid
-unfocused
-annoying
-untrainable until after 3
-crazy
-all fat behemoths (though I do know a fair share who are)
-far too common, not a cool breed to own

But whatever. Water off a ducks back. There is a lot of breeds I personally dislike too.

 

[~Dixie's_Mom~]

Violet:

"Those dogs should be outside dogs they shed/are crazy/just need to be outside cause they are wild/all other kinds of stupid things."

"Did you know that she'll shed a ton?" Nope

"They look mean/evil."

"Aren't they stupid?" No they just choose when to listen lol

"They're wild dogs/wolves so they'll turn on you" ...k

Chloe:

"That's not even a dog"

"Aw dachshunds are so fat" wtf

"Her ears oh my god!" They're perfect? Yeah I know

"Chihuahuas are mean"

"I bet she barks a lot for no reason"

 

[Paviche]

I've never had anyone comment IRL (most I've gotten is surprise that I don't hunt with Rowan, which doesn't offend me at all.) I do see a lot of "Brittanys are off the wall/can't focus/spazzy/hyperactive" online though. I HAVE met some like that, but I've also known plenty, Rowan included, who aren't. I think it's largely a matter of breeding for stable dogs *in addition* to working aptitude, like how some field labs bred for flashy trialing are totally nuts.

 

[Emily]

I do make a concession to my statement with very distinctive looking breeds (ie, Malinois, Dutch Shepherds, things of that nature). But many, many, many times I've seen just how many different breed mixes can create a dog that looks like a pit bull or a lab although they're not even half bulldog or lab.

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.

Hhhmmm... I think maybe that has more to do with common breeds that have either extremely varied type (Labs, "pit bulls," even Goldens), or are very much representative of the generic "dog," which can also be true of Labs and APBTs, certainly.

I dunno, if I rescued a dog that looked this:

I'd call it a purebred Brittany.

I'd call it a purebred ACD.

Both dogs are well within the given height and weight range for their breeds as well.

Those are dogs from my work (and there are many more, Great Danes, St. Bernards, Boxers, Dachshunds, Cocker Spaniels, a beautiful Border Collie) who are pound pups with no pedigrees, but I think it's really hard to deny that they're purebred examples of their breed. Sorry, I realize this is off topic but I guess I'm having a hard time with the idea that no pedigree means you should assume it's a mix despite clear breed type and no characteristics of any other breed. I have a pedigree on my rescued and uncommon purebred dog so it's not personal as you might suspect; I just think plenty of dogs are distinguishable as non-mixed examples of their breeds. I wouldn't even know what to call the dogs I posted in those pics, "Um... it's Brittany mix... mixed with... another Brittany." lol. I wouldn't represent them as being pedigreed but I also don't see how one could call them mixes.

That said, the situation is way different in "pit bulls" so I get that's where you're coming from. I will use "pit bull type" for generic shorthand/catch-all term, as the registration and "purebred" situation in pit bull type dogs is quite complicated. But I don't think the same is true for most other breeds.

 

[Elrohwen]

"Cocker rage" too, I've had people mention that. That's what we say when we rough house with the spaniels.

Yeah, I get the "Don't they have springer rage?" thing. I just tell them that's only the English Springers. Haha

I mean, it is technically an ESS thing and not seen in Welsh that I'm aware of, but the ESS owners I know would probably not be thrilled that I'm perpetuating that stereotype.

 

[frostfell]

Yeah, I get the "Don't they have springer rage?" thing. I just tell them that's only the English Springers. Haha

I mean, it is technically an ESS thing and not seen in Welsh that I'm aware of, but the ESS owners I know would probably not be thrilled that I'm perpetuating that stereotype.

its not a stereotype if its true

did i say that? :rofl1:

 

[SpringerLover]

its not a stereotype if its true

did i say that? :rofl1:

It's not a temperament flaw, it's a seizure disorder.

It also isn't very common.

 

[sassafras]

It's not a temperament flaw, it's a seizure disorder.

It also isn't very common.

Yea it's one of those things you hear about ALL the time, but AFAIK no one I know has ever actually seen a case of it.

 

[SpringerLover]

Yea it's one of those things you hear about ALL the time, but AFAIK no one I know has ever actually seen a case of it.

I've never witnessed an episode in person. I've met two dogs who did have episodes. Both were euthanized because medications didn't work and it is a terrifying thing to experience. One a cocker and one a springer. It's a spaniel thing. I almost wish it was more common so we could pinpoint it. Or not so dangerous so we could safely study the dogs with it.

 

[Emily]

It's not a temperament flaw, it's a seizure disorder.

It also isn't very common.

THIS!!! THANK YOU, Megan, fellow Spaniel fan. lol.

Idiopathic aggression, AKA "Rage syndrome" isn't poor temperament, which the vast majority of people seem to think it is. It's not that they just get so pissed off and intolerant of xyz that they haul off on you and go nuts. People have actually said to me, "Oh Cockers, they're cute, but they all have that rage problem that makes them mean."

No, I have a rage problem and you're about to see it. :rofl1:

It is a serious neurological issue that has nothing to do with temperament. or personality.

On the subject of Cockers, this lady at a pet store was petting and admiring Ollie and then said, "It's too bad they have so many problems."

My mom: "He doesn't really have any problems..."

Lady: "Oh I just mean like allergies, and bad eyes, and so much grooming. And bad back legs." (I dunno what that meant, HD or patella issues maybe???)

This is where I step in and say, "He's from health tested parents and is very healthy so far. He's bred for hunting so he doesn't need grooming like the showline dogs do."

She goes, "Yeah, he's cute, it's just really too bad they're so unhealthy."

KTHXBAI

Whenever I have Ollie with me, I do get fairly regular negative comments about Cockers. I just want to get a t-shirt that says, "This isn't your Grandma's Cocker Spaniel." with bullet points that say, "English - Field line - Health Tested Parents - Selectively Bred"

This must be how GSD ppl feel. lol So many different lines, and there are good examples of ALL varieties that aren't like your neighbor's weirdo Cocker they got from the pet store.

 

[Gypsydals]

Yes I have a dalmatian. So all the time. I also have a husky/shepherd mix. So I get quite a few comments on him. It still does not stop people from approaching Ivan to pet him while telling me how mean and stupid they are.

 

[Elrohwen]

I hear quite a few stories from people who have been bitten by springers and cockers, but they all sound like temperament problems, not the "springer rage" seizure disorder. I think it's just a case of overbred dogs with unstable temperaments, like lots of other breeds, but people like to put a name on it and call it "springer rage". And then somehow assume all of them have it

I do wonder sometimes where it came from. I've heard it's only certain bench lines in ESS, but then I've heard it's in cockers too. All the spaniels were basically interbred 150 years ago, but not so much in the last century, so I wonder if it showed up back then, or is a newer development limited to certain breeds/lines. I've never heard of it in Welsh, but epilepsy in general does exist in the breed.

 

[Elrohwen]

Yes I have a dalmatian. So all the time. I also have a husky/shepherd mix. So I get quite a few comments on him. It still does not stop people from approaching Ivan to pet him while telling me how mean and stupid they are.

I met my first dal a few weeks ago in a show handling class and was talking to the owner. She said so many people tell her how mean dalmatians are, yet her dog has to be bombproof because every kid will run up to him because he's like the dog from the movies. Definitely a tough position to be in. At least other breeds that people assume are "mean" don't usually have kids racing over to pet them.

 

[Emily]

I hear quite a few stories from people who have been bitten by springers and cockers, but they all sound like temperament problems, not the "springer rage" seizure disorder. I think it's just a case of overbred dogs with unstable temperaments, like lots of other breeds, but people like to put a name on it and call it "springer rage". And then somehow assume all of them have it

I do wonder sometimes where it came from. I've heard it's only certain bench lines in ESS, but then I've heard it's in cockers too. All the spaniels were basically interbred 150 years ago, but not so much in the last century, so I wonder if it showed up back then, or is a newer development limited to certain breeds/lines. I've never heard of it in Welsh, but epilepsy in general does exist in the breed.

Totally. I've met some really weird Cockers who were not sound dogs and very incorrect for the breed. They get nervous and they can only "bend" so far before they snap, it seems. And some who were ferocious resource guarders at a very young age, etc. John Q Public loves to call it "rage syndrome" because they heard that term once and that must be why their aunt's old spaniel bit through their cousin's ear, or whatever.

The funny thing is that people seem to believe two contradictory things at once. Dog is nervous and generally snappy, and has been since puppyhood? Rage syndrome!!! Dog is happy go lucky and normal and has correct spaniel temperament? Well he'll go nuts with rage out of the blue someday! Oye.

I too wonder what breeds and varieties it does and does not exist in. I wish there was more info. I assume that like epilepsy, it's quite difficult to track and get info on, which is a real shame.

 

[SpringerLover]

I too wonder what breeds and varieties it does and does not exist in. I wish there was more info. I assume that like epilepsy, it's quite difficult to track and get info on, which is a real shame.

And it is so, so, dangerous! The dog is ambulatory, but their brain is malfunctioning. It would be less scary if they were immobilized. But they're not, at all.

I hope I never, ever, have to experience it first hand. My friend still isn't sure how she was able to act so quickly.

 

[Elrohwen]

The funny thing is that people seem to believe two contradictory things at once. Dog is nervous and generally snappy, and has been since puppyhood? Rage syndrome!!! Dog is happy go lucky and normal and has correct spaniel temperament? Well he'll go nuts with rage out of the blue someday! Oye.

Hah! So true. It's like what people say about pitties - "someday that dog will turn on you!"

I too wonder what breeds and varieties it does and does not exist in. I wish there was more info. I assume that like epilepsy, it's quite difficult to track and get info on, which is a real shame.

The article by the ESS breed club pretty much states that there isn't any epilepsy induced aggression, and that "springer rage" is just a blanket term for a lot of types of aggression. Apparently the dogs with sudden violent outbursts don't respond to epilepsy medication? I haven't seen a good source on this one way or the other. I can't say I agree with everything in the article (though they do have an addendum at the end that retracts some of their statements), but it's an interesting read: http://www.essfta.org/english-springers/health-genetics-and-research-faq/springer-rage-syndrome/

 

[SpringerLover]

The article by the ESS breed club pretty much states that there isn't any epilepsy induced aggression, and that "springer rage" is just a blanket term for a lot of types of aggression. Apparently the dogs with sudden violent outbursts don't respond to epilepsy medication? I haven't seen a good source on this one way or the other. I can't say I agree with everything in the article (though they do have an addendum at the end that retracts some of their statements), but it's an interesting read: http://www.essfta.org/english-springers/health-genetics-and-research-faq/springer-rage-syndrome/

The article was addended in 2001, and there's been more research since then.

"episodic dyscontrol (rage) in some cases may be a form of limbic or temporal lobe epilepsy."

article

 

[Elrohwen]

The article was addended in 2001, and there's been more research since then.

"episodic dyscontrol (rage) in some cases may be a form of limbic or temporal lobe epilepsy."

article

Thank you for that! It's a shame that Google only turns up the older article on initial search. I hadn't seen the one you posted before.

 

[casey82]

I think like many popular breeds the cocker went through a rough phase both with temperment and with health. I have one of those "bad" cockers. While he can be reactive and sometimes a little nervous (generally shown by sitting and making himself look a little smaller, but still graciously accepting petting and attention) ,when strangers get in his space, I'd consider him a take anywhere do anything dog with a fantastic temperment. So far he's been healthy too (knock on wood).