Judging based on dog breed/owners ‘vibe’

I met a seemingly OK woman at dog training, but she was petite and brought her dog reactive Rhodesian Ridgeback. She had more at home.she didn't have a hope of hanging onto him. Yes, definitely thought she was an idiot. You can have any dog, why choose one that overpowers you?

It really annoys me that older, less mobile people chose young/certain breeds. I know of a similar situation with a red setter. They are begging for child free homes for old, retired greyhounds, or older dogs, there's no excuse.

Staffy owners have changed, probably as loads went into rescue. And the previous owners moved on to XL bullies.

You used to find they were owned by a bloke who thought he was hard, walked it once in a blue moon and left all the rest of the care to his girlfriend who hadn't wanted the dog and was scared of it.

We have two entire Staff/bully crosses near us, and their owners are both, on the face of it, not the sort of people I’d want to cosy up to.

Its transpired that both dogs are both friendly and placid, and one in particular couldn’t be less interested in other dogs. And the other dog’s owner, despite looking a bit like someone you’d avoid. Is actually really nice.

If anything it’s made me realise that you really can’t judge a book by its cover.

To be fair, I think Dobermans fell out of favour with ‘dodgy’ people circa the 70s/80s. All the Dobermans I know are owned by lovely people and are well trained.

I do judge people that own dog breeds famed for taking off children's faces (mainly XL Bullies). There’s absolutely no legitimate reason for wanting one other than your neighbour breeding a litter and you wanted to also look tough. They’re usually bred badly in substandard conditions by people with little experience. The desire is generally to make £500 and not to improve breed standard. The owners are usually ill equipped and inexperienced. Bad bad mix.
I have a wide collection of dogs and not one of them would be capable of overpowering me in a life or death situation. What idiot would want a dog who could?

I absolutely judge people based on their breed of dog and I am usually right.

The ones I judge the most are the XL Bully owners, for obvious reasons. They look the same, have the same attitude and are thick as mince. Avoid like the plague.

I also judge people who have bought crossbreeds and then use ridiculous names to describe them. You don't have a goldenshepugcockapoodle, you have a mutt. If they're rescue dogs, fine, but they're still usually neurotic.

I think I just judge on loads of things. I have a Lab x Red Setter, so you'd think I'd love anything Lab or Setter. To be fair, you don't see many setters these days, but those I have met have been quite old and VERY lovely (I wanted to pinch 2 English Setters I met on a recent walk).

There is one Lab however that I hate. It's not the owners (or one of the owners, I believe they are a mother and daughter) as they also have an XL Bully who is great with my dog, he is always on a lead and muzzled but they do always say hello when not with the lab and have a sniff, and sit really nicely together if we have a quick chat. The Lab is a different story. It's usually the daughter that walks him, and she's very unpleasant. Extremely rude, she doesn't tend to speak but looks at you like you're a piece of shit she's scrapped off her shoe, if you passing each other on a narrow path, it's always us that have to move, she acts like she owns it. Not sure if this comes out in her dog, but for a Lab, he is extremely aggressive, his hackles go up whenever we see them, he growls, strains and jumps at us on the lead, barks etc ...

It's a bit weird for us as my dog is a very easy-going chap and doesn't really get involved with other dogs, so of course - they all seem to love him!

I tend to avoid smaller breeds, they always run up and jump in my dogs face, and their owners think it's cute. If mine did that to theirs, they'd be a mighty uproar. I think most owners of small dogs are unaware not everyone thinks it's adorable or are going to wet their pants in adulation when they come bounding over unwanted.

It's mostly blokes with big dogs I avoid tbh.

I get some people like particular breeds, I understand..

But there's a certain type of bloke that like particular breeds because they feel weak and want to portray a tough appearance to the world... Insecurity in dog form..

Big alsatian pulling a 5ft2 little fella along.
Staffys with big leather collars and some chap wearing running shoes and trackies, drinking monster cause he needs the energy to deal drugs from his little purse he wears by his nipples.
Etc.

I judge them, and find them guilty of being a stereotype...

🤣

Saw someone unwell with a long-term illness, housebound.

He had a 2 year old GSD.

Unsurprisingly the poor dog had gone insane and was now thoroughly dangerous including to the owner.

Hence my comment that I avoid old ladies with fluffy dogs off the lead. As it is very common in my area for these to run riot while ladies in question either try to reassure me "they are friendly" (my dog doesn't care either way and will defend herself) or trying and failing to recall them from across the field.
What I am also saying is that someone who was above described as "chavvy" can be equally charming and no more selfish or inconsiderate than an old lady, just with a larger dog.

You have a flat-faced dog, then I think you are style over substance.

You have a XL-Bully or other macho dog, I think you have a small dick you are compensating for

Any owner of a dog who allows their dog to approach you for a “sniff and a cuddle” without explicitly asking if it’s okay is not a “pretty solid human”. They’re at a minimum inconsiderate or selfish, if not outright malicious in their self importance.

My small, on lead dog would be absolutely beside herself with fear if this dog ambled over to say hello. My DM would also be terrified and would likely injure herself trying to get away as she’s scared of all dogs.

I often catch myself judging dogs based on my own dogs' prejudices, even when he's not there. Then I remember it's okay to like poodle crosses, huskies, GSDs and black labs, and they're actually not all evil bastards that you have to cross the road to avoid.

I assume that the beautifully walked GSD's and Malinois with an alert owner are police dogs on an off duty walk so I (sadly) don't chat to them.

There used to be an old couple in our estate. Lived in a flat, walked with sticks and "walked" a poor, and slowly going mental with boredom, GSD. I had to report them to the dog warden as it was out of control.

I judge based on your ability to walk your dog on a lead.

Lovely to see a Malinois that is paying attention to it's owner.

As I see a lot of dogs in people's houses I also quietly judge people who don't have the lifestyle for the dog eg elderly couple in a one bed apartment with 4 deranged huskies vs a well behaved Bichon Frise.

TBH I’d never heard of GSDs being considered dangerous until this thread. I’d LOVE a GSD or two. They’re absolutely gorgeous creatures. However I hear they’re really really hard to train and I just could be be arsed with that much effort - will stick to Lhasa’s if I get another dog

Frankly they should all be put down never mind muzzled. It doesn’t matter if they have a sweet temperament- all dogs are likely to turn, ones bred for aggression every more so, the difference is if a chihuahuas attacked me I’d kick it off, if an XL Bully attacked me I’d be dead. And clearly the thug owners aren’t abiding the rules anyway and were never going to.

Also perception is interesting. I had an afghan hound, which was bigger than my GSD and their prey drive makes them less trainable, but the reaction to the dog was totally different.

There’s a bloke near me who’s a body builder, built like a brick shit house and used to walk a Yorkshire Terrier with a pink bow in its hair 😂however I was dog sitting a few weeks ago and he greeted “my” dog and I asked where his dog was he said she’d died 😔 it was him and his wife’s dog, I was gutted I used to enjoy seeing him walk her.

I'd be more likely to judge someone who specifically went our to get a brachycephalic breed.

And yes, I'm waiting for, and going to ignore the "oh but my pug is the exception" replies.

Unless it's a rescue dog.

I had GSDs. They are amazing dogs and do not naturally attack people. I got mine as a rescue and chose that breed because of my lifestyle. When out with my male, it was the fluffy, barky little shits with their dog mums who I feared. I've never known an irresponsible owner of a Doberman or Rotweiler and I've lived in deprived areas. XL Bullies/Cane Corso/Pits shouldn't be allowed as pets. I enjoyed the skill of my dog, taught him Makaton, worked with him. I like watching the Mali shows, so can see the appeal. To some of us, our dogs are a part of our hobbies and lifestyle, like a horse. I now walk a long haired dachsund and despair at his disobedience, but he isn't allowed off lead.

To those saying the XL bully must be dangerous as it’s muzzled and on a lead….legally they now must be muzzled and on a lead when out. Not saying they are safe dogs and not getting into a debate etc. but even the sweetest soul with a great temperament will need to be muzzled

I swerve all dogs that go higher than my knee. I never used to but dog ownership has got out of hand resulting in daft badly behaved dogs jumping up at me and sticking their nose in my crotch, while some goon of an owner just stands there. I don’t quite know what happened but a surge of entitled idiots decided that getting a dog would be a good thing and now the general public have to suffer. Not to mention the poor animals.

I cross the road for certain breeds including XL Bully, Rottweiler and Doberman. Had to google a Mali! I’d probably cross the road. I don’t care if it hurts the owners feelings. Their dog is entitled to sniff or “say hello” to anyone and frankly if you decide to get an illegal, oversized or dangerous breed of dog then expect people to not want to be near it

I just judge whether they have the dog under control and they look like they know their responsibility.

If they look they are unsure as to who is in charge then I give them a swerve.

I have a Dobermann, but I don’t take drugs, I work in a professional role and have advanced level qualifications including a Masters degree. Sweeping generalizations don’t do any of us any favours.