Judging based on dog breed/owners ‘vibe’

[JudgeyMcJudgeFace]

I met a woman on my morning run who had a Mali. I didn’t really think anything of it at first as when it was clear the dog was (a) still very young and (b) very friendly, I had no issue letting my dog say hi. But the woman was so thankful - she said no one ever lets him greet their dog (I assume because of his breed) and usually avoids him!

It got me thinking, there are definitely some breeds I do avoid (XL Bullies) and sometimes I do swerve other breeds - not because I have anything against the dog breed itself, but because the owner is clearly one of those (those people who enjoy having a vicious dog - and you can spot them a mile away).

So, I guess what I am asking is this; do you judge dogs based on their breed or do you avoid dogs based on their owners appearance/mannerisms/vibe. Or is it a combination of both?

Outside of XL Bullies and Cane Corso, I judge based off the ‘vibe’ from the owner - typically it does tend to be particular dog breeds that the people I avoid own, which tbh seems a shame, but I guess that’s why they ‘fail’ the vibe check? I’ve never been wrong when I have chosen to avoid a dog and owner - I guess my spidey sense is well honed.

Just curious as to if I’m BU to judge people (and their dogs) based off my gut and their vibe and if others do the same.

I am definitely judging anyone with an XL Bully. Sorry, but they should be fully banned. They are unpredictable and dangerous no matter the owner. It's not the dog's fault, it's just their genetics.

I have a young 8mo baby, and naturally avoid large protective type breeds like German Shepherds and Rotties. I actually like these breeds, but I just don't want unknown dogs of that size near my baby, it isn't worth the risk, and not all dogs like babies. Honestly though, I wouldn't let any dog or come close to my baby, but the difference is I can drop kick a Yorkie if needed lol, but no one can control an angry Rottie.

Mostly though I'd just go on the vibe of the owner. More than happy to stroke a dog that's walking peacefully on its lead and behaving well for its average looking owner. Not happy to stroke a dog that is pulling and has some young chavvy looking bloke as an owner, where you can tell it's been bought so the owner can look hard.

I have an incredibly nervous whippet cross. She's happy walking along and not interested in other dogs at all but other dogs seem to see her and chase which now freaks her out. She seems to attract dogs that want to have a fight. So she is normally on a lead unless there is absolutely no one around, she has good recall so I can always get her back to me.

Anyway, we have had the most trouble with french bulldogs & staffies so avoid them completely.

A few weeks ago she was on lead when a staffy came bombing up to her, jumped all over her and had absolutely no recall at all. Owner stood hollering while I tried to pull her dog off mine. Had to pick up my dog up and the owner had a go at me for being a stuck up bitch!

The post was about making assumptions about the owners, not the safety of the dogs. I think all dogs can be unsafe including my own. But my comment was specifically about not feeling it is necessary to avoid the owner because they look different to what OP may perceive as good company to keep.

I judge the owners based on their attentiveness and awareness, not the type of dog they have.
The owners head down in their phone oblivious to their dog, big or small, running around causing chaos can get in the bin.
Owners that see me and mine, and note that I want space get my respect.

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.

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 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

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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...

🤣

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.

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.

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?