Breed discrimination

[MarcoPoloCX]

People say how we bring up our dogs will largely determine how they turn out.
The exercise they get, the socialisation and the obedience training.
But do we still practice breed discrimination?

I have two dogs.
A Pug x and a BT/Staffie x.
I sometimes walk them individually and have noticed that some of the same people will recall their dogs and their children in the park when I'm walking the Staffie x but not the Pug x.
They are both walking nicely and minding their business.

I also walk a neighbour's golden retriever and the same people allow their dogs and children come up and say hello. That one is a big fluffy thing.

@EssentialHummus
There's hope yet! I persuaded DH to let me have wolfie pup. 8 months and 48.5kg. And yes she's a laphound!

There are very few rotties around here but we came across one this morning. I have always been nervous of these dogs. Pup was on lead and I could feel myself getting a bit uptight but the other owner looked very relaxed and made no effort to put his dog on the lead, so I let pup off lead. They made all the right signals to each other then sniffed each other's bums and trotted off in opposite directions. Big sigh of relief from me, I'm so glad I let them do what dogs do.

I don't want to descriminate but if a JRT snaps at pup she will be fine, if a big dog decides to turn on her she will be in trouble as she is pretty much defenceless.

"I don't want to descriminate but if a JRT snaps at pup she will be fine"

My Rottie has been attacked 4 times, every single time when he was on lead (not that it matters hugely, just in a they came over and attacked him way) one of the worst was by a patterdale terrier.

So not necessarily.

I second what pp said ,terriers can be a real issue , I have a patterdale x ( prob JRT) and he's been attacked a couple of times by a SBT and a Bulldog but he fights back and when I say fights back I mean doesn't give up he would seriously fight to the death - even if that was his death which is likely with a SBT . On both occasions I've had to dive in and pick him up because the other owners were unable to get their dogs off . My dog won't start a fight but he will definitely join in if someone else does and he could certainly do a lot of damage .

I am very wary of staffies. My dogs been attacked twice both by staffies I change direction if I see one. With people I love them with dogs I dread seeing one.

I have 2 Dalmatians and a Staffie, everyone comments and fusses over the dallys, the Staffie gets absolutely no attention!

It really Pisses me off, he's the most gentle loving soul and everyone gives him a wide berth

I got on the train and a woman screamed and ran down the carriage. She was terrified of dogs so I said I'd swop and go down the carriage and she could go back to where she was.

Loads of other people started to intervene and say 'how could you be scared of that tiny dog' and being quite scoffing towards to her (she was really being very loud and squealy). I just kept saying it's fine, you're clearly scared, it's no problem for me to go further down.

My dog meanwhile was a bit scared of her being so loud and put her ears down flat and her tail down. This is my very tiny dog.

Dogs were bred for traits so there will be some inherent behaviour. Retrievers will tend to retrieve, terriers are determined, collies like herding, etc.

Scatty, I once got told to recall my dog as it would eat hers. Her dog had run up to mine, barked at it until it ran and was running after my saluki lurcher barking at it. Bless him, he has also been backed into a corner by a chihuahua puppy. But apparently its ok for small dogs to bark and harass mine.
The only rottie I know, her owners complained that our cat bit it, and she comes and sits on my feet drooling in the hope I'll give her treats. Soft as butter!

I have to say I look at the owners rather than the dog, so generally if I see a staffy type dog with a hoody type character, I would give it a wide berth. Horribly stereotypical and discriminatory I know

yoko , I do tend to agree but the staff that attacked my dog is owned by a lady in her 60s so unfortunately it doesn't work .

I have a little terrier. If someone has a big dog (any breed) on lead I'll put him on lead. It's because he can growl etc. at big dogs so I feel guilty if they have put theirs on lead and mine runs over and causes trouble. However he's fine with little ones so I don't fuss then.

If someone has dog off lead, any breed any size, then I hope/trust their dog isn't going to hurt mine.

Since having smaller dog for first time now has made me a little nervous in general because serious damage could happen so quickly. (He's just so tiny!) Whereas I know my big fat staffy can take it and will walk away from drama :D

More fool them.

All sorts of idiots let their off lead dogs come up to my on lead 'butter wouldn't melt' Springer.

He is a complete bastard.

I recall him whenever I see any other dog in the vicinity. The owners of the more 'scary' breeds sometimes look a bit offended and I have to explain it is him not them.

But your dog doesn't notice. I'd love it if everyone avoided my three

"so generally if I see a staffy type dog with a hoody type character, I would give it a wide berth"

See I never have any hassle with people like that they tend to either have their dogs on leads or under close control and pass by just minding their own business... it's the ones that think all dogs need to be friends that cause me hassle.

I have a Border Collie and a Rottie- To be honest both get people staying back but when off the lead, people don't mind the BC- pretty much ignore him whereas with my Rottie people generally look worried when their dogs greet him or put their dog on a lead to keep away.

I see other Rotties owners/admirers here so it won't be a surprise he is just a giant lap dog.