before i start this rant, this is my own personal opinion based off my own personal experiences. i don't hate the dogs, i hate the people that breed them. if you agree/disagree let me know!! i'd love to hear other people's views on this. obviously when it comes to people owning these dogs, i do not mean those that have adopted them. i think adoption is amazing, giving a little guy love and a home and a happy life is beautiful no matter their breed. this more relates to breeding!
French Bulldogs
oh god. i could go on for days about my strife with the breed of French Bulldogs. about 90% of french bulldogs i have met are sooo lovely, but my heart breaks for them as this breed is so, so prone to a range of serious health issues.
their snouts are so small and squished that these poor things can barely breathe, causing them to pant uncontrollably, wheeze, gag. imagine just trying to be a dog and run around and have fun but you literally can barely do that. their bodies are prone to mobility issues and back problems due to their short legs, they are prone to skin conditions if the folds on their skin aren't cleaned properly, and they are prone to allergies and dental problems. literally why would you get a French Bulldog? they may be cute to some, but the fact that they are so popular means that more and more are bred. why is this breed so damn popular? most of them cant even give birth properly due to the way their bodies are.
Pugs
i feel much the same with Pugs as i do with French bulldogs. i remember back in like.. 2010-2016 youtube there was a massive surge of like youtubers getting pugs?? maybe that's what kicked off the popularity or they were popular before but my god. literally look at them. squished snouts, tiny legs. most pugs i have met, their owners just seem to feed them so much that they are overweight too. they literally CAN'T breathe. squished snouts mean narrow airways, and dogs such as pugs and french bulldogs are prone to obstructive airway syndromes. as with above, pugs are likely to develop skin infections/conditions too with the folds on their skin, and problems with their joints and spines. i don't think people understand that the more people buying puppies of these types of dogs, the more puppies are bred and bred and it's just not good???
Staffordshire Bull Terrier (+ similar breeds)
ok so this one is a bit of a different take than the two above. for dogs like staffordshire bull terriers, bull terriers, pit bulls, american bulldogs, etc, people are always like "they are aggressive, they will bite, growl, etc.". however 99% of the time, i believe that a dog's temperament is a direct result of the treatment of the human beings it has grown up with and learned from, or a lack of proper training. if a dog is aggressive, i believe it is because they have been wronged at the hands of the people meant to take care of them. every single staffordshire bull terrier i have met has been the sweetest sweetheart, super friendly, loving, and curious. for other dogs, a big one being pit bulls, i have never agreed that they are inherently aggressive dogs. as from before, a dog's behaviour is shaped by their upbringing and training.
Huskies/Border Collies/German Shepherds
i've seen a lot of people get these dogs, and not realise the demand that comes with them. these dogs require a LOT of physical exercise, mental stimulation etc, and those who take on these breeds need to be prepared for that and have the facilities to accommodate that.
Poodles/Poodle Crosses
these dogs are very prone to matting with their curly fur. i've seen many people take their poodle which they haven't brushed in a while to the groomers, and the dog comes back with their fur shaven, and they're like "what happened to my baby!!:((", unaware that the poor dog is riddled with matting all over. they require very regular grooming to ensure that matting does not happen.
Conclusion
it isn't that i hate the dogs, is more like come on guys, do your research before getting a dog to find out which breed is right for you, and if you can't facilitate a dog, their needs, their wellbeing, then don't get one. but the same applies to any animal. more people need to do more research before getting a pet, they are little lives and it is completely the sole responsibility of the owner to ensure that they care for them properly and give them the best life possible. i always think adopt, don't shop. there are SOO many dogs out there who need homes and love and care. as a last note, i love every single dog and they deserve endless love and appreciation.
thank you for listening to this rant. if you have any other breed pet peeves or experiences i'd love to hear them!!
I agree with most of this; people really just don't do their research and impulsively choose a dog solely based on appearance and personality -- or at least, first impression of the dog's personality. And while I agree that adoption is morally the better choice, it also comes with risks and problems.
One thing I don't agree with here is your view of dog behavior and how much it's influenced by the owners. Yes, a dog's behavior can change and be influenced by poor treatment from an owner; we see this all the time from abused dogs that typically wind up in rescues and shelters. That presents a problem for anyone adopting, because when you adopt a dog, you have no idea what that dog's history is. You could be the best owner in the world, but something out of your control might happen that triggers the dog. Many shelters will also gloss over, or straightup not disclose, any record of aggressive behaviors in order to ensure adoptions.
Also, there ARE traits and behaviors that are breed-specific. People love to deny it, and I'm sure you'll try to make some argument against it, but it is literally scientifically proven. Your own statements about other breeds also support that -- some breeds inherently require more exercise. Some breeds can't be kept with smaller animals because they were bred as hunting dogs. Some breeds instinctively try to herd other animals or children, because it's quite literally bred into their DNA. Just like physical traits, behavioral traits are set. Unfortunately for some breeds, this DOES mean they can be aggressive.
I would not personally own ANY sort of bully breed or mastiff, cane corso, or rottweiler etc, for exactly that reason. German Shepards are also iffy for me, but generally they take to behavioral training better -- which is why they're the primary choice for K9 units. And if I wasn't 100% sure I had the time and resources to do that, I wouldn't get one. I could be the best, most educated owner in the world, but still there would be a chance for that dog to snap. It happens all the time -- that absolute sweetheart pitbull that's been the family dog for 12 years all of a sudden snaps and mauls a toddler. "Well, that could happen with any dog!" -- except, it doesn't. There's a reason you typically don't see articles about golden retrievers mauling their owners. There's a reason that goldens and labs are the golden (hehe) standard for guide dogs.
Between 2005-2019, there were 521 canine-related deaths in the US, with pit bulls contributing to 66% (346) of these fatalities. Combined with rottweilers, these two breeds accounted for 76% of the total recorded deaths. Genetics account for 60-70% of differences in aggression between dog breeds. Male dogs tend to bite more, especially if they are not fixed -- that's yet another proven biological factor.
thanks for sharing your opinion! whilst i do agree that certain characteristics can be breed specific, such as needing more exercise, shedding, etc, biting and aggression are more often caused by other factors, environmental influences. while genetics can play a good part in behaviors, environmental factors can override those inherited behaviors. in fact, pit bulls, for example, have actually scored higher in temperament tests than other dogs. it is determined by human interaction, lack of training. any dog can become aggressive with poor treatment and training, every dog is an individual.
(from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-88793-5) 'This large-scale survey study of over 9000 pet dogs suggests that aggressive behaviour toward people is affected by behaviour, demography, and environment. The studied factors daily time spent alone, and weaning age were novel, and factors living environment, family size, dogs in the family, dog experience, daily exercise, have previously been studied only in few articles14,15,20,21,22. Dogs showing aggressive behaviour were more often fearful, small-sized, males, owner’s first dogs and the only dogs in the family. In addition, probability of aggressive behaviour increased with age, and we found that the probability of aggressive behaviour differed between dog breeds. These findings suggest that improvements in the owner education and breeding practices of pet dogs could alleviate aggressive behaviour toward people. The identified factors should also be considered when planning studies that aim for the discovery of the associated hereditary factors.' in this study they actually found that, 'From all the studied breeds, Rough Collie had the highest probability of aggressive behaviour.'. and as well as this: 'To be noted, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which is one of the restricted breeds, for example, in Ireland, was not among the most aggressive breeds in this study.' And: 'Small dogs were more prone to aggressive behaviour than large or medium-sized dogs. Association of small size and aggressive behaviour is in line with some previous studies: taller and heavier dogs were found to be less aggressive toward the owner and strangers than small dogs'.
a dog's behavior is a complex interplay between its genetic makeup and its lived experiences. while some behaviors are strongly inherited, environmental factors can significantly modify or even override those inherited tendencies. it is important to remember that individual dogs' temperaments are shaped by their environment, training, and socialization. you'd be surprised how many people do not properly socialise or train their dogs, and it is unfair to group individual dogs. any dog with poor socialisation, poor training, and a lack of exercise, can become aggressive.
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Dana Scully
I agree with most of this; people really just don't do their research and impulsively choose a dog solely based on appearance and personality -- or at least, first impression of the dog's personality. And while I agree that adoption is morally the better choice, it also comes with risks and problems.
One thing I don't agree with here is your view of dog behavior and how much it's influenced by the owners. Yes, a dog's behavior can change and be influenced by poor treatment from an owner; we see this all the time from abused dogs that typically wind up in rescues and shelters. That presents a problem for anyone adopting, because when you adopt a dog, you have no idea what that dog's history is. You could be the best owner in the world, but something out of your control might happen that triggers the dog. Many shelters will also gloss over, or straightup not disclose, any record of aggressive behaviors in order to ensure adoptions.
Also, there ARE traits and behaviors that are breed-specific. People love to deny it, and I'm sure you'll try to make some argument against it, but it is literally scientifically proven. Your own statements about other breeds also support that -- some breeds inherently require more exercise. Some breeds can't be kept with smaller animals because they were bred as hunting dogs. Some breeds instinctively try to herd other animals or children, because it's quite literally bred into their DNA. Just like physical traits, behavioral traits are set. Unfortunately for some breeds, this DOES mean they can be aggressive.
I would not personally own ANY sort of bully breed or mastiff, cane corso, or rottweiler etc, for exactly that reason. German Shepards are also iffy for me, but generally they take to behavioral training better -- which is why they're the primary choice for K9 units. And if I wasn't 100% sure I had the time and resources to do that, I wouldn't get one. I could be the best, most educated owner in the world, but still there would be a chance for that dog to snap. It happens all the time -- that absolute sweetheart pitbull that's been the family dog for 12 years all of a sudden snaps and mauls a toddler. "Well, that could happen with any dog!" -- except, it doesn't. There's a reason you typically don't see articles about golden retrievers mauling their owners. There's a reason that goldens and labs are the golden (hehe) standard for guide dogs.
Between 2005-2019, there were 521 canine-related deaths in the US, with pit bulls contributing to 66% (346) of these fatalities. Combined with rottweilers, these two breeds accounted for 76% of the total recorded deaths. Genetics account for 60-70% of differences in aggression between dog breeds. Male dogs tend to bite more, especially if they are not fixed -- that's yet another proven biological factor.
Sources: (https://www.dogsbite.org/dangerous-dogs.php)
https://dogacademic.com/most-aggressive-dog-breeds/
thanks for sharing your opinion! whilst i do agree that certain characteristics can be breed specific, such as needing more exercise, shedding, etc, biting and aggression are more often caused by other factors, environmental influences. while genetics can play a good part in behaviors, environmental factors can override those inherited behaviors. in fact, pit bulls, for example, have actually scored higher in temperament tests than other dogs. it is determined by human interaction, lack of training. any dog can become aggressive with poor treatment and training, every dog is an individual.
(from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-88793-5)
'This large-scale survey study of over 9000 pet dogs suggests that aggressive behaviour toward people is affected by behaviour, demography, and environment. The studied factors daily time spent alone, and weaning age were novel, and factors living environment, family size, dogs in the family, dog experience, daily exercise, have previously been studied only in few articles14,15,20,21,22. Dogs showing aggressive behaviour were more often fearful, small-sized, males, owner’s first dogs and the only dogs in the family. In addition, probability of aggressive behaviour increased with age, and we found that the probability of aggressive behaviour differed between dog breeds. These findings suggest that improvements in the owner education and breeding practices of pet dogs could alleviate aggressive behaviour toward people. The identified factors should also be considered when planning studies that aim for the discovery of the associated hereditary factors.'
in this study they actually found that, 'From all the studied breeds, Rough Collie had the highest probability of aggressive behaviour.'. and as well as this: 'To be noted, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, which is one of the restricted breeds, for example, in Ireland, was not among the most aggressive breeds in this study.' And: 'Small dogs were more prone to aggressive behaviour than large or medium-sized dogs. Association of small size and aggressive behaviour is in line with some previous studies: taller and heavier dogs were found to be less aggressive toward the owner and strangers than small dogs'.
a dog's behavior is a complex interplay between its genetic makeup and its lived experiences. while some behaviors are strongly inherited, environmental factors can significantly modify or even override those inherited tendencies. it is important to remember that individual dogs' temperaments are shaped by their environment, training, and socialization. you'd be surprised how many people do not properly socialise or train their dogs, and it is unfair to group individual dogs. any dog with poor socialisation, poor training, and a lack of exercise, can become aggressive.
sources:
https://www.thehumanesociety.org/debunking-pit-bull-myths/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-88793-5
by clee; ; Report