Dogs have long been subject to stereotypes based on their personalities and traits, with some dog breeds gaining more negative connotations than others.
Norfolk-based brand Topdog, which sells dog harnesses and collars, highlights just how different these stereotypes are through the use of the search term tool AlsoAsked to identify common questions being asked.
The tool reveals that common questions about Rottweilers include things like “Is a Rottweiler stronger than a tiger?” and “Do Rottweiler’s jaws lock?”. When you compare this breed to a Labrador, the questions are quite different, with data showing queries like: “Are Labradors good dogs for beginners?” and “Which is the easiest dog to own?”
Additionally, there are many traits believed to be stereotypical of certain dog breeds such as:
- Mastiffs are not friendly
- All small dogs are yappy
- Pitbulls’ jaws lock if they bite
Whilst the dog breeds that “trend” for being a certain way can change over time, the stereotypes still remain, and it’s important for dog experts to tackle these. Topdog has spoken to experts and dog owners alike to debunk some of these stereotypes and challenge what owners can be doing to change the views.
Anna Nowrotek, owner of Bow Wow Dog Care, says: “People confuse the breeds of dogs and their particular upbringing. Just because the breed itself is strong, it doesn’t mean it has to be aggressive, it all comes down to the owner and how they have trained the dog.
“From my experience, the most aggressive dogs are the ones that have been treated by the owners softly and with no boundaries, and these have all been Chihuahuas, Sausage Dogs and Cockapoos so far.”
John Skinner, Topdog co-owner, says: “It’s always a shame to hear people talking negatively about certain breeds, when sometimes those things are very far from the truth. The biggest indication of a dog’s personality and traits is not its breed, but its owner.”
To hear from more experts and owners on why some of these stereotypes exist and what can be done to debunk them, head to Topdog’s website.
