Why do people automatically think that big dogs are vicious?

Question

I have a full grown 2 year old Alsatian and although he is completely trained and wouldn't hurt a fly whenever people see him they are weary and ask "Oh, is he alright, he doesn't bite does he?"

I just think would we bring him out i public and let him loose in the garden if he was vicious?

Answer 1

I have a Saint Bernard, every year I take her and my older dog (a fifty pound lab/beagle mix) to a Rib Festival. She gets lots of good attention. But one year a little girl pointed to Delilah and told her mom "Look, what a big dog" the mom replied "yes, and big dogs bite, so leave it alone". My dog wouldn't hurt a fly, unless she stepped on it, and that wouldn't be on purpose.

I wouldn't worry about those people, too many horror movies an' the like and they believe the sterotype. (aka, they don't know dogs, and don't try to learn) I would try to think of something witty to reply to them, to try and change their thinking. Or chalk it up to stupid humanity, which I seem to run into more and more each day *sigh*.

To the user that said we shouldn't mind people asking this and makes us bad owners 'cause we do, there's a lot more polite ways of asking if it's safe to pet a dog than to ask if he or she bites. It's a rude question that insinuates that you feel the dog is threatening, even if you don't mean it that way. "How are they with strangers" even is a lot better sounding than "do they bite".

Answer 2

I know where you are coming from - my dog is a 2 year old black lab, he is quite a big dog. When i take him out on the lead people look at him as if he will rip their heads off! Other than his tail being painful (when he whips ur legs) he is a big softie, as a pup u could retrieve anything from his mouth (that he shouldn't have had) his breed have a very soft mouth and I would not have him with 4 children if he was vicious in any way - He is also a big scaredy cat really - but don't tell burgler bill that eh.

Answer 3

Its a power thing! We have a 6 and half month old bullmastiff and people point and stare and mothers say dont touch the big dog. He is a ***** cat! I always ask other dog owners (usually the ones with little dogs) if their dogs are 'ok' as i dont want them biting my dog. I never let me dog go running up to people or other dogs but you would be surprised how many people with little dogs let their dogs come bounding over and don't batter an eyelid, 1 bite from mine and they would be history! (not that he would ever do such a thing of course! he's scared of little dogs). Be proud and say... no he isnt alright! and check the look on their faces! ps: G G bullmastiffs are 1 of the top guarding breeds and they don't bite as a rule, usually just knock over the culprit and hold them there.

Answer 4

I have two GSD. People are often afraid of them, unjustly so. Most people's mindset is that if a large dog was to attack, they wouldn't be able to escape or defend themselves. This is most often caused a case of lack of knowledge by those not familiar with dogs. People fear the unknown. Just keep being a good example for other big big dog pet owners and perhaps we can put a dent into this myth! Some of the most vicious dogs I've come across have been teacup or toy size!

Answer 5

I do it too. It is just normal questions to ask when encountering an unknown dog. I am not going to just walk up and pet a dog and take the chance of getting bit because I did not ask the owner if he was nice or bites. Most people have the common sense to ask. We do not AUTOMATICALLY think they are vicious we are just being cautious

If you were a good dog owner you would not mind the questions.

People ask me all the time and I have very small dogs. It don't bother me at all.

It don't matter if big or small it is common SENSE.

Answer 6

I think it is out of fear and lack of knowledge.

We try to socialise our dogs so they aren't afraid of other dogs and people, perhaps humans should be socialised in the same way with regard to dogs, lol!

We have two Weimaraners and a Rhodesian Ridgeback. The male Weim and the Ridgeback are big muscular dogs and they do scare people who don't know them, even when they are on a lead.

I do think the media has a part to play too - how often do you hear of a Yorkshire Terrier biting a child on the news, but I bet more children are bitten by small dogs than large.

Answer 7

Like someone else said, the media broadcasts big dogs as scary and violent, since it's supposely interesting for their viewers. When they see a big dog, they think back to what they've learned from media resources and instintively see the dog as violent.

Though, I've seen people asking if my Yorkshire Terrier bites or not..They're one of the smallest breeds today. All dogs have different personalities like humans, and it can be impossible to tell how the dog reacts to strangers just by looking at it. It's always safe to know how the canine sees other humans from the owner.


And to tell the truth, my Yorkie does sometimes bite. xD

Answer 8

Because when you aren't brought up around dogs and all you see is attack dogs on TV that's what you think. Admitedly, I was absolutely terrified of dogs untill I was about 11, which is when I started to calm down a bit and learnt that they aren't vicious beasts. The dogs I had known before were yorkies, which were docile and my friends' dogs and a doberman which our stupid neighbour let run loose and he wouldn't even let us into our drive way because he thought it was his property. You can't blame people for assosiating, it's our nature and it's even how we train dogs.

There is a stereotyped owner to every breed, that is what is promoted.

Everybody needs alot more education regarding dogs. If my friends and grandmother didn't introduce me to their docile large breeds I probably wouldn't have a dog of my own right now.

Don't worry about people asking if he bites, alot of people ask if my pomeranian bites. I think it's a healthy attitude to have, most dogs are friendly but letting kids run up to all of them expecting them to be nice isn't safe. A small pup could attack just as much as any large breed. It's 95% training and 5% genetics.

Answer 9

I totally agree with you, I have 2 rottweilers and they both have excellent tempraments. When I go out iwith them both and people ask me ridiculous questions like "does she bite" I feel like saying "Well I wouldnt bring her out if she did... in fact I wouldn't keep the dogs if I thought they were at all vicious"

So to those poeple who say "all big dogs can be vicious" my answer to that is that ANY dog can be vicious regardless of size, it is how they are brought up!!! So if you have a well trained dog, then it has as much chance of being vicious as does a poodle

Answer 10

I have a Bernese Mtn Dog as a Service Dog... Highly trained, really focussed (except for young children which she loves)... people STILL think she might bite.. even while wearing her working vest.

I was working with my Samoyed in a grocery store the other day while at the Samoyed Nat'ls. Some poor girl freaked and tried to climb up the fruit bin. The dog ignored her, although the apples hitting his toes were tempting. I'm usually very cognizant of people around me and try not to subject them to the dogs when I see fear.. but I came around a corner, she was looking at fruit.. I passed 10 feet away and she absolutely lost it.