Do you judge people by the breed of dog they own?

Question

I saw this question about avatars:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aja7WCJCc_h3Vcx9xDST.1nsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071026223855AAFpjn1

I know I'm one of those people with a "small, cute" breed. And it made me wonder, how many people judge others by their choice in dog breed? Do you have preconceived notions about a stranger walking down the street just by looking at their dog?

(I don't really care if people think I have a "cutesy" breed. Papillons excel at agility, which is one of the reasons I chose my breed. I wouldn't chose a breed such as a bulldog for an agility dog.)

For example:
Do you see someone with a toy poodle as ditsy and cutesy?
Do you see someone with a pitbull as someone tough?
Do you see someone with an afganhound as graceful?
Do you see someone with a mutt as caring and compassionate?

(I'm not saying any of these are true, they just seem to be common stereotypes, so I used them for examples.)
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Here's another situation:

At a dog show, would you take someone showing a German Shepherd as more serious than someone showing a poodle?

GSD - http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/photos/breed/DN02960810.html
Poodle - http://www.westminsterkennelclub.org/2007/photos/breed/PR04835805.html

Or would you think the person showing the poodle is more serious due to the amount of grooming required?
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Just a side note:

Several people have answered that they see people with dogs you wouldn't expect (bikers with chihuahuas and grandmas with GSDs).

In my area, there is a police officer (and he's big muscular guy, could nearly pass for a body-builder), and he runs papillons in agility. While I don't judge him by it, I will admit that the first time you see him, you do a double-take.
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RE: "Let me ask you...are you a cute petite person with big ears?? ;)"

That is a good point! I do somewhat relate to my breed in some aspects.
I'm not 'petite' as in short, but I'm quite small framed. (At 5'8, I only weigh around 113 pounds.)
And I've always admired the way papillons seem to prance around; which could relate to me because of my dance background. (17 years of lessons in ballet, tap, jazz, and lyrical; and then I also was a dance teacher for a while.)
Also, I've been told that I look very sweet and innocent (if only they knew...).
No big ears though. ;)
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Answer 1

Love this question.
I notice that certain types have certain dogs more often than others. The little cutesy dogs usually don't belong to men nor do the big strong breeds usually follow women. We just tend to see it more the other way.
I love to see a big strong guy baby-talking a little cute dog and kissing it. I saw a guy come into the vet's office a couple of weeks back with a kerry blue all in bows and a sweater. He was just baby talking that dog, "You have to stay here now. Daddy will be back soon. Daddy has to go to the dentist. You will be ok." He left the dog in kennel care for a couple of hours while he did errands. It was adorable.

Answer 2

Anybody with a dog is a friend of mine! I think the breed of dog someone chooses to own sort of tells you a little about them. But I never "judge" anyone. My dad absolutely loved his standard poodle.....and he was groomed real fluffy, but with a mustache 'cause he was a boy. My dad isn't a foofy kind of guy either. So, I try not to think that someone is is that way with a standard poodle because they aren't really that foofy...just people think they are. Some people tell me I look and act like a buff cocker spaniel...my hair is blond and a little wavy and I am (some think) sweet and loyal.

Let me ask you...are you a cute petite person with big ears?? ;)

Edit: It's always neat to hear a little about my contacts and the people I see on YA all the time. :) You do sound like a papillon! As cute as big ears look on a papillon....it's a good thing you don't have big ears! ;)

Answer 3

You know I really didn't notice until that guy brought it up.
Hey, I have a cutesy little dog as my avatar but doesn't mean I am an under-age unexperienced. Some underage kids wouldn't even know how to put a picture up. And underage kids in the dogs section has got to stop. I've seen men with Chihuahua's. I really don't care if someone thinks of me that way by my avatar if I'm some girly girl or something, very uncool.

For the other situation is a little tricky for me.
I would think the lady in the poodle is taking it more seriously but for the two I would say the poodle.

Answer 4

I wont lie, and most likely will not be liked after this comment, but, when I first started coming around here, there were certain people.. such as Chihuahua mama, that I thought were foolish. How could one like Chihuahuas and be so into them when they are nasty little pains that bark obsessively, bite everyone and cannot be housebroken?

I was a fool. Well I still am, but not as much.

I used to always believe that small dogs were pointless, crappy "companions" that you could never housebreak. I have family who have small breeds and they are 5 year and over, and still use newspapers, and are not sociable at all. After coming around here, I learned it isn't the breed, its the owner. I learned about Chihuahuas, and other smaller breeds and realized I was ignorant.

Its strange, because were actually considering getting our own small breed sometime in the near future.

So yes, to answer your question, I did judge people by their breeds. I assumed small dog owners were snobby and just.. stupid for picking such a "complicated" breed.

Looks like they were not the "stupid" ones afterall.

Answer 5

Well, I agree 100% with you on the papillon breed they sure are quick AND smart (however surprisingly I know two bulldogs who are titled in agility!)
As far as lookalike dogs and their owners, yeah, there's believed to be some truth in the matter (although I don't think 'dainty' would classify me - and my papillon is right at the top of the dainty list, however my doberman would knock me down if I matched my pap in daintiness).
There have been some studies done on owners and their dogs, and I'll post some links with good information on that.

Answer 6

This is kinda tricky for me. I don't judge on the breed itself, however the behavior, attitude of the dog and the chosen accessories I do judge. For example, a stranger is approaching with a dog on an retract/extend leash, dog is running all over the place criss-crossing every other step I assume that I need to avoid them because the dog has poor manners. People who choose to out fit their dog with a logging chain collar, spiked collar or other "I'm Bad" items annoy me. Especially when it's a large dog. Why would they want to make their dog look like it's a bad-@$$?
As for people who show dogs. I have a lot of respect for anyone who uses their dog in ANY type of legal competition. Whether it's agility, confirmation, costume or herding. The dog's breed doesn't matter to me. I just like seeing them work.

Answer 7

I don't care if they have purebreds or mix breed dogs as long as they are well taken care of. And both the people and the dogs are happy. You would be surprised at the different dogs I see come by here ( trucking company next door) in semis. They range from Chihuahua's to huskys, to pugs to spaniels and anything in between. Most potty their dogs on the large grassy area acrosss the road, so I see quite a few. People just love all breeds and mixes of dogs.

Answer 8

I tend to agree with Foresaken. It's not so much the breed of the dog, as it is the whole package - how it's handled, the way the owner interacts with it, and oh, yes, the accessories. My particular pet peeve is a dog used AS an accessory, which tends mostly to be toy breeds. So I try to focus on the behavior of the dog and its human, and not fall into stereotypical thinking. But every once in a while you come across a case that seems to confirm the stereotype.

Answer 9

I know i don't, and i hope others don't. I have had a lot of different kinds of dogs. I choose large breed working dogs because I enjoy there traits, and i love the big lugs! My daughter loves her basset hound, only because she is sweet, and sooooo cute. But my daughter isn't lazy, and doesn't sleep all the time. He dog is like that. I'm not exactly a high energy person, but my lab is. I love her for many reasons. Smart, loving, we give her things to do because she enjoys it. I see someone with a small dog, and i think of the breed and the beauty and traits. Its no different than doing that to a person, like a blond or a short person. I think it may be very shallow thinking. Thanks for the question, it is very interesting.

Answer 10

I don't judge people by the dogs they own. I react to how they treat those dogs.

For example, I know one woman who has about 7 dogs. Most of which are not altered. She is responsible about these dogs and she NEVER has an unplanned breeding.
I have a lot of respect for this woman.

Then there is a woman who intentionally breeds mixed breeds without doing ANY proper testing on them. She sells them on a website and takes PayPal, yet she thinks there is nothing wrong with this. I think this woman should not own animals.

I really don't see stereotypes with dogs here in Florida, because there is such a variety of dogs with a variety of owners. I just see ignorance and stupidity running wild. All you have to do is go to the local pound and you can see what I mean!