Generalizations You Dislike

I hope you guys like threads, because it's been way to slow here and I'm just going to keep making threads until everyone else does Which, someone else start making threads before I really run out of ideas.

So! Generalizations/Blanket statements about dogs (Training, breeds, 'rules', etc.) that you dislike hearing or disagree with and why.

Basically, what are things you cringe when you read or hear people say or that you think are just not accurate for a broad generalization?

"Tugging makes dogs aggressive"

Edit - I like the all new threads you are making!

"You need dog experience before you own a certain breed."

"It's all in how you raise them" or otherwise implying that a fearful or aggressive dog has been poorly socialized, neglected, or abused. If you don't know, don't assume. Genetics influence temperament too.

Good, now you go make one!

And yeah, that tugging makes dogs aggressive drives me NUTS. I don't hear it much anymore luckily but I know it's still out there...lurking.

Yeah, this is one I never got. Another one of those that I think should definitely be a case by case. Especially since a lot of people like to think their breed is SO different from any other breed you can't possibly prepare for one without owning one, which you can't own until you own one

YES!!

Or, if you have a nervous rescue it's because they were abused. So many people I see have a rescue that's just a nervy dog and doesn't recover fast and it's ALL put down to being abused and I think that seems to get in the way of them working on it because they are always justifying it with "Well, s/he was abused so that's how it is."

Yes, I'm trying to come up with some thread ideas, and I very much appreciate you kickstarting all this activity, it's fun.

It's all how they're raised, for sure. Drives me nuts.

You can't handle my breed, because I'm awesome and you're not, essentially.

You need to have had a dog/have had a dog of this breed previously before you can get once. If someone only wants to own one dog at a time, they really need to wait through getting a dog they didn't want and it's entire lifespan before getting a dog of the breed they want and suits them? Insanity...

Any broad sweeping statements about training methods.

If your dog came from a breeder (especially a *good* breeder)/wasn't abused, it can't be shy or fearful or not want to say hi.

Border Collies are spastic psychos that people only get for sports and don't actually enjoy owning outside of that.

Stranger picks up puppy, and quickly rolls puppy over onto it's back and cradles it like a baby. Puppy growls. "Puppy is aggressive! You need to roll him/her over more often. You need to show puppy who is boss"

Or you can take your grabby hands off my dog and keep you opinions to yourself.

"Wont feeding them meat give them the taste of blood and make them turn on you?"

Said of the two wussiest dogs on the planet

More.

If you don't spay or neuter, your irresponsible!

If you don't have a fence, you shouldn't own a dog. There are more,& more neighborhoods not allowing fences, mine included.

Prey Drive = Aggression

That animal aggression equals human aggression.

It's all how you raise them. Because genetics mean nothing. And if you have a dog that bites/is fearful, it was abused as a puppy. Or if you raise a dog to be dog/animal friendly, it wont won't develop dog aggression/prey aggression as it matures.

Labs and goldens are 'easy' dogs for JQP. No dog people would want them.

If you have X breed there is no way you could handle Y breed.

Z breed is totally unlike any other breed in the world.

You get level up dog ownership points by handling certain breeds or certain types (how many times must you tell me your dog is a WORKING line XYZ?) and then therefore you are now level 100 dog owners.

You need a purebred or breeder dog or dog of a certain breed to do ____ sport well. Or 'if you were serious about agility you'd get ____'.

Likewise, shelter dogs all have issues. So many agility folk told me not to get one. And while I have no clue if Hank will be spectacular or not (which has never been my goal, I just want a young dog that is game for it)... I can tell you right now Hank is the most stable dog I've brought home. His temperament is golden and very solid.

Purebreds are all inbred and dumb and unhealthy.

Small dogs can't do anything. Or any accomplishments you have with this atypical breed don't REALLY count. They only count if you have a super hard working breed. The amount of people that dismiss you because you have toy dogs is fun.

Terriers are dumb and don't listen to you. Or 'Oh boy, you'd better get ready. Terriers are just very different'. Said in a tone that they think I was stupid for bringing him home. (So far he has been the easiest dog to train and work with of any of my dogs....)

Herders... oh god I can't even. I get so many weird and random comments about how herders do this or that or are this or that or need special training. Or 'that's a herder thing, you won't get it'. And honestly? Mia is more this or that than any herder I've had... or their 'special training for herders' is something that works with a lot of dogs? Or my herders were totally not what they said was a 'herder thing'. I think there's a lot of weird mysticism about the group and how they're just sooooo different than other dogs when in actuality the group has a lot of variation among breeds and lines. Aussies and collies and GSDs and BCs and corgis and OES... there's a TON of variety there that seems to get ignored when they're all grouped together! And other dogs and groups seem to get thrown under the bus as being inferior or lesser. And that's my favorite breed group too.

"Insert Breed" needs 4 hours of exercise every single day. If you can't provide that you shouldn't get one.

"Insert Breed" can't ever live in an apartment.

"Insert Breed" needs to live on farm. Don't even apply for "Inset Breed" if you don't live on a farm.

"Insert Breed" ALWAYS has this issue, and this issue, and this issue.

"Insert Breed" is not suitable for a first time dog owner.

Basically, any statement that views all dogs of a breed as identical, as opposed to recognizing that individuals vary drastically within breeds and that dogs are super adaptable and can thrive in many situations.

I think I've said this before but one of my obedience people has minpins that are phenomenal in obedience. And barn hunt. And agility. And nosework. And Dock Diving. They are awesome.

Thiiiiis.

Feeding grain-inclusive obviously means you don't know what you're doing. Your dog should be pitied and you probably just need food suggestions "Oh, what's Victor" But have you heard of Orijen? "

Mainly general public:

Anyone under 25 should not own dogs.

Anyone that has more than two dogs is obviously insane and will never be able to keep up with them.

OMG. You have a Boxer?! I can't believe you have a home left. They eat/dig/destroy all the things.

Kind of OT, but I HATEHATEHATE these statements.

person: "Oh, what type of breed is that?"
me: "Boxer or ACD(x)"
person: "I had one of those once! They were terrible and then died. I'll never have another. Yours looks like a Pit Bull. Is it a mix?" OR "What is an Australian Cattle Dog?"
me: "Nope. She just has a longer nose than most..." OR "Street name is Heeler."
person: "Oh! I love those heelers. I didn't know they had another name. They are so loyal! Mine liked to chase my kids and would always bite people on bikes. Mine had a lot more black than yours."

Yeah, you can tell I've had a good week.

Along the lines of the tugging one, you can't ever let them win because they're little tyrants constantly looking for weakness to exploit.

You have to have a huge house with sprawling grounds in order to keep large dogs (or active dogs) happy.

The tugging thing drives me nuts.

The, "my breed is super special and no one can ever own them" thing.

Agreed with Laurelin's "Labs and Goldens are super easy la la la." UH NO I've worked with some CRAZY Labs that I don't think I could even live with haha. Granted, they were bred to be a bit nuts, but STILL.

Plague of the first time owner - no dogs for you

"Your hunting dog will never be happy because you do not hunt and you're a terrible person for getting one."

"Kimma is a good starter dog but you should really get your name on ____'s list to get a performance Sheltie - then you can be really competitive." UH I like my Kimma k thanks.

Anything having to do with "showing them who's boss."

I'm sure there are others

I never got this one really, because the people I know without a fence or that live in an apartment always see way more dedicated to getting their dogs out overall. Not that people with fences don't ever walk or take their dog places but I hear "Well I have a backyard he can run in!" sooo many times as an answer to "What exercise does your dog get?"

Some of the most freaking crazy dogs I meet are retrievers. I really think the people that say this never met one that was under 12 before.

This one always makes me laugh. And really does more harm than good I think in the long run. Great owners made to feel like they can't handle a dog that they easily could and people turning their dogs into crazy endurance things with no off switches who then perpetuate the idea they need an unreasonable amount of exercise to live.

All brindle dogs are pit bulls or pit bull mixes.

The fence thing - growing up, we never had a fence and all our dogs were just fine, got plenty of exercise and were NEVER just kicked out the door unwatched. (Had a neighbor who was notorious for letting her obnoxious dog run loose without supervision).