What's your thoughts on this ?

Question

I was looking on a U.K. website about support dogs for people with mental health issues and found a one that would either train a puppy for you or train your own dog.

I phoned them and said I'd rather my own dog be trained but when he asked what breed my dog was (he's a Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Whippet) he said that they wouldn't train that type of dog, German Shepherds or Rottweilers because other people might feel threatened by them, so they can't be used to help people.

I was upset about that because not all dogs are the same and to me it's mostly down to the owners input as to what the dog turns out like.
It was like "dogism", I know it's a made up word but it feels like my dog wasn't good enough even though they have never met him.

? · Accepted Answer

That's the typical attitude of people that know f*ck all about dogs - they'll take a look at a Staff or a German Shepard, Doberman, Rottweiler - whatever and immediately think that they're pure evil bred to rip people apart. It really irritates me.

The reasons that German Shepards, Dobermans and Rottweilers and such are used as guard dogs are because they are highly intelligent breeds that are seriously loyal to their owner. That means that they can be trained to be aggressive, violent and attack on command -- they can just as easily be trained to make very good family pets and companion dogs. In fact like all animals they'll be more predisposed to being friendly and loyal rather then aggressive unless threatened, it just takes effort to train them. Some people are just f*cking idiots.

Anonymous · Answer

I would think they have limited time and have only time/money for certainties and not for probably or maybes. If they provide dogs, they can use dogs with a known genetic background and with a good predictability and a good chance to make it through the training. German shepherds are certainly used a lot for service dogs, but that is dogs with known parents who had a suitable temperament.

If they use dogs with unknown background they may opt to exclude breeds which can be difficult if they weren't raised correctly or can have a bad genetics because they came from bad breeding stock which was unsuitable. I wouldn't be surprised if they exclude most pet dogs with unknown parentage if they are strapped for time and/or money. Even more pet dogs where statistics indicate that they can be more difficult than average.

Read through this: 
http://servicedogcentral.org/content/node/388

Unless you are spending the money for training the dog, you are asking somebody else to potentially waste money on a dog you select instead of having them select a dog where they have a high degree of confidence of not wasting money. Ask if the situation changes if you pay for everything.

Scarred Decoy · Answer

Sometimes when I read in here, I wonder how some, well, most people ever made it to walking on 2 feet. Dogs are EXACTLY what their GENETICS gave them, end of all discussion, period.
This BS of "its what the owner does and how much they love their doggy" is pure and unadulterated horseshit.
Some breeds have a rep, some deserve it, its a FACT, live with it and grow up, study, learn, it does not hurt.

? · Answer

Staffs, Pits, Rotts, etc. have a reputation and represent an image of potentially vicious dogs. Fair or not, it is a reality.

Anonymous · Answer

Those breeds are known for their aggression.

What's your thoughts on this ?

5 Answers