#dog discrimination

Because the TSA decided, purely anecdotally, that people generally view floppy-eared dogs as more docile and friendly and pointy-eared dogs as more aggressive.

Allegedly, floppy-eared dogs don’t scare children but the pointy-eared dogs do.

Floppy-eared Golden Retriever

There is some research that supports the idea that people view pointy-eared dogs as more intimidating. This is a totally unsupported prejudice and it’s unfair to dogs because many dogs with pointy ears have had their naturally floppy ears cropped as puppies. Others have been genetically engineered by breeders to look that way.

Let’s be clear – pointy ears do not indicate an aggressive or dominant temperament. Ear configuration has no relationship to a dog’s disposition. This fear of pointy-eared dogs has been called ‘canine racism.’

Pointy-eared German Shepard at airport

I know a lot about doggie discrimination.

My daughter, Sarah, works with a Pit Bull rescue group in LA called Angel City Pit Bulls. One of their missions is to fight breed discrimination, like breed specific legislation which prohibits Pits from certain buildings and even certain cities. London had a Pit Bull ban and Montreal is trying to enact one. This forces people to choose between living where they want and giving up their beloved pet or finding somewhere else to live with their dog.

Pit Bulls are the canine ‘bad guys’ du jour. In the past, German Shepherds were shunned as aggressive and dangerous but now are used as companions and seeing-eye dogs. Then Rottweilers became the ‘bad dog’ du jour — and they don’t even have pointy ears!

Rottweiler

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Pit Bulls were used as the ‘nanny’ dog – to protect children and be their early companions. They were considered the ideal family pet and many family photos from the period include young children with their Pit Bulls.

Old photo of Pit Bull with his child

What’s even more galling about Pit Bull discrimination is that ‘Pit Bull’ isn’t even a legitimate breed. It’s an umbrella label that encompasses dogs from at least four different breeds, including Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and the American Bulldog.

In shelters, dogs are labeled ‘Pit Bull’ if someone thinks they have some Pit Bull in them. The designation is totally arbitrary and subjective. And there are more Pits in shelters than any other breed and they are euthanized at a higher rate than any other breed.

Modern Pit and baby

To add insult to injury, the breeds that make up the faux category ‘Pit Bull’, are smack in the middle of the ratings for aggressiveness by breed. They are rated between Labs and Golden Retrievers! Clearly, these dogs are nowhere near being the most aggressive dogs.

In fact, the two most aggressive breeds are Chihuahuas and Dachshunds. But no one lodges complaints when attacked by a Chihuahua, probably because it would be embarrassing.

Sweet-faced Pit Bull

The most dominant traits in Pit Bull breeds are their gentleness and sweetness, their friendliness and their desire to please their humans. They got a bad reputation decades ago when dog fight promoters started training Pit Bulls to fight.

Remember, any dog can be trained to be aggressive and fight. And Pits are especially trainable because of their desire to please. Many Pits who have been rescued from dog fighting rings have been successfully rehabilitated and have been adopted as family pets – even after being trained to be aggressive.

So there is no basis for the widespread perception that Pit Bulls are more dangerous than other breeds. There is also no basis for the perception that pointy-eared dogs should be feared more than floppy eared dogs.

People seem to need to discriminate. They discriminate against people and dogs. We should fight prejudice and discrimination wherever we find it, even when it’s dogs. Mostly, dogs are nicer than people anyway.

Support dogs!

It’s High Time to Ban Old People from Silver Falls State Park

My family was busted for the crime of walking our dog.  We were at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon.  We hadn’t got 50 feet down the trail before the ranger was on us like stink on a monkey.  We vehemently claimed our innocence; however, the ranger grilled us about a sign we had walked past and a notice in the park flyer, which I unfortunately, at the very time of her accusation, was holding…

Traveling with pets can be tricky, particularly if you have dogs that others perceive to be “aggressive.” In this article, I’ll share some information we’ve learned over the years about traveling with restricted breed dogs. If your dogs aren’t restricted breeds, scroll on down to the “At the Campground” Section. It applies to all dog owners.  We…

Rant about my dog.

Are these the pictures of an aggressive dog? A dog that let’s humans lay on him and gives kisses.

In the past month, Jaeger has been attacked by 2 small dogs. He has been discriminated because of his size. My mother has paid almost $2,000 worth of vet bills for our neighbor’s dog, a Shih Tzu. Jaeger went to say hello, the dog bit him on his upper back (impossible for a dog that size to reach, which means Jaeger was laying down), and Jaeger retaliated by shaking the dog. The neighbor is claiming that her dog is innocent and that Jaeger could attack another. Here’s the kicker, he’s been attack by numerous dogs over the past 6 years. The neighbor just moved in into the apartments a few months ago. Ironically, when they were moving in, I did not know they had a dog. Took him out and the dog comes running after him. He didn’t even notice it until he stepped on the little shit. Jaeger is known with the police department because of incidents that happened at our apartment complex. They always ask if he was acting different or if he sensed something was off. 

I’m so sick and tired of large breed discrimination. Jaeger is submissive, even his dog-sitter is furious by this woman’s actions. We have done the responsible thing to do and paid for the damage that Jaeger did cause. People with small dogs need to train them thoroughly like large breed owners do. Just because there is a size difference, does not exempt small dogs from certain training. Small dogs have a history of attacking larger breeds due to Napoleon Syndrome. This woman has no knowledge of animal care, she didn’t even know how to give a dog a pill. Anyway, we have talked with a lawyer and he agrees that if this was taken to court, the judge would rule in our favor.