I don't think there's a need to own a bigger breed at all if you live in a city or even the suburbs in most places. If it's security your looking for, your basic system is going to be cheaper than a canine anyway; and if it's the same macho image bullshit that compells city people to buy big honkin trucks, just go out and get laid for God's sake.

If you want a friend, that's fine. But make sure you've got a dog, no matter what breed, that's suited to being a pet and be damn sure you're willing and able to train it properly.

IrresistibleB1tch said:

the only dog that ever bit me was a little Australian silky terrier my Mum had before I was even born... by the time me and my Brother came along he didn't appreciate having to share Mum's attention,I guess, and he didn't like us. he was a grouchy little thing. our Rottie, on the other hand, never even hurt a fly

meow85 said:

I thought it was me being a Snob.....But there are so many people down my street with Rotters / Pits etc.....
[Edited 10/10/06 3:48am]

Natisse said:

Terriers are viscious little buggars.....When I was a Paperboy there was two houses on my round with Yorkshire Terrors.....I dreaded going to them houses more than the ones with Alsations and Rotters .....Size is no measure of Pyschosis when it comes to these dogs.....

HereToRockYourWorld said:

HECK NO! I PRAISED HIM! my dog has been around HUNDREDS of people and has NEVER flashed his teeth at anyone, or growled at anyone. he is the nicest dog i've ever owned. that being said...this neighbor was somebody who just moved into the complex from NYC a few weeks prior. he seemed like a nice dude so after a few hello's and goodbyes we were gonna have a beer and watch some football. he knocks on the door and i let him in, and my dog's hair just stood up. he sat beside me and flashed his teeth and that was all i need to know--maybe something wasn't right about this dude. so i told him something had come up and i had to cancel. i traveled a lot for work at that time and most of my neighbors knew i was usually gone for 3-4 days at a time. he could have been staking my place out for all i know. but just like in the movies, when a dog growls at something, it's best to take heed. that was 6 years ago, and he has never growled or flashed his teeth at anybody since.

myownprivateinsanity said:

Ehm. . .what does living in the city have to do with what kind of dog you want to have? I'm bigger than my dog (Rottweiler, if you're just now tuning in), and I live just fine in my little urban apartment, so why shouldn't he? I like to walk and hike a lot. I want a dog who can keep up. Plus, I just like big dogs. They're more fun to play with. Has nothing to do with security; this kid isn't much of a watchdog.

HereToRockYourWorld said:

omg Melissa your boy is so freakin' adorable

i've never dealt with pitbulls, but i have family members who own/have owned dobies and rotties. they were never raised to be mean towards strangers, nor were they automatically mean. in fact, they were all sweeties.

i have a soft spot for rottweilers, actually--my sister's boyfriend bought one when i was living with her a while back. the dog's name was 'limit', and it was a huge rott...and sorta goofy as well (he'd press his booty against your leg so that you'd scratch his hindquarters). he also had the tendency to jump up on you and lick yer face, which kinda sucked because he was so big that he'd almost knock you over.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

aww they do that mine did... he was huge even by rottie standards, but he used to think he was this big lol. a lapdog he used to do exactly the same thing with his hind, too... "come on, give me attention!!" lol

HereToRockYourWorld said:

I actually edited out the rest of the comment as I presumed people might not get the "Joke" .....It was a little Gentle sarcasm aimed at Stereotyping.....Theres a live in Joke here about folk with Pitts and Rotters being unemployed and usually with a few ASBO's.....However, I didn't want to upset anyone so I edited it - Obviously not all of it

HereToRockYourWorld said:

A lot of people living in cities either have apartments or small yards and can't be bothered to exercise the dog properly. Combine that with the facts that a lot of people, especially kids, don't know how to approach a strange dog and that even the most well-behaved canine can get agitated in a crowd and snap at someone, I think owning a bigger breed is just asking for trouble. Small and medium sized dogs are just as likely to be biters, but at least a snap from a little dog's not going to land anyone in Emergency.

i've never had problems with bigger dogs. for the most part i think they're gentle giants. in fact the only dog to ever cause me pain was a minipin crossed with a boston terrier. tiny dog but sharp teeth. its like a little shark. its not gonna end you up in emergency thats true. but as long as you train your dog and don't treat it like crap you should be fine. i don't have a huge preference in size of dogs cause i love pugs just as much as i love retrievers. but if i had to choose i think i'd probably choose retriever simply because its more of a pet. also pugs are damn hard to train apparently. lol

Daznym17 said:

Something that can knock a person over is not a pet.

J/K I like Cody alright. Just keep him a good 5 feet away.

meow85 said:

I used to go walking with a friend and her two Dobermans - They were really well behaved - even in the presence of other dogs, which can lead to aggressive behaviour in a Dog. They were huge dogs, but very affectionate, I must admit as well that I always did feel considerably 'safe' with them - I never felt threatened by them.

I used to have a Pet Pig.....

myownprivateinsanity said:

I'll admit that a big part of my problem with large dogs is me. I'm a bit afraid of them. No matter how gentle and well-trained a person assures me their animal is, I can't help but feel on-edge around a big dog. Why? Because leaving the biting issue aside for a moment, even a friendly dog can do some damage to a small person like myself without meaning to. I've been knocked over and not able to get back up again because i had a chestful of giant friendly dog. When the animal outweighs you by double, it's hard not to be a little afraid even if it is just playing.

meow85 said:

haha. cody likes you too i'm sure. speaking of which i just got home and hes got blood on the floor but i can't find any cuts. he's acting like hes hurt or something though, playing all shy with me.

but i agree that you are probably an easy dog knock over target. i'm sure i'd be a little more afraid of bigger dogs too if i were shorter than them

Daznym17 said:

Not shorter, just smaller. Your dog easily weighs as much as I do, and he's not that big.



Hope he's alright.
[Edited 10/11/06 0:55am]

meow85 said:

I can appreciate that - I think most folk are a little on edge around Larger Dogs - I myself am not a Dog lover - I wouldn't have a Dog for a Pet.

There was a German Shepherd Dog the other night on the street and it was running up to a woman and her small child and barking - So much so that the woman had pressed her child up against the wall and put herself in between her child and the Dog, because she was obviously distressed - Now, I really don't believe that the Dog wanted to hurt them, if it did it would already had have done, but I can see why people would be bothered by a Large Dog - Regardless of how friendly the Dog is in normal life. This German Shepherd was approx 3 - 4 Feet in height and was massive.....Its owner wasn't doing very much to get the dog under control either which I pointed out to them (Standing at the side of the road shouting at the dog isn't very effective).

Even a friendly Dog can be very threatening especially if you don't know the Owner or the Dog.

Not having a go at Dog Owners.....

myownprivateinsanity said:

I like dogs and I've owned them before, but for practicality and safety's sake, I'll never have anything bigger than 40 lbs. maximum.

I just wish people who own bigger dogs wouldn't keep insisting I play with their pet moose-sized animal because he's "well trained and really nice". I ask someone to keep their dog away from me, I don't think it's too much to expect them to do so.

meow85 said:

Again I agree - Some owners should try and think a little about that - Not every one likes dogs or feels safe around them. People who do not know your Pet may feel intimidated, especially those breeds that are pushed by the Media as the Charles Mansons of the Canine world.....

myownprivateinsanity said:

Pets are like kids. Everyone's convinced you're going to be just as much in love with little Johnny or Spot as they are.

@ Charles Manson