Thousands of Facebook and Reddit users shared their thoughts on various dog breeds, with some canines being labelled as ‘aggressive' or ‘dangerous' due to their reputation
Dogs have long been cherished as man's best friend, renowned for their devotion, companionship, emotional support, and the protection they provide thanks to their natural bond with humans.
However, certain dog breeds suffer from stigma due to unfavourable media image or isolated events, often unfairly labeled as dangerous. Even so, many of these dogs can turn into affectionate pets with the right training and socialisation.
To combat these stereotypes, Puppies.co.uk has uncovered the breeds that are wrongfully tagged as ‘aggressive' and risk being passed over for adoption due to misconstrued or exaggerated stands.
The platform conducted research by scrutinizing thousands of Facebook and Reddit discussions and Google queries such as “are Rottweilers aggressive?” to identify which dog breeds are the most misunderstood.
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Criteria for inclusion in this list required that mentions included both the breed's name and keywords relating to aggression or menace, reports the Express.
While expected names like Rottweilers, Cane Corsos, and German Shepherds made the top 10 list of misrepresented breeds, surprisingly, even the much-adored Dachshunds were flagged as frequently mislabeled.
A Puppies.co.uk spokesperson remarked on the study: “When buying a puppy, it's important not to let public opinion shape your understanding of certain breeds.
“Some dogs have developed a bad reputation over the years, but the truth is, any dog, regardless of its breed, has the potential to display aggressive behaviour if it hasn't been properly trained, socialised, or cared for.
“This shows that breed-specific legislation simply doesn't work. Instead of focusing on how a dog looks or what it's called, we should be looking at how it's raised and treated.”
They added: “Poor breeding practices, a lack of socialisation, and irresponsible ownership are far more to blame than the breed alone. Not to mention, bans unfairly target responsible dog owners and can even lead to the misidentification of dogs.
“Stronger laws focused on individual behaviour, more support for owners, better education on dog welfare, and increased resources to tackle illegal breeders would have a greater impact on public safety. Every dog deserves the chance to be seen for who they are, not judged by the breed they belong to.
“By shifting the conversation away from fear and towards responsible ownership, we can protect both the public and our pets more effectively.”
Top 10 of breeds with the worst reputations
Rottweiler
Chihuahua
Doberman
German Shepherd
Chow Chow
Cane Corso
Akita
Dachshund
Border Collie
Siberian Husky
