Why do some dog breeds have a bad reputation?

For many years, certain breeds of dogs have been given a bad reputation in the media. These breeds, often referred to as "bad breeds," including Pit Bulls, Rottweilers, and German Shepherds, have been widely portrayed by the media as aggressive and dangerous, leading to widespread fear and prejudice against them. However, this portrayal has been largely based on disinformation and media stereotypes deriving by sporadic and controversial cases with large media coverage. The media has often reported on incidents involving these breeds, such as dog attacks or bites. While these incidents are certainly tragic and should be taken seriously, it is important to note that they are the exception rather than the rule. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the vast majority of dog bites are not caused by any specific breed, but rather by individual dogs who are not properly trained or socialized. In fact, many of the breeds commonly referred to as "bad breeds" were originally bred as working dogs or pets and have a long history of loyalty and affection towards humans. Like any other animal, a dog's behavior is largely dependent on its upbringing and training, as well as its individual temperament and personality. These laws are often based on media stereotypes and disinformation, rather than any actual evidence of the increased danger posed by these breeds.

Thanks to movies, TV, and the media, there are quite a few dog breeds that have gained a negative reputation in our society: the menacing Rottweiler, the killer pitbull, and the snarling Doberman Pinscher, to name a few. Unfortunately, these breeds owe their bad raps to humans. As larger dogs, these breeds have been bred for qualities such as protectiveness, strength, and endurance to protect humans. While larger dogs in general are less likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors, this past breed selection may result in a dog more prone to aggression in the right circumstances if not properly trained and socialized. Breed has very little relation to aggression. It’s simply not fair, or safe, to assume that one breed of dog will bite while another won’t. And studies have shown that breed-specific legislation isn’t effective. The truth is, any dog is capable of biting or aggression under the right circumstances, whether that be a German Shepherd, Labrador Retriever or Chihuahua.

The RSPCA says there's no proper evidence that one breed is more aggressive than another. Bloodhounds were criticised partly because they were used to hunt escaped slaves and criminals. Dobermans were introduced into the UK and America from Germany in the early 1900s and gained a reputation as trustworthy guard dogs and status symbols, but World War Two changed their image as many were photographed with Nazi officers at concentration camps. After the war they became increasingly unpopular and were portrayed in films and in the media as "demon dogs" despite their intelligence and loyalty to their owner. Pit bull dogs had originally been bred in the 1800s for use in blood sports such as bull baiting, bear baiting and cock fighting. In the 1960s in America a different urban trend began to take shape, street gangs dealing drugs started training and using pit bull types as guard dogs and status symbols. That trend made its way to the UK, where pit bull type dogs took on the same role for many inner-city British gangs. The government said the ban on certain breeds was "crucial", but said any dog can become dangerous with bad owners. The RSPCA wants the Dangerous Dogs Act to be changed so dogs are banned for their behaviour, rather than their breed.