Would you be afraid of a Bulldog?

Originally Posted by white cat lover

TBH - Your rat does have a very "square/thick" face compared to most Rats I've seen. Many of the Rats I've seen have noses like Collies or Shelties, longer/narrow. Not that he looks at all Pitty, but you know how people can be!

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Yep he does. He is also rather broader in the chest than a Rat Terrier. Those two things are why I call him a "Rat Terrier mix" although someone from RT rescue told me he actually could be pure... We think he might have some Boston or maybe even Bulldog mixed in but who knows!

Well no one (yet) has said my labrador looked like a bulldog/pitbull

Absolutely - if you're not careful, those Bulldogs are liable to snuggle & slobber a person near to death! Case in point:

Originally Posted by NinaCaliente

Absolutely - if you're not careful, those Bulldogs are liable to snuggle & slobber a person near to death!

Case in point:

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AWWW! What a sweetie! I tend to think of Bulldogs as mainly white, so maybe people around here do, too. Boomer is brindle (like many Pits here), with just a little white on his face, and white paws.

Originally Posted by NinaCaliente

Absolutely - if you're not careful, those Bulldogs are liable to snuggle & slobber a person near to death!

Case in point:

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Honestly, you shouldn't have such a ferocious dog with you!

Nah, my wife was raised with bulldogs, and I've never met one that wasn't friendly. She and her brothers and sisters used to ride one of them around, like a very short pony. Of course, they were all very young at the time.

The neighbor has a pit bull I'd throw a poisoned steak to in a minute. She's backed me up into my own garage twice, and only backed off when I sprayed her in the face with the first spray can I could reach.

I had a Staffie that I would take into the nursing home where I worked. When it was winter, she wore her sweater and booties. People would fawn over her until they found out she was close to a pit bull. They would literally go from sqatting in front of her, petting her, to standing with their hands in the air when they found out her breed. Also, we walked our husky on a head halter. People would cross the street to avoid us. Don't underestimate the stupidity or fear of the general population. It's unbelievable!

Sometimes people are scared of Chihuahuas or ANY dog at all. Some are of cats and/or other animals. People are so different and some are all over the place, I wouldn't be suprised if some didn't even know what breed the dog was in the first place, my dogs (all meet breed standards) have been called some pretty way far out breeds before.

Originally Posted by cococat

Sometimes people are scared of Chihuahuas

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I'm very much a "dog person", and I'm skeptical of Chihuahuas and miniature black Poodles due to some very negative experiences with them!
The former seem "nippy", and I've been bitten three times by the latter (twice by the same dog, who lived next door to us).

I don't cross the street when I see one, though.

Depend on what kind of bulldog. I knew an Amstaff I just loved but bringing one of these supposed pitts around me is a good way to get a beat down. I am not much of a dog person anyway, and these ghetto trash "pitts" scare me to death.
a kid got killed aboard Camp Lejuene recently by one.

Absolutely not! I love any "bully" breed. I don't know if you're referring to English or American bulldogs but I love both. I love ANY "bully" breed especially pit bulls. I think it's cute how the english ones sound when they breathe. I wouldn't want a nose of an english bulldogs' though but we just had one in where I work at my local shelter he got re-claimed and I laughed at him snorting, hehe. I especially love Americans but I love them both equally. I adore ALL "bully" breeds especially the pit bulls.

I am not afraid of any dog except this tempermental special needs chihuahua that is such a hoot. I LOVE him but I don't trust him. today I picked him up with his blanket with my co-worker as she walked a doxen that was hit by a car don't worry he's fine he's going home next week to a nice elderly lady. I picked him up to put him back in his kennel his name is Scooby the chihuahua he snarled at me so I put him down he chased me down. I thought he was going to eat me.

but yeah bulldogs are sweeties of course pit bulls, amstaffs, etc. to KNOW them is to LOVE them.

Perhaps they weren't afraid, but crossing so they wouldn't be in your way?

Usually I see someone cross, either the people with the dog or the other passers by. It's good manners.

Originally Posted by Miagi's_Mommy

Absolutely not! I love any "bully" breed. I don't know if you're referring to English or American bulldogs but I love both.

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He's a European Bulldog, which is a fairly new breed (recognized 8 years ago) derived from Old English and American Bulldogs.

It saddens me when anyone is afraid of any breed of dog but especially Am. Staffs. Just like with any breed of dog it matters how they were bred and raised. The media just seems to jump on certain breeds more than others and they end up with a bad rap. Any dog has the potential to be dangerous

I have owned a few Am. Staffs they are great dogs. Very loyal and really just fun loving dogs. Our last one we just had to put down at the age of 14 in Feb. He was the biggest love bug there ever was. He and my Greyhound were best buddies and he just loved the cats. ( I think he secretly wanted to be a cat) I never ever worried about him with other animals or people. My Greyhound on the other hand was not so friendly with strangers.

I used to laugh when we would walk the dogs people would shy away from the Am. Staff who was just so friendly and wanted everyone to come see him and go straight for the Greyhound who would growl and have a fit if someone he didn't know came near him. We would sit and talk to people and they would eventually go over and see the Am. Staff and comment on how they had such a misconception about the breed. We always felt like ambasadors to the breed. When we would take him to the vet he was so popular people just loved him no matter where we went once they got over their fear of his breed. When we had to put him to sleep the vet and all of the techs came in and said personal good byes and just cried. We had people mail us notes on how sorry they were to see such a good dog go.

Anyways to answer your question No I wouldn't avoid a dog because of their breed.

The American Bulldog is one of my favorite breeds of dogs. Some dogs do have a stronger guarding instinct but this includes the herding breeds, collies are one of this group. A properly trained dog that has been treated well will not be unpredictable and aggressive. It isn't about the breed it's about their environment.

Bulldogs are adorable. My SO loves them. He says they are very adorable... and they are! They always seem to have a smile on their face.