The various threads on here about bull breeds got me thinking, do you let the media control your thoughts on a breed. Or have you in the past but then after researching found the thoughts to be incorrect. I am after more on the non bull breeeds I guess, and for this to turn into another anti/pro bull breeds thread.

I will give some examples:

I grew up being scared of Dobes, because they were always shown in films etc as the henchmans dogs, guarding the home, warehouse etc. In fact even used to the current day by Mr Burns in the Simpsons

Same with Rotties, who were the "devil dog" always in the papers for attacking children.

I now know that these are not true of the breeds as a whole.

So did you grow up with the same sort of thing? Maybe you had the opposite thoughts, as in seeing nice friendly dogs such as Beethoven or Lassie on the big/small screen and automatically thought all St Bernards and Rough Collies were just like them.

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No, I try not to let the media control my thoughts on anything, although it's very hard not to get emotive about something I feel strongly about
I've become even more cynical about what the media writes since starting my degree as the articles are often written from that reporter's POV & interpretation of the facts presented is often sloppy

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Maybe "sway" might of been a better word than "control"

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I dont believe anything I read in the newspapers - I dont buy them, might read the occasional oneo f someone elses and always end up thinking what a load of $hite!

I wouldl ike to think I am an individual and am not influenced by the Media at all and am able to find out for myself about things and experience things before making my own mind up. Advertising has no effect on me either, lol!

If I was influenced by the Media re rotts I'd have left home at a young age rather than live with my parents and 3 rotts, lol!

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Fere libenter hormines id quod volunt credunt

Idon't see breed when I see a new dog - I see body language and character - but tthen again I grew up around them and my experiences always seemed to clash with the media

I was born in the mid 80's for me growing up the German Shepherd was 'the big bad' of the late 80's/early 90's - always in the news as being dangerous and eating babies and gnawing the arms off defensless old grannies and so on

however I grew up on air bases and knew various german shepherd military dogs and saw them doing agility, attack training and best of all I got to use them as a pillow on the base airshow day/fireworks day and they made great 'chariot horses' for me and my friends when they weren't working

whenever I hear ''dangerous dog' in the media my brain automatically translates to 'poorly trained and possibly abused dog'

it's kinda like the Universal Translator in Star Trek but it cuts out media guff

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As a kid of course but as an adult, No because I know better

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R.I.P Barney, I had 4 wonderful years with you, Thank you-29/04/06-25/11/09
The dog who saved my life
Proud owner of Maya, the Rescued Alaskan Malamute

http://www.dog-breeds-plus.com
Mine and My husband's Dog breed website

I always wanted a GSD or rough collie due to watching too much Lassie & The Littlest Hobo as a kid

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Well, the only dog my mother was afraid of was the Alsatian as it was known then. But that came from an old idea that they were crossed with wolves, which she firmly believed. But it didn't really influence me, no.

As to the breeds reported in the papers, when I have read about a dog attack, the first thought that springs to mind is: Why? And the answer is usually something to do with the stupid human in charge.

So, no, I never take any notice and I get extremely annoyed with people who do.

We had a rough collie, and he was nothing like Lassie

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Will always miss you, my little Joshie Woshie xx

If you want real love, buy a dog

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When I was younger I grew up watching programmes with a dog called Pippin in them (think his/her decendants are still on TV to this day), and I am sure Pippin is the dog used by Bakers on their products.

I grew up wanting "one of these clever little dogs" that could do tricks etc. Of course I did not realise until I got older that he /she was trained

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In a nutshell no I don't let the media tell me what to think, about anything. They are in business to sell newspapers or get maximum tv viewers etc and make a profit. The only bulldog, akita, dobes and staffies I've met have been splendid. I don't just automatically assume every one will be though.