by Sarah Lewis

Created on: October 26, 2009   Last Updated: October 27, 2009

It's ingrained in our subconscious to protect ourselves against anything we deem dangerous. It makes sense, and for many people, dogs are something we must protect ourselves and our children from. So understandably, when one thinks of dangerous dogs, they begin to imagine specific breeds - Rottweilers, Pit-Bulls, etc. But are these breeds really dangerous because society tells us so? No. They are not.

Dogs are raised to be dangerous or they are raised to be the loveable pets we hold to such high standards in our homes - The pets we rush to the vet, the pets we smother with affection and spoil absolutely rotten with treats and scraps from the table. Breeds like Rottweilers and Pit-Bulls are no different.

It would be wrong to state that there have been no vicious Rottweilers or that there have been no purely mean Pit-Bulls, but that is simply due to the way their owners raised them. My family and I have been the proud owners of a purebred Rottweiler for the past five years. He is the most docile, gentile, if not quirky and personable animal I have ever known. He cries when he gets lonely, he listens intently when we speak to him, he watches television with us and we love him as dearly as if he were any other member of the family.

But when we first introduce him to new people, many immediately see a terrifying beast of an animal. He appears at first glance to be an aggressive animal - but only because of the picture our culture has painted for him. There is nothing even slightly aggressive or mean about my dog. He was raised to be the sweet, lovable thing he is today, and he is that type of animal, in every way possible.

Many people don't realize that Golden Retrievers, Labradors and other stereotypically friendly dogs are just as capable of being vicious as Rottweilers. If they are neglected and beaten, they are at just as high a risk to attack as a beaten and neglected Rottweiler.

Rottweilers and Pitt-Bulls get a bad rap because of the way they look and the way popular culture has portrayed them. A Rottweiler was the devil-dog in The Omen and they attacked Batman in The Dark Knight, but they are not bad dogs and we certainly should not prevent people from owning them. There is no reason a capable and loving family should not be allowed to adopt a Rottweiler into their family. They are fiercely loyal animals, not simply fierce, and are no better or worse companions than your run-of-the-mill Golden Retriever.

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