Standard Poodles Agressive???

[Leslie J]

I was so surprised when I read this article in the New York Post.  It was claiming that there were a record number of dog bites in New York this year, and that tiny dogs were a big part of it.  Not surprising, Pit Bulls and Rottweilers were the top biters.  Next were the "tiny dogs", Chihuahuas and Shi Tzus (also not a surprise)... with number five being Standard Poodles!  I've never thought of Standard Poodles as biters...

 

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/li_yippers_big_nippers_EsuEAx5j7...

 

Does this make sense to anyone?

[F, Calla & Luca]

In a case of one, my son's standard poodle who eventually lived with me, was the sweetest, gentlest least aggressive dog on the face of the earth. I don't think of standard poodles as an aggressive breed.

[Adina P]

I'm sure a representative of every breed out there has bitten before.  But I wouldn't consider Standard Poodles as generally aggressive.  I mean they are all dogs with the ability to clamp their teeth down on someone when they are not happy with something.  But it is lists like these that are used by people who like to ban breeds.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

This was on Regis and Kelly too and when Kelly read it she said they called Poodles dumb.

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

i have had a few bites from one particularly nasty mini poodle, but have never seen any kind of aggression from a standard poodle or standard poodle mix.....

 

I dont believe there are any inherently nasty dogs (including pitbulls and rottweilers)..... just bad owners who treat their dogs poorly, making them nasty

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

O.K. I guess its my turn to jump in here.  I have had standard poodles almost all of my life and none of them have exhibited any aggesssive tendencies.  They are super intelligent and very gentle dogs. Funny, it almost hurts my feelings that people would ever be afraid of them!    ( I know, any dog can bite!)    

[Carol Brand]

They are talking about dogs in the city.  I'm guessing that there are a higher percentage of Standards in NYC.  Standard Poodles are very protective dogs.  I call them Dobermans in drag.  They will use force if necessary to protect house and home.   There are also Standards out there that have very poor temperaments and who are sharp shy.  These are dogs that are fear biters.  A well bred Standard should never be fearful.  It should be confident and act like it owns the world.

Example?  I was at the big Denver dog show yesterday doing a Meet the Breed session.  Someone asked if Poodles were nervous.  I said no and I took off my boot and threw it at the wall behind the table where my dogs were sitting (I had nothing else with me that would make any noise).  Not only did the girls not startle, Delilah gave me a look that said, "Well finally, I never thought those boots went with that skirt."

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Love this story!

[Leslie J]

Good point!

[Melissa & Porter]

I told my husband about this funny "Dobermans in drag" statement and he said, "Oh, yeah, Stanley [his standard poodle from childhood] pranced around like you wouldn't believe but he took down our neighborhood's running-wild Doberman."  (I asked what he meant by "take down" and it was not violent.  Apparently the dog came barking and growling onto their property, and Stanley got in his face and the Doberman was completely cowed.)

[Leslie J]

Go Poodle Power!

[Leslie J]

Thanks for the feedback... I developed internet problems shortly after I posted this and couldn't respond further.  I've also found standard poodles to be one of the the sweetest, smartest & funniest breeds!

[Michael Gurley]

I read a story that listed dachshunds as the 5th most common dog in children's dog bites. I have a standard dachshund, and right after I read the story, I looked at her while she was under her blanket in her bed with her head poked out, and she just yawned really wide, showing off her big, pointy white teeth.