History Main / DogStereotype

* {{Invoked}} in ''The Doberman Gang'', where a group of gangsters uses trained Dobermans for a bank job ''specifically'' because they're scary. Also played straight, as they ''are'' well disciplined enough to rob a bank under the direction of training whistles.

* Spaniels (especially cavalier spaniels) are soft and pampered, but desperately devoted to their owners--usually both the dog and the owner are female (due to their ears resembling long hair). Expect them to find hidden resources if Mistress is in danger.

* Scruffy terrier breeds such as the Cairn Terrier and West Highland White Terrier (otherwise known as "Westies") are plucky, scrappy little fellows. Thanks to their elegant-looking straight white fur, Westies are also often treated with [[MisterMuffykins similar stereotypes]] as Yorkies and other "posh" dogs.

* Greyhounds are canine speed personified. They are often hyper and usually racers. Alternatively, they're lazy dogs who are only active for short spurts (which has become the main stereotype amongst dog enthusiasts).

* Played with Copper in ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' regarding coonhound stereotypes; although he's a decent dog, he subverts the "lazy and dumb" parts of the generic "scenthound" stereotypes and is often seen as an energetic and loyal companion helping Todd during harsh times, [[AdaptationalNiceGuy unlike his original]] [[AdaptationalHeroism novel portrayal]].

* Greyhounds are always associated with being energetic and excitable but real Greyhounds are the opposite. They're bred for being fast for short spurts. Greyhounds are notorious couch potatoes and it's not uncommon to see Greyhounds who barely even play with their toys.

* The term "dog" is usually used in a negative way in Literature/TheBible. This is probably in reference to the [[ScavengersAreScum feral scavenger dogs]] common in Middle Eastern cities for a long time.

* Anatolian shepherd are hard to keep as pets and are predominantly a working breed. Due to their strong guarding instincts, they're stereotyped as tough and protective dogs.
* Beagles are often portrayed as FriendToAllChildren and are associated with rural kids. Another common portrayal is depicting them as stubborn and independent with a mind of their own, intelligent, playful, affectionate and happy when they want to be, especially when it comes to [[BigEater food]]. ( Snoopy from ''Franchise/{{Peanuts}}'' is a prime example of this).

* Great danes are big and friendly, perhaps boisterously clumsy, and also dumb (the archetypal examples being Franchise/ScoobyDoo and ComicStrip/{{Marmaduke}}). Alternatively, like other Mastiff cousins, the great danes are also often used as basis for {{Hellhound}}s (as shown in multiple adaptations of ''Literature/TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles'').
* Greyhounds are canine speed personified. They are often hyper and usually racers. Alternatively, they're lazy dogs who are only active for short spurts (which has become the main stereotype amongst dog enthusiastics).
* Jack russell terriers, and parson russel terriers, are hyper-active bundles of energy. Otherwise they're much like the beagle. Out of all the terrier breeds, they're portrayed as having the highest prey drive, making them prone to vermin chasing (especially [[DogsHateSquirrels squirrels]]).

* Mastiff-type dogs are usually menacing and ravenous beasts, often taking the role of an AngryGuardDog. If a {{Hellhound}} isn't a doberman, a rottweiler or a bloodhound, it's some type of mastiff. More positive portrayals, like their German cousins great danes, depict them as {{Gentle Giant}}s who [[BewareTheNiceOnes shouldn't be provoked regardless]].
* Pembroke Welsh corgis are often PluckyComicRelief. Sometimes they have English accents and act like English NationalStereotypes due to their association with [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Queen Elizabeth II]]. Due to being very similar, these stereotypes also apply to the Cardigan welsh corgi.
* Poodles are dainty and spoiled, ideal for the RichBitch. They're also almost AlwaysFemale (making them ''literal'' Rich Bitches). Occasionally sports a French accent (playing on the "French poodle" {{National Stereotype|s}}), making them {{French Jerk}}s if they aren't {{Big Friendly Dog}}s. The fact that they were originally bred as hunting dogs is quite unlikely to be discussed. Some, especially miniature or toy poodles, may play against type and be a PsychoPoodle, in which Rich Bitches may use as {{Angry Guard Dog}}s or {{Right Hand Attack Dog}}s.

* Pugs are either TheKlutz or TheLoad, but always the PluckyComicRelief or UglyCute dogs. Although they do look similar to bulldogs, pugs generally are one of the most-affectionate dog breeds both in real-life and fiction, thus avoided the BullyBulldog stereotype by large.

* Saint bernards are lovably stoic heroes who will [[SaintBernardRescue brave the fiercest blizzard to save the day]]. They will often be shown carrying a flask of alcohol around their necks, even though real saint bernards never did this. If not the main characters, saint bernards are often portrayed as {{Gentle Giant}}s.

** As Ellie, she is a search-and-rescue dog and thus fits the "HeroicDog" and "Good with kids" cliches.

* Subverted with ''Literature/ADogsWayHome'' as the narrator is a mastiff or rottweiler mix named Bella who is portrayed as affectionate and friendly to everyone she meets and spends most of the book helping other animals and humans on her journey back home. She's mistaken for a pit bull mix but it's a plot point hat she avoiss the stereotype that pit bulls are dangerous, as in her hometown pit bulls are legally banned. At the end of the book, Bella is free to live in her town with her boy Lucas as people begin to stick up for pit bulls to be allowed in their community once they realize she is truly a good dog who just wants to give comfort like any other dog breed can. She even becomes an Emotional Support dog.

* The FunnyAnimal RoleplayingGame ''TabletopGame/{{Pugmire}}'' wallows in this one, with real-world dog breeds sorted into six categories that serve the same function as the FiveRaces do in ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''.

* Sled dogs like huskies and samoyeds are generally merry energetic fellows, eager to be on the go for whatever reason. Often portrayed as the HuskyRusskie if the national stereotypes are applied. Less positive portrayals of the former depict them as [[BeautyIsBad beautiful yet vain bullies]] or {{Renegade Russian}}s, while the latter are more likely to be portrayed as TheBeautifulElite due to their elegant white coats. The "beautiful-yet-evil" stereotype is often applied to the Alaskan malamute due to its larger and more imposing build.

* Sled dogs like huskies and samoyeds are generally merry energetic fellows, eager to be on the go for whatever reason. Often portrayed as the HuskyRusskie if the national stereotypes are applied. Less positive portrayals of the former depict them as [[BeautyIsBad beautiful yet vain bullies]], while the latter are more likely to be portrayed as TheBeautifulElite due to their elegant white coats. The "beautiful-yet-evil" stereotype is often applied to the Alaskan malamute due to its larger and more imposing build.

* Sled dogs like huskies and samoyeds are generally merry energetic fellows, eager to be on the go for whatever reason. Often portrayed as the HuskyRusskie if the national stereotypes are applied. Less positive portrayals of the former depict them as [[BeautyIsBad beautiful yet vain bullies]], while the latter are more likely to be portrayed as TheBeautifulPeople due to their elegant white coats. The "beautiful-yet-evil" stereotype is often applied to the Alaskan malamute due to its larger and more imposing build.

* Pit bulls (staffordshire bull terriers, American staffordshire terriers, and American pit bull terriers) are often portrayed as invariably savage and ferocious. That stereotype is the very reason they are the biggest targets of breed-specific legislation (BSL) in RealLife. In older works (and even many newer works, due to pit bull activism becoming common in the 2000s) they tend to be portrayed as UglyCute dogs who are good with kids and are often portrayed as patriotic {{Gentle Giant}}s, much like modern American works portray German Shepherds. The Nanny Dog myth has since been abandoned by pro-pitbull organizations since it led to owners taking irresponsible actions with the dog (as no dog, let alone one with a high prey drive, should be left alone with children). Staffordshire bull terriers are sometimes stereotyped as British, especially in older works.

* Played with Copper in ''WesternAnimation/TheFoxAndTheHound'' regarding bloodhound stereotypes; although he's a decent dog, he subverts the "lazy and dumb" parts of the bloodhound stereotypes and is often seen as an energetic and loyal companion helping Todd during harsh times, [[AdaptationalNiceGuy unlike his original]] [[AdaptationalHeroism novel portrayal]].

* Sled dogs like huskies and samoyeds are generally merry energetic fellows, eager to be on the go for whatever reason. Less positive portrayals of the former depict them as [[BeautyIsBad beautiful yet vain bullies]], while the latter are more likely to be portrayed as TheBeautifulPeople due to their elegant white coats. The "beautiful-yet-evil" stereotype is often applied to the Alaskan malamute due to its larger and more imposing build.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenandStimpyShow'': Ren is a Chihuahua and TheNapoleon... with a voice based on Peter Lorre. The ''Adult Party Cartoon'' spinoffs ramps up his AxCrazy tendencies even more.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheRenandStimpyShow'': Ren is a Chihuahua and TheNapoleon... with a voice based on Peter Lorre.

BigFriendlyDog and MisterMuffykins are stereotypes concerning the dog's size. BullyBulldog and PsychoPoodle are subtropes. See also AngryGuardDog, NationalAnimalStereotypes, and DogsAreDumb.

* Wolf-Dog hybrids nowadays fit the NobleWolf stereotype. They're typically outcasts who are feared for their wolf heritage, but by the end of the story they manage to prove themselves as being just as loyal as other dogs. In older stories, they were often SavageWolves due to their dog part being used as a façade, and are generally more villainous than their pure-dog counterparts. Even in modern stories, a wolf-dog is often seen as a RightHandAttackDog if not TheBigBadWolf.

* Chihuahuas are often portrayed as TheNapoleon, a NervousWreck, and/or being AxCrazy. Often portrayed with a Mexican {{National Stereotype|s}} or a {{Mayincatec}} stereotype. If the AngryGuardDog or a RightHandAttackDog isn't a doberman or a German shepherd, it's this. Positive portrayals of Chihuahuas tend to be HotBlooded heroes or PluckyComicRelief. If a chihuahua is a larger "deerhead" (which isn't an official term and isn't to Breed Standard), they're more likely to be portrayed positively.
* Dachshunds are spunky and stubborn, often not caring if whomever they're facing off with is bigger than them. They're typically the PluckyComicRelief due to their elongated bodies giving them a funny appearance. Their AngryGuardDog tendencies in real-life however are often ignored in fiction.

* Wolf-Dog hybrids nowadays fit the NobleWolf stereotype. They're typically outcasts who are feared for their wolf heritage, but by the end of the story they manage to prove themselves as being just as loyal as other dogs. In older stories, they were often SavageWolves due to their dog part being used as a façade, and even in modern stories, a wolf-dog is often a RightHandAttackDog if not TheBigBadWolf.

* Copper in ''Literature/TheFoxAndTheHound'' inverts the bloodhound stereotypes; he's an energetic yet [[OldDog old]] VillainProtagonist [[EvilVersusEvil who is trying to hunt down]] [[CunningLikeAFox Tod]] throughout the story.

* Wolf-Dog hybrids nowadays fit the NobleWolf stereotype. They're typically outcasts who are feared for their wolf heritage, but by the end of the story they manage to prove themselves as being just as loyal as other dogs. In older stories, they were often SavageWolves and even in modern stories, a wolf-dog is often a RightHandAttackDog if not TheBigBadWolf.

** Horribly subverted with Hougen and Genba. They may be Great Danes, but they're very vicious and aggressive Great Danes who have killed and eaten their abusive owner.

* Great danes are big and friendly, perhaps boisterously clumsy, and also dumb (the archetypal examples being Franchise/ScoobyDoo and ComicStrip/{{Marmaduke}}). Alternatively, like other Mastiff cousins, the great danes are also often used as basis for {{Hellhound}}s.

* Great danes are big and friendly, perhaps boisterously clumsy, and also dumb (the archetypal examples being Franchise/ScoobyDoo and ComicStrip/{{Marmaduke}}).

* Mastiff-type dogs are usually menacing and ravenous beasts, often taking the role of an AngryGuardDog. If a {{Hellhound}} isn't a doberman, a rottweiler or a bloodhound, it's some type of mastiff. More positive portrayals depict them as {{Gentle Giant}}s who [[BewareTheNiceOnes shouldn't be provoked regardless]].

* Pugs are either TheKlutz or TheLoad, but always the PluckyComicRelief or UglyCute dogs.