Good ol' "canine racism."

Breedism:

"Breedism is analogous to racism," Bernard E. Rollin writes, "in that all dogs of a certain breed are tarred with the same brush, as "killers." Just as racists see all members of a given race as instantiating the same negative traits, breedism sees all dogs of a given breed as identically a menace to society, despite the fact that animal behaviorists know full well that a given dog may differ markedly from a given stereotype."

This "canine racism" is illustrated in the following conversation I had recently with an individual in the management office of an apartment building. (Yes, this is truly an accurate reflection of the conversation. I couldn't help myself, and although I don't have a dog currently, I pretended for effect.)

Alex: "Do you allow dogs in your apartment building?"

Breedist: "It depends on the dog."

Alex: "How so?"

Breedist: "It can't be one of those aggressive, vicious types. What kind is it?"

Alex: "Well he is a mutt. I don't believe he has any Chihuahua in him. The meanest dogs I've

         known are Chihuahua's."

Breedist: "Well, I don't mean like small dogs; I mean the vicious kind."

Alex: "Right, you already said that. And as I said, he certainly doesn't have any Chihuahua in

         him - most Chihuahua's I know have a touch of "little-man" complex, and can be quite

         defensive. Just look at the "Dog Whisperer," right; lot's of people fear them. I do know

         two very friendly Chihuahua's, however. Perhaps I am misunderstanding your question?

         Have you already decided what make's for a vicious dog?"

Breedist: "Well, I'm talking about certain breeds that make people feel uncomfortable."

Alex: "Oh, I understand. You mean like Pit Bulls and Dobermans. You've had a lot of

         experience with aggressive Dobermans in the building have you? Been mauled yourself,

         I'm assuming? I mean how else could you damn the whole group?"

Breedist: "No, I've never been attacked."

Alex: "But surely someone's been bitten or something in the building, or else why couldn't I

         be a tenant living with a Pit Bull whom I love? Quite irrational if you think about it."

Breedist: "There's just a negative impression out there about certain breeds, and...the policy

              of the building reflects it. We just don't want any attacks..."

Alex: "A preconceived 'negative impression' about an entire group? I think that's called a

        prejudice. Well, nothing to fear, he is certainly not one of those aggressive, vicious

        types. Although perhaps you should re-think your policy about Chihuahuas. There's just

        something about them as a group that I don't like."

According to Rollin, this "social stupidity" is derived from our failure to understand each individual animal, which necessarily results in our inability to stimulate them effectively or provide outlets for their natural propensities, to institute certain limits to their conduct, to structure their activity, etc.

We must better understand our dogs as individuals and respect this individuality. Indeed, there may be natural proclivities (instinct to protect his/her person, for example); however, our failures become "manifest," as Rollin so succinctly states it, when we make baseless assumptions about breeds - when we collapse all dogs into groups and thereby negate individual differences.

Our actions magnify instinct, which in turn can develop into problems. (The same is true of humans; let's never forget that.) Punish the human, maybe the deed, but not the breed.  

If you think about it, it's no different then saying "All blacks, by their nature, commit crime; therefore I don't want them in the building." I use to say ridiculous things about Pit Bulls, half in jest but with a lot of sincerity also. I was wrong, and so is our society.  

Simone De Beauvoir wrote, "One is not born, but becomes a woman." Cultures have elaborated on biological differences to reinforce patriarchy, therefore feminist thinkers, such as de Beauvoir, question assumptions about "natural femininity." We must do likewise to counter these preconceptions about certain breeds. Presuming knowledge without sufficient evidence, experience or reason leads to erroneous conclusions. It's illogical and just wrong.   

One is not born, but becomes an aggressive, vicious dog. As de Beauvoir argued, biology isn't destiny.

Will be crossposted @ Vegan Soapbox