Good Ol’ “Canine Racism”
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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 than 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.
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Crossposted @ That Vegan Girl
The photo above is a picture of Citrus, a pit bull in a Las Vegas animal shelter. As of August 3, 2008, she is available for adoption. Go to petfinder to read her bio and learn more.
LOVE this article!!! I love the final quote too (I couldn’t have finished this article any better!) Your intelligent article is well written and well thought out. Thank you, Alex! For bringing attention to the topic and absurdities of breedism. If only others thought the way you do, Alex, the world would be a much better place to live in. (Btw, did you ever read the e-book, “The Pit Bull Placebo.” You can read it for free on the following website: http://nationalcanineresearchcouncil.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/pit-bull-placebo-text1.pdf)
Any breed or type of dog can be dangerous; it all depends on the owner. Ownership factors contribute most significantly to serious and fatal dog attacks. Serious and fatal attacks by contained, socialized, trained, responsibly-managed pet dogs—no matter the breed—are exceedingly rare.
If the American Pit Bull Terrier and other breeds are singled out as “Dangerous Dogs” without rhyme or reason, there would be an exodus of responsible tax paying citizens into other places where this inhuman legislation, know as breed specific legislation, does not thrive. For others that simply could not afford it, it would result in a massive massacre of Man’s Best Friend and our beloved family members, by our government, with our tax dollars. Rests assure that this is all this piece of worthless legislation or BSL would accomplish. Breed Specific Legislation does not protect the general public and it is only discriminative legislation at best. It is racial profiling, stereotyping and discrimination, canine style. It has never been proven to reduce dog bites and has no concrete documentation of its effectiveness, on the contrary. Every reputable animal organization is against it and is fighting to extinguish it.
Therefore, we recognize that we must work to strike a balance but this must be done thru a Dangerous Dog Ordinance that every county has implemented. It should not single out any breed of dog, fair to all and applied as such. We should go after the irresponsible owners, the dog fighters and the animal abusers.