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| - Often, animation writers use a dog's breed to determine its personality by making it a kind of voiced ethnic stereotype, especially if the name of the breed has a country in it. This has little to do with how the breed really acts, as anyone who has dogs will attest.
* Mongrels are often street-smart and heroic.
* Poodles are dainty and spoiled, ideal for the Rich Bitch. And almost Always Female. Occasionally sports a French accent (playing on the "French Poodle" National Stereotypes).
* Bulldogs often have English accents (playing on the "British bulldog" National Stereotypes) or are big and dumb. The big part may be due to confusion with two bigger breeds - the boxer and the English mastiff - since English bulldogs are, for the most part, relatively small.
* Great Danes are big and friendly, perhaps boisterously clumsy, and also dumb (the archetypal example being Scooby Doo.)
* Dobermans are often fiercely disciplined soldiers when they aren't Angry Guard Dogs.
* Old English Sheepdogs are lovable goofs who are half blind with their fur covering their eyes.
* Pitbulls (Staffordshire bull terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, and American pit bull terriers) are portrayed as invariably savage and aggressive. That stereotype is the very reason they are (sadly) the biggest targets of breed-specific legislation (BSL).
* Rottweilers are portrayed as being somewhat friendlier than pitbulls, but are dangerous if provoked.
* Saint Bernards are lovably stoic heroes who will brave the fiercest blizzard to save the day. A brandy barrel attached to their collar is optional.
* Very small dogs, especially Chihuahuas and Pomeranians, have a reputation for taking on more than they can handle and/or being overly spoiled (similar to the poodle).
* Chihuahuas are often portrayed as The Napoleon, Plucky Comic Relief, and/or being overly spoiled. Often portrayed with a Mexican National Stereotypes.
* Thin, graceful dogs with flowing, feathery features such as the Saluki or Afghan Hound are invariably portrayed as females, possibly portrayed as The Chick. Stockier dogs with long fur (like the shih tzu) will also get this treatment.
* Sled dogs like Huskies and Samoyeds are generally merry energetic fellows, eager to be on the go for whatever reason.
* Golden Retrievers and Laborador Retrivers are Fun Personified.
* German Shepherds are often portrayed as either The Ace or The Hero. Sometimes they are Angry Guard Dogs in works where they are not a main character or not even much of a character at all.
* Collies are often portrayed as The Ace.
* Scenthounds, especially bloodhounds and Basset Hounds, are often portrayed as low-energy and laconic.
* Beagles are often portrayed as Friend to All Children.
* Scottish Terriers are often portrayed as speaking with a Scottish accent.
* Cairn terriers, West Highland White terriers (Westies), and similar are plucky, scrappy little fellows.
* If an unusual breed (in the public's eye) is featured, this usually means one of the writers specifically had such a dog, and it might be specifically mentioned. (This is rarely done with cats since breed variations aren't always as striking and well known compared to dogs. However, it's interesting to note that while cats are often strongly identified with femininity and grace, many cats in comic strips and cartoons are male and vaguely clownish. Also, while Cats Are Mean has exceptions, none of these exceptions seem to be Siamese, who are portrayed as mean even by cat standards.) See also Angry Guard Dog, Big Friendly Dog, Dogs Are Dumb. Examples of Dog Stereotype include:
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