We used to have people walk on the road rather than past my house because we had 2 rottweilers. Those 2 beasts were the friendliest boys on the block. We had a fence that was well over 6ft but our boys had the run of the front and back yard. One day we even had the council come past to discuss my 'viscious dogs'. She took one look at our house and the dogs and said she didn't know what the person who complained was talking about. She said our dogs were lovely and very well behaved and not in the least viscious.
It really is amazing how people freak out over Big Black Dogs....personally I am the total opposite, i wouldn't trust one of those ankle bitter type rat dogs as far as i could...well as far as i could throw a kong
People think that because those dogs are small they dont need to be taught manners and dont even bother training them. They are just another accessory that Hollywood made fashionable.