Unfortunately....as others have said....media trope isn't friendly to the breed ( and often...not the owners). We had a great experience this morning with someone who was afraid of the breed...left our yard wanting one of her own ( her husband knows the breed..has has three over his life time).
I don't want anyone terrified of my guys....I do want them to respect what my guys are....my companions and if ever need be...my protectors. I travel alone a lot...and my husband travels for work...which leaves me alone for days at a time....my guys are another line of protection....but they aren't "attack dogs" and I don't want anyone thinking that and do my best to stress that anytime any reacts with honest to gosh fear.
And I'm not always Mrs. Jolly Sunshine with people about reaction to my guys.
If we are out walking my head is on a swivel and I talk to people we are coming up behind.....to let them know we are coming thru...to not be afraid...but I understand telling them that..and having that not happen...ain't realistic..LOL.
I try really hard to let anyone who is going to be "in our space" know my guys will stay calm...as long as they stay calm. We had an issue a while back with a young man who lived down the street from us...who is Autistic. He would wander out of his yard sometimes and end up in my yard...wanting to play with the guys. The first time he was on his way in the gate when I spotted him....and got out to the gate before he was inside....both boys were on the deck and at alert.....low throat growls. I walked him back him...found an adult to explain what had just happened.....they more or less blew me off and told me if my dogs attacked the kid...there would be hell to pay. I explained they were not attack dogs..and as long as he didn't try to come into the yard.....there wouldn't be a problem...and got again the "if they attack the kid" shitty attitude..ignoring the fact I was TELLING them to make sure the kid didn't come into my yard....I gave up...waled away, went home...and put a pad lock on my gate.
Better safe than sorry.
From that point on...at least once a week...the guy ( he wasn't a kid...he was in his mid 20s) was at the gate..trying to figure out how to get into the yard. We'd had a few go rounds with animal control over the boys....nothing bad..just reports on vicious dogs at our place ( Bam kept getting reported as a pit mix...lawdy)....that was resolved...but I have no doubt it was this kid's family doing some of the calling and reporting.
I was out in my driveway one day with my next door neighbor and someone stopped to look into the yard to see the boys....he asked if they were mean...and before I could say anything my neighbor said
"Not unless you try to hurt her...or get into the yard."
And I thought
"HOT DAMN..she gets it!!"