I don't think any breed should be classified as "gentle".
Gentleness comes from a learned surrounding imo.
If a dog isn't raised in an evironment that constitutes "gentleness" usually it is not going to BE gentle (not always, some dogs are just born with excellent genes or a disposition that can tolerate anything that is thrown at it, but imo this is the excetion dog, in most cases), and sometimes even if they are raised in a gentle environment genetics can fall into place and the dog can still not be "gentle".
I don't think it's fair to condem a dog (breed) to such a standardized term .. one that is geared towards setting them up (as a whole and as an individual) for complete and utter failure.
It is simply put, a stereo-type .. and stereo-types are like assumptions; they can get you (and others) into trouble REALLY quickly.
Gentleness comes from a learned surrounding imo.
If a dog isn't raised in an evironment that constitutes "gentleness" usually it is not going to BE gentle (not always, some dogs are just born with excellent genes or a disposition that can tolerate anything that is thrown at it, but imo this is the excetion dog, in most cases), and sometimes even if they are raised in a gentle environment genetics can fall into place and the dog can still not be "gentle".
I don't think it's fair to condem a dog (breed) to such a standardized term .. one that is geared towards setting them up (as a whole and as an individual) for complete and utter failure.
It is simply put, a stereo-type .. and stereo-types are like assumptions; they can get you (and others) into trouble REALLY quickly.
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