Sorry but i am going to have a moan!!!!

Why is it when people see a gsd they automaticly think either:

1. There dog is about to be eaten

2. They give your dog a reason to go up to them by acting all scared, oooh gsd run away.

3. can they not tell it is an old dog that has nearly lost all her marbles and is as deaf as a post.

so when they say can you come and get your dog which really annoys me, when my dog is just minding her own business, i say to them she is deaf she cannot hear me, she is old and she will not do anything to you or your dog, they look at you if you are stupid and you are one of those dog owners that is irrisponsible that has no control over them, in her case i havent as she just wonders off in her own little world, sinility has set in, why are people like this

same thing happens when i take my staffords out, it drives me mad but thats just there opinion there are also plenty that come over and have a fuss and the owners say i had them as a child its only the wife that made me have this breed

I've got a lot to look forward to then Diane;)

Stacey x x x

Yes, youve got the crossing of the road when people see you coming towards them, im afraid im naughty when they do that because i also cross the road to see what they will do next, i just cant help it ;)

Nice one Diane, must try that sometime, you've forgotten the usual comment when someone does pluck up the courage to make a fuss of them, 'Oh how unusual to meet a friendly one'!! Stacey the biggest advantage to owning a shepherd is that if you go to crowded places the crowds just part and make way for you. Ingrid

My friend with the Rotties said the amount of times she's been up on the field and they've had westies and yorkies hanging off their necks and the owners have had the cheek to say 'Can you tell your dog please' bear in mind that her's are usually on the lead:o

Stacey x x x

I thought I was the only one who followed them across the road to annoy them!!!!!!!!! I have rottis and people run away at the mere sight of them.
For those who say to me about rottweilers eating or attacking their sweet little dog I just say that rottweilers are extremely fussy about what they eat and wouldn't dream of eating their mongrel!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are advantages to owning a rottweiler though: you get the whole field/river etc to YOURSELF. Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!

Oi Nicola, I have mongrels, well crossbreeds really, and Im sure they would taste just as good as a pedigree, lol :)

Hi Phillippa

I shouldn't have used the word mongrels (I have one too) but most of the people do have pedigrees but I find it upsets them even more if you call there pedigree mutt a mongrel!!!

:) Hi nicolla, what a good way to wipe the smile from those uneducated faces!! lol

Another automatic comment as folk reel their dog in, "He was once attacked by a Shepherd".

"Really, I say, can't have been a very nice dog then"

The other day after having taken my Shepherd to the Vets for Innocs., I stopped off to exercise her. She was having a wonderful play with a smaller dog that an 'on coming' couple could quite clearly see. The other dog went off in the opposite direction, and as we began approaching this couple, they made a VERY POINTED display of calling their dog URGENTLY and placing him on the lead, I recipotated, as courtesy, BUT as we went by, I smiled nicely and enquired of them: "Is he not very friendly then"? There faces were a picture!!

Happy Days!
Denise

So the key to walking Kassie is- make sure I've got my witty head on:) That one's great Denise:D :D :D

Stacey x x x

Hi Kash,

I think you need a sense of humour just owning dogs!

Some years ago, one of my friend's gave a home to a very large rescue Great Dane, who was called 'Miss Piggy' (yes, honestly). I said surely you are going to change the name, you will feel a right plonka calling that name across a field. To which she replied, "Denise, when she is hurtling across a field towards someone, they do not care what I call, so long as it stops her"!!!!

Denise

:D :D :D A friend of mine lost a GSD last year at the age of 12 to cancer- he came round at the weekend and obviously mine brings back a lot of memories for him. He started going on about how when he took her out she'd never return to him when called and he used to look as right plonker infront of a particularly nice Golden Ret owner who he had always had his eye on- he carried on and on- we just listened in sympathy then he said he did used to call her 'Rocky' though when up there to keep some street cred- her real name was 'Maureen'- no wonder that was about the only thing that dog didn't listen too;) Best part of it is that he called 'Him Rocky'- for a bitch:)

Stacey x x x

Hi Kash,

Trust a man to be sexist!!! :)

If a dog misbehaves, it's probably best to pretend it's not yours, and that your just looking after it for a friend!!!! ;)

Denise

Im glad i started this, getting some very witty stories coming through, but you do get fed up when people automaticly think your dog is nasty just because it is a certain breed, and i have to say, not getting at any one with small dogs but what they lack in size they make up for in being little s***s and they get away with it because they come across as sweet little doggies.

Well, the only dogs I have ever been bitten by are GSD's, 3 times, 3 different dogs. Each time a severe bite came out of the blue, with absolutely no warning or for any perceivable reason and none of the times did I have a dog with me. Only after the third time this happened did I become very wary of the breed so I dont think I would have given off fear signals and did not use any body language that might trigger this aggressive behaviour. I am now extremely scared off GSD's and I feel I have good reason. I am sure there are many nice natured ones and do not mean to be offensive.

One of the Mums down at school has a rather nasty scar from one on her thigh so she's very scared of them too- she hates them:o I think they were once a dog that was many would class as nasty as they were wanted by your idiots who wanted a 'big hard' looking dog now though I think they've lost that part to akitas rotties etc and are generally quite nice. I've been bit by a horse:o and a black/tan collie that was tied up in the garden on a washing line- got out though!

Stacey x x x

The only dogs i have been bitten badly by are springer spaniels and labradors.

I also have reason to be wary, and don't appreciate the fact that some dog owners think it's cute to get right in someones face with their dog just because the person is trying to avoid them. What purpose does that serve? To further frighten the person into thinking that people who own these types of dogs are deliberatley trying to be intimidating? Think about it. You aren't helping your breed by that behavior.

Diane I am not too impressed with your view of small dogs. I have been following this thread with quite a bit of sympathy for you and your old dog and then you go and say something that is just as prejudiced :( Personally I have not noticed any difference in the ratio of 'nice and nasty' in large or small, dogs is dogs.

The point i was trying to make and as i stated that i was not getting at small dog owners is around where i live they do seem to think that the larger breed of dogs are the menaces and the smaller dogs are not, i know both can be just as bad as one another but i have watched small dogs and they are always the ones that are on there back legs screaming at the larger dogs and then the owners will say your dog has upset mine, but i am not saying everyone who owns a smaller type dog is like this, i own a cocker spaniel as well she is only small, weighing just 9kg, so i have both big and small, but i do not feel the need to go round and protect my cocker just because she is small, and that is what some people do, dont ask me why because these dogs are quite capable of looking after themselves, so trust me i am in no way having a go, its just what i have experianced.
I guessed somebody would take offence to it but honestly nothing was meant by it, just an observation of mine, i love small dogs but callum cant really eat a whole one:D

Forgot to say that the person that was backing off from my old dog today had a scottish terrier!!!!

I don't think it's always breed specific, poeple look nervous/avoid mine, because of his size:D
At the end of our road there is a large open area which we cut across on our way home - he goes off the lead. One day there was a Dad playing football with his young son, he clocked my dog so picked up the football and called his son to stand next to him. I thought why? My dog has no interest in you and if he did would just look at you and would then carry on, but hey he looked uncomfortable so decided to call Dollar back - at which point the man put his hands in his pockets, what did Dollar do??? Trotted over to the man and executed a perfect 'sit' in front of him:D And waited for his treat out of the man's pocket:D Looked most dejected when he didn't get anything!
Anita

I have been reading this thread with some sympathy and a lot of smiles :)

However ..and it IS a big however ....*I* would call my children to me if someone had a dog running around the park where I was playing with my kids. I'm sorry ..but I would. *I* don't know what your dog is like , how much control you have over them and whether or not they are vicious....and I am not prepared to take the risk. I have taught Sophie and Conor to approach new dogs with caution ...to ask the owner if they can pet the dog if it is on a lead and to KEEP AWAY if it isn't

Sorry folks ..but there it is. Hudson has been approached quite aggresively by 3 dogs whilst we have been out walking (he is ALWAYS on a lead - being a Mal he has a tendancy to run after squirrels , cats etc etc) every one of these dogs was a small dog ...the larger dogs will approach more warily and sniff and prance ...I sometimes wonder if small dogs feel they have something to prove? :D

I think when we are out walking our dogs (whatever the breed) we need to realise that there are predjudices and some people are scred of certain breeds and just be a good ambassador for our breed by not shoving our dogs down their throats (so to speak)

My tuppen'orth

Melody

Oh dear, I did say I called him back he was actually about 30 ft away from them sniffing a sniff (as they do) not bouncing around like a lunatic, he'd just done all that on our walk through a field and woods and was on his way home. I fully respected this mans feelings which is why I called him back, when Dollar went to the man he diverted on his way back to me:D I posted from the point of view of embarressment on how your dog can let you down but still behave like a gentleman and execute the perfect sit:D It was a fun anecodotal story, I spoke to the man and asked if his son would like to say hello which he did.
Anita

Anita ..I wasn't replying to you as such :)

Just a note of caution really to all the people in this thread

Sorry ..didnt mean to make you feel bad

:)

Melody- Dogs ? Let you down? Never LOL

It's OK:D I have been visicously (sp??)attacked by a dog myself so I do know where these people are coming from:)
Anita

May I put the other side of the story, I own 4 dogs, 3 of whom have been attacted by GSD's different ones. Now I know that 99% of GSD are smashing dogs but my dogs don't and they react to the sight of a GSD and because of that I avoid all contact with the breed whilst I have the dogs with me. One of mine was also badly bitten by a Belgian SD a red one and we have to avoid them too, just the red ones, fawns are greeted happily. And while I see where you are coming from if I have taken avoiding action, I would take a dim view if you then set out to put yourself and your dogs in my path, as you would be asking for my dogs to show aggression towards your well behaved dogs. Oh, by the way I used to own GSD's and so I'm used to the reaction you are talking of, I used to think people who avoided my dogs were strange, but it was their right to do so. Jackie H

Hi Diane,

Do you find that people automatically assume that your Cocker (Buffy is it?) is friendly and therefore can be approached?

We have terrible trouble with Holly and people, especially children, assuming that she's friendly. For the most part she is but you just can never tell. As soon as I call her back to me people then start to assume she's got that 'Cocker rage that we've heard so much about'.

I just can't win :(

Fiona
x x x

Yes, they always come up to buffy and say how cute she is then callum turns up and they back off, but i tell them he is more frightened of them he usually runs a perimeter around them of about 20 feet and certainly wouldnt let them touch him he just cant be bothered with people, he is not nasty in anyway but that is what he is like, he is nosey likes to see what buffy is getting and then he runs off.

LOL Denise, I have to say that is exactly what i do on occasion!!! ;)

Lindsay

Lots of people are wary and frightened of dogs for whatever reason and their views should be considered.
I've had and have several GSD's and if someone was scared and asked me to put them on leads then I would without grumbling. I don't like other peoples dogs running up to mine and I won't let mine run up to other dogs or people.
I certainly wouldn't dream of crossing the road to deliberately frighten someone. It's no wonder people are campaining and complaining and trying to get dogs leashed and muzzled if that sort of practice is commonplace!! If dogs are going to be forced 'in your face' then I'm not surprised some people want them 'made safe'.
How many of you would like someone running after you with a spider or something else you're not keen on? - I wouldn't be impressed!!

Agree it is IMPORTANT to be aware of other people's feelings....i do feel there is a lot of prejudice out there, no doubt being re-fuelled as we speak because of the recent dog attacks.

When out walking with my 2 big hairy BSD's, many would cross over the road from me, even though they were both under total control and walking nicely by my side.

I did get upset because it would be hard to meet nicer dogs, but then i have walked past dogs at times and been unsure how socialised they are, if they accept other dogs and so on, so I can understand.

Deliberate and blatant "racism" towards my guys I didnt tolerate, but if say, mums were concerned I just popped mine on the lead, smiled and said "They are actually fine, but they are bigger than your children, so it's just so your kids feel safe around big dogs." That seemed to work well and I got several pleasant "thankyous".

LINDSAY

Yes - I nearly always get a smile and thanks! :) The ones who don't just look terrified and frozen to the spot :(!!

I can totally understand the views here. But please please remember that when you see someone crossing the road so as to avoid you it may not always be because they think your breed is dangerous. However taking into account the recent dog attacks and the media making a meal out of anything to do with "dangerous dogs" I can totally understand and appreciate why you would all feel the need to constantly defend your breed. I think is is only natural to be instantly on the defense. :-)

My mam was attacked by a dog as a child and is very frightened of all dogs no matter what breed or size. She is okay with my 2 and my grans dog but if they start making a noise or playing loudly she tenses up. She will often cross the road to avoid confrontation because she thinks that if she show's her fear then it gives the dog something to worry about. I have tried to advise her on what to do in these situations but unfortunately her fear takes over :-( She has done a great job of not passing her fear on to me and I applaud her for that so in my mam's situation the last thing she needs is someone taking the 'P' and crossing over to the same side as her because they think she is prejudiced. She is trying to do what she considers the best option all round. :-)

I have to say yes i did used to do this as i posted above, not all the time just on occasions, i dont do it anymore, and this was going back years, i did it to see if they were crossing the rd because of the dog or weather they were just crossing the rd, if they crossed again then i knew it was because of the dog i didnt used to chase them down the rd with it!!!!!!!!!.
I have had people walk past me clinging to the hedge for dear life and that always got a reaction from my dog, but i would have her on a tight lead so she could not get at the person, if they just walked past normally there would not have been a problem, i have also been to shows and children see your dog and start screaming and clinging to there parents, i can understand that they may be scared but it does put the dogs on edge, it seems that there needs to be some education on both sides, and before anybody jumps down my throat, i am not having ago at parents and there children!!!

LOL at Metpol, the thought of you running down the road chasing the person made me smile ;-)

I understand what you are saying the point I was trying to make (whether you still do it or not) was crossing over the road to see the person's response *in my mam's situation* would be disastrous. My mam knows her fear can upset the dogs hence why she crosses the road or walks in a different direction to avoid it. I feel that I should point this out incase someone else in a similar position as yourself thinks oooh what a good idea lets follow the people who appear frightened of my dog and see what happens. As we know lots of inexperienced folk read this forum and don't necessarily post. I wanted to point out a valid reason why someone would walk the other way when seeing your dog coming, nothing against *your* dog they may do the same with all dogs. :-)

It must be damn frustrating when you have a really friendly dog and the person coming towards you instantly assumes that because of the breed it must be a dangerous dog :rolleyes:

Sometimes you feel like doing that just to say look they are friendly, but i know what you mean, if people are geniuenly frightened then yes it would be a silly thing to do, and i apologise to the few that i did it to, but i cannot understand peoples fear of dogs as i have no fear of them and it would be hard for me to know why they behaved like this ( if you get my meaning ) still if it was the same fear i have with spiders then yes, you would not see me for dust!!!

Me too hate spiders! My ex would spot a wosp miles away and he was off ! So if you see it from that point of view then yes I can understand some being worried about dogs. But not me!!

Julieann

I feel it good manners and a plus for dog owners to show utmost consideration to other pedestrians when walking the dogs, and have rarely had an overtly negative response. I once had an older lady say' why do you have to walk those filthy brutes'. I had just stopped on a pavement tucking the girls in behind me against a garden wall to give her room to pass!

I always walk my dogs the side away from passersby, and if there is little room stop and make room for others to pass. I always give way to mothers woith pushchairs and toddlers, again keeping myself between them and my dogs in case they are worried (and to protect my dogs from little hands). I often get a thank you, or more often people stop to speak to them.

They are a herd of Elkhounds (clean as a whistle I might add, lol).

Well I love gsd and staffordshires will always ask the owner if I can stroke them
but you get some really annoying people [never had a dog probably] hope the old dog is well

Patxx

I love staff's GSD my best friend has rescued GS called Harry he is nine years old and is so lovely but still has his ghosts from the terrible abuse he took as a pup again a man thing got him for one thing to make him aggressive my friend has done a great job with him over the years and Harry is lovely.

When out on our walks there are two lady's who walk six GSD and a few of them are only pup's the most friendly dogs I have ever meet, the love people other dogs they all run off in the woods like hooligans including our Molly BC and the only one I have to worry about is mine! She is a little sod at times with her nipping I know its a BC thing and the shepherds pay no attention to her. In fact I love bumping into them. And you can see people looking over or walking the other way.

Molly is the opersite she is medum for a BC and looks very friendly but she is not she hates people and I am constantly saying please don't touch her she is not friendly feel like walking around with a sign on my back! (nothing I have done mind you she was resuced as some of you no and what my poor lass went through was terrible.)

I have never and would never walk across a road to miss on coming dogs on their walks. I love all dogs! Though this weekend we are picking up my mum in laws dog Skip who is a tiny yorkie! Out of all the dogs to pick a fight and win is her!!

Julieann

My GSD's aggression problems were caused by 3 attacks by black labs and one by a black and tan terrier type dog, the only explanation I was offered by the lab owners was that their dogs hated GSDs, ok so why did they let them come up to mine, the terrier well that was my fault according to the owner as my dog was on a lead. We are 99% over the problem now, I do walk him loose and don't put him on the lead if I see another dog as I find this upsets him, just call him to heel and he ignores all. I do wonder how many of the problems we have today are caused by people grabbing their dogs as soon as they see something aporaching, it immediately gives the dog the impression something is wrong. My other 2 are lovely sociable dogs and love nothing better then to run and play with other dogs, they are well known in the area and we rarely have a problem, the GSD still has a bit of reputation to live down, but once people have met me they realise there is no danger, he is well trained and will stay away from others when I tell him. Ingrid

It is very interesting how we all think we should train and take care of our dogs? When out and about with Molly the hooligan she is aloud to rome around and play with other dogs I don't let her run up to dogs and pester only if the other dog and owner are OK about the dogs playing which most do round my way. If I see an owner looking worried because Molly is off her lead I will tell her to either wait or down and she sits at my feet until the other person and dog has gone past then she is off again.

Julieann