I know this has been touched upon on numerous occasions and it never ceases to amaze or bl**dy annoy the hell out of me GRRRRRRRRRRRR
had to take Fudge to vets and we took Bo (you might no she gets nervy at the vets so we took her just for the trip) we was walking Bo to knacker her out abit before going in, stopped back off at the car to grab Fudge's notes and made our way towards the vets, its on a busy road, Bo is very calm now were a good 15m/49ft away from the vets, when this idiot women (who is approaching us but still a good distance away) with her two kids one walking one in a pushchair decides that Bo is going to eat her kids, starts "oh my goding" nearly hysterical so i said in a loud voice "leave off stupid women" i can't quite remember what else i said it wasn't rude but kinda of fed up with that idiotic attitude, Bo didnt bat an eyelid at any of them. We trotted into the vets where may i add she behaved impeccably! Yeah :-) A good end to a rather annoying begining. I get so sick of these comments in gets right on my nerves, ok rant over !!!! :-(

Bo is the Rottie isn't she?  I do occasionally get this with my Rottie's...mainly the male as he is bigger and docked, the bitch is 12 mths so has a tail and you wouldn't believe how much the publics perception of the dog changes because of this!

On the other hand I do notice how many people make a point of talking to the Rott's out on a walk and saying 'I know they are so soppy, its just the bad press and wrong owners' so in a way that can be good aswell.

I'm glad your visit to the vets went well...thats a good thing!

I think its shows the difference between someone who thinks for themselves and the general sheep population when it comes to this.

I know EXACTLY how you feel as we have 2 staffords, a male and female, and we get people cross the road to get away from them!
Turbo isnt even 8 months yet (8 months on 1st Nov) and people still look at him like he is the devil reincarnate and quickly change their dogs/childrens path!!
Mitzy is 3 yrs and has the kindest face but to some people its a killa face which means she will eat all in her path!

I have been attacked badly by a Springer (My Aunties) But I dont go screaming into the distance when I see one LOL

But like Staff said, when we on walks over the field or woods we rarely get this and people cant wait to say hello to his cheeky lil face or Mitzys forever wagging tail :)

I dont blame you for shouting at the woman at all, Ive had to tell some people as well, when will people learn its DEED NOT BREED!!!!! :)

i have a stafford and a couple of yrs ago now- iam stood outside the school gate saffy was on her  lead etc and this women came out and i got omg quick children theres one of those nasty dogs i turned round to her and said i have 4 children am i going to have a nasty dog around them and then added you are very welcome to spend an afternoon in my house with my girl and then tell  me she is still nasty. enough said!!!!!

I know how annoying it is - I have an 8 month old Bullmastiff (very friendly - slightly bouncy) and people 'freak' out when they see her sometimes, but I think it makes her more excited when they behave that way and she thinks it is a game or something.  She thinks everybody loves her and therfore should stroke and play with her.....

Also, what was the lady you saw teaching her children about dogs? Even if she was terrified she should have kept calm in front of her children??

Glad you got on ok at the vets.

I spend lots of my time curing people of their dog phobias, a lot of people make really scary pictures in their mind when they see a dog that's why they react so madly when they see a dog, don't take it personally because they are probably like it with all dogs.
when I was really small my aunt was so afraid of dogs that if she saw one when we were out she would push her children in front of her and scream lol

She managed to instal her phobia of dogs into all four of her children, :| grim

See what you mean.

I guess it could be like me seeing a giant spider being walked down the road!!  LOL!

> I guess it could be like me seeing a giant spider being walked down the road!!  LOL!

Or me stumbling on the live action version of Chuckie!

Or me stumbling on the live action version of Chuckie! 

yup lol

I have seen the opposite with my dog - everyone still thinks she is a puppy although she is 3 years old.  I have had mothers and children dive in to pat her uninvited.  They don't realise that it alarms her.  

A friend of mine gets it all the time with her very well behaved GSD. Its crazy how most of the time people hear something in the media and tar that breed with the same brush.

I've had a few people walk across the road because my Bernese is a big boy, which if your scared of dogs thats fine.

Though my Bernese as with most other Bernese they attract attention and kids especially just want to touch the soft long coat. I have to stop them in their tracks as kids running in and grabbing is not good, especially without asking.
I try and teach them dog manners if they will listen and the parents too if they are around.

> Bo is the Rottie isn't she?

Yes Bo is the big bad Rotti who is scared of baby gates (the noise) will not pass a door if you put a broom across it lol brave girl!

> I'm glad your visit to the vets went well...thats a good thing!

We was thrilled took lots of advice from everyone that posted about my thread "behaviour at the vets" and we had a super outcome so thankyou everyone with your advice, lots of praise lots of treats and rewards when she behaved, even when two little dogs yapped at her she was cool calm and collected :-)

Diane

> and we get people cross the road to get away from them!

I'd be far more happy if they did this if your afraid moved away silently i no it may be easy for me to say but when i feel at threat (group of teens group of men etc) i would cross the road, sometimes just making the weird screeches and shrieks the omg its gonna eat me, us etc scares the poop out of Bo, then she gets all skitish, but a nice treat normally distracts her quite quickly. :-)

> Mitzy is 3 yrs and has the kindest face but to some people its a killa face which means she will eat all in her path!

We had Fudge with us too the puppy in OH arms i know for sure Bo would prefer to eat him he is filled with her FAVOURITE PUPPY FOOD LOL! :-)

Diane

> I've had a few people walk across the road because my Bernese is a big boy, which if your scared of dogs thats fine.

This suits me and my Dobe too, she's not a very confident dog and am sure would feel uncomfortable with someone cringing away from her.

i know how you feel as when i walk my akita i walk her on a halti so people think its a muzzle so see big dog which looks like a muzzle and think she is going to attack them i get so angry as she is so well behaved and is the gentles  dog ever

She thinks everybody loves her and therfore should stroke and play with her.....

Thats what our 2 think as well lol
And rightly so as their soooo cute and lovely :)

Thanks to Disney, my breed is very popular with screaming/running/hand waiving kids! :)
I have had kids running at me shouting "its a Dalmatian" like I don't already know! LOL
I have shouted back, "stop running and shouting, then I'll let you stroke him/her" Luckily my two spotties love kids but not all do.

I have to admit that sometimes I am a little cautious around Staffies (please don't take offence) not because of the breed, but because they are the breed in favour with the groups of hoody wearing boys that live in my area.
They are nearly always off lead, and I am almost certain that they haven't had the time spent socialising/training etc. They keep them as some sort of status symbol which is really sad. :( If they are with an adult I'm not worried and the one living in our close is a sweetie!

IMO any dog could be dangerous, in the wrong hands. One of the most aggressive dogs I ever come across was a Yorkie :) (mother-in-laws) She spoilt it so much that it was quite nasty, if it had been a large breed she would have been made to PTS as it bit at least 4 people.
Paula

    

Funny how much of a difference a halti makes- I have a Weim girl, just turned 6 months. I have never had anyone shy away from her (flappy ears, big blue eyes) until today when I had her halti on so she can learn to heel like a lady- not drag me around the park like a hooligan! Practically every person within a few metres of her took a backstep- 'mummy, why does that doggie have that on his head? Answer- It's because he bites, so don't you go any closer!' What a joke!! I think Storm was a bit put out by it as she is so used to endless praise on her walkies! I can't imagine what it is like to own a so-called 'scary' dog- I feel for you all.

People back away or cross the street when they see my Ridgeback girl.  She is a big lass with a huge chest and a broad face (hmmmm, perhaps there is something in the 'dogs look like their owners' thing!) and although I think she is gorgeous she does scare people.  My Staffy people tend to be ok with as she always has her big stupid grin on her face and her tail wagging ten to the dozen.

I too find that as soon as we put halti's on our Weimaraners people thought they were muzzles and would sidle past the dogs or cross the street.  The Ridgeback, Staffy and Standard Poodle don't have halti's as they don't pull, goodness knows what people would think if the Ridgeback had a halti on too!

I just ignore people and their narrow, biggoted opinions now.  It used to get to me but I and my friends, family and neighbours know how daft my dogs are and thats all that matters to me.  Although I did have a major slanging match with a man who tried to hit Lola (Ridgeback) with a stick when she strolled past him and his dog, totally ignoring both of them.  He said she had tried to attack him and his dog, and although I was a distance away I wasn't that far away and neither am I blind nor deaf.  Some people are just stupid.

> Answer- It's because he bites, so don't you go any closer!' What a joke!!

No it is because the dog is blind  !!!! I did not even attempt to suppress my laughter

> Funny how much of a difference a halti makes-

I've noticed that too. Oscar wears a halti or he chokes himself on his collar and people think he's wearing a muzzle.

I don't really blame people for moving away from dogs. I blame the irresponsible owners who seem to have no control over their dogs and let them behave inappropriately - and unfortunately that has an effect on the rest of us. I cannot believe how many times people have allowed their dogs to jump up at my friends pram when we've been walking our dogs at our local country park. One greyhound even had his nose up to the baby's face! And the owner did nothing! I'm sure he was a lovely dog but it's not acceptable to let your dog do that. I've been cornered by a collie over the woods and again the owner did nothing, even though I was with my small 6yr old. There are countless more incidents involving dogs and their untrained owners. It's no wonder people are cautious.

I saw something very strange today that i would never of expected.
A couple of females walking their spaniels across the downs. I am one side and they are on the other. Their dogs off the lead, but not causing any problems to my dog.

I then see a family a little way back from the spaniels and they have young kids. The spaniels go running over to say hello. The owners call their dogs back and say something like " THEY DON'T WANT TO PLAY, COME ON NOW ". I speak to my dog like this, basically saying its not play time. This comment was not directed at this family in any way. The spaniels listened and went on with the owners.

I then got level with this family and the mother was moaning that dog walkers were the most awful people and that the dogs could play if they wanted. I had a raging day at work and was in a very fiesty mood as it was trying to stick up for dogs all day and then i hear this. I decided to keep my mouth shut as she was with young children.

Some People....

You can't win can you, people moan dogs being off leads going up to kids and then when they do and are called back and they listen these people then moan again..
Well not all people but the people we are moaning about here.
Think it would be a very different story if this had been 3 large well behaved dogs of a certain breed.

> You can't win can you

So true! The people with the spaniels obviously did the right thing as they didn't know the family. It's a shame the woman took it so personally. I'm happy for my children to greet other peoples dogs but only if they've been invited to or if they've asked. Like you say, if they'd been a different breed they might have got a different reaction, which is another example of irresponsible owners spoiling things for the rest of us.

This may make you smile.

At the vets the other day with Poppy, she was being quiet with her little head resting on my lap, and the woman opposite said 'Hope you don't mind me saying but your dogs got an evil face'.

Now lets all try and guess what breed she is.

No all wrong she's a tibetan terrier, not known for their taste in human flesh but Hey - I could have missed something.

So what should I have said to that LOL

You could have retored with "You're no oil painting either!" ;-)

but LOL!  Poor Poppy!  Don't pay any attention to the evil lady Poppy, she's just jealous that her facial hair isn't as silky as yours.

> 'Hope you don't mind me saying but your dogs got an evil face'.
>

How rude!

> So what should I have said to that LOL

In your sweetest voice: "Oh really? I think maybe it's your breath making her pull that face."

I probably would have just sat there in shocked silence and thought of 101 things to say after she had left :-D

'Hope you don't mind me saying but your dogs got an evil face'.

OMG, I can't quite believe somebody would say something like that in that situation or any situation :-D I think I'd have said dead pan, 'oh you should see her when her head starts spinning and her eyes go black' In all honesty I think I'd have sat in stunned silence :-D Poor Poppy, sounds like she was being utterly angelic looking! People are funny.

> "You're no oil painting either!"

THAT IS BRILLIANT !

I couldn't say anything I was gobsmaked :D

> 'Hope you don't mind me saying but your dogs got an evil face'

My reply would of been "ah well at least she only looks evil you on the other hand......"

LOL

That is just nasty!!
Rightly or wrongly most of us think of our dogs as like our children, imagine just going up to someone and saying you think their baby is UGLY!!!
some people have no "people skills" and should just keep their opinions to themselves.
She is obviously EVIL on the inside!!
Paula

> with her little head resting on my lap, and the woman opposite said 'Hope you don't mind me saying but your dogs got an evil face'.
>

Do you think she might have been meaning her face had got a bit twisted on your lap or something?  It seems astonishing that someone of sound mind would say something like that and mean it quite literally.

I know how you feel- the other day took my EBT to the vet and in came a man with 2 dogs- one very excited young staff x and a black collie x. I was sat there with snoop and he went nose to nose with the youngster and all tails wagging all good. My snoop is now 9 years old has chilled out loads from his younger days, and is brilliant at being friendly with all dogs at the vets, but I still don't trust his reaction if a dog started at him. Then this man let his black collie come up to snoop and it started growling, so i pulled my dog back obviously- rather than the man do that he instead let go of this dogs lead !! I was like don't let go off it ! he just laughed I went- oui to his dog who was right in my dogs face and it backed away thank god. I could not believe this stupid man. After he goes to his dog- that dogs head is bigger than yours he will eat you. stupid prat I thought...

Don't think so Isabel,  Poppy's little black nose was looking directly at me most of the rest of her face is hair can just see her dark eyes.  I bet she felt really stupid after she said it but it was just surreal.

At least you actually HAVE a dalmation. I get exactly the same comments walking my quite flashy marked GSP. The kids are really gutted when i tell them its a pointer.

I have one of those too.......  he is my baby.

GRR people

I got home yesterday evening ,extremely stressed as they had moved mum to another hospital she thinks it is one step nearer her grave! Also a rotten day at work, to my neighbour knocking to inform me dogs had been barking a lot. By dinner (? how common) I had to go out.
"I knocked 4 or 5 times and peered through the window to see if everything was ok" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They barked I wonder why?? But had to play the game thanks everso etc etc.
Then this morning 7.00 in the woods, nice and quiet lovely time for walking ,we meet a woman whose dog is "unreliable" around other dogs. Off lead she did not appear to even be carrying one.To distract her dog she started jumping up and down shrieking "woa woa " and throwing a tennis ball in the air. Play time thinks my boys. So she SHRIEKS "put your dogs on a lead, on a lead,  NOW" my boys had of course immediatley returned to me on command, ( they do most of the time), and are sitting in front of me at this stage.
While walking at that time of day is wonderful any human contact may not!!
So I could not help myself..
I suggested that  her dogs problem may be solved by the use of a lead and calm handling. Nose in air and walk on

Good for you Bilbo :-D

I came met a woman in the woods with 2 very bouncey young labs. Both started to excitedly jump at me, just friendly saying hello, and the woman started shrieking at me "IGNORE THEM!!! KEEP WALKING!!! JUST IGNORE THEM!!!"

Errrm....you try ignoring two tonnes of lab whilst they hurl themselves at you. I would have kept walking if I could have!

I apologise for my bad grammar and spelling in that last post.

I am or course at work and CD visiting as well.
Naughty naughty.....
I am supposed to be emailing my collegue in France, my French is terrible. I can not even think how to say "Mr ..... is on holiday and returns on Monday"  no better than a 5 year old any how!!