Right im sorry to have to rant in my first ever post her but I am fuming!!!!!!!

I am currently owned by 2 Siberian Husky bitches. Mya is 9 months and Meeka is 3 months (so cute lol)
Anyway I was taking them both out for their morning walk and as usual we see a lot of school children and parents. Most occasions people are very friendly and ask me lots of question about my dogs, i also get the usual 'ooooooo look at those wolves' responses.
BUT today I encountered THE most ignorant people EVER!!!
It al started when I saw a group of children walking towards me with their parents, out of nowhere i hear someone shout 'oh my god', i turn around to see a man and a women marching towards me ranting about how dangerous Sibes are and they cant belive how irresponsible I am owning them and especially walking them past children!!!!
Stood rooted to the spot i couldnt believe what I was hearing!
I proceded to explain that i find this assumption ridiculious and I tell them that I have a 16 month old son and my dogs love him
Well, they really let rip after I said I have a child.
They said they were going to report me to social services as my child should not be homed with such dangerous breeds
After about 15 minutes of them screaming at me they turned and walked away.
What i didnt realise was that people had heard what they were saying to me, then i noticed that parents were grabbing their childrens hands and giving me and my dogs a VERY wide birth
I was shot filthy looks and make to feel like i was walking two wild lions next to me!

Has anyone else ever encountered breed ignorance on this level?

I know it was awful whatever breed, but did they actually mention the breed?  did they perhaps think they were wolves of wolf hybrids?  Still no excuse for their behaviour.

I have had peopel avoid me and cross the road as they thought my dogs (Norwegian Elkhounds) were puppies of a larger strong spitz breed whcih has been exploited by poor breeding and irresponsible ownership which has resulted in attacks by the breed they thought mine were have occured, especially on other canines.

Even more ingnorant people think theya re wolves.  The vast majority infuriatingly coo, 'snow dogs'.

I feel sorry for responsible Stafford owners, as so many people don't see the difference between a staff and a Pitbull.

Yeah they knew they were Sibes
she said both Sibes and Mals are dangerous animals

They weren't American were they?  Sadly in the USA certainly sibes are quite high in the bite statistics even being named in some insurances there as excluded.  Chows are also listed as aggressive.

I am afraid it is a case of dumb humans as opposed to the tired old saying of 'dumb animals'. There will always be thick people out there.

yeah I know about the bite statistics in the US but its such a shame the whole breed must be tarnished with the same brush
Its the same for ever breed i imagine not just sibes

As I have said in a previous thread the only way responsible dog owners are going to be able to counter negative publicity and attitudes is to be come very visible with their well behaved dogs.

Do not allow this incident to make you leave your dogs at home when going to school to avoid the stares.  Hold your head up high and show how well behaved and polite you and your dogs are.

Dog owners have helped get themselves marginalised by avoiding areas ans situations where conflict can occur, such as walking the dogs at peak times in the park, during school holidays etc.

I see fewer and fewer dogs in the High street or town, as the vast majority of people now own cars so take their dogs by car to dog walking areas, not bothering with walking them from their homes along the streets.

My ex sister in law lives around the corner and couldn't get over how few dogs there seem to be as she rarely sees many being walked on the street.

Of course most people in Poland are Apartment dwellers and have to take their dogs out several times a day just to toilet (though the idea of poop scooping is rare).  I explained that there were lots of dogs, probably about a third of households on her street alone, but that here in UK taking the dog for a walk was not a euphemism for taking it to toilet, but to exercise it, so they would do this usually once  a day and if at work first thing, or in the evening, and often drive to the walking spot.

I don't drive so my lot come everywhere with me except where strictly banned.

Brainless I agree 100%
I will NOT be avoiding these areas and I will continue to walk my dogs as I always have done
I think i'll just consentrate on all the positive comments i recieve and how I get the chance to educate others on my breed
Lots and lots of people ask me questions about them and as all dog lovers know, theres nothing better than having a natter about your dogs
Im definetly NOT going to dwell on these moronic people

Good on you.  I think a lot of dog walkers are like anyone else and do not like unpleasantness so back down to avoid confrontation.

As I have said in a previous thread the only way responsible dog owners are going to be able to counter negative publicity and attitudes is to be come very visible with their well behaved dogs.

Absolutely!  This  is why I frequently walk mine in the city and the towns as well as in the parks. It is interesting for the dogs and they absolutely live all the people buzzing around and it keeps the dogs in public view and lets people who do not or can not have dogs meets them and see how wonderful dohgs can look and  behave. You actually see n increasing number of urban dogs in the past couple of years...I think with designer leads and collars people can buy it encourags them to be proud and to show off their dogs more.

To the origional poster....Yes there are very rude people about..even if you were walking with your baby someone might come and rant that you are cruel in some way or other. There is a lot of anger and negativity in society right now and it is directed indiscriminately at any person except the person believing they have the right to freely inflict their hatred on others. It is the person who has the issues not the dogs. If they spent more time being possitively involved in activity and less time passivelty watcing the media hype on tv they would be happier for it.

Yes, I've encountered ignorance.  Threatened to report me to the RSPCA (for what I don't know).  I have a vicious, dangerous dog that should not be allowed on the streets (according to these people).  I have a Border Terrier and yes he barks at dogs, yes he can be quite aggressive to other dogs but he's always on the lead, has a muzzle on and is on the other side of the road and nowhere near their dog, which is what my dog sees as the problem.  I am made to feel as if I have a savage beast by my side.  He's not at all, he's just a little difficult.  In fact if these people would just walk by instead of ranting at me there probably wouldn't be a problem :rolleyes:  I can appreciate why people don't like my dog but I can't see why anyone would have a problem with your dogs.

CG

Trouble is it works both ways.  I have a Golden who everyone assumes is a lovely, well tempered, good mannered etc etc dog (and to be fair she is :D).  This does mean however that loads of people want to come up and stroke her especially people with young children who don't want their children to be "scared of dogs".  I have no problem with this as long as they ask first but some don't.

The thing is that people assume Honey is a well behaved dog because of the way she looks, there are of course some Goldens with dodgy temperments and these people have no idea how she has been treated and how good she really is.  If she was a Dobe or a GSD I'm sure I wouldn't get half the people wanting to stroke her.  The attitude of a lot of people seems to be if a dog fits a certain image then they are good if they don't then they are bad.

Oh yes been there.  My girls best friend is a Golden bitch who is now 15, but in her younger days she was not fond of men or other dogs, until she was socialised with mine and then loved them all, except the men.

Once collecting kids from Primary school her owner and I were asked if my dogs were OK to stroke, but people just assumed they could pet Ruby.  Even after telling a man she didn't like men he still tried to pet her and she air snacked at him, did he move quick.

it seems i suffer from both!
People want to stroke Meeka because she is a pup
but Mya on the other hand, no one will approach her

What a shock to be spoken to like that.  Sounds like the equivalent of road rage - pavement rage!!!  Maybe one of them had had a nasty experience with one of your breed?  I pass one every day - it is usually in it's garden and sticking it's head over the fence.  We (Meg and I) met it out on the road one day and I was impressed with how placid it was.  Don't know if it was a Sibe or a Malamute - I am afraid I am ignorant when it comes to that type of dog.  I am off to look at the difference now.

biggest giveaway is size and build.  Think racehorse and Carthorse.

I really really really understand your pain! I have a 4 year old sibe bitch, Sisqo, unfortunately I live on an estate where I am surrounded by children, who seem to think not only is it a wonderful idea to run around my garden and wind her up, they also think it is a fantastic idea to scream snow dog (which has already been mentioned earlier on) and crowd her, and on occasion have grabbed her her tail while I am trying to get her away from the situation, which wound me up incredibly. Not only do I have the urge to pull their ears and say do you like that, I wonder what kind of parents do not teach their children that you should ask before stroking a dog? Sisqo was already quite nervous with crowds, due to things that happened to her before we got her, but now she HATES children, I am a responsible owner, and keep her away from children, and luckily she is obidient girl, but I have had people say that her breed are aggressive and should be banned, blah blah blah. These people are ignorant. they know nothing. The breed is fine, the attitude of the dog is down to the owner. This was never more true than with people who have had Sisqo, but we persevered and got a wonderful girl, there are some things that will never go away, but for the most part, she is fantastic. I must say I dont think I would of been that calm with people, but I agree, dont change anything, you know your dogs, you trust them and your proud of them, show them off! sod what the narrow minded minority say!

I saw a gorgeous Malamute (I think, not brilliant on identifying these but it looked too big for a Sibe) while driving along the other day, I had to restrain myself from leaping out of the car (a) saying how gorgeous his dog was, and (b) how pleased I was that he was walking it down a busy shopping street and how he had every right to do so! :-)

Welcome to the forum, and poor you!

Funny isn't it, I've never, ever put Huskies or Mals in the bracket of dangerous dogs I've never heard anyone else in this country do that either.  This couple had no right to even speak to you, let alone let rip.

If they approach you again I would pull out my phone and tell them I will be calling the police if they even speak to me again. No one should ever be badgered and harrassed without good reason and they had none.

Try to forget it for now, hopefully that will be your one and only reaction in that way. :-)

Being around Dobermans all my life, I have seen the negative reaction that breed gets.  And for the most part, it is unwarrented. 
Also, with my springer, even now people want to come up and pet her, without asking.  It worries me, not that she has ever bitten, but she is 15 years old and blind.  I am not one out looking for a dog fight.
Just ignore them, who made the comment, and just hold them to your title:  ignorant people.
Sibes and Mals are not bad breeds, nor are those breeds that are apparently "killer dogs"  such as the Doberman, Staffie, or Boxer.  I hate when people assume just because one dog breed has gotten bad press, that all dogs from that breed are bad.  I dont know of any article about a Pomeranian bitting someone, so they dont hear that.  (not saying poms are nasty, just an example of a cute toy dog)
And in Canada, last I checked (dont flame if I am wrong) the most dog bites come from Poodles.  But it doesnt make me thing poodles are a bad breed. 
Again, ignore the people and continue to walk your dogs where you want! 

sorry you had to endure that garbage, but you know best and can walk with your head held high knowing you have two great dogs.

i have two sibes (one a rescue )i have heard them all !wolves, snowdogs,keep near me darling stay away from the doggy,and even giant fox  lol.  but have to say if you educate people on the dog they understand more. mine don't care about much, but one bounces at the site of another dog and after a few months the other dog owners have cottoned on that that is just her excited way of wanting to play and they just accept her now and don't even mind when she scruff tackles her doggy pal to the floor .(she goes to school and does not bat an eyelid at all the kids )if people understood the dog they would not be that frightened but people believe films and what have you .best one i get is when i walk them with my little cav (and she looks starved lol) is "is that their breakfast" and the funny thing is the only aggression i could see would be if they tried to hurt their little puny cav .

I have also had people asking me if they are dangerous etc etc and giving me a wide birth.  I think part of it is because they are always on a lead and some folk perceive that this is because they are 'dangerous' or agressive with other dogs etc.  A lot of kids call them wolves and snow dogs and pretend to be scared of them, but if their parents will allow it, I ask the kids if they would like to stroke them and give them advice about the best way to approach a dog etc.  My two love the attention - well the breed are known to love all humans equally, although I don't think they could eat a whole one. :D

i share your frustration, I regulary walk our two adult akitas (both well behaved). Part of our problems is when they are young cuddly and furry everybody who passed wanted to touch/stroke and handle them. Now they are full grown the same people cross over the road. The poor dogs dont understand and happily want to approach people!!!!!!!!

The one I see is a Malamute - not a 'sibe' - now I know the difference.  Those folks must have thought you had wolves - can't think of any other explanation.  Even as a dog lover I don't know the difference between some breeds although I wouldn't be so daft as to think someone was out walking a couple of wild wolves!!!  But even I with a working sheepdog have some people come up and want to smother my dog with pats.  She is nervous and hates being restricted in anyway - never mind the fact that I am trying to stop her jumping on people.  I had someone the other day who made such a fuss of her - and she was stinking having rolled in horse poo!  I warned her but she still encouraged her to jump up and was all over her :-O.

I think the sibes and malms are a gorgeous breed and have never thought of them as dangerous. And i know how u must hav felt. i have a black dog and and i get very mixed reactions from ppl. Most ppl just avoid her by crossing the street or by giving us a wide berth but i was once walking her at the beach and came across two woman with a very small dog, gemma bein very friendly approached them which the small dog did not like so procedeeded to attack her, both woman wer screamin and turnin around in circles, gemma found all this commotion very amusing, she must of thought they wer playing a game or sumthin, once i had pulled her away and apoligised the woman starts screaming at me, saying i shuld hav a muzzle on my dog and that she shuld b kept on the lead, she was going to call the police etc. I being a very argumentitive person just walked away as i culd see it gettin nasty. If they had just kept walking and ignored my dane she would hav got bored and walked away but instead they made a big fuss. On the other end of the scale i get ppl stopping me to talk about wat breed she is etc and lots of small children think she is a horse and ask to ride the pony, which i always reply sayin, am sorry, but i forgot to bring her saddle,,, :)
Basically, just because of there size, breed or how they look etc our dogs are judged. You shuld never judge a book by its cover!!

I have never thought of Sibes or Huskies are dangerous in any form!! :rolleyes:

They have alot of energy they need to expel, probably why people have a bad idea is owners who dont walk or exercise them nearly enough and some must get pent up and over excitable, most dog owners or people cant even tell the difference between a excited dog with a wagging tail and an aggressive dog! :rolleyes::rolleyes:

People give us a wide berth sometimes and we have a SBT, her face is the softest in the world!!

I've just had a horrible experience this afternoon in fact...

I too have two staffords, and usually although people sometimes look a bit wary, I make the effort to speak to them and let them say hello to the dogs, etc...
but today.. a loose dog and it's two owners were walking toward us (my 2 being on their leads) and I called ahead and said please could you put your dog on it's lead as these 2 aren't always friendly toward other dogs - well the look I got!!  But the man did say ok thank you.. leashed his dog and walked by, the WIFE however, gave me the such a look as if I'd spoken a different language or I was a piece of poop on her shoe....and it completely floored me! 
I got a bit cross, and said, as we were parting "well at least I told you!  I could've just let your dog come over and possibly be snapped at!  And at LEAST I've picked up after my dogs - you haven't!!!!"  (of course not knowing whether they had or not!!lol)
But I was actually more cross with myself for even saying that - I shouldn't have, it probably just made me look silly :-(

I've never got upset by a 'look' before but this just really got to me today

You did exactly the right there mate :), dont let that stupid lady make you feel bad, and well done for telling HER off for acting like a pratt!
She would have been the first one screaming her head off if your dogs had had a go at hers, so dont let silly people like her get you down, as long as you and your dogs are safe thats all that matters, espicially with SBT's.

People change the side of the road theyre on when they see Mitz and she is more the original staff size!! (IE taller and athletic) Some people see no further the Sky News!

thanks Rach.. just needed positive thoughts I think...
Like I said I'm not normally bothered by 'misconceptions' ...
:-)