Whilst walking a friends terrier cross retriever this evening we met a lovely GSD pup, who was promptly lifted up as soon as the owner saw me. I thought this was really odd, because socialisation is so important and a GSD adult can't be picked up everytime another dog comes along! Anyway i just ignored it and carried on. On the way back we met them again and the owner did exactly the same thing, but this time i said, "its ok shes friendly" and the reply was "well shes not actually supposed to go out cos she hasn't had all her jabs yet." The daft thing was when we met her the first time she was coming back from a bit of grassy land which backs on to a pond, and is used by loads of dogs (and a lot of owners don't pick up after them), cats, foxes and rats. I think a pup is more likely to get a disease from the ground than from one single dog, surely. If you are going to be that worried then don't put the pup on the ground! 

Well I think some people have the notion that if you cant see something then it doesnt exist :rolleyes: hence this ladies worry when she actually saw a dog , yet she felt ok beforehand.