"mean dogs"

When I walk Talus, people cross the street....
It's just cause he's so big and people don't know what breed he is...he's an excellant walker and doesn't bark at anyone...
 

we stick to an access road where we know no one goes until we can fully trust Molly. I've hiked for years with, and around, dogs off leash. I've met more smaller dogs being allowed to run loose who I wouldn't turn my back on than larger dogs I've met running off leash.
Sticking to our lonely access road I haven't realized how Molly is with people walking toward "her pack". Now we know and are working with it, and staying on our lonely access road for her running with her best puppy pal.
I don't want Molly to become the stereotypical GSD who barks and carries on at people WHICH is why we are working with her and seeking the assistance of a behaviorist. If I ignored the behavior then I should be reprimmanded. Ignoring it is not something I would do anyway...I don't want a dog people fear. I'm not an insecure person who has to have a tough dog to impress people with.

I personally think that Mary is taking the right steps, doing the right things to help Molly.

i'd have to say at the dog park here dobbies and rotties and pit bulls get a lot of nervous looks when they're around.  I have never felt nervous or unsafe around any dog before, so i usually have a conversation with the owners.
 
I remember a lady who brought her GSD to the park once, it was playing with two young labs, and one of the lab owners put her dog on a leash and siad "this is getting too rough" and walked away.  The GSD owner looked a little upset, but she shouldnt be upset, her GSD was beautiful and very friendly.

Sounds just right.  May I compliment you for your approach.  It can be a challenge to work with a dog who has the instinct to protect and defend.  A number of people in the public classes where I teach just dont get it.  They offer explainations or excuses.  They dont change their behavior to help their dog get it right.  Well done on your part.

I once made a silly mistake that I have yet to repeat. I once took Shadow to the dog park in Plano, Tx. He was unaltered and I had started his training. But this whole scenario was new to him. There were all kinds of dogs there. Shadow went bonkers, sniffing all the females and charging, though not fighting, all the males, for alpha breeding rights. He came back to a Golden that he really liked and that is when I got him back on the leash.

And he is a mix of two "friendly" breeds, yet he was the one being a twit. In spite of his looking like a timberwolf, he is a big lovable goofhound that plays with cats. But, in the case of the dog park, his exuberance was too much. Which means that I should be more careful and astute in various situations. Most dog problems are actually human problems.

I've had a super intelligent (please note dripping sarcasm) cashier at PetSmart tell me (not ask) that my Smidgen, a Smooth Collie, had to be part Pit Bull.  His reason?  Because of the LONG nose!  I asked him again, to be sure I heard him right, and he repeated "Oh, I don't think she's a Collie.  She's got to be part Pit Bull because of that long nose!"  I assured him that she was a Collie, and asked him how many long nosed Pits he had seen.  He just gave me a blank stare, like he had given me a great piece of info and I was stupid for arguing.  It was pretty funny!  (You can see my little "Pit mix" in my avatar).

In the past I've had Pits, so I am familiar with the looks.  I've had people that wouldn't approach me in a park (all dogs on leash) because their child wanted to pet my "Lassie dog" but didn't want the others to eat her child.  While this conversation is taking place, one is upside down wriggling with his tongue sticking out and the other is wagging his butt so hard he almost knocked me down.   There is no hope in this situation.

I will admit that the most aggressive dog I ever saw was a Lhasa Apso.  He would lunge at any and all people, including the owners.  He had no health problems, just the lovely results of a pet store pup with no socialization and training.  Sad really, but he was a scary little dog, all 15 lbs of him!

People often cross the street when I walk Maddi in the city... even more often when they're walking their labs. I wish they wouldn't, Maddi could use the socialization, but, to them, she must look like a wolf-hybrid (she's lanky for a mal and has a more slender face).
 
Last year, I was out pulling weeds by the side walk, and a couple young guys (thug-types actually) walked their beautiful brindle pitty past. The dog paid no heed to me (a foot away, crouching) or Maddi who desperately wanted to meet him (whining, jumping against the end of her tie-out). I was startled when the dog first walked past (because I couldn't see that there was anybody until they were right next to me), but I can't imagine being someone who would have an aniorism over it.

I've had some people comment that American Eskimo Dogs (or Spitz, as they incorrectly called them) are mean.  As soon as two of Dakota's instructors just saw him, they commented about Spitz having horrible temperaments.  Then when they actually got to meet him, they quickly changed their tune.  Then a lady at Therapy Dogs told me I should have gotten a different breed of dog since Spitz are mean.  It made me mad because in all breeds, there are some "bad apples."  I despise it when people stereotype.  I mean the worst damage Dakota can do to you is lick your face raw.   

ORIGINAL: t__m

When I walk Talus, people cross the street....
It's just cause he's so big and people don't know what breed he is...he's an excellant walker and doesn't bark at anyone...

Perhaps they only saw the beginning of  "Turner and Hooch" and didn't stick around to see the end...[]

ORIGINAL: colliewog

I've had a super intelligent (please note dripping sarcasm) cashier at PetSmart tell me (not ask) that my Smidgen, a Smooth Collie, had to be part Pit Bull.  His reason?  Because of the LONG nose!  I asked him again, to be sure I heard him right, and he repeated "Oh, I don't think she's a Collie.  She's got to be part Pit Bull because of that long nose!"  I assured him that she was a Collie, and asked him how many long nosed Pits he had seen.  He just gave me a blank stare, like he had given me a great piece of info and I was stupid for arguing.  It was pretty funny!  (You can see my little "Pit mix" in my avatar).

Now that's funny!

I was asked if my Pharaoh Hound was part pit-bull, I've been told that he was a miniature red-doberman and asked if I knew what his "mix" was.  I like it better when they just come up to you and ask "what breed is he/she?"

haha! People ask me if my black GSD is a mix EVERYDAY. He's young and is still al bit lanky, so i've heard great dane/gsd, gsd/black lab, and wolf mix. Sometimes, when i tell them he's a purebred GSD, they either roll their eyes and leave or give me a funny look. But anyway, to tell you the truth, everyone's most hated pitbulls are some of the sweetest dogs i've ever met! Our dog shelters are packed with them. Also, the next dog i'm going to get will be a doberman. I can't wait to see the reactions to her!

I don't know if rhodesians are considered aggressive or not, but i often see people crossing to the other side of the street when i'm walking C.  I get lots of comments on how big he is (he's tall) - I guess I'm just used to him b/c I really don't think he's that big (although I am a sucker for larger breed dogs).  I've had a few people think that he's a doberman, part pit-bull, etc. A couple of months ago I had a woman say, after I told her what kind of dog I had, "those have a bad reputation don't they?"  So of course I wanted to know what she had heard about them but she couldn't really say. So I used that to point out all the good points about rhodesians   I think it's hard to change people's minds, though, once they've heard something even one time about a breed of dog.

I have a Female Akita name Zoe. She gets along with dogs,cats and people but everytime I take her to the dog park and I can see other dog owners tense up when I first get there. I have even been told that she looks mean but she is such a cuddler. Its just how you raise your dog up.

The meanest dog I know right now is my neighbors Springer Spaniel.  Yep, springer.  He has bitten serveral neighbor kids and the neighbor man who was taking care of him for a week.  The man had to have many stiches on his arm .  He is ok with my female bulldog, but he lunges to attack my male, very submissive gordon/golden.  I think it was horrible breeding because he is in a good family with a huge yard.  They stupidly have an underground fence and he has gone threw it before.  I warn all joggers to stay away from his house.
 
Personally, my English Bullgdog always gets stares and comments "she looks so mean".  I say "yea, she'll lick ya to death".  Quess it the teeth showing that scares folks.  On the other hand, bullie lovers alway come over to pet her.
 
My bullie was attacked by a mean female Golden who was visiting next door.
 
At the vet,  a couple brought in the their boxer who had also been bit bad by a male Golden at at dog park   (i love Goldens, a have mixed golden).