Mini-Rant

Krissim Klaw

 Ditto.  If people are giving you a wide birth than at least that means they aren't doing something stupid or harassing your dog instead.  The other day someone thought it would be funny to abruptly jump right behind Kirby as we passed and bark at him.

Personally one of the things I like about large dogs, especially a number of breeds I am drawn to is by appearance alone they tend to make people think twice before approaching.  Then again I can be rather antisocial to begin with. >____>

Aw poor Kirby! I would so be yelling at them if they ever did that to my dog. 

 That is true and I suppose there can be good sides to people wanting to be cautious around him, I certainly wouldn't mind it if I was out for a walk with him at night by myself. :P 

calliecritturs

with reason -- PUnkachica I think it was before you joined, but last fall Pirate got badly mauled by ... yep, a pit.  BAD OWNER -- but it left Pi pretty shaken and VERY hurt at the time.

but all of us as dog owners suffer for the idiocy of others.  I had a boxer pit mix who looked quite a bit like your dog -- and I got the 'dangerous dog' thing all over the place.  Made me pretty mad -- cos she did pet therapy.  She also had super bad lungs and I kept a t-shirt on her all the time, AND she wore "jeans" because she was incontinent from the heart meds she took.

One day a guy walked up to me at Give Kids the World where she was volunteering with me doing pet therapy -- and he said to me 'Normally I'd honestly be worried about a dog who looked like that -- but it's hard to be afraid of a dog in a t-shirt and jeans!"

I proceeded to educate him a bit on the fact that her breeds actually was what made her very suitable FOR pet therapy (and she was a boxer/pit).  Personable breeds who love people.

 The best thing YOU can do Punkachica is TRAIN.  Make sure your dog is an exemplary representative of it's breeds.  It really does speak louder than words.

 

Aw no I'm sorry about Pirate getting hurt and I know how with a bad/wrong owner pits can turn at any minute, I wish there was better owners out their for pits so they didn't get such a bad rap. :-/ 

Yep pits and boxers can be excellent around people, if brought up properly and socialized, just like with any dog. :)  So true and I'm doing my best to make him a good dog, not that he isn't already. :P

aerial1313

I understand your frustration.  But, like others here, I don't mind one bit if people think my "big black dogs" are too scary to approach.  If that's their mindset, I'd rather they not interact with my boys.  I definitely see it more with adults around here than with kids.  If the neighborhood kids are out playing when we come home from a walk, they always want to pet the dogs (and amazingly, they always ask permission!).  But the dogs barking their fool heads off when a stranger comes to the door has worked many a time to ward off people trying to sell us gutter cleaning, a new roof, etc.  Works for me, lol!!

Some friends of ours have two boxers.  They said people ask them if they're pitties constantly. 

This is how you should look at it, Andrea.  Let their looks/comments roll right off you, and continue to do what you're doing with Simba to ensure that he's a good embassador for his "breed," whatever people think his breed may be.

Yeah you've got a point, if they don't want to see him and want to think he's a mean dog then let them. 

What?! Boxers look so much different from a pit. 

Thanks for the advice! That goes for everyone. :)

punkchica321

Wow, just because he played rough they assume he has pit in him.

Which I think, is safe to assume, the point everyone is trying to make here. People will see what THEY want to see, regardless of the facts.

And all you can do, like Callie said, is make your dog the best he can be, whatever he may be.

When I tell people 2 years ago, Casey would have ripped their arm off for reaching for him - they are amazed. We've come so far with training and socializing - but our work is never done. If I stopped training him, I have no doubt he'd reverse. My ultimate goal is to get him to do therapy. we're years from that goal - but we're working towards it!

And... I was not very nice to that man with his large boxer, but he deserved it. I was po'd. that nasty red-head came out again. my next step was animal control and the sheriff. I don't care what breed it is.

erica1989

punkchica321

Wow, just because he played rough they assume he has pit in him.

 

Which I think, is safe to assume, the point everyone is trying to make here. People will see what THEY want to see, regardless of the facts.

And all you can do, like Callie said, is make your dog the best he can be, whatever he may be.

When I tell people 2 years ago, Casey would have ripped their arm off for reaching for him - they are amazed. We've come so far with training and socializing - but our work is never done. If I stopped training him, I have no doubt he'd reverse. My ultimate goal is to get him to do therapy. we're years from that goal - but we're working towards it!

And... I was not very nice to that man with his large boxer, but he deserved it. I was po'd. that nasty red-head came out again. my next step was animal control and the sheriff. I don't care what breed it is.

 Yeah that is true and wow you are amazing for that. You're the type of person who understands what dogs need, I wish there more people like you in the world. Heck everyone on this site are amazing dog owners.

I can't say I blame you, I'd be mad if something like that happened to Simba when it shouldn't have. 

punkchica321

Krissim Klaw

 Ditto.  If people are giving you a wide birth than at least that means they aren't doing something stupid or harassing your dog instead.  The other day someone thought it would be funny to abruptly jump right behind Kirby as we passed and bark at him.

Personally one of the things I like about large dogs, especially a number of breeds I am drawn to is by appearance alone they tend to make people think twice before approaching.  Then again I can be rather antisocial to begin with. >____>

 

Aw poor Kirby! I would so be yelling at them if they ever did that to my dog. 

 That is true and I suppose there can be good sides to people wanting to be cautious around him, I certainly wouldn't mind it if I was out for a walk with him at night by myself. :P 

One of the pluses I have checked down in my mind with getting a large dog is the added security.  Its been found that a dog does more to cause thieves to pass by your house than having an alarm system.  This isn't to say I have any intention of trying to raise up a man eater, but me being a petite 97 pounds, having a large dog would be nice to have when out walking alone. =3

Krissim Klaw

 Kirby completely ignored him so I chose to follow Kirby's lead and also ignore him, instead using the energy to praise Kirby and give him a huge hunk of the turkey I had with me for training treats.

One of the pluses I have checked down in my mind with getting a large dog is the added security.  Its been found that a dog does more to cause thieves to pass by your house than having an alarm system.  This isn't to say I have any intention of trying to raise up a man eater, but me being a petite 97 pounds, having a large dog would be nice to have when out walking alone. =3

Aw good on you both! Score for Kirby, he got some turkey out of the deal. :P 

So true. I know no one messed with Toby, especially with that bark of his. At this point Simba basically loves everyone, which is fine by me and I can protect him but I agree it's nice to know when you have a large dog people usually think twice. And same, I wouldn't train Simba to be protective nor do I expect him to be.

I have a Chow, I've just become used to people giving us a wide berth

I used to get upset when someone would make comments about my "viscious dobe" or when they would make an obvious effort to stay away from him.  Nowadays, I'm happy when people leave us alone. 

I am so tired of hearing people announde that dobes are "attack" dogs.  I'm also tired of hearing about how my dog's brain is going to outgrow it's skull, & it's going to attack me when it happens. 

It's also very frustrating to have people run up to the boxers, without asking, because "all boxers are friendly."  Apparently, Brutus didn't get that memo, because he would much prefer try to rip someone's face off than to act "friendly" towards strangers.  You'd think that the muzzle would be a good indicator that he might not like people, but...not so much. 

It's just as bad with small dogs.  I can't count the number of fools who run towards Shooter & Schatzi yelling..."Weiners!!!"  Usually, their next statement, after rushing my dogs, is "we used to have a dachshund who was .  The number of people who have had bad experiences with doxies, yet they still run at my guys like idiots, will never cease to amaze me.

BEVOLASVEGAS

I used to get upset when someone would make comments about my "viscious dobe" or when they would make an obvious effort to stay away from him.  Nowadays, I'm happy when people leave us alone. 

I am so tired of hearing people announde that dobes are "attack" dogs.  I'm also tired of hearing about how my dog's brain is going to outgrow it's skull, & it's going to attack me when it happens. 

It's also very frustrating to have people run up to the boxers, without asking, because "all boxers are friendly."  Apparently, Brutus didn't get that memo, because he would much prefer try to rip someone's face off than to act "friendly" towards strangers.  You'd think that the muzzle would be a good indicator that he might not like people, but...not so much. 

It's just as bad with small dogs.  I can't count the number of fools who run towards Shooter & Schatzi yelling..."Weiners!!!"  Usually, their next statement, after rushing my dogs, is "we used to have a dachshund who was .  The number of people who have had bad experiences with doxies, yet they still run at my guys like idiots, will never cease to amaze me.

I've heard the whole brain outgrows the skull for pit bulls, never Dobe's though. Is there even any truth behind this or is it just made up?  Poor Brutus. :-/ ...People really run toward your doxies like that? o.o That is just creepy to be quite honest.

Andrea ....NOT to be unsympathetic but if you ever truly want to understand why folks worry over the Pit Bull Breed I have photos of a man in the ER after a pit attack.... NOT a pretty site in any way , .... these are real photos and you ask yourself upon seeing them how is he even alive????

It is not and never will be the dog as much as it is the owner.  If you want to protect your dear one get him a CGC, any and All obedience Titles and then have him TT ( Temperament Tested..) I insist on a TT for all of my Breeding dogs . If you can not trust and live with them then what good are they ??

Bonita of Bwana

I am a dog lover but remain pretty cautious around dogs I don't know - whatever the breed. My dog is as friendly as they get but I much prefer to have people a bit wary of him then assume the opposite.  Yesterday I had Buddy at the playground with my grandson and had a little girl come over and ask if she could pet him. I said "sure, but let me get him to lay down for you". I knelt beside him and held his collar while she proceeded to pet and eventually hug him. Her Dad came over and asked me, as she has her arms wrapped around Buddy's neck, if he was safe. I said yes. He asked again - "are you sure - is he 100% safe? Are you sure?" I will admit, I felt a bit annoyed that he didn't quite believe me or was unfairly judging my dog but when I thought about it for a mini second I was actually very impressed with him.

BEVOLASVEGAS

I used to get upset when someone would make comments about my "viscious dobe" or when they would make an obvious effort to stay away from him.  Nowadays, I'm happy when people leave us alone. 

I am so tired of hearing people announde that dobes are "attack" dogs.  I'm also tired of hearing about how my dog's brain is going to outgrow it's skull, & it's going to attack me when it happens. 

It's also very frustrating to have people run up to the boxers, without asking, because "all boxers are friendly."  Apparently, Brutus didn't get that memo, because he would much prefer try to rip someone's face off than to act "friendly" towards strangers.  You'd think that the muzzle would be a good indicator that he might not like people, but...not so much. 

It's just as bad with small dogs.  I can't count the number of fools who run towards Shooter & Schatzi yelling..."Weiners!!!"  Usually, their next statement, after rushing my dogs, is "we used to have a dachshund who was .  The number of people who have had bad experiences with doxies, yet they still run at my guys like idiots, will never cease to amaze me.

I used to have a Dachshund, too, but I never called him a weiner, and I promise not to attack Shooter and Schatzi (that's the quintessential Doxie name - smile) if we ever meet.  Mr. Phipps was potty trained, smart, and a dog that loved EVERYbody human, but would defend himself against a much larger bully of a dog if necessary.  Great dog, but like many others, not a breed for everyone. Huge bark on that little guy - I miss him still and he died when I was 15.

My Dobe never had a "brain explosion" and I don't expect yours to either;-))  

I probably offend other people with dogs.  lol.  Well, rottweillers, If I'm walking down the street and there is a rotti, I cross the road to avoid it.  Nothing against the breed or the owners, but I was viciously attacked by my cousins rotti when I was younger.  I wish I could tell the owners of them, as I get dirty looks for crossing the road to avoid them lol it's nothing personal to them, I just can't bring myself to come close!

Actually lol, I touched a rotti for the first time last year in yeeeaaaarss, okay well, it was 8 weeks old, but still lol felt like quite an accomplishment

But sometimes, people avoid certain breeds because of something that have happened to them.  I know not all rottis are bad and will attack me, but it's just hard to get my brain past it sometimes :)

Bonita of Bwana

Andrea ....NOT to be unsympathetic but if you ever truly want to understand why folks worry over the Pit Bull Breed I have photos of a man in the ER after a pit attack.... NOT a pretty site in any way , .... these are real photos and you ask yourself upon seeing them how is he even alive????

It is not and never will be the dog as much as it is the owner.  If you want to protect your dear one get him a CGC, any and All obedience Titles and then have him TT ( Temperament Tested..) I insist on a TT for all of my Breeding dogs . If you can not trust and live with them then what good are they ??

Bonita of Bwana

No I can understand that and I know it is a problem, but I just wish people would stop freaking out when he means no harm. :-/ I know not everyone will understand he isn't going to attack them. I'm not sure mutts can get temperament tested, can they?