"I have a German Shepherd and I'm sorry"

slightly off topic but I've said this before I really don't like when people are uncomfortable when I walk Bugs.  I went round my local lake today and had people clearly looking terrified as we passed.  And as always there was the small dog owner that picked up their dog as we walked past.  I know I need a thicker skin but it definitely irriates

as for the pet store - sorry no one's dog gets to only be the 'sniffer' - work with a behaviorist/trainer to stage that if that is what you need. For dogs sniffing is a two -way street and if you are using a public place as a training situation, understand that you can't control all parameters and if something is happening that you would prefer not - politely state that to the other owner and take your dog away.

well, i'm sorry if i offended you or something, but some of the reason i take my dog to the petstore is to socialize. I usually don't have a problem with this...most people like to let their dogs meet mine. The sheltie wasn't afraid...it was wagging it's tail and happy to meet Kaiser as well. I'm sure if i would've had a dog like a beagle, or golden retriever though, they would not have reacted in the same way.

kpwlee

as for the pet store - sorry no one's dog gets to only be the 'sniffer' - work with a behaviorist/trainer to stage that if that is what you need. For dogs sniffing is a two -way street and if you are using a public place as a training situation, understand that you can't control all parameters and if something is happening that you would prefer not - politely state that to the other owner and take your dog away.

I don't let my dogs sniff other dogs.  But they do not like to be sniffed by unfamiliar dogs.  I have no need to have my dogs "meet" other dogs in public places.  They go to the dog park and do great.  They go to my mom's house with her 7 other rescue dogs and do great.  They get to meet my vet's corgis and do great.  They do not like "meeting" unfamiliar dogs in the pet store - particularly large ones.  They are perfectly well behaved at pet stores and we go about our business.  But when an unfamiliar dog pulls at his leash straining to meet my dogs and making the "hehehe" noise it intimidates my dogs and their tails go down and they get nervous.  They don't sniff other dogs nor do I let them be sniffed.  Someone letting their dog run up to mine before I can get them out of the way and trying to "meet" is completely out of line.  End of story.

kelliope

But when an unfamiliar dog pulls at his leash straining to meet my dogs and making the "hehehe" noise

100% not the case. Kaiser walked through the door, there stood a sheltie wagging it's tail, so i let him meet. Not all big dogs pull on their leash...Kaiser is one of the best leash walkers i know, and responds to every verbal command. To tell you the truth, petsmart is how i socialized both of my dogs because i didn't want them at the dog park when they were young.

Back to the t-shirt that started this LOL

You get yours and I'm getting one that says
"Hi I love GSDs (and Rotties and Dobes and Aussies and...) can my well-behaved children and I pet your dog?"

Boy, it sounds like so many people here have a such a hard time with non-believers, I mean (ahem) folks who have not been properly socialized---ooops---I mean non-dog folks. Yeah, I'll go with that.

Keep the faith---there are reasonable, well-behaved people and kids out there who are thrilled to meet new dogs and do so in the RIGHT way.

Have a better walk tomorrow!

snownose

I guess the attitude against GSDs doesn't shock me anymore

It still shocks me. I don't know why people are so judgemental. Poor doggies don't stand a chance.

As for my opinion, I love GSDs ..actually, I don't think there is one single dog breed I don't like.. I love big dogs, they are beautiful. Small dogs are just the dogs that fit me and my lifestyle though. (But of course I love them too!) lol.

RidgebackGermansShep

kelliope

But when an unfamiliar dog pulls at his leash straining to meet my dogs and making the "hehehe" noise

100% not the case. Kaiser walked through the door, there stood a sheltie wagging it's tail, so i let him meet. Not all big dogs pull on their leash...Kaiser is one of the best leash walkers i know, and responds to every verbal command. To tell you the truth, petsmart is how i socialized both of my dogs because i didn't want them at the dog park when they were young.

 Sorry, RidgebackGermansShep, I didn't mean to imply that Kaiser had pulled, etc.  I have always had big dogs until these two.  I know all big dogs don't pull - usually they don't since most owners of big dogs become quite motivated to stop any pulling if only to save their shoulders!  Actually I was thinking of my friend's dog (long story).  I can see how you might think it though since I had previously been responding to your posts.  I don't mean to come across as hostile - it is just that I have really had to struggle to socialize my dogs and keep them feeling secure and safe and I am always amazed at the rudness of so many dog owners (not you).  I am going to start a new thread on this matter.

I just want to add that I am really getting so much out of reading all these responses. I had a GSD years ago, but now have brits and yorkies. I had forgotten what all a person goes through just getting out the door on a walk. Prejudiced people, uninformed people, and those who are curious and want to pet the dog who is in training without asking. It brings back so many memories that are so valuable to know with any dog. Thank you for posting this and I will look forward to reading more about this amazing breed.

I know how you feel. I dont have GSD, I have a collie. but I get the exact same reactions when walking him, I live in a unfriendly dog neighboorhood, so dog uneducated that some one did ask one day if he was a GSD lol. People always cross the road, give me dirty looks, even turn down streets to get out of our way (I look back and see them back on the same street I am on, so they just make a U turn) and some people have actually even screamed and ran out of my way (Great way to get away from a dog huh). My dog is not the best n leash, he will pull to go towards a tree or a electric box to pee on) But when it comes to people, he is not a "people" dog he will never go out of his way to meet people. He passes people on the grass willingly (when people will actually pass us) 

Luvntzus

[quote user="mudpuppy"]

. Kids are the absolute worst and I cringe when I see them. 

I agree kids are the worst. lots of kids in my neighboor hood, I would say 40% are terrified of dogs, 20% are intrested, and view a bit from a far and say "hi doggy" and the rest will RUNNNNN up to my dog and just start petting him. I always tell them that is a terrible idea. I had one lady actually let her toddler RUN up to blaze and hug him, my heart just sank when he did this. Blaze is in no way agressive at all, but he is not raised with children, he likes them. But he is skittish/shy, it only takes one person to make a dog bite. Een though he has never tried to I know he is a dog and CAN do it if he wants to. I couldnt belive that mother. What did she say "I grew up with a collie, they all love kids and are not agressive at all" I had to inform her that "Yes he is a collie, no he is not agressive. But he is shy and he could react to stuff like that" She got mad and said "Why would you walk a agressive dog then?" WHAT? I never said he was I said he COULD snap. Its a dog for crying out loud, I dont care who says how well trained a dog is. all it takes is one step on a tail, one fall on the dog from the child ect for a dog to nip. Sorry i got a bit offtopic lol

Weird, people are all over my dogs. Must be the long coat, but people are just not afraid of them. Although Keefer is going through a pretty bad barking at other dogs phase, (which I think is because we very rarely do leash walks), and that can freak people out. I realized that while I've extensively socialized them in some ways, in others, not so much. He's used to going to off leash parks where he can run up and greet everyone, so I think he's frustrated when he can't do that. His self control is very good around the house, he knows the rules and he knows the consequences for not complying, so he obeys. But I've decided I need to start taking him out for leash walks in the evening at least a few times a week and working on his self control under different circumstances. Dena NEVER barks at other dogs, fortunately.

We did it Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, walking down a busy street with a clicker and a bag of treats and stopping at a rec center around the corner, next to a baseball game and some guys riding skateboards, in view of a little girl kicking around a ball (he has REALLY high prey drive and goes nuts for that sort of thing), next to the driveway at a gas station, and in front of a grocery store. I just waited for him to look away from the distractions and make eye contact with me, then click/treat. He was much better by the 3rd time than the first time, so he's getting the idea. But I digress.....

Last weekend we took the dogs with us to a music festival, and this little girl came over several times to pet the dogs. Hard to tell who is more smitten, Dena or the girl. She LOVES kids!

 And this guy asked if he could pet the dogs, as Keefer moves in for a hug, and Dena gets butt scritches. They are almost obnxiously friendly!

I know what you mean! Maze isn't that big but people treat her like she's a vicious beast.  My neighbor has a large pit mix. Beautiful dog and pure muscle.  He ran up to me in the park one day while they were playing and she thanked me for not freaking out and running, cuz believe me, Rocky did look quite mean due to his size but in reality he's only a puppy still maybe 2 years at the most. Or a better example is Maze's best friend, a shepard/rotti/timber wolf who weighs in at about 150 lbs. In reality though he's a giant rabbit who just wants his couch but people treat him like a rabid animal. The only thing that can set this dog off is a skateboard even then he just barks from across the street. 

This is new to me, because my current dog, Theo is 60 pounds.  Before her I had a pug, and my other dog is about 20 pounds.  I didn't know, when I first got her, that she would intimidate people just by being.

That said, I would cross the street when a big dog is coming my way whether I'm alone or with my dogs, who are both totally friendly to people and dogs.  I don't like the experience of a strange, large dog sniffing me or getting closer.  I don't know the person walking the dog, and I don't know what is acceptable to that person or what they will or won't let the dog do.

I only had the pug for two years, but she would snarl and growl at other dogs, so I tried to avoid her having contact with them.  Especially large dogs.  I wouldn't blame any dog for defending itself against her, and so I generally avoided places where other dogs would be.

You never know if the people avoiding your dog are afraid or have had a bad experience or are just being cautious.