Dog Community

I was a little bit miffed yesterday...

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:21:02 AM

Well I was out walking with Xerk yesterday, doing our usual stroll. On the path ahead of me was a father pushing a stroller and he had two other kids (5-10yrs old...I'm not sure.)

So I do my usual and put Xerk in a heel, and walked on the side opposite that they were approaching on. I overhead the dad say to the kids to get on the right side of the path, this is one of those "mean dogs." I let that slide, but then as we passed (and Xerk showed absolutely no interest in the kids, father or stroller) the eldest child as his dad "Is that one of those really mean dogs?" And the father, who never made eye contact or returned my greeting, says "yes it is son, don't ever go near them."

WTF? I have to admit I was disappointed and frustrated by that.

Number one, he was probably thinking that Xerk was a dobie, which he isn't-but I can see how people would mistake them for one. And number two: Dobies are some of the neatest dogs I've ever been around-I've never met a human aggressive one though I'm sure some have been trained to be that way.

Yikes, thanks for letting me vent.

cyclefiend2000

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:26:07 AM

that is sad.

glad xerxes was a gentleman though. [

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micksmom

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:27:28 AM

Oh, heck, Ed we've all heard about those killer Pharaoh Hounds. They're all over the place! LOL Seriously, I hate it when people do that. I had someone at camp say almost the same thing about my friend's Rott, who was the biggest mush around.

rwbeagles

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:29:47 AM

Count your blessings! At least you can GET more than 10 feet at a time without being ganged up on by the public wanting to pet your dog! I miss having an Akita...they keep the weirdos, that think it's okay to just run up and grab your dog...at bay!

Amitiel

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:33:06 AM

they say the same about Max - who looks like a Portuguese Water Dog & Sugar who looks like a Golden - --- it is Scooter they need to weary off (Shih Tzu)

dogslife

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:34:16 AM

The general public needs an education. I am sick of this stupified attitude. And have you ever seen a viscious golden retriever? I have. The favored family pet can become viscious. When owned by an ignorant owner.

So, the same folks that will call your dog breed viscious may go out and purchase a lab and create a viscious dog because they are stupid or a nicer word is naive. [

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The public needs education.

TAOofGoldyShep

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:34:47 AM

I have to laugh! [

]...sorry! Your story reminds me of walking Willow on the beach when she was just a year or so old. We were walking along and a woman and her child were playing in the sand & water ahead. Well, she sees us coming and jumps up, makes a mad dash for the water, yanks & scoops her child up into her arms and all the while screams, "DOG!!!" She might as well ran away screaming, "GRIZZLY BEAR!" She held her child so tight when we finally got up there and passed them. A Golden puppy for crying out loud, give me break. I didn't have it in me to do any educating with that woman.

Now what do you suppose these scenarios teach children? I suppose I should be more open to educating people regarding the issue but sometimes I just shake my head in disbelief.

TAOofGoldyShep

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:37:55 AM

ORIGINAL: dogslife

And have you ever seen a viscious golden retriever?

Yep-yep, too many in fact.

Amitiel

Posted : 6/25/2007 10:40:19 AM

these cases make me want to cry - my father was attacked by a large dog (mixed breed) when he was near 5 yrs old - he is uncomfortable around large dogs to this day - but he never taught that fear to either of his girls (no male children) - we have both in our life times been owned by larger dogs (she had 3 Rotties)

Sharon Blair

Posted : 6/25/2007 11:25:36 AM

You should see what you get when you have a chow.......ridiculous!

dogslife

Posted : 6/25/2007 11:28:53 AM

A lot of naive people think my Siberians are wolves. And others are just adoringly fond of their looks. One time when trying to walk my female, hyper reactive pup...we were using the gentle leader over the nose leash, and a family walking with a baby thought the pup was a biter and went waaay over the other side of the street.

Of course you couldn't tell them she was sweeter and more gentle than our cat.

Xerxes

Posted : 6/25/2007 11:29:16 AM

ORIGINAL: rwbeagles

Count your blessings! At least you can GET more than 10 feet at a time without being ganged up on by the public wanting to pet your dog! I miss having an Akita...they keep the weirdos, that think it's okay to just run up and grab your dog...at bay!

That's what I loved about our Akita...from 100 yards away he'd figure someone out and hold eye contact the entire time if he thought they were a "risk."

and all the while screams, "DOG!!!" She might as well ran away screaming, "GRIZZLY BEAR!"

That's hilarious. Meanwhile your dog is under control thinking "what the heck is up with those freaks?" [sm=rotfl.gif]

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/25/2007 11:56:49 AM

Oh, gosh. I've gotta start keeping my eyes open for PHs. I didn't know they were inherently vicious!!

dude dude

Posted : 6/25/2007 12:06:08 PM

I have a Pharaoh hound mix and the kids love her! And I know what you mean. They look nothing like dobies. You could have told them it wasn't a doberman... Not that they'd listen =P

stardog85

Posted : 6/25/2007 12:14:37 PM

Well for some reason I've been asked 2 or 3 times in the last week whether Maggie is "mean" or "bites" [8|] Each time when she's in perfect heel and once the woman wouldn't walk by us until I confirmed that Maggie doesn't bite! [:@]