Are they really that scary? REALLY?

I would ask to cuddle Josie!   I always try to ask to pet so called "vicious" breeds when I see them out in public, partly because I love the breeds myself and partly because I want the owners to know that there are people out there who think their dogs are beautiful. 

We have gotten a few crazy remarks about Timmy, but for the most part, I've been pleasantly surprised in my town.  I have gotten more comments about how pretty he is or about how so and so used to own rotties, etc comments than negative ones by far! 

When we are out walking him, we have gotten into the habit of just putting him into a sit stay when other people walk by with dogs or kids.  We also throw a bandana on him usually, he has this really bright tye dye one that I love.

The most frustrating with respect to Timmy was when we were planning on getting him.  My family didn't care, but fiance's family sure did.  His mom thought Rottweilers were all killers and would eat the grandkids and his one sister, well she isn't fond of animals in general, his other sister, the normally very logical one, was the one that kicked up the most stink.  She said she wouldn't allow her (unborn) child around the dog ever.  She didn't trust them.  She refused to let up on the issue.  His brother, well he's over protective in general.  It got to the point where we started looking at other breeds that might be more welcomed in to the family.  In the end, we just loved Rotties.  I've loved them since I was a kid and fiance loves everything about them.  We had a long talk with his mother and we took her to visit our breeder to see her dogs around her kids.  She said later that that was the best thing we could have done, it really showed her that all Rottweilers aren't killers.  We sat his sister down and had a long talk with her and told her all the facts, she loosened up slightly. 

Now, they all LOVE Timmy.  They see him for the giant goofy puppy he really is. I mean really, what kind of monster could resist his adorable puppy face?

 OK, I'm going to reply before reading the replies.  I was terrified of black and tan dogs when I was a kid.  Even a little Doxie...in fact that is where it stems from I believe, I was bitten by a black and tan Doxie.  But I am always always more cautious with the black and tans now. 

That is not to say I don't cringe at my stupid inner self or think that my line of feeling is rational.  In fact the next dog I want is a Dobe... Its just a reaction.  I am totally and 100% in love with Bevo.  There's a dobe down the street from me that I stop and watch each time it passes or I pass it.  But I don't think I'd be brave enough to go up to it alone, and if it came up to me, I'd be putting out all my calming signals for sure.  

I have to admit that when you say you are training Josie for therapy, my quick thinking brain goes,"Huh?!"  and then along comes my slower more rational self, trotting up behind to slap my quick thinker upside the head and shouts,"Why the heck not?"  So, alot of us are trying, really trying.  Just please be patient with us?

OTOH, Crusher can be a bonehead at times, and people just barrel up to him assuming he's some wonder cuddle pup that loves everyone.  Well, that or they think he's a wolf...either way, nobody reacts to him properly at all.

 So sorry you are having to deal with that! Hopefully, in the long run Miss. Josie will help educate more people about how great Dobes are.

 We get it a lot with Rosco, and in the winter he wears coats and sweaters, which, as Callie mentioned, makes people far less reactive. We get stupid comments all the time, and people pulling their children off the sidewalk if he is coming.

 Sometimes I want to wear a shirt when I walk him that says, "Please don't judge. Stop and ask me about my dog. He's very friendly."

jennie_c_d

 My dogs are both under 20 lbs. Emma is a massive 19 lbs, and Ena is a whopping 13.8, LOL. People still ask "Do they bite?". I think it's an etiquette issue. "Are they friendly?" would be SO much more appropriate.

I'm going to have to agree with this point.  Unless people are dog savvy, they usually error on the side of caution by asking if they bite, which IMHO is the best way to approach a strange dog anyway.   Dogs have teeth, dogs can bite.  Yes,  their idea of caution may be extreme - snatching the kid away or making a point of giving a wide berth - but it is what it is.  And as Jennie says, what they really should be asking is "are they friendly?"  As for the breed bias, that's uneducated people who know only what they hear.  Our job as responsible dog owners is to show people that their fears are unfounded.

I love going out with my friend Denece and her two dogs, Tasha the GSD and Sandy the Pittie mix.  They are exceptionally well behaved dogs but for those who are breed biased, could be scary.  She always asks if people would like to pet the girls and the girls just love it.  If she is helping one person, adult or child, to get over their fear, she's doing a great service to the dog community.

.stacer.

Now, they all LOVE Timmy.  They see him for the giant goofy puppy he really is. I mean really, what kind of monster could resist his adorable puppy face?

Not me!

But I am a sucker for black and tans, and that goofy teddy bear face rotties have....?  I'm sold!

 We went to the minor league baseball game today and had a great experience. I only had one negative comment. Tons of people were ooohing and ahhing over her, giving her love, and asking lots of questions. We also had an awesome experience at one of the farmer's markets the other day. Everyone loved her, and not one negative remark. She was perfect, besides licking some rhubarb, lol. At the ball game tonight there were a LOT of pitties/pit mixes, GSDs, and a few more dobies. Everyone was on their best behavior and it truly was a great experience.

 Just for fun wanted to post some pics of Josie at the game.

And i guess the reason i get so offended when people make comments like, "Is she gonna eat me?" is because i have been working really hard to make sure she's properly socialized, i got her from a breeder who ensured that the sire and dam had good temperaments...and Josie behaves well in public. Of course i would understand if she was baring teeth, growling, jumping around, etc. It's just so frustrating.

Anyway, for whatever reason Josie decided to hop up on a picnic table and take a nap.

Oh Josie, you are so pretty and how anyone could not want to just love you to death is beyond me.  I don't think I have ever met a dog I was afraid of based on looks or breed.  Of course, I am a complete dog nut and even as a small child would round up strays and lure them home with food, telling my Mom "I don't know why he followed me home". *snicker*  I used to go to my Dad's warehouse when I was little and convince him to let me have the "resident" watchdog.  Didn't matter how mean they supposedly were, I would patiently make friends till they were eating out of my grubbly little hands.  He finally quit getting watchdogs when we had more dogs than my Mom would allow.

It is so much more correct to ask if a dog is friendly, rather than if it bites but that's just ignorance and I can forgive ignorance if a person is willing to be educated.

 Oh, she has such a pretty, swweeeeet face! She looks like a leaner, LOL.

Awwwww, she looks so sweet!  Megan, you're doing a great job socializing her.

(Bev used to sleep on the coffee table when he was a puppy.  When I saw Josie on the picnic table, I immediately thought of that.)

RidgebackGermansShep

 "Is she gonna eat me?"

 Of course, the proper response to that question is, "Yes--that is why I bring her in public--to save money on dog food."

It it makes you feel better--while Sally does occasionally get thoughtless comments from people, the two biggest fear responses I've ever gotten from people in regards to my dogs were to Jack.  The first was when we was 11 weeks old in Petsmart.  I put him on the floor to greet a smaller dog and the daughter of the dog's owner (who was 10 or 11 years old) had a meltdown because he was a "strange dog." and she was scared of him 

We also had a guy walking outside our house completely freak out when he saw me getting out of the car with Jack this past winter.  He literally jumped back when he saw him (Jack was leashed) and starting swearing and saying how he didn't like dogs, was scared of them, etc.  He was acting generally weird and twitchy, which must have alerted Jack, because he barked at the guy, which did not help matters.  The guy just kind of skittered away complaining about how Jack ruined his buzz.....

sillysally

RidgebackGermansShep

 "Is she gonna eat me?"

 

 Of course, the proper response to that question is, "Yes--that is why I bring her in public--to save money on dog food."

LOL!!! That is a gold response!