What would you have said to....

I would have smiled and kept on walking my dog.  Don't let other people's ignorance affect you.  Sounds to me like you are doing a great job with Shailer.

"  I always do"

"You better watch that kid."

Why, what's he going to do?

I did not wanted to sound rude or smart. They were African American's and over here if you just say something right (not being rude or smart) they get an attitude and start saying mess too you. I know not all African American's are like that but in this town that is what they act like.

There's not much you can say in the face of complete and utter stupidity.  I think the suggestions you got here are great.
 
Joyce

i liked the comment about "watch that kid" .... and i have lived in towns much the same. not much you can do really except be yourself. a lot of times people with attitudes like that (not just african americans, there was once an old white lady in my neighbourhood who was like that) are just all bluster and no bite. while walking my bulldog we ran into her on the road, narrow road, lots of bushes and sharp turns.. both dogs were leashed, but she was wearing a hat and sunglasses and Kaydee made a growl/bark at her, but that was all she did... her dog, a mini schnauzer, just started yapping his head off... the woman could have acted a little more civil and controled her dog instead of backing up, picking up her dog and crossing the street like i had a lion on the end of my leash.. Kaydee could have cared less. but she remarked on my vicious bulldog all the while her well behaved mini was squirming like a stuck pig and snarling, trying to get loose.

i think you did the best you could do.... you didnt do anything wrong really.. though i would probably have said
"oh i'm sorry if your kid is afraid of him, he's really friendly, if you would like to pet him its ok"   ... i've done that a time or two.
i worked for a florist who brought her doberman to work with her. while i was outside cleaning out flower baskets the dog would keep me company. most of the time the reaction was "Oh lord a DOBERMAN! lookout!!" but the dog could have cared less.. which helps with the reputation...

I would have let the kid pet him but he, I think, ran inside the house. Both ladies back away from me like if I was walking a crocodile. Shailer didn't even bark he just turn in their direction to sniff and they were off. I should start walking him over there everyday and see what they say.[]

If I'd been with the boyz (badsenjis), I'd have said "Oh my dogs are very well behaved.  They're both certified and active therapy dogs and have been to the nursing and Alzheimer's home on a regular basis."  Yet another nice thing about having a therapy dog.[]

"Sure, I'll watch him. I'll watch him tear you limb from limb and feast on your delicious human flesh!"

I know what you mean I get this all the time with Blue or should I say my rabid wolf. I have had an adult hurrying her kids along in a public park telling her kids to stay away from the wolf that it's going to bite them. Here is Blue leashed and laying next to me licking my one year old niece at the time.  I told her that he is not a wolf and he well behaved if she wanted to she could pet him.

You just can't help ignorant people all the time and there are a lot of them.

pfft walk a chow some time, chist people will cros the street so they dont have to walk by her, I have had absolutly everything said to me.

I wouldn't take it personally.  Think about how many poorly trained dogs there are out there.  I encounter a lot, and the owners always claim their dogs are angels. 

Please don't misundestand - I'm not saying your dog isn't truly well behaved!  I don't doubt you.  It's just that as rude as that woman was to you, I'm betting she's had bad experiences with other dogs and has gotten defensively snappy.  Not an endearing trait in dogs or people, but something not to take to heart. 

My response (because I have heard it before) is always - "She is under control." and let my dog's behavior stand for itself.  If you are calm, your dog is calm, shows clearly that it is under control, and nothing happens, there is nothing more to say. []