When I walk my dog, I don't usually run into people. But when I do most of them walk right past, not giving us ANY room. That ticks me off much more than if they were to run away screaming. I try to avoid getting close to people for that reason, but I appreciate a handler who gives us a little space anyway.
Avoiding certain breeds - insulting?
- Thread starter RD
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Generally I grab Mojo and move him off the sidewalk, put him in a sit (if i can get his butt to stay on the ground) and bring his leash closer in. I learned to do this when I lived in the Chicagoland area. He will even move himself off the sidewalk if i say "Over."
What i don't like is when people make a big show that they are crossing the street because of my dog. The entire scenario of person walking towards me, crossing the street, getting past us, then crossing back over bugs the crap out of me. My dog is on a six foot leather and brass chain leash, I can shorten it to 3' which is generally what it is at when we are walking in public. He's not going to get "at" anyone on that leash, especially not with me holding it!
I also don't like the insults towards either myself or my dog. But again it's that big show people like to put on sometimes.
I respectfully give dogs room on the sidewalks, and will not approach them unless they approach me in friendliness, then I will ask the owner if it's okay i meet the dog? I generally get yeses, and I act respectful to both dog and owner. When Mojo is with me, I behave the same way...
What i don't like is when people make a big show that they are crossing the street because of my dog. The entire scenario of person walking towards me, crossing the street, getting past us, then crossing back over bugs the crap out of me. My dog is on a six foot leather and brass chain leash, I can shorten it to 3' which is generally what it is at when we are walking in public. He's not going to get "at" anyone on that leash, especially not with me holding it!
I also don't like the insults towards either myself or my dog. But again it's that big show people like to put on sometimes.
I respectfully give dogs room on the sidewalks, and will not approach them unless they approach me in friendliness, then I will ask the owner if it's okay i meet the dog? I generally get yeses, and I act respectful to both dog and owner. When Mojo is with me, I behave the same way...
It doesn't bother me at all when people do that. For all I know, their dog may have an agression problem. Or maybe they're just trying to be polite.
But there is one reaction that I just hate. It happened more times than I would like when I was walking my rott/husky mix, Odin. A child would see Odin and ask their parents "Can I pet the dog?" And the parents would say "Oh no, don't pet dogs like that. They bite." That bothered me more than anything.
But there is one reaction that I just hate. It happened more times than I would like when I was walking my rott/husky mix, Odin. A child would see Odin and ask their parents "Can I pet the dog?" And the parents would say "Oh no, don't pet dogs like that. They bite." That bothered me more than anything.
My dog's very dominant, so I try to avoid any dogs I see on walks. I really avoid larger dogs or pit bull types because a) they're stronger and more likely to be able to break away from their handler than a collie or a spaniel and b) I've met too many people who are either careless or belligerent with their large dogs. If they're in a yard, I think twice about going past that yard for those reasons and because I've seen way, way too many large dogs confined to a yard whose fence is clearly inadequate. Last night I zipped across the street cursing because an enormous lab and a Newfoundland were behind a decorative picket fence that couldn't have been more than 2 1/2' tall.
I don't get mad when I'm walking with RB and some one give us some space what gets me mad like other people say is when people say comments about my dog like:
" ohh my god I don’t like those type of dogs", "I can believe that I girl like U is walking with a dog like that"
or when they ask me what type of dog He is and as soon as I say he is a pit they are like "ohh I don’t like those types of dogs" but I dont care I just say pit are not bad and is how u treat ur dog if u hit U'r dog there might be a posibility that he will hit u back jus like any other human but if u train and treat them the way they should U are not going to have any problem. like yesterday I when to pets mart and RB was taking a 1 on 1 class with a trainer and this guy out of no were just came walking fast and put his hand over RB head to pet him without knowing my dog RB didn’t do anything but if u are a smart person u should know not to approach a dog that u don’t know like that.
" ohh my god I don’t like those type of dogs", "I can believe that I girl like U is walking with a dog like that"
or when they ask me what type of dog He is and as soon as I say he is a pit they are like "ohh I don’t like those types of dogs" but I dont care I just say pit are not bad and is how u treat ur dog if u hit U'r dog there might be a posibility that he will hit u back jus like any other human but if u train and treat them the way they should U are not going to have any problem. like yesterday I when to pets mart and RB was taking a 1 on 1 class with a trainer and this guy out of no were just came walking fast and put his hand over RB head to pet him without knowing my dog RB didn’t do anything but if u are a smart person u should know not to approach a dog that u don’t know like that.
Casablanca, did you ever think that those dogs are well trained and will not jump the fence after you? We lived in a house for a long time with a 3' fence in the yard and not once did our GSD/Golden mix jump it to chase anyone or another dog, yet she could have easily cleared it. She was taught the boundry line and she accepted that.
I don't understand people who walk their dogs off leash and allow them to approach people or other dogs. My goal is to have Gunnar able to go anywhere off leash, and that kind of behavior will not be accepted. He'll be allowed to go a couple feet from me but will be expected to heel at command and stay there if there are people or other dogs around.
It doesn't bother me when people cross the street to avoid Gunnar. They don't need to know he's a good dog and if they are intimidated that's their problem. When we pass people he's always put in to a heel and I shorten up his lead just in case. If it's too narrow of a passage or it's a group of people, I will step aside and put him in a sit until they pass. Fortunately I haven't had anyone make any negative comments about him or his breed. Most people comment on what a nice looking dog he is and many will stop and ask questions and want to pet him. If there are people standing on the sidewalk talking or something, I will usually go out into the street to avoid them in case they are uncomfortable around dogs. I don't think it's my right to walk through their group, I wouldn't do it even if I didn't have the dog with me.
I don't understand people who walk their dogs off leash and allow them to approach people or other dogs. My goal is to have Gunnar able to go anywhere off leash, and that kind of behavior will not be accepted. He'll be allowed to go a couple feet from me but will be expected to heel at command and stay there if there are people or other dogs around.
It doesn't bother me when people cross the street to avoid Gunnar. They don't need to know he's a good dog and if they are intimidated that's their problem. When we pass people he's always put in to a heel and I shorten up his lead just in case. If it's too narrow of a passage or it's a group of people, I will step aside and put him in a sit until they pass. Fortunately I haven't had anyone make any negative comments about him or his breed. Most people comment on what a nice looking dog he is and many will stop and ask questions and want to pet him. If there are people standing on the sidewalk talking or something, I will usually go out into the street to avoid them in case they are uncomfortable around dogs. I don't think it's my right to walk through their group, I wouldn't do it even if I didn't have the dog with me.
Have you ever considered that when a dog hangs it's head over a fence short enough for it to step over, it is terrorizing passersby (dog and human) even if it never takes that final step? I don't want that head next to my side, even if I wasn't reluctant to take my dog close enough to start a fence-fight that could easily end with the riled dogs jumping their inadequate barrier. But yes, I have thought that possibly, these dogs are that well-trained. I just don't care to test it with my own dog.
If that is the situation, then I'd avoid that house completely and not take any chances, if you feel threatened by a dog looking over the fence in it's own yard. I wouldn't walk by a house like that either. We encounter many fenced dogs on our walks and I never give either my dog or the other to start a fence fight. It's just as easy to walk out in the street or cross to the other side.
I rarely encounter other people when I am walking Molly, but when I do I really appreciate that they are not too close to us. Molly is usually pretty good when it comes to other dogs, that is if I stop her before she has the chance to do something. When we pass another dog, if I pull Molly over closer to me, and tell her to stay, she will and I have no problems with her. It's the OTHER dogs that make walks difficult. Molly will be walking really well, but the other dogs are growling and tugging at their leash, and the owners just ignore it and try to keep on walking. Even in those situations I usually don't have to worry but still, when the dogs start growling and barking Molly gets a little more interested in them. So I guess to answer the question--I am relieved if they move away from us. It's just easier when the other owner and dog are not right next to you.
What's even more annoying, is when the dogs are in the front yard off leash, and there is no one out there to watch them. It's one thing to have a well behaved dog off leash when you are there watching them, but to leave them completely alone...yikes! When I was walking Molly once we went by a house like this, I didn't even see the dog outside and then it starts barking and running at us out of nowhere. The owner finally came outside, asked me if MY dog was going to bite him, when my dog was just standing there, and his came running after us... Too bad I didn't see the dog at first, I would have just turned around then to try and avoid the situation.
What's even more annoying, is when the dogs are in the front yard off leash, and there is no one out there to watch them.
It's one thing to have a well behaved dog off leash when you are there watching them, but to leave them completely alone...yikes! When I was walking Molly once we went by a house like this, I didn't even see the dog outside and then it starts barking and running at us out of nowhere. The owner finally came outside, asked me if MY dog was going to bite him, when my dog was just standing there, and his came running after us... Too bad I didn't see the dog at first, I would have just turned around then to try and avoid the situation.I guess I should be proud of my first Golden and me at 14 to walking my Point 5 miles to town always at a heel and without a leash. I never knew dittle !!! All he really knew was heel, sit, down and stay. I could put him at a stay at a store entrance and he would. Yes, small town, no training and dumb very young owner. I sure was lucky !!!!
Some people just cross the street to avoid dogs of a particular size, rather than a breed. I have seen people crossing the street to avoid us. My dog is a Bernese Mountain Dog (not at all a breed with a reputation for being agressive) that has a perpetual smile plastered across his face when we are out for a walk. He doesn't bark or pull on the leash. Regardless, some people just don't want to come near him. I assume that most of the time its because he is large, but I am sure there are people that would do the same whether the dog is large or small. I suppose it may also have to do with fear of the unknown-- they don't know my particular dog, so they just don't want to take the chance. I am not offended, just disapointed for my dog, because he loves meeting new people.
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Grammy, my lab Mayberry is like that. I think it's the fact that she's so bonded to me that she's so good. When we take walks, she just stays right by me. She's walked on a leash. I can't say stay is her favorite command...and she's not perfect at it, but she's a people pleaser and would do anything to make me happy.
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I think the majority of dog owners have to put up with it, mainly large dog owners though, IMO. I've had little kids ask their parents if they could pet my dog (border collie/shepherd mix, dog-aggressive but absolutely loves little kids), and their parents reply, "Oh, no, honey. That might not be a nice doggie." Um why not ask me first? The answer would be she's much more likely to drown them in kisses then bite their noses off. My dog is probably more well-behaved around little kids than a lot of little kids are around dogs.
Some parents are just paranoid. I'd honestly rather just go on my way than explain to a parent twenty times that yes, my dog is under control and yes, it's safe for their kid to pet him. If they don't want to take my word for it, that's their choice, but I am not going to spend 10 minutes explaining why they should let their child pet my dog. He's not there to be every kid's plaything.
On the other hand I am perfectly happy to spend some time explaining to a child how to approach a dog and what not to do (don't sneak up behind them, don't run towards them, don't scream at them etc.) Kids, especially younger ones, listen so much better than their parents do.
I have to say though, that I would take an overly cautious parent anyday over one who tells their kid to "go pet the doggie" before even getting my attention. My dog is an informal therapy dog for kids with mental disorders, he is used to children approaching him and accepts it.. However I pity the child who follows their parents direction to pet the strange doggy and gets their face ripped off by a dog that doesn't take kindly to that kind of attention from a stranger.
On the other hand I am perfectly happy to spend some time explaining to a child how to approach a dog and what not to do (don't sneak up behind them, don't run towards them, don't scream at them etc.) Kids, especially younger ones, listen so much better than their parents do.
I have to say though, that I would take an overly cautious parent anyday over one who tells their kid to "go pet the doggie" before even getting my attention. My dog is an informal therapy dog for kids with mental disorders, he is used to children approaching him and accepts it.. However I pity the child who follows their parents direction to pet the strange doggy and gets their face ripped off by a dog that doesn't take kindly to that kind of attention from a stranger.