Have you had this happen?

[joegrunt]

I was at PetsMart talking to the guys who sell the Blue Buffalo (I don't use it, but they are nice people) and Sasha and Maury are there with me. They were laying one on each side of me, watching me.

I notice a lady with a small dog come out off the isle a couple of rows down and look at my two pups. She gasps, snatches her dog off the ground and then quickly heads the other way.

Have any of you had this or similar instances happen when you were out? If so, how did you handle it? I am pretty sure my chuckle/laugh did not help the situation either. But really, did she think my pups saw hers as a treat on a leash???

 

[Cobalt]

Unfortunately, many times with our AmStaff (oh-my-god-pitbull!-I'm-gonna-die) when out in public - ignorance is a terrible thing. And our AmStaff is the most sedate, non-reactive dog you could imagine (currently going through therapy dog training).

 

[PrinceLorde13]

Happens to us and I can't help but laugh because usually my dogs are worlds more behaved then smaller dogs, the best is when we are out for a walk and people start crossing to the other side of the street, it's when people verbalized it that gets on my nerves, calling them things or beasts, I had one woman ask me why I would ever get those things, I pointed at her children and asked why she ever had those things?

 

[sjdavenport]

Only all the time. Once I had a man leap on top of some very well tended hedges to avoid my pit bull Mazey (only dog at the time) and me. Now Mazey is my angel, she is absolutely perfectly behaved, has a wonderful heel, as calm as a dog can get, is only 45 pounds, and was decked out in a pink collar, pink leash, and pink nail polish....very intimidating. Now that we have two more dogs in the mix (one of which is a corso), things are even worse. People snatch up their obnoxious little rat dogs even though their dog is the one lunging at us, while my three remain calm. Lots of people cross the street away from us, and sometimes someone will say to my face that I shouldn't have aggressive dogs around there......I usually just give a death glare, praise my guys for being so good, and then walk away (rather than stabbing them in the eyeball with a sharp object, which is my first inclination, lol).

 

[Jakesmum]

I have people crossing the street from us and picking up their dogs all the time. I laugh when they cross the street and their dog is going crazy barking and pulling at the leash and we calmly keep walking with no reaction from mine.

 

[QY10]

Definitely had this happen a number of times. People pick up their small dogs as they pass us, cross the street, go in another direction etc... People have requested that my dogs not be allowed to meet theirs because mine are "vicious" and "aggressive" breeds. I just laugh at their stupidity and ignorance.

 

[sjdavenport]

I forgot to add, I get a lot of crap about Rhaegar in the lobby of his dog daycare. He's still a puppy, still plays like a puppy, and gets along really well with his group. I also have to add that the lobby is probably the place he is best behaved (probably because he knows I have his daily greenie in my pocket that gets sent back with him if he kennels up well, lol). He sits facing me doing his "watch me" command til it's his turn to go back. Three or four times now, people have commented to the front desk, "my dog won't be put in the play group with THAT dog, will he (referring to Rhaegar)?" Hey asshole, I can HEAR YOU!!! Makes me so mad. The staff, thankfully, has no problem with Rhaegar.

 

[dpenning]

Coming from someone who owns ankle biters as well as an. EM, maybe they just don't want their little attitude fills dog to cause a scene so they pick it up. My male Pom has had little man syndrome ever since Daisy came home. Sometimes it is joist easier to stop it before it starts.

 

[twood71]

funny,I have never been bite from a large dog, but I have been bitten only twice and both from the small breeds, both times for no reason, becuase I moved? lol

You get a lot, and I mean alot of people that claim to be a animal lover, I know nieghbors, friends and relatives that claim this.

But for an animal lover they sure don't love big dogs?

That's what gets me above all, they claim to love animals but would you please get rid of that hugley beast that's drooling away from me, it should be banned!

Funny now that I have noticed this several times-when I ask them "Huh, your not a dog lover I see" then here comes the fake pretend I know all about those breeds comments from them usually.

There was one couple that was no fan of my EM, because they actually thought it was a pit bull without the ears clipped and tail bobbed, man I laughed that one out loud big time. afterwards I actually had a descent discussion with on science of dogs and the traits that are bred in them.

They were apologetic about it later on.

 

[teodora]

well yes, and my puppy is just 3 month old, they didn't like the idea that he's a cc - with so many "dog owners" with all kinds of fluffy mice in the dog park, I feel like i am walking a crocodile, sometimes...
I don't like "mini dogs" either, but I don't stare in disbelief whenever I see them and I don't really ask the owner oh my gosh, WHY did u get such a caricature?!

 

[voidecho]

Happens a lot. I don't let it bother me at all and do get a chuckle some times. I look at it like this...they don't know your dog and it's their job to protect their little ankle biters. They're just doing what they think is safest for their dog, even if they are stereotyping. I'd rather have that than have an owner who just lets their little dog run all over the place trying to take a bite out of my EM. I don't want to have to drop kick the little dog, but will.

 

[glen]

Happens a lot but it has its advantages as no one ever gets in the way and i always have blamed the hubby he always looks scarey its him there running from not my babies lol

 

[zardac]

I'm naturally more protective of our 5 pound dogs than I was with our 200 pound mastiff.

I was more protective of our mastiffs when they were puppies too.


I weigh a couple of hundred pounds, and I consistently run away from 8,000 pound people (regardless of their intentions).

They could be the nicest 8,000 pound people in the world, but...

 

[TWW]

Countless times, I always just reply when they say something, " Don't worry fake rat dogs, give him diarrhea."

The wife does this also. Though she will go so far as to yell at me when we have company when the dog farts.

Happens a lot but it has its advantages as no one ever gets in the way and i always have blamed the hubby he always looks scarey its him there running from not my babies lol

 

[Smokeycat]

The worst lady I came across was one with a chihuahua puppy. She freaked out and started screaming to keep those vicious things away from her baby. Which she had abruptly lifted causing it to squeak, much like a squeaky toy, and was holding it up in the air above my dogs. If it wasn't for her ridiculous behavior there wouldn't have been an issue, instead Jiggers wanted the 'toy' being held above his head. She did not like being told to shut up and stop making them think she has a toy for them.
Most of the time I just smirk and laugh at their reactions, it's their loss not mine or Kryten's.

 

[Cobalt]

I got nothing against the small toy dogs - they're dogs, I like all dogs! It's their idiot owners I have the issue with because it's their little ones that will pay the price at some point, unfortunately.

 

[teodora]

i don't really know what is the training result that can realistically be expected from a chihuahua. And I agree that most owners won't bother to train them anyway.

 

[TWW]

Chihuahua's and such I've seen a few good with getting keys and shoes/slippers that elderly people have had.
My issue is simply the majority that I meet people think they pose no threat, there bite will not hurt anyone, and because they can just grab them up, the don't see the errors there making.

 

[DennasMom]

I would have just told Denna, "sorry, looks like she's taking your snack to another store..."


Love the story about making the little dog into a squeaky toy. Denna probably would have tried to get to that one, too!

 

[teodora]

lol...) - sorry, looks like she's taking your snack to another store..."