Randomly insulted in village about my dog's 'behaviour'

Not really. If it's on a lead and away from the shouters, it's not their problem at all.

Puppy probably fine - there are people who will have a go for no reason. This happened to me and when I told them to hold up so I could cross the road to discuss they scuttled off, and never did it again. I did worry about coming across them again, though.

Thanks @Flippertygibbets Yes, they are amazing dogs but not for the faint-hearted. I really hope that the OP won't mind me saying this... but a quick PM has confirmed that our girls are littermates. She's in the SW and I'm in the NW so it's quite a coincidence that I responded to her post. We've also both had PMD before, so the boisterous behaviour of our girls is not down to us being novice owners or not training properly.

Yes, we do find it's love/hate when walking these lovable hooligans; people will either grab them for a big cuddle, or cross the road with their lapdog or baby. We always try to reassure, but I suppose it's understandable that some people do feel intimidated by the size. Still, that doesn't excuse people being abusive of a dog that is not showing any aggression, and I hope the OP won't encounter these people again.

Have you met the general public?
Nothing a lot of people seem to enjoy more in life than randomly venting their spleen at inoffensive strangers.

As for OP's dog, she sounds like a perfectly normal adolescent giant breed dog.

Been thinking about this @madbatarse , and I wonder is it relevant to ask if these people are local or could be summer visitors, since you said you are in a village in the south west? We find that Brie has her regular cuddlers that stop to say hi, and who know her by name, and you seem to suggest it's the same with your pup. If you've had her for a year, and you've had the breed before, then she's probably a very familiar sight where you live.
Oddly though, my husband recognised spaniel woman from previous walks, so it must be something about me as a small woman with a large dog that bothered her.

If you do encounter this abusive couple again it's probably best to ignore them. It sounds as if there are plenty of people who know you and your girl and would vouch for the fact that she is friendly and exuberant rather than badly behaved.

@CoubousAndTourmalet as someone with a dog with a strong prey drive but who previously had a biddable lab I absolutely understand. I can see you were empathising with OP rather than suggesting not to work on stop/recall. I googled your breed and they’re stunning! We’d be asking to say hello but appreciate you must get a lot of folk picking up their dog/ making a sharp exit, bless you.

'She is a bit hyper.' Sounds to me like a strong case of head in the sand. Get control of your dog. With obedience lessons if necessary. Sounds like a menace.. I don't imagine for a minute that they are yelling at a well behaved dog.

If your dog is on a lead (not a long line) and not being allowed to run up to people / into buildings and gardens, it absolutely is under control. If they approach it, that’s on them. YANBU.

@madbatarse your dog is on a lead so whatever they say or shout is totally irrelevant!! people dont seem to understand that a big dog does not mean an adult dog! some dogs are better behaved than many people! is their dog a handbag doggy????

Is it possible that your dog is the same breed as another dog that is walked by someone who lets their dog off lead and the dog is a nuisance?

That would be my first thought and I would know k and ask them why they are upset at my dog in particular when he is supervised at all times and is not a nuisance.

I'm not taking over the thread but I will explain that it's a Livestock Protection Dog breed, they don't work to command, they are very independent minded and notoriously difficult to train. It's not about "not bothering" to train them, believe me. I've had 8 of them, and only one had reliable recall. As I've already said, people do not welcome a 50kg dog wandering up to say hi, but with a LGD it is never easy to guarantee that won't happen because their guarding instincts and need to investigate things often overrides the owners commands. In the current climate of dog hate we have to tread carefully. So yes, sadly, that means they are on the lead a lot.

Having an enormous great dog is a bit like driving an enormous great car-some onlookers will think you have chosen to do so in order to intimidate people.

My puppy behaves much the same but because he is a smaller breed he doesn't get the comments. Just ignore them, they are probably reacting from an experience that doesn't involve you or your dog.

@CoubousAndTourmalet so the issue is the dog approaching people, but surely it’s a puppy, nobody is going to keep it on lead for life rather than bother themselves to train it?

@LandSharksAnonymousi knew you had to be a goldie owner with that username!

This. Honestly OP I have been there with a neighbour which ended up with them yelling at my front door. Moral high ground is the thing. Smile calmly ignore the yelling and tell you dog how good he is being. Emotions do travel down the lead so the calmer you can model, the calmer and happier your nutter will feel and hopefully his behaviour will reflect this.

I’d definitely be up for a big Pyrenean coming up to see me and my pup! Mines best friend is a St Bernard that makes him look tiny.!!

It’s her size that’s the issue more than her behaviour.

I’m not excusing their behaviour at all. But if you’re having to wrangle the lead with her and she’s lunging and jumping to try and greet people (which is my impression given you’ve said she’s excitable) then people probably are intimidated. TBH I totally get it, I have four Goldies and every one of them has been like that at some point (and mine are big - well over 40KG). And I get it - 40+KG dog barking or yipping or even just bouncing up and down on its tippy happy paws is intimidating.

But these people don’t know how slowly it takes large or giant breeds to reach maturity (2-3years) and they think size = aggression. So they see a dog that’s 40KG and think it’s an adult that - especially once it’s bulked out - and fail to realise it’s actually still equivalent to a toddler in terms of development.

Ironic, really, since a Pyr is far less likely to bite you than something like a chihuahua or even a cocker.

I’d be tempted to film their rude insult shouting, post it on the village fb group. 😆

Friend of mine deals with twats like this by being over the top artificial nice, wishing them a lovely day, and how it’s so delightful to hear their opinions, etc with a sarcastic smile.

im more tempted to shout “fuck off fat cunt” but I’m not very sensible 🤣

Yes – and if the dog was aggressive and dangerous the OP would say that too.

The dog is 14 months old.

This isn't a Scandi thriller with a big twist – we don't need our detective hats on.

Anyone who's ever met a 14 month old just-out-of puppyhood dog knows what 'boisterous and sociable' looks like.

And again, none of it warrants verbal abuse.

the irony of alluding that the op might be irresponsible and recommending a halti!

@stclementine @Flippertygibbets
Our Pyrenean is only off the lead in our garden or on the secure dog field also.
Yes, it is hard restricting them, and it doesn't seem fair, but you only need to read the responses on this thread to see that most people do not welcome an overly large friendly dog approaching them. I don't let her off for her own safety, not other people's. She is not aggressive in the least, just very big, and too curious for her own good. She is walked on a 6 foot webbing lead with a heavy duty trigger attached to a double D ring collar. We are experienced owners.

he only goes off the lead in an enclosed field or my garden so he does run everyday, but I can’t let him off in a wood or beach because he’s not got good recall. Or any recall at the moment and because he is big and bouncy he could jump at someone or a kid and knock them over. Or he could cause or get into an accident. Adolescence is brutal. He’s also my third golden and I’ve never had one who is as headstrong, stubborn and independent as much as he is.

@stclementine surely your dog is off lead somewhere? You don’t have a golden retriever that never runs?!

Ok in this case smile and nod and don’t let it bother you. If you’re minded just say ‘the dog is nowhere near you my lovely’ and shrug!