Aibu to get a big scary looking dog so i can walk without fear

[Thatsmycupoftea]

I have a soft as anything golden retriever. I love walking and I have breaks in my work at various times of the day and evening and I like to take her to different areas for walks.

There have been a few times when I have felt uneasy for various reasons, but today I'm pretty sure a man was following me in the woods, I was genuinely terrified. I rang dh pretending he was 2 minutes away meeting me at an agreed location. The man then walked away but hung around so I quickly went back to my car.

I'm an experienced dog owner and have owned a big meat head looking bully breed. He was soft as s#*t really but looked like a thug. I never felt uneasy when I walked him.

I love the peace of walking my dog. Its my only down time. I feel like I can't enjoy it. Why can't I do that without fear. Maybe I'm irrational. Maybe I need to stay away from stories in the media, but then I have experienced these incidents myself so I dunno.

Do other women feel this way?

I've never had a dog and I do sometimes go walking on my own.

Most of the time I feel fine but there are some places where I've walked when I've realised that I am very isolated and "in the middle of nowhere" on little-used paths or it's been in the evening as the light begins to fail and there are no other walkers about. At those times, I've felt vulnerable and have hurried along at top speed until back in a more populated area.

It's a great pity that we can't simply go out for a walk without a lingering fear of something undesirable being around the next bend in the path.

I won't let fear stop me from going out, but as I've got older and weaker I'm definitely more aware of my vulnerability.

I never feel unsafe when out walking with my old spaniel, but he would be useless if I needed him to protect me, he's so friendly! My old lab girl was a different matter, she was also super friendly but would always give a few warning barks if strangers got too close. I have no doubt she would have seen off any potential creeps.

I'm a single parent and I have 4 very large dogs. No one comes near me. And they're always visible in the garden so it tends to keep people away from my house too.

Seems a bit drastic to me and not exactly the best reason to commit to a dog.

I have SBTs people cross the street to avoid me. It's fabulous. Having said that been at a cash point once and a guy stood too close to me and my youngest was growling, hackles up. This has happened a couple of times when out at a couple of men so he definitely senses hostility because he is usually the first to say hello to a nice human.

I don't have them because I feel scared btw, I grew up with this type of dog. I also foster dogs.

I got one after being burgled, felt much safer. He passed away last year and I’m awaiting another from a litter. So no, I don’t think YABU.
However, I will say that you really do need to know how to train large breeds (probably working breeds). Lots of pet owners think they’re good trainers until they have to handle a large bull breed. They can be total liabilities if not trained correctly. Don’t let your previous experience lull you into a false sense of security, they can be a hell of a lot of maintenance.

It is so crap to think we have to account for this crap each and every time we go out.
I have 2 labs and I generally walk them on my own , but on more than one occasion I have changed routes or cut walks short because of some man. The dogs attract attention as they are soft lumps and make friends easily. At least one man has creeped me out by using that to get me to stop several days in a row when he met us. Not sure his motive, but I got an unpleasant feeling from him. Always trust those senses.

This is why in our house we are at loggerheads on breed and so far havent commited to a dog.

I want a GSD for all the PPs above reasons. DP wants a labrador.

I have always had GSDs and loved walking with them - always felt safe as houses. My last old girl died recently and I thought I should really get a rescue dog this time. I picked up a lovely boy from the dog pound and did not realise how scary looking he is till I noticed people getting out of the way when I walk him - he is kind of a staffie, but much taller with an enormous head and a tiny bum. He is so affectionate and soft.

I don't currently have a dog, but remember having a Dobermann who was as soft as they come, and yet people who didn't know us would cross the road to avoid her. I had a very protective Weimaraner who I never had any concerns with, unless you count keeping other people safe from her. She had to be formally introduced to people before she'd let them anywhere near her or me.

I really want another dog as I hate walking without one, but all the dog thefts etc. really puts me off. I've been looking up ideas of things to do / wear / have just in case - really wonder how on earth it came to this and why people can't just go out and enjoy a nice walk without all the stress, which rather defeats the object.

The trouble with scary looking dogs is that they scare more than just dodgy looking predators

YANBU,
My oldie is the only thing that makes me feel brave enough.walk around my place.
He is people pleaser and will probably hide behind me if needs be,however there is something about people who are drunk or wearing hoodies,he is really suspicious when he sees/smells one (maybe trauma after my ex? )

• to walk

I have a GSD x and never had problems out running with her at night.

Also interesting that we lived in our old house for 8 years (with the same dog, she's an old girl now!) and didn't ever have any problems, and in the 3 years since we've moved out, the people living there have been burgled twice.

When we got her it never occurred to us that she'd be a means of protection (I just fell in love with her) but it's become very apparent over the years and is something we'll have to think about when she goes.

I think its a shame we feel unsafe when walking alone with our dogs .I try and meet up with a friend ,or one of the friendly bunch of dog owners at the park .If I dont then I wont walk too far down into the woods on my own .

@Happyorchidlady My DH grew up with a Dobie/GSD mix and he would get out of yard and go sniffing around the neighborhood as all dogs do occasionally and he wandered by a construction site and the big workers took one look and all crowded onto a big piece of equipment off the ground and called out to MIL (who was on her bike calling dog's name) "Hey lady, your dog's over here-come get him" They we're all scared silly-very intimidating looking and a very well trained dog who wouldn't harm anyone unless he had very good cause (such as threat to member of family such as burglary)

@Passingahat

It depends. Lots of big dog breeds could potentially put you more at risk of being targeted for dog theft.

Possibly. Though there was a report on locally here a couple of months ago that an Ovcharka had been stolen from a back garden. I thought woah that’s brave (or stupid). The dog was returned literally within a couple of hours, no questions asked. I did find it amusing tbh, idiots. I remember a few years ago when there was a kidnap and death threat made against Joss Stone (court case) she got herself an Ovcharka for protection. That’ll do it.

I don’t think you should write off a soft as butter GD. I had a collie/retriever cross she was a beautiful dog, had the golden coat with the white collie markings, she was daft and really soft. She would turn if she needed to protect us, a random drunk man once walked into our house (he was meant to be in next door). She ran at him a pinned him to the wall snarling at him and barking, ready to take a chunk off him if needed. My dad was also playing with me as a small kid and tipped me upside down I was squealing and she was barking and jumping at him. My dad was her absolute favourite but she recognised the need to protect the younger female of her pack, she didn’t understand we were just mucking about. I only saw her turn on people in these situations, she was softer these butter the rest of the time.

@DentonsFringeArnottsWaistcoat our Leo’s look very similar and they are honestly people magnets!
They are somewhere around 70kgs or so and people want to kiss/touch/stroke them and even take photos of them with no fear whatsoever. They get grabbed by people constantly and people cross the roads to get over to me to find out about them.
I originally thought nobody would come near me with a dog of that size but lots of people mistake them for Caucasians all the time and are fascinated by them despite thinking they are one of the most protective breeds on the planet

Take out the little 27kg shepherd though different story

I've never felt frightened or worried when walking my dogs (two Labs, one is a bit cranky, I suppose I expect her to defend me?!)

Apart from Labradors my favourite dog is a German Shepherd. A friend has two. He says people cross the road/deliberately give him a wide birth. That's not my initial intention when walking my dogs. I never got a dog to feel protected.

I’ve got two black labs. Most people round here like dogs so they get nice attention when out and about, but they absolutely scare the crap out of the odd delivery driver. So to the person between the lab and the GSD, get a big Labrador and there’s not that much difference, so maybe there’s a way forward on the dog front.

I’d recommend having a mastiff. Mine is a big, soft stubborn pudding but people cross the road to avoid us sometimes. Highly amusing.

Yes Op I feel exactly the same.

I walk our dog daily on my own, she’s small and friendly, and I always have my wits about me, never fully relax.

It annoys me as walking has always been my switch off time but there’s been too much violence of late and because of that I’m wary.

It annoys me when men act oddly. Most men are fine and walk or run past saying good morning and pass the time of day whilst still walking.

Occasionally you meet one, generally alone with no dog, who acts odd and i makes you feel vulnerable.

The other day one just stopped still about 20m in front of me just fiddling with his phone. It forced me to overtake, then he kept walking. Men need to understand that this type of behaviour is unnerving when you are in the middle of nowhere. As is trying to engage in excessive, and odd conversation, which I have also encountered.

Another Leo owner here. Brilliant at guarding your home/property, outside of that not so much 😂 I do worry about the attraction element for theft so consciously vary my routes/times etc.

I think on here once I read that a Mnetter had their house burgled and the thieves literally handed each other the goods through the window they had forced open right over the head of their sleeping Doberman. It isn’t necessarily the size of the dog you need to factor in the temperament. Not all big dogs are natural guard dogs.