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 have a big scary looking bully breed, you know the typical men that have these dogs, well now they approach me regularly to talk about him. I believe my dog would protect me but it's also a theft risk imo.

Depends on the dog... most of the big 'scary' type dogs I know are soft as shit. I do know what you mean, but I don't know if it solves the problem. Not to mention dog thefts as PPs have said, which is a massive problem in our area

I think your retriever will pick up on your nerves/discomfort, and be protective of you if needed. But I do agree that it is ridiculous that in this day we still need to be so cautious.

Stay on well lit areas at night, and let someone know where you are going.

@3JsMa gorgeous pupper.

She's the one who won't take shit!

I also get what you mean, I grew up in quite a rough area and at one point my father had a girlfriend who had a German shephard. The dog had behavioural issues and had to be muzzled when out and most locals had seen the dog so were fully aware.

I used to walk the dog over to the park for his last pee before bed, unmuzzled, at about ten or eleven at night , and literally the hooligans and drunks would scatter as soon as they saw me coming. People would literally cross to the other side of the road too. I honestly never felt safer.

I remember feeling a sense of delight the first few times I did it.. I think it could sense it and literally walked at my heel all the way constantly scanning round him, like he was on duty.

I remember feeling a sense of delight the first few times I did it.. I think it could sense it and literally walked at my heel all the way constantly scanning round him, like he was on duty.

My GSD does that too. She has a special dislike for young men with their hoodies pulled up and will perk right up and give them a long hard stare, they always look really worried!

Yes, I was attacked in that park a year earlier, so the delight was feeling a sense of power that had been taken from me, I remember grinning from ear to ear and petting the dog happily as we walked that first time, telling him how great he was as I watched them scatter.

In hindsight of course I shouldn’t have taken th dog out unmuzzled, it was a violent aggressive reactive dog, but no one was stupid enough to come anywhere near me, no matter how high or drunk they were. And there is a special kind of joy in taking your power back.

I met someone walking a German shepherd/wolf cross when I was out trail running once. She was beautiful and impeccably behaved, and came for an ear-scratch while I had a brief chat with her owner.

Ever since I’ve had a secret desire for a similar dog to run with, partly so I could run in the woods at night without such fear of being attacked, but also because the witch in me loves the idea of running with a wolf under a big moon 🤣.

Realistically we’re not in a position to devote enough time and attention to a dog at the moment, but I think if you’re experienced and have the time and space to socialise/train/exercise a ‘scary’ dog then why not?

I don't think it's necessarily the breed you need to consider. I had a large breed Belgian shepherd/saluki mix, she was big and mostly black (with some white and tan) and was very fast. Her personality was also very aloof and she'd come from a horrible home (very likely hit her and mistreated) to us at 6 months with some serious issues even at that age. She didn't really like most people tbh and stayed away despite most people really want a stroke as she was very pretty. I have absolutely no fear that she would protect me, she had a wonderful low growl that you could barely hear but could feel the vibrations of and just a look she would give as very clear warning sign. A very impressive bark when she decided to use it and her lean fast looking body probably made sure people didn't attempt it as there's no way they'd be able to outrun her if I let go of the lead.

I now have a similar looking dog (related to the saluki which they both most resembled) but more of a medium size and a cream and white colour. She looks far less intimidating from a distance and looks even more friendly up close even though she's just as aloof with most people. She doesn't quiet have the same presence as my last girl and I'm more worried walking her in general (dog napping, she's super friendly with other dogs and it scares me she might be a target) but know she's also less of a deterrent to would be attackers. I do think she'd create a noise if something did happen but I don't think she has it in her to bite to protect me or herself in most situations.

So as much as breed plays a part I think a large dark coloured dog is a bigger deterrent than breed or personality of the dog. If they're dark and intimidating from a distance hopefully that potential attacker will never approach and find out the dog would rather have a stroke than defend you.

I remember being a young teen and walking our absolute softie large-medium boxer dog on the shore by our house. It was deserted and I was listening to my mini discs (ahem!) on headphones.

There was nobody for miles and the dog was snuffling around in the reeds in the marsh. I felt a pair of hands that was far too firm on my shoulders and made a startled noise. Before I could react the dog had barrelled over - pushed the man to the floor and had him pinned on his back whilst low growling into his face. I had never seen the dog like that before and the man looked terrified but didn't have a mark in him - I got the dog off him but he was still very alert. The man said he wanted to know the time and literally ran off.

I told the local police about him, but they didn't care back then...

@alwayswrighty
Thank you and likewise,her look says it all .
I always find female dogs more reliable.

@Thatsmycupoftea

Odd suggestion - try using a chain lead (like this one) instead of a fabric/retractable one.

We recently got a chain lead for our (sweet, calm and gentle) lurcher, for when we clip her into the back of the van, so she can't chew through it.

On the odd occasion we have walked her on it, other people's reactions to her have been markedly different - far fewer 'oh what a gorgeous dog' comments, parents drawing their children back if they go to stroke her, etc.

It's a subtle change, but apparently signals 'watch out, my dog's a meanie' to some people.

Yanbu. I have a medium size dog with big booming scary sounding bark, who's very protective of me, and I feel 100% safer walking at night when she's with me.

Plus her big heavy chain lead would make a great make shift weapon, if it came to it.

Friend of mine had black Newfoundlands, one of which was even more enormous than the others. 11 stone IIRC.

He was lying in the back of her estate car when some idiot road rage driver cut her up, forced her to stop, and then came and raged at her through the window.
Big Boy Newfie (always protective) roused himself, stood up and uttered one very big, very deep and warning WOOF!
She hardly saw the bloke for dust. 😂

I have 2 dogs and I never feel unsafe when walking them. One is an unfashionable medium size fluffy thing and one is an unfashionable large staffy cross- neither desirable for thefts. Fluffy is smart, sharp and a fierce guarder and would no doubt protect me but isn't in any way a deterrent. Large is soft and a bit dim, would go with anyone, and is a rubbish guard dog, but people cross the road when they see her because of how she looks. So they work well as a double act!

I feel.more scared of having my dog taken off me atm rather than someone wanting to hurt me.I have a Chihuahua and hes like my second son.We have had a lot of attempted dog thefts around here and he's v desirable looking.

I have a 4lb chi that would happily try to kill anyone who looked at me funny - I also have a scary looking husky that might try to lick them to death 🤣

I have had many breeds of dogs in my life.

The most 'protective' of me was a dog who was a typical hotch potch of breeds (a true mongrel), who was a bit bigger and broader than a Collie, and had the colouring /markings of an German Shepherd.

He was a very intuitive dog, who would stay close to my side if I was nervous, and start growling and snarling at whoever I was worried about. As soon as they had 'gone', he'd be all happy chappie again.

The best 'deterrent' dog I ever had was again a 'mongrel' (and a rescue dog), he was a giant sized and extremely thick haired German Shepherd. He never once needed to wear a lead, and would stay glued to my side anywhere I walked, including through the city etc.
He was the most 'laid back', gentle soul, who regularly got barked at and even attacked by 'small breed' dogs who were not trained. One day as I was walking down my street with him, a Yorkie across the road got loose, and launched an attack on my dog, who calmly simply stood there with this bloody Yorkie hanging from the hair on his neck, and the owner literally screaming !

I still miss him, every day, even though it's been 25yrs since he died of old age.............

I do know what you mean about a big, scary looking dog OP. I live rurally and walk alone all the time with my lab.

However, I’m not sure it’s really a solution to the ‘problem’ to be honest. There will be pitfalls with those sorts of breeds too which may negate the advantage of having one, should the very unlikely event of an attack happen!

I do not walk in woods for this very reason and have to say, I don’t think lone females walking in woods are being particularly sensible. I know we shouldn’t have to censor where we walk, but woods are creepy anyway and there’s just too many places for weirdos to hide and lack of escape routes!

I stick to open countryside where I can scan around me to see whether someone is coming. I never wear headphones and look around and behind me at regular intervals. I also carry a personal attack alarm on me at all times.

On our walk this morning we came across another dog walker, my dog ignored his dog but flopped down in front of the walker on her back for belly scratches she is literally the most gentle thing and also a bit thick.

We probably don't have space for another dog when all said and done but its tempting. I might look into the chain lead and alarm suggestions. Weapons are probably the way to go.
My dh dosnt like me walking alone and always suggests I meet my friend who also has a dog. Its annoying that he can go out whenever wherever without thinking about it but such is life.

I wouldn't take a big dog on if I couldn't train it properly. Or afford to feed it.

I have been assaulted/robbed (daytime, naice London, no dog) but am happy walking alone with small dog in woods and paths at night. I do carry a big torch, never use earphones and am generally alert and relaxed.

He could be after your dog.
If say take an alarm and keep it visible,they are doing anti dog theft locks and alarms too.
Yanbu to be worried,but getting a rottie,if it's a rescue will you be able to introduce your retriever to a new,adult dog easily?you'll need to bond before s/he would protect you and what to do if the two dogs don't get on?
It's not right you cannot go out without feeling safe,as pp have suggested,self defence classes might help your confidence.
I hope the weirdo backs off sharpish.🐶

My brother has bought me a knuckle duster for when I'm out walking my Rottie girl, both for my protection and for hers (very desirable breed at the moment, thefts are on the increase)

My other brother made me a taser, but it's only got the voltage of a fly swatter (potential attackers wouldn't know that though...) but it's bloody massive and I shocked myself trying to get it out of my pocket so I don't actually take it with me

It's sad that we feel we must protect ourselves as lone women out walking

I regularly walk our large, soft, black greyhound and have never (touch wood) felt worried. I suspect (hope) he would go for anyone who attacked me - he has teeth like a chainsaw and would quite easily knock someone over if he went into them at speed. He does seem to make loitering teenage boys a bit nervous for some reason - although I've always been slightly disappointed that I've never had the opportunity to claim that he's part wolf.