To touch a strangers dog without permission then to be abusive when it barks

[WeHaveChocIcesInTheFreezer]

For context; we have a 4 year old female German Shepherd who is the softest, friendliest dog you can meet IF she knows you. She is not good with strangers, especially men, after some horrible experiences as a very young puppy. Typical of her breed she is loyal, loving and protective over us and our DC (6mo twins)- to note she is NEVER alone with or out of reach when around DC and has only ever been calm and affectionate towards them.

This morning I’m out walking her with a friend and have the twins in their pram, my friend pops into a shop so I’m stood outside with the pram in front of me and her sat calmly by my feet, next to the pram. Out of nowhere a young, quite big in build, man appears next to me and just lunges towards her and sticks his hand into her face. She instinctively sees this as a threat to her and us and immediately snaps at him/barks loudly. He backs off whilst quite angrily saying ‘not a friendly dog then eh?’.. so I said ‘actually she is but not with strangers and you should have asked before touching her!’ To which he raises his voice and starts saying ‘you shouldn’t have an effing dog on the streets if it isn’t effing friendly to strangers!’

At this point my friend comes out of the shop so this man storms off whilst shouting back more abuse about me being a ‘silly cow’ and having a ‘dangerous dog’..

Now I’m aware she’s a protective breed and can be intimidating to some, but I had a halter collar/lead on her and kept her by my feet/out of the way of people passing. She has zero issues around people as long as they don’t try touch her without warning. He PURPOSELY leaned across me to touch her with no warning!

AIBU to be annoyed at him? Or could I/should I have done more to avoid strangers touching her?

Sadder when people get large working guarding breeds and won't take responsibility for them in public when there have been clear signs there is a risk. Your dog isnt nervous, it is guarding you exactly as it was bred to instictively do.

Dogs can be trained to happily wear a well fitted muzzle.

Personally I’d muzzle train her and if there’s any risk of someone being in touching distance I’d use it. I say that as a vet because I want you to protect her. It’s why I will use a muzzle if ever concerned about a dog, not just for staff but also to avoid them having a bite on their record incase anything happens involving police in the future.

Strangers cannot be trusted and I’d hate for her to protect herself and end up being ordered to be PTS

@OCDmama

Seriously????😡

Not family dogs???🙄 They are know as a family dog for their gentleness around children, and their protective nature of the family as a whole.

The police, army, & security people use these dogs for their loyalty, intelligence and ability to work for as long as required.

They also use them for crowd control and crowd dispersal, bomb disposal, the finding of lost humans and dead bodies, and the pursuit and arrest of criminals! These dogs lay their life on the line for their handlers and retire to their handlers families! The police do not use them to “attack” people!! They use them to control crowds and disperse troublemakers.

These dogs are utterly dedicated to their owners and families and I know whose company I’d rather keep! To those who think their golden kids can do what they want, when they want, including running round strangers pets and animals screaming and pulling at them, you have a lot to learn.

I keep my dog away from your kids and make sure she is never a nuisance…. Can you say that about your kids?
My dogs have never been “smelly and out of control” I have, however, met plenty of ‘out of control’ children.

If your child went missing, the police would use their scent dogs to go searching, day or night. They would cover difficult terrain and keep going til they were called home. Or perhaps you wouldn’t want such a “smelly and out of control mutt” that is soooo dangerous to be involved?

@BalthazarTheCamel

I'm going to assume your comprehension abilities are limited.

Firstly, I said that no one should be approaching strange dogs. So before insulting me and my kids, learn to read. I don't know if you know how to use quotes either - I never used the phrase "smelly and out of control".

Also, you've literally just agreed with me. Pursuit of and arrest of people - ergo attack dogs. Security. And police dog handlers are very, very careful with their dogs around their families, considering their capabilities.

No comment on the little dead girl either huh? Here's another story for you: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/news/22265697/boy-mauled-death-family-german-shepherd/amp/

I've upset two children who went to touch my dog without asking. She was still quite young, a cocker spaniel, and very barky with strangers. Well, and with people she loves.
One was a year 7 at my dds school who came up behind me, when I had my dog between me and a wall, and tried to stroke her. I said, probably a bit more sternly than intended, you mustn't touch dogs you don't know! I think was worried she could have been nipped. She went off crying to her friends, who gave me evils. But she didn't get bitten.
Another was a little boy when we were away. Similar situation but he was at a wedding and outside an area the public could walk through. He was away from his parents, but not too far, but still came over to pat my dog and I again said you mustn't touch dogs you don't know. His dad saw his son get upset and was looking like he was in two minds about giving me a piece of his, but maybe he realised what had happened. Again, the kid wasn't bitten.
I feel by saying these things to people trying to touch my dog, that not only am I protecting them but I am protecting her from being taken away from me and maybe even destroyed.

Ywnbu@WeHaveChocIcesInTheFreezer

He was just trying to have the last word after you told him off. It didn't even need to be a conversation, let alone a confrontation. The dog already told him off, and now this will only increase her anxiety about others approaching you

Yes people should always ask before approaching at dog. But barking straight away at strangers is behaviour that needs addressing, most people are strangers to your dog and she's obviously feeling threatened and stressed regularly, not much of a life for the dog

This. And I say that as someone who owns a giant breed dog. She just lies there and lets people pet her. Incredibly placid. The one German Shepherd I know is always barking aggressively at my dog. My own dog always looks around wondering what she's done wrong 🤣

We have a dog like this. She’s friendly to those she knows but will bark at those who she doesn’t.

I have her in a “nervous” harness now because I got so fed up of people assuming they could stroke her. Tbh even if I don’t have a nervous dog I’d be tempted to get one just to avoid all the repetitive small talk with people about my dogs! People just assume because I’m out with my dogs I’m happy to have long chats about them when normally it’s my work lunch break and I’m enjoying the silence!

@BalthazarTheCamel

a woman who lived by us but never spoke to us, marched straight up to the pram and stuck both hands in to pick DS up!!!

Utterly moronic woman!

Good Dog! 🌹

I would have knocked her over. That's so scary.

There should be a 'nervous' vest or something for the owner to wear too. I could do with one.

You must be mad. How can you be so uncaring? You deliberately keep a large dangerous dog that you admit cannot be touched and is not safe. And you have baby twins. I do hope you see sense before they walk. Jesus.

Oh, bingo card time gain. I see the usual suspect has arrived.

Lol 💥

Haha, well really humans shouldn't be exposed to these dangerous things at all but so many are selfish and just have no care.
The two usual who hate people and love dogs. Very very strange tbh. It's extremely worrying to hear people say they prefer dogs to humans and compare them to children. It really makes you worry.

I feel your pain, I have a large breed dog that people always rush up too as he's fairly rare and very pretty.

But he's a guard breed, nervous and will do the animated air snapping if he's threatened.

I'm sick to death of idiots approaching us so I now put him in a car and drive out to countryside only for walks, no town or even village walks fit him.

We rarely meet anyone and if we do they are dog people and pop leads on or just smile and walk, it's been a great change but it's only due to humans being idiots around him.

@OCDmama

Scour the internet looking for German Shepherd ‘horror’ stories all you want🤷‍♀️ I’m sure I could equally find horror stories regarding other types of dogs, cats, spiders, fishes,ants whatever. As i I said in an earlier post, after a long lifetime around GSDs, the only dog that was ever out of control and bit me was a toy poodle.
I am well aware that some people are dog people /cat people / no pet at all people, and that’s fine, each to their own. However the blanket howling of “Muzzle it now” really annoys me, as does the criticism of the breed with little justification. If I am walking my dog on a lead in a permitted place, I am bothering no-one, but children will frequently rush up to her, trying to hug and kiss her… (she’s very fluffy) where are the parents in this situation? Allowing kids to run round doing whatever? Why is that my dogs problem?
I stand by my point… that this breed of dog is a guarding breed, a herding breed and a superb working dog for its work with all the services. They are used by the Forces, the Police, Prisons and Security primarily for their deterrent factor, with, if necessary, the speed and ability to chase and detain any offenders that escape. I see no problem with that, without them, what would happen in those situations? A human rarely catches up with another fleeing human who has a head start… the GSD can reach speeds over 20mph and will easily catch and hold the offender.
As regards out of control children, I will continue to dislike them, and sadly there’s far more of them😢

My comprehension? Aah,It’s Friday, I’m tired🤷‍♀️ Soon to be in bed, lovely dog sleeping next to me, I sleep well knowing she will protect me, guard me and look after me 100% til her very last breath. Yet to meet a human who’ll do that.

I bet this loser wouldn't have lunged at her if a man had been holding her. This sounds like it's as much about sexist male entitlement as anything else.

@Boomboom22

Through my career, I have known some deeply unpleasant cruel and horrible individuals who will lie, cheat & steal their way through life. In my personal life I have also known some not-very-nice people of both sexes.
In the animal and domestic world, I have had the pleasure of knowing some wonderful pets, genuinely pleased to see you, good companions and not one liar, cheater or thief amongst them. If that makes me “odd” so be it. I don’t like people who don’t like animals, simple as.

I don’t like people who don’t like animals, simple as.

Couldn't agree more, @BalthazarTheCamel!

How exactly am I being uncaring? By saying surely the parents have some responsibility for stopping their child approaching a stranger’s dog?

Not wanting to be touched by a stranger without warning does not make her dangerous. I have no issues with having her as a pet and having my children around, plenty (and I mean literally thousands) of families have GSD’s, so I have no time for your offensive insinuation I am somehow a bad parent.

Thank you! My thoughts exactly 👏

@Catsmere 🙌👏 🐕♥️🐈♥️

Shout out to all the dogs, cats, rabbits, mice, snakes, birds, rodents etc who are keeping their owners company tonight, giving them cuddles, keeping them warm and safe. 🐾

By snapped I meant barked at him/‘snapped’ and reacted, apologies if this was misleading and gave the impression she bit. She did not and has never bit anyone. And whilst I agree it would ultimately have been ‘my fault’ if she had bitten this fool, my post wasn’t actually questioning her reaction it was asking if there is more I can do to avoid strangers touching her/am I being unreasonable by thinking HIS behaviour was out of order.