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Original poster

yes, my dog is very large but he is not vicious....

110 replies

nothercules · 07/05/2006 14:07

Only had my dog for nearly 3 months and getting fed up of people accusing me of having a vicious dog. He's still a puppy and has never hurt anyone or attempted to. He is always on the lead in any areas where there are lots of kids and minds his own business on walks.

Why do people assume because he is large he must be vicious?
Actually I worry about him as he's already been bitten by a couple of small dogs.

OP posts:
KBear · 07/05/2006 14:14

what sort of dog is it? Lots of dogs get a reputation for being dangerous. I personally can't stand dogs but I wouldn't say something to anyone walking a dog unless it came too close to my kids for comfort. people are just nervous of other people's dogs I think.

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 14:14

leonberger

OP posts:
KBear · 07/05/2006 14:16

ah, see, I don't know what one of those looks like but probably the fact that it's an unusual breed might put people off. Does it look scary?

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 14:47

He looks a bit like a cross between a lion and a bear....mmmm maybe that would be scary looking! Grin

OP posts:
buffythenappyslayer · 07/05/2006 15:01

nothercules,i get people grabbing their kids away from ours!hes only 8 months,and we got him when he was 3 and he was big then.hes a big softy and doesnt even bark (breed characteristic,they only bark if they think somethings wrong).my neighbour has just got a sheepdog pup,and she brought it over to meet diesel.diesel thought dinner time had come early!!but hes a pup still so was just playing.our postie asked if ours was on the dangerous dogs list!makes me laugh because hes got a german shepherd thing that bounces about everywhere and jumps up at you,diesel cant be bothered with too much activity!!

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 15:24

I also also get people saying things like he must need hours of exercise and eat loads. Truth is we cant work him for more than 40 minutes and he costs about 70 p a day to feed.

OP posts:
Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 15:24

what sort is yours?

OP posts:
Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 15:25

I love telling people ours is only a puppy and has a couple more inches to grow.

OP posts:
buffythenappyslayer · 07/05/2006 16:02

ours is a japanese akita.i alos love telling people hes still a pup and is still growing!the look of pure horror on their faces is great!!!

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 16:06

They are lovely dogs.

OP posts:
cazzybabs · 07/05/2006 16:07

nothercules - I googled your dog bread - doesn't look scary at all - more like a big furry teddy! I want one!!!!!

I don't like rRottweiler or pit bulls but we have friends who have Rottweilers and say they are very gentle dogs!

Twiglett · 07/05/2006 16:16

why on earth should people grabbing their kids away from your dog upset / annoy you?

it constantly amazes me why people think their pets should have priority

I have no issue with any animals .. neither does DS .. but DD has been petrified of animals since birth .. I'm letting her find her own way out of it .. and its working as she's getting closer to dogs / cats .. but the amount of piggin' pet owners who grab their pet and basically force it towards her as though they're helping Angry .. gah! .. all it does it make her shiver with fright

in this world .. children come first .. pets are way down the list

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 16:18

Err I said I was fed up of people accusing me of having a vicious dog. I dont care if people pull their kids away...

OP posts:
Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 16:19

nor do I shove my pet into anyones faces. I said he minds his own business on walks and is on a lead where there are lots of kids about. How is that shoving him in your face?

OP posts:
buffythenappyslayer · 07/05/2006 16:19

i get them pulling them away,but they know hes a big softy.it doesnt annoy me,just makes me laugh,he doesnt even look viscious,like a big teddy,so it makes me laugh when they do cos there is no reason for them to do it,he doesnt even jump at people

Twiglett · 07/05/2006 16:20

sorry herc .. wasn't aimed at you .. but at buffy's comments

actually not even aimed at buffy .. more at a friend of mine with a stinkin' cat who I finally got DD to stroke in her own time .. next time we're round, she wasn't so sure .. and sure enough here comes flying cat in owner's arms right into her face .. cue fit of shaky fear Sad

Blandmum · 07/05/2006 16:20

I keep my ds away from dogs, as he is very allergic to them. They trigger his asthma.

Also you know that your dog is docile, other people don't. Better for people to err of the side of caution, don't you think? Even well mannered dogs can react if children act in an unpredictable way....like putting their hand out to pat a dog, losing thei nerve and snatching their hand away.

Blandmum · 07/05/2006 16:21

I keep my ds away from dogs, as he is very allergic to them. They trigger his asthma.

Also you know that your dog is docile, other people don't. Better for people to err of the side of caution, don't you think? Even well mannered dogs can react if children act in an unpredictable way....like putting their hand out to pat a dog, losing thei nerve and snatching their hand away.

buffythenappyslayer · 07/05/2006 16:22

people round here do know he is daft,thats the thing!we are in a small village.

Original poster
nothercules · 07/05/2006 16:22

Yes, I agree but I get comments from people. Dh had someone shout at him the other day when he was walking our dog.

OP posts:
Blandmum · 07/05/2006 16:24

I wouldn't comment, but I would keep my kids away from an unknown dog. (ds from all dogs as far as possible). If we are out walking and see a dog I wait until the owner says, 'He/she is fine with kids' before I let dd pet them. As I say, better to err on the side of caution.

buffythenappyslayer · 07/05/2006 17:12

.

magnolia1 · 07/05/2006 22:11

We have a staffie and a staffie X and there are people who cross the street when we walk them Shock
I know some people are scared of dogs and I always tell my dogs to leave if they look like they are going to sniff a passer by.

I also call out to people that our dogs are friendly but still call the dogs back if there are small children or someone looks scared.

It is hard for dog owners to hear people say comments about their dog but the ignorant ones who presume every dog of a certain breed is nasty is are the hardest to put up with.

Of course not all dogs are freindly but people who think every staffie is bred for fighting or every Rottie is a guard dog etc... they are the annoying ones.

saadia · 07/05/2006 22:28

I'm in the "can't stand dogs brigade" and do sometimes get annoyed when people expect you to find their dog adorable. I was out shopping last week with dss and a man was sitting on a bench with his dog nearby. Man's wife (I presume) was coming out of a shop and he sent his dog to her but the dog mistakenly came over to us. The kids were obviously petrified but the man made no attempt to call back the dog perhaps thinking we'd want to pet the thing.

misdee · 07/05/2006 22:29

i am trying to teach my kids to ask before they pet dogs.

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