large breed snobbery

[KittyLane1]

Has anyone else experienced snobbery or out right nastiness due to their breed of dog? I have a GSD, a lovely fluffy girl who is a big playful softie. I took her to puppy socialising classes and the man running it told me I shouldn't have her because she was too big for me.
I then took her to training classes and was told she was too big and I couldn't handle her (she was the best behaved dog there!) I have had men stop me in the street to "warn" me that a girl shouldn't have a big dog, I have noticed other people put there dogs on the lead or pull their children in when they see her coming (strangers btw, we don't have a reputation or anything) I even had an old man stop me to tell me she was a "Nazi dog"!

Has anyone else experienced this with a large dog? My friend has a rottie and has faced the same reaction.

I have 2 GSD, I do notice that people cross the street or leave the park I walk into. I walk mine with a double buggy so they wear the halti's and I'm sure a lot if non-dog owners think they have them on because they are aggressive. The only comments I get are "oh you have your hands full".

I suppose when get "oh she's big" and I reply "er no not really" winds me up a bit too she's only scwt! Sorry she's not a shit poo bundle of fluff like the rest around here

I know, I've been told I should have a pug or such like, implying that a GSD is a "man's" dog. I do understand that people buy huskys and wolf breeds because they look good then realise they can't handle them but I find this is more of a sexist issue tbh.

Don't get me started on the school gate mums!

13st! 9.5st! DO you live in a mansion?!

A family member went off on one saying GSDs are all vicious, she had to eat her words when 10 minutes later fluffydog was curled up whining in a corner because it saw a spider!

With regards to people putting their dogs on lead or pulling their children to one side, you would always get that if they have never seen you and the dog before.
Due to the size, a large dog could potentially do more damage than a smaller dog (on average).
They are stronger, more powerful and would require someone strong to handle it if it becomes out of control.
Could you blame someone for being cautious with their kids or if they have a small dog?

But as for people making rude remarks, that’s a different thing.

People often cross the street to avoid walking past me when I'm walking my dogs. They used to when I was only walking one as well.

Mine are Lurchers and the older one isn't considered big for his breed at 24" to the shoulder, but I suppose is quite wolfy looking, being part Deerhound. The younger of the two is only 7 months old and already 25 1/4 " and he's more scared of them than they are of him.

We live in an area mainly populated by small breeds, which are generally overweight, poorly socialised, snappy and owned by retired folk, the other dogs round here tend to be gundog breeds that aren't walked or trained enough and are complete hooligans in the park and Cockerpoos - hundreds of Cockerpoos!

My two walk perfectly on the lead, recall well and the elder is highly sociable and gentle with other dogs, whereas the puppy had a bad start and hides behind me when he sees another dog - usually the smaller the dog, the more he's scared - and despite being the biggest by a long way at his puppy classes, he was most definitely the wussiest! Yet mine are viewed as huge killing machines and if I had a pound for every time someone suggested my dogs would think their 'fluffy poo' was a rabbit, I'd be very rich! Part of it is their size, part of it is breed prejudice, but whatever it is it's their problem not mine.

My first dog was an enormous old-style, long coated GSD bitch. She was awesome - a dog in a million. We had the same as you, people making comments that I shouldn't have her, she should be muzzled and was a dangerous dog etc - yet she was the gentlest, best trained dog of the lot and had such a beautiful heart. I haven't been able to let myself have another GSD since, as I don't think another dog could ever come close to how special she was and it wouldn't be fair on them.

My advice is to just ignore them. It's their problem and if you had a toy breed they'd probably be calling it a rat or finding some other way to insult it or you.

If I met you on a walk I would have to come over and say hello and admire your gorgeous girl.

Yes, yes I've had this. Someone helpfully told me I needed to put on weight to handle my dog as he would be too heavy. But he's tall and hairy but lighter than most labs! Plus , he's (quite) well trained and doesn't pull me about.

My 3 dogs all together probably wouldn't add up to your girl but some people still pull their kids away, and I get comments about having my hands full (I can easily hold all three of them with one hand - even in the throws of cat sightings.) And I get the comments about them not being 'proper' dogs etc, etc.

Basically if you go out in public with kids or dogs numpties some people seem to think that gives them an invitation to comment.

I confess to avoiding certain people walking large breeds. There is a woman near me who walks a vizla and a spinone. Well, I say walks, in fact she is towed behind them. Fact is, they aren't trained, lunge and bark at everyone/thing, and worry me a bit. I've seen her dragged into the road by them lunging at a pushchair, and in reality she doesn't have the skill or control I think she should have to be safe. If I see a large dog under control walking pleasantly by its owner's side...I still cross the road because my Bastard Spaniel will freak out . Personally, I won't have a dog I can't physically hold back if I needed to. I'm 5'9" and weigh 10 stone, and my spaniel has pulled me over at 15kg. Granted, I am a weakling, but a large breed would just be taking me along for the ride.

I have a Bernese Mountain Dog - have not had negative comments about her size, but live in dog friendly New Forest where I suspect half of the households are dog owning households. Agree with last poster about negativity towards smaller breeds not being real dogs - I've had that re my other dog which is a daschund / terrier cross

Not last poster but MothershipG

I have the Bastard Spaniel and a poodley cross who weighs 6kg soaking wet. People assume cute and allow their DC to run up to us all the time. In fact, the Bastard Spaniel is extremely nervous, and although he has never shown any aggressive signals towards people (he saves all that for other dogs), he is clearly uncomfortable when this happens. People judge dogs on appearance all the time.

I have been told to keep my 'dangerous' dog under control and on a lead - the owner of the collie that my lurcher was happily playing with (ignoring people) wasn't told the same. My lurcher's not much different in size from a large collie either.

I have a GSD, he's the softest pudding there ever was. I was single for a few years when I first had him, and I think people were often surprised to see a single girl with a big male GSD.

I get annoyed when people see him approaching on walks, they panic and put their dogs on a lead. He nearly always just casually ignores the dogs, but it's always the little terriers on leads that try and attack him when he walks past.

As for people who pick up their snappy little dogs when he approaches, and lets them growl and snap at him from above... grrrrrrr.

I don't really get negative comments though, I often get told "Oh no one will mess with you", or at the house "No one would try anything at this house".. which I find reassuring. I always ruin it by saying "Oh he's a big softie really" then kick myself for shattering his hard-dog illusion!!

I love him to smithereens.

Enjoy your fluffy bear!

I have a giant breed - who is in fact the biggest softie, and very polite and respectful of other dogs, though at 18months can be very playful,....he loves to meet other dogs.

I get people crossing the street, putting there dogs on lead when they see him (if the don't know him).

My pet peeves are people making comments about him eating their dog....normally when there dog has run up to him barking and growling (at which point he retreats behind my legs. As in "oh don't take him on [insert pet name], he'll eat you for breakfast"......no my dog won't - buts yours is bloody rude!

The other pet peeve is as we approach dogs playing off lead, people putting theres on lead, when he is politer and respectful of smaller days...more so than many labs we meet. Or not wanting there young dog to socialise with him, even when he is on lead and obviously friendly.

There was a thread on here a few months ago that made me very sad....someones dog was attacked by a rottweiller, and everyone was saying they put their dogs on lead when they see big dogs, silly really., I've seen the damage a jack russell has done to a sheep, they are quite capable of killing any size dog, so really its not about size, but socialisation and training.

I have a large Greyhound, he wears a muzzle as he is very unpredictable with other dogs and I could never trust him not to bite if he was provoked by an off lead dog.

I've never had any negative comments though, just ones from travellers asking if I race him and was he any good? I tell them he was crap and couldn't catch an arthritic rabbit :o

The only 'negative' incidents that I can think of is a few times I saw an Indian/Bangladeshi family (dad, 2 young girls about 6-8) walking to school, the dad would stand at the curb, arms outstretched while the girls walked behind him into a main road screaming/giggling histerically

I get all of that and i don't even have a large dog! He's a 14 inch high staffy
Still i love asking large dog owners if i can say hello to their dogs, they are always surprised i'm not scared!
But i used to own an enormous rottweiler x english mastiff. He scared a lot of people on dark nights.

Oh do tell us about the school mums! Please?

I have two GSD. I have had every comment under the sun. Mine are perfectly behaved but still get blamed when small bundles of fluff try and launch at them as if it is my dogs fault?? I felt very sad at first that my dogs don't get to play with many others but now I am used to it and I found a dog walk group so mine are well socialised.
In fact I want a third but I feel this may be madness??

I usually find it's parents that are the worst around them. They are on lead minding their own business and I often hear 'never touch dogs like that' or 'stay away from those type' which is such a shame as they are the most loyal and loving family dogs. Mine adore children and often get nails painted and wear fairy outfits, they have starred in children's plays (wolves- black one!) and are such good family pets compared to some of the small 'safe' breeds that clearly aren't, and as a vet nurse I've met a lot of dogs! I would say most children are dragged away with the fear of god instilled in them, for no good reason as my dogs would happily be stroked if I was asked. What a way to make children phobic!!

Think of the positives though- most people with badly behaved dogs try their best to avoid me which means i don't have to worry about how mine will react!! Also, I can walk in the dark without fear of strange men following me (mine are very protective!) and when I am home alone I feel completley safe!

Enjoy your dog and egnore the ignorant :-)

I put my dogs on the lead whenever I see another one coming because one is fear aggressive and the other just wants to play and wouldnt come back. People arent always judging you!