Saturday afternoon I took my on-leash GSD to the local park which was having a town event. Just to give a pic, the event was small so that any tables, be it food or face painting or the stage w/the band or whatever was very spread out and more than 100' apart in any one direction.

About 6 PM I entered the area. I was immediately greated by kids and parents asking to pet him. This one family who owns nothing but Schutzhund trained GSDs that are also from Germany spend at least 1/2 hour with us and my dog. My dog is an extremely calm dog and loves everyone, so will either sit or down, depending while he's being pet. This particular night he was in a down nearly the entire time. There were 4 cops standing less than 15' away during this whole thing. And I saw them look at us but said nothing.

My fiance and I continue our walk straight thru and out the other side. We then walk thru the parking lot and enter once more. At this point WWII vets are asking me to please buy my dog and can they pet him and what a great temperment he has, yada yada. It's at this point that one of the cops (who clearly saw my dog and his calm behavior 10 minutes prior) comes up and tells me, "I don't want to rain on your parade but no dogs allowed". I say ok and leave. Right after that I again come upon the same family that I met initially (Schutzhund trainer)and tell them that I was kicked out, no dogs allowed. They tell us that ALL DAY there were dogs there!! The 10 year old boy w/them pipes up and says, Yea especially a little one with a fat lady holding it. It kept barking at everyone and wasn't listening to its owner"!

I was dumbfounded. All I could think to say is, "Are you kidding me"?? The cop kicks me out - my dog who is as quiet and gentle as a lamb?? Unbelievable. The schutzhund trainer ended our conversation with, "That's the stigma of a German Shepherd".

<img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

We have the "stigma" problem too. There are only 4 GSDs in our town, my two, a Police K-9, and an older male that is bored to tears and runs his fence. I have been told by many residents that I should have a BEWARE OF DOG sign posted. I would like to add that my GSDs are fenced and NOT a danger to the public! It makes me MAD!! that based on breed alone my dogs are labeled "mean or bad"! I would also like to mention that they do keep the riff-raff away <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I sure can relate...and am sorry you had to deal with the ignorance!!!!!!

Judy,
I am so sorry. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Why would he even say that? He is a police officer. He should know better!

I don't even have a GSD, yet and I am continuously hearing about what evil dogs they are. My response is: "You obviously came in touch with the deviant strain of GSD and NOT the norm!" <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

What a great retort Carolyn! I'll have to add it to my arsenal.

I too was very surprised that, being a cop, he'd single out a well behaved GSD. The only thing I can think of to explain away his ignorance is that this town has so little crime that when there's a fender bender on the nearby highway, it makes the news. Therefore, he needed something to do to justify his paycheck and picked on poor sweet Gunnar.

Judy,

Contrary to what Beth suggested (posting a Beware of Dog Sign); I have been told by a friend who is a PAWS trainer and also a shepherd owner, NOT to post a BOD sign. In doing so, you are saying you dog IS dangerous. Instead of the sign, I purchased a cement German Shepherd statue and placed it in the flower bed in the front yard. You can’t miss it. So if someone has a problem with dogs and especially GDS’s , they can just keep on going.

You really need to check your local/state laws. In Florida, if you DO NOT have a Bad dog, BOD sign you can be LIABLE for the bite if the dog.

Here is Florida's law:
767.04 Dog owner's liability for damages to persons bitten.--The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners' knowledge of such viciousness. However, any negligence on the part of the person bitten that is a proximate cause of the biting incident reduces the liability of the owner of the dog by the percentage that the bitten person's negligence contributed to the biting incident. A person is lawfully upon private property of such owner within the meaning of this act when the person is on such property in the performance of any duty imposed upon him or her by the laws of this state or by the laws or postal regulations of the United States, or when the person is on such property upon invitation, expressed or implied, of the owner. However, the owner is not liable, except as to a person under the age of 6, or unless the damages are proximately caused by a negligent act or omission of the owner, if at the time of any such injury the owner had displayed in a prominent place on his or her premises a sign easily readable including the words "Bad Dog." The remedy provided by this section is in addition to and cumulative with any other remedy provided by statute or common law.