So I'm getting my pittyx (she really resembles an AM Staff Bull Terrier but no papers, she's a rescue)from the girl who'd just ground her nails at Petsmart, the dog won't let me near her nails she shakes when I try. A woman who'd just allowed her two young children to aproach an unknown dalmation "Oh a dalmation we used to have a Dalmation. How old is it?" She squealed as she let the rugrats approach this unknown dog. Anyhoot I'm taking my dog and she puts her hands in front of the children shoves them behind her saying "Get back." As my daughter and I are walking with my well behaved dog in heel position. I had to say, "Really? I woudn't bring a viscious dog out in public. Just because she looks like a Pitbull doesn't mean she eats children." Later, I saw her nearby at the rescue table;I began to discuss with the rescuer, rather loudly, the ignorance of people concerning Bully breeds and the stats on just which breeds were among the highest bite reports.

There are alot of ignorant people out there that should be seen & not heard. :-)

Definately, I was just amazed as she held them back like I was bringing my dog out snapping like a rabid old yeller or something. She truely looked frightened.

Ms. Pociask,

The other side of the coin is the moron who urges her children to go nose to nose with strange dogs.

Count your blessings. Even well behaved dogs can have a bad moment - even dogs we believe to be almost unconscious.

Immagine walking four GSDs, and having a lady with two small children being rather insistent that her children should be allowed to pet the dogs.

Attitudes and views by some people are just that - their view of the world.

There have been posts on this site where oblivious people have put a poster's dog at risk with bad outcomes. And there have been dog owners who put their dog at risk by being too willing to think their mutt is Lassie.

My dogs, my rules - admire them at a safe distance. And if you are intimidated and afraid, my job is to demonstrate the control I have over the dogs. They don't need new best friends, and demonstrated good behavior is, in my opinion, the response to hysteria.

Two cents.

I LOVE IT when people keep their rug rats away from my dog...I actually have fantasies about it happening more often. I don't care WHY they do it, I'm just grateful when it happens.

My dog isn't the least bit aggressive or snappy, but he prefers to avoid physical contact from strangers, kids included. I get really annoyed on a regular basis by parents who let their kids actually RUN up to my "doggie" for pats. These same parents are generally put out when I won't allow the onslaught.

 Quote: kristel smart

I LOVE IT when people keep their rug rats away from my dog...I actually have fantasies about it happening more often. I don't care WHY they do it, I'm just grateful when it happens.

My dog isn't the least bit aggressive or snappy, but he prefers to avoid physical contact from strangers, kids included. I get really annoyed on a regular basis by parents who let their kids actually RUN up to my "doggie" for pats. These same parents are generally put out when I won't allow the onslaught.

I have trained mostly GSDs as guide and servce dogs, with occasionally other breeds. One advantage with GSDs is that there are less children, teens, and adults maulings of the dog. Not to say there are none, but considerably less than with retrievers.

Protecting a retriever from the public is hard work. There are the sneak in from behind while we are walking type. And not just to touch or pet, but to pull hair or tail. (Children and teens are the worst for the pulling hair or tails, but all ages for the petting and touching.) There are the bark at the dog types, or get on knees andcrawl while barking. (The crawling kind are usually kids.) There are the ones who whistle or snap fingers, or wave their hands right in front of the dog's nose. (Mostly adults.) There are the kids who run up at full tilt and slam into the dog, or jump on him if he is lying down. There are the poke the dog in the eyes or nose type. (Young children mostly.) There are the insistant petters who have to be physically restrained or threatened. Many times they do this AS they are saying I know I'm not supposed to pet a working dog, but... (Adults almost exclusively.) And then there are the ones who hit the dog with objects or try to run carts into them in stores. (Again, almost exclusively adults.)

GSDs get some of this treatment, but both less frequently and less severely. Their image of a police dog stands them well in this regard!

 Quote: joy van veen

 Quote: kristel smart

I LOVE IT when people keep their rug rats away from my dog...I actually have fantasies about it happening more often. I don't care WHY they do it, I'm just grateful when it happens.

My dog isn't the least bit aggressive or snappy, but he prefers to avoid physical contact from strangers, kids included. I get really annoyed on a regular basis by parents who let their kids actually RUN up to my "doggie" for pats. These same parents are generally put out when I won't allow the onslaught.

I have trained mostly GSDs as guide and servce dogs, with occasionally other breeds. One advantage with GSDs is that there are less children, teens, and adults maulings of the dog. Not to say there are none, but considerably less than with retrievers.

Protecting a retriever from the public is hard work. There are the sneak in from behind while we are walking type. And not just to touch or pet, but to pull hair or tail. (Children and teens are the worst for the pulling hair or tails, but all ages for the petting and touching.) There are the bark at the dog types, or get on knees andcrawl while barking. (The crawling kind are usually kids.) There are the ones who whistle or snap fingers, or wave their hands right in front of the dog's nose. (Mostly adults.) There are the kids who run up at full tilt and slam into the dog, or jump on him if he is lying down. There are the poke the dog in the eyes or nose type. (Young children mostly.) There are the insistant petters who have to be physically restrained or threatened. Many times they do this AS they are saying I know I'm not supposed to pet a working dog, but... (Adults almost exclusively.) And then there are the ones who hit the dog with objects or try to run carts into them in stores. (Again, almost exclusively adults.)

GSDs get some of this treatment, but both less frequently and less severely. Their image of a police dog stands them well in this regard!

Anyone doing those things to any dog much less a working service dog should be arrested and charged with cruelty, imho.

But I know what you mean. I've had 3 Rough Collies and often heard someone yell "Lassie!" as they rushed up to hug the dog, generally without permission or warning. And adults were the worst.

If people are stupid enough to tell their kids to go running up to wild bison or stud bulls we can bet they'll be stupid enough to tell them to run up to dogs.

Yes I definately agree about children not being allowed to go up to strange dogs. The dumb thing is thinking a dalmation is "safe" because she used to own one. I've had Rotty's but never released my brood on one I didn't know. I've had people be very strange with their kids concerning this dog (pittyx). One actually put her child down next to my dog, after asking if she liked kids. My dog proceed to French kiss her child. I had to put a stop to it because it was grossing me out. She(Gabby my dog) is a licker , but good gawd I'd never let my dog French kiss my kids let alone some stanger's dog in petsmart.

Oops I meant to reply to this. Yes my dog did behave very well. My daughter was actually offended by the woman. I told her that's why we have to make sure she is well behaved (the dog) so she can be an example to people that the breed is not bad.