I think it is strange that peaple are afraid of dog. When i walk my GSD I watch people cross the street just so thay won't have to walk past me and my dog. When i took her ( the dog) out to the paraid with my famly more people then not would walk way around us then walk by. Even when my four year old daughter is sitting next to the dog. Walked around a school and was told that i had to get my visouse dog of school grounds. I told the lady yelling at me that i was. She said that i had to turn around and go the other way. When i keeped walking she said she was calling the police and that i should count my self lucky that my dog did not bite anyone. I have a Aiko vom Grossen S/Umsa Vom Leerburg pup from Ed. This dog is sound of nerves. Showed no sign of nerviousness when at the paraid,when around a lot of people, new places or even when we go for walk in new places at night. I would never say my dog does not bite,because she does have teeth. I think that be fore she bite some she will bark and show other signs of aggression . I think people in this city have had a bad time with show sheeperds then with working line and some one who cares about their dog and the way the dog responds when in public. If I had a dog with stroung civile drive then walking it would take a different course. I MIGHT even understand other peoples fear of dogs

David - I think the public prospective of a GSD is one of respect and admiration. It is the breed that most people relate to police work, after seeing Cops or one of these animals in real life take down and detain a suspect. There is reason to respect/fear this dog (really any big dog), from an ignorant Joe Q public point of view.

I take heed to this I usually will sit my dogs and let others past when we are walking in the park. I usually will try to avoid contact with the public no petting or rubbing. When I'm asked will he bite, I tell them all dogs will bite, then I show them some hand signal OB commands. This usually ease their fear that he/they maybe out of control. Its part of our responcibility to the public to keep them safe, and protect our dogs and them. You want to have the kind of control that changes/strengthen the way the public views the GSD.

As for people streeing clear of you and your dog, count your blessing they could be wanting to pet him. I had a lady assoicate with a giant poddle, this dog looked like a toy, but was a strong willed dog as far a poddle was concern. Almost everybody, women or children wanted to pet him, this was a bite waiting to happen.

One time in Pet Marts waiting to be checked out, I place Mat in a sit, people wanted to pet him. I allow it so maybe 5-6 people (M/F, kids adults) he accepted, this one lady he barked at, I had to tell her to stop. She couldn't figure out why he let the others pet him and not her. It was just something about her?

You seem to have a nice dog, keep socailizing him and training. Public opinion is not going change overnight. I don't usually approach other people dogs, I keep my distance and talk or hi and bye.

You never know what kind of person or dog you may meet.

Keeping a safe distance from a stanger and his dog sounds like a very prudent thing to me. Not everyone wants to be forced to confront a big dog, even if just passing by. Large dogs especially working dogs like the GSD have a reputation for being protection dogs, so I can see why someone would choose to be wary. I see people shy away and offer similiar behaviors you describe when I walk my dogs, but it doesn't bother me.

My wife was at one of our local pet supply stores recently with her 2 year old Rott, Capone when a woman aproached her and started petting him and told my wife how well behaved he was. She asked my wife what kind of dog Capone was. When my wife told her she pulled away quickly and with a look of horor on her face said, "Oh, one of those dogs... they are very dangerous" and walked away quickly. I'm glad dogs have thick skin! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Shame on your wife for taking such a viscious dog to a friendly pet store. I thought those places were for little dogs. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

People will go to the other side of the street when my 5 month old GSD is on the front lawn, but walk up and try to pet my JRT. WOW! Have they got that backwards! Super solid nerves on the GSD. A total nut case with the JRT. He's a 14lb Mal on speed......but cute as He((. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Yesterday, while shopping for a fur saver collar at the local pet supply, I was joined by a couple and their JRTX who was happily bouncing around without collar or lead. They too were looking for a collar and were laughing about their pup's chewing through collars and leads. I was kneeling, looking for a large collar for my GSD (who was at home) and the pup pranced over to me amid encouragement from his owners and the little bugger growled, jumped and bit the **** out of my right hand <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> I had a discussion with the clueless owners who admitted that he bit them too . And indeed they were patched up with bandaids as a result. I guess their reaction was that a cute dog bites cute. Go figure.

Where I am living right now, discrimination against my dogs is terrible. They will cross the street to avoid walking by my dogs, mothers will grab their kids so they won't come over to pet the dogs, people will point and stare and say things that they don't think I hear (or don't care).

Once I remember I had Cassie out on her leash to go potty. This little kid, he must have been about 3, comes running over and just wraps his arms around Cassie's neck. After a minute he pulls away and asks "does he bite?" It was the cutest thing. Then the mother comes walking around the building and completely freaks out when she sees her kid with the "police dog" (as some people call them) and once she gets him away from Cassie's kisses, she starts screaming at him. Poor kid.

Now...Djenga is very very friendly, if she walks by someone she'll wiggle and want to go see them. I keep her under control but they see this killer PUPPY trying to get at them and they'll jump away. I've had grown men scream and jump 3 feet in the air when they come around the corner of the building, when I'm coming the other way, and they almost run into one of the dogs.

I have to say - the WORST though is the people that try to bait them. I was coming home one day from the schutzhund club with Cassie. I ride my bike or walk down there, it's only about 3 miles away. There's this area where a lot of the teenage kids hang out, and I always walk by it. One day these two kids were going the same way I was. They were behind me - and they started barking/growling at Cassie, waving sticks around, hitting them on the ground or each other, etc. Cassie was watching them but she didn't react. I think with a little encouragement she would have lit up, she hasn't had any formal PPD training, but she's got good instincts and seems to understand what I want. The question was...did I want to give these kids the satisfaction of the dog becoming aggressive, or would it scare them away? I just kept walking, and they lost interest shortly. But I was about ready to lose it...I should probably make up one of those "Forget the dog, beware of owner" shirts for occasions like that!!!

And, of course, once in a blue moon there will be a person who approaches and tells me or my hubby, whoever has them out, what beautiful dogs they are, sometimes asking to pet them, sometimes just respecting them. That always makes me feel great. But it's so easy to forget the good people when the majority of people act like idiots...

You are very correct how it makes you feel when someone actually admires your dogs for what they are, gorgeous GSD's, not a man eater. Everyone who comes in our house, (I have a pre-teen son, so there are always people coming in and out) loves our little griff, but wants Koda (our GSD)to be crated when they come over. I always respect their wishes, because when I go into a clients home, I want all dogs crated too. I don't know this animals and when you work closely with their owners like I do, you never know. When we are out walking, I get alot of what everyone else is talking about. They cross streets, avoid us at all cost, but if I'm walking the griff, they come to us. And when we do go for walks, I am so proud of my dogs, all the dogs we pass start barking and pulling on the handlers, etc etc, my boys just keep on walking nicely and no barking. You just get that look like "Wow how did you do that". GSD's are such great dogs! My griff is wonderful too, but he's a hard dog and much harder to train and deal with behavioral problems than Koda. The wonderful world of dogs.....

Christina

David wrote - Even when my four year old daughter is sitting next to the dog.

Thats when I really stir clear of a working dog, is when he is on his job. Women and children or when you are not looking if nobodys around to take charge, the dog will. They appear more protective, when you are unaware of things, listen to music, unloading a truck in woods by yourself. I like that myself its saved my hide several times.

This is just the high's and low's of this type dog. Really why would you want to approach a child that age near her dog, or a man with your club and his back is turned???

If Wild Bill had a GSD he still be a live today, ole men would say. Spitting some chewin tobacco in a can. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />