Two of my favorites...

At the vet's office. Two holy terror kids come over and start rolling on the floor with my old red dobie, pulling him, lying on him, etc. He's hard as a rock, but gentle, and loves kids so he's thrilled. Mommy smiles on them and finally says "What a sweet dog! What is he?". I tell her, she gasps a little and says "Oh! Well I guess it's a little too late now!".

Another time at an animal sanctuary, I have a woman pull her little boy away from my 4 month old dobie pup, who is wiggling like mad, and says "That's a MEAN dog! Leave it ALONE. Come pet the nice cow!" While pulling him toward an enclosure with bison cows and calves!

OK, one more, Walking at a show on the fair grounds with my client's rottie. Two women round a corner. One clasps her hands on her ample bosom, and squeals "OMEN DOG!!! OMEN DOG!!!"

That discrimination does sort of drive me crazy though. I'm looking for a house to rent, and I have had three or four people actually hang up on me when they hear what kind of dog I have. The conversation goes like this..
<Me - Are dogs allowed?
<Them - Yes, I love dogs. What kind do you have?
<Me - A German Shepherd. she's 16 months old.
<Them - *click*

It's irritating because my dog is better behaved and would cause less damage than most people's children, not to mention a happy-go-lucky lab that chews through decks, chain link fences, and anything else that will stand still long enough...

Going back to the original post, regardless of what the woman at the school said, many places prohibit dogs on school grounds, in my view, for good reasons. It's the law, just deal with it. It's not, for the most part, related to fear of dogs. I kind of look at it the other way around -- look at all the off-leash children on a school playground -- who knows what unthinking action by an uncontrolled kid could cause harm to my dogs. In addition, as we all know, there are those people who just won't clean up after their dogs, and that poses a public health issue on school grounds.

Outside of that, I guess that we all have neighbors who have irrational fears. My TM's look like big teddy bears, though, unless they are aroused, so most everybody loves to come pet them, especially little kids.

About a month ago I had house guest and I was distrubed 2-3 times with neighbors knocking on my door askng if my GSD was out. Apparently someones dog was out and the whole neighborhood was ablaze. One guy brought the dog to my house, ... he drove his truck to my house and the dog followed him after he fed it.

I stepped out and told him my dog was in the fence, called Mat to the front door, so he could see him. The dog out was a nice looking GSD about 6-7 yrs old, and just washed no dogging smell for a damp dog. Apparently an outdated dog tag, no recent phone number on it. The dog followed the truck driver back to his yard. Nice solid dog and gentle.

I am always amused at the look on the guys face when they comes out of the woods and approach you smiling like look what we got here (Deer Hunter them playing) and then two working dogs pull up at my side and stare them down, growling like missles waiting for a lurch code. I look (like, but I don't say anything), "Let me introduce you to my little friends".

Smiles gone off their face, Eyes wide mouth open, Then its hey, we were just, is it Ok if we,
"Whata nice set of dogs, do they bite?", "Why are they looking at us like that?" Backing away, Later man.

I wonder sometimes what were they thinking? I'm never in the woods unarmed Colt commander 45acp.

As I bring the dogs focus to me, praising them and walking the other way, me and the dogs still looking back over our shoulders. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Reputation and Respect for the GSD can be a good thing. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> The less drama for a longer better life. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I get more compliments then negative feedback on my two. Guess I'm lucky. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Most people around here don't even know what a Malinois is <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My girl is so atypically social that people just come up and start petting her, most without even asking <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

It's not I'm afraid that she'll be aggressive, rather I'm afraid that she'll accidentally hurt someone because she still sometimes will jump when she gets excited.

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com

I can relate to trying to find a place to rent. I had 2 places say yes to the animals only to find out I had a GSD and their tone did a 180 and said no way. Another woman's first question was what kind of dog, and then she said not a chance, there were kids living in the area. I offered to let her meet the dog, but she didn't want anything to do with it. Thankfully not everyone is like that or I"d be living in a tent somewhere. I'd say its about 80/20 with me. 80% of the people experience jaw drop and awe at the dog and like to ask questions and pet her and 20% get that look on their face like, "what are you thinking owning a GSD".

FWIW. I noticed a big difference in people's attitude when I let my dog carry his favorite toy on walks. Somehow, a large Shepherd trotting along with a Teletubby or teddy bear dangling from his mouth just looks friendly.

People honk, smile & wave. I've even had people stop to take a photo. Maybe people fear Teletubbies more than they do Shepherds. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

For walks in the neighborhood, I always move to the grass and put the dog in a down or sit when we meet people coming our way. If people are watching, we often do a little ob. routine. I've lost track of the number of times people have wistfully noted, "I wish my kids were that well behaved.".

So far, it seems to work. Not many people cross the street anymore.

Charlie,
The toy idea is great, but it doesn't always work, depending on what the favorite toy is.

I tried it once and people kept commenting that the cat in Fetz's mouth looked uncomfortable...... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

( this is actually kinda true....my dog actually carried one of my cats twice in his mouth when it was a kitten, and did not injure the cat, except for the cats dignity...)

I have had an almost oppositte experiance. We live on a lake and walk our two shepherds there all the time. Everyone seems to be impressed with there looks and great behavior. Our local vet is afraid of our older male although he has never shown any aggressive behavior around the vet at all. We have had some trouble getting him over an ear infection and took him up to UPenn. We had our follow up appointment yesterday and got great news as far as how the healing is coming along but they sedated him to examine him- after my mom and i both made several attempts to explain and show how non aggressive he is. This was at 9 in the morning- and for a quick exam. He couldnt get up until after 5 pm and even this morning is a little jumpy. We asked if it was possible that they over sedated him and they said no- they gave him the same dose as all visicous dogs.... just my experiance- but we are now wondering how to handle our final follow up in 5 weeks. We took him to UPenn to get the best treatment which appears to be what he has gotten with the 2 visits we've had minus what happened yesterday with what i believe to have been way too much sedation.