Discrimination of Large dog breeds?

Question

Everytime I walk my dog or bring him to the park people act like I have a loaded gun pointed at them, they can't get away fast enough. I have the sweetest, well socialized rottweiler who loves every animal he has ever met. I was walking my dog the other day and my neighbors pug was running loose and the pug ran up to my leashed rottweiler and they were playing so nicely together. The neighbor comes running over and I say "He is a very friendly dog, he gets along great with little dogs." and the neighbor says "Yeah well he doesn't look it." He picked up his pug and tied it to a tree.

It hurts my feelings that people don't trust me when I say he is very friendly.

Has anyone had a experience with this? How would you handle it?


Grr, Thanks for letting me vent my frustrations!

Answer 1

because the press has made people scared of big dogs and these people who run a way don't no the first thing about other breeds

Answer 2

I am an owner of a Pit and I get the same reaction. If someone comes to my door my pit starts barking like an idiot, but it's her way of saying MOM SOMEONE IS AT THE DOOR and greeting the visitor. I had a guy say the other day That's a pit right? Don't bother opening the door and walked away! I take my Pit for a walk and people walk to the other side of the street and then stand on the other side and ask if she is a pit, then proceed to ask me why would I ever own such a horrible animal. My response YOUR STUPIDITY IS WHY I CONTINUE TO OWN SUCH A LOVELY,CARING,FAITHFUL, FUNNY ANIMAL and proceed to give them a lecture about how any animal handled poorly will retaliate against any human, from a dog to a dad-gum cat. By the time I'm done, they are mad because they just wasted 30min listening to my lecture and I feel better because I have informed another person on HOW WONDERFUL THE BREED IS.

Answer 3

Unfortunately the breed of dog you have has been sterotyped as a "bad" breed. Even though there are people out there like you that socialize your dog and have helped him grow into a sweet and loveable dog, there are still people that just see him and already have the flags up. Until the public starts hearing about good stories of rottweilers (and how often does a good story make the news), there will always be the mistrust and fear associated with people who don't know better. Even though goldens and labs are considered the "family" dogs, I've known a few to be agressive when they aren't socialized well. But the public considers them to be the safer dog to be around when comparing them to a rottweiler.

Answer 4

I know what you mean - I've always had big dogs. First an English Setter, then a German Shepherd/Lab, and now a Shepherd/Great Dane mix - the last two were pitch black, the Lab mix having bright amber eyes. He didn't get along with other dogs, but absolutely adored people - he would actually get upset when people would cross the street because they were afraid of him. The one we have now has the Great Dane size with the shepherd type of fur - people do get scared of him for his large size. We take him to the dog park and some people pick up their small dogs from him - then they'll see how gently he plays with the yorkies or chihuahuas and figure that he's ok. He'll lay down and let them crawl all over him. He's the biggest baby and has gotten the title of "the biggest, friendliest, goofiest dog" by the people who are always there.

Try to find a dog park in your area to take your dog to so he can play with other dogs - people there are normally more accepting of all dogs. It does upset me that people have these views of large breed dogs when they are normally more friendly than small dogs! I would rather be locked in a room with a doberman than a chihuahua!

Answer 5

You'll always just have to turn the other cheek. I had a Rottweiler, Jake, growing up and my parents didn't believe in keeping our pets locked up 24/7 so they would roam around the house and go in and out as they pleased and someone gave him food poisoning because they were intimidated by his size. I was only 14 and had to hold my beloved pet while he took his last breath. I have an American Pit Bull Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, and Toy Poodle currently and everyone is scared of the Pit but really they should be terrified of the Poodle! LOL Who cares what other people think as long as you are providing a loving home for your dog.

Answer 6

I have three newfoundlands, and I have found that when walking them, people will ask what they are, and some are terrified because of their size. I was outside a store waiting for my husband to bring out a drink, and I holding the dogs. One woman edged around them to get in as close to the door as possible. Then the same day a man was behind us and he kept as far back as he could. I had Natasha, which is my female who is very timid. The cars were scaring her so she was shying back some and he would stop constantly to avoid going past her. I kept telling him that she wouldn't hurt a fly. He just said "I'll take your word for it." And turned up the very next street. And a newfoundland isn't even considered a "vicious" breed. So some people are going to be scared no matter what, just because a dog is big. Sometimes it can be amusing and sometimes it can be annoying.

Answer 7

Hey I even get that wneh I'm walking my 2 Goldens. I find it very strange because even though they other dog owner is 50 feet away from me they always pick up their dogs and scoot in another direction. I just shake my head. Then there are some very nice people that will stop and want to pet the dogs too. I just can't figure out the look I get when I bumb into another dog owner walking their dogs. Granted my Goldens are big but if a 2year old is will to share her lollypop with them then I just dont get the owner of the smaller dogs. Like I said I just shake my head and keep on walking.

Answer 8

There are dog people and there are the rest of 'em. A dog is such an honest creature, and while yes some specific dogs (not breeds) are agressive, they usually advertise it loud and clear. People that do not not understand dog behavior, are condemned to never experience true joy. They assume that a small dog is safe, and while the damage it can inflict is less, they are more apt to do it. In fact, I have been savaged by a Spitz (medium dog) and a cat, and by far the cat was worse. My suggestion is find a park reserved for dogs (bark park) most people there are not biased, and let dogs be dogs.

Answer 9

Yup, been there, Dobermans are treated the same way. People grabbing up their kids and running for their lives, people getting off the street and going into stores, picking up their little dogs.. Uninformed, uneducated, and unwilling to learn that they are very wrong about the breeds. They are the people that believe everything they hear and they believe everything they see in movies..

Don't feel bad, who cares what people think? As long as it's not your dog tied to the tree, or your dog chasing down kids or attacking people or other dogs.. It doesn't really matter. They aren't going to give you a chance, even if your dog rescued their drowning kid from a lake.. They would still say ' Lucky that Rottie didn't kill that kid '

Answer 10

It'll keep happening, sorry to say!

I love rotties, but you know they were the pit bulls of the 80's! Every big 'scary' looking dog breed is hated by society as a whole at one time or another in history.

Just smile and go on and don't take any notice. Their tiny little pug is probably 20times more likely to bite that your Rottie! Heck, my JRT is much more vicious than any Rottie I've ever met!! :o)

You'll just have to find that voice inside that tells you you're right and they're wrong, and just don't let it bother you. Just go on enjoying your dog and the doggie friends that you DO have!! :)

Answer 11

I love rotties. I have owned 3, 2 were rescues that lived with us a couple of months, the other we got as a puppy. All 3 were sweet, gentle, loving dogs. I know a lady who had a sweet rotttie and 3 chi mixed dogs and they lived together well for a couple of years umtil one day, the rottie picked up one of the small dogs, shook it violently and killed it. There was no warning, nothing like that had ever happened before. The dogs played together, ate together, slept together. The lady lost 2 of her beloved pets because the rottie was euthanized afterward.