Bully and large breed owners....how do you respond?

Question

How do you respond to blatent breed predjudice?

This morning, I took Stella, my female APBT with me to PetCo. She was sitting beside me quite calmly when a man walked up to me, tapped me on the shoulder, and said "That beast should either be muzzled or put out of it's misery". Stella just kept wagging her tail.

Usually, those type of comments roll right off my shoulders, but for some reason, I was very upset. Stella and I left empty handed immediately after.

How does everyone else respond to these comments?

Two Sheds,
You never hear about Labrador attacks?
What rock do you live under?
Here's one for ya;
http://www.chako.org/dogblog/forums/534/ShowPost.aspx

And another few for you too.

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/OtherBreedBites/2007/August/Lab0801.pdf

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/OtherBreedBites/2007/August/Labkillsdog0801.pdf

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/OtherBreedBites/2007/July/labrador%20attacks%20city%20worker%20then%20attacks%20police%200607.pdf

http://www.understand-a-bull.com/BSL/OtherBreedBites/2007/May/chocolab0507.pdf

And these are just in 2007...still think that Labs don't ever attack?? Jackass...

Answer 1

Wow, how rude. You should have told him he's the one who needs to be muzzled. I would have definitely said something to the store manager. He had no business even speaking to you in that manner. You and your pit deserve the same respect that is given to everyone else that does business in their store.
So far we haven't had any negative comments. Just one lady who went way out of her way to keep from walking by him.

Here's some more dog biting stats for the ignorant ones:
http://www.standunited.ca/sourcesforreading/regardlessofbreed.html

Answer 2

I have a small (18 inch 35lb) chocolate APBT.
Fortunately this has NEVER happened to me. I have had her for 10 months (she is a 3 year old rescue), and I take her to the pet store and pretty much every where that I go. She is calm and very well behaved. Sort of shy. I see other owners holding their dogs back and dogs pulling people around the store all the time. My Gracie walks right beside me, never pulling. She loves to meet new dogs and is very tolerant even if they are out of control.
At the pet store, almost EVERYONE that i run into loves her to death. everyone wants to pet her and just makes a big fuss. i certainly do not get the responses from people that I expect to get.
I expect some guy to say something like she should be muzzled. to which i would simply tell him to "go fug himself" and that stupid people should be muzzled as well as being spayed and neutered before they can reproduce.
In all honesty... Gracie changes peoples opinions of the breed. If good owners can change peoples opinions one at a time, then it will be a matter of time.
I would say that 60% of people who have a negative perception of bully breeds have never interacted with one. 10% of the people have had a bad experience (maybe)
and the other 30% are Ignorant, and likely ignorant and belligerent about things other than bullys. we all know this kind of person.

EDIT:
@ two Sheds
@ rachel

THIS is why you don't HEAR of attacks by other breeds.

"Clearly a fatal attack by an unremarkable breed is not nearly as newsworthy as a non-fatal attack by a Pit bull," says Karen Delise, researcher for the National Canine Research Council.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/8/prweb549276.htm

Also, I didn't both to find a link, but we have all heard about the woman in England or wherever it was that underwent the first face-transplant. It was her Lab that chewed her face off.

ALSO,
Do you really believe someone when they say "my dog NEVER acts like this... I don't believe it?" do you really expect them to say "my dog has a history of violent and unpredictable behavior because I am not a good owner who understands how to raise and control my dog"
Give me a fugging break. It is all about the relationship that you have with your dog. You are the owner. You make the rules.
A friend of mine has a big lab that acts like a big 85 lb puppy. Every time one of them opens the kitchen door, the dog bolts out. They are amazed that I can walk out of his kitchen leaving the door wide open and stand on the porch, and make the dog sit inside and wait until I ask it to come out. I have this same control of my girlfriends Golden, and after working with her, she finally does too.

Answer 3

I think that is so wrong . I will be honest I don't really like PB but it does not mean that owners of them should not be allowed to have the same rights as other owners and I would never go up to someone with a PB and say that unless it was justified. If the dog showed aggression then that comment would be justified but the way it sounds is your dog is a good dog. Next time say something to the manager. I did not see if it was another customer or a worker. Either way it was not right and showed a lack of class.

Answer 4

Wow, that's terrible! That man was very ignorant!

I have a golden retriever and he's not even that big! He loves people, so one time there was a runner coming down the pavement on the road side and I could tell that my dog was wanting to see this man. I put him on a short lead and then when the runner passed he made a sharp turn onto the road! Because of my dog! Who hadn't moved! The runner ran to the other side of the road and shouted "GET THAT DOG UNDER CONTROL!" I was astounded!

I wonder how that man, or even the runner in my case, would have reacted if our dogs were shitzus or something O.o

Truly terrible

All the best

Answer 5

"Really? I feel the same way about those who dwell in ignorance -- you should really watch your back."

As of yet I haven't received any direct commentary about the APBT I own now. I suppose it's simply because my she's a tiny, little thing and people don't feel as threatened by her. I've had, however, many people cross the street in order to avoid us, walk away as fast as humanly possible, run out of aisles at pet stores, and make comments towards others such as "I bet if I walk by her the dog will attack me."

Silly stuff, really.

If someone was to say something directly I'd definitely ignore it -- if I snap back with an attitude or react violently towards their comment that will just prove the stereotype that all APBT owners are violent and stupid individuals.

Answer 6

I feel your anger and frustration.......we have a 4 month old pit pup and when we take her out I feel like I have to explain to everyone that she is a "friendly" girl. The looks on people's faces and how they will walk way out of the way to avoid us makes me angry cause the whole time she is wagging her tail and wanting to go say hello! She is very social with other people and she enjoys it when people pay attention to her. Lately we have been taking her to a trail by a lake where dogs can be either on or off leash and right away tell people that she is "very friendly" or if she runs up to another dog I will say "puppy wanna play" and that keeps her tail wagging and lets people know that she is not being aggressive.

Answer 7

I would have responded with "why, she obviously has more inteligents and better manners than you." I have a Rottweiler myself and the place that I rented through started a breed ban saying their insurance won't cover aggressive breeds. I was so infuriated I moved. I won't tolorate breed prejudice nor do I tolorate ignorant people. My dog was attacked by our neighbors three month old golden retriever puppy, another neighbors border collie, and someone else's british bulldog. The first incident was when my dog was on a leash and not the puppy. The second one was a dog that got into my backyard and the third was at a dog beach and my dog was on his leash. All three times my dog yelped and ran behind me crying. Yeah, big bully he is huh? I just can't stand people who are so ignorant to blame a breed rather than the owner.

Answer 8

Yeah it can be hard. I own a Pittie and I get that sometimes too. People like that are not going to listen to anything you have to say so it is not really worth trying. However I try to educate people about APBTs using my dog as an example.

Sorry about that guy. Try not to take it to heart. I have heard that people with these breeds really need to have crocodile skin.

Its sad but the public just needs to be educated and the media needs to stop demonizing the breed.

I personally enjoy the company of my Pittie more than I do of most people. He certainly has more manners that that guy did...

Answer 9

.yesterday morning I walked Nora, our 10 month old APBT. As we walked around the corner there was a couple with a Shi-Tzu and when they saw me the Lady yelled "Peter,Peter.. pick him up!". We walked by and Nora was totally uninterested in their dog and just minded her own business but I couldn't hold my tongue and asked "why would you do that?." and the lady's reply was " We just got this dog. I don't want our new dog to end up as your dogs breakfast!!!!" I stopped for a second and didn't know what to say.. finally I composed myself and left them with a "it's because of people like you that this ignorance and discrimination about this breed is still present!" They just stood there and didn't know what to say. I wished them a good day and Nora and I continued minding our own business.
This kind of stuff has happened to me more than once so I know how you feel...and most of the time people like that leave me speechless but the best thing to say is just "mind your own business,will you!" and continue doing what you were doing....
Don't get discouraged, Lady... because we won't get discouraged either! :)

Answer 10

Sounds like ignorance on the part of the commenter. I would have told him my animal was not a 'beast' & was certainly not in any misery. I would have also told the store manager about it. Perhaps you should try to carry some info about ABPT's and offer that if this happens again. I think you did the right thing, by not feeding into this person's nieve comments you gave him NO fuel for a fire.