Very annoying/frustrating misconceptions of my dog....GRRRRR

I hear you!

We have two Irish Wolfhounds. Neither of them have so much have given an evil look to a fly in their entire life. But people absolutly **** themselves.

When my brother was about 11 he had his friend round to visit. He doesn't have any pets and so was really wary of our youngest wolfhound. At one point he had to walk across the garden by himself, and he started to run. Cue dog thinking this looked like a great game - suddenly this poor little boy had this gigantic dog bounding after him! When he caught up the little boy screamed and the poor oaf of a dog looked like his world had just collapsed and stood there looking really confused. Bless :D

Give me a big dog over a yappy little one any day!
 
I hear you!

We have two Irish Wolfhounds. Neither of them have so much have given an evil look to a fly in their entire life. But people absolutly **** themselves.

When my brother was about 11 he had his friend round to visit. He doesn't have any pets and so was really wary of our youngest wolfhound. At one point he had to walk across the garden by himself, and he started to run. Cue dog thinking this looked like a great game - suddenly this poor little boy had this gigantic dog bounding after him! When he caught up the little boy screamed and the poor oaf of a dog looked like his world had just collapsed and stood there looking really confused. Bless :D

Give me a big dog over a yappy little one any day!

Awwwwwwwwe! As for the flys and bugs for that matter tht is the only thing my boy does try to get, very amusing to watch, bugs peeeeee him off!

Wolfhounds are amazing dogs, a lady came on my yard once with two. About fifty yards away I said hello to the HUGE juvenille and uh oh! He bounded my way and was way above my head! Hehe! Thought he was a jack russell or something (which I also adore, the best lil dogs)! He was soooo friendly and enjoyed rough and tumble with my GSD!
 
I know just how you feel too....I had (until she was stolen a few years back!) a stunning Staffie X Akita bitch....she looked predominantly like a staff but had an Akita face, a curly tail and was absolutely HUGE for a staff. She was called Angel and it suited her to a T, such a soft sweet girlie, she slept in bed with me, she snuggled up to me on the sofa and she simply adored people and horses, although she was wary of other dogs (never nasty but very wary). She wouldn't have hurt a fly and yet everyone I met (including my Mother) had some preconceived idea that she had to be some ind of evil demonic creature with a thirst for blood!

Now I have the opposite problem, I have a Chihuahua X Mini JRT (more chihuahua than anything though) and by god can she be a vicious little bint! Soft as anything with adults, cats, horses and playful dogs but put her near children, small dogs or larger aggressive dogs and she'll fight to the death! Yet EVERYONE assumes she's a soft sweet little puppy and gets offended when I pick her up if another dog runs up to her off a lead.....it's not for her protection, it's for their own!

Your boxer looks an absolute sweetheart, I've never understood why people are intimidated by such sweet and playful animals....and with a face like that how could you ever be scared of him? He looks like butter wouldn't melt!
 
Well as a boxer lover (you see my boy in the signature) I cannot understand why anyone would not want to give hima stroke.

My dog comes to the yard with me everyday, everytime i go there, whether that is twice or three times, although to be honest when I am on the yard he is tied up (like a gypsy's dog) to my feedroom which is right next to my stables, he is more than happy with that arrangement and he can see everything that goes on round the farm from there, then when I go into my field he comes with me and has his run round, plays with his footballs etc.
 
My family have always had boxers so I love them - they are fantastic family dogs as they love people and kids. The oldest we had was Sammy number 3 who lived to nearly 15 years and died the week before I went to Uni. Max was actually attacked by another boxer and broke his leg. Mum slept downstairs with him until he could get up the stairs.

Everyone adored the last boxer bitch we had (Daisy) but she was smaller and less boisterous than some. She did have an obsession with balls and if she saw any ball but in particular a football that was it you couldn't get her back - she could dribble it like a pro. She even jumped out of a car window once to get at one. She was a rescue so we think it was some sort of displacement behaviour - it took years to stop it.

I would love to get another even though they have bad digestion and terrible wind!
 
I have an English Bull Terrier and a Dalmatian - I've had people cross the road to avoid the EBT but she is the softest, least aggressive bitch I have ever had and I have never seen her be aggressive to another dog wheras the spotty is truly appalling with strange dogs he meets on the farm or on the footpath that runs past the house. For some reason he particularly hates Labradors.
 
I have a brown doberman & people are often terrified of her, its ridiculous as she's a total wimp!!! Also quite surprising to me is how many people have absolutely no idea what she is! I've been asked is she's a weirmeraner, pointer, german pointer (by a man walking two german pointers!!! :S), chocolate lab & a vizla lol!
 
My family have always had boxers so I love them - they are fantastic family dogs as they love people and kids. The oldest we had was Sammy number 3 who lived to nearly 15 years and died the week before I went to Uni. Max was actually attacked by another boxer and broke his leg. Mum slept downstairs with him until he could get up the stairs.

Everyone adored the last boxer bitch we had (Daisy) but she was smaller and less boisterous than some. She did have an obsession with balls and if she saw any ball but in particular a football that was it you couldn't get her back - she could dribble it like a pro. She even jumped out of a car window once to get at one. She was a rescue so we think it was some sort of displacement behaviour - it took years to stop it.

I would love to get another even though they have bad digestion and terrible wind!

OH NO!!!! The wind!!!!! Please....spare us all!!!!! Never met a box without bad wind problem :p
 
I am a Boxer lover. Mine is too the most well behaved, loyal, friendly boy. He is loved by everyone at the yard even the people not keen on dogs. He follows me or mum around everywhere or is sleeping on coats, rugs, horses beds.

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Just to give the opposite view.
Why SHOULD people be forced to interact with your dog? You chose to have him, you love him, but other people may be afraid of, or dislike dogs and yet can't avoid him as you let him run loose at the yard.
Dog owners have to be the most selfish people alive. I hated the dogs on my last yard, not because they were agressive or I was frightened but because their owners let them run wild.
Why should I have a percentage of my hay ruined/sweep up dog***** in the hay barn; this should be the owner's responsibility?
Rant over.
S :D
 
Just to put the alternative viewpoint....

You know your dog is a big softy and wouldn't hurt a fly, but strangers don't know anything about his personality and I think it is quite natural (and sensible) to be wary of a dog that is probably double your kid's bodyweight with a massive jaw.

Sadly, not all big dog owners are very considerate and just dissmiss people's very real fears. I am sure that you are an excellent and considerate owner, but not everyone is the same.

See, this is why I have a CKCS - couldn't scare anyone :)
 
Also bear in mind that superficially a dark brindle well grown boxer slightly resembles an American bulldog (the tall ones) which are often used by gangs for fighting etc, even tho they are completely unrelated! So they might have seen a film or TV thing with one of those and if theyve never met a boxer they might be scared.

I have a doberman who is the gentlest imaginable with people but not so good with other dogs, so on the lead outside our farm. People do cross the road to not walk past him but I dont feel offended, Id rather they were comfy and felt safe. Often I will cross first so they dont have to but I always engage in conversation about him with them so they go away knowing that he is a friendly dog and quite often they will cross over again and come and have a fuss.

I think if the dog is in a public place then you cant insist everyone is comfy with him, although the facts might be that your dog is less scary, people are scared of what they see and what they see is a big brindle dog with big jaws, end of story.

There def is prejudice, I took Dobie to a dog training class, went in, little dog went mad at him barking and trying to bite him, Dobie didnt react but barked once and woman trainer straight away said to me 'Is he always that vicious?'. I turned on my heel and Dobie and I left! She should have known better but it's up to us owners to educate other people, they just see dog attack TV things and thats their experience of larger dogs.
 
See I've got a staffy boxer cross bread - hes a soppy devil, anyone who gives him a stroke is his new best friend.

A few of my friends used to be scared of staffys but think hes wonderful.
 
Just to give the opposite view.
Why SHOULD people be forced to interact with your dog? You chose to have him, you love him, but other people may be afraid of, or dislike dogs and yet can't avoid him as you let him run loose at the yard.
Dog owners have to be the most selfish people alive. I hated the dogs on my last yard, not because they were agressive or I was frightened but because their owners let them run wild.
Why should I have a percentage of my hay ruined/sweep up dog***** in the hay barn; this should be the owner's responsibility?
Rant over.
S :D

WOW, what an insulting comment about dog owners!!!!!

Just a little reminder, the thread was regarding people's misconceptions of dogs.
 
I am a Boxer lover. Mine is too the most well behaved, loyal, friendly boy. He is loved by everyone at the yard even the people not keen on dogs. He follows me or mum around everywhere or is sleeping on coats, rugs, horses beds.

untitled64.jpg

Seen this photo before JP and thought he was scrummylicious!!!!! :D
 
i have the sweetest staffy/bulldog cross ever..she is thedaftest fool you could meet, gorgeous with my little girl (i trust her more than my cat..who is evil personified!! :rolleyes:) the cat batters the dog .. the cat lies in wait for her to go trotting past, leaps on her back and tries to sever her spinal cord.. the poor dog who could easily snap puss cat in 2 is the most patient dog ever. ..but when she goes out people are terrified of her :( she wants to be friends and no-one wants to know her ..ah well we love her!! :p
 
WOW, what an insulting comment about dog owners!!!!!

Just a little reminder, the thread was regarding people's misconceptions of dogs.

No, the thread was about why people didn't fuss your dog as you thought they ought to.
All about YOU and YOUR DOG.
People who don't wish to pet your dog are labelled as having 'misconceptions', with the implication that they are in error.
No thought about how the other people might feel - that you may be making them feel uncomfortable in their hobby. :(
And if these fools with misconceptions do pat your dog (out of politeness and a desire to maintain the peace) then you are triumphant in that you have corrected them.
Really, they probably still wish that your dog was either tied up or not there at all.
I am just waiting til you call me dog hating...
S :D
 
Just to give the opposite view.
Why SHOULD people be forced to interact with your dog? You chose to have him, you love him, but other people may be afraid of, or dislike dogs and yet can't avoid him as you let him run loose at the yard.
Dog owners have to be the most selfish people alive. I hated the dogs on my last yard, not because they were agressive or I was frightened but because their owners let them run wild.
Why should I have a percentage of my hay ruined/sweep up dog***** in the hay barn; this should be the owner's responsibility?
Rant over.
S :D

OP reading Shilasdair's response and yours I don't think it's unfair or rude. It is true that why do you take your dog to the stables? I have a dog and she is the sweetest Lab but I wouldn't expect everyone to think this. I used to pay for my horse at the livery yard and never took my dog there. I now have my own land so don't have to worry others if I take her up to the stables.

Shils comment was fair:)
 
I have a 65kg mastiff x chocolate doberman who I can only describe as a love sponge. He looks in the mirror and sees a labrador puppy... He is impeccably behaved, respects people, loves children, but again has been taught to respect them (couldn't eat a whole one, lol) and he is simply the best dog I have ever owned.

I work in a prep school set in 30 acres and he, and my spaniel, come to work with me every day. I encounter adults and children who are clearly put off by his size, equally I encounter children and adults who flock to him and give him all the fuss he can take. I will never push it if someone does not want to meet either dog and will repsect their distance of they are clearly afraid. Dogs are always under close control. Equally though, if I audibly hear a child or adult comment "That's a scary dog" or "Gosh what a big dog" etc I will if time always make an effort to say "He's the biggest, softest dog you'll ever meet" and then usually to the child I will say "Would you like him to sit down so you can say hello?" (As soon as I mention the S word, he will have say, as soon as I say 'hello' he will have raised a paw in the air. Most children by now are laughing and soon come and stroke his soft ears, or if they are scared of the eye contact, teeth etc, then I get them to 'start with his waggy tail'.

I think it is such a shame that many people are terrified of dogs because of having no experience, or worse having encountered a dog that noone has bothered to train. many adults who are scared pass this onto their children.

Over the years I have people cross the road, pick up their smaller dogs, and even had a guy try to climb a tree (stop laughing!). All of these people had a genuine fear or mistrust for a reason. The reason isn't MY dog or my poor ownership, so I can't take it personally. All any of us can do is train our dogs to be obedient and respectful. Other people soon see this.

To throw the cat amongst the pigeons, the only dogs I or my dogs have ever been attacked by were JRTs or Yorkies.... Equally the only equine that ever splatted me up a wall was a shetland!!! I say trust the biggies, watch the small ones!
 
No, the thread was about why people didn't fuss your dog as you thought they ought to.
All about YOU and YOUR DOG.
People who don't wish to pet your dog are labelled as having 'misconceptions', with the implication that they are in error.
No thought about how the other people might feel - that you may be making them feel uncomfortable in their hobby. :(
And if these fools with misconceptions do pat your dog (out of politeness and a desire to maintain the peace) then you are triumphant in that you have corrected them.
Really, they probably still wish that your dog was either tied up or not there at all.
I am just waiting til you call me dog hating...
S :D

Like me shils, you take this personally from a different perspective. YOU do not like dogs on yards and CEARLY have a problem with this.

As many many many ppl have commented on this thread, their breeds of dogs get similar reactions. Dogs ARE invited to our yard and if u dont like it I suggest you move to a yard where dogs are not allowed.

I understand people dont always like dogs/fear them but what annoys me are ppls attitudes towards them. AWWWWe, cute small dog (even though barking and snapping) and UGH, big dog, must be vicious/unpredictable etc etc.

You have personally attacked me here Shils. Not very nice
 
Just to give the opposite view.
Why SHOULD people be forced to interact with your dog? You chose to have him, you love him, but other people may be afraid of, or dislike dogs and yet can't avoid him as you let him run loose at the yard.
Dog owners have to be the most selfish people alive. I hated the dogs on my last yard, not because they were agressive or I was frightened but because their owners let them run wild.
Why should I have a percentage of my hay ruined/sweep up dog***** in the hay barn; this should be the owner's responsibility?
Rant over.
S :D

Totally agree, I go to the yard to ride my horse not to have to avoid stepping in dog ****in the hay barn and everywhere else, getting covered in muddy paw marks where someones dog has yet again jumped up at me, getting barked at constantly when people leave their dogs and go out for a hack, get slobbered on by someone else's dog (always guarantee I will be in work clothes about to get changed at that point too) etc etc.
Maybe just maybe the other people on the yard feel the same as me (I am not saying that your dog does this by the way), just that not everyone will view dogs at yards in the same way you do.
 
Totally agree, I go to the yard to ride my horse not to have to avoid stepping in dog ****in the hay barn and everywhere else, getting covered in muddy paw marks where someones dog has yet again jumped up at me, getting barked at constantly when people leave their dogs and go out for a hack, get slobbered on by someone else's dog (always guarantee I will be in work clothes about to get changed at that point too) etc etc.
Maybe just maybe the other people on the yard feel the same as me (I am not saying that your dog does this by the way), just that not everyone will view dogs at yards in the same way you do.

Absolutely Jo C, and yes dog poop is very annoying as it frickin stinks and hate cleaning off my boots. However, I just find it irritating they way ppl are towards bigger dogs than the littler ones on the yard. Must also mention that there are ppl there that do adore him.
 
Personally I prefer the bigger dogs at our yard to the small ones, they tend to be better behaved and the owners keep a much closer eye on them! Now JR's on the other hand.................
 
I think of Boxers as big bouncy balls of fun...dont think i`ve ever met a nasty one!
I think its pretty easy to tell if a dog is ferocious or not! Then again quite a few people are scared of my two retrievers who are quite possibly the biggest wimps ever! They`re scared of their own shadow :D
 
I find it increasingly frustrating that people see my dog, particularly so called "animal/horsey" people, and think, "oh dear god, big, vicious, horrid dog."

I have a boxer, now aged 4 and a half, entire male. He is the most well behaved, obedient, kind natured and in-offensive little chap. He comes to the farm and sits outside my stable watching horses/ppl/cats/other dogs go by, has a little sniff about but never goes too far from where we are, politely says hello to anyone that wants to say hello etc etc. He's so so so so good with the horses and all other animals for that matter, including my tiny bunny flabbit who he sunbathes with in the summer. - yes this all about me and my dog

However, I find it so up setting that people, mainly at the yard, see him and always glare at him/wont be as friendly to him as they are to the snappy, yappy, flighty little dogs of the yard. He is the most well behaved dog, yet all the whipper snappers (which I adore) are treated so differently, lots of talking to them, strokes etc etc. My poor boy :mad: - yes also about me and my dog

I don't expect horsey people to be like that, I thought we were all a little more educated on dog breeds and the un-necessary bad branding of some breeds....grrrrrr]- not about me and my dog
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Like me shils, you take this personally from a different perspective. YOU do not like dogs on yards and CEARLY have a problem with this.

As many many many ppl have commented on this thread, their breeds of dogs get similar reactions. Dogs ARE invited to our yard and if u dont like it I suggest you move to a yard where dogs are not allowed.

I understand people dont always like dogs/fear them but what annoys me are ppls attitudes towards them. AWWWWe, cute small dog (even though barking and snapping) and UGH, big dog, must be vicious/unpredictable etc etc.

You have personally attacked me here Shils. Not very nice

I know this may come as a shock to some dog lovers :p - but not everyone 'adores' your dog, or even dogs in general.
Some people dislike them!
Some people dislike dog poo on shoes/bikes/pram wheels/on hay etc.
Some people don't like hairy muddy smelly dogs jumping up on them.
And some people may actually be genuinely frightened of dogs - they may have been badly bitten in the past. How are these people to know that your dog is friendly/non-aggressive; just seeing him loose is probably stressful for them.
Do try to have some consideration for other people whilst enjoying your pet.
S :D
 
It doesn't matter what breed or size (as proven by my post above). It is about the owner and the training. If an owner has an expectation that the dog doesn't jump up, pull on the lead, go near horses etc, then it isn't very hard to train the dog to share this. As for the owner not keeping the dog close, allowing it to foul the yard etc, there is no excuse for this. It is laziness, a communal yard area is not a dog toilet, and the owner isn't doing themselves any favours....

I am proud of both my dogs. Even my 8month spaniel doesn't jump up or pull. She stays with me and has been trained to use the garden (as has my mastiff x dobey) so there is never an issue of fouling anywhere else. I have a dog loo in the garden.

Owners are the problem every time!
 
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