Is it because he is a GSD???

[perseuslove]

I have found that GSD are very intimidating to many people even at 4 months old our percy scares away quite a lot of people. The way I look at it is his reputation scares away only the ignorant people who don't truly understand them and this is not always bad.

[ilivenanigloo]

Stogey, you think that wouldn't happen in Petsmart because you're confused. It's Pet's Mart, not Pet Smart. teehee.

I get a very mixed reaction. I've had people half a block away tell me to "keep that wolf away from me" or "don't let that wolf get me." Men who look like stereotypical football players will cross the street at the site of my 60lbs of furry fury. Although, one of these same guys did ring my doorbell to tell me my "dog that looks like a wolf" had gotten out.

Other times, I've had people in cars and trucks pull over to ask where I got Lupa or if I would like to breed her. The dirtiest looks I have gotten are when I tell breeders she's spayed. I also had a guy tell me "the city needs more of those dogs on the police force" or something very similar.

My dad is always afraid she's going to bite someone, which she won't. He was chased (probably just barked at! haha) by GSDs and Dobermans when he was a newspaper delivery boy. I stopped by my church to get Lupa some water and let her inside. I talked with some of the staff for a bit after getting her some water. A good friend of my dad's praised her behaviour. The following Sunday, after church, my dad's friend praised her to my dad, saying, "I met your daughter's dog the other day and I was just impressed with the lady!" I eat that stuff up!

I fawn over every GSD I see. I can't help it! I love animals, but I'm stupid for a german shepherd! Especially sables.

[frillint1]

I like beg like can I can I if I see anyone with a PB GSD. I have only got to pet one

[selzer]

My most outgoing dog, CGC, TDI, etc, was my big black boy. He was a blanket back black and tan, nice and dark, and by four months old, people were yelling at me to keep him away.

Nice dog.

With my black and tan saddle back bitches, it is hard to keep the people off of them. Not only do they pet, but they kneel down and HUG them!!!!

So I have to be selective about letting people touch. Oh, they have never taken a chunk out of anyone, but it only takes one time, and my homeowner's insurance drops me, and nobody will insure me unless I get rid of the dogs. Sooooo, I am not going out of my way to let strangers pet them.

The sad part about this is that this attitude WILL cause more people to get bitten. And a viscious cycle is created. Maybe more like a viscious spiral.

Folks, take your babies out and socialize them when they are itty bitty and no one is likely to take you to civil court if they get a little mouthy. Because one day they go from rolly polly puppy to miniature fanged GSD, and half the population would dispute the miniature adjective.

[Lexi]

Aw, that makes me sad. Poor baby Cisco!!! I'd love on him and plant a big smooch on the top of his head if I ever met him!!! You'd have to tear him away from me in order to get on with your day.

Both of mine love people to death as well. Kato is aloof unless approached, and then he is a super friendly licker dog. Lexi loves people to death and is like Cisco, always longing to meet everyone she sees. It seriously makes her day when people comeo over to meet her. Makes me sad for them when I hear parents screaming at their kids to "get away from those big dogs."

I do get people who want to greet them though, but that is probably since we go to the same park so much, so the "regulars" get used to seeing them there, and when they are so well behaved every time we're there, and so clearly gentle and loving with my tiny Maddie, it earns their trust. I am sure that it helps that people are kind of disarmed to see Kato playing on the playground equipment too (we only do this when it's empty, and if we see another child approaching, we walk him about 20 feet away to a bench and sit). All of the walkers seeing the big guy going down the slides and hearing the puppy yipping coming from him tends to disarm them. I see lots of indulgent smiles from people walking past when they see that.

When we go to new places, we get all kinds of different reactions. I may have to pick up some bandanas...that's a great idea.

[PaddyD]

We get mixed reactions. She's a pretty dog and has the lioness prance so she attracts a lot of compliments. Most people want to pet her, kids included, but she's aloof, not interested... although she will allow petting. She gets along well with 'good' dogs and tolerates misbehaving dogs very well. Her aloofness passes and she eventually warms up to new situations. Pretty much a 'standard' German Shepherd temperament if there is such a thing.

[TiffanyK]

LOL We live in a not so nice area. We used to walk our 2 year old GSD down the "bad street" and everyone backed up. People would make comments about "That dog will tear yo' a_ _ up" or ask "Is that a K9?" They were literally terrified of what they thought was a police dog. Apparently to the people who grow up around crime, they think all GSDs must be police dogs? lol. So yeah, no one ever wanted to pet her. lol.

[Caitydid255]

Originally Posted by GSDBESTK9

everyone else was getting out of the way and giving us this weird look.

Prior to Freyja entering my life, I used to walk my Fiance's GSD, Angus, and my mother's collie, Preston, around the local park. When I would walk just Preston I would have some people run up and yell "Lassie" while others grabbed their kids and drew them away with negative remarks about how large and scary he was. When we (Preston & I) would go out with Angus, we would have more people come up to us and ask us 1) where we got him, 2) or ask if they could pet him. It seemed that more people wanted to approach them when I had the two together as opposed to just the collie. People are weird.