Walk away... I guess

[Kittilicious]

There is a couple who walks their dog in town multiple times a day. It has something wrong with it's back legs and has some sort of boots on... the walks help him not stiffen up. I've talked to them one time a couple years ago, thats how I know this. It seems that no matter what time you are out and about in town you will see them... I've passed them with our Golden at least 100 times in the past couple years and will get a friendly "hello" from them each time. I've been doing short walks with Knuckles and doing a lot of walking down to the park, which they don't go to, so I haven't ran into them with him yet. Until yesterday. I took Knuckles to my dad's house (a block away from my own) so he could see Knuckles' two standing ears (I taped them). On the way home I came out of the alley and saw the couple with the dog walking down the street in my direction - as soon as they saw me they turned around and walked the opposite direction. I really didn't think anything of it until I got to my street and turned the corner... the woman did keep looking back but as soon as I turned the corner and she saw, they turned around again to walk in their original direction again.
I found this somewhat humorous - were they avoiding Knuckles? Really? He was on his best behavior, not pulling at the leash or anything. I wonder what they would have thought if I would have gotten the chance to tell them he's only 5 months old.

[doggiedad]

i think they were avoiding you. "oh look honey,
here she comes again. lets go the other way".
"oh no, here she comes again. "hurry turn around"

Originally Posted by Kittilicious

There is a couple who walks their dog in town multiple times a day. It has something wrong with it's back legs and has some sort of boots on... the walks help him not stiffen up. I've talked to them one time a couple years ago, thats how I know this. It seems that no matter what time you are out and about in town you will see them... I've passed them with our Golden at least 100 times in the past couple years and will get a friendly "hello" from them each time. I've been doing short walks with Knuckles and doing a lot of walking down to the park, which they don't go to, so I haven't ran into them with him yet. Until yesterday. I took Knuckles to my dad's house (a block away from my own) so he could see Knuckles' two standing ears (I taped them). On the way home I came out of the alley and saw the couple with the dog walking down the street in my direction - as soon as they saw me they turned around and walked the opposite direction. I really didn't think anything of it until I got to my street and turned the corner... the woman did keep looking back but as soon as I turned the corner and she saw, they turned around again to walk in their original direction again.

>>>>I found this somewhat humorous - were they avoiding
Knuckles? <<<<

Really? He was on his best behavior, not pulling at the leash or anything. I wonder what they would have thought if I would have gotten the chance to tell them he's only 5 months old.

[Caledon]

Maybe their dog does not like GSD. I've met several dog owners who have told me that their dog is fine with other dogs except a GSD.

[mysweetkaos]

Originally Posted by Caledon

Maybe their dog does not like GSD. I've met several dog owners who have told me that their dog is fine with other dogs except a GSD.

I agree with that. Both of my dogs have "don't likes" while I can control it sometimes I am just not in the mood and try to avoid it. Also if their dog is older and in pain, he may be less friendly than he used to be and they might of just been trying to avoid getting him upset.

Or....maybe Knuckles is scary

[Anastasia]

We found that as soon as Jacks ears were up people were afraid of him. He spent a few weeks with one ear up and one down and everywhere we went people would want to pet him. One morning we woke up and both ears were up and we saw a 90% drop in people wanting to pet him.
We mentioned it to our trainer and she suggested that we put a bandanna on him when we walk him, she said it makes people feel he is approachable.

[Kittilicious]

Originally Posted by Anastasia

We found that as soon as Jacks ears were up people were afraid of him. He spent a few weeks with one ear up and one down and everywhere we went people would want to pet him. One morning we woke up and both ears were up and we saw a 90% drop in people wanting to pet him.
We mentioned it to our trainer and she suggested that we put a bandanna on him when we walk him, she said it makes people feel he is approachable.

Thats kind of what my husband said. He looked like a dopey dog with the one ear flopped, now he looks more intimidating. I just smiled and said I'll walk with my head a little higher then LOL
I'm assuming the dog is in pain, but I've never had them turn away from me while walking my Golden, even when she is off leash. Not that I walk right up to them or anything, it's usually walking past on the opposite sides of the road and it was never a big deal until yesterday.
I just found it odd because it was from quite a distance... we were almost a block away from each other when they turned around right after they saw us.

And Doggiedad...

[BlackPuppy]

In my neighborhood, everybody adjusts their walks to avoid other dogs, most of the time. It's just easier that way.

[Kittilicious]

We don't do that... there are a lot of dog walkers in town (I can tell you what dog lives at what house but don't ask me the human's names LOL) and we run into each other all the time, this was the first time someone has turned around and avoided me.

[Freestep]

Originally Posted by Kittilicious

Thats kind of what my husband said. He looked like a dopey dog with the one ear flopped, now he looks more intimidating. I just smiled and said I'll walk with my head a little higher then LOL

You are putting an awful lot of pride in whether your dogs' ears stand up or not. What if the taping doesn't succeed? Will you feel less proud, less safe? Will you not be able to hold your head high with a dopey-eared dog? Be aware of your attitude, because your dog is. Does his appearance reflect on you?

Believe me--I went through it with my first GSD, I was 18 years old at the time. I don't know why I expected the ears to come up on a BYB GSD mix, but I taped her ears and everything. Everyone told me her ears would stand on their own, and not to mess with them. I messed with them anyway, and guess what? Her ears fell down harder. I got over it, and never loved her less, or felt less safe, or unable to hold my head high with a dopey-eared dog.