[Lojo]

Hello all, I’m a relatively new GSD owner (my dog is 1 year) and now that she is almost her full adult size I’m struggling to not be offended and upset by people’s ridiculous prejudice, comments and behaviour when I’m out with my dog.
Purely based on how she looks/the breed. I wondered how others deal with this? I am clearly too sensitive and need to toughen up when I know my dog isn’t doing anything wrong. I knew this would be a “thing” but didn’t expect some people to be so ott and rude.

She is super friendly, very gentle, sensitive, loves all dogs and people, great with children. I am lucky to have an extremely relaxed, friendly dog so don’t feel I should avoid taking her places when she’s an absolute pleasure. It’s getting me down! I know, I’m a bit of a snowflake.

Ps thanks for the great comments. Just to add the below are examples of what is really frustrating for me:

• today I was told that I was “insane” for letting my dog walk too close to somebody’s child…she was on the lead, on a path and ignored the child until it wanted to say hello, then she sniffed the child. The child however really wanted to pet my dog. Good luck to that child when it grows up with a fear of dogs instilled by its mother.
• in the last week have been told by two separate owners that my on lead dog shouldn’t have got so close to/let my dog interact with their small dog because “they don’t like and are scared/have been attacked” by a GSD before. Despite the fact that their off lead dogs approached us just to bark at us. My dog ignores the tiny little s**** which I’m grateful for.

 

[car2ner]

I was surprised to find out that there are two kinds of people. Those that love GSD and those afraid of GSDs. I give those that are afraid a bit more extra space. Those that love them will take up a lot of my time because we'll want to stop and "talk dogs". But we enjoy it. In fact our digs figured out that when we stopped to talk they might as well get comfortable.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

You haven't described what's been happening and under what circumstances. Are people making snotty comments about GSDs even when she's behaving nicely? Or are they responding to something in particular? Are these people you know or random strangers? If they hate or fear GSDs it doesn't have anything to do with you and your dog and you can't take it personally. No point in getting worked up over what other people say or think.

 

[brookwoodgirl]

I've talked to a lot of UK GSD owners and they all have this complaint. People screaming at them for having a GSD, to keep it away from them, even as their dogs are running loose. It seems the GSD seems to be not well liked in the UK. Based on what other's have said it seems to be almost a national prejudice. Maybe if there is a breed club in the UK, they can try to do something to reverse the image. But in the short term, I think you are stuck with what seems to be a very common UK prejudice against the breed.

 

[Sunsilver]

LoJo, just saw this on my FB feed. Hope it makes you feel a bit better!

Sujata Agarwal · ·
"I can't take it to the beach for a walk because it bothers you on your vacation, you don't allow me to rent a house if I have a dog, nor can I put it on urban public transport.
However, I can take him to the rubble to look for you after an earthquake, in the forest after you got lost in the mountain and you had no map or GPS; under the snow, because you did a forbidden off-piste; in the water, because despite the red flag, you have bathed and wherever you need to, because finally, it is just a dog ... but he will find you.

 

[Jax08]

I just worry about my dog. I train my dogs to be stellar citizens that I can take anywhere. Ignore the words and show them by example. they can't complain about a dog that behaves well.

 

[WNGD]

"This is a fantastic dog with great manners. You could learn a thing or two from him...."

 

[Lojo]

You haven't described what's been happening and under what circumstances. Are people making snotty comments about GSDs even when she's behaving nicely? Or are they responding to something in particular? Are these people you know or random strangers? If they hate or fear GSDs it doesn't have anything to do with you and your dog and you can't take it personally. No point in getting worked up over what other people say or think.

Thankyou - I’ve added examples in my post. People are making snotty comments if my dog so much as looks their way and it’s just started getting me down. I will and must try not to take it so personally you’re absolutely right.

 

[Lojo]

"This is a fantastic dog with great manners. You could learn a thing or two from him...."

I am absolutely going to use this next time I get any comments! Thanks

 

[Lojo]

I've talked to a lot of UK GSD owners and they all have this complaint. People screaming at them for having a GSD, to keep it away from them, even as their dogs are running loose. It seems the GSD seems to be not well liked in the UK. Based on what other's have said it seems to be almost a national prejudice. Maybe if there is a breed club in the UK, they can try to do something to reverse the image. But in the short term, I think you are stuck with what seems to be a very common UK prejudice against the breed.

I think you’re absolutely right - though I’ve never owned one in any other country but it does seem as though they have a worse reputation here. I live in a very large city and my dog is a city dog, it’s a very dog friendly place, she has lovely manners and people are just going to have to get used to me travelling with her on the bus, visiting parks and doing all the things little dog owners do. As you say I will just try to accept the prejudice it is what it is!

 

[brookwoodgirl]

I think you’re absolutely right - though I’ve never owned one in any other country but it does seem as though they have a worse reputation here. I live in a very large city and my dog is a city dog, it’s a very dog friendly place, she has lovely manners and people are just going to have to get used to me travelling with her on the bus, visiting parks and doing all the things little dog owners do. As you say I will just try to accept the prejudice it is what it is!

I do envy that dogs are allowed to go on buses and trains in the UK, and even into many pubs. In America, it is generally no dogs allowed. Dogs are not even allowed in many parks. So while they don't seem here to have quite the same bad reputation in the US, we don't have all the dog friendly benefits your country does.

 

[Lojo]

I do envy that dogs are allowed to go on buses and trains in the UK, and even into many pubs. In America, it is generally no dogs allowed. Dogs are not even allowed in many parks. So while they don't seem here to have quite the same bad reputation in the US, we don't have all the dog friendly benefits your country does.

I didn’t know that - and I maybe take it for granted. Sounds like we take the rough with the smooth on both sides. There are more dog friendly places in my city than not so it’s surprising so many people (strangers) comment.

 

[LuvShepherds]

It happens here too. A few months back I heard from someone about a mutual friend with a large dog in San Francisco who had a huge problem with off leash dogs everywhere in the city. Their dog was attacked by a small terrier, one of those little fluffy dogs and the bigger dog had enough and growled at the other dog. Somehow the smaller dog ended up getting grabbed near the neck, struggled and started bleeding. The bigger dog didn’t bite but held onto the other dog to stop the attack and punctured the skin. The small dog owner caused a huge uproar and tried to get the larger dog taken away and euthanized by animal control. Somehow it was resolved when the other owner handed the small dog owner a pile of cash and was able to leave. They moved out of the city soon after.

I no longer take my dogs on walks on our street due to the huge number of loose dogs. I had a large rescued male before I got my current male who was very submissive to other animals. During one week, I counted 20 off leash dogs which is illegal here and finally stopped counting. No matter what was done to him, he would not attack an animal but he would bite a person if they got into his space. If anything at all happened with another dog even when no one was hurt, my dog always got blamed. It wasn’t worth the aggravation.

My neighbor has a Maltese that was off leash in her front yard and tried to bite a medium sized leashed dog. The leashed dog tried to protect itself and my friend reached down to grab her own dog. She ended up getting several bites and later told me the larger dog was at fault because it happened on her sidewalk. She’s a good friend and I could not get her to understand what she and her dog did was wrong and that the leashed dog that her dog charged on a public sidewalk did nothing wrong. She caused the bite herself. If smart people refuse to understand, I don't expect random people to be any wiser.

I ignore rude comments because they don’t know any better. if someone persists, I tell them that my dog is following the rules and theirs isn’t, so they are at fault, then I leave. I’ve put my dogs into the car and left different places to avoid serious confrontations. You can’t make people responsible, informed or smart if they aren’t.

 

[WNGD]

Thankyou - I’ve added examples in my post. People are making snotty comments if my dog so much as looks their way and it’s just started getting me down. I will and must try not to take it so personally you’re absolutely right.

I almost never let people pet my dog(s) but the rare exception is for children. Harley in particular is an exemplary example of aloof but approachable so I show them how to approach and pet his neck/side, not his nose/top of his head. It always goes well and I hope I've created a convert.

We don't see a lot of people on our hikes but occasionally I've had people with little dogs say something insensitive like "Fluffy is afraid of German Shepherds" but I've assured them that my dog doesn't want anything to do with Fluffy, he's not a fan of being bitten!

I do see a lady with 2 off leash miniature poodles somewhat regularly who insists that our dogs should play

The one runs up and flips on its back and the other just lunges and barks like crazy.

 

[Sunsilver]

I think you’re absolutely right - though I’ve never owned one in any other country but it does seem as though they have a worse reputation here.

I think it's a lingering hangover from the two world wars Britain fought against Germany, and the role the GSD played as guard dogs with the German military.

Let's not forget Britain changed the name of the breed to 'Alsatian' for a reason!

The rest of the world didn't have the German army just across a very narrow channel of water!

 

[Gnicol]

Hello all, I’m a relatively new GSD owner (my dog is 1 year) and now that she is almost her full adult size I’m struggling to not be offended and upset by people’s ridiculous prejudice, comments and behaviour when I’m out with my dog.
Purely based on how she looks/the breed. I wondered how others deal with this? I am clearly too sensitive and need to toughen up when I know my dog isn’t doing anything wrong. I knew this would be a “thing” but didn’t expect some people to be so ott and rude.

She is super friendly, very gentle, sensitive, loves all dogs and people, great with children. I am lucky to have an extremely relaxed, friendly dog so don’t feel I should avoid taking her places when she’s an absolute pleasure. It’s getting me down! I know, I’m a bit of a snowflake.

Ps thanks for the great comments. Just to add the below are examples of what is really frustrating for me:

• today I was told that I was “insane” for letting my dog walk too close to somebody’s child…she was on the lead, on a path and ignored the child until it wanted to say hello, then she sniffed the child. The child however really wanted to pet my dog. Good luck to that child when it grows up with a fear of dogs instilled by its mother.
• in the last week have been told by two separate owners that my on lead dog shouldn’t have got so close to/let my dog interact with their small dog because “they don’t like and are scared/have been attacked” by a GSD before. Despite the fact that their off lead dogs approached us just to bark at us. My dog ignores the tiny little s**** which I’m grateful for.

I am based in Dorset and it is dog country. However I have had a few instances , one yesterday when I was on the common and he was on a lead. I was training him to heel so walking back and forth. Person with a dog walks toward me then stops , moans about the length of lead he was on(it was pretty short) and turns around? People have hurdled their children round him and made it a tense experience for all parties. He is five months old, big ,but not that big. You cannot educate stupid or prejudice. S I let it roll over me ,a shame but it is what it is. Maybe because the breed is a national Police dog? Conditioned into us to be afraid who knows, got to go he is tearing up his bed as I type......bless him.

 

[Jax08]

Just smile and say "yes, this is a German Shepherd and he has better manners than you"

 

[Debbieg]

I have the same issue with Theo who will be one next week. He is great with kids, aloof with adults and good with other dogs. I walk him on leash and some people will cross the street or pick up their small dogs, give me dirty looks in Home Depot even though Theo is just walking quietly by m side. I have been taking him to pick up my grandkids at school since he was 4 months so most of the parents know and love him and smile when their kids run m to pet him. He ignored other dogs that parents bring

If I were you I’d be happy we have a good ambassador for the breed.
And the fact that some people are scared of them is good because it makes them a deterant
to people with bad intent. I know when I walk our bike trail at 5am in the dark I feel safer with Theo than my happy go lucky golden

 

[Chuuyas_Wine_Glass]

I got more comments when my shepherd was a puppy. Comments like "that's dog's going to eat you when it grows up". Overall now people just avoid her and go a different way if they don't like her, though Ive had people jump in the air and scream because she looked at them. I think the best one though was when a guy in a store walked past about a foot away, it was a tight aisle. My girl gave his hand a giant lick as he went past and he pulled his hand up, didn't say anything he didn't really have any problem with her in the first place, but he definitely wasn't expecting that to happen when passing by her. Try as I might, her version of asking for pets is to give a giant slobbery lick on the hand.

 

[TotallyAwesome]

I live in India - and this is like a daily thing here too. I’m very glad you made this post so I know I’m not alone, and it’s not just a thing where I live.

Don’t let it get to you - it still gets to me sometimes. Try to devote your energy to training your dog to being the best behaved. That’s why I am here everyday, sometimes several times a day, so I can learn everything I can to train and protect my dog.

it may not make sense - but I suggest behaving in the best possible way even when other people don’t. If you and your dog are well behaved, there is nothing they can say or do about you and your dog. Atleast nothing beyond comments.

My neighbours offleash dogs tried to attack my on leash dog, while we were standing in front of our front door. My dog calmly moved out of the way and did not retaliate. He did not even bark - he kept cool and focused. My dog was 5 months old at the time - his dogs are several years old, and he’s telling me to get a trainer for my dog.

Some other dog regularly stalks us on walks and tries to attack. It has never succeeded because we don’t let it get close, and fortunately the person walking it has managed to hold on - but it bit and hurt someone else’s dog a few days ago - but the owner of that dog (the victim), comes up to me and asks me if my dog attacked his dog - he doesn’t even know which dog attacked his dog, because neither he nor his walker were paying attention.

The owner of the dog that did attack - has had several years to train their dog, but you won’t hear any comments about that dogs breed.

a little earlier, a very popular breed of dog (two of them), took apart a Shihtzu when they escaped their handlers control. You will never hear anyone say anything about that breed. But after that incident, other walkers in my neighbourhood would not let my dog meet their dogs, even though my dog has nothing to do with it, and has never harmed any human or dog.

The hard part is that my dog has started barking at other dogs again (loudly) so people misbehave and act as if my dog is dangerous - but ironically choose to ignore the quiet dogs that regularly bite and are really dangerous.

that being said - there are also people who love German shepherds and literally change paths, cross streets and go out of the way to meet me and my dog. I have met very few neutral persons - it’s more like strong reactions one way or the other. I guess neutral persons just mind their own business..