lol...I heard the same thing about Jax's colors from PetSmart cashier who informed me that she does grooming also and sees many GSD's so Jax couldn't possibly be one.

 

She sounds like a moron. Ignore it. Makes the name petsmart an oximoron when they hire such dumb people

 

you hit the nail right on the head with that one!!!

 

To be perfectly honest I've seen way more clueless rather the good Petsmart employees. I don't know if it's a hiring or a training thing but I've been quite disappointed with all sections

I've had fish, hamsters, mice, budgies, cats, and of course dogs and I've talked circles around most and I'm by no means a expert, I learn through research and personal experience

 

I get people that are shocked Katie is a GSD too. I've always wondered if it's pet smart or pets mart.

 

Oh...the gal that I used to work with had horses and she called the store "PetStupid." Yeah, it definitely fit the one we used to go to.

 

It's a chain store what do you expect. It's a big faceless corporation they could care less about having an educated staff. They know people will still buy from them even if the checker thinks your GSD is a min pin.

I am a fish keeper. It's my hobby I have 5 tank ranging for 100gal- to 7gal I know my stuff. I go into these chain stores and want to cry at the awful info they give people about fish keep? I have corrected a few employees because they had no clue what they were talking about telling costumers stupid stuff. The check out person not knowing what breed of dog you have is the least of there problems.

 

Half the time I'm surprised they even recognize that the thing on a leash is a dog and not a hamster. At least they got the right species!

 

Why do you care? And, really, why would that offend you? I could really care less about whether someone identifies my dog as a GSD. In fact, because he is white, I get quite a few comments. For those who ask, "is that a german shepherd," I say maybe, he is from a shelter so you never know for sure. For others who ask, "what is he?" I again respond, I don't know he is from a shelter and probably some mix of multiple breeds. I do this because I did not adopt him because he was a GSD, I adopted him because he is a good dog. I do not want people seeking out a White GSD because they saw a really well behaved one.

 

I've never had a petsmart employee talk to me about Sasha. they mostly seem afraid of her.

Why do you care? And, really, why would that offend you? I could really care less about whether someone identifies my dog as a GSD. In fact, because he is white, I get quite a few comments. For those who ask, "is that a german shepherd," I say maybe, he is from a shelter so you never know for sure. For others who ask, "what is he?" I again respond, I don't know he is from a shelter and probably some mix of multiple breeds. I do this because I did not adopt him because he was a GSD, I adopted him because he is a good dog. I do not want people seeking out a White GSD because they saw a really well behaved one.

I get that, but you could look at it the other way and see it as an opportunity to show people that there are some stable GSDs out there. Not criticizing, just sayin'. It's kind of like how I work extra hard to have Sasha be a dog that behaves in public because I don't want people to think that all young people are irresponsible dog owners, because many of us aren't.

 

It is a chain store that is hiring barely out of high school kids to run a register. I had one guy approach Dharma from behind to give her a treat while I wasn't looking. He snuck up on both of us. Needless to say, it scared the crap out of her and she barked like crazy.

I politely explained to him that wasn't the best approach for some dogs, mine being one of them.

 

Everything the employees know is information they gained outside the store. They do not train employees to know ANYTHING about pets nor do they provide that information. They are understaffed and paid minimum wage, there is no time at all to teach every employee even the basics about basic pets, especially with their very high turn over rate. Especially a cashier who is only trained to scan things. Sorry for the rant, I worked there and it was the hardest and worst paying job i ever had. The expectations from customers to know every intimate detail about every animal was just insane, especially when you are a cashier just starting out who has only ever owned goldfish. If you want expert advice, expect expert prices.

 

We don't really CARE like in caps,-----BUT it is annoying. Let me try to explain. German shepherd people KNOW their dogs are the AWSOMnEST , (is that a word?) BEST dogs on the face of the planet and people who don't see that irritate us. So we get crabby with peoples ignorance. So shoot us. We can't all be as smart as our marvelous dogs!!

 

To build on my last post, if anyone had heard some of the comments I have gotten with my dog I think you would take the same stance I have. Below, are just a few comments from PetSmart

-"Is that a white german shepherd?" "Wow, your dog is beautiful and really rare." "That dog must have cost you a lot of money?" "Your dog listens really well, what is he?" My response to this line of inquiry is typically, "He is a shelter dog who may or may not be a purebred GSD. So, no, adopting him did not cost a lot of money. Their response, "that's a shelter dog, wow, what a steal?" And, in the end, that's the message that I want to convey to people... you can adopt wonderful dogs who are just dying to find their forever homes at shelters and rescues across the country.

 

And yes Im a little to happy right now. ( wine) LOL

 

Peace Riley. i agree with what you have said.

 

Nikitta... I must admit that I too have indulged with a bit of wine tonight Hey, it is Friday afterall :toasting:

 

Lol!!! If it makes you feel any better, I had someone working there proclaim to me that I must be mistaken. That my girl, Dakoda, is actually a husky. Another time, with my friend, they told her that her 30 lb shetlan sheepdog is a pomeranian.

 

My 5 year old nieces can. We were walking down the street and someone came walking with their GSD, and one of them said, "Look, a German Shepherd Dog." He smiled and said, "they know their dog breeds."

Well, really, they do not know all of them. One of their aunties who is a who has GSDs takes them to her house and lets them play with puppies though, and then takes them to Grandma and Grampa's house so they can see Cujo. And she gives them Puppy issues of Dogs USA that they immediately start reading and trying to figure out what the different breeds are. And she takes them to dog shows and gets their pictures taken with an English Setter, and shows them Obedience, and Rally, and different breeds. But I have to admit, that they can readily identify a German Shepherd Dog, so in my opinion, their dog-breed-identification knowledge is good enough. They can start work at petsmart.

Oh and if the puppies start biting their hands, they know to close their fist so the puppy will be less likely to want to bite their hands. It actually works, and lots of adults don't know that. They know to ask politely to pet a dog, and they understand that sometimes people will say no. They know how to approach a dog, and they know not to approach a dog they do not know. Their auntie has been given the task of teaching them about dogs. Though their mother will take them to pet stores to let them pet the puppies.