are people scared of your boxer?

[RoxiesEcho]

I've never had anyone actually say anything to us but last summer we took Bella up to the Marblehead Lighthouse on Lake Erie. When we went out on the rocks we walked past a couple at a picnic table with a small dog. On the way back I accidently stepped on Bella's foot and she let out a big yelp. Everyone standing in line to tour the lighthouse turned around and gasped! By DH said I sure knew how to get people's attention. I told him they all looked because they thought the big bad pitbull had tried to eat the little dog! They stared at us all the way back to our car

 

[auntthelm]

We had 2 incidents this past summer. The first was when a family with a yappy/pull you down the street small dog came toward us and the owners immediate response was,"He was trying to protect us from your mean looking dog." I was sitting on a bench with our dog llaying on the sidewalk and on her leash. She never looked at the other dog. Of course she didn't look because I told her, "Leave it." and that meant she had to turn her head and not look. Crystal was really smart and her obedience training was with a gentle and kind approach. She followed commands and usually did what she was told.
The second incident occurred at the vet when a couple came in with their Doberman and one said to the other, "Don't get near that Pitt, it looks mean." The wife looked at me and said, "I'm afraid of dogs." I informed them my dog was a Boxer and then I told her then she probably shouldn't come to the vet if she has a fear of dogs. Her dog didn't listen and attempted to come over to us. Again, I told Crystal, "Leave it." and she never looked at the dog, but her body was tense. The doberman's owner asked how I got my dog to listen like that. I told her I loved dogs and wanted mine to be the best. And she was.

 

[Murp.mm]

I do get some people who are afraid of Ali but overall most are not. That said I get a lot of comments when she sits in the care waiting for me as I do my errands. Most people say things like "you don't need to lock your car with that dog in there" or nobody's gonna get in that car with that face staring out at you. A lot of people that don't know the boxer breed think she's pitbull and I did hear a woman say to another woman "I wouldn't have a dog like that would you". My thoughts were my girl wouldn't choose you either. But in all fairness I am nervous around certain dogs that I don't know even though I grew up with dogs.

 

[Lola's mum]

My brother in law is scared of our three. He say's they're huge

 

[electric1]

I've only had one experience when a person actually acted scared of ABBY. It was when I had taken ABBY in to the vets for her annual check-up last year. Some woman came in, carrying a lap dog. She made the biggest scene about me having ABBY in there at the same time. And I don't know if she was really that so much afraid, or that she was just wanting to make a fuss about it. I mean Lord, we were in a veterinarians clinic. Hadn't she ever seen bigger dogs than the 'rat on acid' that she had with her. Anyway, she didn't even sign in.

 

[Mega's Mom]

I would have to say no. It's hard to be scared of Cornelius when he's running in the opposite direction! Case in point, I had to call the gas company to repair my water heater. When it was time to leave, the guy came upstairs from the basement and headed towards the front door. At that time, Cornelius decided it was time to leave his hiding place under the dining room table and high tail it upstairs to safety. Silly boy. I could hear the repair man laughing as he was leaving.

 

[Deez]

We've definitely had the "pit bull" comments at PetSmart about Diesel, but it's hard to really be afraid of him when he has that big goofy grin on his face, so most people will usually approach and ask to pet him. When I take him for walks people will cross the street to avoid walking near him. Sometimes older men will talk to us and comment about how pretty he is... and their wives avoid eye contact and try to walk away. It's weird.
On the other hand, should anyone take a step onto Diesel's driveway or into his house, he goes into full watch dog mode. We were having furniture delivered one day when it was just him and me, and he stayed between me and the furniture guys every second. I told him it was okay patted his rump, which I guess meant I had it under control, and he became a big scardy dog and ran out back and watched from the window! He'll be protective when necessary, but he's a weeny at heart!
What's funny is that my mom is kind of nervous around strangers, so if she's walking him or if she's home when the exterminator comes, Diesel will guard her no matter what. It's as if he senses her fear and knows that it's his job to protect her.
But I'm pretty sure that if someone were to come into the house while no one was home, he'd hide behind the couch, and if they were nice, he would ask them to get him a cookie.

 

[MamaMiaaa]

Yes alot of people are afraid of Jackson. I dont see him as a scary dog but he is big 100 pounds and very wide. I like when people come to my door to try and sell something all I have to do is let them see Jackson and as soon as I tell them I am not interested they walk very very quickly down the driveway...

 

[elindave]

people scared...

I find too that even though Nikita right now is only 4.5 mths and 31 lbs, some people are definitely afraid. Nikita is rough with other dogs (is in training). Cashier at local pet shop suggested to customer to move back with his labrador because my dog was a bit vicious.
I was stunned at her choice of words, and very hurt. Otherwise, I've had people ask if she was a pittbull, I've been pulled over by a cop to see if it was infact a pittbull who was not muzzled (ontario, canada by-law). Oh well, thank goodness Nikita doesn't give a care in the world what others think!

Eli, Dave, 3 kids & Nikita (Aug 28 07) fawn, floppy, docked

 

[Gangly]

Petey is half boxer half standard american bulldog. We have had people drive down the street and turnaround just to come back and tell us how bad pitbulls are, how they should all be killed, and to condemn us for feeling the neccessity to own one, without ever realizing Petey isnt one. Its ridiculous how people can make such an assumption, boxers and pits look nothing alike. However, because the ears on Petey are "sport" cut, and most pits have the same cut, it's possible that his ears are the reason that some people make the assumption. Regardless, when somebody tells me that its not a good idea to have petey areound my kids because pits are "known to attack", i just reply "well, if i ever own a pitbull, ill take that into consideration, but until then i wont worry about it" and i usually get a great feeling by looking at the expression on their face as they quickly realize they made a poor assumption about my Petey being a pit.

PS, i have yet to meet a mean staffordshire (pit bull terrior) that was from a good home, and wouldnt hesitate to own a quality bred PBT if i ever had the desire for one.