Personally, I do not get offended when people ask me if my dog is a Pit or not. I do not consider it an "insult" that my dog may be mistaken for a Pit. What DOES upset me, however, is when people think that my dog is a vicious, bloodthirsty killer - regardless of breed.
Situations:
1) While walking my dogs at an OFF LEASH park we met a girl walking her American Eskimo dog. Luke ran up to her wiggling and grinning and sat his butt down right in front of her as I have trained him to do if he wants to be petted. The girl started screaming "No, No! Get away!" and kicking my dog. An older couple that were walking near by said, "Oh my gosh! Did you see that dog attack that girl?" (More like the girl attacked my dog). Now that REALLY pissed me off. Why do you own a dog if you are scared of them? Why do you come to an off-leash park if you are scared of dogs? And why would you come to an off leash park without a dog? These people really confuse me.
2) At the same OFF LEASH park we were walking about 50 yards behind a girl walking her Dal. Her dog came over to us to "visit" (as dogs at off leash parks are apt to do). When the girl saw my dog she turned around and SPRINTED to her vehicle (leaving her dog to be maimed by my vicious dog I guess). She locked herself in her car until we left. We quit going to that off leash park.
3) It really bothers me when people are scared sh*tless of my boy Luke but they do not hesitate about sticking their hands in my JRTs face or try to pick him up. Luke would never harm a fly. Tony, on the other hand HAS and WILL bite. He is a rescue dog from an abused home and a terrier on top of that - I think that is a recipe for disaster. I cant believe that people assume that because a dog is small it is gentle and loving. NO WAY would I trust Tony with a child but the neighborhood kids sit on Luke, roll on the ground with him, pull on his ears and all he does is lick them until they are soaking wet.
4) Luke is white with one blue and one brown eye. I have had some REALLY stupid questions asked about him - for instance, someone HONESTLY asked me if he was a "mutant" because the farm where I rescued him from was near an industrial plant. I have also had people say that my dog looks "possessed" or like a "demon". Who are these people?
I have to admit that having an intimidating looking dog is somewhat of a good thing - I feel very safe when I am walking down the street at night with my dogs (even though they would probably run and hide if someone tried to hurt me). But it really does bother me that people think big=bad and small=cute and cuddly or that my dog will simply fly off the handle at any minute and start ripping people apart.
I think the only remedy is education, patience and understanding.
I know this is long - but just one more thing:
Has anyone read Dr. Nicholas Dodman's "Dogs Behaving Badly"? There is a very disturbing story about a pack of terriers that maimed and killed an elderly woman. Maybe the reason that bigger dogs account for more FATAL attacks is because they are larger and physically able to do damage on their own. However, there is strength in numbers and little dogs are just as capable as big dogs. I'm not trying to piss any small dog owners off (I am one myself).
Sorry so long!
Tamara
Situations:
1) While walking my dogs at an OFF LEASH park we met a girl walking her American Eskimo dog. Luke ran up to her wiggling and grinning and sat his butt down right in front of her as I have trained him to do if he wants to be petted. The girl started screaming "No, No! Get away!" and kicking my dog. An older couple that were walking near by said, "Oh my gosh! Did you see that dog attack that girl?" (More like the girl attacked my dog). Now that REALLY pissed me off. Why do you own a dog if you are scared of them? Why do you come to an off-leash park if you are scared of dogs? And why would you come to an off leash park without a dog? These people really confuse me.
2) At the same OFF LEASH park we were walking about 50 yards behind a girl walking her Dal. Her dog came over to us to "visit" (as dogs at off leash parks are apt to do). When the girl saw my dog she turned around and SPRINTED to her vehicle (leaving her dog to be maimed by my vicious dog I guess). She locked herself in her car until we left. We quit going to that off leash park.
3) It really bothers me when people are scared sh*tless of my boy Luke but they do not hesitate about sticking their hands in my JRTs face or try to pick him up. Luke would never harm a fly. Tony, on the other hand HAS and WILL bite. He is a rescue dog from an abused home and a terrier on top of that - I think that is a recipe for disaster. I cant believe that people assume that because a dog is small it is gentle and loving. NO WAY would I trust Tony with a child but the neighborhood kids sit on Luke, roll on the ground with him, pull on his ears and all he does is lick them until they are soaking wet.
4) Luke is white with one blue and one brown eye. I have had some REALLY stupid questions asked about him - for instance, someone HONESTLY asked me if he was a "mutant" because the farm where I rescued him from was near an industrial plant. I have also had people say that my dog looks "possessed" or like a "demon". Who are these people?
I have to admit that having an intimidating looking dog is somewhat of a good thing - I feel very safe when I am walking down the street at night with my dogs (even though they would probably run and hide if someone tried to hurt me). But it really does bother me that people think big=bad and small=cute and cuddly or that my dog will simply fly off the handle at any minute and start ripping people apart.
I think the only remedy is education, patience and understanding.
I know this is long - but just one more thing:
Has anyone read Dr. Nicholas Dodman's "Dogs Behaving Badly"? There is a very disturbing story about a pack of terriers that maimed and killed an elderly woman. Maybe the reason that bigger dogs account for more FATAL attacks is because they are larger and physically able to do damage on their own. However, there is strength in numbers and little dogs are just as capable as big dogs. I'm not trying to piss any small dog owners off (I am one myself).
Sorry so long!
Tamara