VENTING!!! Anyone else get frustrated when people act afraid of Boxers?

[doggon]

:( I'm sorry to hear that so many people are having the same problem. I am fortunate to live in a very small town where people are not so ignorant. I was so proud of my Ozzie when I took him out for a walk last week. We were on our way home at an intersection and Ozzie was sitting so nicely. A little old lady drove by and actually slowed down to admire him! She was smiling from ear to ear and I could see her mouth "awwww". I've had a few people cross the street while we walk, but no rude comments or dirty looks. I don't know what I would say if that ever happened to me. I am just as protective towards my furbabies as they are of me...I'm more likely to bite than they are! LOL!

~Jody

 

[boxerma]

Personally, I think it's my complete right to respond in ANY manner to people who are rude, inconsiderate, self centered and downright mean. I am not talking about saying anything to children, just their parents, as they are saying to me about my furbabies. Children are by far the most accepting and nice and usually ask first. I have no problem with them. I have a problem with grown adults acting irrationally, and as you say, actually making the situation worse as you are trying to socialize your dog because it just confuses them. I agree that responding in certains ways perpetuates the perception of the breed so I am, as I am anyways, very calm and speak softly telling Bingo commands and praising him.

I don't care in the least Bingo being compared to a Pit Bull, I met a very sweet white Pit girl a few months ago and she was so sweet she almost made me cry. I get angry when people's misconception of that breed, get reflected on mine when they don't even know enough to tell the two apart but have no problem just 'BLAH BLAH BLAHING" saying whatever comes to their tiny little minds. I think what is frustrating for most of us is that WE are doing the right thing when these situations come up and certain people will approach us and act like we don't have the right to stand on this spot, or any spot for that matter, on this earth. They treat us like we should disappear, like we are walking a live Boar or something. I just would like help in discovering an intelligent way to put these folks in their place. And about agreeing with people first usually puts them at ease, I don't agree. Maybe in some social settings, but not in ones were rudeness and meanness is involved. I feel like I would be betraying my Bingo to agree with a total stranger on something that isn't true. If a child says he is ugly, which one never has, I just tell them the truth. Maybe someone would think that of them and that isn't a nice thing to say if they wouldn't want people to think that of them. Surely the child could understand that statement if they are lucent enough to say such a retort in the first place.

So, I'm just down right P......SED!!! Excuse me if I don't accept any of the excuses for these rude people. I just get tired of people taking advantage of my and Bingo's good nature. I am proud of him, just as anyone else is proud of their dog or child, and will always show that to others, especially when he is doing the right thing. Which is most the time! AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[rjsone]

The Gentle Leader Does Not Help Matters for me!!

At PETsMART, I often hear the "he has a muzzle on, stay away before he bites you." I saw Gentle Leader buttons that in huge print "NO, it's not a muzzle!!" Plus, stay away from the muzzled dog before he bites you??? Hhhmmm....

I have a plan... The next time someone shows fear of my 6 month old angel Bosco, I will have some fun with it. I will sit next to him on the floor and allow him to pummel me with kisses and let his little nubbin' tail wag so fast that he almost takes flight. I will then scream "Oh, the humanity!! Help! Killer dog!!"

My wife and I have played with Bosco and he has shown his strength. The result? He toppled my wife and kissed her so much that she could hardly breathe. In a sense, he nearly killed her, I guess. :rolleyes:

Bosco does use his paws a lot! Plus, he is still bad about jumping on people (we're working on it constantly, he'll get it). I was at the park once and a little boy asked if he could pet him. I said sorry, but no because he gets too excited right now. He said ok, yet followed us, which was wonderful for Bosco's excitement. Naturally, his parents saw him walking behind my dog and I and somehow I am an irresponsible pet owner with a psycho killer dog! Ugh... I understand their concern, just look at the monster: :

If we can maintain our sanity when these situations arise, it serves as a great opportunity to inform people of the truth. Unfortunately, this is much easier said than done.

In their defense, though... They see a large and obviously strong dog. The reaction is natural to be more apprehensive than they would given a poodle were present. It's no excuse to freak out. But, many people are not in "the know" and merely own dogs because they are cute furry things and have little knowledge about them.
:rolleyes

 

[boxerma]

It's funny you should mention that about the gentle leader, I don't use one, I use a harness but I've noticed that the difference in COLOR actually changes peoples behavior towards Bing and if they think he is friendly or not. He is brindle, so if I put a black collar and harness on him, people are more apprehensive, but if they are both red or blue, people are better! So, I have to change his fashion depending on who we will be around. Lately, he has a blue collar and black harness because the red one is all stretched out so that must really confuse people!!!!!!! And I can't imagine what a pain it would be to deal with the gentle leader/muzzle issue. I think that would be just way too much!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I'll get Bingo a hat and tutu to wear when we walk dowtown!!!!

 

[jillyz]

OK, before this gets away from me, I just want to clear up what I posted earlier. I do not want to insult little children who are completely innocent nor would I ever do anything to make a child feel bad. It is just one of the things my boyfriend and I have spoke about to let people know how it feels to have someone say something nasty about their child as they say about ours. We would NEVER EVER say anything mean and we just ignore comments but sometimes, as everyone else has done, you just WANT (not that we actually do)to say really mean things to let people know that by calling our dog ugly or mean it is like us telling them their child is ugly or mean.
The comment was meant as an afterthought to make these ignorant people understand what our babies mean to us and then maybe they would be more cautious the next time they opened their mouth.
I hope that what I wrote did not offend anyone and I do not want to step on any toes by saying what I did. Please understand that it was meant as an "imagine if..." and that is all.

Sorry! :D

P.S. rjsone - AHHH! Look at that killer dog! You can tell by those eyes that he must want blood! :D :D :D

 

[uno]

Boxerma, I don't know you. I only know what you've posted here and based on that, you really do need to lighten up. Please don't take offense to this cause I'm not here to insult anyone. If you re-read your posts you might want to reconsider some of what you wrote. No matter where you go in life you are going to run into people that are rude, and either ignorant (defined as having not been taught yet), stupid (defined as unable to learn), or both (defined as unable to learn no matter how much they're taught).

Well, I have to say that most of the reactions to my Bingo boy are positive and people love him and think he 's cute and will come right up to him. AND THEN THERE ARE THE OTHER ONES. I am soooooo sick of hearing, "it's a pit bull", or watching people white knuckle their leashes and cross the street for fear of Bingo attacking them I guess. I have had people who use those choke collars with the pointy things on them that dig into thier necks be afriad of my Bingo!!!!!!

You say that most of the reactions to my Bingo boy are positive but you dwell on the negative responses. You're making an assumption when you say that people white knuckle their leashes and cross the street for fear of Bingo attacking them I guess. Do you think maybe that they're crossing the street because their dog may be aggressive, and they want to avoid a confrontation? BTW the choke collars with the pointy things are called pinch collar and they're (IMO) much better for dogs than choke collars.

I guess we could just say "educate yourself before you judge others", hey that's good!

Please take some of your own advice.

I don't judge others I try to understand that what might be imortant to one person may not be to another.

How can you say you don't judge others when in the very next sentence you say,

Plus, why are these idiots frequenting Petsmart like stores anyways?

isn't it judgemental to call someone an idiot? EVERYONE, me included, judges others.

Personally, I think it's my complete right to respond in ANY manner to people who are rude, inconsiderate, self centered and downright mean.

Do you really mean ANY manner? Would it be your "complete right" to punch, stab, or shoot someone who was rude, inconsiderate, self centered, and downright mean. I'm sure that's not what you meant. Always remember you can't control other peoples actions, but you can always control your own.

Lastly your posts give me the impression that you don't have children. Obviously my impression could be wrong, but please don't include dogs and children this way.

I am proud of him, just as anyone else is proud of their dog or child, and will always show that to others, especially when he is doing the right thing.

I love my dogs and I'm proud of them, but there is no comparison between the pride I feel in my dogs and that which I feel for my son.

 

[Nedra's_momma]

I have two...

And, I agree with a lot that has been said here. I also believe that the reputations "pit" breeds have received are mostly undeserved. I do have to say, however, that I *am* overly cautious with any of the "pit" breeds. (Consequently, the term "pit" is a word to describe any breed that is used in pit fighting. There are 4 or 5 breeds that fall into this description.) The reason that I am overly cautious with these breeds is *purely* from a dog owner's stand point. *I* am not afraid of them (in thinking that they mean harm to me), I am afraid for my dog to be around them. Sorry, this fear DOES NOT stem from ignorance. Here's why.

All of the "pit" breeds were originally bred to do one job and one job only; to dog fight. They were bred to be dog aggressive breeds, and it is in their blood. The dogs can generally are personable, as I have yet to meet a truly people aggressive pit, (I'm sure there are others that have, but I have yet to meet one) and there was one that lived in my building that was sweet as pie. As I said before, *I* am not afraid of the dogs, but I am very cautious when letting Nedra play with them, or letting her approach them, as I am with *any* dog. (Last night we ran into an aggressive Weim that tried to take N's head off... It can happen in any breed.)

Having said that, I have seen 10x more vicious *poodles* than boxers or pits. As a breed, poodles are naturally high strung. I have yet to meet a poodle I felt comfortable around, as they all have been so unpredictable.

I do have a similar story, however. It just happened yesterday. Nedra and I had just walked into our apartment building with a woman walking her bike in behind us. We got to the elevator (I live in a renovated warehouse and all of the elevators are freight elevators - there was enough room for 10 bikes in that thing...) and Nedra and I got on. I held the door open for the woman behind us, and she said tartly, "Go ahead. I'll take the next one."

WHY?! Why would you move into an apartment complex that allows dogs if you were afraid of them??!! UGH! It frustrates me. They especially irritate me because in the area that I live in, dog owners have no rights. In all of north east Ohio there is *one* off leash dog park and it was just put in *two months ago*. The only pet friendly stores are pet stores. Some camp grounds and parks even *prohibit* dogs!!! I understand there are neglectful and terrible pet owners out there, but there are also terrible parents out there. Should we just begin prohibiting children from entering places too?? It seems they are just encouraging you to leave your dog at home in it's cage for its entire life. UGH!

Even though these misperceptions irritate me to no end, I have to admit that there have been times that I have been relieved when someone had mistaken her for a Pit Bull. I live in downtown Cleveland, Oh, in a prominent and trendy district, and there are quite a few homeless people that wander the streets. Some of the individuals that frequent the streets by my building seem like they are at least a little insane? OCD? Autism? (they talk to themselves about things that make no sense, yell at trees as they pass them, scream obscenities unprovoked, etc.). On a nightly basis, I will be out walking N and have *at least* one homeless male shy away from us yelling, "You keep that pit back! I ain't doin nothin to you! Hold that pit!" Although Nedra looks at him like, "Are you crazy mister?" I kind of like the added security of knowing that she is seen as a "protection dog" by a few of the individuals that seem like they are "not right in the head".

-- Please do not be offended by the last paragraph (concerning my statements about the homeless in my area) unless you live in this situation everyday and find my statements to be false. If you do, please feel free to call me on it.

Thanks for letting me vent!

 

[Nedra's_momma]

BTW - I made the choice to train Nedra using a prong collar. NOT because she is an aggressive dog, but because I believe that the Gentle Leader *does* look like a muzzle, and I generally want to aviod her being seen as muzzled, living in such a populous area and all.

 

[boxerma]

Uno,

I guess I thought this was a forum designed so different people could share their different experiences and opinions. Apparently I am wrong. I 'm sorry if you feel i need to "lighten up" maybe we have been through different things in life and have meet different types of people on the way, but just the long post you made and at the very end, tell me not to compare my love for Bingo to your love for your children, "there is no comparison" according to you. Is that lightening up? That isn't very accepting of others in life, which is exactly why I 'm so frustrated. That is quite an assuming statement, like I stated earlier, different things are important to different people. I only stated a frustration, and apparently I am not alone, in others who do not recognize this and wanted a way to deal with them. I am trying to keep an open mind.

Appartently what i have posted on the negative side is just the reason I am on this board for suggestions from others who are in the same boat or share the same love for thier animals. I accept those whose love for their children is paramount to anything else, but maybe mine for my dog is to me. I don't shove it in others faces and try to make them feel uncomfortable, if I don't like a situation I just manuever around it, not make them manuever around me.

And as far as reconsidering what I have posted, I'm sorry to have aggravated you so much, and maybe you will reach a point in your life when you understand more of reality and what most people are really like. I'm sorry if this offends you, but in my opinion, when you get down to it, the caliber of most people I have met in my life cannot hold a candle to what I have experienced being around animals. That is only MY opinion, I'm sure which differs from others, but I thought that is what this was for. Regardless of negativity, reality, rossy glasses, whatever view you have on life, I thought it would be welcome here, I guess I was wrong. I also only posted the "idiot" word because I felt I was free to do so considering a lot of other posts very similar to such 'venting" guess I was wrong again.

Excuse me for not knowing the name of the prong collars, one of my good friends uses them on her dogs. I don't judge her like you did me for not knowing what they are called like you did me, is this because you feel guilty using them. You are doing exactly what you are upset at me for doing.

And I don't know where you got stabbing, punching, and the like. What is up with that? I am simply frustrated like a lot of others but I must be different somehow. I hope you got your frustration out in your post and hopefully you have better things to do with your time than reading all of my posts, judging them and quoting them. Sorry for the aggravation. It's good you can show your education by defining the terms I and many others have used here to express our utter disbelief in situations. If that is how you like to try and degrade people, talk about lightening up myself eh?

 

[amnesia]

Originally posted by uno
Do you think maybe that they're crossing the street because their dog may be aggressive, and they want to avoid a confrontation? BTW the choke collars with the pointy things are called pinch collar and they're (IMO) much better for dogs than choke collars.

I'm not jumping into this discussion for any other reason than to clear up some 'gray' areas regarding these collars.

As said by uno, they are much better than choke collars. Even though they look much more fierce, they are a better training tool since they 'equalize' the pressure across the entire neck (unlike a choker. In fact, these are highly suggested by both obediance centers in my area (for all types of dogs).

Personally, I would try working without either first,... but if needed definitely choose this collar type before choosing a standard choker. (my opinion)

(Rubber tips are also available if you feel the steel tips might be hurting your dog)

Thanks