Please don’t cross the street to the other side when you see us coming. Or pick up your yorkie poo/schnoodle/chihuaha and hold it nervously while we pass. Yes, she is a big dog, but nothing in her manner, or body language would indicate to you that you should be afraid of her. She is smiling and her tail is wagging and she is totally chilled out, meanwhile you look at us like you are offended by her breed. In reality she is a therapy dog that visits nursing homes and brings smiles to everyone who takes time to say hi to her. The top 3 most aggressive dogs are small enough to put in a purse, but no one crosses to the other side when they see a dust mop at the end of a leash. Please, stop being a breedist…!!!! —Sick of being judged
This article appears in Sep 26 – Oct 2, 2013.
FFS, with everything else going on in the world and this is the height of your problems?? *rolls eyes* And your comment about the top 3 most aggressive dogs is horseshit at best. I couldn’t find any sources that all agreed on the same list and all the dogs in these conflicting lists were ‘big dogs’.
Yours might be lovely but not everyone’s is. I doubt that when people pick up their little dogs and cross the street when they see you coming they do it to irritate/insult you or your dog. They are doing it because that makes them more comfortable. They are responsible for their pets, not your feelings. It’s really none of your business what other people do. Sounds like you have a great dog though – enjoy the extra room on the sidewalk!
When people do this to me and my pitbull/mastiff mix and my boxer/mastiff mix, I just laugh at them. I have been known to lean over and whisper into my dogs ear while pointing at them. Never fails to make me chuckle. They’re just idiots and have likely led a pretty sheltered life? They probably avoid eye contact with people who sport visible tattoos too. I always imagined MM would be one of those wimpy little wankers. Feel sorry for their stupidity, not anger, they really don’t know any better.
I know it seems insulting and precipitous but it happens to me too. I have black dogs and there’s stigma attached to black dogs.
but many people who do this have apologized and explained that their little dog had been attacked in the past, sometimes hurt very badly and that’s not something they want to repeat. why take the chance? tiny dogs can get hurt very quickly, so if I had a tiny muffin dog I would scoop him up too if anything larger than a loaf of bread approached. no harm done.
Seems to me that they are being responsible pet owners and erring on the side of caution in preventing a possible altercation. Maybe their little rat on a rope has been known to attack first and yipe yipe yipe later?
Also, using terms like “breedism”, even ironically – that’s a cock punchin’.
Some people are afraid of big dogs op. I doubt they’re going to just get over your phobia because you tell them they have to.
I’m sure there is some phenomenally stupid thing that frightens you. Flying? Heights? Public speaking? Lettuce? (yes, a fear of lettuce is apparently a thing) Think about how easy it would be for you to “just get over it” and then being smacked with a snotty little slang word all because you have a phobia. How would you like it if your fear of spiders made people call you a speciest?
If you’re not afraid of anything, good for you. Not everybody is so lucky. Just stay in your lane and don’t worry about other people in their’s.
don’t worry op, i’m one of the crazy old ladies that yell at you to bring your dog across the street. must pat all dogs
I have seen people with dogs cross the street to avoid me, cause I have more hair than their dogs and they’re jealous.
dogs don’t smile.
I generally avoid on-leash greeting with other dogs. Maybe these people were doing the same.
kyle, my dogs are very furry but I am still envious of your hair!
Here we go with the Breed Card!
I get where your going with this but just because your feelings are hurt doesn’t mean someone shouldn’t do what they think is right to protect their own dog. Maybe some of these people are picking up their dogs because they are aggressive to other dogs and they are in fact attempting to protect your dog from their own.. also you are a stranger to people walking down the sidewalk or where ever so they have know knowledge that your dog is friendly.. get over yourself.. no one is doing this to hurt your feelings..
Dust mops don’t have jaws like a vice.
no meaty, they have razor sharp tiny little teeth that can debrade you faster than that shamwow guy can flog his fanny.
and tiny dogs can run up your pants leg and slash away at your manly bits! you’d be hard pressed to get a date then, wouldn’t you?
A breedist. hahah what next. Whatever, just don’t get back on that damn pitbull debate.
“It’s not the breeeeeed, it’s the owwwwner” Ugh… Gag..
“dogs don’t smile.” Yes they do. Just take one out for a walk or run and see their reaction, mouth wide open with the big tongue hanging out. That’s a smile if I ever saw one.
I think OP that some owners of small dogs are concerned that one snap from a large dog could end the life of their pet. That’s reasonable because one really does not know the disposition of the dog or the owner and it’s better to be safe than sorry. I wouldn’t take it personally.