GSD Discrimination? Discussions

Excellent news!

I have only had this happen 4x 1) in 1993 I was on a bus with the dog lay down and it got quite crowded - later on when people got off this women screamed and ran down the bus away from him
2) I was visiting a psychiatric unit and a patient backed away and asked why I had brought a police dog onn the ward when I explained he wasnt a police dog he was just visiting he then came forward and stroked him (probably had drugs on him)
3) I was talking to some other dog owners - all the dogs were off lead this other women approached from behind and Zandi went to say hello she screamed and said he was going to eat her dog he sat in front of her and gave his paw
4) a couple of weeks ago i let mine off because the only other dogs around were 2 i knew (GSD and mongrel) whilst i was picking up 2 lots of faeces a women walked on unknowing to me as she came from behind me whilst I was picking, Zandi went to her and her dog - she was abusive and told me he was a dangerous dog so should be on a lead - he came when called and is never aggressive to humans or dogs the women obviously exspected me to have eyes in the back of my head she could see me but i couldnt see her

this is owning the breed since the early 80s

These reactions are not restricted to GSD the same can be said if you own a Rottweiler or Dobermann.

I have the same reaction when I see children, I run in completely the other direction.

Am grinning

Sad state of affairs when smiling at people is deemed odd behaviour nowadays! I often smile at strangers, especially if they've made the initial step of looking at the dog showing interest. Then again, some days I'm in my own world and I'm probably that stranger minding my own business yet appearing rude because I've ignored a friendly smile

I have to say I KNOW that my GSD is the reason for people crossing the road, as they never did it with my Weims! so it has nothing to do with ME!

So I have actually done a "control" study!

Yes! All my previous GSD's have been long haired showlines and they got less of a flight response lol: ) than Kofi (my dark sable short haired gets).

Years ago I did a case study on it for my course. I wanted to know whether it was harder to socialise guarding breeds due to people's prejudice.

My friend and I went and sat for an hour outside boots (one on the entry and one on the exit door so we would get the same people) - she had a boxer and I had my GSD, so both similar sized dogs.

In the hour 26 people stopped to stroke her dog and only 2 asked if it was ok first. 4 people stroked Coin and ALL of them first asked if he was friendly.

yip..peeps dont do it with my sibes or collie....but Tupac they do(yes i know hes not a gsd but the people who dont think he is a wolf think he is)

indeed i agree with all of the above, but, obviously it twasnt the smiling bit i was referring to.

sadly i get it all the time :-( but sometimes you get a person who has owned them before and love to make a big fuss over her i remeber one time on a busy beach with kai whilst others were just about jumping out her way a little old women must have been in her late 70's came up to her and was giveing her cuddles and everything the scared on lookers watched in amazment as my so called evil breed rolled on her back for a belly rub loveing every second of it that was a proud day for us and i swear kai trotted of looking very pleased with herself im shure she knew

A bloke I know of locally with 5 of them (GSD's) says I'm one of the only people to ever speak to him let alone come anywhere near his dogs.

Today in the park, to our delight, we met two GSDs that Dexter has played with before.

One is 8 months and I swear he has DOUBLED in size since we last saw him about seven weeks ago! He is GORGEOUS.

The other one is 17 months and is beautiful - sort of a tan, almost ginger colour, with a bushy tail that curls over!

They are both huge dogs and Dex enjoyed a quick play with them both. Alas neither of them wanted to sit and let me give them a hug

I must admit that I would never own one (Diesel's 1/4 of one, and thats it now, just bad experience of the ones I've owned), but when I meet them I love them, their just a dog for other people, and when I was working at the kennels I loved the GSD's there particualry one called Millie (looking at her photo now ) who was the most well behaved dog I've ever met, and I have met GSD's in the park who the owners have thanked me for letting their dog meet mine as they are struggling to socalise their big pup as most people don't want to acknowledge him which I find very sad.

sorry I couldnt see your pic, try walking along at the same pace and just give a nice smiley 'hi' after a few times sometimes they then ask if its ok to pet the dog (well usually 'will he bite?' but its an opening...) I don't have a GSD but we have had one in the family and people used to cross over etc and when my dobe was young we got a lot of comments, crossing etc. Now he is actually really popular with plenty locals!!

Perhaps as you are slowing down they might think you want left alone for training reasons or that the dog isnt good with people? Just give the 'faster paced' 'hi' a go

I never had any problem when Tala was a pup. Most of her doggy friends are ones she met as a pup or from the training club we attended. There not many dogs she has met as an adult, other than those we were introduced to through the other dogs.

She spent a lot of time on a long line being guided away from other dogs because of her excitement around them and her recall issues. I expect most people who saw her on the line thought she was was aggressive. The times she was off lead she ended up playing with all sorts of dogs both large and small.

On lead on the street she has a lot of admirers including parents with children and many people regularly stop to stroke her and comment on how beautiful she is. But we don't set out intending to interact with people.

My experience with my goldie has been very different but she is good at coming back when called so has always been off lead around other dogs. Which makes it hard to judge whether she has been seen to be friendly because of her breed or because she has been allowed to interact more.

Lots of breeds are discriminated against, I think the main ones are GSD's, Rotties, Staffies, Dobies and Pit Bulls.

In the past have owned GSD and Rottie at the same time and some people were discriminatory against both. I do feel there is more of a fearful reaction towards the Rotts I've had than the GSD's though for sure.

I always try to overcome discrimination by being a good breed ambassador and having a well-socialized and well behaved dog. This usually helps overcome prejudice but not always!

Yes and no. If I have Zane with me on his own some people will coem and say hello and some will stay away. I ahve had people actually cross the road to avoid him which is ridiculous when they can see he's walked (or he was at the time) on a short, bright red lead!

More recently if I have Zane and Yiannis together, almost everyone comes to say hello. Whether it's because Yiannis is smaller adn they focus on him I don't know.

Now if I have any of them out with me and I have Jenzi too (short haired, very dark black & gold sable) then everyone stays away. Since she's grown a little bit, even though she's still puppy sized compared tot he boys, people seem tot hink she's more aggressive (as one old man told me in no uncertain terms!!).

I think it depends very much on the people you come across when walking your dogs. I have always taken mine to training classes so they get extra socialisation there too.

Hi - sorry to join in uninvited - but I have a 7 month old long black haired GSD and he a big fluffy baby - however he is very keen to greet people and in his excitment he rears up and jumps whilst on his lead - so I can understand he can look quite threatening - such a shame as he is such a great big softy

Your boy sounds like a dream dog. Typical friendly GSD pup!

You're not too far away from me re distance. If ever you fancy a walk with my 3 loonies let me know.