I see a lot of posts and hear a lot of people with protective or "bad" breeds talking about how people will cross the street to avoid walking too closely to their dog. I'm always surprised at how insulted they seem when people do this. Why is it so offensive?
If I see a person walking down the sidewalk towards me with a dog, particularly a large dog known for being protective such as a Rottweiler, I give them their space. I don't know the dog and don't need to, why do I need to brush up against it? I love people who actually stop and tell their dog to sit and wait for someone else to pass, but there are very few people who do that here. Most will just storm right past you with their dog, no matter how uncomfortable it might make the dog to be that close to a stranger.
I got glared and muttered at today by a lady with a Doberman, when I avoided them on the street. Why is this so insulting to so many dog owners? I always considered giving people and their dogs some room to be a courteous thing to do, and always appreciate it if people give me time to put my dog in a sit-stay before they pass or at least avoid us while walking by.
Sorry, but if you have a Fila I am not going to want to brush up against you on the sidewalk. If you have a Pit Bull, I am not going to walk my Papillon within lunging distance. Doesn't mean I don't like the breeds, I just know that they are generally not accepting of strangers and other dogs, respectively, and that I don't need to get so close to a dog I don't know. It's not always out of hate, sometimes it's out of consideration.
To those of you here who are bothered by people avoiding you and your dog on the street: What can people do to make you happy? Would you honestly prefer it if someone walked close to you and upset your dog?
Just curious as to what the owners of these breeds consider good doggie etiquitte, because I obviously am in the dark when it comes to being "polite" and safe at the same time.
If I see a person walking down the sidewalk towards me with a dog, particularly a large dog known for being protective such as a Rottweiler, I give them their space. I don't know the dog and don't need to, why do I need to brush up against it? I love people who actually stop and tell their dog to sit and wait for someone else to pass, but there are very few people who do that here. Most will just storm right past you with their dog, no matter how uncomfortable it might make the dog to be that close to a stranger.
I got glared and muttered at today by a lady with a Doberman, when I avoided them on the street. Why is this so insulting to so many dog owners? I always considered giving people and their dogs some room to be a courteous thing to do, and always appreciate it if people give me time to put my dog in a sit-stay before they pass or at least avoid us while walking by.
Sorry, but if you have a Fila I am not going to want to brush up against you on the sidewalk. If you have a Pit Bull, I am not going to walk my Papillon within lunging distance. Doesn't mean I don't like the breeds, I just know that they are generally not accepting of strangers and other dogs, respectively, and that I don't need to get so close to a dog I don't know. It's not always out of hate, sometimes it's out of consideration.
To those of you here who are bothered by people avoiding you and your dog on the street: What can people do to make you happy? Would you honestly prefer it if someone walked close to you and upset your dog?
Just curious as to what the owners of these breeds consider good doggie etiquitte, because I obviously am in the dark when it comes to being "polite" and safe at the same time.