How much attention do you get when you take your dogs out?

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I think walking my dogs is a really good way to meet people, but sometimes we get WAY too much attention. Walnut looks really unique, and Royce is a Collie which isn't too common around here, plus he's big and fluffy, so I always get noticed, especially if I'm walking them together.
There's always tons of little kids running up to the dogs going "OMG! LASSIE!!!", or "Mommy! I wanna pet the doggies!" or some such. Recently we had a little girl come up and actually HUG our dogs . My dogs like that kind of attention, and they grew up with small children, but I'm not sure every other dog would appreciate a little kid hanging off of it's neck.
Saturday I had a kid come up to pet my dogs, then ask if he could walk my dog around the park, *blink*, um NO! Today a little kid practically hung himself out of his parents car window pointing and yelling "DOGGIESSSS!!!!", much to his parents dismay. Sometimes I have people come up to me asking how I trained my dogs to walk together next to me without pulling.

Most of it isn't really negative attention (not on purpose), but sometimes people do stuff like bark at the dogs trying to get them to bark back, or they make loud noises trying to scare the dogs, I guess 'cause they figure I'm little and have 2 big dogs and it'd be funny to make them drag me around. I think they're disappointed when my dogs just look for a second then keep walking.
I've even had people whistle and yell trying to get them to come over.

That's just a few of the things that happen when I'm out walking my dogs.
So how much attention do you guys get, and what kind of experiences have you had?

[Prin]

All of those! lol Plus a few "Is the big one the little one's mommy?" and "Are you going to breed them?"

Boo had the little girl hug around the neck already. He's also good with kids though. VERY patient with them. :love:

When people walk by they always comment on Jemma's eyes. One person ran up to Jemma's previous owner screaming that Jemma was the devil..

I've also had a few dog haters try to hit my dogs or scream at me for being in the same world as them.

But the attention is more of an "at a distance" attention compared to when I walked that tiny dog I was sitting. People tend to be more wary of bigger dogs (believe it or not!) compared to the little ones.

[greaterdane]

Well I own great danes so a 1 hour walk often turns into a 3 hour talk fest. No matter where you go and no matter what time of day it is, you get stopped. For example...2am walking both my boys...ended up running into 3 sets of people who wanted to talk.

People want to pet them, they want to ask question after question after question. Can I ride him, how much does he eat, is he a tiger, where did you get him, how much was he, what is he, where is your saddle....I could write a book.

I do appreciate people taking the time to ask and be educated, but there are some people that you would like to kick in the knee and keep walking lol. I guess it just goes along with the breed. Own a great dane, gain the gift of gab lol.

[MyBirdIsEvil]

Ok, poll's up now, I was slow, lol.

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I've also had a few dog haters try to hit my dogs or scream at me for being in the same world as them.

Someone tries to hit my dogs and they're not gonna be happy with the results. I've yet to have anyone go that far though luckily.

I do appreciate people taking the time to ask and be educated, but there are some people that you would like to kick in the knee and keep walking lol. I guess it just goes along with the breed. Own a great dane, gain the gift of gab lol.

I think it's like that with any dog that's not all that common. Collies aren't very common around here and I constantly have people coming up and asking about mine.

Ok, about the oddest thing anyone has said to me, happened today:

Some guy comes up and goes "Ok, one of them is a purebred and one is a mutt", and I said "yup". He then went on to say "The black and white one is a cattle dog and the other is a mixed breed". That's the only time I've had anyone mistake my collie for a mutt, lol. I said "No, the black and white one is a mutt, the other one is a collie". He actually stood there arguing with me that "No...she's a cattle dog, I can tell". Um...yeah, ok, . I said I had to go and kept walking. He wouldn't take no for an answer, it was a bit creepy.

[Prin]

lol polls are hard to make- especially since you have to remember all the keys for the symbols. I voted!

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I c&p'd all the symbols onto notepad for next time, that should make it a bit easier, lol.

[glasslass]

Den-Den and Corky look very striking walking together. Salt & Pepper. They always think Corky is Den-Den's puppy.

[Writing4Fun]

Originally Posted by greaterdane

Well I own great danes so a 1 hour walk often turns into a 3 hour talk fest. No matter where you go and no matter what time of day it is, you get stopped.

Well, I can guarantee you that, if you ever ran into my husband, you would be detained for several hours. He absolutely adores Great Danes, specifically Harlequins (although he'd take any colour, if he could).

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I have to admit my b/f is one of those people that will go up to people with dogs he likes and ask all kinds of questions.
If he sees a basset hound good luck getting him to leave you alone.
If I see a basset I try to distract him from seeing it for my sake and the owner, lol.

Any bloodhound owners should just start running in the other direction, he's probably going to kidnap them and their dog.

[Smiley14]

Oh, I get stopped every few feet it seems! Our typical conversation goes like this:
"Is that a dalmation?"
"No, he's a German shorthaired pointer."
"Oh." (Said in a disappointed tone). "He looks like a dalmation." Pause.
"What was he again?"

LOL! I didn't think a GSP was that rare around here or that dalmations would be so coverted, but apparently so! After they get over the disappointment that he's not a dalmation, then they usually marvel over how calm and alert he is. Petey LOVES people, so he just eats it all up. I can't go anywhere without getting a lot of comments. I love it though. Except for the times when I'm in a big hurry, lol.
But I totally agree, it is a great way to meet people! I have a lot of people offer to trade dogs with me too, like a well trained dog is a rarity also.

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I always loved GSP's and I'm not sure how they can be mistaken for a dalmation, lol.
I guess some people don't realize spots do not = dalmation.

[jawert1]

We walk past a really nice golf course that borders my apt. complex, so I get a lot of golfers wanting to know all about Simon, and he obliges everyone by doing his Pointer thing Funny tho, because Peaches is the far more outgoing and friendly of the 2, so she doesn't quite get why nobody wants to play with her first.

[technodoll]

well, as you might have guessed... two akitas walking down the city street isn't something most people just let pass by without at least a stare, a gape, a smile, a comment, a pet, a hug, etc... it gets soooo annoying to be constantly stopped, sometimes it's a mob scene with people 3 feet deep in a circle around us. give me a break! and the dogs (mostly dakotah) just sucks it up, he thinks he's the star of the circus, so of course that just draws MORE attention.

i have never, ever heard anyone say a single "bad thing" about my doggies... 9/10 people who see them break out into these big goofy smiles, dunno why? some of the more common comments we get (mostly about dakotah, he stands out more):

-wow look at those bears!
-that is the most beautiful dog i've ever seen in my whole life!
-i've never seen such a huge dog, look at the size of his head!
-how much did they cost?
-is he a wolf/ husky/ st-bernard/ malamute/ chow/ pit mix?
-how much do they eat?
-is he (dakotah) her (maika's) father?
-will you breed them?
-where can i get one?
-do they bite? (said as the person is reaching out to pet them on the head)!
-you must live in a big house!
-i didn't know akitas grew that big!

etc, etc... cars will often stop in mid-traffic, brake at a green light, etc so the people can stick their heads out the window and gasp and throw comments, one was particularly salty "man that's the most (effing) amazing akita i've ever seen"! LOL

anyways. it's a freak-show but i love my kids for who they are, not what they look like, although that's pretty nice too

[Golden Girls]

My golden's get alot of attention as well. I'm not sure though who gobbles it up more, me or them I never mind stopping if someone wants to pet them etc ... they absorb attention, and I like it too.

I get the usual wow their huge, how much does it cost to feed them. Alot of polar bear remarks. This one comment I usually hold my breath: For some reason everyone thinks Misti is the male and I'm breeding them. Mostly I just respond with nah I have a full time job

The best (and I've said this b4) children always always ask if their twins which I find so adorable but you'd be surprised how many adults ask that same question. The kids I always talk to but the others I just say yep twins

[Rick C]

Abby & Keeper get lots of smiles and comments . . . . . since they've usually been swimming in a river or lake along the way and might be fairly mucky, they don't have people falling over themselves for physical contact though . . . . in the winter, business picks up a bit because they're less likely to be dirty . . . . but then, in the winter, we see fewer people on the mountain trails we frequent.

On Prairie Creek Trail in K-Country last year . . . . the trail is straight, its the mountain and the trees which are tilted . . . . like The Jokers Lair on Batman.



Rick C
www.goldentales.ca

[Rottielover]

In quebec no one talks to me other than, OMG did he hurt your daughter look. But in ONTARIO everyone stops me, and says he is gorgeous, and so well behaved, where did I get him. I like ONT better

[joeysmama]

Cooper's really a cute little dog. (If I do say so myself ) and we get a lot of attention which he just loves. He thinks he was put on this earth as a doggie ambassador. And he's good at it too. We've been asked to bring him places.

And last week when our car broke down getting home from Massachusetts my cousin came over to walk him for me. She told me that she almost brought him home with her for the rest of the day because her girls were begging to bring him for a visit.

[Angies Man]

Angie has two things going for her, she's a standard poodle (the world's fanciest dang dog) & and she's a 5 month old puppy. For dog people, she's irresistable and at this point in her life, I think I want to encourage it. Important for her socialization that she's not afraid of strangers who want to come up and feel her coat (very soft curly hair.) She tends to be fairly timid and will back away if someone approaches too quickly, tho. But definitely not a fear (or other) biter.

[Melei'sMom]

OOOHHHH....SO CUTE!

I hear that all the time, and if it stopped there or even with them asking to pet her, it would be fine.

but I can finish that sentence I swear, if someone else comes up and... and tries to pick up my dog!

What is it with people thinking that just because she is small and fuzzy, she wants to be manhandled by every shmoe we meet or happens to come into our shop?

She hates being picked up by strangers and will growl if they get to close with both hands extended. I know it isn't ok for her to be aggresive, but this is probably for her own protection.

[MyBirdIsEvil]

She hates being picked up by strangers and will growl if they get to close with both hands extended. I know it isn't ok for her to be aggresive, but this is probably for her own protection.

I would probably make sure people didn't pick her up .
No one goes around trying to pick up large dogs, so I dunno why they think it's ok to pick up little dogs. Apparently people don't realize that just because they're cute doesn't mean you should tease them or disrespect them by picking them up.
Maybe that's why normally aggressive little dogs aren't aggressive with me, I treat them like any other dog, lol.


Ok maybe I lied about the not picking up big dogs thing...



But she thinks she's a lapdog and he wouldn't do it if she didn't like it.

Though, he thinks that because he's almost 6'3 he should pick everything up, including me .

[Melei'sMom]

Originally Posted by MyBirdIsEvil

I would probably make sure people didn't pick her up

I try! I really do

Melei comes to work with me and she loves to meet the people who come in, but some think it is ok to lift her up and I am not always right there to prevent it. We are working on her staying right beside me all the time instead of roaming the shop. The only problem is that some times she wants to see Daddy, and he is in the back while I am up front and while she is back there she meets the guys who come inthe back door. I have noticed that it is usually men who try to pick her up right away...what's up with that?

[MyBirdIsEvil]

I have noticed that it is usually men who try to pick her up right away...what's up with that?

I don't know, maybe they're like my b/f.
"Can I lift that? Yes I can! That's what I shall do!"

[OntarioGreys]

A lot, Sunny pretty much is wagging his tail wanting to approach every one, and most people are fascinated by Maya's golden eyes, which is quite striking against her black coat


Question I get asked

Are they greyhounds or whippets? Greyhound, whippets are smaller
Do they race? Used to
Are you going to race them? No they are retired from racing
Are you going to breed them? No they are fised already
Did you rescue them? No I adopted them, they were never in danger, they were turned over by their racing owners for adoption.
Why are they so skinny? because that is the way they are built,
Don't you think the bigger one looks better? I would have preferred he looked skinny, his spleen is severely enlarge which is why he looks that way
Can I pet the puppy? Sure but she is my oldest of the 3 dogs and 8 1/2
Then there are questions about racing and exercise/energy

[Furbaby Momma]

I receive a lot of attention when I am with my furkid's especially when I am driving because each of my Retriever's are sitting by a window and one is looking out the sunroof, I bring my Retriever's everywhere I go, I am so proud of them.

[meb999]

people are scared of Buster , alot of people ask wether he's a pitbull (even though he looks absolutely NOTHING like a pitbull)

It makes me sad when I see kids running up to me (and Buster starts waggin' his tail like crazy.....he loves kids) and I hear their parents scream in the background 'Don't go near the dog! That's a VICIOUS dog!!' and then the kids stop in their tracks and run the other way. :sad: Poor Buster...

I guess it means I can walk in peace though....but I'd much rather if people weren't so scared of him, he's such a big suck-up.....

[erykah1310]

Its sad isnt it?? Kita is the same, she LOVES kids.

I dont agree with the kids running up to any dog, but the parents shouldnt be putting it in their childrens head that all dogs that look a certain way are "vicious" dogs.
But then again I suppose the media is driving people to believe this

[Joey.E.CockersMommy]

Joey gets a fair bit at the school from all the kids wanting to pet him - and people ask if he is a springer spaniel on our walks all the time. Only one person got it right so far and ask if hes an English Cocker. Our neighbour asked if he was a poodle

From other dog walkers - we usually get the hello, and if the dogs start growling and barking at each other - I usually get a I know what your going through sympathetic hello

[doggy lover]

No one notices me , but Tucker has alot of fans Don't hate because I'm beautiful.

[jessi76]

I'm coming into this one a bit late, but I get stopped at least once everytime we're out with... "what kind of dog is he?" to which I reply a basenji mix... which turns into "a what? a ba...what?"

other than that, we get ooooh's and ahhhh's for Tucker's big ears.