Dealing with other people's comment toward your "aggressive breed" dog

[JanS]

Spiked leather huh.

We have a spiked collar for both of our dogs even though they don't wear them in public much. They actually do serve a purpose because if a wolf or other wild animal goes after them, they always grab them by the neck or throat so it's a bit of a deterrent until you can step in.

This is Albert's Hurtta.

 

[Drogon]

Don't let what other's think and feel influence you. Don't give them that power.

 

[MyBuddy]

The guy voiced loudly to his family " Get the hell in the house. We don't need anybody getting bit around here."

I would have turned to him and said, "RUN FOR YOUR LIVES! ITS A DOBERMAN!!!

Or

You and Rico could have ran into the house with him and screamed, "OMG, who are we running from!??"

Sorry, there are many times stuff like this just gets my evil twin going! Instead of fighting the haters or feeling bad, sometimes the joker in me comes out and I just want to make fun of them! What do they know!? You love your dog, train him well and prove them wrong. Blah, who cares what they think!

I think a well behaved Doberman is the strongest ambassador there is. Keep up with the training, be consistent and diligent. Haters gonna hate.

Exactly!

 

[Kaiser2016]

We have a spiked collar for both of our dogs even though they don't wear them in public much. They actually do serve a purpose because if a wolf or other wild animal goes after them, they always grab them by the neck or throat so it's a bit of a deterrent until you can step in.

This is Albert's Hurtta.
View attachment 73258

Thanks for explaining it. I had not considered the functional aspect of it. I was thinking more along the lines of 50 Shades haha

 

[XerxesYoga]

Well I have the collar with fake jewellery for Audrey it is big but it is famous around here protected few dogs to get attacked by other dogs.
So I never open that in dog park.
Few Dobermans here got bite behind neck by huskies around here.
I even don't take here in if here is a husky over 10 months old and under 4. She tries really hard with them however.

 

[strykerdobe]

You know by this time in my life I could care less what people think! If I want to walk our Dobes around with prong collars, cropped and docked ears, not neutered/spay screw them! Your probably not going to change their mind anyway. I guess I'm not also politically correct either.
The people I like to hear and their comments are the ones that they come up to you and say we had a Dobe growing up or our neighbor had a Dobe. They were the best dogs. My answer to them would be why don't you have one now?

 

[strykerdobe]

Forgot to tell you wait until someone comes up to you and tells you they will eventually attack you. Because their brain keeps growing and their skull doesn't!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

 

[My2Girls]

You know by this time in my life I could care less what people think! If I want to walk our Dobes around with prong collars, cropped and docked ears, not neutered/spay screw them! Your probably not going to change their mind anyway. I guess I'm not also politically correct either.
The people I like to hear and their comments are the ones that they come up to you and say we had a Dobe growing up or our neighbor had a Dobe. They were the best dogs. My answer to them would be why don't you have one now?

Exactly how I feel!!! I can't push that agree button enough.

It's interesting though when we only had Princess who has natural ears, people approached her all the time, asking to pet her, parents let their kids hug and pet her. When I told them she was full blooded Doberman some took a step back and others were mostly impressed how well behaved.
Now with Shadow, who has her ears cropped, I'll get the crossing to the other side of the street but mostly people say what a gorgeous dog, want to know the breeder and yes always the story about how they had one growing up. When we were in San Antonio for spring break this year while we were lunching at an outdoor restaurant an airline pilot walked across the restaurant to ask if he could pet our dogs. He had 2 at home and needed his dobie fix.

 

[XerxesYoga]

And their brain stays the same size. It is a wire in skull u cut it their ears fall off. She attacks me or she dose not stop fearing from window washer hanging with a road I buy her napoleon mastiff!

 

[Doberman Gang]

Don't let someone else's lack of knowledge effect you negatively. If anything feel sorry for them that they don't know diddly about such an amazing breed. I have logos of working Dobermans all over my van and truck for my training club. I am sure many people with lack of knowledge of the sport have made negative remarks about me and my dogs but that is there problem not mine.

 

[Regalis]

but that is there problem not mine.

This!!!!! This statement holds true in SO many aspects of life.

 

[NikiL02]

I think partially due to Nero's floppy ears I haven't had any issues with him on walks (beyond some jerk terrifying him by almost hitting us on a bicycle) or in stores. However bully breeds are common here, despite a ban on pit bulls, as are rotties. I haven't had anyone say anything about his prong collar either, and if they did I don't care. Even my husband has totally come around to the prong and he was very against it. A pleasant walk where the dog can correct himself vs yanking on him all the time? Yeah that's ideal! But I understand how ignorant people can be. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and don't let words like this hurt you. They're not true. It's just some jerk who probably owns a chihuahua or a shih tzu.

 

[bomary]

Forgot to tell you wait until someone comes up to you and tells you they will eventually attack you. Because their brain keeps growing and their skull doesn't!!!!!!!!!! LOL!

Happened to me yesterday!

 

[MyBuddy]

Happened to me yesterday!

Hard to believe that myth is still around!

 

[Mardalo]

I think partially due to Nero's floppy ears I haven't had any issues with him on walks (beyond some jerk terrifying him by almost hitting us on a bicycle) or in stores. However bully breeds are common here, despite a ban on pit bulls, as are rotties. I haven't had anyone say anything about his prong collar either, and if they did I don't care. Even my husband has totally come around to the prong and he was very against it. A pleasant walk where the dog can correct himself vs yanking on him all the time? Yeah that's ideal! But I understand how ignorant people can be. Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself and don't let words like this hurt you. They're not true. It's just some jerk who probably owns a chihuahua or a shih tzu.

You're probably right about the Shih Tzu a Chihuahua part haha. Rico has a prong walking collar that my vet sold me. It's very inconspicuous. It looks just like a collar when you view it until you flip it around and see the inside. I was worried about what people would say about the prongs and my vet turned me to her collection. Thank god, because people would give me hell for that to. Anyways the following night after the incident with the rude guy, Rico and I walked the neighborhood with her head held high. It is such a powerful feeling walking such a beautiful breed of dog in a land of Pomeranians and poodles. Not to put down my husbands miniature schnauzer LOL.

 

[DD4MSpock]

I can't regulate other people's thoughts, and I never will. If they want to live in fear of a "phantom," that's their business. But when they try to infringe upon my right to share the common spaces with them, that's when I have issues and start involving lawyers. As long as I keep my dog under control (always short leashed when outside my property fencing and in the neighborhood), they haven't anything to say about it. I can handle a few boorish minds.

I agree with the sentiment of letting your Dobie be the example of a well behaved and obedient dog. It's the only way to combat those fears.

 

[Brioddy]

After growing up having pits and working in the restaurant industry, I've developed a very tough skin and any negative comments go in one ear and out the other. I've learned people that are that ignorant choose to be and you won't change their minds. People that have been rude to me at work, my co workers always ask me how I never lose my cool. It's simple. I know I'm good at what I do, if there's a problem it's because of variables outside my control. Or I am human, and yes rarely I do make mistakes. If people are so miserable that they feel the need to take out their frustration on someone who is giving the best service possible, they're not worth it!

 

[Brioddy]

Although you know what? I have taken my pit Odyssey MANY different places over the years, out of the thousands of people we have come into contact with I think only TWICE has someone ever said anything negative. I've had an overwhelming response of empathy from most of them! Things such as "the medias wrong, they're actually great dogs" and "so and so has one he/she is wonderful" and really positive comments along those lines. As far as Brinks is concerned no one really knows what to think of him LOL.

 

[JanS]

On the flip side, Lisa and I brought Demelza and Della to a Halloween party at a local dog training club a couple years ago and it was in costume so they (our girls) had some cute girly costumes on. One of my friends (I use that term loosely) told us it was totally lame to dress a Doberman like that when we need to present their bad ass attitude. This comes from someone with a dog aggressive GSD who she apparently thought needed his bad ass brought out.

 

[GennyB]

Yesterday, the dogs and I were outside. I have my backyard pretty well screened with various plantings. You can't really see into my yard. But the dogs do hear people walking by. They run up to the fence to watch, well, Drake watches, Rumor is still learning and barks sometimes. I hear the little kids saying Dogie, Dogie, we want to pet the Dogie! Mom says 'you don't want to pet those dogies, they'll take your arm off'
I got up to take a look at who it was. I know them and knew they would be coming back by to get home.
Drake and Rumor were waiting on the front porch. .....we had a talk.