Woman scared to death of my GSD! - Page 4

I had a bad experience with two Pitt Bulls when I was a little girl, an experience that caused me to be afraid of dogs for years and years after that.  It wasn't until I teased a Shepherd until he bit me on the leg, that I got over my fear of dogs, and gained a real respect for them.  A stray Collie came to my rescue, drove the Shepherd off.  Now, I'm not afraid of any dog, don't care what breed it is.  There are some I don't care for, but I don't fear them.  I've learned to read body language, and understand how the dog is feeling in relation to its surroundings.  That's the key.  And I'm working to teach my two little girls to observe the body language, because we all know that a wagging tail does not make a friendly dog.

I've seen Pitts that were meaner than hell, and I've seen Pitts that were very nice dogs, indeed.  It's not the breed as much as it is a combination of the owner and the individual dog.  I wouldn't own one, nore would I want my children to necessarily be around one that was out and about, but if it was a nice dog, and if I knew it wasn't likely to bite them, then by all means, I'd let them pet it.  It wasn't the dogs that cause the issue in my childhood; it was the macho young man who owned them that caused the problem.

I've seen great Shepherds and bad ones, by the same token, and this is the breed I love the most.

Crys

Maybe if she just sees your dog from far away at first, in small doses, and she sees that nothing bad ever happens, you can gradually desensitize her!



Crimson,
I felt badly because the woman sooo afraid... that it appeared that she was frozen and wasn't  moving toward her daughter who was moving closer to me and Kaiser.
As I said ,   I went in the opposite direction and was at the far side of the park where she continued to observe me and Kaiser-I just left her but there were other people who peppered the park here and there- playing tennis and basketball and kids skateboarding  nearby.
That is why I have alway brought my dogs there-it is a great place to expose them to kids-noises -bikes -excitment on the ball field - people running track etc. and like I said the trails are all around so it is fantastic for socializing and desensitizing.

I went back there tonight but it was almost dark nothing but coyotes observing us maybe a couple of wild turkeys....
And I had a GREAT time very calm and relaxed LOL!

Katrina

Katrinia, I am so happy you went back, early morning and evening walks are the best for me too. It is so calm and peaceful.
Always,
Cee
Just like use of the word crackers, stupid can mean many things in different worlds.
Stupid:
–adjective 1. lacking ordinary quickness and keenness of mind; dull.
2. characterized by or proceeding from mental dullness; foolish; senseless: a stupid question.
3. tediously dull, esp. due to lack of meaning or sense; inane; pointless: a stupid party.
4. annoying or irritating; troublesome: Turn off that stupid radio.
5. in a state of stupor; stupefied: stupid from fatigue.
6. Slang. excellent; terrific.