How do you get them to leave them alone? - Page 1

So you guys might be able to help me out on this.  When in town today I was getting something replaced on my car.  This guy pulls up, asks what kind of dog is that? I told him, and he said oh, I thought it was a coyote.  The first time he pet him he wasn't bad, but the 2nd time when we were in the garage area he was a little too rough with him, I told him to stop and he didn't listen. So I pulled Anubis away from him with a water bottle getting his attention.  I was in this area just to keep Anubis out of the sun outside...but anyway, we talked for a while, and then he started trying to mess with him again, Anubis growled at him and he has NEVER growled at anyone.  If the guy wouldn't have kept following me there wouldn't have been a problem. He just has no dog skills. He even moved his legs back and forth sliding them on the concrete....which triggered prey drive. I didn't allow Anubis to get to him, one because I knew he would hit him if he got bit....even though people like that should be bit for being rude, but my question is.....how do you get people like that to go away? What do you guys tell people when you don't want them petting your dog?  I really couldn't go anywhere else as hot as it was here today.  I did tell the guy about Schutzhund and about how the dogs are raised, ect ect. He "had" German Shepherds before so he "knew" all about them....they were American line dogs with more problems than he knew what to do with so he was convinced thats how all Shepherds turn out, the way his were. Out of curiosity what do your guys dogs get called? What breeds? or what?  I've heard coyote quite often, but still don't get it.  Around here I'm pretty much the only person with a dark sable German Shepherd, the rest are American lines.

be blunt - tell the guy that if he touches your dog, you will have to kill him! (LOL)

Really, tell the guy that your dog is in training and that he may not touch him. If he still tries tell him that you'll have to call the police, and walk away. It works every time.

Don't even think about the fact that the guy might think you're rude, he is very rude by messing with your dog with out permission. People like that deserve to be bit, or kicked in the jewels.

You ran into an a$$hole. Don't let strangers pet your dog. Just tell them you don't want a stranger to pet your dog. Get in front of your dog if the jerk won't leave the dog alone. Move to stay in front of your dog if necessary.  Don't try to explain because you are probably wasting your time with a jerk like that. 

Don't let the coyote remarks get to you. People get used to the over-angulated American hock walkers and don't recognize a well built GSD when they see one. You could say your dog is German and he's the color and build of the original GSDs because that's the kind of dog you prefer.

I get the "are they wolves?" thing in KY....at first I tried to explain that they were GSD's but then after the 20th redneck asked me to breed to his back yard POS GSD, Rottie, Border Collie or whatever else I stopped explaining or even answering. Most of "joe public" here only see the blanket/saddle back showline American GSD's and so anything else is odd or couldn't possibly be a GSD. My black GSD gets called a Lab everytime...have you ever seen a Lab with erect ears?

GSDguy08,

I agree with Sam1427! This jerk sounds like MR. TESTOSTERONE! He wants to prove how tough he is with that BIG SHEPHERD DOG, to prove his manhood.

If the guy was bit on his "MANHOOD",  he would be SINGING , and SCREAMING ,then your dog would get the blame!

Dawn

If the guy thinks that being tough with a good shepherd dog is going to prove his manhood...then he hasn't run across very many good shepherds.  Get too rough with a good one...and his manhood might really need proving! :-)  Sorry, couldn't resist. 

I never ran across a person who wouldn't leave my dog alone, but I did deal with a lot of people who were scared out of their wits that they would get bitten.  Seems like the darker the GSD, the more scary it is to some people.

Thanks guys, I guess I will be harsh to those who won't listen...this is the first one I've had that was this much of a pain.  I think it's also the fact that he's 15 weeks old tomorrow that everyone feels a need to play with him....This guy has a big ego about him though and I don't know, he just wouldn't go away.  At this point I really can't allow him to be bullied since it's all about confidence building with him.  He is afraid of nothing that I've seen. Today we were around extremely loud trucks, power tools buzzing and drilling, ect ect, and the car lifts raising my car up. He paid no attention to any of it.  This guy today had bragged about how he whipped his dogs and they all mind him. From how he talked he was extremely harsh on his dogs, buillying, whipping, ect.  Anubis always "tells" me when someone isn't a person with good dog skills, or a good person to be around period.  He didn't want to play with this guy, and I've met people who he let them pet him, but he didn't seem thrilled and was ready to go do something else.....typically he's willing to let anyone pet him, he loves children, and all adults who like dogs or have good dog skills he does well with. He's afraid of no one that I can see, but dogs like people don't like to be around certain people. Hopefully I don't run into too many more people like him who think they have to show off their ego.

I just say he bites when confronted with a moron.

simply move the dog physically away and tell the person to stay away from ur dog !! treat the gsd like a loaded gun and u wouldn't let anyone touch it..........................u r not being rude simply tell people not to pet ur dog !! PLEASE DONT TOUCH MY DOG !! keep it simple_ no stranger touches ur dog..........

You just have to learn to be more aggressive yourself when it comes to your dog and stupid people.  I usually pull the dog back with a "NO BITE" command.   It can be a really good tool and even the dumbest person will hesitate or draw back.  I am firm with those I don't want messing with her.  I can be a really hatefully rude person when someone tries to bully me or my dog.   There are just some people who are too dense to catch on and some who think they are entitled to do any damn thing they please with whatever or whomever.   

I say let the moron's think I'm a jerk if that's what it takes to keep their distance.  Don't let a complete stranger mess with your beautiful Anubus! 

Deb