Dealing with ignorant people...

[Mike D]

I have a question for you guys. How do you deal with people who have a negative image of dobermans? I can't go into a pet store, or anywhere in public for that matter, without someone acting totally afraid like I'm a horrible parent for owning a "dangerous" breed.

[lab1dobie]

Fortunately our dobes have been the opposite of what some people think. In fact, a lot of people's opinions have changed about dobermans after meeting ours. It's a darn shame the media continues to portray them as mean and vicious when just the opposite is true. (Alltel commercials). Any breed can be "dangerous" if not properly socialized and trained. It's up to the responsible owners to spread the good word and deed regarding our breed!

[Jusa]

I haven't came across any so far that were rude about my dobe and I've taken in to petsmart and petco and several other pet stores. most seem to want to pet him and play but he is only 7 months old. But when trying to rent a house/apartment no one wanted to take the risk based on the image the media has portrayed. But hating dogs for their breed is just like being racist. they all have their own personalities based on their upbringing.

[1der_girl]

I have not run into this issue with Deja yet, but like Jusa's boy, she's just a pup- and everyone loves a puppy! I have, however run into ALOT of issues over the 10+ years that I have had my German Shepherd, Willow. From not being able to get renter's insurance through a certain company to people going to the other side of the street when we are on a walk, to mothers snatching their children up and saying "No! That kind of dog will bite you!"- uninformed people are EVERYWHERE. And just so you know, Willow is not exactly a snarling-at-the-end-ofthe-leash, foaming Cujo wannabe... She's titled CGC, CDX and TT, and before her 'retirement', we went to nursing homes and hospitals once a week with our local therapy dog group.
Dogs are great, people are rediculous.

[jelly8bean]

I think alot depends. Many non-dog folks are really and truely frightened of any large dogs, the same with many small dog owners. You are just not going to win with any large dog in those situations. I have never had any issues with my dobies but I think most folks don't realize they are dobies. The natural ears and the colors (red and blue) make folks think otherwise. One of the best ways to get around this issue is to teach your dog some cute tricks (ie bow, high five, spins or whatever) that they can do when folks are afraid. It is hard to be afraid of a dog that has all their paws waving in the air during a roll over. Sit/down/heel looks too much like what they see on TV with the protection work. Silly tricks are great.

[Arritt315]

It depends on the person as to how you can deal with them. Like others have said, my Dobe has changed many minds about the breed because of her sweet personality, but there are those I've run into that don't care about her personality. Those people take one look at her (even with natural ears, which I think "softens" thier look) and get scared. Dobermans, perhaps more than any other breed, have a certain look, the "look of eagles", that I think scares alot of people who simply don't know that all Dobes look like that when they're attentive.

Be polite and friendly with ingnorant people, but understand there are those that simply will not have thier minds changed, no matter what.

[RedDobeLuvr]

I have had different experiences with different people.....

When I walk my Dobe, it doesn't matter where we are, people ALWAYS move off the side walk. I even had a lady in a wheel chair go into the grass to avoid us! (I felt terrible.)

Then there are people who think she is a Grey Hound or dont know she is a "Doberman" so they treat her with a friendly demeanor. And of course, my Dobe (Riley) is just as friendly back!

The stereo type of the Doberman couldn't be more wrong with all the Dobes I personally know. They are awesome dogs, and very loving. My Dobe still acts like a puppy, so she'll run up to you with a toy and do her little "bow" to ask you to play back!

[Kimbertalkls]

I found with my big male a comical bandana often broke the ice or made them think . A solid heel and sit while the other dogs are everywhere in the store helps as much as his"I'm a lover, not a fighter"bandana. I usually avoided the panic stricken people and shopped in another section while the other customers got used to him. Him sitting steadily beside me while I read the packages often let people stroll past or move away whichever they chose... What I hated more than the afraid ones were the idiots who ran up and bent over with their face nose to nose staring in the strange dogs eyes.... If it was my kid I'd boot their butt AFTER I called them away. It is always the self proclaimed experts too. I have seen some well trained dogs who did not want a stranger two inches from their nose. Geez. Anne