 Barked: Wed Jun 29, '11 7:42am PST |
 | |  | | I find this fearful mindset very frustrating, and have been on the receiving end of peoples "facts" all too often throughout my pet loving life.
Currently I get scorned for owning Bill who is an Akita x Mastiff.
He will grow very large, be very firm to look at, and may even set those who have an innate fear of canines on edge.
He is also however, brought up correctly with a firm boss of the household (yes, that'll be yours truly) and an expectancy to adhere to all commands i give him - so far he's doing very very well and we go about our daily business without Bill's bad behavior causing any concern whatsoever, quite simply because he doesn't show any bad behavior.
This is until you meet someone with a "fact" that they insist on sharing with you and anybody else who will listen!
"Akita's are aggressive you shouldn't bring them out in public! What is he, is he Akita? He looks strange for an Akita, what is he crossed with?"
"He's an Akita x Mastiff"
"You shouldn't own that dog, he will bite your arm off when he's bigger, he will hurt somebody, he's an aggressive dog already, look, he's starring at me! Don't come over here this man has an Akita, and it's crossed with a Mastiff, keep your child away this dog will eat your child!"
The above is a generalization of the stuff i usually hear from these crazed moronic individuals (yes these people actually walk the streets unmonitored and unattended!). At this point i usually walk away or stupidly stupidly attempt to educate these people:
"Actually he is very friendly, you are more than welcome to stroke him if you would like to. He's starring at you (i know it's because they're making a fuss and because they're setting Bill on edge with their behavior but i obviously keep this to myself) because he doesn't know you, that's all."
As you'll all be more than aware, this never ever makes the slightest bit of difference. They look at you as though you've skipped your meds and away they go.
This hasn't changed as Bill's got older, he is now 6 months weighing over 77 lbs and is quite a sight. He is still as gentle, polite, and friendly as he was when he was a tiny thing that people adored. He still obeys every word i say, and has never caused a scene albeit he has been party to a few, no thanks to the crazies. At least when he's in the 150 lb+ region they wont even bother coming over to lecture me! Ha! 
Anyhow, it's the mindset of some people to portray these "facts" to whoever will give them audience, and unfortunately it is not something that can be changed for all too many of them. My own family abhor me coming to visit if i bring Bill as they too are scared of him. The reasoning behind this fear 9/10 boils down to "i was told as a child never to go near big dogs by your Gran so go take it up with her, and i taught you the very same lesson, why didn't you listen?" It's quite sad really.
Glad you convinced your friend otherwise!  |  |  | |  |
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