You know whats funny, its those nervous and crazy people who fear their dog will bite or get bit whos dogs generally start things, cause they sense the fear and think they have to do something about it.

She had them on big long leads too..so I had to walk around her..but Cruiser never bothered..he is a good boy..he only has something to say when another dog gets in his face and has a go..he won't start anything but I am under no illusion that he could probably finish it..Although thats never been tested and I don't intend to try it..
I always tell him he is a good boy for walking quietly by..

Its people though isnt it. Some think (regardless of their dogs) that they can have them loose, have them annoy people and other dogs and let them yell as much as they please, but if yours answers back, then BAD DOG!!!

Mine are small dogs and it certainly isnt only small dogs, my dogs only yesterday were growled and barked at by a Black Labrador and an Old English Sheepdog. The owner said the usual "they only want to play" but then on the other side of the common, she had them loose, when they charged over to bounce all over a Staffie that regularly walks with loads of dogs mine included, because he snapped at them as they knocked him clean off his legs (He's 11) the woman was SCREAMING her dogs were under attack!

It's so crazy and it's wrong ! A lot of people (nobody on here ) who have small dogs let them away with everything and seem to think it's ok . It's always the big dogs who get the blame if a little dog tries to start a fight. It's always their numpty owners who are to blame though. They should take more time and responsibility over training and socialising their little dogs.
I had an experience at the vets a while ago. I'd just been in to see the vet and was going back into the reception to pay. There was a woman with 2 children and a Jack Russell. The JR started snarling and growling , then barking at Missy. It was straining on it's lead and the woman did nothing about it . Not only that , her daughter , who looked about 8 or 9 , had her feet up on the chair , her hands over her face and was hysterically screaming " Aghh Aghh , Mummy , Mummy , Mummy , Aghh , Aghh ! . So , the woman had little or no proper control over her dog OR her child . Missy was too busy being petted by the receptionist that she didn't even notice the dog or the child . I just looked at the girl , looked at her mum and said to Avril , " it's great having such a friendly well behaved dog". Then we both had a discreet laugh about it. ( I was of course referring to Missy but secretly having a dig at the JR ). I wouldn't worry about people giving you dirty looks. Your dog was the well behaved one there so it's their problem , not yours. Try praising YOUR dog using a clear , loudish voice and telling him what a good , quiet , well behaved dog he is. Say it loud enough for the idiots to hear you then walk away laughing at their lack of intelligence .

Sadly I have met owners of little dogs who don't believe its worth training because "they're only little"
Frustrating too because I do have a jack and she is trained and they think she's wonderful - but won't do it themselves!

Well done to Cruiser for not reacting. x

That is soo true!
Its happen a few times before to me and hades....once we were walking down the road on are way home and there was a jack russel on the other side of the road, barking, growling trying to get of his lead to get to my boy!
Hades was fine carried on walking and was only looking over at this dog that has by now been making this racket and basically being aggresive f0r 3mins.
BUT NO ONE was looking at this little agressive yapper, they were all looking at me and my boy, giving dirty looks and tutting.....I WAS FUMMING TO SAY THE LEAST!
Are people that thick....I mean are they really????
ps...dont get me wrong, hades plays with 2 parsons on walks, there lovely dogs...but this one was a little terror..lol

I get it all the time, I have had small dogs hanging off my dogs and still you get the dirty looks,, as if its there fault,, Will add a link to a vid of a jrt playing/ woooowing holly in the field,
two days later the jrt's owner was doing his garden and a man stopped and said,,, that was shocking up the field a few nights ago,,, Joe was like ermmm what you talking about,,
the man went on to say,,,, all those bloody rottweilers round your wee dog,, gawd I thought he was sent for!
Joe kindly went on to say,, I think you have it wrong mate, they are compleat angels round this little terror, the big males as well as the females, he also said of all the dogs in the village, those are the ones I trust to play with guss,,, the reason being guss is such a little sh*t any other dog would get piffed off and have him, were as they take everything he's dishing up without a second thought !
below said vid of poor guss being near death and the rotties

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...nt=lucy001.flv

http://s133.photobucket.com/albums/q...nt=lucy002.flv

With dogs the height of my two I get it all the time, the dirty looks and snide remarks. They are doing nothing just minding their own business. I also have two little dachies , so I am not against little dogs in any way,but mine are not allowed off lead except where there are no other dogs and I know they would not attack another dog they bark a lot but they do not have an aggresive bone in their bodies. They may be small but I treat them as dogs, not a fashion accessory. So mostly I think it is down to the owners who molly coddle their little darlings too much and treat threm like their human babies.

Borzois are so long in the back that if something comes at them from behind they can't see it and my poor old Ludmilla now at the bridge had this on a few occasions with off lead little terrors one example was my hubby was walking her on lead and as he passed this open gate a yorkie and a JRT came rushing out at full speed and barking and snarling. The yorkie stopped and just snarled, but the JRT proceeded to sink its teeth into her back leg and drew blood, and would not let go. She just stood there with no retaliation, and when my hubby finally managed to get the JRT to let go as it was running off Ludmilla then made a lunge at it,but my hubby had her under control so harm was done, but if she had got it no doubt she would have been to blame for hurting the poor little dog and the fact that this same little dog had held onto her back leg for quite some time and had drawn blood and had attacked her in the first instance would have been deliberately overlooked.

Yes in my opinion the big breed always gets the blame.

I don't have anything against small dogs..( I want a wee Westie!!)
She was saying to her dogs "it's ok, it's ok" but I think it was to reassure it..when clearly Cruiser was no thread to it whatsoever..
I assume the people looking thought that Cruiser must have done something to it first to get it to react like that..

There is another woman who walks her dog on the High St..and carries a stick with her..(to hit other dogs)..I think its a ****zu she has and she is a right stuck up moo..(sorry but she really is)..She rammed herself and her dog all the way into a shop doorway once as we walked past (pu was only 8months) and I said..."I am sure the path is wide enough for the both of us"..and she said..."well he's been attacked before"..I said "NOT by my dog!!"..

So passed her yesterday too and she was muttering under her breath..so wish I knew what she said..I LOVE showing myself up and shouting in the street when people say bad things about my baby