Hostility/fear towards dogs

astrobuckeye · #1 11th August 2008, 07:20 PM

I'm getting slightly frustrated with my neighbors in my apartment. But my apartment has a pond with a half mile trail around it and I like to walk Cara in the evenings. And the vast majority of my fellow apartment dwellers seem to be scared of her. She is 4 months and about 29 lbs. When I pass people they gives a wide berth and if they have kids pull them away from my dog. Now Cara isn't acting in anyway aggressive... she doesn't move towards them or growl or bark. But everyone acts like she's a big meanie. I try to tell them she isn't mean or doesn't bite or anything and granted some of my neighbors are hispanic and don't seem to understand English but not all of them.

One lady even asked me how I got a pit bull... a pit bull... into the complex. I kindly told her that she wasn't a pit bull that she was a boxer. She replied well she sure looks mean. Another lady told me the same thing like two days latter.

It reallys upsets me and I try not to take it personally. I mean my coworkers love her and wish I could bring her to work. And when we have get together, they always tell me to bring Cara along.

I just hate that my neighbors act like my dog is a menace.

Sorry this is so long but it just upsets me.

djheitz · #2 11th August 2008, 08:31 PM

Yep, we get the pit bull thing fairly often with Harley, too. I'm tyring to get over my frustration with it, especially since as soon as I say 'No, he's a Boxer', their attitude completely changes. But there are some people who are just afraid of dogs in general, and you can't change them all.

I think you have two choices if you want to stay in that apartment - either ignore it or see what you can do to educate your neighbors. If there's a common area, can you post something about Boxer traits? Or maybe in mailboxes?

ehayes21 · #3 11th August 2008, 08:45 PM

Just ignore it. If I took personal every dirty look or wary glance that I get walking my dogs I would need counseling. Don't worry about it.

DyckDogs · #4 16th August 2008, 10:13 AM

My friend was always scared of my white boxer. She said he looked mean.
He was not mean. He was very lovable.
When she came over to my house, I always put Quincy out in the back yard as I knew she was afraid of him and she did not seem too interested in trying to get to know him better to see that he was indeed very gently.
When he passed away unexpectedly in June, I called her to share my grief.
All she said was "sorry to hear that" and changed the subject.
I realize that people will not alway know what to say when we lose our best friends.
But it was almost like she didn't care and could not be bothered to take the time to listen to me when I just needed someone to do just that. Listen.
Needless to say, I have not spoken to her since that day.
I think our friendship was not as close as I thought.

Gruntsmom · #5 16th August 2008, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ehayes21

Just ignore it. If I took personal every dirty look or wary glance that I get walking my dogs I would need counseling. Don't worry about it.

I couldn't agree with this more!

HaiducAgnita · #6 16th August 2008, 12:25 PM

I haven't experienced that yet, quite the opposite. Everywhere we go, Haiduc is the center of attention.
People come up to him and ask to pet him and he then beans all around, tail waggling and giving them kisses.
Maybe it's that many people around the area supposedly have boxers, but I haven't seen that many personally! Everyone says they know someone with a boxer, so I guess that's part of why they like my 3.5 month old pup. He is about 25lbs right now.

bucca · #7 17th August 2008, 07:40 AM

some people just arent worth the breath to get upset over. ignore it. i do. i get the pit bull thing all the time now with spanky i think its because he is white i used to get it with chloe but nearly as much as i do now. i just correct them and go on my way and im so happy when someone goes out of their way to come see the "rare" white boxer

it takes all kinds as parents always told me

tmcarson · #8 17th August 2008, 05:17 PM

You aren't the only one who is experiencing this. On Saturday, Nylah and I were in Petsmart and someone said, "that sure is a pretty pittbull." I didn't even have the energy to correct them. The Saturday before, someone came up to me asked if she was mixed with a Bull Mastiff. I politely responded that she was pure breed. I'm learning that many don't know that Boxers tend to have different body types--the lean and statuseque and the stocky. Nylah is the latter. When she and I go running, people scramble across the 4-lane road b/c they think she is a vicious dog...if they only knew she is just is extremely friendly, amicable, and cuddly as can be. It does warm my heart when young kids, 8 and under run up to Nylah and say "I love Boxers" or "She is such a pretty boxer."

My point to all this is, don't let other's ignorance about dog breeds stop your daily routines or upset your day. If you choose to, you can attempt to educate them so that they will walk away from the experience with a little more knowledge.

Super Boo · #9 19th August 2008, 06:05 PM

That's funny because now that we have our white baby, Scarlett, everyone thinks she's either a pitbull or an American Bulldog. I agree that once I inform them that she's a Boxer, then they immediately relax. Now that she's getting older, my friends say she's looking more Boxer-ish.

Don't worry, once your neighbors get to know Cara, they'll grow to love her--my neighbors adore my pups and come out to say "hi" to them