What do guys think of petite girls walking large dogs?

[wolflover]

I'm 5'1", 100lbs, and have a large german shepard/grey wolf mix. He's well trained and I have no trouble controlling him. Yet I find we tend to get stared at a lot during our walks, and I'm just wondering what people might be thinking.

[wpmason]

I have a shepherd wolf hybrid too. They are really good on leash, at least the best dog I've ever had.

As for people looking at you...

My boy gets tons of compliments, so maybe they're just looking at the dog.

Maybe some of the people staring are afraid of big dogs, and don't believe that you could stop yours from chasing them.

Maybe you're prettier than you think.

Maybe it's an optical illusional, and people think that your dog is bigger than he really is because you're so small next to it.

And lastly, I've had people tell me that they're envious of having a well trained dog on a leash. These are the people who get pulled around and have to go wherever the dog wants to go. When I walk by with my boy at heel, a slack leash, and no worries in the world, peoplenotice and get jealous.

[THE_Godfather]

I find it a bit (funny) different. Sometimes I jokingly say who's walking whom? I for some reason would think that you would have a tiny lap dog.

If the dog is well trained as you wrote it's fine. It's when you see a big dog dragging their owner behind them. I'm always a little leery of that. I love dogs but I also wonder what if she looses control over the dog. He/she isn't listing to the owner why would the dog stop if it got away.

Certain breeds kind of scare me a little until I can see that they are well behaved or (as most dogs) can hear in their owners voice there isn't a problem.

What do you care what people think? You have a dog that you love & will protect you if needed.

[JohnWhilkins]

Dog looks even bigger in relation to you. So the dog must look huge?

Dubious to whether or not your dog is a 50/50. That's some sh*t even Cesar Millan wouldn't tackle.

[wolflover]

He's a classified F1 from a wolf rescue, so he's quiet a bit higher than 50/50 :)

And wolfdogs are very intelligent, kind, and can be very intune with their humans. Unfortunately they have a bad rap because of the 'wolf' stereotype.

It all depends on their personality, just like with any other dog breed or animal.

Some high contents are perfectly loveable and behaved, and low contents are terrors that can't be controlled.

[JohnWhilkins]

I'd just not trust you around it. I love animals and I love wolves I think they're very beautiful. But they're extremely dominant regardless of who you are as a person or how they've developed as a wolf.

And dogs can't be kind (I hate to correct you, I really do), neither can wolves. Because kindness is a form of rationalization, which a dog or a wolf can't do. Thinking that they can is a very human thing. To humanize our pets. Less fair to the pet itself but I have no say in it.Sorryforthis

[wolflover]

Mmm, you really haven't met a wolfdog before have you? Go to a rescue society, volunteer for awhile, talk to the staff and other wolf/wolfdog owners, and you'll see how wrong you are.

[JohnWhilkins]

It's just science. And it's not the wolves or the wolfdogs that I don't trust, it's the caretakers I don't trust.

I'll stop posting after this if it's just aggravating you

[wolflover]

I agree in the case of some owners, but not everyone is ill-trained to have a pet. I happen to have many years of training with large dogs.

As for animals having no kindness, you're flat out wrong. There are thousands of recorded cases of animals showing kindness both to humans and other animals.

What about the SEAL that was sent home in a casket? His dog wouldn't leave his side even in death. Animals are capable of love, kindness, and loyalty. It's humans who usually lack those traits!

[wolflover]

And you're not aggravating me, a rousing discussion is fun sometimes :P

[JohnWhilkins]

That's not what I meant! It could show kindness but it wouldn't be the type of kindness we'd be used to. It's kind not by choice but by the way it's mind is built. If you take out the fact that it cannot rationalize it sort of makes sense. A dog follows a leader and is in a pack, it's sort of "programmed" to behave as such (instinct). By that merit it would show kindness through concern of others. But it's still not "kind" as in having charitable behavior or some sort of good virtue.

[wolflover]

Very true. And the leader of the pack for pets is the human.

And as long as you know how to be in charge, your animal should follow you and listen to you. Ergo, someone with knowledge and training can be trusted to walk a wolfdog - small women included.

[JohnWhilkins]

Your size wasn't what scared me. Just what I believe to be the general odds of a bad caretaker. I'm not even that deeply seeded into the subject myself but when I see these morons walking around it's just scary! And I just feel bad for the dog :-)

I have to go do other stuff. I hope you're a good caretaker, I know you're at least a good person. Sorry to have aggravated you.

[wolflover]

You didn't aggravate me at all :P

Thanks for the interesting discussion, and have a great day!

[wpmason]

Answerer- you're basically claiming that dogs, unlike humans, can't be moral agents. In fact, you said it was science. I just had to say that that's bull.

I've taken 300 level philosophy classes that discuss animals in a philosophical context, and at best, we just don't know how their mind works. It's not science at all, it's just a matter of people taking differing positions on an issue with no empirical solution. Their is no question in my mind that some animals are capable of altruism.

[JohnWhilkins]

Amazing answer! Loved this one ^ exactly what I needed! Thank you :-)

[AidenBlue]

They are thinking - who's the hot girl with the dog. ;-)

[manday]

It's cute as long as the girl does not try to treat men like she treats the dog. Men are not dogs as much as some women want to believe we are.

[Anonymous]

I think that's incredibly awesome, plus he is protecting you! Love german shepards.

[Konnour]

They think he's your personal bodyguard.

[Frostie]

sounds like a good conversation starter XD

[TheUglyOne]

Thinking I better not get her mad lol.

[Anonymous]

they're probably thinking "what a cute dog!"

[ArrograntWarrior]

the large dog walks like a boss

[Anonymous]

who the f*** cares?

[Alanaaa]

LOL