Quote Originally Posted by TiffaniP View Post
I hate when people do that. I have a Rottweiler (only 10 months old). People always ask "Is he mean" or "Will he bite". I've had a lady ask me that, then walk up to a mutt a few minutes later and just start petting the dog without even asking. I understand people being scared of my dog at first because a lot of people do make them mean. They should just find a better way to ask if he is. "Is he friendly" would be a good way. And chances are if someone has their dog at Lowes or anywhere that there are lots of people, the dog wont bite.
That's exactly what im talkin about! Rotties get it too! Anything that has ever carried a stigma gets shunned, even thouroughbred dogs with temperament tests and extensive training, while people will gang around a mutt whose background is unknown, giving it characteristics of god knows how many breeds..

Yes the way people ask their questions affects our answers, or at least our initial thoughts I think. Like "Is he friendly" or "can i pet him" as opposed to "does he bite?" or "is he mean?" I bring my younger pup to my store with me because she's crated when she's not on lead and some lady asked me to pet her, then asked what kind of dog she was, then when I told her, she backs up about three feet (loca was 8 weeks at this point) and she asked me "what are you gonna do when she rips your arm off? it's just a matter of time, son"

Working as a retail manager I couldn't begin to tell her what I really thought about her stupid question...