Do large dogs scare you?

[Heather Wallace]

As I pet sitter I get the chance to look after many types of dogs. The largest dog I looked after was an Irish Wolf Hound, even though he was almost my height (me being only 5ft) he was the most wonderful loving dog I could have had to look after. We cared for him for 10 night while his owners where on holiday, they had travelled a long way for me to look after him as they where let down by the kennels. We didn't want the owners to come back, we wanted to keep him.

Anyway the point is my neighbours made a big fuss as they have kids, they called him a horrble beast. I was annoyed as that dog would not have harmed a fly.

What do you think, do you prefer small or large dogs? Would a wolf hound scare you?????

A pic on me (heather) and Hector.

[momoffuzzyfaces]

It depends on the dog. I'm only 4 foot 9 and am almost nose to nose to some dogs. With my arthritis, I'm more afraid of being knocked down than attacked. My neighbors have a German Shepherd who would escape from her pen. She would come over here to see the outside cats. I would put a leash on her and take her home. She was a big old sweetie but would bout knock me over pulling on the leash. The have finally fixed her pen.

Some other neighbors had a Doberman who penned me against the house. He stood on his hind feet and put one big old paw on each of my shoulders and breathed bad doggie breath in my face. I was real concered about him. He wasn't growling but his breath about killed me. I didn't dare yell for help. I didn't want to make him mad. Luckily his owner showed up and took him home. They eventually had to find him a home in the country because he knocked some children down. He didn't attack them, just knocked them over trying to play. But of course, it frightened them. He had a long happy life on a farm so it ended happily. His owners were able to move out there with him so they didn't have to give him up forever. Happy endings are best!!!

[slleipnir]

What a beautiful dog! I love wolf hounds, and I love big dogs. I would want a big dog, except they are 1) probably taller then my fence and could walk over it, and 2) my dad doesnt like want a big dog. I've seen a few Irish WHs around her, one was a mother with her pup, and we went up to pat them, they were so gentle. I don't know if they all are, but I still think they are beautiful dogs, no offece to small dogs, but they're to loud and "yappy" for my tastes (sorry small dog ppl!! :[) I much prefer big dogs!

[LoudLou]

Large furry dogs, or so-called "beasts" do not scare me.... snotty-nosed children however, DO!

.... When I was little I knew a couple of VERY large dogs, Major was a Great Dane who stood about 6+ft tall on his hind legs..... If you said "Boo" he would run and hide. The other was a female Mastiff named Rainy who was just HUGE... She would act like she was all tough but then when you said "hi" or even looked at her she would come up and try to "slime" you with her love slobbers!

[Sudilar]

I LOVE large breeds!!! I've been owned by a Great Pyrenees and German Shepherd Dogs. When I was a child (in the days of the dinosaurs), I used to get rides on my cousin's Great Dane, Numa. She was wonderful!!

I'm not afraid of the big guys. I love 'em!

[KYS]

I love all size dogs. : )
A mid size to large size dogs can do more damage
than a 10 pound dog.
I am not afraid, but carefull and I ask permission before I pet someones dog even if they are small.

[Logan]

They don't frighten me. In fact, I have to tell you that I am more leary of small dogs than big ones. I've been bitten by a Pekingnese more than once (not badly), and I tend to stand back, and probably show my fear too much!

The bigger, the better!!! I met my first Bernese Mountain Dog in October, and he was huge, but so sweet and friendly, and fit right in with the "sea of Gold" that was all around him!!!

I think the Irish Wolfhound that you posted is absolutley wonderful!!!!

Big Dogs Rule!!!!! At least at this house!!

[Crikit]

it doesn't matter what the size of the dog is to me, I love all dogs big or small. There was a wolfhound in one of the classes that I took recently and he was just the sweetest thing, of course Smudge didn't like him when he tried to pat him on the head. But honestly as long as the dog is nice it doesn't matter to me.

[Former User]

Depends on the breed. Sometimes it's horrible to see a little kid with a huge dog out there, it's sure that the doggie has taken the kid for a walk, and not the other way around....

[anna_66]

NEVER! would I be afraid of large dogs...now I know that mine aren't as big as that! LOL
but big dogs are such sweethearts! Yesterday we went to have a family photo with the dogs, and the girl said she has never seen such a wonderful Rottweiler! She goes"I would never be able to do the things I do with him, with other dogs his size."So anyway I guess....I'll always have big dogs!
And Finally! I figured out how to put a picture on here!Thanks everyone who helped me!!!

[RachelJ]

It's more a dog's demeanor than its size that can scare me.

When we first moved to the house we now live in, the golden retriever directly accross the street would start barking ferociously and *charging* at me when I would go out to our mail box in front of our house. It almost stopped my heart until I figured out the *routine*. Roxie was playing *protect my home against the evil intruder. I was to play the part of evil intruder. When she would get to me at the mail box she would jump up on me and *bite* me on the arm. The bite was never a real bite. All the time she would be doing this growl. I walked back to the house with this dog hanging on my arm, my own dogs going nuts in the house. Roxie played this game until she became very old. I would always worry about her running in front of a car as she crossed the street in her running charge. In reality she was the sweetest dog on earth. I always wanted to *play the game* to her fondest wishes, where I would fall to the ground and she could stand over me in triumphant victory, but as her part looked so realistic, I never did for fear of scaring some casual observer. Roxie went to the Rainbow Bridge late last year and I dearly missed being *ferociously attacked*.

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Hector is breathtaking! Wow!

Heather, I like my dogs in big sizes. I LOVE large breeds. I would never be afraid of a dog because of its size. I think most people associate mean dogs with large sizes. Not true! There are some big dogs that are mean and can be dangerous, but that trait is not attributted to its size. It's just the way they were raised!

[Stenograsaurus]

I looove the big doggies!!!! The size of the dog doesn't scare me. I have to see their demeanor before I can be scared by a dog.

Rachel, I would have loved to have witnessed your daily attacks. I would have been roaring with laughter. If my mother were with me, she would have been calling the dog catcher!!!

The stereotyping (sp?) between small dogs and large dogs really bother me. If a large dog bites, they are labeled as dangerous. If a small dog bites, people laugh it off. That is not fair. A bite is a bite, whether it's from a small dog or a large dog.

[Stenograsaurus]

Oh, Anna, I forgot to congratulate you on conquering posting pictures!!! Again, I am in awe over the beauty of your dogs.

[jackiesdaisy1935]

I love all dogs, and just my opinion, but I think a small dog is more likely to bite than a large one. Don and I have both been bit by Schnauzers, duh, one was ours and one was our daughters, unless it's just Schnauzers. LOL
My cousin in New Hampshire had a Great Dane and when I first saw her we were about nose to nose and I thought wow I better watch out. Then my cousin said take her for a walk on the leash, I'm thinking ya right, but I did, and she was the most gentle dog I have ever seen. I loved her very much.
Jackie