[dmoniz]

Another idea would be to teach your dog to pull a cart. Logan gets groceries with me and sometimes I put the minpin in the cart to pull around. I get all sorts of smiles and positive comments when the neighborhood people see him. We also train at the Fremont AKC club for obedience and rally (there are 3 other rotties and one rottie mix), we train in pecadero for herding, and in Newark for schutzhund. He doesn't get much socialization at the schutzhund club because he is there to work, but I am bringing my nervy boxer there just to be around people and get socialization.

Downtown San Carlos is a great place to take dogs for socialization, very dog friendly and lots of outdoor eating areas. I do get some of the avoidance your are experiencing. My friend's bernese mountain dog gets a ton of attention even though he is 4 inches taller and full of fluffy hair, he looks huge! Logan just sits paciently wiggling hoping for at least a pat or even a look in his direction. Then a couple will walk by who used to have a rottie and suddenly the berner doesn't exist :)