rude woman at obedience class...what would you do?

[whitney greenway]

Jaegergirl,

I would stand my ground. You obviously have a dog that is socialized, non-agressive. Not a dog that needs to put away from society.

It is sad to think that people have such limited knowledge about these dogs.

It just rocks me to the core with the bias attitudes about Rottweilers.

All Rottweilers are not BAD while all Poodles are not GOOD!

I would just try to make these people understand my situation, and if they rufuse to then.............TOUGH!

I would let the boy play outside with my son and leave it at that.

Sad but true, but and ass is an ass is an ass!

[Anne]

I had the same situation in the class I used to attend in that there was a couple there with two dobermans, aggressive ones at that, one had to be muzzled. I tried to stay away from these people but seemed to end up next to them all the time. The guy handler used to make comments about my playful Rott in a sarcastic way and eventually I said to him "are you like this all the time or is it just during a training class". That seemed to shut him up and I had no more trouble with him. It was an awful class anyway, too many dogs so I left. My Rott just was unable to concentrate with this Dob growling an lunging at her all the time. After leaving the class I had our Mick Trainer here working with my dog and we went ahead in leaps and bounds.

[spidey]

Why not assume a more positive attitude than she does and charm her? Why not ask her if she's had a bad experience with Rottweilers or has heard bad things about them (entirely possible, many people cover fear with behaviour like hers) and then explain that they're not all mean and yours certainly isn't. IMO it's always better to take the high road and be polite and positive rather than negative. If this approach doesn't work, at least you'll know that you handled it in a civilized fashion and gave her every opportunity to be nice (very few people will react well if they're placed on the defensive, why not be one of the few who reacts well regardless?).

[Jaegergirl]

Sad but true, but and ass is an ass is an ass!

i agree 100%. this is my first rottie and i've only had him since end of july. i know for sure i will come across more people who will make more stupid comments.

as for the woman at class, i'm going to play it by ear and see how it goes. on one hand i want to make a smart comment right back and on the other hand i like the idea of "killing her with kindness." i guess i'll just do/say whatever the spirit moves me to do!

[WorkinDogz]

Nothing changes the mind of a critic of the breed than seeing one and having nothing to complain about.

Let your dogs behavior do the talking for you.......

Expect excellence from him, train for it and put it out there for everyone to see.

People are going to talk. There's no getting away from that.....however if you give them nothing to talk about then it's nothing more than idle chatter on their part.

Too bad we're not outfitted with that handy dandy little ignore feature in "real life" huh... lol :D

Oh wait! We are! It's called a grin and wink and walking away!

[rottie_mama]

Every time I read one of these threads I feel so incredibly fortunate. I really lucked into a great group of people to train with because they have never once expressed concern or dislike of my dogs simply because of their breed. In fact, my obedience instructor is always praising my dogs and commenting on what wonderful examples for the breed they are, and everyone in our club is very proud of the accomplishments that Sherman has made in agility.

Best of luck to those out there who are not as lucky as I was, and I do hope you can find a group of people who will be as accepting of you as my group is of us.

Rachel

[Jaegergirl]

this week i wasn't near the rude lady at class. thank goodness because i was feeling feisty and god only knows what i might have said to her given the opportunity. anyway, we were in line waiting to do an on-lead recall. maverick and i were first to go. not only did maverick do the recall and finish PERFECTLY, but the trainer pointed out how well maverick did, especially for being just a pup! i looked over to the rude lady and smiled.. don't know if she was paying attention but gosh it made me feel good! later on we did an off lead recall... and maverick did great..

my son worked maverick for the first couple of minutes of class while i was outside cleaning up after the pup. my son was able to get maverick to stand/stay for inspection.. i can't maverick to do that to save my life!!

: ) : )

[RottiMomCT]

The proof is on the pudding so to speak. You don't need to do anything...it sonds like she is JEALOUS that, regardless of the breed you own, YOUR DOG is doing better in class than you, and she wants to 'throw you off your mark' with rude comments.

Apparently, you don't need that. Maverick sounds like he's doing just fine in class and will continue to do so. Ask her flat out why she has such an isue with Maverick or Rotties in general...don't beat around the bush with her - we Rottie owners don't do that - we go straight thru it and get to the facts :D :D :D.

Good dog Maverick! Nothing like a little distractions from an early Halloween witch to keep you on your game :p !

As for her Weimeraner - she's probably jealous that your dog has such focus at 6 months...she's probably got her hands quite full with her 'grey ghost'. According to the AKC website, this is her dog: Weimaraners need lots of exercise; they do not make great city apartment dwellers unless their exercise needs can be adhered to.

Weimaraners are very dominant dogs and should be put through obedience training. You must be able to control your Weimaraner or he will control you.


Not that I agree 100% with the AKC website, but I know a few Weimeraners and they are handfuls if they don't get enough exercise - kinda like having a grey Dalmation !:D

[Gabby's Mom]

I agree with WD on this. Let your dogs behavior speak for itself. TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN and have the best behaved dog around.

In my obedience classes, I have been very lucky and everyone has welcomed Gabby with open arms, but I have heard all the whispers of friends and relatives who think that people with young children shouldn't have a Rottweiler in the home with them. So I just keep my mouth shut and TRAIN, TRAIN, TRAIN and now I'm grinning from ear to ear as Gabby just got her CD title. We'll spend all of the time that the good Lord gives us with Gabby to do all that we can to change the way people think about Rottweilers.

If I were you I would probably try to avoid this lady. I don't understand how people can be so rude.

[Rott4ever]

People can and often are quite rude. She may be jealous of your pup's performance, she may dislike you personally - for no rational reason, she may resent a thousand things. You are not there to be her mental therapist or to work out the "issues" she's come out with out of a troubled childhood. I wholeheartedly agree with those who advised that you let your dog shine, and let his temperament, intelligence, obedience and ability do the speaking for you as the owner, and for his breed as well.

Sadly, this woman might just fall in the category of disturbed individuals who don't feel good until the waters are murkied, and until they have a fight with someone or offend someone. If I were you, I would always make sure to not end up by her and would totally and completely ignore her overtures at provoking a fight. That means that I would not look at her at all, neither in triumph nor otherwise. Any eye contact or reaction on your part would give this twisted individual the satisfaction that her jab was successful. Make your ignoring of her an impenetrable wall. It might take a while, but it will eventually dawn on her that she has made a fool of herself and is being left to her folly. She'll feel like she'd been talking to herself all along.

In my old country there's a saying, and it goes like this: "If stupidity were to hurt, some people would die writhing in pain." Once you understand that, none of her ill meaning remarks can touch you in any way.

[Jaegergirl]

i've really enjoyed the advice everyone has given me and appreciate all of the comments. as with everything else, i can see there is no one right way to handle a situation and it's interesting to see the various suggestions. i will do my best to stay away from this woman and continue to work with my pup and train him the best i can. he has already met and exceeded all of my expectations. at this point and time i do not know if i will ever say anything to this woman or just ignore her. i will just have to wait and see what the spirit moves me to do. hopefully i will never be faced with the situation. but ya never know!

it's a shame that people have to be so rude and i'm sure she will not be the last one i will encounter. all i can do is prove to my little corner of the world that rotties are truely great dogs.

[SABELLESMOM]

Ah yes, nothing like a woman who balmes her own inability to train her dog properly on another's dog! Which is probably close to what I would have said: "Maverick is doing exactly what he should be, sitting! Your dog seems to be having some trouble, I see?" If I wanted to be sarcastic, I may then have added, "I've heard Weimariners don't stay focused too well."
I know people will disagree, but generally, I tend to defend the breed when I come accross similarly opinionated people. I know it's easier to just walk away, and i do that occasionally too. Usually, I extoll a virtue or two, or tell how wonderful and brilliant the breed is when someone spends time working with them.
Best in the future to steer clear of this person...like the other side of class!
At one of the dog training facilities (I've used 2 in our area) they identify agressive dogs with a red bandana. Now, this is after the first class when any have been identified as such. (usually fairly obvious behavior, growling, lunging, snapping, raised hackles, etc) They are then targeted for some desensitization training. This may take more than one set of classes. I see this is very helpful as you need not approach any dog you feel uncomfortable about.
Interesting thing. I've been taking show handling classes there and they run concurrently with a couple of obedience levels. Not even one Rottie with a red bandana! I've seen Westies, Labs, Collie mixes, and about any Terrier they make.

[Jaegergirl]

last night was class again. we were outside before class began. maverick was going to the bathroom and the rude lady walked over to the excercise area. we had a brief conversation about the different scents in the area and how the dogs get excited when we take them to the pet store. the conversation was short and sweet...oh, i though there was hope for this woman yet.

WRONG! during class, the trainers wanted to see what dogs were ready for the show (which is in december). each dog went one by one into the ring. the rude lady and her dog had to walk past all of the other dogs to get into the ring, and of course her spastic "matilda" tried to sniff each one as she walked by. maverick again was minding his own business, in fact, he was laying down. matilda walks by him, turns her head to sniff at him, and this woman pulls on her dog and says once again "one of these days that dog will bite your head off". had she been standing next to me and not walking past, i probably would have said something to her. i stayed away from her the rest of the
night so that was the only comment i got to hear her say.

well, i got a big kick out of what matilda did at the end of class. the trainer had 3 dogs go out into the ring and do "down stays" while their owners did various things (stand behind them, stand over them, walk around them, etc). matilda just happened to be one of those dogs. the rest of us sat outside the ring to watch. well, not only did matilda NOT want to listen to her owner but she jumped up and bit her several times. the trainer walked over to try and get matilda to calm down and she bit him too!! in front of the whole class!!!! i'm sorry but it made my night!

so the next time rudy lady make some comment about maverick biting her dogs head off, i'm sure i'll have plenty of comebacks.

it's one thing to be the "good guy" and not say anything but there comes a point when you have to stand up for yourself.

[TrishB]

Originally posted by Jaegergirl
It's one thing to be the "good guy" and not say anything but there comes a point when you have to stand up for yourself.

You GO Girl!!! :D hehehe

You might want to pull Maverick away from her dog in the future. No need to get him bit.

That woman sounds like a wacko. I'm glad that Maverick is doing so well! You're doing our breed proud! :)

[Judi W]

The only time I've run into this sort of thing is usually from a newcomer. My dogs and I are quite loved in the training group and my biggest problem is one lady in particular who keeps trying to sneak into position beside my dog at the end of the open sits and downs in the hopes that she can steal him.

Here is something I have found works well. As I indicated, avoid being near or next to the problem person and dog. During informal periods, I then make it a point to go have a very happy chat with other handlers and their dogs leaving the malcontent excluded. Usually that kind of person wants someone to agree with them and instead, they find themselves shut out of the companionship of the group. Do I take pity on them later if they try to make amends and want to "join up"................. No!

Women and elephants never forget.