Puppy Days are Over

[TrinaJ]

*LOL* I wish i was in the store, I am sure i am a magent to rotts, whenever i see one I have to go and meet him/her. There is something very lovable about this breed, i am not sure if its their eyes, the way they carry themselves so proudly or just their fat heads *hehehe*

Those people who you 'didn't encounter' at the store are the people who need to be educated that this breed is actually a friendly, loving breed. Once again its the bad press that sends people running. Also from what i remember this is the store that forbids rott's to do doggy day camp.

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/bre...-petsmart.html

This store clearly discriminates against this breed and therefore their uneducated clientelle can only 'assume' there is a reason why.

Trina

[mellie13]

i can understand that... last time Jiezel (13 months) and i had a walk and a man insulted us, really and im being polite, he was yelling to make other people hear " this is the dog who kills people, u dont have the right to have one) In mauritius it is not illegal to have a rot, he probably doesn't know. Jiezel was just sitting by my side, and honestly if yhe guy had approached Jiezel would only give him big kisses, thats how he is, even at home he greets everyone (which sometimes annoys me) but this guy wouldn't hear anything, i told him Jiezel goes to training school every week since he was 4 months, but sometimes people doesnt want to listen and learn all you need to do is pass your way...Luckily they are not all like that... The training school organise each month meeting in "homes" i realli like that we visit old people, orphelins etc and we have the chance to tell people how to behave with dogs, to give them an ear massage instead of trying tu cuddle them... and believe me im really happy seeing old and children play with Jiezel ( he is unfortunately the only male rott at school) Some persons are just stubborn will watch tv, and this will be the only stuff that will give them an opinion but there are others u can touch...and are ready to tell around them And this is my pride....

[ladyandisis]

I know the feeling. I can't take my rotties to go get the kids from school anymore. Parents were complaining that the dogs were too big and that the dogs are scary looking. I told the princple that my rotties are very friendly and I would not bring them around kids if I thought they would bit. Then I asked him if they were a small dog they would be aloud on school grounds and he said probably yes. It not fair that my dogs should be judge just because of their breed.

[Nishasmom]

When Nisha was little (8 weeks) people would say "OMG, what a cute puppy!! What kind is it??". When I answered they said "oh" and quickly walked away. She was just a pile of fluff then !!

Now, we get mixed results; a lot of people love her. She isn't too big so she is not so intimidating as a male might be. But we do get our share of scared people. Our trainer told us to always be positive about it. Dogs can sense the energy others put off; tell your dog "those silly people are scared of you"...in a happy upbeat voice. This helps deflect the negative energy they receive from the "racist" people.

[Pans Daddy]

I show up at Pet Smart with TWO Rots just to see how people will react! I'm usually presently surprised, it seems like everyone there thinks they are pretty and friendly! My pooches are very well behaved, and I do put their Harley bandana's on them too. People do ask permission before they get too close though..

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by TrinaJ

http://www.rottweiler.net/forums/bre...-petsmart.html

This store clearly discriminates against this breed and therefore their uneducated clientelle can only 'assume' there is a reason why.

Trina

They DO allow Rotts but not "bully breeds" such as pit-bulls ect.

[mfabeyta]

I think it depends on the area. I went to a petsmart in hemet california with both my 1yr old girls. Everyone came up to us and wanted to pet them and talk. Even people with little dogs came up. Most did pick up there dogs though. lol. The employees even looked down the isles for us to pet the girls. We were there about 3 1/2 hrs. Then on the way home we stopped at the Plams springs petsmart. The hemet store didn't have what I wanted. Boy was that a different. People kept clear of us and the employees wern't to nice. So I left. That area is mostly people with yack yack gogs as to where the hemet store had a varity of dogs. So I think it depends on the area you are in.

[kilasmamix3]

That site is closed down now, but i think they listen they breeds and rottweiler was on the no go list... Not just pitbulls and bull dogs..

Dezaree

[Nishasmom]

PetSmart PetsHotel

Who may attend?

*Dogs at least five months of age
*Dogs who have been socialized with
other dogs but are not of the “bully
breed” classification† or wolves/wolf
hybrids
*Dogs who are in good health (no fleas, ticks, or contagious illnesses)
*No intact (unneutered) male dogs, pregnant females or females in heat
*Dogs who have the following vaccinations: Bordetella, Rabies, Distemper, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus

†Dogs in the "bully breed" classification (e.g. American Pit Bull Terriers, Miniature Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Bull Dogs, Bull Terriers or mixed breeds that have the appearance or characteristics of one of these breeds). For the safety of all animals and associates, and at the discretion of PetSmart, some pets may not be permitted.
Just b/c they allow Rotties does not mean I support them at all! Banning a "bully breed" because of public misconceptions is stupid! As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

[TrinaJ]

I will admit when i am wrong, i thought that i saw rottweilers listed as unwelcome at doggy day camp when i first read it in Chit Chat corner.

[kilasmamix3]

I'm wrong!! Wooohhhh!!! That's not a surprise!! (: well everyday; your learn something new.

Dezaree

[MonicaBH]

Fortunately, I haven't had a negative experience w/Clyde in a while.

It's actually been positive! Whee! Last Saturday, I took him to PetSmart with me to get a tie-out and some treats; two of the customers were gawking over my "awesome, magnificent" dog. When we left PetSmart, we went on to PetFest, an annual event where dogs and their owners get together and have a good time (on leash, of course). Clyde was AMAZING. He did so well with the people and the dogs, even the little kids and a guy in a wheelchair (he's never been exposed to that before). I even had someone approach me asking if he were up for adoption. LOL

But I have also had my fair share of negative experiences. It just makes me happy to share the positive experiences too.

[Nishasmom]

Originally Posted by TrinaJ

I will admit when i am wrong, i thought that i saw rottweilers listed as unwelcome at doggy day camp when i first read it in Chit Chat corner.

Originally Posted by kilasmamix3

I'm wrong!! Wooohhhh!!! That's not a surprise!! (: well everyday; your learn something new.

Dezaree

Don't worry; I am probably wrong WAY more often than you two put together ! Every time I log on, I learn something new. My sister worked at Petsmart, that is how I knew .

[TrinaJ]

Originally Posted by Nishasmom

Don't worry; I am probably wrong WAY more often than you two put together ! Every time I log on, I learn something new. My sister worked at Petsmart, that is how I knew .

*hehehe* I agree with you 100% about learning something new ever time you log on, that's exactly how it is for me also! I found this bit of info on the APBT - i didnt even know that they were originally AST...ya really do learn something new every day.

Still i dont like the fact that they discriminate, it IS afterall the people who are the ones to blame with how their dog turns out.

They are, I guess, selective about bully type breeds because the early “bulldogs” were used as working dogs, controlling unruly bulls for butchers as well as farmers. From their they went to dog fighting and blood sport and used for bull baiting - this begain around 1835. In The AKC decided to register Pit Bulls but under a different name - the Staffordshire Terrier, which was later changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in 1972, or AST. Up until 1936, Pit Bulls and AST’s were physically identical. After 1936, AST’s were bred solely for conformation and their breed requirements became much more stringent. APBT’s were being bred for both performance (fighting) as well as conformation shows and the breed’s standard became much more lenient. The AST’s, phenotypically, became “flashier” with blockier heads, larger chests and a thicker jaw while the APBT’s varied phenotypically from lanky to stocky. Although the phenotypic expression varied in the APBT, relative weight, size and proportion remained constant and dogs over 60lbs were rarely seen. Both AST’s and APBT’s were bred to be exceptionally sturdy and extremely human friendly, not to mention athletic, courageous, and tenacious.

[lengel]

When I got Zooey, I discovered the previously unrevealed Rottweiler community in our area. All kinds of Rottie people came out of the woodwork, including the Petsmart general manager, our vet's receptionist and two employees at other pet supply stores. We feel welcome at these places and I will spend my money at places where I feel comfortable. Almost all of these people have more than one Rottie at home.