My heart feels like it has been ripped out,i love my dogs i really do i have put my heart and soul into my dogs their health happiness and their behaviour,yet before even met they are a no go.

i have been mailing different people on advise on colouring in toy poodles and the lines ect ect so to learn a bit more about the breed so when i get into the showing i have a little winsy bit of an idea what people are saying.
i spoke to a lady through e mail the last couple of days suggesting showing a new puppy ect,the e mails flew back and fourth and i mentioned id have loved to shown the rotties as i do belive they both would have done well,(shows my inexperience lol)knowing their lines.ANYWAY

she said ;  Also you will find Breeders will stay clear of any one who has Rott's as well as Toy Poodles. However well behaved and I know they can be lovely there is always the risk that a dog that big could kill a Toy whether intentional or not.

this is quote on my e mail.im so upset.matt says i shouldnt tell people about my rotts when looking at pups(we're not buying i was just looking) but why should i hide that i have other dogs.

NOW dont get me wrong i know for a fact that this breed can be dangerous in the wrong hands im not saying they cant but how dare she or anyone judge my dogs who by the way are right now either side of my sofa lying by my feet,one with poodle curled up inside her legs warm and cosy and the yorkie on top of troy who is laying flat.

i just dont think i can e mail this lady back now although she seems very nice and has said some ponts i wont be forgetting,i have just taken it to heart too much,my dogs have been brought up around strict routines as MY children were a lot smaller when my dogs were pups and at their least safe IE bouncing pups playing or toy snapping.i have been on top of my dogs from day one and still am,why do people judge the breed?????

please someone tell me im not wrong for being upset.

yes i see her point big dog ............small dog ......wouldnt normally mix...no but how about say ok lets meet your dogs before snubbing them into the dangerous bin.
god if i wasnt so fuming id be crying.they're DOGS just dogs and my babies.

i could be the same back you know saying well poodles are well known for being impatent and snappy but i wont because its how you bring them up.....my mother in laws dogs are ALL snappy but my lola isnt......because she has had the attention she needs and deserves.

im so upset..im sorry for the long post.

Get a grip Tamara...everyone is entitled to their opinion and many people with toy dogs ( and toy poodles are a small utility breed) are terrified that their little dogs will be eaten by big dogs.

I keep large and small together with no problems- but those who dont have this experience may feel that I am taking a risk...I just dont happen to think so and I have a huge experience of this situation.

You do seem very affected by any old Tom,Dick or Harry's opinion dont you?

what you have to remember is that some people are drawn to small breeds because they are afraid or uncomfortable with large ones, and also people are understandably protective of small breeds, as many people don't realise what can happen with the size differences.

A good friend of mien has always had Papillons, having inherited her Mums, but found that many people would not even consider letting her have one because she has children and a medium large breed.  there are others who will take each case and potential owner on their own merit assessing their knowledge, home set up etc.

Don't take it personally.

Also as many small breeds have small litters breeders really can afford to be extra picky and quite rightly wish to limit the risks to their precious puppies, so it may be that you will have to convince them of your suitability more.

Attending shows and bred events may show them how serious your are and getting to know you personally will help.

From a practical point of view had you considered Minatures instead, or even a Standard?

why do people judge the breed?????

Because they don't personally know any, that is the reason that most people will judge a breed. This lady is also probably one of them, and hasn't seen that a Rotti can be the biggest soppiest teddy bear. The ones I have known have always been soppy and would probably run away if a wee dog barked at them. But, as always it is how a dog is raised and where it comes from that gives you that all round family dog.

Try not to be disheartened, you will meet many people like this you have to develope a hard skin. You know your dogs. I personally have never met to date, ***fingers crossed*** a dog aggressive Rotti far from it, they are a breed I never worry about.

But beware some people are going to think that your Rotties will eat a small dog rather than be it's friend, there is nothing you can do to change that...............unfortunately.

Thats an awful thing for her to say, you are well in your rights to be upset by it,
I know of many breeders that have both small any large dogs, one in particular has danes and pugs, and they adapt and learn how to play more gently. I have a leo and a border collie, there is 50kg weight difference and they are the best of buddies and the Leo has learnt that the border collie is not a chew toy and he cant pull him about like he can with his sisters.

Dogs adapt, they are not stupid and a young toy poodle is not stupid enough to get sat on my a rott, and there is no reason why your dogs would suddenly turn, anymore than a leo would, or a chi would.

Many breeders of toy poodles also have standards? So does the same apply to them?
I think most poodle owners would be grateful for someone wanting one of there puppies, especially during this day and age, where it appears poodle crosses tend to be the favourite .

> You do seem very affected by any old Tom,Dick or Harry's opinion dont you?

you know what when it comes to my dogs yea i do.
i am new to this dog world and am doing my best to do things right by my dogs and the breeds,at least i am trying to care.
i can be as strong as an old ox but take me out of my comfort zone when i DONT know it all then yes i get embarassed and upset.

> Get a grip Tamara...

this is nice isnt it!just what i needed.... a shove in the gut.thanks.i cant get a grip im actually upset im sorry if that bothers you!!!

>

> From a practical point of view had you considered Minatures instead, or even a Standard?

yes i have and i AM torn,id love a standard poodle too.im just wondering on the car.i know if i had another big dog the car would need to be bigger as we all holiday together and travelling with two rotts tiny mags lola the toy and a standard can you imagine it lol.(KIDS AND LUGGAGE go in matts car lol)

I understand.  I have a wonderful Rottweiler bitch pup and two GSD's - the other day my auntie said to me 'Why did you get one of those' pointing to my baby. I said to her 'because they are wonderful dogs' she replied with 'but they have killed people, did you know that' I looked at her and said.  'Your ignorance and narrow mindedness astounds me'. And I left. I could have tried to convince her she was wrong but I just lost interest in her!  
You know your dogs are lovely, you can't change peoples views, just have comfort in knowing that your dogs have been raised correctly and treated with respect. Not owned by idiots who know nothing about dogs let alone this breed.  My attitude with my 3 is that they must behave impectably so no-one can point the finger at them behaving inappropriately.  The people that want to judge them on their breed alone can go take a hike! Anyone who is experienced with dogs imo would not have given you such a sweeping statement, I would doubt that anyone who is experienced would bring a toy pup into a house that owned a bulldozer rottie - I know I wouldn't! I am lucky to have a soft gentle girl who would be fine with a toy.
Chin up and be proud of your dogs, you sound like a great owner.

Thank you carrington,and tanya for your posts also.i cant help it it gets to me and so much so that i have said it before i HATE having to go somewhere and defend the dogs.it would be lovely to walk over the beach and say morning without the morning no no theyre fine......you know

and as for the crossess shouldnt think ill be having one of those i think its absolutly discusting making money out of a name dog.what happens when all the poodle cross RAGE  is over??
no i like the breeds i like well quite a lot actually lol but matt would never have it ha ha ha ha

I own a Rottie and Terriers, Terriers far worse than any Rottie.
When I got my first Rottie 12yrs ago, people would cross the road instead of walking past her, and say they dogs should be muzzled, she was the nicest nature you could ever get plus a Therapet dog, who visited Nursing homes, also passed her KC Gold Medal.
Unfortunatley there are people who don't like or are scared of big dogs, especially when we do get a rogue one and its in the papers.

> I could have tried to convince her she was wrong but I just lost interest in her!
>

and this is exactly how i feel about this woman.i dont want to mail her back and shant be.shes bothered me but your so right.its ignorance.

> Chin up and be proud of your dogs, you sound like a great owner.

thank you so very much.xxx

Tamara, Tooolz is actually trying to help here, even if you can't see it... I have just had a look over some of your older posts, and in many of them, you are worried, scared, terrified of little things.. and seem to get yourself into a real paddy, just going to have eye tests done...

You are planning to go into the show world?  you really will need to toughen up, or you will simply fall apart...

I do understand that its not nice when people say things, but to be honest.. you really will have to 'get over it'... its part of life, and you cannot let others affect you this way...

Other people have replied to this thread, with soft and gentle approaches, somehow I feel that you need a little 'tougher love'... come on Tamara... you can do it   You don't need mollycoddled...

There was a post on here a while ago asking whether peolpe were influenced on the breed of dog they got by meeting one or two dogs of that breed.  I do know that it is really important to do the research and I probably wouldn't get a Rottie for lots of reasons [Elkie addict for one]  BUT have got to say that the few I've met have been absolutely gorgeous characters and characterful and GENTLE. 
I can understand fear of toy breeders though, how can you have a rough and tumble with a Rottie and a toy poodle at the same time?  Chasing a ball Rotie romps over and stomps on baby poodle. 
I know loads of people manage a variety of dogs; in temperament, size, work focus etc but, the onus is on you to ge the breeder to have confidence in your ability to manage all this - at least the breeder is showing concern for the pups. 

Other people have replied to this thread, with soft and gentle approaches, somehow I feel that you need a little 'tougher love'... come on Tamara... you can do it   You don't need mollycoddled...

My approach wasnt soft n gentle - it was just honest!

ok.no i do feel a complete tart.
i apologise and thanks for the kick up the aris!
i cant help it,i think its mainly because im constantly defending my dogs and they dont get the fuss lola or mags does.ok theyre small dogs but still,people will not see me at the vets and say oh beautiful girl/lad nope they give a wide birth.if people constantly did this to my children i think id be just the same.you see what i mean.i also get annoyed with people when they say oh yea rottie look at the size of the beast.....

theyre not beasts theyre cuddly bears.

critisizem i can take cos it all helps,i cant take the look on my pups faces when they get pulled away from someone they wanna snuggle up to.
id love just one day to dye them all black and pass them as labs with no tails lol.

toolz i apologise im just upset and i tend to do that.x

> how can you have a rough and tumble with a Rottie and a toy poodle at the same time?  Chasing a ball Rotie romps over and stomps on baby poodle. 

lol easy we do it day in day out and my toy isnt the smallest of my breeds lol.

however ive calmed now and am seeing the points more clearly

I'm not sure there is anything wrong with Tooolz 'Get a grip' comment.  It's something I say to myself on a frequent basis

From the tone of your post you've had a very emotional response to the breeders email.  Nothing wrong with that, but you can't afford to stay in that state.  Once you've had time to calm down a bit, and look at it objectively I'm sure you'll begin to understand where the breeder might be coming from.

You do have big, heavy dogs and they aren't everyones choice of companion to smaller breeds, regardless of training.  Someone else mentioned that perhaps some of these breeders have small breeds simply because they don't like the larger ones.  That's their choice. 

You have choices too and you need to decide what direction you want to take.  If you are convinced that you can make the size differences work, as Tooolz does, then you need to tackle your choice of breeder head on.  Be up front about your current breed and explain (as rationally and objectively as you can)  exactly how you will create a safe environment for their beloved puppies.  Most breeders are keen to find devoted owners but you may just need to go the extra mile to prove you are suitable. The quote you've given from the breeder does not sound like she will be irrational.  Good luck

The best advice I got from a reputable Rottweiler breeder was 'remember not to forget your lead, poobag and extra layer of skin before you set off for your walk with your Rotty' LOL

When I walk around our village, most people who know me and my dogs are great but people who don't cross the road, that's ok i feel quite special that I can clear the way for my lovely dogs! - moral of the story, turn it into something positive whenever possible, its easier than get upset about it.

>she said ;  Also you will find Breeders will stay clear of any one who has Rott's as well as Toy Poodles. However well behaved and I know they can be lovely there is always the >risk that a dog that big could kill a Toy whether intentional or not.

Tamara, where, in this statement, has the woman mentioned or even said with intent, that Rottwiellers are dangerous.. for me, she is simply stating her opinion, and I for one share the same.. There is possibility that a large bouncy dog could kill a toy, intentional or not.. I have Labs, big and bouncy, and would never dream of bringing in a toy puppy with them around.. yes, I would have a toy (IF that was my wish, which it isn't lol) but would not have them together

Rottie's are a bit like Labradors in some way, they are big, they are powerful, and they can be very boistrous.  What is wrong with someone voicing concerns...

Why is it people ask a question, and get upset, when they dont get the answers they want to hear

>>>ok.no i do feel a complete tart. i apologise and thanks for the kick up the aris! i cant help it,i think its mainly because im constantly defending my dogs <<<

thats what it feels like to own staffords :o(

> lol easy we do it day in day out and my toy isnt the smallest of my breeds lol.

That's what I'm saying - just tell the breeder of the toy that you do it and how well you do it.

I don't know what you are talking about myself?  She didn't state that your dogs are savage because of the breed but that they could kill.  In this I doubt that she even means in an attacking sense but more in the sense of just the sheer size difference and that an accident could happen.  I am always wary with my Spanish and Pomeranian's not because the Spanish are nasty (the Pom's usually tell them off) but due to the size difference that even a playful paw could end in disaster.

>>>> ok.no i do feel a complete tart. i apologise and thanks for the kick up the aris! i cant help it,i think its mainly because im constantly defending my dogs <<<
> thats what it feels like to own staffords :o(

You should try walking a rottweiler and a stafford together - me and my chav hounds sure get some interesting responses from people!

> However well behaved and I know they can be lovely there is always the risk that a dog that big could kill a Toy whether intentional or not.

As the owner of a large dog, should should know that accidents can happen and a dog the size of a rottie could easily kill or injure a small dog, without meaning to. This doesn't make it a nasty dog, just a big dog. Your particular dogs may well be used to playing & living with much smaller animals and many large/giant dogs live happily with very small dogs BUT you must understand that there is potential for accidental damage in general - that is not demonising your breed atall, just being aware.

I have a Mastiff, the breed are generally great with small dogs, but my dog (as an individual) is just too clumsy it would be silly of me to have a tiny dog in the house. He means no harm atall, but is not very carefull or very co-ordinated with his huge feet. I do not take offence at people thinking he could accidentally injure things (children, animals) by accident - the problem is when people don't see the danger.

Hi there, I dont reply much but always read most of the posts on here, however! LOL I have a akita cross and a staffy cross both nearly 12 who have lived together since they were 10 weeks old.  They are both entire and currently have the most friends in my neighbourhood! They get on with everything from lhasa apsos to rotties (even entire ones) and spend most of their walks socialising with dogs of all shapes and sizes.
I have also fostered kittens which they have been fantastic with and taken under their wing. My sister has recently taken in a Yorkshire terrier and Jack Russell and they are fantastic with them too.
However I feel so dissapointed when people cross over or walk away from me with my dogs just because of what breed type they are!! We have a number of friendly dog walkers who are relaxed with their dogs/bitches playing with my two, the only worry my akita getting too excited as he has a ruptured cruciate!
I work in a vets and cant believe the number of times that people have come in and said " my dog was attacked by one of them staffies or japanese fighting dogs!"
 

As the owner of the most reviled breed on earth who lives happily with a blind Spitz pup as well as several other dogs of various sizes, I can tell you one thing: people are afraid of things/animals they don't know. By now it's water off my back. Don't upset yourself.

That was good advice from the Rottie breeder, BarkingMad. I have had less than positive response when walking my Rottie to post a letter! What these people dont know is that he has gone through the Good Citizen awards to Gold & he is the first of my dogs that get introduced to any young pups. He's been a surrogate uncle to 5 pups now & he loves them.

Tamara, there are a lot of us that can take personal criticism like being called fat or thick to name but 2, but when our lovely dogs are criticised that's a different matter!

>>I don't know what you are talking about myself?  She didn't state that your dogs are savage because of the breed but that they could kill.  In this I doubt that she even means in an attacking sense but more in the sense of just the sheer size difference and that an accident could happen.  I am always wary with my Spanish and Pomeranian's not because the Spanish are nasty (the Pom's usually tell them off) but due to the size difference that even a playful paw could end in disaster.>>

That was how I took it

It's not just large dogs toys need protection from. A friends neighbour left her six week chihuahua pup alone in the kitchen with her very large, very hungry cat..........

Don't know how to do quotes so will just retype!!!

Tanya1989 wrote...
"I think most toy poodle owners would be grateful for someone wanting one of their puppies"

What a ridiculous statement!!!!!!!
My bitch is at present i hope (too soon to tell), pregnant and would NEVER be grateful for someone to want one of my puppies (and no she isn't a toy poodle but is a poodle).  I would hope they would be grateful to be allowed to have one of my pups!!!!  If thats how someone feels they should not be breeding, I have more folk waiting for pups than my bitch could possibly have!  Sometimes peoples comments amaze me and dishearten me

As for the original posters query, I can understand why toy poodle breeders would be wary about placing a pup with a larger breed (not just rotties) as some people seem to lack basic common sense.  We have miniature poodles and bernese mountain dogs and although they get on very well (one of the min poodles is the house boss) we never leave them alone together unsupervised as if there is a minor squabble the bigger dog can obviously do much harm without much effort.  I would need to be very sure that the owner was going to be sensible and responsible about how the dogs were brought up together and kept together if I had the slightest doubt they wouldn't be allowed one of my puppies and not because the poodles are pampered but you have to be realistic about the risks with the difference in size.

Tamara, where, in this statement, has the woman mentioned or even said with intent, that Rottwiellers are dangerous.. for me, she is simply stating her opinion, and I for one share the same.. There is possibility that a large bouncy dog could kill a toy, intentional or not..

Exactly. I would NOT sell a Papillon to somebody who said their other dogs were Rottweilers (plural!) unless they could assure me the dogs would be kept apart when not supervised, i.e. not allowed outside in the garden together, not sleeping together and similar. I wouldn't do it with my own dogs, mix little and large when unsupervised, and it wouldn't matter the slightest WHAT the bigger breed was -or how wellbehaved the dog/s. In the same way I would not leave a toddler alone with a large breed dog even if the dog was elderly and had no teeth, because the size difference alone could mean a danger -by accident. As you can see from my avatar my little and large do mix very well -but ONLY under supervision. I have witnessed how easily it is for one of the little ones (weighing perhaps just all of 2 kgs) to be knocked over accidentally just when running free outside. I'm not prepared to take such risks.

> Exactly. I would NOT sell a Papillon to somebody who said their other dogs were Rottweilers (plural!) unless they could assure me the dogs would be kept apart when not supervised, i.e. not allowed outside in the garden together, not sleeping together and similar. I wouldn't do it with my own dogs, mix little and large when unsupervised, and it wouldn't matter the slightest WHAT the bigger breed was -or how wellbehaved the dog/s. In the same way I would not leave a toddler alone with a large breed dog even if the dog was elderly and had no teeth, because the size difference alone could mean a danger -by accident. As you can see from my avatar my little and large do mix very well -but ONLY under supervision. I have witnessed how easily it is for one of the little ones (weighing perhaps just all of 2 kgs) to be knocked over accidentally just when running free outside. I'm not prepared to take such risks.

I would have thought that that goes without saying after all it's part of being a responsible owner?

I would have thought that that goes without saying after all it's part of being a responsible owner?

You'd be surprised how many people do NOT think of accidents at all. All they think of is whether their large breed is friendly or not to other dogs.

> left her six week chihuahua pup alone in the kitchen with her very large, very hungry cat..........

Don't ..

>Tanya1989 wrote...
>"I think most toy poodle owners would be grateful for someone wanting one of their puppies"

>What a ridiculous statement!!!!!!!
>My bitch is at present i hope (too soon to tell), pregnant and would NEVER be grateful for someone to want one of my puppies (and no she isn't a toy poodle but is a poodle).  I would hope they would be grateful to be allowed to have one of my pups!!!!  If thats how someone feels they should not be breeding, I have more folk waiting for pups than my bitch could possibly have!  Sometimes peoples comments amaze me and dishearten me

Sorry Fifi, I really didn't mean how that sounded. What I meant was most poodle owners would be pleased that general public were still into poodles as poodles and not these "designer dogs" that they have been crossed to make. I didn't mean it to sound like you (as a poodle breeder) would be grateful for people wanting to buy your puppies, but grateful that there are still people that love the breed enough to want to preserve it.

I love the poodle, it is the only breed I could see me having other than a Leo.

theyre not beasts theyre cuddly bears

so true my boys always being called a bear he is such a big soppy boy i nick name him zooby doo, he's really called Zeus but Zooby suits him so well,

Sadly your always going to get people who look at the Larger breed dogs as beasts,

I once had a heated disscussion with Mr Nick Ferrari on his breakfast show as he was really going off about my breeds and some others all being bad dogs,

(i have EBT's also)

He had the cheek to ask why i kept killer dogs, i was gobsmaked,
all my dogs are soppy they love cats children and all they want to do is play with every dog they meet,

Will say as for my boy playing with my Bully's it has to be very controled play as my boy would hurt the bullys due to his size if he was over excited,

I do prefur  to let the 2 bullys play together less chance of an accident, and zooby has a lab x gs thats a fair old size he often meets over the park they get on very well and bound around like nutters everytime they meet,
but when they do we always get people coming up and watching them some think their going to fight but people all find it funny when their rolling around like oversized puppys,

I have 3 Rotties, 2 of which are polar opposites. My eldest girl is like the large teddy bears mentioned by other posters. Absolutley bomb proof, and a joy to own. The beastie boy (Dave) is an angel in the house, but is fear agressive and not so comfortable when he's outside. We rescued him just after the socialisation window closed at around 5 months, up until then he had been passed from home to home, locked in cupboards and attacked by another dog (and probably the humans who'd owned him). He is always on a lead and muzzled, with people and dogs he knows he is like a soppy playful puppy, but he can be agressive towards dogs and people that approach him incorrectly. We've recently had a set back because of a local staffy cross, that just doesn't have any social skills (lovely dog, but thinks every other dog wants to play), has been allowed by his owner to come rushing straight over and jumping all over my lot, and trying to sniff them etc. The owner never has a lead, and the dog just thinks it's play time.

My middle girl doesn't like overly exciteable dogs, and will box them, so she is generally kept on the lead because of it. Anyway I was having some 1 - 2 -1 time with her the other sunday, when the dog mentioned above made a bee line for her from the opposite end of the park. I saw him coming so told her to sit and watch me (which she did). This dog was jumping all over her (and me), and the owner had no control, and more importantly no lead. When the owner finally sauntered over (and this is an adult in his late 40's not a teen), he said "oh he only want's to play". So I pointed out that not all dogs like other dogs, so he shouldn't really allow his dog to approach in this manner. He then asked if my dog was Dave, when I explained that it wasn't, he muttered something about Dave always being "up for it".

By this time he'd managed to grab his dog's collar and walk away, I walked off in the other direction, rather annoyed with myself for not explaining why Dave was the way he is, and that he is a work in progress, but the actions of this mans dog, running at him and jumping all over him have set him back. I was going over in my mind what I should have said etc, when i was given the opportunity to do just that, as the man had let go of his dogs collar and he ran back to resume his game of jumping on and around my girl. She was an absolute angel, I was so proud of my vicious Rottweiler sitting there like butter wouldn't melt, whilst this man was running around in circles trying to catch his dog. THis man had 15 minutes of me calmly explaining that he was in the wrong, had not control over his dog, and next time he tries to judge the actions/character of my beastie boy, maybe he should take a moment to remember that he is partially responsible for the set back in his training.

So yes you do need to have a thick skin, I have had numerous conversations with people who blanket all Rottweilers viscous savages, usually without ever having met one. But my Dolly has managed to turn a few of those opinions around as she is so gorgeous. Unfortunately I do also have one that is not a good example for the breed, but he has been made this way by the idiots who owned him. We're not giving up on him, he's just a work in progress.

> theyre not beasts theyre cuddly bears

chelzeagirl, I'm not singling you out, I just replied to your post as I couldn't see where you got he above quote from, and that is the bit I wanted to comment on.

This sort of thing is easily said by many dog owners, my dog is a teddy bear, but I NEVER forget the fact he is a dog. As cute, cuddly soft and loving he is, he is a dog, an animal and will act like one.

It is very, very important to remember that our dogs are dogs, especially when they are huge, there is so much more potential for damage (even accidental, I'm sure Buster could break an adults leg if he bolted in fear and crashed into them).

I never tell anybody that meets Buster that he is like a teddy bear, as people soon forget a dog has it's own feeling/fears/limits and treat them like a toy - that's when things can go wrong

(even accidental, I'm sure Buster could break an adults leg if he bolted in fear and crashed into them).

I had a really soppy, friendly Golden who did almost this -ran straight into my mum during a walk, knocked her over and injured her foot quite badly. Was months before it healed. It was not malicious in any way, but still caused damage.

I used to look after my friends toy poodle, my Irish boys are very laid back in the house but they do tend to clump anyone and anything with their big paws so I had to be really careful, the house was a maze of baby gates and the poodle was shut away whenever I was out.  She was quite clever in that she would spend most of her time on the arms or back of the sofa to keep out of the way.

Sadly accidents do happen, the poodle died at 2 years old from a broken neck, she jumped out of someones arms and landed awkwardly. 

> Sadly accidents do happen, the poodle died at 2 years old from a broken neck, she jumped out of someones arms and landed awkwardly.

Oh no, how sad

Thats awful.

> It is very, very important to remember that our dogs are dogs, especially when they are huge, there is so much more potential for damage (even accidental, I'm sure Buster could break an adults leg if he bolted in fear and crashed into them).

This is so true Mastifflover. Just yesterday my puppy got bowled over in the garden by one of the big girls who decided that chasing the other big girl (not the puppy) would be fun. She wasn't hurt but if the bernese had landed on her rather than the setter knocking her over she could well have been! It happened in an instant too, there were two of us there but she had been knocked flying before we could intervene. Needless to say - diving about was curtailed whilst puppy was exploring!

A dog walker I know was knocked over by someone else's labrador and broke her leg. She saw it as just one of those things that can happen but the owner of the labrador was mortified. The lab and her GR were playing on the beach and did a quick about turn at full speed and in the blink of an eye the accident had happened.

My GR has a wonderful temperament but I always put him back on his lead, or call him to heel, in populated areas as he is more than capable of accidentally knocking someone over and causing damage.

>how dare she or anyone judge my dogs who by the way are right now either side of my sofa lying by my feet,one with poodle curled up inside her legs warm and cosy and the yorkie on top of troy who is laying flat.

Can you not take a photo of this and email it to her? Then inform her that you will be going elsewhere for your puppy........

well yesterday i could have lol your right i could send her a photo of that right now........thanx.

> You should try walking a rottweiler and a stafford together - me and my chav hounds sure get some interesting responses from people!

Add a dallie.... and see the fun.... the idiots drag their liitle darlings out the way of the staffie and rottie and then throw them at the dallie.... out of the 3 if any was to get the hump it would be him!!

LOL

The staffie and rottie are dogs my friends helps to walk. While her boys are sitting at her side the dallie is usually hiding behind me "oh mum it is kids again HELP!!!!!

Just wanted to say years ago we found a rottie in my nans back garden , we called her & she came straight to us for loves & cuddles and i am so happy that no-one ever came to collect her !!!!
She really was the softest thing ever & i loved her to bits :0)