It's Rough Being a German Shepherd

People see Arkeo and the first thing they think is "police dog" "guard dog" must be vicious, must be dangerous. We walk through the dog show in Denver and other handlers, with their fluffy dogs whether large or small, take one look at us (with Arkeo walking perfectly at my side), and pull their dogs away standing between them and us with a look on their face of that Arkeo is going to eat their precious darling. All because she is a German Shepherd. Meanwhile, all Arkeo is thinking of is finding a tennis ball or a little kid who will pet her or maybe a nice juicy bone to gnaw on. But this is not what people's perception is and so Arkeo gets branded and ostracized and if she ever got loose, in some communities might be considered to be a dangerous breed if the cops picked her up. It is really rough being a German Shepherd sometimes.

But you know, we do the same thing to people and people do the same thing to us. I was labeled as being "a danger to self and others" because of a misinterpreted voice mail."  (The Rhuemotology dept is still apologizing for that one.) But the one that gnawing on me right now is the fact that people feel they have the right to assume what is in my mind and on my heart just because I have the title Rev. in front of my name.  "I guess it's hard to refrain from acting like a minister." was the comment, and all I said was "amen" in agreement with someone's statement and was accused of "spreading religion" and that I might offend someone. Guilty of association by prefix. Not even pointing out that the definition of the word means to agree by assent and is used in most educated British circles could take their suspicions and branding of me away.

I don't know what to do about closed minded people whether they are closed minded toward my dog or toward me. In a sense it's like trying to climb over a wall that keeps getting taller because if they find this small thing to stick on you, you know they will find something else and the wall will just keep getting taller. It also makes this particular group of people who called me on this word not a safe place me. Because I will not know whether or not something else in my conversation will be objectionable to someone.  It's like traveling with Arkeo and her acting with perfect good manners but someone having had a "bad experience" with a German Shepherd having decided they are all vicious dogs. Its like walking on eggshells and a bit frightening.

So Arkeo and I will go where we are welcomed as ourselves without presumptions or assumptions. And we will try our hardest not to make those judgement about others. (Though I can't guarentee Arkeo makes the same promise about the squirrels in the backyard.)

Until later - see you around the kennel and keep all four paws on the ground.