All Loki likes to do inside the apartment is snooze, wag, play a little indoor fetch, have a little bone chew or do a little rope tug of war. He has TWO beds. He gets out for 3 to 4 walks a day, all at least thirty minutes. In the spring and summer our walks get longer especially when the weather is nice, we do minimum 45mins. I looked at all the routes we take on google maps, and its roughly 10km per day, not sure the mileage when he's running around. Who needs a gym membership?? I even wore out my runners last year. Digression.
Of course in every building there are always those who are less than enthused to share their space with dogs, especially large ones. Loki does have a "junkyard dog" look to him as one blunt observer once mentioned. There are a few people that recoil the minute they see him, and are quite astute in letting me know they will not come any closer in the lobby, in the hallway or outside the elevator when we're waiting for it.
The lady at the end of my hall will gasp and shake her head "no no o no I do not like dogs like that I do not like them, no " when she sees him. I can't help but notice the gentle wag of Loki's tail and get frustrated because she seems a tad dramatic especially when she's at the opposite end of the hall. It's not his fault that some other furry culprit caused her to be this afraid. I've tried to explain that he is well mannered but she won't have any of it. I just have to accept it, but I am always obliging.
I am not surprised how often others, specifically some with language barriers, won't share the elevator with us because they are afraid of him. I always wonder, what happened to them to turn them so against (big) dogs? Was it pop-culture breed stereo-types? Was it the fact they never had animals growing up and don't understand them? Was it because they were bitten or lunged at? I guess when I get most defensive is when Loki referred to as a dog "like that" or "that dog" ....."we'll wait til that passes us" One time we were shouted at by a woman to cross the street because she doesn't like the look of him. The nerve.
I know what you might be thinking,....suck it up buttercup..... such is life.....not everyone likes dogs.... but I figured I'd see if any of your experiences have been similar especially with those who are verbally and physically uneasy around our canine besties, and sometimes dramatically so ...... thoughts?? stories??