Alright, I'm gonna chime in here also because this Anon seems really bitey about an honest answer, and I have feelings... And it might be because we can't adequately discern emotional context as filtered through text, as filtered through the internet, as filtered through our own emotional lens. But anyway, some things about this.
First: I really don't think Jaz was trying to be a dick about this. I think he was trying to be straight forward, and matter-of-fact, which I think many of us in the community (service dog, sport dog, working dog, queer, and otherwise) develop in order to best communicate with those around us. [Sidebar] In my personal experience, those that are out there that might be misguided or just a little spoiled can sometimes be redirected or corrected if you are a little point blank about your stance. Whatever that is, be it about cropped ears, a working dog, your sexuality or pronouns or what is or isn't up for discussion. There are times you get a better response, or a more respectful response, if you are clear on where you stand.
I would love to tell you "scary dog privilege" exists. I would. And in a small way, it very well might. If people are scared of dogs, or of a certain breed, they might avoid you. But guess what? The majority? You're not gonna be that, err, fortunate? with. There are dozens, hundreds, thousands of assholes that are going to mess with you regardless of whether you have a service dog or not, regardless of what your service dog *is*, in terms of breed or size, etc etc. Scary dog privilege is not nearly as common as the inverse, which might just be 'entitled public' privilege.
People feel entitled, to your personage or your time or your dog's attention. I might get some flack for this but I liken this to the issues pregnant women have with their bellies. Do I understand why complete strangers feel they have the right to touch a pregnant woman's stomach? No. No I do fucking not. Do I see it? Way too goddamn often. Same with a Service Dog. You can have 'Do Not Pet' till the cows come home. If that person's got no boundaries, they're gonna try it. So that means many of us need to develop the ability and the willingness to advocate for our dog. "No, you can't touch him, he's working. No, you can't call him. No, don't approach us." We have to be PROACTIVE about this. You have to keep one eye on your dog, and one eye on the public. If there's someone that's constantly lingering in your space, or repeatedly returning, they might be considering an approach. You'll need to invest more attention, make sure they don't approach. Put yourself between your dog and them, put your dog in a down or a sit in a corner so they can't be reached, etc. To be honest, it can be an outright pain in the ass. It can be stressful, it can be dangerous. These are things to think about.
In addition to being a competitor and an SD handler I am a trainer. I have physically been training my working SD, and another of our working breed dogs, in public. I have had people approach the dogs in a sit, tucked out of the way, and push their hands into a dog's face in an attempt to get the dog to bite. Why? Then they can sue. It's apparently one of those new bullshit schemes floating around. So rarely do I want people to approach my dogs. The dogs in question? A Doberman. A Malinois. No SDP here, friends.
You get people that follow you around the store going on and on about how scared they are of the breed. But they're following you. They want a chance to pull something. You as the handler have to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't, they can't. Sometimes this means you abandon the shopping trip, sometimes this means that even with a Service Dog you need a Service Human. It sucks.
I would agree that a Doberman would not be what I would pick or suggest for psychiatric or any stress disorder. They're a highly calibrated, high strung working breed; devoted and finely tuned to you. With these health concerns, it easily can result in you both spiraling, and it's not a good scene. Picking something solid, level, no-nonsense would be better.
