I agree, I love when people come up to my dogs, I feel like a proud mama, and like newf Lover said, having a dog that is pure, also means to do some PR work for that breed, after all you have that specific breed because you love it, right.....
We always count on it taking longer to do whatever we do, when we bring the dogs, because of people coming up and asking questions, and it is a pleasure to educate a bit about the breed you love, or dogs in general.
I want to make Galahad a Therapy dog, just because I want to share him, his wonderful, goofy personality with people who could benefit from getting to know him.
And to compare it with "big" kids, not so logical I think. If there is a child who is 20 lbs overweight you just dont comment, it would be hurtful and just plain rude, but if there is a pretty girl and you say, ohhhh what a pretty daughter you have, I can bet you that no parent would take offence.
The poop issue, I can promise it is not only in the US, I am from europe, Sweden. Have lived 2 years in London, travelled through england, scotland, wales, italy,france, spain, greece, krete, germany, holland, norway, denmark, finland, I have been to africa and trust me, the same problems are everywhere, and some places way way worse than here. Always the same people complain about the poop that is not picked up and all dog owners even the ones who are responsible have to suffer the consiquenses. The US is by no means any worse.
Then to the events they hold on public roads, they block off the PUBLIC ROADS to have a"festival" or what not and tell us we cant bring our dogs, why? did the road all of a subben become LESS PUBLIC?
Marit