My schedule is complicated enough as it is & with the time that I have, I like to walk my dog to places where there's not that many people or other dogs included mainly because she's reactive, & as a pittie they don't have the best reputation. So I take her to industrial parks a lot because they're great for her & I want her to enjoy her walks as much as possible without too many distractions. Recently, I found one near my house and I decided to try it out because hey I'm saving gas right?
Anyways, before I take her there I check around the place first to see if it looks safe and feels safe. Ok, there's enough people working inside still and it's wide enough to get a good workout. I go home to pick her up & when we get there, the first 10 minutes was wonderful. She looks content & relaxed. Moments later, a man from one of the warehouse who was sitting outside, randomly starts shouting at us. First thought that came to mind "Maybe he's going to tell me that I can't walk my dog here, if so then ok." & I wish that was his response.
Then he proceeds to run towards us, I start freaking out and go the opposite way. The worst thoughts rushed through my mind and I was trying to get to my car as soon as possible. He keeps yelling, and eventually he goes to me "HEY! When are you going to start breeding her??" my heart broke the second I heard that. She's a rescue and seems like she has gone through so much, God knows how her previous owners treated her and for a stranger to ask me that? Even with innocent animals, they see women and female dogs as just breeders. I love her so much & it hurts that I can't go to a place without being harrassed.
I heard scrotes often harass women when she's walking bigger dogs or breeds with aggressive reputation. It's like the dogs threatened the scrotes' masculinity or something. I'm sorry you and your dog experienced that. She sounds like a chill dog and she deserves peaceful walks.
If you don't feel safe, walking your dog with someone could help. Riding a bike deters harassers from coming close and it'd be easier to escape. Training the dog to bark/growl on command helped my petite friend, but the training is tricky and you risk your dog seen as aggressive. Unfortunately, there's no foolproof way, scrote gotta scrote.
Just wondering, is her reactiveness something training and socialization could fix?