Yeah, people just don't seem to get that. I was approached by this woman in the park who had an adorable pit mix puppy and when she asked, "Can they say hello?" and I said, "That's probably not a good idea; he's not always real friendly," she acted as if I'd rejected her dog. No, lady, I'm trying to keep your dog from getting into a dog fight right here in the park. It's a public service I'm doing for you. Thank god she had hers on a leash, at least, or she wouldn't have had a lot of choice in the matter.

A friend of mine tells a great story about the "don't worry, he's friendly!" people... she was out with a friend, both working on socializing their lovely Rottweiler puppies to crowds, and they'd taken a break at a coffee shop. My friend waited outside with both puppies (one of whom was quit timid and easily spooked) while her companion went in to get their drinks. This guy approaches with a pit bull -- obviously very friendly, but absolutely out of control, wanting to jump on everything and everyone and just towing the guy along. "It's okay, he's really friendly!" the guy insists, while the two Rott puppies are cowering under the table in fear and the exuberant pit is trying to climb into my friend's lap to bathe her face in slobber. I don't think that people realize that "friendly" is not a substitute for "well-mannered."