Don't Pet My Dog!

[janie1234]

Sheesh I hate it when people pet my puppy without asking. He's a puppy for cryin out loud he's mouthy, he jumps, and he's big. People think that just because they have a dog or have had a dog in the past that my puppy will automatically love them. I always warn people "You might not want to pet him because he's jumpy and mouthy." but they pet him anyway then they look at me like I'm a bad owner who has not trained their puppy. I mean I'm working on it. He isn't even 4 months old yet. I think I'm going to put a sign on him that says "Do not pet me."

 

[lrayburn]

Do what I do:

Step in front of puppy, face people and say, "I'm sorry, you cannot pet the puppy". Feel free to insert an excuse if you like, he's in training, etc, whatever but I don't because it will just give people the excuse to say, "That's okay, I love dogs!". Then just walk away. This will help you train your puppy without well-meaning people training him that jumping and slobbering is okay. It will also help your puppy to learn to focus on you when out in public - not on his next new best friend who is walking down the street. Then manage his socialization with the people you can count on to teach him the right things. He doesn't sound like he's at risk for undersocializing anyway

I own three dogs, two of which took a long time to socialize and still don't LOVE new people. I get real tired of people thinking that its perfectly okay to molest other peoples dogs and interupt their training just because they are out in public.

Enjoy your pup, who sounds like a doll!
Lisa

 

[Liann]

Janie - I hear you! I particularly get frustrated with people who let their little kids run around the vets office petting and manhandling anything they come upon. When one of my dogs are at the vet, it is usually because they are not feeling good which makes them grouchy. I just get to where I'll yell over to their parents that my dog bites (not that any of them would, but heck I'm not taking the chance - which is why I just muzzle poor Montana now) and they might want to come get their 2 year old before they lose something (like a FINGER).

 

[SheWolf]

On a positive note, I am always telling my kids you never just walk up to a dog and try to pet it, you MUST ALWAYS ask the owner if it is okay FIRST!

 

[banslug]

On a positive note, I am always telling my kids you never just walk up to a dog and try to pet it, you MUST ALWAYS ask the owner if it is okay FIRST!

Linda, that's EXACTLY what I've taught my boys to do!!!

 

[janie1234]

Janie - I hear you! I particularly get frustrated with people who let their little kids run around the vets office petting and manhandling anything they come upon. When one of my dogs are at the vet, it is usually because they are not feeling good which makes them grouchy. I just get to where I'll yell over to their parents that my dog bites (not that any of them would, but heck I'm not taking the chance - which is why I just muzzle poor Montana now) and they might want to come get their 2 year old before they lose something (like a FINGER).

Liann I feel like putting a plastic finger in my dogs mouth to scare people, . I'm kidding of course. When I was walking Georgie the other day this woman lectured me about how my leather collar was inhumane, . . I mean what did she want me to do carry him on my back? Of course she said this after I told her her 2 year old could not pet him. She kept saying "No, no it's okay I used to own a dog and grew up with them." You know if I had a 90lb German Shepherd or Pit Bull I bet no one would want to pet him.

 

[janie1234]

I get real tired of people thinking that its perfectly okay to molest other peoples dogs and interupt their training just because they are out in public.


Lisa

Agreed, . . I don't have a back yard so he goes for walks 3 times a day for 1/2 to 1 mile each time. I usually do what you do too, . .I'll bring treats have him sit and wait for them to walk by, . . but I like your idea better of just walking away because most people will think it is so cute that I can get him to sit and stay and they just walk over and start petting him which makes my training all that harder.

 

[Beavs]

Liann I feel like putting a plastic finger in my dogs mouth to scare people, . I'm kidding of course. When I was walking Georgie the other day this woman lectured me about how my leather collar was inhumane, . . I mean what did she want me to do carry him on my back? Of course she said this after I told her her 2 year old could not pet him. She kept saying "No, no it's okay I used to own a dog and grew up with them." You know if I had a 90lb German Shepherd or Pit Bull I bet no one would want to pet him.

You should have interrupted her to suggest she purchase herself a Miracle Ear.

 

[sammy123]

When I'm taking a walk I have more of a problem with dog walkers thinking that I don't mind having their dogs run over and jump up on me or start licking or sniffing at me. If I pull away, they always cheerfully call out (from across the street), "It's OK, he doesn't bite". Yes, but he does jump, lick, slobber, and sniff! Yuck!

 

[Gayle]

When I was walking Georgie the other day this woman lectured me about how my leather collar was inhumane,

HOW?? This woman sounds like a moron.

 

[Pearlstrand]

I don't have a dog (my son is allergic and we travel a lot), but I have taught my children to never approach or try to pet a dog they don't know. (And to be careful around the ones they do know.)

I had a very beautiful, fluffy but cranky cat. Occasionally, someone would want to pet her, and I warned that she might bite. Amazingly, a few people tried anyway.

 

[cindi1]

My children always ask before petting a dog. We've taught them that from an early age.

What bothers me is when people tie up their dogs outside while they go in to Starbucks to get a coffee. That poor dog has to fend for himself (or herself) and deal with whoever and whatever comes up to him.

I also hate, hate people who have electric fences and let their dog charge at me barking while I run by (or even if they don't have a regular fence) saying "it's ok!" I don't think that is ok.

 

[janie1234]

HOW?? This woman sounds like a moron.

She said I should be using a head collar because my dog was pulling and that he could choke himself on a leather collar. I told her I thought head collars were dangerous for puppies. To which she had no reply. I know he's a big puppy but he is only 3 months old. I don't know I may be wrong but I've read if you don't use a head collar right you could really injure your dog. Either way I thought she was a moron for trying to let her kid pet my dog without permission.

 

[pjlippert]

I hear ya. I ALWAYS ask and have taught my son to ALWAYS ask, "is it okay if we pet your dog?". I'm glad I did because just once so far, a neighbor out walking her dog said very nervously, "no, she's just not good with other people and I'm afraid she might bite". I have a Bichon who is just ridiculously cute so it is even more tempting for people to want to pet a furry white fluff-ball. He's a little skittish around new people (at least on walks and not on his turf) so most people back off when he hides behind me. I guess it's like when you're pregnant and random people come up and "pet" your tummy!! sheese!!

 

[lrayburn]

She said I should be using a head collar because my dog was pulling and that he could choke himself on a leather collar.

Janie,
If your puppy does pull really hard, you might be interested in an Easy Walk harness made by Premier (the same people who make Gentle Leader head collars). It does not provide as much control as a head collar but does help control the pulling while removing pressure from the dog's neck. Check out the link below. I think they usually come with a little dvd on training the dog not the pull onleash too.

http://www.premier.com/View.aspx?page=dogs/products/collars/easywalk/description

I teach dog obedience classes and recommend the Easy Walk harness first. I only go to a head collar for dogs that require a LOT of control and, you're right, they need to be used correctly and I certainly wouldn't put one on a three month old puppy. I'm sure you would need to buy a size or two as your pup grows but it is worth the investment IMO. Now is the time to start building that foundation and not practicing pulling onleash.

Okay, I know that wasn't your issue today, but I couldn't help myself. Sorry

Lisa

 

[Gayle]

Janie,
Easy Walk harness made by Premier

I LOVE these!

 

[janie1234]

Okay, I know that wasn't your issue today, but I couldn't help myself. Sorry

Lisa

Are you kidding, . . thanks Lisa I'll take all the advice I can get. Just ask Gayle, Carola, Afreet, and Cynthia, . .I've been bugging them like crazy about doggie advice. They have been so nice and patient about it. My husband jokes about how I'm always trying something new and will say "You've been on that forum talking to your Cathe buddies again haven't you?"

I have a sensi harness which is like the gentle leader. I've had to stop using it because believe it or not in 4 weeks he's grown out of it. I'm going to have to get another size up. It is so weird. At first I couldn't get him to walk now he's pulling all over the place smelling everything within a 2 inch radius. Some days he does great but in the morning he's like the tazmanian devil. Oh well, . at least his mouthing is much better.

 

[syzygy314]

Amazingly, as rude as New Englanders are, we've always been asked about petting our beagles. It's too funny, because Peanut can just do without - she walks away from everyone, but Milo absolutely begs for attention from everyone! We have to keep his leash really short as we pass people to keep him from running to them.

What really makes me roll my eyes are the ubber-dramatic people who overly cringe to the side when passing us on the sidewalk or wherever. It's just so stupid! They act like they're going to die right there just because there's a dog in their vicinity!

 

[jharris]

Linda, that's EXACTLY what I've taught my boys to do!!!

Me too! I have always told my stepdaughter to ask before petting a strange dog.

 

[Afreet]

Oh, I so totally feel everyone's pain.

Usually the ultra-intense volley of super-terrier-terror barking my dogs generate when approached by small children is too horrifying even for most adults to endure. One minute they look like little adorable stuffed animals and everyone wants to hug them, the next, they're all spiky fur, pointy teeth and a noise so irritating that I think we could probably use it in psychological warfare.

So even if an unapproved toddler makes a heedless foray into my 15-foot terrier protection zone, they usually get right back out of it posthaste.

If someone is invited to be close to the dogs, however, they can behave somewhat better. But that has to be under carefully controlled and monitored circumstances, because I don't want to take any chances. They've never bitten anyone (except me, and those were love bites). But they aren't really comfortable around little kids.

I use regular collars and (slowly, oh my golly it took forever) trained my dogs not to pull on their leashes, so they never choke themselves, because they never pull on the leash. For a while when they were puppies, they pulled me everywhere. I tried the body harnesses, and they just got better at pulling (because it's so much easier to pull when you're in a harness - they are, after all, designed for pulling). I believe they work well with some dogs, but mine just thought they were running the Iditarod.