[shewolf4]

Then the guy got down on the ground and started crawling towards us while barking at my dog.

LOL sorry - but that sounds just too funny- thats when you need a camera to enter it in AFV lol

Yesterday while at a pet supply store, there where these three kids trying to pet Sophie no matter where I went in this particular part of the store; I just kept moving, so they didn't have a chance...finally bypassed the parents, and gave Sophie a "leave it" cue (not that she needed it, but...hint hint, leave my dog alone, we're training) and the mom told her kids to stop... It's different when people ask, or kids ask their parents for me, but when your kid is following me around, and I have NO clue where the parent is...it is SO not okay!!!

So you kept avoiding the kids until you passed the parents and gave them the "hint, hint" look? Why not stand still and talk to the kids and let them know why you didnt want your dog touched at this time? So people with dogs wonder why they get the "hint, hint" looks when at the same time we can give them? I am asking this out of curiousity- communication is just as important with kids or other people as it is with our animals.

I don't like people in general. I especially don't like kids. I guess that's years of working in customer service industry that has made me so bitter. Fighting the losing battle against stupidity is a daunting task, no matter how much I get paid to do it. My dogs are my solace...

I understand your frustration- I worked CS and no- you cant fix stupid- the law wont let you. There are so many people that are rude and stupid, but as we react with our negative side, it always comes back. There are allot of people that I stay shy off simply because they lack common sense, but I am always willing to give the benefit of the doubt, they may have learned. My downfall- I am utterly honest to a fault. No beating around the bush and if someone does something stupid, I will ask them if they thought that was oh so smart.... With that honesty I made allot of friends and they are as honest with me. What I am trying to say is that we give so much patience for our animals, but lack on that with kids or other adults, just assume that they should know better when in relaity no one has taught them or if someone has tried, it was most likely with sarcasm or aggression and that shut the door right there. To stand still and ask the kids not to touch your dog because she is in dog training and explain what and why she has to do this, might've open the door for more understanding. You get what you put in- that holds true for our animals as well as people. And at times I wonder why we cant "whisper" to kids or other people as well as we seem to be able to our animals despite the set- back from "stupid"

[Love's_Sophie]

Originally Posted by shewolf4

So you kept avoiding the kids until you passed the parents and gave them the "hint, hint" look? Why not stand still and talk to the kids and let them know why you didnt want your dog touched at this time? So people with dogs wonder why they get the "hint, hint" looks when at the same time we can give them? I am asking this out of curiousity- communication is just as important with kids or other people as it is with our animals.

I will not talk to children unless their parent is there; which I didn't have a clue where their parents were...the only reason I found out, was when we turned a corner, the mom finally realized her kids were 'away from her' and told them to come back...they still stayed close to the dog though instead of going back to their family! The only thing I had asked them is where their parents were, and they didn't say anything.

I am not every little kid's parent, and I was certainly not going to stop, have them reach out and then have to 'bark out' a STOP order...That's not my job...those children (they were little, for heaven's sake) should have been at their parent's side, NOT following some stranger with a dog around the store!!! Had they come up, asked if they could pet the dog, I would have said Not until we ask your parents...implying I don't take "oh, they said it's okay" either...I want to hear it from the parents. But they didn't, they just kept following...no parents in sight; That is why I did what I did...

I do let people pet my dog, but I set boundaries for that...I want you to ask first (child or not).

And there are times when I just don't want people to; Yesterday, Sophie was wound up enough, without those kids following us...so my goal in the pet supply store was simply to gain her focus back, not stand around and let everyone pet her. I don't 'have' to let everyone pet my dog either...especially if I am simply working in a distracting environment, and JUST want to focus on keeping her attention.

[shewolf4]

I will not talk to children unless their parent is there; which I didn't have a clue where their parents were...the only reason I found out, was when we turned a corner, the mom finally realized her kids were 'away from her' and told them to come back...they still stayed close to the dog though instead of going back to their family! The only thing I had asked them is where their parents were, and they didn't say anything.

I am not every little kid's parent, and I was certainly not going to stop, have them reach out and then have to 'bark out' a STOP order...That's not my job...those children (they were little, for heaven's sake) should have been at their parent's side, NOT following some stranger with a dog around the store!!! Had they come up, asked if they could pet the dog, I would have said Not until we ask your parents...implying I don't take "oh, they said it's okay" either...I want to hear it from the parents. But they didn't, they just kept following...no parents in sight; That is why I did what I did...

Ask the kids where the parents are- it happens all the time in every place you go to- kids are about as fast as a beagle on a trail I only had a parent tell me once that I should have my dog under control- couldnt resist and asked them if they expected more IQ from my dog then their kid they kept the kids close after that
I'm not out to ruffle feathers here, I'm just asking are why we are not even trying to teach the next generation how to treat,teach and handle dogs? Are we not at fault the way kids behave around animals and what they do because of our lack of teaching in even a small gesture? Instead we keep shutting doors and wonder why "other" people are so rude

[Dieselsmama]

I have to confess, I was a kid snatch 'em uper when my youngest was younger. Not because I was afraid dogs we'd pass would hurt him, more because he was incredibly impulsive and I wanted to control his interactions with strange dogs by making him make eye contact with the owner, ask prior to petting, and pet gently. Now he's 10 and finally knows appropriate conduct with any dog.

[Love's_Sophie]

Originally Posted by shewolf4

Ask the kids where the parents are- it happens all the time in every place you go to- kids are about as fast as a beagle on a trail I only had a parent tell me once that I should have my dog under control- couldnt resist and asked them if they expected more IQ from my dog then their kid they kept the kids close after that
I'm not out to ruffle feathers here, I'm just asking are why we are not even trying to teach the next generation how to treat,teach and handle dogs? Are we not at fault the way kids behave around animals and what they do because of our lack of teaching in even a small gesture? Instead we keep shutting doors and wonder why "other" people are so rude

If you reread my post, you will notice that I had asked the kids where their parents were...but literally, these kids gave me a blank stare! I think they really wanted to pet the dog, but at the same time, were freaked out to ask me, or their parents, and probably scared cause I had actually talked to them...poor things!

Trust me, I do my fair share of allowing others to interact with my dog...I do make sure they pet properly, and don't snatch at her ears, pull her tail, ect. Everytime we are at one of the parks, it never fails that some kids and parents come up and ask to pet my girl...I almost always allow the interaction, because it is good for the kids and even the parents to encounter a well trained dog.

I also think it is fair to 'not' want others to interact with my dog on a particular day...and people should respect that too...no body appeared offended yesterday, and the mom simply told her kids that it looked like I was training the dog, so that is why I didn't want them to pet her; she smiled at me, and complimented how well behaved Sophie was, as well...so I don't think anyone 'suffered' and I maintained my dog's focus, which was what I was after...there ARE times when I feel that keeping the dog's focus is more important that allowing everyone to pet her; there is nothing wrong with showing people what the dog can do; but that takes maintaining focus, both for me and the dog.

[Pai]

Originally Posted by Mr Pooch

Does anyone else find that good weather brings way too much hassle with it when you have dogs.

This morning when i went out there was already people EVERYWHERE granted my dogs are on a leash the dirty looks im getting are off the ricter scale!!
I walk past parents,dirty looks
I walk past cyclists,dirty looks even a snide comment here and there.
I walk past joggers,dirty looks of disgust?

I wonder if it's because your dog is big and looks 'mean'. Mean being, of course, anything that looks mastiff-y or pitbull-y. They probably think you're a hazard just by walking around. People are so ignorant.

[Mr Pooch]

Yes maybe Pai,unfortunetley im starting to look similar to my dogs(mean) because people dont look beyond the exterior.

Its so refreshing to meet owners of other breeds that take the time to talk and understand we are not all thugs,this is seldom though.

[harrise]

Some days I wish people would sneer and avoid us. Today was one of those days. Imagine looney hordes sprinting across four lanes plus a central reservation to block your path and ask questions. Then the people who saw that fool now think you're open season for dog questions. They are so lost in their excitement they don't even listen to the answer to the question they just freakin' asked. Not to mention the instructions you just gave about greeting five dogs at once are long out the other ear. One or two stops would be tolerable, but when it warms up our normally 90 minute run turns into a three hour tour... Pfft, summer.

[Mr Pooch]

LMAO,its not funny Harrise but i hear ya!!!

[Pai]

Originally Posted by harrise

Some days I wish people would sneer and avoid us. Today was one of those days. Imagine looney hordes sprinting across four lanes plus a central reservation to block your path and ask questions. Then the people who saw that fool now think you're open season for dog questions. They are so lost in their excitement they don't even listen to the answer to the question they just freakin' asked..

What kind of dogs do you have?

[Mycathinks hesadog]

I think the bottom line is that the nice weather shortly following winter is very condusive to bringing the idiots out from under thier rocks. Usually this only lasts for about a month or so until the nostalgia wears off. If this is not the case I would recommend a "survival kit"

1. Biscuts for all the people who bark at your dogs.
2. A stick mask with someone extremely ugly on it to hold up to your face when people give you dirty looks (For you Pooch, probably Margaret Thatcher, or maybe Rowan Atkinson making one of his horrible faces).
3. Thick skin to not GAF when people can't respect another one's right to go out enjoy the day with his/her animals

[harrise]

These kind!


... plus this thing.


(2 Malamutes, 1 Saint Bernard, 1 Husky, 1 Yorkie mutt)

[Pai]

They're so pretty! I can see why wierdos would want to run across traffic to see them, lol!

[Mr Pooch]

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

2. A stick mask with someone extremely ugly on it to hold up to your face when people give you dirty looks (For you Pooch, probably Margaret Thatcher, or maybe Rowan Atkinson making one of his horrible faces).

HA HA,good idea.

Ive got to see ur cat in action!

[Mudra]

I've been planning to buy elevator shoes... MAYBE this will shut up those people who UNDERESTIMATE my control over my dogs because I am tiny. Maybe I wont hear comments like "you shouldn't be walking big dogs like them by yourself." =P

[Love's_Sophie]

Originally Posted by Mycathinks hesadog

I think the bottom line is that the nice weather shortly following winter is very condusive to bringing the idiots out from under thier rocks. Usually this only lasts for about a month or so until the nostalgia wears off. If this is not the case I would recommend a "survival kit"

1. Biscuts for all the people who bark at your dogs.
2. A stick mask with someone extremely ugly on it to hold up to your face when people give you dirty looks (For you Pooch, probably Margaret Thatcher, or maybe Rowan Atkinson making one of his horrible faces).
3. Thick skin to not GAF when people can't respect another one's right to go out enjoy the day with his/her animals

Ahahahahahahha...good stuff... "survival kit"...love it...I think we might need to add stupid signs to that kit...