I’ve lamented over the loss of our field in previous posts. The LaCrosse team has commandeered it from now until June.
Not only do the dogs lose the use of the field, the presence of so many people at the entrance to our park presents severe challenges.
I’ve decided the best way to manage the situation is to walk the dogs on my lunch break whenever possible and make sure their Saturday walks are taken later in the day, after the team has vacated the field.
Last night I made an exception for my walking friend, who hasn’t been around lately due to work constraints. I figured since the LaCrosse team’s schedule says 5:00 pm, I would be safe taking the dogs up around 5:30.
I read the schedule wrong.
It actually starts at 5:30. Everyone was just arriving.
Mr. Social just couldn’t contain himself, he was casting summoning charms left and right trying to get someone, anyone to notice him.
As I was standing there trying to figure out I was going to strong-arm two dogs through the throng of people, he finally managed to get someone’s attention.
“Well hello” the woman said, and that was it. I had two choices, run along behind Sampson or be dragged over and risk falling.
I followed Sampson and said to the woman, “It’s really better if you don’t speak to them, it keeps me from getting dragged.”
She chuckled and said, “I know.”
My inner bitch said, “Then don’t talk to my dogs.”
Honestly what the hell is wrong with people? It’s not like I have two little Chihuahuas. I have two full-grown labs! They’re big, I’m not! Well ok, I’m a bit bigger than I’d like to be, but you get my point.
Normally I won’t acknowledge a dog without first looking at the owner and asking.
Why can’t everyone do that?
What do you do in that situation?
Do you speak up and come across as a bitch or do you bite your tongue?
Inquiring minds want to know.
It depends on the people I guess…. that and my dogs are not that social while outdoors wanting to hunt instead. If they have another dog I usually make myself look very focused on working my own dogs and thus it usually gets people to leave us alone (various reasons for this mainly because I don’t trust other people’s dogs to be trained let alone vaccinated)… One day I actually had to take the blame and tell them that she is not always good with little dogs, so that we could move on and ignore them. They were mad at me for not letting their crazy beagle say hi to Luna but I didn’t much care what they thought.
I tell clients all the time “If you do want someone to say hello to your dog, ask them to stop at a distance and wait as you work your way to them… since they are in training and required to be calm while greeting. If they do not look like the type of people who will follow your rules then just pass them by with a “actually we are short on time today, maybe next time”” this works great if they speak up soon enough. I say feel free to be a B… she deserved it from her comment… but like you I usually bite my tongue, and instead choose to look uninviting lol.
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
I have been in similar situations where I’d rather people not come up to her because she jumps and gets mouthy and I am terrified she will hurt someone. So many people don’t ask before greeting or coming up to/touching your dog, isn’t it crazy? Yet, for all I think it’s an unacceptable thing for someone to do I have not once spoken up and always bite my tongue. I wish I had the guts to speak up for myself more!
I agree with Anna, if I don’t feel like having people come up to us I just act like their not there, but on the other hand with the puppies I actually seek people out so they can receive as much socialization as possible. Most of the time I don’t mind to much.
I will add that I do highly discourage anyone touching without asking and if they do I let them know they need to ask first. And please stop staring my dog in the eyes, well that’s another rant I’ll tell you about sometime.
People are wackadoo. Just ask any pregnant woman who’s had to deal with strangers touching her belly or parents who’ve had people ask of their handicapped child, “what’s wrong with him?”
You’re not going to change a bad mannered, insensitive person by a sharp retort. So I guess I’d just ask if saying something will make you feel better or worse.
Good luck managing your walks during this busy season.
Hey I tell strangers in parking lots not to approach me, so why not when I am walking the dawgs, (as if anyone would approach Storm…lol). I really do not care what people I will never see again think of me. But then again, once at a hunt test my hubby was waiting with one of the dogs and a fellow competitor was also waiting and she ordered hubby not to even look at her dog before it ran. We have laughed about it ever since. 🙂
Another reason that I have small dogs with strong verbal skills. I’ve just given up on trying to teach people not to talk to my dogs, but I’ve actually made some good friends that way.
I suppose I’m lucky Jodi. Very few adults seem to want to get anywhere near me, let alone talk to me. Children are usually curious, which is nice.
Hey it’s Jet here. Hi Miss Jodi. Mom says JJ and I are big dogs too. She tries to educate whenever and wherever possible. She puts my leash in her stronger hand/arm, just in case I get excited about something.
How about a T-Shirt that says… !!!
People behave strangely around dogs. I’m usually ok with people talking to/approaching Gwynn… but he is also only one large dog, not two very excited dogs.
The people who pet dogs without permission (or worse, give them food) – it blows my mind. I realise that Gwynn doesn’t look like the kind of dog to hurt anyone, but he can bite a 2 inch oak dowel in half without trying, just as easily as a more ‘tough’ looking dog could.
I don’t know what I’d do in that situation… she sounded like she got him to drag you over on purpose, which is just nasty… but who would have seemed more nasty if you’d called her on it? and would it have done any good? Thus, the “you’re an idiot” card plan 🙂
What a weird response:
You: “Please don’t talk to my dogs. It hurts my arms when they drag me across the lawn to see you.”
Woman: “I know. It makes me laugh to see you suffer, mwwahahaha!”
Okay, maybe I am exaggerating but what she said was very strange. “I know??” I mean, if a dog is looking at me like he wants to be pet, I’d probably say hello as well. But if his owner was dragged across the yard and clearly asked me not to say hi, my instinctive response would be to apologise and walk away.
Shiva is still kind of reactive around strangers when on a leash. When people talk to her like this I usually go into panic mode. Will she bark? Will she jump? Will she totally freak out? Most of the time I ignore the person and reward her for keeping four feet on the ground. Then I will smile at the person and walk away while still rewarding. They may think I am being rude but it’s just safer for everyone involved.
People are nuts!
If we are in training mode then I will turn around and walk away. Sophie may take a second to catch up but she gets the message. I have been told I am mean for not letting her say hi or play. I heard this a lot especially when we were training sit to greet. I finally once snapped at someone “do you get that while it might be cute for a puppy to jump on you and wiggle now. It will not be when she is 70lbs?” Then I walked away.
I take my cues from Sophie for the most part. If she is calm and behaving nicely then I do allow people to interact with her (though I really would prefer if they asked first!) If she is worked up and bouncing, we walk away and I could care less what someone thinks of me.
I also do not let rambunctious kids greet her. I will body block and walk away to prevent it. Calm kids who ask before charging my dog, then yes they can pet her and see her tricks. Loud noisy kids that come running at her, NO WAY. I had a parent yell at me that their kids should be able to pet my dog. I bit my tongue and walked away….explains a lot about the kids manners if mom acts that way.
My Mum feels your pain, she used to have two Golden Retrievers and sometimes wondered if she could put wheels on and be dragged around the park…..
Luckily with me I’m totally used to people wanting to pet me, especially little children as Mum has encouraged it since I was a pup – all part of my Therapy Dog training – the only thing we’re still working on is if people are really excited it gets me all excited and then I may want to jump on them, Mum tries to explain this, but mostly people don’t understand….. 🙁 They just get really unlucky if I have muddy paws!!
Good luck,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂