I do not allow anyone I do not personally know to pet Whiskey. How do I stop it ?? Whiskey " SMILES" on command showing a wrinkled nose and his pearly whites. I just make a pssss sound and he does that disencouraging any would be petters. I do not want Whiskey to just accept everyone, not in this crazy town and me out running around. no thank you. There are too many evil people in this city.
Don't pet the puppy!
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I'm really good at stopping people from approaching my dogs unless I want them to, and I'm not sure how to explain it fully. It has to do with some of what has already been mentioned - direct eye contact, head up, polite smile, firm voice. I was a teacher at one point .. *L* .. so I call it my "teacher voice". If someone starts to approach and I don't want them to, I just say something like "hold on, my dog is in training and I need you to stay back" and they just DO. Maybe the people here just have more respect? Maybe my dogs weren't that cute as puppies?? (anyone who has seen chow puppies know better .. *L*).
RD, it may be in part your age. I'm not putting you down in ANY way, but people may not feel as impelled to listen to you simply because you're younger. In your case, you would most likely have to use a very direct body language and voice. Think of how a dog with a lot of confidence approaches another dog - head up, body stiff but comfortable, eyes direct. Look those people straight in the eye and in a firm but calm voice say "thank you for wanting to pet my dog, but she is in training and CAN'T be petted right now".
And if someone is rude enough to continue on after you say that, you step in and say "NO!" in a very definite voice. I have no qualms about doing what I think is right for my dog and in all honesty I haven't ever had to pretend my dog is a service dog or has a disease in order to stop people. I definitely don't want to tell people that my dogs will bite or make them think that (that can set you up for disaster if your dog EVER nipped someone). When you step in and say "NO!" people may think of you as rude but so be it. THEY were the rude ones for not listening to your initial request.
Think of it as a life lesson. Learning to deal with people is one of those continual life lessons and we have to learn it just as our dogs do. I personally prefer dogs over people any day.
You need to come on up to Alaska and hang out at the fishing lodge this summer. I tell you, there's just not many places better for socializing dogs than a fishing lodge. Different guests every week, LOTS of guys who are used to dogs and animals, people wearing hats and rain gear and carrying fishing poles and smelling like fish and beer .. *L* .. my dogs can accept pretty much anything after spending time at the lodge. No one has ever been pushy toward my dogs - they're usually tired after fishing all day and Trick has to talk them into throwing a stick for her (which she does very well).
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
RD, it may be in part your age. I'm not putting you down in ANY way, but people may not feel as impelled to listen to you simply because you're younger. In your case, you would most likely have to use a very direct body language and voice. Think of how a dog with a lot of confidence approaches another dog - head up, body stiff but comfortable, eyes direct. Look those people straight in the eye and in a firm but calm voice say "thank you for wanting to pet my dog, but she is in training and CAN'T be petted right now".
And if someone is rude enough to continue on after you say that, you step in and say "NO!" in a very definite voice. I have no qualms about doing what I think is right for my dog and in all honesty I haven't ever had to pretend my dog is a service dog or has a disease in order to stop people. I definitely don't want to tell people that my dogs will bite or make them think that (that can set you up for disaster if your dog EVER nipped someone). When you step in and say "NO!" people may think of you as rude but so be it. THEY were the rude ones for not listening to your initial request.
Think of it as a life lesson. Learning to deal with people is one of those continual life lessons and we have to learn it just as our dogs do. I personally prefer dogs over people any day.
You need to come on up to Alaska and hang out at the fishing lodge this summer. I tell you, there's just not many places better for socializing dogs than a fishing lodge. Different guests every week, LOTS of guys who are used to dogs and animals, people wearing hats and rain gear and carrying fishing poles and smelling like fish and beer .. *L* .. my dogs can accept pretty much anything after spending time at the lodge. No one has ever been pushy toward my dogs - they're usually tired after fishing all day and Trick has to talk them into throwing a stick for her (which she does very well).
Melanie and the gang in Alaska
How do you get people to *not* pet your dog?
Eve had a bad experience at the park a couple nights ago with a completely rotten boy stepping on her feet (intentionally
) and I am back at square one with socializing her.
I need to be more selective with who touches her, because I have a sinking feeling that all this exposure to strangers who encourage bad behavior or scare/hurt her is going to ruin her. But for the life of me, I cannot get people to leave her alone. Today I had her out for a couple hours, and nobody would listen to me. They see a cute puppy and their brain falls out their butt. I swear it's gotten to the point where I'd be willing to LIE and get her a "don't pet the service dog" vest in order to keep people away. I ask them to please leave her alone, that she's in training, and they ignore me! I wind up picking her up and leaving because they crowd around her and scare her.
So, how do you keep people off your dog? Until I can convince her that strangers are something neutral that need to be ignored, she's going to be unsure of herself around them. I'm getting really discouraged, I don't want to ruin this puppy but these idiot people just won't comply with what I ask of them. I don't know what to do.
Eve had a bad experience at the park a couple nights ago with a completely rotten boy stepping on her feet (intentionally
) and I am back at square one with socializing her. I need to be more selective with who touches her, because I have a sinking feeling that all this exposure to strangers who encourage bad behavior or scare/hurt her is going to ruin her. But for the life of me, I cannot get people to leave her alone. Today I had her out for a couple hours, and nobody would listen to me. They see a cute puppy and their brain falls out their butt. I swear it's gotten to the point where I'd be willing to LIE and get her a "don't pet the service dog" vest in order to keep people away. I ask them to please leave her alone, that she's in training, and they ignore me! I wind up picking her up and leaving because they crowd around her and scare her.
So, how do you keep people off your dog? Until I can convince her that strangers are something neutral that need to be ignored, she's going to be unsure of herself around them. I'm getting really discouraged, I don't want to ruin this puppy but these idiot people just won't comply with what I ask of them. I don't know what to do.
LOL! I walk Caiza at one place in particular that has lots of children, bikes, dogs, rollerbladers, etc etc. on a gorgeous day. If children/adults are starting to approach him while I am walking him on a heel by my side, I hold out my hand in a stop motion and politely tell them to not approach my dog please. They usually respect that and keep walking on. However, I did have a little boy around 8 years this past summer run by Caiza and whack him on his backend . I yelled, well spoke to the kid and told him that next time he does that to a strange dog he may get bitten and to never do that again. He looked at me and said "why". His mother who was walking with a friend said something to me.....not sure what though as I walked by but I know it was a smart/rude comment because her friend was laughing, plus they weren't speaking "english" amongst eachother. I turned and told her that maybe her son should be on a leash because he was out of control LOL! I didn't say that in front of the kid though he had already taken off running at someone else with a dog! Good grief! I hope EVE doesn't get ruined from these negative experiences, people need to train there children to respect animals better as I have taught my daughter to. But unfortunately, that will never happen............
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W
I usually keep an eye out, if someone is eyeing my puppy or dog I will change directions and do some training, sits down, short recall. Most of my walks are training walks anyway so it doesn't look like i'm being rude, I'm just training. If that doesn't work, its a firm Please don't touch the puppy, she/he's in training. Some people respect that without any further explanation. Others that stop away from me and ask if they can pet the pupppy, I usually know have some dog sense and can quickly tell them what the deal is, and they will stand non threatening and allow the puppy to investigate and decide they're ok before petting them. Those are the people I allow to pet my dogs, otherwise I usually find changing direction works great, especially if you don't like the "confrontation" of telling people no. I don't really have a problem being authoritative, but I always feel bad telling people NO when they don't understand why they can't pet the puppy.
Take Dakota with you..He is already socialized, if they start petting the puppy tell them to pet Dakota instead as the puppy isn't used to people yet. Through seeing the contact between people and Dakota, Eve should get used to the idea of them being around and that way she won't be overwhelmed. You could carry a few treats with you and if you see someone that is gentle and listens to your requests about YOUR dogs then allow them to give Eve a treat and a few pets. Make it a fun rewarding experience for her.
At this point, I would do a full force kick in the jaw, then just keep walking.
If you cant do that, just keep a taser with yourself. Nothing says no better then 20000 volts rushing through the body.
And no, im not kidding.
On serious note now,
As someone already said, people are basically sheep. A loud, clear, commanding voice, tell them to do something else... i.e. "STOP and TURN AROUND".
Most people, being used to follow commands of authority, will comply and the ones who couldnt care about authority probably dont want to pet puppies either
If you cant do that, just keep a taser with yourself. Nothing says no better then 20000 volts rushing through the body.
And no, im not kidding.
On serious note now,
As someone already said, people are basically sheep. A loud, clear, commanding voice, tell them to do something else... i.e. "STOP and TURN AROUND".
Most people, being used to follow commands of authority, will comply and the ones who couldnt care about authority probably dont want to pet puppies either
That really stinks when people dont respect another''s wishes like that. This area is usually pretty good for people doing what you ask them too, but everything has its bad apples. Often if I am socializing a puppy I have OC out with us because he is so friendly and confident he acts almost like a prototype for the puppy LOL By that I mean, the puppy sees him ignoring people who are just passing by, and the puppy sees him interacting with people I allow to come up in a positive manner, and if there''s something scary or a loud noise due to the intense socialization OC''s recieved, if he startles at all he''s very quick to recover and go investigate so the pup builds its own confidence from that (ie. the puppy thinks ""Hey, the human didnt react, and my big furry buddy didnt react, so it must not be that bad and I dont have to be scared!""). So when OC is with us, if someone comes up and doesnt listen when I ask them to back off and not pet the puppy, I simply say quickly that the bigger one is a little protective of the puppy and they are best to stay back. Its not a flat out lie, just a bending of the truth a little LOL
Of course I understand that you can always take a bigger dog with you (in my case OC and in yours Dakota) because then you risk the puppy becoming dependent on the older dog to investigate things first and not having self-confidence so in those times, when people are being stupid, I ask in a completely wierded out voice ""What do you think you''re doing????????"" as if they had just reached for my boobs or something of the sort. This usually gets them to take a step back and focus on me for a second to which I say ""I dont go around molesting your children so why are you doing it to my dog????"" The teens around here are known for their far-out thoughts hehehe If you dont want to quite take it that far when they take a step back and look at you, you can also simply just say ""I asked you not to pet my dog and I find it very rude of you not to respect me!"" BTW both these methods are more for teens and adults For kids I give a quick ""Guys! I cant let you pet the dog until your parents teach you how to properly approach one"" in a very assertive tone.
ETA: I almost forgot to mention, no matter how annoying and intrusive people get I try my best to remain calm and civil with them. Over-reacting to a minor thing like that is not good for the puppy especially if said incident happens a lot like this seems to (people being rude, not you over-reacting ). If 2/3 of the people you meet are rude that means Eve is going to see you having a negative experience with people more often then a positive one.
Of course I understand that you can always take a bigger dog with you (in my case OC and in yours Dakota) because then you risk the puppy becoming dependent on the older dog to investigate things first and not having self-confidence so in those times, when people are being stupid, I ask in a completely wierded out voice ""What do you think you''re doing????????"" as if they had just reached for my boobs or something of the sort. This usually gets them to take a step back and focus on me for a second to which I say ""I dont go around molesting your children so why are you doing it to my dog????"" The teens around here are known for their far-out thoughts hehehe If you dont want to quite take it that far when they take a step back and look at you, you can also simply just say ""I asked you not to pet my dog and I find it very rude of you not to respect me!"" BTW both these methods are more for teens and adults
For kids I give a quick ""Guys! I cant let you pet the dog until your parents teach you how to properly approach one"" in a very assertive tone.ETA: I almost forgot to mention, no matter how annoying and intrusive people get I try my best to remain calm and civil with them. Over-reacting to a minor thing like that is not good for the puppy especially if said incident happens a lot like this seems to (people being rude, not you over-reacting
). If 2/3 of the people you meet are rude that means Eve is going to see you having a negative experience with people more often then a positive one.
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Tell people she has Parvo lmao That will keep them away lol Or Coccidia...
Some people are real jerks.. just because its a puppy - it obviously is allowed to jump all over you, get excited and such..
I was semi-lucky with Riot.. he sort of kept strangers at bay from his little growls, barks and barring teeth. Although.. that was a problem in itself that took a few months to correct. It defiantely keep strangers from mauling him.
Some people are real jerks.. just because its a puppy - it obviously is allowed to jump all over you, get excited and such..
I was semi-lucky with Riot.. he sort of kept strangers at bay from his little growls, barks and barring teeth. Although.. that was a problem in itself that took a few months to correct. It defiantely keep strangers from mauling him.
Poor Eve! I have similar problems with Lucy and Millie. People approach them and I ask them not to- and one man I encountered stopped, bent down, and barked in Millie's face! WTH? That got me PO'd and he did it again as well. I have found I have to be VERY firm for people to take me seriously. Even though I tell people that they're in training they don't usually care. I'm trying to desensitize Millie but every time she gets nervous and barks and I'm walking around where he lives that idiot barks at her. It pisses me off because I know it's setting her back. I need to learn to be more assertive and ask him not to do that and take Millie and leave.
Anyway, good advice given. I'm sorry people do such disrespectful things. I sure know how annoying it is.
That got me PO'd and he did it again as well. I have found I have to be VERY firm for people to take me seriously. Even though I tell people that they're in training they don't usually care. I'm trying to desensitize Millie but every time she gets nervous and barks and I'm walking around where he lives that idiot barks at her. It pisses me off because I know it's setting her back. I need to learn to be more assertive and ask him not to do that and take Millie and leave.Anyway, good advice given. I'm sorry people do such disrespectful things. I sure know how annoying it is.
wth? as a child i was told often both at school, by my parents, and by friends of the family you NEVER pet someone elses dog without asking and getting a yes FIRST.
I want people to pet Jager so he gets more socialization, but since i use such occasions to teach him not to jump on people, i want them to wait until he's sitting! He gets all excited and the tails wagging, and people just think it's funny. He's obviously not vicious, but he is a 55 lbs dog. It's not like he's a little puppy.
I want people to pet Jager so he gets more socialization, but since i use such occasions to teach him not to jump on people, i want them to wait until he's sitting! He gets all excited and the tails wagging, and people just think it's funny. He's obviously not vicious, but he is a 55 lbs dog. It's not like he's a little puppy.
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You will get great advice, I am just posting to wish you luck with Eve's training. If someone told me NOT to pet their dog, it would be common sence to NOT pet their dog. But, I wish you much luck with Eve's training. And, I would ask to pet their dog first. Because at Petsmart, some little girl came up to me, and saw Hershey all excited, and she asked before she pet him. Which I very much liked. I appreciate that she asked. Which I understand why you are angry, and some child stepped on poor Eve's feet!
And, I would ask to pet their dog first. Because at Petsmart, some little girl came up to me, and saw Hershey all excited, and she asked before she pet him. Which I very much liked. I appreciate that she asked. Which I understand why you are angry, and some child stepped on poor Eve's feet!I agree. . .I was taught very early you always ask before petting people's dogs. I've always known not to approach dogs in case it makes them feel uncomfortable, and to never, ever even talk to or verbally or physically acknowledge a service dog while they are working. (I specified "while they are working" because I used to live next door to a lovely woman with MS and Fibromyalgia who had a beautiful German Shepherd/Collie/Airedale Terrier service dog. While he was at home I would visit her and he was a great dog to play with- until she needed him.)
I don't understand why parents don't bother to teach their kids the basics of way to behave around people's dogs.
I don't understand why parents don't bother to teach their kids the basics of way to behave around people's dogs.
I would get rude if your first request is ignored. I took Zoe to PetSmart to fit her for a new collar. Some weird lady kept trying to pet her, but wouldn't let Zoe sniff her hand first. Zoe ended up growling and the lady backed off. I TOLD the lady to approach her slowly and let her sniff. Geez, people are stupid sometimes. I would lie, get rude, whatever it takes for people to back off. YOU have to live with your dog and their problems..not these idiot people who don't seem to hear what you're asking.
I think it's already been mentioned, but what I do because I don't trust Roxy whatsoever, but for some reason everyone always wants to pat her and not Hades. (It could very well be the horrible looking muzzle he has on)
Is tell them in a nice but firm voice that Roxy is in training and can't be patted, but they can knock themselves out patting Hades. Of course patting Hades comes along with a lecture about why breed legislation does not work, and how Hades is doing in OB training. Most people after their first initial fear of pitbulls is crossed don't bother reaching for Roxy again. Sometimes they ask questions about her, but I've never had anyone ignore me and go for her anyways. I'm sure if they did they get a quick tooth flash and than it would be over though! LOL. But once they realize that Hades is such a suck and a ham, they would rather pat him anyways. Roxy doesn't even seem to realize there there, she sits beside me and doesn't even move towards them, Hades on the other hand has his tail wagging at a mile a minute, drops onto his back in a second as soon as it looks like someones going to pat him and gives very soft, gentle kisses.
Take Dakota with you, and for any other times you just don't want to be bothered, make it CLEAR you don't want anyone touching your pup.
Is tell them in a nice but firm voice that Roxy is in training and can't be patted, but they can knock themselves out patting Hades. Of course patting Hades comes along with a lecture about why breed legislation does not work, and how Hades is doing in OB training. Most people after their first initial fear of pitbulls is crossed don't bother reaching for Roxy again. Sometimes they ask questions about her, but I've never had anyone ignore me and go for her anyways. I'm sure if they did they get a quick tooth flash and than it would be over though! LOL. But once they realize that Hades is such a suck and a ham, they would rather pat him anyways. Roxy doesn't even seem to realize there there, she sits beside me and doesn't even move towards them, Hades on the other hand has his tail wagging at a mile a minute, drops onto his back in a second as soon as it looks like someones going to pat him and gives very soft, gentle kisses.
Take Dakota with you, and for any other times you just don't want to be bothered, make it CLEAR you don't want anyone touching your pup.
My first thought was a squirt bottle. Keep it on your belt, and every time someone starts coming forward after you tell them "no", squirt their chest and say "Oh, whoops! Sorry!". Repeat each time they come forward. And when the finally stop and back off, you could give them a cookie .
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I had this thread on my mind the entire time I was out today, because I brought Sawyer with me. He was getting so much attention too...and when we were walking down the stairs, this one guy reached out as he passed and did a "Pet and Run"...no eye contact, no nothing, just reached out and petted Sawyer as we passed each other. Luckily Sawyer isn't easily spooked and had to pee too badly to even really notice, but I kind of gave the guy a strange look as he walked away.