Don't pet the puppy!

[Cheza]

GRRRR this JUST HAPPENED.
Cheza's been a pain today because it's so wet we can't take her out for her long walk, so she's been a little hyper. And when she's hyper she doesn't focus well on things like oh, I dunno, going to the bathroom. She gets distracted and forgets. Anyway just now I had her out, and I KNOW she had to poop, but this STUPID KID comes RUNNING up to her yelling 'HI! HI! HI!" repeatedly. And she's all freaking out, breaking her sit to get to him and basically hanging herself on her collar. I said really sharply "don't pet her right now" to him, and he STOOD there yelling "HI! HI! HI!" in her face til I finally turned around and left.

I wanted to kill the little !@#$. And what's worse, is she's a BIG DOG for a puppy. I can't relax because God knows she would knock the kid over and there would be hell to pay from his parents.

 

[moonchild1970]

I don't know what it is with people and Border collies but I went through the same hell raising my two border pups that RD is going through now with Eve.

Ignorent kids and adults have caused both of my dogs, popcorn, to be fear aggressive towards kids. We are working on it but they were going through a fear peroid when a kid went after both. Kicked our female, Pepper, and squeezed the male Popcorn so hard he wet himself. Now when kids rush them my two go on the defense. NOT good.

Man sometimes I don't like people. Especially the parents. They need to be trained how to raise their own kids better I swear. Sometimes I think a taser could come in handy for them....

 

[Sunnierhawk0]

Spider and Shooter love children. But they are respectful of the kids, and luckily all I have ever had is good kids coming up and ASKING, or thier parents asking if they could pet. Its so much appreicated, so there are a *few* people out there that will ask.. but few and far between . But most dont want to pet a Rottweiler, so we dont usually have alot to ask.

Naughty & Kodak hate children.... well Kodak doesnt like many people in general, but Naughty had a bad expereince with a kid running full force at her screaming PUPPY. I hate *most* little kids.

 

[DemitriousK]

We're going to have to do that with Bella in public. I think we're going to end up saying something like "you can pet both black and white dogs, but don't touch the brunette unless you feel like loosing your arm" a lot...

No you cannot let your kids jump on my Fila... Just like I wouldn't let my Fila jump on your kids.

 

[Scooter]

Where are you walking your pup? I would try to stay out of dog parks, for sure, and in parks where there are a lot of people. Is there any place you can take her where there aren't a lot of people? You could also try, "Oh please don't touch her, we're in training right now". Good luck- puppies can be very irresistable. I mean really, what's cuter than a puppy??

 

[ToscasMom]

I know exactly how you feel. It took me forever to teach Tosca not to jump on people because of this. Everybody says, "It's all right. I don't mind". Some people even INVITE it. Well it's NOT all right and I DO mind! Honestly there are people I actually avoid when I am with Tosca because I just know they are going to make her take steps backwards. I have one friend who actually invites her to jump on him, so now when he is at the door, I put Tosca in another room. It stays that way unless he gets it.

I don't understand the concept of people taking over my dog's behavior. I refuse to accept it. Do these people tell other people how to raise their kids too? Do they just walk up and take a bite of your sandwich? To me, it's that personal. Nothing fries me more than ill behaved people trying to teach my dog bad habits. It's gotten to the point where I flat out tell people in places like pet stores not to touch my dog. Period. I don't care what they think of me. I am never going to see them again and I don't care. My lesson is learned. You simply cannot let people badly influence your dog. You have to go home and live with the habits they teach your dog in the end. Being nice just doesn't work with this kind of person. They are the same people who will let their kid play with your dog after you say No and if the dog playfully jumps on the raucous kid and hurts him you, will be living in a box under the tracks. I am no longer polite. I Just say NO and mean it. If they touch your dog after you say no just say WHAT PART OF NO DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

 

[Doberluv]

I like your spirit Tosca! I hate that too. I almost had Chulita down to hardly licking at all. There's this neighbor guy who pops in to visit and loves Chluita. He holds her and she really goes nutso with the licking. I tell her from across the kitchen table, "Chulita, enough." And he says, "aw-w-w...it's all right. I love dogs and don't mind the licking." Grrrrrrrrrr. He means well so I can't be mean. But I try to say, "well, I don't like it and some other people hate it, so I'm trying to teach her not to lick so much."

But those obnoxious, untrained kids! It's unbelievable. Only in high populated areas have I come across this. One little kid was running toward Lyric when I was in Seattle. Lyric is uncomfortable with that, naturally. The parents, oblivious, are strolling along this place where a lot of dogs and people walk along the water. I'm just floored. How come dogs have to be on a leash and under control, but kids don't? LOL. No wonder kids get bitten all the time.

People just don't get it that dogs have fears and defense mechenisms. If they didn't, they wouldn't have survived all this time. Those defense instincts are shown in biting. A dog can be very fearful, but not be slinking or cowering, but instead be lunging and biting. They all have varying degrees of tolerance and at what point someting triggers that. Some of it is due to nurture and socialization and some of it is inheritable...different combinations, different factors influence these things.

It's just crazy. I hope you find a place where you can socialize her without running into all these idiots. Maybe you can call some friends and make arrangements to meet their families....different ages, sizes etc...who have been pre-instructed on how to greet your pup? And then gradually get out into the bigger world. (?) I hope things improve.

 

[daaqa]

ok, so any tips on dealing with a dog who was obviously scared at one point on a leash? apparently, she HAS bitten when approached on leash more than once. she's totally fine with strangers if she's loose [LOVES meeting new people]. but cannot handle any stresses when she's restrained by a leash.

i would like to socialize her enough to put an end to that, if it's possible. thoughts? tips?

anyway, i was always taught to NEVER pet a dog without the owners permission. you never have any idea what state that dog is in [sick, unsocialized, recent trauma, poorly trained, aggressive issues, or even - like some of your dogs - in the middle of training].
when we used to walk at this popular-for-dogs area last summer before we got our own dog, i wouldn't even touch a super-friendly dog that had gotten loose and came running up to me and acted like it wanted some affection - until i got a full assurance from the owner that it was ok to do so.