Does anyone have a problem with strangers asking you your dogs name? I walk my 13 month old German Shepherd alone and I am always asked what my dogs name is? It has happened on a semi secluded walking trail, on the street after dark and even after hours in town.It freaks me out. Sometimes I lie and sometimes I am caught off guard and tell the truth. What would you do? It has always been men walking alone.

If they creep you out, you could always tell them "His name is 'pass auf'"

 Quote: patricia angove

Does anyone have a problem with strangers asking you your dogs name? I walk my 13 month old German Shepherd alone and I am always asked what my dogs name is? It has happened on a semi secluded walking trail, on the street after dark and even after hours in town.It freaks me out. Sometimes I lie and sometimes I am caught off guard and tell the truth. What would you do? It has always been men walking alone.

It sounds like you are maybe engaging with strangers way more that I will. I walk very purposefully and confidently and I do not stop when a stranger speaks to me on a dark street. I might speak back, but it's not in a stop-to-engage way.

I would probably pretend to have mis-heard, and say back (over my shoulder) "good evening" or the like.

I'd probably also find a walking route that doesn't offer a lot of encounters like that when I'm alone.


eta
I'm not confrontational or offensive to the questionable person. I just keep my in-control demeanor and move right along on my way.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (12/16/2009 02:37 PM)
Edit reason: eta

I love that! but he doesn't know what that is, I can't even get him to bark on command. He Only barks when someone is at the door or comes into the house.He is super awesome at watching a person till one of us is long past the other.But barking? no

I usually get asked how old they are, many people think that my female is a puppy (she's only 65lbs)& acts like one. But then most people are not familiar with the high drive of workingline dogs. So they see it as puppy-like exhuberance. I have only been asked their names a couple of times. I have chosen to responded with their names under the circumstances that it was asked. I would not, however, feel comfortable doing so in the instances that you say you have been asked. Especially strange men. I would just say that you don't let strangers pet or give out your dog's name to strangers. I think that to feel freaked out by this is a correct gut feeling. I personally, don't want strange people coming up to me & calling my dogs by name. I want my dogs seen as neutral /not interested in them by strangers. They are there as a source of a certain level of protection for me & to have someone approaching calling them by name takes away a level of comfort for me. My dogs have also been trained to ignore people that we encounter unless I tell them it is ok to say hello. JMO

ETA.after seening Connie's post...I have done just that (given an alert command) Connie on a few occasions that I felt it was appropriate. That usually discourages any further interaction that the stranger has entertained. He, He.

Normally I never stop and engage in conversation. The times after dark I didn't even see the person until we were nearly passing on the side walk. At the State park and places where there are less people, have been the times I run into this type of person.I am usually loading Axel into the back of the truck and caught off guard. Happens in the daytime too.I never go to the park after dusk. Do you think if my dog was concerned he would protect me?

Yeah Patricia,
You're a paranoid.......And I would be too.

It's all fine and good that in a perfect world we should all come and go as we please but let's face it, there's places I won't go by choice. Armed or otherwise, it's just asking for trouble.
As a parallel, I frequently go to a spot well off the road and known locally as a swimming hole (the dogs love it); rarely does anyone run into anyone else for the times I go. On occasion though I'll run into a lone young woman who feels (maybe rightly) she should feel as safe there as anywhere else, freely talks, gives her name, parents, address, etc.
Imagine........

Now, if I know the parents I pass the encounter along to them, let them give the child the talk. If I don't recognized the family then I point out just how far we are away from anything at all. Usually it dawns on them just how vulnerable they are about half way through the first sentence. Then I try to calm them with, 'me and dog (now dogs) will be right out in field, we won't leave till you do, relax. But it's not smart being out here alone'.

Connie is right, why court trouble?

Quote from Patricia: "Do you think if my dog was concerned he would protect me?"

The short answer is no.

Thanks so much everyone. I am aware that this small town is not safe day or night. We still have a unsolved murder of a 5 yr old little girl from 6 months back,not to mention that drugs and breakins have increased with the hard times people are facing.I will keep lying about his name and my eyes better adjusted to the darkness.I am pretty good about reading people and always try to have an exit plan. I think I need to work on getting my pup to bark on command too. Probably wouldn't hurt to get the bear spray out of hibernation either.

 Quote: Patricia Angove

Do you think if my dog was concerned he would protect me?

Certainly NOT at 13 months old & not without training in that venue.