Any advice on how to respond to all the judgmental/pushy people you run into on dog walks that arrogantly dish out advice and recommendations? I have had 2 dogs that were great dogs, completely friendly and social, and were fairly obedient (but I knew nothing about obedience training when my family had these dogs).

I have since read numerous of books on dog training, searched the web and read article after article, and I have both of Ed's DVDs (pup & basic). I am training my pup myself and I feel that it is going very well, and I am confident that I will be successful. Ultimately, I will bring my pup to obedience classes for distraction and proofing purposes.

However, when I run into people at the park, or around town while I am walks, they are constantly giving me advice. I have had a number of people tell me I'd be much beter off if I used a halty when my dog is walking on a loose leash and not pulling? In addition, people keep asking me if I'm taking him to puppy kindergarten, obdeiecne classes, etc. and when I say that I am training him myself they get very preachy on how I need to take him to training. They also like to tell me that I should let my pup off-leash and let him run around, which I don't do.

I tend to just brush it off and thank them for their advice, but I find it very annoying. On the other hand, I haven't succesfully raised my pup yet so I can't really say that I know what I am doing because all of my knowledge is theoretical. I can say that I am a fanatic about the subject of dogs and probably know more about the subject than most "dog people" I run into.

Anyhow, I usually like to keep things polite, but I am finding it annoying and was wondering if anyone else has similar encounters and how they deal with it?

Sounds like you are handeling it just fine. When you walk a dog in public you draw attention. People like dogs and they like talking about dogs. They are trying to be nice and helpful, even if they are being neither. You should just expect that this is going to happen and get over it. Just say "thanks, thats interesting." Who knows, some day you might hear something interesting or make a new friend.

I see people using halties all the time, but keep my oppinions to myself. Their dog, their life. I say "nice looking dog."

Jeff

Dogs break social barriers, especially puppies, and lets not forget that the world is full of people who know whats best for you and your dog and will seek to impose it on you. The best bet is to just be friendly and thank them for the advice, short of that.

your choices are
1. avoid people
2. come up with sound bite answers (friendly ones)
Use a Halti? My dog's insurance does not cover chiroparctic care!!!
3. Dress in a manner that raises social barriers higher than a cute puppy can overcome. For example, find and wear a T-shirt that says "kill them all, let god sort them out" :-)
4. Get your dog one of those orange vests that say 'service dog in training' and when someone approaches give them a stern look and a verbal warning about messing up the dog's training.
5 Answer all questions with jibberish.
6 as soon as they start talking to you, invite them to your "church"
7 When they give advice, ask them if they are available this evening to help you train the dog.
8 just say thank you and give them a big hug
9 just look them in the eye and say, "What was that!?", point somewhere behind them and quickly walk off.
10 Make growling noises and blame it on the dog.

Too funny, Thomas. You forgot #11

11. Give back some unsolicited advise such as on how to raise their children, what diet they should try, etc..... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Thomas,

That was a hilarious read!

I guess it's just gonna happen.

Or ask if they have ever dreamed of making a ton of money on a part time basis? Tell them you sell AmWay and they will RUN!!!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Some things I have done:
1. Ask them to meet you downtown or some other very busy place like a walmart parking lot for an "off leash walk with the dogs".

2. Hand them over the hotdog or pizza slice you are eating (seems like I always have one or the other handy) and ask them to get their dog to retrieve it.

3. Ask if you can throw the dog's favorite toy into a busy street.

4. Offer to buy the person a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop and suggest you sit inside while the dogs do a 30 minute down stay outside.
Offer them a second cup ...

5. Tape a 50.00 bill to their dog's collar and tell the owner it is his if he can recall his dog to him on the first try while the dog is romping at the local dog park.

Everyone has great advice and excellently trained dogs until it is time to bring out their dog and put their money where their mouth is.

Above all - just walk away and be happy these people aren't part of your gene pool.

Nick

Hey Nick,

Some more great suggestions!! I suppose I should have known better than to ask this question. I just couldn't resist because I really can't believe the level of ignorance out there and how many of these people actually think they know something about dogs.

The sad thing is that they are very knowledgable about what not to do and they keep spreading this bad information. Sometimes it is just so shocking to hear this uninformed crap come out of people's mouthes in an "I k <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> now better than you" tone of voice.

I mean I have had people try to convince me that my German working line pup is not a GSD because he is not the typical American conformation black and tan, but rather he is very dark so he is a mutt. They have insisted that he is a Belgian Shepherd or a mix. They even like to tell me how much wolf he has in him, and they are not even aware of what a working line dog is when I explain to him his lineage.

I know, I know, you've all probably heard this crap, but I just can't believe it sometimes.

Matt, when they mention the color, respond with "he IS actually black and tan, but I had to dye him to get into the black ops training program".
As far as the wolf part, respond, "I couldn't afford a wolfmix, so I had the vet trim his ears that way"
or conversly say,
"the only time wolf is in him, is when I feed him", then smack your lips rub your tummy and say "hmmm wolf"

Thomas is getting us all started:

1. "Been thinking of giving him a zebra Mohawk."

2. (very unhappy tone of voice) "This is a champion Djibouti chicken retriever."

3. "Actually, the breeder told us this breed was a Tep'Esquintli, a delicacy among the Aztecs. We raised him to.... never mind."