Quote: Ross Rapoport

 Quote: Daniel Fernando

I don't see the point why they need to pet my dog.

If they need something to pet, I recommend them to get their own dog or get boyfriend or girlfriend for them to pet.

Sounds like you enjoy saying that to people.

No one 'needs' to pet a dog and the way you are wording this just sounds weird.

I will say that if I already warned people but they don't listen, in my house.

Outside, I better leave....

and I don't need to enjoy what I say to people... umm... can I...

 Quote: connie sutherland

Worded unusually, maybe, but I too prefer that my dogs not really be touched much by others.

One big thing is that one of my dogs doesn't like it. I have no reason to allow him to be subjected to something that he will put up with, but makes him visibly uncomfortable (even with people he has known for years), so I say no.

(One of mine is a total slut, who will flip onto his back like a starfish if anyone even wiggles a couple of fingers, praying for a belly rub. Not that much I can do about him, who was like that when he came to me.)

But the real point for me, I think, is that I pretty much want my dogs to interact mainly with me, or at the very least, on my say-so.



eta

BTW, I have learned that petting is not at all something that all dogs enjoy. It took me a long time in my younger years to recognize that individual dogs have differing opinions of what is pleasurable or rewarding to them. Giving one of mine a caress or a pat for a good job is not at all a reward for him. In fact, if it's not (1) food, or (2) praise (a trailing second choice), it's not a reward to him.

Whatever the "currency" is for the individual dog, I'd rather that I give it. (Again, I make exceptions for the belly-up guy).

I'm beginning to wonder if just taking our dogs out is assuming the risk of stupid people interacting with our dogs, even when they're snarling at said fools and we're ordering them to stay away.
It seems to happen more nowadays, is it just that people are raising fools *everywhere*?
Cripes, do we need to spray them with pepper spray to make our point?

 Quote: will rambeau

It seems to happen more nowadays, is it just that people are raising fools *everywhere*?

It could be... I am constantly amazed at the number of children, with parents in tow - who simply try to walk directly up to Falcon. Some people will stop and ask if they can pet him, but more often than not, they seem to assume since we are out in public Falcon is either super friendly and/or loves being petted. Truth is, he isn't crazy about being touched on his head and is only now getting comfortable with me touching his ears (thank you marker training). I still use my "please just talk to me and ignore the dog - he is in training" the majority of the time because he simply doesn't enjoy strange adults touching him. However, I do let children pet him on occassion. We don't have little ones around and I feel better knowing Falcon is comfortable with kids - just in case. (Interestingly, he happily lets kids pat him on the head).

In NY we have leash laws. I walk my dogs in my neighborhood. While they have excellent recall I realize that ANYTHING can happen so as a responsible pet owner I keep them leashed. There are many dogs that are very used to staying UNLEASHED on their owners property. I recognize how nice it is to wash your car in your driveway while you dogs enjoys laying on the grass nearby. Nice all American leisure time....right?

I often wonder what would happen if I was walking my dogs (on leash) and one of these little yappers come running up to us and Jeter grabs them, shakes a few times and its all over. I have the Pit Bull that doesn't like other dogs. He just mauled a poodle or shitzu. Now what?

I feel terrible of course because I would never want to see another animal hurt. Its a fear that I walk with. Once in a while (which is too much for me) I find myself trying to scare off these dogs that their owners keep off leash. I do it for their own protection yet I feel like to bad guy with the bad dogs.

I also hate that my otherwise nice pleasant walks with my dogs are filled with stress because I feel like I have to keep my eyes and ears peeled for everything.

Any thoughts?

 Quote: alec garrison

In NY we have leash laws. I walk my dogs in my neighborhood. While they have excellent recall I realize that ANYTHING can happen so as a responsible pet owner I keep them leashed. There are many dogs that are very used to staying UNLEASHED on their owners property. I recognize how nice it is to wash your car in your driveway while you dogs enjoys laying on the grass nearby. Nice all American leisure time....right?

I often wonder what would happen if I was walking my dogs (on leash) and one of these little yappers come running up to us and Jeter grabs them, shakes a few times and its all over. I have the Pit Bull that doesn't like other dogs. He just mauled a poodle or shitzu. Now what?

I feel terrible of course because I would never want to see another animal hurt. Its a fear that I walk with. Once in a while (which is too much for me) I find myself trying to scare off these dogs that their owners keep off leash. I do it for their own protection yet I feel like to bad guy with the bad dogs.

I also hate that my otherwise nice pleasant walks with my dogs are filled with stress because I feel like I have to keep my eyes and ears peeled for everything.

Any thoughts?

It's a "no win" situation.

Ollie loves the kids and for the most part, is a very friendly dog, but that thing that a lot of people do with dogs...hands on either side of their face and getting in their face talking baby talk...he HATES that! My landlord of all people did this over the weekend, and it happened too fast for me to stop her. Why can't people feel the resistance in the dog or see the change in their body language???

I thought that his appearance would keep people from approaching him so quickly, but it doesn't even seem to enter their mind, and he is very quickly bulking up and looking more like a boxer. I don't even allow the kids to get in his face...I may never feel 100% comfortable with them being unsupervised with him, and he's been nothing but wonderul with them.

I have anxiety about walking him in my area because of loose dogs and people everywhere. They get mad at you for making their dogs stay away or for not letting them touch your dog, but would sue you if they were bitten. And with what a big dog is capable of, that's not as scary as the damage they could do.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

My solution so far is walk super early in the am when everyone is sleeping and late at night after most have gone inside.

I can't put my finger on what it is about some people that Ollie doesn't like. It makes it hard to predict what his reaction will be.

 Quote: Alec Garrison

I often wonder what would happen if I was walking my dogs (on leash) and one of these little yappers come running up to us and Jeter grabs them, shakes a few times and its all over. I have the Pit Bull that doesn't like other dogs. He just mauled a poodle or shitzu. Now what?

I feel terrible of course because I would never want to see another animal hurt. Its a fear that I walk with. Once in a while (which is too much for me) I find myself trying to scare off these dogs that their owners keep off leash. I do it for their own protection yet I feel like to bad guy with the bad dogs.

I also hate that my otherwise nice pleasant walks with my dogs are filled with stress because I feel like I have to keep my eyes and ears peeled for everything.

Any thoughts?

I've been there. I have had a very dog aggressive dog who could also be a bit unpredictable with people. I fitted him with a a basket muzzle, got him used to wearing it and then had him wear it whenever he was out in public.

It didn't bother the dog at all because he associated it with walkie-time with 'mum', it was well ventilated and it had enough room for him to pant and open his mouth comfortably. BUT he couldn't bite.

It made walks SO much more pleasant because it took so much of the fear out of them. Me being more relaxed translate to my dog being more relaxed too.

As an added bonus, people are much less likely to approach (or to allow their children or dogs to approach) a muzzled dog

 Quote: Daniel Fernando

I will say that if I already warned people but they don't listen, in my house.

Outside, I better leave....

and I don't need to enjoy what I say to people... umm... can I...

From the tenor of your other thread on trainers, it sounds like you are definitely enjoying the macho side of dog ownership. Please be careful.

 Quote: Ross Rapoport

From the tenor of your other thread on trainers, it sounds like you are definitely enjoying the macho side of dog ownership. Please be careful.

Whats ur point?

Trolling??

I don't think anybody is trolling.
While many of us agree about not letting strangers pet our dogs. Having a macho or aggressive attitude is oftentimes asking for trouble.

Cool, confident and assertive is good for both people and dogs, macho, aggressive, and/or confrontational is not.

No, just don't understand the "Me against the world" attitude that some dog owners have. Especially since it's usually found in owners of GSDs and other breeds I would actually own, and especially since you've enrolled your GSD in a training program that could encourage fear/aggression. All of this just reinforces bad, incorrect stereotypes that don't help dog owners as a whole. Especially owners of GSDs, Mals, etc.