I'm so glad you asked this question because I've been dealing with the same situations. I was heistant getting a patch or vest because I thought I might end up drawing more attention to my dog and myself and then people would want to talk to me about what training I was doing or why they couldn't pet him. I guess there really isn't any fool proof (literally) way to make sure strangers don't approach you. The problems I'm having too is that people arent' even asking me first they're just going right to my dog and twice even when they have asked as I'm saying, "I'd rather you..." They're already petting him. It's so frustrating.

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The problems I'm having too is that people arent' even asking me first they're just going right to my dog and twice even when they have asked as I'm saying, "I'd rather you..." They're already petting him. It's so frustrating.

3 weeks ago I took Cujo to PetCo, I was so happy, nobody had tried to pet him the whole time I was there, nobody tried to give him cookies, they just told me how beautiful he was. I am walking out the door just as a petco employee came into work... shes down on her knees the second shes in the door petting my dog! Then I head to a bakery around the corner, they make dog treats too so they allow dogs in there, the lady hands me a cookie to give Cujo, so happy that she didnt take it upon herself to give my dog the cookie, I take the cookie n give it to my dog myself. I'm about to walk out the door with my stuff when the lady that was helping me bends over and hands my dog a cookie.

I decided then and there, my dog is gonna learn not to take anything from anyone until I give him the command, and he's gonna wear a vest with DONT TOUCH MY &&@$( DOG! on it.

The only vests I was finding were the cape vests and they only made em in bright colors and don't look that great, then I found Leerburg's Padded Harness Vests, comes in black, doesn't stand out too much but has clear white lettering on it.

I haven't had Cujo in any busy places since buying the vest, but around my neighborhood it's working great, one person did ask me what he's training for, I don't want to get into the whole schutzhund explanation so I just told em "tracking" n continued walking. I also know that PetSmart/PetCo employees know not to pet dogs/offer treats to service dogs wearing ID vests... even though I have heard PetSmart employees bit*h about how mean it is for old ladies not to let the service dog have a cookie on numerous occasions.

Good luck to anyone trying to keep people from touching their dog. It's probably the toughest part of training, especially with a dog like mine who loves everyone <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Just tell them your dog has ringworm and see how many people want to pet him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

LMAO! That's a GOOD ONE~! I never thought about telling people he has ebola and only has 32hrs to live...lol

Great idea!

I bet flea would work too.

Maybe it's just the way I look, or maybe it's because I don't care if they pet my dog. I don't have people touching my dogs without asking. My dogs hate biscuits so they don't eat them or show any interest. I think because you want them to leave your dog alone that it happens so often. Kinda like how cats pick out the cat haters in a group of people <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You guys are to nice, I'm an A-hole and rude. I will ignore even a little kid that points and says, "Mommy look at the doggy" and moms standing there with that look like, can my baby see your dog. I absolutely ignore them, usually with an annoyed face <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> I like Ed's reply, "sure if you want my foot up your ass! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />"

How about, "Sorry no, he hasn't eaten in a while"

I think a number of ill informed ppl will take it to mean that your dog is vicious. I don't let anybody pet Max, but what I do say is "No, he's working, but would you like to see him do some tricks?" I got the idea from one of our K9 units in our area and I feel that it helps dispel the big vicious GSD myth. Portraying our sport/work/exceptional pet dogs in a positive light is always a plus.

While I can feel everyone's pain about the petting thing, I think that it is one of those things that happen in an urban enviroment. I live in a rural area and sometimes have the opposite problem - it is very hard to find people to expose your dogs to unless you go looking for them - I can walk my dogs and never see anybody! The last time I had pups I just about had to pay people to come over and play with them! I have found that most people will ask if they can pet your dog - but there is always the one goof that thinks he is the dog whisperer that will ignore you. They invariably will pass right by some little social butterfly of a dog that is just dying to interact with them and zero in on the one dog that is giving every "keep your D*** distance" signal a dog can give off. I have had a couple of people that ignored a statement as clear cut as "don't touch him - he is sharp!" and keep advancing on the dog saying while all crouched down with their arm extended and staring into the dogs eyes - "oh, a challenge! All dogs LOVE me!" You have to physically intervene and then they are very offended and say "OH - was he ABUSED?" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
Then there are the dough-heads that send their small toddler over to "pet the doggie" without checking with the owner. I have lots of dogs that are social and child safe but any dog should still be respected and be under owner supervision before allowing any interactions with strangers - adult or child and I don't see why parents who will protect their child from every danger right down to making them wear a biccyle helmet when riding the tricyle and ensuring they don't talk to strangers will send them off to pet an unknown carnivore! I am sure these must be the same people that send Junior off for a Kodak moment of him feeding marshmallows to the bears! I have become alot more firm in expressing myself and don't feel badly about telling people "DON"T TOUCH MY DOG" when I don't feel comfortable about the situation. I wouldn't let a complete stranger come up and touch me (or my child) just cause they felt like it. People are really lacking in manners and social conventions these days and it is about time they were reminded of them.

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I wouldn't let a complete stranger come up and touch me (or my child) just cause they felt like it. People are really lacking in manners and social conventions these days and it is about time they were reminded of them.

Funny you should make that comparison. When my mother saw Cujo in his new "get your f**** hands off me" vest, her response was pretty much "thats good, when you were a baby I hated it when every stranger wanted to pinch the cute babies cheeks or offer you candy without asking".

I have been considering getting a "working dog-do not pet" vest for my pup so people will get the hint to leave him alone. It seems no matter where we go, people think "Oh, he is so cute. Can I pet him?" And frankly, I am tired of it. I had one woman really take offense when she sent her kids over to give Kato some treats and I told them no. I did not have the time or even care to explain to this ticked off mom that for a stranger to offer this guy a treat will most likely result in the loss of several fingers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> When people ask about the "working dog" vest, what do you tell them?