Get used to people approaching Olivia :-) I always have people approach me when I am training in public places - particularly when I train in Petsmart. Either they think my dog is cute or they are impressed with the level of training.

If I am in the middle of something I do like Connie does and ignore them completely - no eye contact, no nothing. That does the trick 80% of the time. If they still approach, I will look at them and in a business like voice will say that we are training so cannot talk as I turn away and dismiss them essentially. Never had someone continue to approach after that.

If I am not busy and they ask me, I will often let them pet Frost as I find it educational and for a breed like mine, I need her well used to various people petting her for obedience competitions and I find it is a good time to educate people about the breed, particularly since it does not have a good reputation in my state.

With that said, Sinjin is a more serious dog and I am more selective about who I will let pet him. Some people he is fine with, some people he is suspicious of and I don't let those types pet him.

"If I am in the middle of something I .... ignore them completely - no eye contact, no nothing. That does the trick 80% of the time. If they still approach, I will look at them and in a business like voice will say that we are training so cannot talk as I turn away and dismiss them essentially. Never had someone continue to approach after that."

I'm with you 100%, Ingrid.

If you don't want the dog approached, accosted, touched, etc. -- then do not engage.

Explanations, discussion, chat, no matter what kind of engagement you do -- it's all an opening for continued interaction.

And yes, of course, often I am with my perceived-scary breed and have the time to be a breed ambassador.

Gotta have two completely opposite demeanors, IMO, to suit the two situations.

..sounds like a good time to practice your "bark and hold" LOL.

usually don't have that problem, people run away when I try to talk to them.

seriously, kids are the only ones I have a problem with and then I go into a speel about how you shouldn't run up to strange dogs etc.

I would just move to a more remote area or try to enlist them in helping

"Can you wear this a minute?, it's called a bite sleeve"


"Can you hide this ball for me? Keep going...further. no, much further keep going..."

or you can come over to my house and train.

Honestly my main issue is with the wild kids who run up to us and their parents who are completely absent or not paying attention. Kids don't listen as well and although Vader loves kids, he's rough and doesn't realize how big he is. Guess I'm just going to have to get more assertive about it. I like the idea of handing them a bite sleeve though....that might get the point across

One day I'm going to ask the interupter if they can help me with a SAR exercise... "You go hide in the park somewhere, we'll find you"

After I got Erika and Roxie socialized I'd have them perform for the small crowd that would almost always happen if I walk too close to the playground. I love attention and I think my puppers do as well

 Quote: dennis jones

One day I'm going to ask the interupter if they can help me with a SAR exercise... "You go hide in the park somewhere, we'll find you"

I think they should lie under piles of leaves while they wait.

 Quote: Dennis Jones

After I got Erika and Roxie socialized I'd have them perform for the small crowd that would almost always happen if I walk too close to the playground. I love attention and I think my puppers do as well

Roxie doesn't need any further socialization to find me at any time! If I'm lost, you just send that girl my way, okay?

You two are always awesome to watch working together.

 Quote: olivia brown

Honestly my main issue is with the wild kids who run up to us and their parents who are completely absent or not paying attention. Kids don't listen as well and although Vader loves kids, he's rough and doesn't realize how big he is. Guess I'm just going to have to get more assertive about it. I like the idea of handing them a bite sleeve though....that might get the point across

I had a kid run up and kick my dog in TSC one day. Turns out he had autism. But what really got me was that his parents just watched him run up to me. Hello? You know your child has some problems and you let them run up to a strange dog??

But seriously, just be mean. Say "no, you may not come near my dog" in a gruff voice. Kids usually think twice if a grumpy stranger is involved.

 Quote: mara jessup

But seriously, just be mean. Say "no, you may not come near my dog" in a gruff voice. Kids usually think twice if a grumpy stranger is involved.

I did this to a trio of kids who would come up and pet Roger and try to feed him their gross made-in-China treats they had for their dogs.

Their dad was the guy who threatened to kill me b/c I reprimanded him for letting his dog loose to rush Roger and me.

I'm thinking the kids must have told their Dad what happened, and that probably contributed to his eagerness to teach me some manners.

I'm with Connie--don't do anything to encourage anger towards your dog. And that includes not projecting anger yourself.

Society is largely ignorant of how to treat dogs, especially the kind that most of us own. Yet they are eager to criminalize us if we seem out of step. If a confrontation occurs, the person with the dog (or the scarier of two dogs) is already at a disadvantage in any court (civil, criminal, or public opinion).