I don't expect all my dogs to want people to touch them. No, socializing doesn't mean the dog likes everyone, and even if it did, it wouldn't necessarily mean the dog wants to be petted.

Again, I expect my dogs to accept into the house anyone I accept into the house. I don't expect anything more than that. JMO.


There is no aggression, right?

To answer your addition to your post:

I do not allow my dog who doesn't want to be petted to be subjected to petting by strangers (or anyone) on walks. He doesn't like it, it makes him uncomfortable, and while he will tolerate it, I see part of my job to be preventing it.

This is all JMO.

P.S. I am interested in reading other viewpoints. Anyone?

The only plus I can see in teaching a dog to let strangers touch/pet/handle him is when he needs to be examined by a vet, or if you are going to show him.

My dog is friendly to strangers, but as he gets older that famous "aloofness" is starting to emerge. He still will give a stranger a small wag, then turns his head away when they want to pet him. It's not that he doesn't like it, he just really doesn't care. Except for kids. He loves them and will pull to get to them. The breeder that I got him from had a 6 year old daughter and I was told he was her favorite. I am sure she spent every waking moment with him, and he must have very fond memories of children. I always make him sit calmly before I let them pet him, and he wiggles and wags and licks. The difference between his reaction to adults and children is remarkable.

He is just a pet, and an unusual breed around here so EVERYONE wants to pet him. If he gets to where he really resents it, I will stop it.

Don't know if any of this helps...

Wow Shody, I thought only my Ibizan was the one who loved kids:-). Perhaps I'm just getting too worried and need to focus on basic stuff rather than getting majorly caught up in all the details. I'll let Loki be Loki and if he's not interested so be it. Aloof is okay with me

I am having a similar problem with Bella. Yesterday, I had to take her into the leasing office with me. Well, the moment we stepped in the door the leasing agent looked right at her and smiled and said "ooohhh...look at the cute doggy" or something, and Bella just went silly on me! I put Bella in a down, and told the lady she isn't a dog that takes well to petting. But Bella was just whining and making desperate sounding moans while wagging the tail ferouciously! I have never heard her make that sound!

She really wants to meet other people. I am not sure what she would do when she got there, but I am guessing that she would jump up and nip their face. That is how she greeted me for the first time! (Of course, the previous owner encouraged this behavior... :mad So, I don't let anyone pet her who isn't my GF, the kitty, or myself. The jumping and nipping thing went away with groundwork, but when she is getting attention from anyone new or strange, or another dog, she goes into a zone where she is not listening to commands as well. She may be an "affection hog," so I will continue the policy of not letting strangers pet her, butI have a few friends who come over on a regular basis who will pet her eventually. Is this a good policy?

My dog has a similar reaction (hair up on the shoulders, whining, obvious anxiety) when seeing strangers up close or other dogs. Should I be using a dominant dog collar with her for this? She isn't growling or showing signs of fright, just excitement. What I would like is for her to lay down or sit beside me calmly without the crazy whining and anxiety. Suggestions?

 Quote: Dvijapatni Malovic

good point. Glad to say he doesn't jump on anyone but he does dance and nudge. I'll definitely start with teaching him to sit when someone comes to the door. They both sit prior to walking through doors when with me and my husband so it shouldn't be too far a stretch:-).

Shouldn't be far of a stretch at all. We just went through this same type of proofing with my Malinois. She would rush the door when the delivery guy came and scare the crap out of him. Usually because it was no warning she'd hear the door and make a beeline to it without a bark and bust out not to be aggressive but to love up the new person ... Yes this is a Malinois ,, Just the guy on the other side of the door didn't know that and pooped his pants.

In our house the front door is in a hallway and we have a throw rug leading up to the door. We use this rug as a visual barrier now, she is not allowed on it when somebody is at the door she has to sit until she is released.

We proofed by having the kids repeat over and over going to the front door ringing the bell and then having one of us go to the door opening it with the dog on the long line and prong. She got zinged a few times and it didn't take her long to figure it out. We added the distraction of her tugs and balls with the doorbell and kids to the point of perfection.

The back door is the same thing but it is even more black and white as there is a small landing of stairs there ... she can't step off the floor onto the stairs without being invited to do so.

Now when someone comes to the door she does a alarm bark, sits and waits patiently to be released or the person to leave. Have to say I'm very pleased with how it turned out.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Again, I expect my dogs to accept into the house anyone I accept into the house. I don't expect anything more than that

Ditto.
Depending on the type of visitor to my home, I have different expectations of my dog. For instance, if the guests are my friends, I believe they are there to spend time with me not my dog. When my guests arrive, and I have let them in, he seems happy and is probably not opposed to being pet or given attention but I prefer he go to his bed for the visit. He seems content enough just to be present and my friends forget he's there. That's how I like it.

If the person entering my house is a stranger aka a meter reader or the cable person, I have the dog accompany me to where I need to bring them, I pretty much ignore my dog while I talk to these people. Occassionally, they will want to pet him. I tell them if he goes to them, they can pet him...they call his name, he ignores them .......and I have heard more than once, he is not very friendly........ he's not unfriendly either, and again that is the behavior I want.

Mind you, this has taken a lot of work, training, management and the biggest help, the maturation of my boy as well as a really clear picture of what it is I wanted and considering my dogs strengths and limitations, what I could realistically achieve.

Dvijapatni, you are doing your research and asking questions and I think once you envision what it is YOU want and expect from your dogs you will get there.