My dogs do not like being stroked by strangers and are not put in position where a stranger could try.

If anyone does try I am fairly blunt and say they are not friendly or are nervous and keep moving.

 

If people admire my dog and then ask if they can say hello, I am fine with that. I don't like it when strangers just stroke the dogs without first asking permission.

 

We only let people if they ask first, although most do (we think his size makes them think before they touch him) we hate it when people just dash at him. We have rules, let him smell your hand first and don't put your hand over his eyes or pat him on the head.

 

With my current two, most people do not appear overly enthusiastic about approaching them for a cuddle.

My dogs are not public property.

I really do not want people touching my dogs, if they want to cuddle something furry, get a stuffed toy.

 

I'm not keen (and neither is Pip) but if they have sense I'll let them see if he wants a pat. The other day I had a teen boy try to stroke him while he was under some bushes peeing, he was not happy and i politely ripped the kid a new one, then he tried to stroke him again. I was about to really bollock him but i think he may have had special needs so i explained some more, i hope i got through as he could get seriously hurt if he does it to the wrong dog........Steve

 

I have the opposite problem with Kite. She tries to get to strangers to pet/lick them, sometimes nearly pulls me off my feet.

 

I don't like it at all and don't put my dog in the position to be petted by strangers.

 

I dont mind them stroking Pip but libby geys a bit scared sometimes so i have to block them .
What really annoys me is other dog owners giving my dogs treats without asking first .

 

If I'm not on the move and am just on the train or having a drink/coffee/food and someone asks if they can pet the dog, I will be ok with that as long as they don't stand there just invading my space. If however, I'm walking with the dog whether in the park or in town I will not give any attention to someone teyong to get the dogs attention. If someone starts petting the dog without asking, or touching him while we're walking they will get: a) a mean look from me; b) a short request to not do it; c) a very clear telling off. It is my dog - not public property. Just because I like someone's bag I don't go up to touch it. The same way, when I see some good looking guy, I don't try to stroke his arm or shoulder while walking past.

 

. The same way, when I see some good looking guy, I don't try to stroke his arm or shoulder while walking past.

I think you could get arrested for that

 

Normally, Sara is the one seeking out a fuss, and she seems to know the ones that are secretly hoping to be able to stroke her! We don't let her approach people carte blanche, we say something like "Sara, leave them be, they don't want to be bugged by you" which normally results in "oh, we don't mind at all...oh, isn't she gorgeous" etc etc If there is no response, we call her away, and we don't allow people to approach her (or vice versa) when actively walking unless they ask. And then it's an assessment; do we think they're ok, do we think Sara is feeling it today etc.
Since having her and Fidget, I've become much more respectful of other people's dogs. I used to ask all and sundry to pet their dog! Now, I'm much more restrained and will rarely ask...but will always say "hi pupper" or similar if they are looking at me. And I can never turn down a fuss if they come to me...screw dignity and grace, I want me some doggy cuddles!!

 

Provided people ask first (they usually do with Rotties) then that's fine but, if I see the dog react in a way I'm not happy about, or they person makes a sudden move/noise, then the dogs are removed. Their safety is paramount. But, not everyone wants to say hello to two barmy Rotties and a noisy JRT. That suits me down to the ground, but I try not to be too precious about them, They can certainly enlighten peoples' attitudes towards the breed if they're prepared to take the time to listen and learn about this fabulous breed.

 

My older dog ignores people until he hears something along the lines of 'aww isn't he cute'. I know then that he will say hello and accept a fuss. He then goes back to ignoring them. I don't put my yorkie in a position where people can touch her without asking and pick her up if they do. Neither of mine take food from strangers so I don't really care if they offer them anything.

 

The only people I allow to pet my dogs are people they know well and like which probably amounts to fewer than half a dozen people!

 

I don't have a problem with people stroking my dogs if the dogs don't mind. Flax is a complete tart :Hilarious and if anyone strokes her will rub against them demanding more til I take her away. Zephyr is happy to be stroked if he thinks the person is ok & might have food & Lupin will back away from most people as she's a mummy's girl

Stroking arm of good looking guy sounds like a plan

 

I don't like it and discourage it.

Rudi is an 'over enthusiastic greeter', and will jump at people who pet her. At home, she's ignored until she sits down and is calm, but in the street, I don't relish holding a JRT in one hand and trying to hold back 17 kilos of Staffy trying to jump up at somebody who is petting her.

 

It's mostly children who want to stroke Oliver. Unfortunately, he loves children a bit too much and gets really excited and jumps up and sometimes goes to nip them. So I tell them if they want to stroke him they have to bend down which I hold his head end, and stroke his side/back. Either that or I pick him up and they can stroke his side.

 

[QUOTE="KatieandOliver, post: 1064675875, member: 1439893"]It's mostly children who want to stroke Oliver. Unfortunately, he loves children a bit too much and gets really excited and jumps up and sometimes goes to nip them. So I tell them if they want to stroke him they have to bend down which I hold his head end, and stroke his side/back. Either that or I pick him up and they can stroke his side.[/QUOTE]

As I said we let people stroke Dillon but we don't let small children, he's not use to them so if they start been rough or excited with him we don't no how he'll react and with his size we dont want him to accidentally knock a child over.

 

So we get a ton of attention but mine is quite picky. If people ask generally I say yes, but limit the interaction to what I know he will like. He loves just leaning against people being touched

I had a really horrible experience a few weeks ago...walking along and a man and his two sons (about 4-6) cycled past. Chunk was sniffing a bush so not concerned, suddenly one of the boys stopped his bike ran over and bear hugged C, never seen me move so fast. To be fair Cheddar took it in his stride but was not happy...once I detached offending child, I gave man a mouthful (to be fair he was mortified and said the kit had become obsessed)! Lucky he is good with people but not brought up with kids so would always be a concern.

 

I don't own a dog at the moment, but I remember when we had Smudge it annoyed me that people stroked first and asked later...
She was a brilliant dog, and would do anything NOT to hurt people, but really you should be asking before you stroke a random dog!

It's happened with my friend and her dog Penny too. We went out and we popped into a shop on the way back, so while she went in I waited outside with Penny for her. A little girl, maybe 3, ran up to Penny and just straight up started patting her face. Penny was full on whale eyeing the little girl and grumbling a little bit, so I pulled her behind me and asked the girl to stop politely. The mother went "Oh she won't hurt her, she knows how to pet dogs!" so I said "I'm not worried about your daughter hurting the dog, I'm worried about the dog hurting your daughter as she does not like being hit in the face!". The little girl was trying to fight around my legs to get to Penny, who was cowering behind me and grumbling slightly, and I was busy trying to stop her while arguing with her mother about how she needs to collect her daughter and stop her. It ended when the little girl shouted at Penny through my legs and Penny barked in response, the mother soon collected her daughter then!

I know the daughter didn't really know any better, but the mother should have... There's been a few times when kids have just run up to Penny and started petting her on the head/face first rather than asking and then stroking her nicely. Not all of the kids are really young either, or they don't look it at least. Some of them have looked maybe 8/9, early teens, etc..

 

Poppy is an absolute tart when it comes to people, I always make sure she's on the lead if people I don't know are coming near. Poppy has a tendency to be a bit slobbery, so people aren't always so keen on her! Weirdly, more people seem to be drawn to my GSD - he is very aloof though and not at all interested in them, so I would prefer them not to touch him.

 

I have no need or want for strangers to stroke my dog...tbh my dog couldn't care any less about strangers either.
However, if I am asked and Thai is happy for an interaction then I will say yes.

 

Bob likes meeting people, Rogue & Gypsy would rather be left alone, & I'd rather people left them all alone, they're not a petting zoo for the public to paw at when they feel like it

 

it's very rare people try to pet my dog - but when they do I don't mind, she loves any and all attention and I am happy for her to get a little pet I remember walking with another dog one time - a small fluffy cute thing, who would rather not be petted and everyone wanted to ahhh at him and stroke him, but mines just got ignored, was a little sad for her as she would of loved to be acknowledged, and he would of preferred to be left alone - but she's just a black dog and I guess they aren't as cute to other people, sometimes I love going into the pet shop because people will often give her a little fuss in there lol fwiw I wouldn't randomly pet someones dog, I might give a little fuss to a dog if I am talking to the owner but wouldn't just approach a stranger and start touching their dog

 

How do you feel about strangers stroking your pet?

I wouldn't feel anything. They would:Hilarious

Have you had any bad experiences?

Nope! But others have:Facepalm

 

I don't really mind as long as whoever wants to pet them asks first and the dogs seem up for it. What bugs me is that people always home in on Lola (probably because she's tiny and sweet looking) but she's the only one of the three that would rather people looked but didn't touch. She's not at all nippy and she never barks at people, but she makes it quite plain that she would rather strangers didn't touch her and usually goes to stand behind me. Unfortunately, people, especially kids, don't always get what she is trying to say . . . I was especially irritated by the little girls I met the other day who insisted on running at her with their arms up, shrieking They were okay really once I was kinda sharp with them and seemed happy to pet Ghost and leave poor Lola alone.

 

Gosh darn it. That was my 'how to get a date' technique :Arghh

Get drunk and lunge is always a winner