I know I am perhaps guilty of this at times myself, but sometimes I can't help but stroke other people's dogs. My dog lives in a different city and there's nothing better than fussing a friendly dog. Helps with my dog-withdrawal symptoms! How do you feel about strangers stroking your pet when you're out and about? Do people ask? Have you had any bad experiences?
How do you feel about strangers petting your dog?
heather louise
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I don't mind if people ask (whether I say yes or no really depends), although my dogs are the type that most people don't want to coo over. I fairly often have people say something like 'That's a lovely dog' which is always welcome but they rarely go to touch them. I've found that it's always men who go for Gracie, and they can be quite overbearing about it. I honestly think they have some sort of macho point to prove about not being scared of the Alsatian.
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7,810 Posts
Ah the benefits of having a dog who finds mud on almost every walk... nobody wants to touch her lol! She usually get an "awwww" which quickly turns into an "ewwww" as they realise she's actually meant to be white 
When she was a puppy, I hated the attention she got and people thought they were entitled to fuss her without asking. Not only is it rude and stupid, but Phoebe did excited widdles until she was almost a year old and it was usually over my shoes I've told this story many times, but one silly cow swooped down and picked her up, totally out of the blue. Phoebe pissed all over her! :Smug
When she was a puppy, I hated the attention she got and people thought they were entitled to fuss her without asking. Not only is it rude and stupid, but Phoebe did excited widdles until she was almost a year old and it was usually over my shoes
I've told this story many times, but one silly cow swooped down and picked her up, totally out of the blue. Phoebe pissed all over her! :SmugOnly really if my dogs approach the person and don't seem nervous/wary will I allow it. Generally i do it on my dogs terms.
One of my dogs wears a muzzle on a walk (not aggressive) so people tend to ignore/give her a wide berth where as my other dog (who doesn't wear a muzzle) is like 'aww don't ignore me'.
Though in saying that, we have had quite a few encounters where a child has decided to just wrap its arms around my dogs neck and 'hug' them. I always tell the parent they shouldn't let the child do that, not just the fact that its rude to do so without asking, but because there face is right near the dogs face so if the dog is scared, etc it could react badly....
Generally though we tend to avoid social interaction if I can help it, can't be bothered with that after a day work :Hilarious
One of my dogs wears a muzzle on a walk (not aggressive) so people tend to ignore/give her a wide berth where as my other dog (who doesn't wear a muzzle) is like 'aww don't ignore me
'.Though in saying that, we have had quite a few encounters where a child has decided to just wrap its arms around my dogs neck and 'hug' them. I always tell the parent they shouldn't let the child do that, not just the fact that its rude to do so without asking, but because there face is right near the dogs face so if the dog is scared, etc it could react badly....
Generally though we tend to avoid social interaction if I can help it, can't be bothered with that after a day work :Hilarious
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My two seem to love most people, I don't mind too much if people ask, I try to avoid children especially ones like we met the other day as a child holding a stick start charging at my two at full speed shouting 'PUPPIES' :Wideyed Hilde has taken a huge liking to two rather dashing army chaps who we regularly meet and will literally throw herself at their feet
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6,350 Posts
haha she would let you and if you dared to stop petting her the hand nudging would soon begin lolBring her to me, I'll love and fuss the bejeesus out of her
If she lets me. And if she doesn't I'll love her from afar...and cry :Arghh
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475 Posts
I think it depends on the dog, but I've only had rescues so mine have been the oddly proportioned goofy looking mutts which people generally ignore, so it's not an issue I've really had to think about too much. Sometimes people would rather blatantly turn their back to my dog in order to give fuss and attention to a doodle nearby.
The current foster is really gorgeous looking, so lots of people would come up and try to give him attention without permission, even though I would tell them what he was like, he was on a short lead, and I would try and stand away from the main path if possible to let them pass. Bear in mind that he's about 60cm tall, very long fur so mud sticks, etc... and he would always jump up. (he's better now, but first impressions count for a lot) Funnily enough, people will usually try and avoid him nowadays.
I've definitely been guilty of it before, though, when I was last dog-less.
The current foster is really gorgeous looking, so lots of people would come up and try to give him attention without permission, even though I would tell them what he was like, he was on a short lead, and I would try and stand away from the main path if possible to let them pass. Bear in mind that he's about 60cm tall, very long fur so mud sticks, etc... and he would always jump up. (he's better now, but first impressions count for a lot) Funnily enough, people will usually try and avoid him nowadays.
I've definitely been guilty of it before, though, when I was last dog-less.
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Im fine with it if people ask first.
Having one dog who does not like to be petteed by strangers especially not on the head and will growl very loudly to let them know, we have a rule that no one [especially not small childer] may pet her. People dont seem to realise this is for their own good and will get quite grumpy when told no as they seem to think being a small dog that they must be allowed to pet her .....:Banghead
I have had people who, while shes hiding behind me and growling, tell me they still want to pet her as they dont mind shes growling or that it wont hurt if she bites them anyway. Needless to say we avoid people like the plauge.
Having one dog who does not like to be petteed by strangers especially not on the head and will growl very loudly to let them know, we have a rule that no one [especially not small childer] may pet her. People dont seem to realise this is for their own good and will get quite grumpy when told no as they seem to think being a small dog that they must be allowed to pet her .....:Banghead
I have had people who, while shes hiding behind me and growling, tell me they still want to pet her as they dont mind shes growling or that it wont hurt if she bites them anyway. Needless to say we avoid people like the plauge.
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Nah.
Io can be wary of strangers and Bigby is a frustrates greeter.. stroking him and making a fuss only heightens his behaviour and can be a nightmare trying to calm him again.
I generally ask people not even to look or talk to Bigby especially as he'll go over his threshold otherwise.
I dont stroke other peoples dogs either.. I'm out to walk with my own.
Io can be wary of strangers and Bigby is a frustrates greeter.. stroking him and making a fuss only heightens his behaviour and can be a nightmare trying to calm him again.
I generally ask people not even to look or talk to Bigby especially as he'll go over his threshold otherwise.
I dont stroke other peoples dogs either.. I'm out to walk with my own.
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Jack does seem to attract people to want to stroke him.
He seems happy enough but I control the interaction and tend to make it brief. With children I will only allow if they are with their parent and ask and I tend to steer them towards his rump (which Jack loves being rubbed) so they aren't in his face. Again, I keep it brief.
I do "instruct" children (and the parents) in a subtle way about how to always ask before they touch someone's dog, and to be very gentle, etc.
He seems happy enough but I control the interaction and tend to make it brief. With children I will only allow if they are with their parent and ask and I tend to steer them towards his rump (which Jack loves being rubbed) so they aren't in his face. Again, I keep it brief.
I do "instruct" children (and the parents
) in a subtle way about how to always ask before they touch someone's dog, and to be very gentle, etc.
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I don't mind anyone stroking Ruby and I'm quite surprised that lots of people don't seem to like people stroking their dog! If a dog comes us to me and is friendly I always stroke it. If I'm on the fields or in the woods often they are no where near their owners so you can't ask.
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I don't mind folks fussing my dogs. Luckily as a gang of giant fluffies seems to attract a lot of attention! I do prefer them to ask first as while my lads are all pretty sound, and enjoy a cuddle, at least if they've asked, I can ensure I'm supervising and can step in to correct any unwanted pats or end the interaction /remove the dog if they start getting uncomfortable. We don't have children at home, but do encourage children to fuss ours if they want to. We meet a lot of people that are nervous round dogs and a big calm lunk like ours is quite good for helping them round their nerves. We often spend a lot of time at village fetes, family days, etc doing some impromptu education about always asking owners, how to approach dogs, etc.
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Unfortunately Mylo will do anything for a treat (which is another of my pet hates - a different thread maybe)? but generally I'd rather they didn't without asking, especially kids (we've encountered some polite ones). Because he's a rescue I haven't got a clue about his past especially where kids are concerned & he's very rarely around kids now so when they come running up to him, arms flailing, shouting 'aaw, look at the doggy' I shout at them. I don't care what the parents might say or think.
Earlier in the year, we were out having lunch at a lovely cafe by the locks. Mylo was under the table minding his own business & a woman with a toddler & a baby in a pram was walking up & down the canal path. The toddler must have spotted Mylo & ran over & bent down under the table to get to him. Not only did the mother shout 'stroke him nicely' she could see we were actually eating lunch & proceeded to saunter over to let the other child in the pram have a look at the doggy! Mylo was not happy to have his space invaded & I could hear the quietest of growls. I asked the woman to remove the toddler from under the table & she just said 'she's alright, she's already dirty'! OH had to get up & walk Mylo away while the woman just stood there as if we'd done something wrong! How I managed to hold my tongue when all I wanted to say was 'f**k off & let us eat our dinner in peace & my dog doesn't like kids so you should teach her some respect'. The whole incident only lasted a few seconds but I was really angry that people can be so rude.
Earlier in the year, we were out having lunch at a lovely cafe by the locks. Mylo was under the table minding his own business & a woman with a toddler & a baby in a pram was walking up & down the canal path. The toddler must have spotted Mylo & ran over & bent down under the table to get to him. Not only did the mother shout 'stroke him nicely' she could see we were actually eating lunch & proceeded to saunter over to let the other child in the pram have a look at the doggy! Mylo was not happy to have his space invaded & I could hear the quietest of growls. I asked the woman to remove the toddler from under the table & she just said 'she's alright, she's already dirty'! OH had to get up & walk Mylo away while the woman just stood there as if we'd done something wrong! How I managed to hold my tongue when all I wanted to say was 'f**k off & let us eat our dinner in peace & my dog doesn't like kids so you should teach her some respect'. The whole incident only lasted a few seconds but I was really angry that people can be so rude.
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2,910 Posts
For Holly, fine!. She loves people. It's lovely to see her so happy when a random stranger gives her some fuss or plays fetch with her.
With Ted, no!. It annoys me when people ask and I say he is shy, but they still try and fuss him, they look all offended/shocked when he backs/ducks away!. He is actually better with kids than adults.
I must say though that I actually get more adults not asking and just fussing my dogs. Most kids round here ask, or they ask if they bite. I don't think I've ever had a kid run up and hug any of my dogs.
With Ted, no!. It annoys me when people ask and I say he is shy, but they still try and fuss him, they look all offended/shocked when he backs/ducks away!. He is actually better with kids than adults.
I must say though that I actually get more adults not asking and just fussing my dogs. Most kids round here ask, or they ask if they bite. I don't think I've ever had a kid run up and hug any of my dogs.
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The amount of adults I've had say "she'll be fine, dogs love me". Actually no, my dog doesn't love you, and she will actively hate you if you go near her head
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I'm guilty of petting other peoples dogs, and I don't always ask the owners (most of the time they seem to have a phone attached to their ear and are oblivious to what their dog is doing...) but I do always ask the dog beforehand (as in see if they seem interested in an interaction or if they're ignoring me/seem shy etc... I'd never just walk up and start petting a dog I didn't know).
If the owner was actually with the dog or if the dog was on lead I would ask the owner first.
I don't mind people petting Elsa (I do mind the people who hand out treats though), although since we got Tilly people seem to ignore Elsa and go for the "puppy" (Tilly is around 3 but people seem to think she's a baby... quite a few have even assumed Elsa is her mum... Elsa is a golden retriever and Tilly is a cocker spaniel). Tilly is actually quite happy to be showered with attention at times, although if off lead she ignores most people and is usually running around following rabbit trails. She seems to like to tease people too, like she knows they're saying how cute she is so she'll trot up to them like she's going to say hello, then veer off once she reaches their feet and trot away just as they were bending down about to pet her.
If the owner was actually with the dog or if the dog was on lead I would ask the owner first.
I don't mind people petting Elsa (I do mind the people who hand out treats though), although since we got Tilly people seem to ignore Elsa and go for the "puppy" (Tilly is around 3 but people seem to think she's a baby... quite a few have even assumed Elsa is her mum...
Elsa is a golden retriever and Tilly is a cocker spaniel). Tilly is actually quite happy to be showered with attention at times, although if off lead she ignores most people and is usually running around following rabbit trails. She seems to like to tease people too, like she knows they're saying how cute she is so she'll trot up to them like she's going to say hello, then veer off once she reaches their feet and trot away just as they were bending down about to pet her.Dottie was a very cute puppy, she's still cute now but when she was little she looked like a stuffed toy. However she didn't really like people, she was never nasty but just wasn't comfortable being cuddled/leant over etc. Trying to get her used to lots of people was a nightmare as everyone wanted to stroke her and I even had children try and pick her up.
Now at 10 months she's had some kind of personality transplant and adores people, especially children she greets everyone she sees some more than others for some reason and it's usually the ones I'd rather avoid that she decides are her best mate! Now she's clearly happy with it I don't mind people stroking her as she often approaches them anyway, kids I won't let just run up to her as not all dogs are as friendly and if their parents can't be bothered to teach them that then I'll give them a little warning myself. She also has a habit of jumping up at children, I have 4 nieces and a nephew who are used to it and will tell her 'off' but she did knock a little boy over on the beach so I have to keep her on the lead if there are little ones she doesn't know.
The other day I had a bloke bend down and pick her up, now I wasn't comfortable with that at all and Dottie was taken aback but then threw herself at his face and gave him a big kiss. I didn't tell him she had eaten a particularly disgusting pile of poo minutes before!
Now at 10 months she's had some kind of personality transplant and adores people, especially children she greets everyone she sees some more than others for some reason and it's usually the ones I'd rather avoid that she decides are her best mate! Now she's clearly happy with it I don't mind people stroking her as she often approaches them anyway, kids I won't let just run up to her as not all dogs are as friendly and if their parents can't be bothered to teach them that then I'll give them a little warning myself. She also has a habit of jumping up at children, I have 4 nieces and a nephew who are used to it and will tell her 'off' but she did knock a little boy over on the beach so I have to keep her on the lead if there are little ones she doesn't know.
The other day I had a bloke bend down and pick her up, now I wasn't comfortable with that at all and Dottie was taken aback but then threw herself at his face and gave him a big kiss. I didn't tell him she had eaten a particularly disgusting pile of poo minutes before!
G
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·If they ask first then yes they can stroke Buddy unless like yesterday He growls at somebody or shows me any body language to say mum this human isn't good yesterday I also got a bad feeling about those 2 people.
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