So apparently I'm unfriendly . . .

[RD]

I made a trip into town with Eve today, as I do almost every day. We went into petco to pick out some treats, and this little girl (maybe 7-8 years old) came up to me and asked "can I pet your doooooooooggyyyyyy?" in the most high-pitched, squeaky voice imaginable. Eve was in a downstay and was already squirming. So, I told the girl "no, I'm sorry, but she's training right now" and gave Eve a treat for staying by my side.

The kid burst into tears and went running to her mother, who came barging up to me and asked why her daughter couldn't pet my dog. I explained again that she's training and even went on to say that sometimes visiting with people and getting too excited can be a huge setback. This lady GRABBED my arm, pulled me aside, stuck her face in mine and told me all about how her daughter used to be afraid of dogs and how she should be able to pet them when she wants to. I told her that petco is not a petting zoo. She walked away and loudly told her daughter that "some people just aren't friendly".

Meanwhile, Eve stayed right where I put her. Her behavior in public is so good now.

But, erm, was I unfriendly or were they just overreacting? Would you be pissed off if someone told you that you couldn't pet a dog?

 

[Saje]

Holy crap! What is that woman's problem? You were out of line at all. That is so rude. And you were being so reasonable! She should have appreciated it! <sigh> people

 

[Bahamutt99]

If you're unfriendly then I'm downright hostile. If anybody grabbed my arm, they'd be at risk of being bitten. By me. Or perhaps a nice headbutt for sticking one's face in mine.

 

[Lizmo]

DANG! What's wrong with that "woman"!! She's was SO out of line...she had no right what so ever to do that to you. If that would have happend to me, I think I would not have been that friendly!

*sigh* some people

But, big praises to Eve! Good job, girl!

 

[RD]

Baha, I used to be able to be a bitch but for some reason over the last year or so, I've turned into a complete pushover. :-/ If I had Dakota, he'd have stood up for me, but it was just little Eve who is so trusting of everyone.

 

[~Tucker&Me~]

Oh GAWD.

People are such drama queens! I agree, if that lady grabbed my arm... Haha. I wouldn't have been so nice.

~Tucker

 

[Whisper]

Oh my gosh. WTH? They were totally overreacting.
I'm so glad Eve was such a good girl.

 

[tessa_s212]

If someone were to grab me like that ever I would punch them directly in the face without even thinking about it(natural reaction because of my childhood, not that I'm violent person). She's lucky it wasn't me.

 

[Aussie Red]

Good job Eve for not jumping and attacking this rude piece of work. I know if she had grabbed me Whiskey would have had lunch courtesy of her arm!!!
I swear some people..... and they wonder why there being attacked by dogs.. Great job stupid lady teach your daughter to go and pet every dog.
RD you are commendable for not punching this obnoxious piece of $*** !!!!

 

[Whisper]

I as well would have had a problem with her grabbing me like that. . .

 

[Psyfalcon]

See, your problem was getting such a cute dog and taking it in public with idiots.

The kids loved Buster in petco today (when he was not barking- play barking, but insane barking none the less...) but they only got close if they could understand that he sometimes jumps a little. To the parents, and kids credit, they understood this, and to Buster's credit, he didn't jump or bark at any kids! Now, if he was as cute as Eve, it would have been disaster

 

[ACooper]

Your actions were completely reasonable, and not at all unfriendly......that lady on the other hand.........................:yikes:

I have a VERY strict rule about my personal space with strangers, and if she thought I was unfriendly concerning the dog, she would have been in total shock after she grabbed my arm!!

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

sounds like another example of poor parenting--you were so in the right to respond as you did. The mother should have explained to her daughter that the dog was "working" or "learning" and we can't disturb her! Instead, it sounds like she is an endulgent mom--ugh. Kudos to you and Eve.

 

[shazbot]

Holy cow...did it even occur to her that she was the one who was unfriendly? Had some stranger like that grabbed my arm I would've knocked them out, then polity told them never to put their hands on me again.

I don't get why people get so upset when others say they can't pet their dogs. I definately don't think you were unfriendly at all. The nerve of some people.

 

[sam]

She grabbed you arm???? What a nutbar!!

That being said, I have never told anyone they couldn't pat my dog-- wether I'm training or not training. I'm always happy to get them to sit and let people pat them - but my dogs are adults and are fine with it. I actually consider it good practice for my dogs. I do make sure the people pat them nicely and don't bother them. If I thought they couldn't maintain a sitstay I'd release them and tell the to go say hi. Again my dogs are older, they won't jump up, lick faces or anything.
I'm not in any way saying it's wrong to at times say "no you can't pet my dog". People should be gracious about that. I've just never encountered a time when I felt that was necessary.

 

[Renee750il]

Grace, what that woman did when she grabbed your arm like that is - in the eyes of the law - assault. It was far beyond rude.

You have no obligation to let people ignore or override your wishes regarding your dogs.

And she's setting her daughter up to not only be a spoiled little bitch, but to get herself bitten.

 

[showpug]

I can't believe she touched you...:yikes: What is wrong with people?

 

[Doberluv]

No, you weren't unreasonable. If that was part of your training, then that's your business. She was outrageous to lay a hand on you. You should have told the management. If it were me, I think my karate training would have come in useful. I would be like Chuck Norris, spinning around for a good roundhouse kick. LOL. Ok, dream over. No, but I might have had her arm twisted behind her back, applying plenty of leverage.

Like Sam, I've never been in a place where I didn't want anyone to pat Lyric. I needed him to have every opportunity to meet strangers of all kinds. I would ask them, however to not come to him, but to wait and let him go to them. If he was in a down stay, I released him first. But that's just me. I live in a pretty remote area and I took advantage of every human being I could come across, made special trips all over the place to gradually expose him to things like being patted on top of his head and anything else he had any trepidations about to get him OK with it all, eventualy getting him OK with people walking up to him instead of always him being the one....just enough so that he wouldn't freak if someone did come right up to him.

But you weren't unreasonable one bit. It's your dog, your business and how dare she act like it's your responsibility to allow her kid to get over her fear of dogs. She acted like you were under some obligation or something. Good grief. And it was assault what she did to you. A lot of dogs, including Lyric and Dakota or any dog with that extra protective nature probably would have gone after her. She may well get bitten one day....

 

[Renee750il]

Just imagine what could have happened to her with a dog like Kharma or Shiva . . . or Bimmer!

 

[showpug]

Just imagine what could have happened to her with a dog like Kharma or Shiva . . . or Bimmer!

No kidding. Then I guess little sweetie pie would have become afraid of dogs all over again.