Other people "correcting" your dogs?

[Whisper]

Hypothetically, if my dog is being a nuisance by jumping and slobbering on a guest, they can feel free to correct them. Not that it would get to that point! If someone is visiting, they should be safe from assault from my dogs.

However, I have had people correct my dogs and I was not okay with it. Like when an acquaintance came over, and approaching the fence he scolded Millie for barking. WTF? I want my dogs to alert when someone is coming onto the property.


And Sael, I KNOW THEM FEELS. People are always calling Millie over to them and giving her commands! :wall: Fortunately Millie is pretty aloof and she doesn't run over to anyone, but it still distracts both of us, which drives me insane. jhlkjkfhjkjhgkljk$#%&!%&

 

[Dogdragoness]

I can relate, I would prefer people dont talk to my dogs at all when out in public ... sometimes I miss having a bigm imposing dog like the dane/lab mutt i used to have or the doberman, or the shepherd (both rescues) they werent mean in the least, but they kept ppl away thats for sure. Lol one thing i dont miss when I had the shepherd was all the "is she a wolf?" comments I used to get :/

 

[MandyPug]

People out at pet stores (even the one I work at) always want the dogs to sit before taking a treat, for some reason. I can only chuckle when they try and lure Siri into a sit, and she sits there and stares at them like they are stupid.

I tell them to put the treat away and ask her to sit. Then of course she does it immediately and they don't think she's dumb as a box of rocks anymore. I admit, I gloat a little when I tell them she's not used to blatant bribery for food.

I get after my co-workers when they do this because usually they're going "sit... siiiiiiiiit... SIT... *squeaky voice* sit!" with a cookie and the dog is looking at them like they have three heads and a trunk for a nose.

I'm the mean one I guess, I don't tend to give out cookies unless I'm doing a nail trim or helping fit a dog for something. I don't get the obsession of giving all the dogs cookies all the time. I have a few select regular customers that get cookies and the owners are always willing to show me a trick. For instance one guy comes in with his BC Maggie all the time and she knows directional spinning so I always get her to do a few before tossing her a cookie.

I had some issues at old work when Izzie was younger. She's a happy dog, likes to bounce and squeak a bit for customers and when she was younger she would dance around before jumping up on her designated chair. I had a few customers boot her in the chest just for doing her little tap dance, no jumping up on them but just spinning or being excited but keeping 4 on the floor. Usually men, had a couple women who were in love with CM or BP. I don't find it annoying and most others didn't, but a handful of customers did so I sped up her "get to your chair when a customer comes in" response.

 

[Whisper]

I can relate, I would prefer people dont talk to my dogs at all when out in public ... sometimes I miss having a bigm imposing dog like the dane/lab mutt i used to have or the doberman, or the shepherd (both rescues) they werent mean in the least, but they kept ppl away thats for sure. Lol one thing i dont miss when I had the shepherd was all the "is she a wolf?" comments I used to get :/

Yep, but Millie is a service dog, which is obvious when she's working, so people need to back off and let her work. It makes me bonkers when people distract her.

 

[Southpaw]

I get after my co-workers when they do this because usually they're going "sit... siiiiiiiiit... SIT... *squeaky voice* sit!" with a cookie and the dog is looking at them like they have three heads and a trunk for a nose.

I'm the mean one I guess, I don't tend to give out cookies unless I'm doing a nail trim or helping fit a dog for something. I don't get the obsession of giving all the dogs cookies all the time.

lol I am super weird when it comes to giving other dogs commands. Like, I totally don't say it in the same clear, straightforward way I tell my own dogs to sit. I guess because it's not my dog, I feel like I need to sound light and airy and not just "commanding?" lol. And this is not just for cookie giving. This is like... if I want the dog to sit because it makes it easier for me to restraint it etc. I'm just never surprised when the dog doesn't listen to me because I know I sound ridiculous :rofl1:

I also usually ask for a sit if I'm giving out a "freebie." I mean if they don't do it I just go okay whatever, here's your cookie. Probably just habit because I always have my dogs sit before giving them a treat. When I worked at the pet store I tried to give a treat to every dog that came in (with owner's permission), just because most people seem to like it... having their dogs doted on. And the dogs of course like it, makes them like us and like coming in.

 

[Shakou]

I don't mind it within reason. If my dogs are being obnoxious annoying jerks, I'm okay with gentle corrections. But I won't put up with physical (shoving, hitting, pinning, etc) corrections from anyone, in my house or out.

 

[SpringerLover]

I'm not generally in a situation with my dogs where they would 'need' a correction. More often than not it's telling them I don't care if my dog sits for you, you want to give her the treat, just give it to her! And no, you can't give Buzz a treat of your own but you can give him one I have in my hand for you.

 

[Shakou]

I make sure my dogs are polite when people visit, but it is MY job to make sure they are behaved, not my guests. If they don't like what the dog is doing then ask me.

This is how I feel about it as well. Charlotte is very, very sensitive about corrections, especially from strangers, and Ma'ii completely ignores everyone but me. If they are bothering you, feel free to tell them to "git" or "go lay down" and they will, but anything beyond that is my place, not yours.

 

[sillysally]

When people say to my dogs "Can you sit?" both dogs kind of look at them like "Yes hooman, I CAN sit, did you want me to or what?"

I had one drunk woman at a street festival inform me that she was a "dog trainer" and slurred out a "Sit!" to Jack, who obeyed, as she was sloshing beer onto his snout. He was a big fan of the beer and kept eyeballing everyone with a plastic cup after that.

DH and I are the only ones that really correct the dogs. I've started asking the woman who massages and swims Jack to actually give him firm "wait" commands because he totally has her number and would actually drag her out into the water when he didn't want to take a rest.

 

[adojrts]

I also usually ask for a sit if I'm giving out a "freebie." I mean if they don't do it I just go okay whatever, here's your cookie. Probably just habit because I always have my dogs sit before giving them a treat. When I worked at the pet store I tried to give a treat to every dog that came in (with owner's permission), just because most people seem to like it... having their dogs doted on. And the dogs of course like it, makes them like us and like coming in.

It isn't a 'whatever', it is poisoning a cue and how do you know that the owner hasn't been been working on it and doesn't want to ask the dog to do in a distracting place because the likelihood of failure is high?
And you also can't assume that the owner is educated enough to not ask you to it.

 

[JessLough]

It isn't a 'whatever', it is poisoning a cue and how do you know that the owner hasn't been been working on it and doesn't want to ask the dog to do in a distracting place because the likelihood of failure is high?
And you also can't assume that the owner is educated enough to not ask you to it.

This.

I'd be much more upset about somebody telling my dog to sit and then giving a treat when the dog doesn't sit than I would be about somebody correcting my dog when it jumps IP or whatever. I mean, if you're going to give the treat anyway... Why not just give the dog a treat without risking screwing up somebody's training?

 

[sillysally]

It isn't a 'whatever', it is poisoning a cue and how do you know that the owner hasn't been been working on it and doesn't want to ask the dog to do in a distracting place because the likelihood of failure is high?
And you also can't assume that the owner is educated enough to not ask you to it.

This. It teaches the dog that it's cool to blow off a command. My dogs know "sit" well, it was the first cue they learned. When I want it, I want it, every time. Jack is particularly bad about taking advantage and trying to ignore commands if he doesn't feel like doing them so I have to be very consistent with him.

 

[sassafras]

This.

I'd be much more upset about somebody telling my dog to sit and then giving a treat when the dog doesn't sit than I would be about somebody correcting my dog when it jumps IP or whatever. I mean, if you're going to give the treat anyway... Why not just give the dog a treat without risking screwing up somebody's training?

Because almost every time I try to give a patient a treat for "free", the owner yells NO HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING FIRST TELL HIM TO SIT. :/

 

[adojrts]

Because almost every time I try to give a patient a treat for "free", the owner yells NO HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING FIRST TELL HIM TO SIT. :/

Then ask first or give the treat to the owner to give as they see fit.

 

[Airn]

Because almost every time I try to give a patient a treat for "free", the owner yells NO HE HAS TO DO SOMETHING FIRST TELL HIM TO SIT. :/

I like to make Gwen do tricks before she gets a treat but she doesn't listen to anyone else. I don't mind if a PetSmart employee wants to tell her to sit and give her a treat. She knows sit and she MIGHT listen but probably not. She still sits when I tell her to sit. She would just not sit if the person has been known to give her 'freebies'.


I get that you want to train your dog not to ignore commands but surely a stranger with a cookie telling your dog to sit isn't going to cause your dog training empire to crumble?

 

[sassafras]

Then ask first or give the treat to the owner to give as they see fit.

Oh I always ask first. But for some reason they don't see fit to screech at me until the treat is already practically in their dog's mouth.

Danged if you do, danged if you don't.

 

[Romy]

I get that you want to train your dog not to ignore commands but surely a stranger with a cookie telling your dog to sit isn't going to cause your dog training empire to crumble?

This. ^^

People did all kinds of things like that to Strider and it certainly didn't poison his cues. He just blows off strangers and casual acquaintances now, which might have more to do with him being an aloof breed than a few casual incidents like that.

Honestly, I'd rather my dog didn't take commands from strangers anyway. It's worked pretty well for the two of us.

 

[Fran101]

As someone who works in a pet-store.. I feel you on treat giving protocol.

On one hand as a person with a dog who works in the store.. knowing I had this job, I knew better than to use words like "sit" "down" "shake" for Merlin's cues. Customers are notorious for asking for something and then just giving store dogs the treat anyway. Which as someone else stated, has a way of really messing with training. Not so much poisoning the cue but kind of creating a dog who, every time gets a freebie, learns that he doesn't have to listen to strangers lol

Merlin has figured out (even though it isn't his word) that if a stranger tells him "sit" and stares at him.. he gets a treat if he puts his butt down. But sit isn't our cue so I don't really care if they ruin it or who doesn't do it or whatever.
Honestly, I just tell people he is "cute but not too smart"/"doesn't know ____" and to just give him the treat if they keep trying.

But on the other hand.. I understand what it's like to kind of give freebies and ask customer dogs for something.
There is a free bowl of treats and we like to give a treat if the owner says it's ok
You do get a lot of "TELL HIM TO SIT!"
I rarely tell customer dogs to sit/down/whatever.. mostly because with merlin running around, treats, toys, etc.. they probably are too excited to.. and why set them up to fail? then you are stuck with a frustrated dog and holding a treat and the owner is like "HE KNOWS HOW!" and you are just like ugh... I just wanna give it to him lol

 

[Linds]

There is such a world of difference between a petsmart cashiers "Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiit" and my cue that it isn't even on the same planet. So yeah, don't mind Traveler/Didgie completely blowing off them when they do that.

If I told him sit and he didn't I would care, but a stranger waving a treat around his face? Not really worried. But, that's me.

 

[sillysally]

I like to make Gwen do tricks before she gets a treat but she doesn't listen to anyone else. I don't mind if a PetSmart employee wants to tell her to sit and give her a treat. She knows sit and she MIGHT listen but probably not. She still sits when I tell her to sit. She would just not sit if the person has been known to give her 'freebies'.


I get that you want to train your dog not to ignore commands but surely a stranger with a cookie telling your dog to sit isn't going to cause your dog training empire to crumble?

I think it depends on the dog. With Sally, it really doesn't matter as much but with Jack we really have to be very consistent because if you give him an inch he'll take a mile. I'd rather have people just give him a freebie. I do speak up about clerks trying to lure him up on the counter to hand him a treat-I find that super annoying.