AIBU That people should listen to dog owners?
Yesterday I was out with my dog, lovely sunny afternoon, so we went on a long ish family walk 2.5h by the river. My dog was swimming, there were other dogs, cows in the feild at one point, quick outdoor cafe stop. basically dog heaven, mix of on lead and off lead,
Anyway on the way home 1h drive. I stopped at the pet store to get some ear cleaner, due to dog swimming in 2 different rivers this weekend. DH ran into the supermarket across the road and 1 took dog and children to the pet store, should gave been a 5 minute stop to get 1 thing.
My point is and this isn't the first time this has happened is my dog is friendly but shy. (Not recative, just slow to warm up) shes also a Labador who everyone assumes wants to say hi to everyone.
So when people ask to say hi to her I will say she might say hi but shes shy. Sometimes she will give someone a sniff or sometimes she will back away to increase her bubble.
Most people will respect her and read her cues and usually she will say hi within a minute or 2.
However some people seem to think they are the dog whisper and try to override me, saying she has to get used to people saying hi, and tell me how good they are with dogs.......
Yesterday's Example has annoyed me. Customer in pet shop ask to say hi. On her approach dog walked behind me. "I said she's shy and shes had a big walk and tired so she probably won't say hi". Anyway the Lady seemed to take it as a personal insult, and walked away only to come back 30s later and try again, looking sorry for my dog. My dog was fine, just didn't want a fuss off strangers, and was standing in the cue calmly as I payed.
Its not the first time that self proclaimed dog experts have done this to us.
We are slowly working on gaining her confidence, for example people she meets on walks she knows shes greets them friendly and lively, and she will now take a treat from the pet store staff ect.