To expect people not to try and pick up my dog?

[HannahHut]

I'm the owner of a chihuahua and while home for Xmas I took him for a walk in the park. A little girl about 8/9 with her mother stopped and knelt down to fuss over him (this is fine, he loves this). However she tried to pick him up with her arms around his middle so could have injured him. I told her quite sharply ''Don't pick him up, just stroke him'' I wanted to make sure she let go of him quickly hence my tone.

The mother huffed at me and told me not to tell her kid off before walking away. AIBU to think people should teach their kids not to pick up little dogs?! Just because he's small doesn't give everyone the right to pick him up. Sorry I just needed to vent a little.

YANBU. Like others, I always tell my DC to ask the owner before stroking a dog. The dog could be nervous of strangers. Wouldn't occur to me to let them pick up a dog we didn't know.

YANBU the mother was an arse.
Little children often make a beeline for my dog, and they often go to grab his tail (is very fluffy). I always stop them and explain why not and how to gently pet on his back or gently stroke his ears. The mothers are usually with them and have never objected to my saying no to getting hold of the tail.
Sometimes they can be quite persistent in trying, so I say we are going on with the walk now.....

Totally NBU. I’ve always taught my dc to ask before stroking a dog and in the last 15 or so years of it, have only had one owner who said no (dog was nervous of children and she couldn’t guarantee its behaviour)That one time is the reason for asking every time.

You are not being unreasonable. We have a similar problem with our Dalmatian. It's the Disney effect. She's harmless but a big powerful dog. I never allow children to stroke her. Don't really care if I come across as a cow or not about it

We used to have huge dogs (bernards) but now my parents are older chis are much easier for them to manage. I don't mind people stroking my dog, he loves the attention and I think its good for him to interact with others to keep him well socialised, its the not asking or picking up that does my head in. I think because we've had a variety of breeds I treat him like a dog unlike other people treat toy breeds.

I'd get one of those harnesses and leash that have writing on like "nervous" or "do not approach". It should put a stop to it.

I don't want to purchase or use one of these because A)He's friendly and enjoys interaction and B) I don't want to further the reputation of chihuahuas being that type of dog. Imagine if you saw a dog wearing one then I let him off the leash to play, bit of a mixed message!

People are so stupid

I had a stand up row with a woman in the park who'd encouraged her 2 year old to pat the puppy

I said no and lifted my puppy out the way as she was mouthing (and anyone who knows anything knows that puppy teeth are sharp as fuck) and the silly bitch yelled at me that I shouldn't have a cute puppy if I didn't want children to cuddle it.

I gave her a right drubbing and sent her away in the huff.

shouldn't have a cute puppy if I didn't want children to cuddle it .
Well that's you told eh? Laurie your dog is everyones plaything in CF Mum opinion .

My DParents adopted a retired Guide Dog years ago , but when the dog was working (in full harness with her owner trying to get across busy roads etc) the number of people who got enraged that they wanted "to clap it" (clap=pat in Glasgow) or feed it and felt very put out when they were denied.
This was in the days before the "Please Don't Disturb Me" harnesses .

70isa i know a puppy walker for the Guide Dogs & even with the vests & jackets people still think they have the right to cuddle the dogs. People's attitudes are disgusting