To suspect the dog biscuits were poisoned?

[crunchymint]

Just taken my labrador for a walk. He is an old dog, extremely friendly and even tempered, and like most labradors very very greedy. I have had to drag him away from sick on the pavement before, that he wanted to eat.
Anyway as we were walking slowly back from the park, a man stopped and stroked my dog - absolutely fine. He then asked if he could give him a dog biscuit. I said sure. He held the biscuit out and my dog would NOT touch it, even turned his head away. So I simply said oh he must not be hungry and we walked away.
He has NEVER turned down any food ever. I even caught him once trying to get in a deep canal, which he could not have climbed out of alone, trying to get bread that someone was throwing for the ducks. He eats everything.
So I strongly suspect the biscuits were poisoned and that he could smell this. AIBU?

[2bazookas]

I think you're paranoid.

I always have dog treats and biscuits in my pockets for the many and varied rescue dogs I walk , and offer them to any other unknown dogs whose owner I get chatting to.

I can assure you that some dogs (of all breeds) will refuse anything offered by a stranger; and some greedy dogs will turn up their noses at some treats ; or taste it then politely put it on the ground. I'm not sure if they are put off by the smell of the donor, or the smell /taste of the treat.

Conclusion:

Dogs are as picky and selective as any MN poster on OLD.

[WeddingVegetables]

OR and this is just a wild theory I'm throwing out but could the biscuit just be a bit stale and unappetising?

After 5 years I'd expect that it would be.

[2bazookas]

@ALongHardWinter

I can't help thinking that it's decidedly odd that someone who doesn't have a dog with them is carrying dog biscuits.

Er, no. This is a bit like thinking any woman seen out alone must be an unmarried virgin.

[MyMumIsOnMN]

I have dogs that eat everything (even vomit if I let them, which I don’t). But they will not take anything from a stranger’s hand. They will pick things up off the floor, no matter how dirty or difficult to reach. But won’t take anything from a stranger directly.

[TaunterOfWomenInGeneralSaysSayonarastu]

@crunchymint

No stranger did not have a dog. I still do not think my dog would have turned anything down.

My dog is food obsessed, but last week turned his nose up at one of his favourite chewbars.

He can smell about 9 million times more strongly & accurately than I can - maybe there was something unpalatable from my hands, maybe it was a duff bar, maybe he had toothache, maybe he was holding out for human food ...
(he'll do this from time to time - whinge meaningfully & herd me toward the kitchen if he thinks it's time for me to prepare a plate of something he can get his beak into a share of).

[QuestionableMouse]

@2bazookas

I think you're paranoid.

I always have dog treats and biscuits in my pockets for the many and varied rescue dogs I walk , and offer them to any other unknown dogs whose owner I get chatting to.

I can assure you that some dogs (of all breeds) will refuse anything offered by a stranger; and some greedy dogs will turn up their noses at some treats ; or taste it then politely put it on the ground. I'm not sure if they are put off by the smell of the donor, or the smell /taste of the treat.

Conclusion:

Dogs are as picky and selective as any MN poster on OLD.

@2bazookas i think you're posting on a five year old thread.