To say no, you can't pet the dog

[SheLoves]

I've been working hard to train my very excitable and large rescue puppy, she pulls/lunges and will jump up on strangers to say hi - her paws will easily reach a child's face.

She's amazing in the house and has come far, she has now stopped jumping up at visitors, she knows she'll only get fuss once all four paws are on the floor.

But she has very little no impulse control when we're out and about, but to strangers she looks adorable - wagging tail, happy face, pulling to meet them. 'Oh what a lovely dog! Awwww HELLO, HELLO!' Which makes the bloody pup 100 times worse

She's in a double lead harness so I have full control, and can tell when she's getting worked up and I distract with treats/go a different way/give lots of space.

I've had to get really harsh as I want to train her that pulling/jumping/high excitement does not get fuss, so I've started saying no when people approach her (even if I've quite obviously moved away from them).

It's half term so the amount of kids happily playing around the area has exploded and the pup draws a lot of attention. I have to say 'sorry, she's a puppy and she's learning so until she's very good you can't fuss her yet but hopefully next time' - usually the kids ask a few questions (what does she eat? children and what is she? exhausting and that's that - controlled dog, no reward for her pulling/over excitement.

The problem is when the parents are with the kids! I've had quite a few 'no need to be rude' or 'well my daughter loves dogs she wouldn't mind' and bitchy death looks from adults.

I'm sure you would mind if my puppy put a claw in your daughter's eye or scraped her face!

I'm just trying to be a responsible dog owner. AIBU to feel I can't do wrong for right? Any advice what I can say that might be better received?!

SheLoves with my little thug I started with commands in the house only.

"Yes!" came first. Every time he moved, just whenever I felt like it I said "Yes" and treated him. That made Yes the same as a clicker (which I haven't bothered with)

Then Sit and Watch Me. Sit has become great, stops him leaping all over us and Watch Me is now the basis of our walk training

That because the best advice I got for my only too independent pup was to keep him checking in on me.

So once Sit was there I started hold a treat in the air and waiting ... no command. If he Sits he gets a treat. Then if he Sits and looks at me gets a treat. He needs to look me in the eyes, that can take a reminder "Watch Me"

Then on walks every time he checks in on me he gets a treat. That keeps him close.

Recall and Heel work are all being based on that - they didn't stick the first time round, he just ignored me. Which is why I went back to Watch Me, to make me the most important thing in his little world. Now Heel works quite well and "To Me" my replacement recall command is working well.

The trick, apparently, is the timing of the Yes or clicker. The moment you dog starts to comply he gets a Yes. Never wait for it to be complete. Which is where I went wrong initially and have had to retrace my steps a bit.

I make it sound like my pup is a total horror. He really isn't. But he is Bull Terrier and will be extremely strong and low... I have to have him focussed on me before he can drag me off down the street

This is him now at 7 months, loose lead walking, checking in without command. He is getting there.

He is now also walking past most people and will Wait at the very end of his lead if he sees another dog, but doesn't always pull towards them! I let him look, that is his current socialisation - watch them doggies walk by ignoring you

YANBU my 2 year old adores dogs but she is only allowed to pet one if invited by the owner. I would completely respect your wishes, you know your dog

You’re the type of dog owner I like. I’ve come across enough dog owners that make me wish that there was an area to live that didn’t allow dogs at all so I wouldn’t have to deal with the many who allow theirs off lead and don’t recall them when they’re running around people’s feet, jumping on me or expecting me to be ok with it and/or like their dogs as well as the lack of respect of cleaning up their dogs’ poo off the pavement. There are times I want to shout out “get your f-ing dog away from us. I don’t want it touching me or going for my pram because it likes children.” My oldest isn’t interested at 4 and my youngest is 19 mo and is interested in everything but I still don’t let him touch other people’s pets.

Ours is a rescue on third home. He dislikes children because his first home was a flat with five children and no garden - he wasn’t treated kindly and was literally rescued via RSPCA. He’s three now but reactive (lunging and loud barking rather than biting) if approached and he’s a big dog not a cute puppy.
I am quite firm about his comfort as we want him to be more relaxed in busier settings. He’s good looking and people do come up up to him. It’s not just children; in fact more likely adults as he’s big children tend to be more wary. Even after I’ve said he gets upset if approached by strangers they still tell me they’re good with dogs and carry on or stick their hand out towards him. Eventually he reacts and they inevitably end up with a spilled pint. I just smile and tell them to listen next time.

OP we've had the same problem.
"Sorry but he will jump and we are trying to train him not to."
"Aw it's ok I love dogs," commence approaching, Ddog jumping and getting loads of praise for it.
Drives me crazy.
We have resorted to telling him to sit and wait, if he does he gets pets, as soon as he jumps I pull him the opposite way and tell him to sit again. Not many people love dogs so much that they will follow you all down the street doing this, so it generally works.

@SheLoves with you on this!!

I have to add a little story that happened to me and DS the other day as it was really quite lovely:

Took DS (2yo) to the park couple of says ago and being half term there was plenty of children there and lots of parents exercising dogs at the same time as park is set in a large field.... just by the gates to the park was a lady with a small black fluffy dog playing and whatnot....

DS decided he was bored of the playground and wanted to go running around the field so he approached the gates. The lady with the dog saw this and called her dog over and put him on a lead and said to me 'he's still a puppy I'm training him' my DS (who loves dogs) said 'doggy!!!' In a loud excitable voice and before I had the chance to say anything the lady said 'would he like to stroke him?' I thanked her and followed my DS over to the dog (holding his hand) and reminded him to be quiet, and gentle and the lady sat her dog down and showed DS where to stroke him etc and they both loved it! We thanked her and went about our day and I just thought it was really lovely and thoughtful and I hope we did the right thing!!!

YABVVU to have a thread about a puppy without a picture

YANBU about the rest. My dog bites strangers who approach him quickly and noisily so I will tell people. Ignore the weirdos who think puppies are public property.

Ds has just gone from the extreme of hating all dogs to thinking every dog is his best friend. I have made sure he knows to always ask the owner before he approaches and dog and to listen to anything they say.
M

When I was training my rescue, I just told people:" stay away, she bites"

Better than a long explanation

She now never jumps up at people

She has never bitten btw

I can't do that. Where I live everyne knows me and him. If I said he bit that would get round everyone and I would have a whole heap of other troubles.

That and he doesn't bite. He tastes

Did someone say picture?

Here we are Lost in a Forest and Posing Lakeside

@CuriousaboutSamphire what a gorgeous pooch! 😘