Inappropriate dog touching

[LeonardosYoungerModel]

if one more child or adult touches my dog without asking I may scream. Dogs are not toys!!!

Shes very young and a very family friendly breed. I’m socialising her at the moment and doing first walks. I’ve had her breed before and I know that if not properly trained they are a sodding nightmare (bouncy, bitey and big).

It’s a sodding bloody nightmare. Every child, person, stick insect and tosspottingwankweasel going seems intent to not only approach her and touch her, but also encourage her to jump up!!

Half the time they don’t even ask but when they do I’ve said no and they do it anyway!!!!!!! I’ve taught her to ‘place’ between my legs so people have to get level with
my fanny to touch her, and they still do it! Get your head away from my fanny!!!!!!

Why are people so damn thick?! AIBU to think that if it is clear the owner does not want you touching their dog, then you do not touch the bloody dog?! And you definitely do not touch any dog and more importantly do not let your bloody toddler touch a dog without asking but particularly when the owner has said no?! And you don’t bloody put your head near someone’s bloody fanny (thankfully not literally at the moment) to pat their dog who is ignoring you?!

Oh, some people just won’t hear it!

I had a guy come up to me, squealing, I said “he’s having his lunch. Please don’t touch him”. The man then knelt down, cooing, and picked up my dog and said “I have two of the same breed”. I should have said “then you know how annoying what you’re doing is”, but my jaw was still on the floor

It’s acclimation, not socialisation.

Dogs need to learn to ignore people and focus on their owner when out and about - it’s a crucial skill that so many overlook and is, in part, why so many dogs are so badly trained.

I let one person a walk pat my dogs when I’m ‘socialising’ a new puppy. I want my dog to focus on me, not mobbing others for attention which, if you’ve got a friendly dog, is a real risk…

You wouldn't have thos problem with my kids they are terrified of dogs

I was trying to explain this to someone once who seemed surprised a rescue dog didn’t like being touched by strangers and they said that the dog must be trained to like it. I asked her how her kids would feel if a stranger came up behind them and hugged them.

We ask an awful lot of dogs. I studied animal behaviour as part of my biology degree and thought about being a behaviourist but realised I would never cope with how many people choose to treat their dogs. Felt the same about being a vet after doing work experience in a practice.

As I've said, the Kennel Club refers to socialisation and reiterates that it's pretty much exactly as I've described. No mention of acclimation. No mention of limiting people stroking the dog - unless there's obviously a good reason (e.g. puppy is showing signs of nervousness and not wanting to interact, puppy is over excited etc.)

@Whatafustercluck the KC also allowed people to breed pigs and frenchies into the mess they are now.

And anyone capable of basic critical thinking wouldn’t take any advice literally without thinking about the consequences…at least I’d hope not!

I did wonder if I should open this post as I didn't want to read about anyone sexually abusing (well any sort of abusing actually) a dog 🙈

Although to be fair, a lot of dogs (especially if male and not had his balls chopped off) don't care who they sexually abuse! My dearest, and long departed, female neutered rescue dog, used to love humping my - female - leg, and would often sniff female (adult humans) visiters crotches! She certainly was an - on occassions - very embarrassing, but totally adorable girl. She once counted, very loudly, every single sheep in the fields while we were holidaying in Scotland! She also thought that horses being ridden on public roads, and Tracters, should be banned! 20 odd years later I still miss and love my little girl so much.

@LeonardosYoungerModel we always cautioned our little Granddaughter not to go too close to any dogs, and then asked the owner if we could touch their smallish dog - not tiny or miniature ones, as for obvious reasons they can be quite snappy, and not large ones because of the strength in their jaws. I even had to teach my husband to slowly, but confidently, hold the back of his hand to an unknown dog - obviously after being given the ok by the dog's owner. It seems almost unbelievable to me how many people obviously don't read or listen to the news, or surely they would know to be cautious about any unknown dogs - not just the "bully" types. As for asking out of politeness, if you can touch another person's dog, that probably hasn't been considered for a few generations now...

We have a golden retriever puppy and the walks are getting unbearable as he grows because the dopamine hit he gets when people stop and fuss him outweighs any possible reward we can offer for ignoring people!! I’m truly worried about what his behaviour will be like when he’s 40KG!

Same with my dog. She's a Eurasier... and as a puppy looked like a baby bear and everyone wanted to touch her..and would literally come up and fluff the top of her head without any warning.
She still hates anyone but family touching her head and will duck away from strangers putting a hand out (even if they think they are doing the correct thing by letting her sniff them). I always say 'please don't touch, she's a bit timid' when what I want to say is 'fuck off, she's not public property!'

The word ‘inappropriate’ kinda feels sexual. I know it isn’t, but i read it the same way you did.

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdUBvoaq/

I was completely thinking of JR Ackerley's "My Dog Tulip" and its forensic attention to satisfying his dog.

I have a 10 week black lab puppy and I do feel your pain somewhat.

I took him to the pub the other day (pre-vaccination so he was on the bench with me) and had to tell a group of children twice firmly to leave him alone. I could tell he was getting over stimulated and he gets bitey when he is like this. Now dreading walking him when he is jabbed 😂
Early morning and late evening walks for me for a while I guess.

When I carry him out and about, I have had the odd person walk up behind me and stroke him and walk off before I have a chance to say anything. Shame, I’ve no issue telling people to fuck off if they give me the chance 😂

But yep, slightly concerned for when he’s fully grown now!

There is so much conflicting advice around puppy rearing, everything I read to begin with suggests to get them used to meeting as many different people as possible and having as many positive interactions as possible! I now know that’s not the case.

I find with our puppy the kids ask always the adults rarely.. in the pub with him the other day 4 adults walked in the door straight over start ruffing his head. He was asleep.. they woke up my sleeping dog.

I also have a reactive dog, I’m tempered sometimes just to take him to the oi .. but he would lunch and snap, but just to serve them right for not asking.

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying you know nothing about dogs...

So you think it's ok for randoms to touch other people's dogs without asking? What if I substitute dog for toddler, is that still ok?

@LeonardosYoungerModel is trying to be a responsible dog owner by training her pup, random people are interfering and getting in her personal space to do so, often in direct contradiction of what she says. If the dog eventually snaps at someone for touching them randomly you will say it is the dogs fault. No, play stupid games and you risk winning stupid prizes.

My dog looks like a teddy bear, she is however a high energy nutter usually damp and covered in mud or fox shit (sometimes both) & I have spent a lot of time training her not to engage with people unless they invite it but if people do I think whatever happens is their own fault. If I tell them not to touch her they should fuck off, just like people shouldn't touch you or your kid without permission.

I have a totally gorgeous looking dog, I have random multiple people trying to feed him everywhere we go. I had no idea people out without their dogs carry treats! Train passengers, randoms in pubs, someone over leant over the barrier whilst I was in a shopping centre coffee shop, it’s mental. I’m talking 20-30 people per hour stoking him as we pass or interrupting us. Last night leaving a pub a random gave him a handful of pork scratchings. I feel your pain OP!

You have a cute dog, people like dogs, don't take it near anyone if you don't want people touching it. You are being weird about your dog. This is just going to make you angry because no one will ask, so get over it.

Same. We have two very small, very cute dogs and everyone asks.

You've taken a puppy to a pub. People are going to want to stroke your puppy. Puppies are for everyone. Stop being moody about your puppy.

Tosspottingwankweasel

This is the trouble with dog owners. They want their dogs to be free to run around, jump up to strangers, poo everywhere and bark all day but if someone dares stroke their precious dog they have a meltdown.

Just say no thanks she he is being trained to be non reactive. Puppies are cute. YABU

No, puppies are not ‘for everyone’

Puppies are not "for everyone"

Firstly, dog owners are not one homogeneous mass who all behave the same way.

Secondly, any decent dog owner absolutely does not want to allow their dog to jump up to strangers or bark all day and will pick up after their dog.