I'm not a dog owner but looking for advice on how to deal with other folks' dogs

[voluptuagoodshag]

Just for the record, I do like dogs. However recently many of my friends have gotten a pooch and the dogs are just a pain in the arse. By that I mean not well trained so they jump up on me and slobber all over me so I end up filthy. It's not the dog's fault but what is the best way to broach this with all the various pals for whom their dog is their world but not mine. I don't mind going on walks with them, I don't mind them being there I just don't want them on me constantly. The owners are either oblivious or mutter an apology but do nothing to stop dog repeating behaviour again and again. I love well trained dogs, they are a joy and a pleasure but I'm fed up with the badly trained ones. How do you train a dog not to jump up so I can drop hints to the owner?

You could try turning your back on the dog with your arms folded. It's supposed to show the dog you're not prepared to interact with it.

A strange dog leaped on me the other day, when I was in the park with my dog, my reaction was automatic but seemed to work with that dog, both hands out. said down in a firm voice, and the dog backed off. But the dog could have been trained so not sure about that.

You could try putting you hand out towards the dog when it jumps and saying down or off and giving it a treat if and when it backs down.

Alternatively you could just tell your various friends to get their bloody dogs properly trained.

Show them your hand like a stop sign and firmly say "No"

Talk loudly to the dog for the owners benefit "no, do not jump up, I don't want hairs on my clothes thank you"

If you're happy to fuss the dog while it's on the floor most dogs will stay on the floor if they're getting some attention. Few mins of that and the dog should get bored and skulk off.

This happens a lot with youngsters and my tactic is to go straight down ready with hands to keep doggie on floor whilst stroking and have a toy to hand over before standing up and walking off.

Unless you say something to your friends which you should be able to be heard by if they are decent friends and responsible owners!

If you turn around swiftly as a dog jumps it falls off, it really seems to work.

Grab paws as they jump and put them off to the side while saying "Down!" Then don't fuss them until all four paws are on the ground. They get the picture pretty quickly. Just make sure to reward behaviour you DO like with attention. They want you to interact with them and like with children, any attention will do, good or bad.