Why do other owners get so offended if you pick your dog up?

[Isthismummy]

Pondering this question after an unpleasant run in with another dog walker in park yesterday.

Woman was walking her terrier and wiemeraner and I was with my 11 week old, still very small shih tzu. Both her dogs were off lead (she walks them round the streets off lead as well, but that's another story) They both see my puppy and start galloping full speed towards her. Woman is about 20 yards away and makes no effort to recall them. I pick puppy up as a preventive measure. Woman shouts over to me "it's OK, my dogs are friendly" I politely call back that whilst Im sure they are, my pup is very young and small and I don't want her potentially frightened. Woman shouts back that I'm "storing up a lot of trouble for myself with that attitude"

I won't repeat my response. I used to have the same problem when I had my papillion. Surely any sane person can see that it's only sensible to be cautious when their dog is huge and yours is tiny? I have no issue with sensible introductions when both animals are under control, but I won't risk my pets safety just so some idiot owner isn't offended.

Have any other small dog owners had this problem? I'd forgotten how annoying I used to find it, but Ive been sharply reminded now I have another dog!

You are being unrealistic in picking your dog up and you are indeed saving up issues for the future as your dog needs to socialise. It's a dog. If it was a large breed you wouldn't be able to pick it up, so keep it on the floor where it belongs. Small dogs are still dogs and should be allowed to exhibit normal dog behaviour. You are preventing this.

Yanbu.

This strange "doggy politics" is why I don't get a dog.

Spare a thought for us walkers who lift up children from the path of similar dogs.....we get the same thing.

When my pom was a puppy (and could fit it the palm of my hand practically) I used to pick her up when a big dog approached and hold her so they could interact. I wasn't particularly worried about her getting bitten per se but a accidental paw to the head could have flattened the poor wee mousie.

I did get people saying oh he's friendly he won't bite and I just explained I wasn't worried about biting but getting stood on and then they were generally okay.

Has your puppy had all their injections? Seems a bit early for walks outside.

She should have recalled her dogs, if she can't recall them they shouldn't be off the lead. I can't lift my dog, she's too big, but I see your point.

I understand why you lifted your dog up but I think YABU. It's the natural instinct of dogs to be interested in other dogs and want to have a sniff hello. Yes your dog is a puppy but you were reassured by the woman that her dogs were friendly so you (presumably ) knew they wouldn't attack your dog. My dogs will always run up to another dog, big or small, and have a sniff and a tail wag. Your dog might be nervous at first but he'll learn that this is the most exciting part of a walk. Lifting him up away from that natural meeting is giving him the wrong message. Also, another dog might jump up at your dog which is much more scary for both you and the dog.

So you would suggest that I let a huge dog potentially jump all over my tiny puppy when it's owner is nowhere near to control it VivienneWestwoodsknickers?

The notion that I'm "storing up trouble" is rubbish. My previous dog was perfectly well socialised by mixing with other suitably controlled dogs at puppy training etc. However my friends papillion did develop a life long phobia of bigger dogs after being jumped all over by a wolf hound puppy at a ring training class.

Yes dogs have to learn how to socialise, but I won't risk my pups safety with out of control dogs. As an owner I have never just let my dog rush up to other dogs. I've always recalled and checked the other owner is OK with it.

Of course she's had all her injections HoofWankingSpangleCunt Her breeders had her first inoculated at 7 weeks (which I accept is quite early)

I'd hardly take my puppy outside without all her jabs!

A Weimaraner could crush a shi tzhu puppy in its excitement, they're very big dogs in comparison. I still say dog owner wasn't responsible by not recalling her dogs.

Picking a dog up when other dogs approach is asking for future problems.

Exactly pombilipoo You have to be so careful when they are small. I've done the introducing to big dogs like that myself.

Puppy has been chatting to other dogs we've met on leads with no issues. I won't risk her safety around unattended dogs though. It's just not worth it when they are tiny!

In relation to the above, my pom who is one now is absolutely great with other dogs and doesn't have social issues from being picked up.

This Weimaraner could have crushed a small horse Notreallyarsed The poor thing was utterly obese.

My papillion never did either Pombiliboo

It's probably one of those issues where you're going to have lots of different opinions.

I'm sticking by my actions though

This is where puppy classes can be good, socialisation at the puppy's pace.
FWIW my cocker was traumatised by a galumphing Labrador on his first outing, he was a nervy puppy anyway, but being steamrollered by an obese Labrador who was friendly but had no recall and ended up rolling on my puppy set him back.
Advice from the behavioural nurse at the vets was to pick him up in these circumstances but to focus on socialising with more appropriately matched dogs, both for size and behaviour, so he wasn't overwhelmed.

The issue is that every time you pick your dog up when another dog approaches is that your dog may learn to think
'strange dog=danger

You then run the risk of the other dog jumping up at you to get to your dog.

The thing is, there is no ideal way to deal with the dogs that come rushing over...

Leave yours where it was and let them meet, it's either going to end up learning that their bad social skills is the way to go or it's going to be a bad experience and upset their socialisation that way.

Pick it up and yeah they might think dogs should be avoided and you risk the other dog trying harder to get to it.

Go with whatever one you think you can deal with better...

The real issue is that some people think it's fine to let dogs rush over like that, that it's normal and friendly.

Small dogs tend to be more agile than larger dogs, run rings round them and can get out of the way easily to avoid being squashed.
Picking them up doesn't help as they need to learn how to do this in the puppy stage. Adult dogs are instinctively more careful of a puppy perhaps because they know its not a threat.

You should not be picking your dog up

By doing so, you're telling him there is something to be fearful about, and holding him up in your arms will most likely encourage other dogs to jump up and sniff

He is learning. This is the most vital stage of development. Yes he probably will be frightened when a huge dog approaches but he is never going to feel confident when you pick him up every time!

Let him learn that a dog approaching doesn't necessarily mean he's in danger

You are doing far more harm than good. It's a dog not a child. Other dogs will know this as well.

Another small dog owner. YANBU. In fact, she is the one potentially causing problems for you by allowing her huge dogs to barge over to your dog unchecked- I cannot stand owners who do not keep their dog under control if they see a dog on a lead. If I see another dog being put on its lead as I approach (or see that it is on its lead) that is a clear sign to me that the dog should be left to its own devices. She was rude, at worst you have been overprotective of your pup. I know which I prefer.

If you pick up your puppy then the approaching dog may well jump up. Your dog may go on the defensive and snap. You reinforce that big dogs are scary.
Such a tiny puppy does need to see the world but needs vary little actual walking. I would avoid places where this sort of thing could happen TBH.

I'm with you OP YANBU as an owner of a small dog(terrier cross) and a large dog(Labrador) I have always made sure my small dog is out of harms way when any off lead dogs come too close, I'm not risking my little dog getting trodden on or nipped at or ripped to shreds by a dog 10 times her size because I don't want to offend someone who isn't controlling their dog appropriately! my little dog is now 16 months old and picking her up like this hasn't affected her one bit still she's as friendly and sociable as my Lab who I obviously can't pick up but don't need to as she isn't as delicate, I did when she was a baby though to no ill effect!
I'd never let my 35kg Labrador just go blundering upto people, dogs, puppies or children, but unfortunately a lot of dog owners can be very arrogant in their opinions and think shouting "don't worry he's friendly" from half a mile away is appropriate! Carry on keeping your puppy safe OP.

Let it go if you can. People have varied and strong opinions about how to look after a dog. Do what you think it's best.

It's not ideal to be scooping a puppy up every time another dog approaches but equally them being scared or flattened by approaching dogs isn't socialising them either.

Socialisation is about providing a puppy with positive experiences of the things it will encounter in day to day life. Quality is much better than quantity, a single very positive encounter is far better than endless not so great ones. The flip side of that is a single very bad encounter can have just as much of an effect during the very sensitive socialisation period.

As long as the puppy is getting positive, controlled exposure to bigger dogs and isn't always being scooped up at the first sign of another dog approaching picking her up in a situation where she's at risk of being frightened or even hurt isn't going to cause problems.

OP a good option for distracting overly friendly (which almost invariably actually means bloody rude) dog is chucking a handful of treats at them as they approach. Mostly the treats will be more interesting than your puppy and it gives to time to either leave or wait to then have a more controlled and sensible interaction when they've finished.