Dealing with ‘touchers’

[PoliticalPossum]

Can anyone give me any advice on how to deal with ‘touchers’ I.e the entitled bastards people who, even when they’ve asked and you’ve said no, try and touch your dog.

I’ve tried everything. Collar saying ‘do not touch’, telling people he’s aggressive (he’s not) to try and get them to go away, telling them forcefully no and, finally, telling them to (not very nicely) go away. I am fortunately blessed with a ‘resting bitch face’ which also does not seem to work.

Nothing works!!! The sense of entitlement of random people (including other dog owners) to pet my dog is starting to drive me insane. He’s a common ‘family friendly’ breed and is, unfortunately, incredibly beautiful - which seems to draw them in. When I had Rotties no one ever petted them! But him? Like flies to shit.

So, does anyone have any ideas?

Oh you have a Goldie, well that changes everything. How the fuck could you expect people to be able to resist a face like that? It's honestly cruelty to humans to not let them have a quick pet.

Joking (a bit) of course but I think it's where you're taking him, especially places like pubs and cafes. I've been a dog walker/sitter for years and never had this. People rarely ask and if I'm not too sure on a dogs temperament then I say 'no sorry because he's not mine and I'm not sure of his temperament' and they're fine. If I give them a bit of a wide birth then they often do the same and if they see me put the dog on the lead then they often do the same.

I don't take the dogs to highly populated places generally, although even in the dog friendly cafe in town and the zoo when we've been a few times we haven't had anything like your experience. Maybe you live somewhere with a lot of entitled assholes?

I say please don't touch him ( or look at him) he will bark and growl at you if you do. Then some people bend down to touch him whilst staring him straight in the eye...and, surprise surprise he barks and growls at them. Then they stop. Job done.

I live in Sevenoaks…which is probably why tbh! Took him to see my friend in Wimbledon yesterday and everyone ignored him 😃most peaceful latte I’ve ever had!

A small update (mostly in case it helps others). I have taught my dog the command ‘jump’ in another language - and it sounds slightly like I’m saying ‘insert brand name’ - and accompanying small gesture (involving a wiggly finger).

Tested it out yesterday and it works a treat. Maybe it makes me a terrible person and maybe it’s a tad extreme, but there’s something satisfying about watching people who have politely been told no and ignored me leap back when they go to pat him and he leaps up and down on the spot like a massive dickhead. Cappuccino and bacon roll was enjoyed in peace and the good boy was rewarded with a side of sausage (not that he knows he’d have got one anyway…).

Obviously it's your dog and your choice and clearly you are very distressed by people wanting to pet him, but this does sound a bit extreme.

Aren't you worried that it could become a habit or a reflex for the dog and he might start doing it without the command? It could be hard to train him out of it then, which may be a problem, if, for example, you needed to take him to the vet for urgent treatment and he leaps back every time they try to touch him... Are you not also running the risk of teaching him that being stroked is something to be feared?

But you know your own dog and, presumably, if you feel that it's necessary to keep people away, then you must consider it worth the risk.

It would be interesting if you could update this thread in a few weeks as to how your training has worked and whether you have succeeded in stopping people from touching your dog. And we can also see if anyone else adopts this technique for their own issues with dog touchers.

Aren't you worried that it could become a habit or a reflex for the dog and he might start doing it without the command?

Not really! His training really is impeccable. As far as intelligence goes, he’s possibly the most intelligent dog I’ve ever owned - mastered everything he’s been taught within a few tries. He’s never relapsed - partly because he’s also incredibly eager to please (he’s literally never put a paw wrong…). I’m incredibly lucky with him as he really is everything his breed should be 😍

I’m not against him being patted or stroked, but equally I want to be able to enjoy a walk or a coffee in peace. We walk past a school daily when I drop my kids off and he always gets and receives his fusses there, so he doesn’t really need any other fusses tbh.

The constant patting, when people have been told not to, worries me more as he’s starting to become increasingly frustrated by it - people bothering him when he’s sleeping under a table, or forcing their way past me to him. I’m very often saying no because he’s busy or I don’t want to be disturbed or I’m trying to get somewhere and don’t have time to stand around chatting. I say ‘frustrated’ rather than nervous because mostly he just wants them to piss off (as do I) and they won’t. He wouldn’t do anything - he’s too docile. But possibly he senses my annoyance, but equally I’m annoyed because I can see he is annoyed 😂@PyreneanAubrie

Clearly I haven't had the problem to anywhere near this extreme with my own dogs @PoliticalPossum so I hope the training works and you can have your coffee in peace.