General Etiquette > Life...in general

Please keep your dog away

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SkiChick:
Today at the bank a man brought in his small dog on a retractable leash. The leash was extended to about ten feet and so the dog came over to sniff me, my toddler, and my stroller-bound baby. We were at the counter making a deposit, so I couldn't move too far, but I moved us a little bit away from the dog. The man didn't take that gentle hint, so I said, "Could you please leash in your dog?" The response: "Oh, he's very friendly." Me: "If I inhale dog hair I'll start sneezing, so please move him away." He started to say something else, but the manager told him to keep the dog close to him because this is not the first time the dog has bothered customers. (Why they let him bring the dog in in the first place is beyond me. I may call the manager this afternoon and ask. There's a leash law in our town, too, and max leash length is six feet.)

So is there a polite and immediately effective way to ask someone to keep their dog away, when I can't move myself? This is not the first time I've gotten "Oh, he's really friendly," and frankly, I don't care how friendly the dog is. Any dog can bite unexpectedly, and even if I'm not allergic to a particular dog, I still don't want dog hair or drool on me or my kids. Is "What does that have to do with it?" an appropriate response to the "friendly" remark, or do I just keep repeating "Please move your dog away"? I don't want to get into a debate; I just want the dog away from me.

The postscript to this is that we passed the guy on the sidewalk about twenty minutes later and he said, "Hi" and let the dog come over to us again. I said, "Please keep your dog away from us" in what I hope was a moderate tone. I was particularly cranky at this point because I had spent a lot of time making sure my three-year-old didn't bump into people during our errands (when do they learn to watch where they're going?) and I didn't have the benefit of a leash. Maybe next time!  :D

fklwmn:
UGH....

This happens to me all the time, particularly @ the kids' soccer games and such. Even when I say "Oh, I'm VERY allergic!" Some people wan to counter how their dog is 'hypoallergenic' or that so-and-so is also very allergic, but never has any problems with THIS dog.

you know what? I know you love your dog. I love my kids, but I would not let them run around your feet or climb on your lap. And chances are, THEY would NOt adversely effect your health.

If yuo want to take your dog out in public, then make sure that you ASK people if it's okay if your dog bothers them. Even if he is just being friendly.

*sighs* ok, rant over.

artk2002:

--- Quote from: fklwmn on December 11, 2006, 02:56:41 PM ---This happens to me all the time, particularly @ the kids' soccer games and such.

--- End quote ---
If this is AYSO, there's an easy fix.  Dogs aren't allowed.  Period.

fklwmn:

--- Quote from: artk2002 on December 11, 2006, 03:03:42 PM ---
--- Quote from: fklwmn on December 11, 2006, 02:56:41 PM ---This happens to me all the time, particularly @ the kids' soccer games and such.

--- End quote ---
If this is AYSO, there's an easy fix.  Dogs aren't allowed.  Period.

--- End quote ---

hmmm... I'm not sure? I mean some of the time it was at the YMCa so that is not the AYSO, but I am not sure about the other... it is our local rec league. I don't know if they are a member of a lrger org or not...

andi:
i get the same thing at our park.  There's a leash law - but for some reason people who bring their kids and dogs to the playground area thing it's ok to let the dogs run around because "it's friendly and likes kids".  I royalled ticked off a woman a couple weeks ago because i asked her to put her dog on the leash she had and she responded "he's very friendly".  I gritted my teeth and told her i understood, but the park has a leash law and my child (under 2 and running around with a stick in each hand) isn't used to being around animals.  So what does she do?  Leashes the dog and hands the leash to her tiney little 4 year old!  Like she can handle the thing!

Meanwhile, another parent asked her the same thing - so she packed up her kids and left acting all put out.

I don't care how friendly your dog is - it's not used to my child and my child isn't used to your dog.  My child's safety is more important that your dog's "comfort". 

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