Sidebar: Keep yourself away from my dog...

[jfulle5]

OK so here is a side debate on the "get your dog away from me" debate. How do I keep people away from my dogs! I have three long hair mini Dachshunds, in three different colors, ranging in age from 3 years to 17 years old. I love my dog but one is, well, about to die and has a horrible skin diseases on his back that is only noticeable when you touch it. People are ALWAYS coming up to my dogs and petting them when, yes they are leashed, and I don't stop to let them pet them. The dogs are super friendly but people typically make rude comments about my doggie that is sick after they pet him. First I didn't invite them to pet him and second I don't want to single him out as in "oh don't pet him he's diseased" because my dogs are jealous of each other and I don't want him to feel left out. So here is the question. How do I politely say "don't touch my dogs"?

[MadMadge43]

I actually wanted to touch a dog once, I of course always ask if it's alright. The owner simply said, he actually has a skin disease and when he gets petted his hair falls out, it's just now coming back.  So I made a few faces at him and was happy.  Then the owner went into the coffee shop and I stopped a few people from petting him myself.

If done nicely with an explanation, people will understand. Just simply say, this one is really old and has a few problems and can't be petted and gets so jealous if the others are, do you mind?

Anyone who does isn't worth being polite to anymore.

[Alida]

"Please don't pet the dogs.  One is very ill."  That should stop them.  At least I would HOPE it would stop them!

[jfulle5]

I had someone pet him once after I told them "Yes he is friendly, but I'd rather you not touch him" and then made a comment afterwards about him. I replied "well it's not my fault your hand smells now, I told you not to pet him." hehe

[Cyndi]

I agree with other posters....just politely say no and explain why.

How rude though of people to just touch your dog without asking! I was taught to always ask if I can pet a dog that isn't mine, and then I let them sniff the back of my closed fist and accept me before I just reach out and touch them.

I have a little story of my own to tell regarding this:
The neighbors next door are very sweet people. But one time I took Bernie out to go potty mere minutes after he'd dried off after a bath. The guy was working in his yard. His hands were filthy. He cupped Bernie's face in his hands, but LUCKILY the dirt didn't transfer. I hurried Bernie away so he'd do his business and then ran him inside to brush off the few particles that did cling. I still cringe when I imagine what would've happened if Joe's hands were muddy instead of just dirty.

[Sterling]

I would never pet a strangers dog without asking first.  the reason for that is some cute tiny dogs will rip your hand off.  I don't want to be bitten and if I am it would be my fault for not asking.  My sister has a cocker spaniel that is usually ok but hates strangers and will snap if someone new pets him before he has had time to get use to that person.

I also hate when I am with my friend and his service dog.  People are always petting the dog and talking to it while its working.  He always has to sound rude and say "Please don't play with the dog he is on duty."  And them people say things about how rude as they walk off.  guess what he's blind not deaf and one of these days he is going to turn around and say something reason nasty to you.

Ok pet peeve gone over board sorry.

[IndianInlaw]

"Don't touch them, they've just been flea dipped"

A lie, for sure, but a white one.

People don't want to put their hands in flea dip stuff.

If anyone comments on the skin condition after touching the poor thing, just say "Well, YOU'VE got it now!

[Sorceress]

This is sort of a pet peeve of mine.  I got this constantly where I used to live and it made me nervous everytime because my german shepherd has a limit on how long he'll let someone pet him before he starts barking and growling.

I actually muzzled him just to be on the safe side because we used to have to take him up and down elevators in the apartment complex we used to live in(and yes, hubby and I argued many times over how appropriate it is to keep a dog that big in an apartment even though the apartment complex welcomed them.  Personally, I think big dogs need yards.).  Back on track, I just felt safer with him muzzled, especially in elevators where someone could accidentally step on his tail and spook him or a gazillion other things.

I thought the muzzle would be enough to keep people from wanting to touch him, but not really.  Some would want still want to pet him and I would simply tell them that I preferred people not touch my dog.

My favorites are the people that give me dirty looks that I muzzle him when I take him outside and ask all sorts of questions about why I do it.

[Sirius]

One of the big rules that can get you banned from dog shows is petting or touching someone's dog without permission.  Just because a dog is trained doesn't mean it's a "nice" dog; I've encountered dogs who were perfectly trained, but who were known to be mean.  When I say "touching" I don't mean accidentally bumping into someone's dog (easy to do at a crowded show) but shoving it out of the way, or something like that.  I got into the habit of never touching someone else's dog unless I asked first, and I didn't let anyone pet my dog without asking first.  My first show dog was a sheltie who had been attacked by a larger dog when he'd been a puppy, and although he was friendly enough he didn't like having his head touched.  Most people at shows, especially if they're exhibiting, understand the meaning behind the rules and don't touch other people's dogs without being invited to, but you occasionally encounter people who won't do as you ask.   

[Another Liz]

This is one of my pet peeves too.  (And re-reading that, a bad pun too  )  I think the polite way to ask people not to pet your dogs is: "Please don't touch my dogs."  You don't owe them an explaination, although you can explain if you want to.

My dog is on the small side of medium, cute and outgoing, but lives in a house full of adults.  He has absolutely no clue how to behave around children, especially excited kids.  It drives me around the bend when clueless parents tell their kids to go pet my nice doggie without asking me!  (Hellooo! There is a person at the other end of the leash that is preventing him from jumping on your toddler!) 

I ask them nicely once to keep the kids away from my dog.  If they protest, I tell them that he is not used to children.  Usually they back off then, but more than once I've been told "It's ok, I'm sure he doesn't bite."

I've found that the response "Not yet" usually ends the conversation quickly.

[andi]

i believe a politely stated "please do not pet my dogs" would be in order.

A friend of mine had two schnousers - one puppy and old quite old.  The older one was deaf and almost blind so VERY snippy outside his house since he was "out of his element".  When people would ask (or simply attempt to pet without asking) she always said "you can pet the puppy - but the older dog will snip at you."  and then people would get mad (at the park or the pet supply place that welcomes dogs) that she had a dog that might snip. 

Some people of course will never catch a clue - but that's another story

[mbbored]

I've recently adopted a rescue dog and have come across a lot of these issues myself.  JoJo was abused by his previous owners and can be a little jumpy around strangers, particularly men, but he has never bitten anybody.  Part of socializing him is exposing him to new places and people and have those situations be as non-threatening as possible.  When people ask if they can pet my dog, I usually respond "I'm sorry, but JoJo isn't up to meeting anybody new.  He was abused until recently, and strangers scare him."  With that, people usually back off.  Only once or twice have I had small children barrel up to him with parents behind encouraging them.  In those situations, I put JoJo in a sit or down, stand between him and a child and say that he's being grumpy and wants to be left along today.  A few parents have gotten huffy, but I say that I'm doing my best to teach my dog to be as well behaved as possible and for right now, that we haven't worked up to petting yet.

And for all you concerned E-Hellions, I don't assume I can drag him everywhere I go, I am teaching him to be well behaved, and when there's a stranger in the house, I crate him so he won't bother anybody.

[Virg]

Sorceress wrote:

"My favorites are the people that give me dirty looks that I muzzle him when I take him outside and ask all sorts of questions about why I do it."

That's an easy one.  Just say, "If a judge told you to keep your dog muzzled at all times from now on, you'd do it, wouldn't you?"  You don't need to mention that no judge actually said that to you, and what they assume from your comment isn't your fault.

Virg

[Clara Bow]

Would you let someone handle your great great greatGrandma's priceless Civil War china? Same rules apply: "Please don't touch my dog, she's not been well." Period.

[goblue2539]

I hate, I hate, I HATE people who assume that all dogs are fair game.  I learned the way Cyndi did, ask the owner FIRST, let the dog get used to you, and then you can pet it. 

I adore animals, especially dogs.  I pet every single one I can get my hands on.  But, if I do it without asking, I deserve whatever I get, up to and including if one bites me. 

We had a blessing of the animals at our church in October, an anniversary of something for St. Francis.  I still asked every single owner before I pet their dog, and these were people I'd known my whole life. 

I just don't understand people.  Because we all know that one of the ones encouraging the kids to just run up to a strange dog is going to be the first one to sue when the munchkin gets hurt.  And the kid will pay for the parent being oblivious to common courtesy.