do you let strangers touch your dog(s)? - Page 2

If somebody asks me to pet my dog, I allow them to pet my dog.  Good PR for the GSD.  Most people wonder what the heck is wrong with your dog if you won't allow them to pet for a reason other than "I don't want you to" (which to me, is pretty lame anyway....if you don't want people touching your dog, don't bring him out :-P)

Well, for me, people asking to pet my dog would be the same if strangers came up and asked me to touch my kid.  A lot of  people feel entitled to pet cute or handsome-looking dogs, just like they want to see your newborn.  I like giving them a reality check, one that's called "boundaries".

no

I always thank people and praise children for their manners when they are polite (and smart) enough to ask.
Always happy to do some curbside PR for our breed.

I will train my dogs in busy areas for socialization but if I do not know you.. Don't touch !
How is it socializing if you don't let people touch the dog?

I always thank people and praise children for their manners when they are polite (and smart) enough to ask.
Always happy to do some curbside PR for our breed.
Me too ^_^  We have our local pet expo coming up, and it's 3 days of THOUSANDS of people coming in to look at dog exhibits.  I'm sure a couple hundred people touch my dogs over the weekend, and none of them ever come out the worse for wear (knock wood).  Allowing people to approach myself and my dogs and touch them not only allows them to see that not all Shepherds are "mean", but also makes it possible for them to set up a repoir, and for me to possibly be able to educate them. 

Yes I let people pet the dogs. I do a lot of protection training with the dogs and the best thing to counter act them not trusting people,is to let them see and enjoy them. I strongly believe that a protection dog should have great nerves to handle people who want to pet them. Now a police dog working I would probably not let to many people pet him unless I was doing PR.

I agree with Xeph, how is it socializing if nobody can touch them?   I like to let people know that if they ask, sure they can pet him, he enjoys it!  I'll never forget when a couple with a baby in a stroller came over and asked if they could see the dog.  This baby was not old enough to sit up and was grinning from ear to ear.  They said he was five months old and loves big dogs.  Drake licked him all over and the baby was kicking his legs and giggling.  I think it's a great experience for the dog and wonderful PR for the breed.  They typically  love kids and it does a soul good to watch them interact.  But, I guess it depends on the dog, the owner and who's asking

Xeph I totally agree with you about the PR.  I live in a small town that people are very scared of shepherds and the sable ones--even more so--go figure. I allow people to pet any of my dogs and thank them for being so nice.  I take a dog everywhere with me, not just for socialization but also just because I like one to ride.  My dogs have been to church, offices, in stores and I have never had a complaint. First of all I am not into assking people to pet their dogs and if they told me no because I said so I would think they were very rude.

Hi Xeph, socializing doesn't mean with members of a different pack.   It is to accustom them to different sounds, terrain and to get used to busy life, however, my dog is here to listen to and pay attention to me.   His world should revolve around moi.     I really agree with Ed Frawley on this subject.

A German Shepherd is supposed to be aloof, it is a working dog and cannot do his job if he is trying to get a pat from everyone that walks by, he is to concentrate on his master and his job, whatever that may be.

So to answer the OP question, no, I try not too, but some people just don't understand and she does end up being coddled as she is a friendly pup and  a LH to boot, so the cute factor makes it hard.