do you let strangers touch your dog(s)? - Page 4

Hey Guys..If you truly owns real GSD you must know that even a friendly GSD can turn into a bodyguard in seconds..

People can pet all of my dogs..This is socialising like going to work with me..wait by the mall..walking in the streets and meeting other dogs..going to the shows or pratice.etc..

My dogs live in a HUMAN WORLD..not a SCHUTZHUND WORLD..even my schutzhund dogs we're very socials dogs but they knew when it was time to work!! It didn't affect their performance at all..Social doesn't mean they we're craving affection from other people..They we're very loyal to me..but had no problem with people except when something was wrong..

Let me tell you somethiing..if your dog are affected or scrapped just because a kid was a little rought or because a certain people act weird arond them..CHANGE DOG!!  I know some of you love those tought dogs and like the fact that you are the only one petting it..but I don't think they make good representative of a breed made to work close to people and for the people..JMHO

When someone tells me I cannot pet their dogs..it tells me a lot about the dog and the person at the end of the leash..Is the dog too strong for that person?? Is this person too weak for the dog?? Hummm..makes me think..

I do, BUT I never let people just run up and start petting.  No matter the breed of dog, kids especially need to learn to approach a dog slowly and ask the owner if it's okay to pet the dog.  Even if you don't want others to pet your dog for whatever reason, teaching kids to ask first may end up saving them from serious injury or worse.  Even the biggest couch potato dog has the potential to bite if it feels threatened or is hurt.

My female is in training to be a therapy dog and is what I consider to be appropriately social - waits to see what's going on and will sit and wait until I say "okay - say hi." She adores children and is more distracted by kids at the training field than other dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.

Opal

Has nothing to do with whether or not my dog is social.   I see no reason to let strangers rub their freaky, grubby hands on my dogs.  Not my thing.  If you want to, be my guest, that's your thing. 

Thank you Sue!

My dogs are here for me, not John Q Public.  Go get your own dog.  I had many people at my club petting all of mine today.  They know dogs, I control who does and who doesn't pet them.  This has nothing to do with their being social or not, it has everything to do with they do not belong to whoever feels like messing with them.

Well don't be complaining when you take your dog out in PUBLIC and people want to TOUCH your dog.  How ridiculous   If you don't want people messing with them, then leave them home for crying out loud....

I take my dogs when I want and leave them home when I want.  At times they just go for a ride and don't get out, other times they get to go with in whatever store I'm at.  I will not appoligize if I decline letting somebody pet them.  Service dogs often wear badges stating they are working and please do not pet.  I take that same stance.   There is nothing wrong with having bounderies, I will not be forced to confine my dogs at home because some in the public have no common sense, I am just more careful of where I go and who's around.

Now I would let RONNIE pet my dogs.  He's obviously a sane and stable person.  LOL

Not as a rule.  And it is my rules only!!
Until they are about 4-5 months old, fine.  After that, no to all men, yes to women on occasion, if they play by my rules.  Kids, appropriatly with supervision and intellegent parents that respect the dogs.  I do not let them play and visit with other dogs on a walk, this is not what they are out for.  I have no desire for my dogs to see everyone walking down the street as a long lost friend coming to see them.  Aloof is the word.

  Xeph, I take mine out regularly in public and I will not stop doing what is good for my dogs because people do not have  proper understanding of working dogs.   I simply use the "no" word.  It is that simple.  I ask them to please not pet them, then explain why I do not allow it.  If I take my time, most are very aggreable and happy that I stopped and explained to them what a working dog should be focused on.  So you can call it ridiculous, but I call it keeping them socially acceptable, enjoying a walk in town, and educating the public.   It has worked great for me for many many years.

olskoolgsds, nice to see you posting you common sense again. You have a good way with words.

What do you mean "Socially acceptable"?  Is the dog that IS allowed to be pet somehow LESS socially acceptable (That seems backwards to me)?

I will not be forced to confine my dogs at home because some in the public have no common sense, I am just more careful of where I go and who's around.
Fine, but then don't go complaining about people that, heaven forbid, take an interest in your dog if you're out and about....

I think what it means is the public should know and understand the breed and not have fear based on ignorance or misinformation about the breed.