A Strangers Comments

[SophieKatesMom]

I need to ask some experienced Yorkie owners a question, when out in public with your Yorkie do you all get comments from strangers about your dog(s)? Some of them not so nice and inappropriate?

Last night I had two very strange experiences, 1st one was at Wolf Camera in our local mall. I walked in there with Sophie who was in her bag (note bag is an open top sling type bag, she loves it). The lady working in Wolf Camera made a bee line towards me when she saw Sophie and actually lifted her out of her bag and has hugging her. Thankfully Sophie is a sweet dog and she was to busy kissing that lady's face to be upset. Am I being over protective in not wanting strangers to handle my dog? Sophie was fine but she is a wiggler and you have to have a good grip on her of else she will wiggle free and fall.

2nd comment was more hurtful, I had picked Sophie up from the Petsmart Groomers (they do a fabulous job here). There was a lady in there picking up her dog also, I think it was a Maltese. When this lady saw Sophie she asked "is she a purebred Yorkie" which I answered "Yes" and she replies with "Well she is not a very good Yorkie, her ears are wrong and her face is to wide".

I was shocked, the only thing I could think to say was "She is a family pet and we don't plan on showing her or breeding her so she is perfect for us". The poor girl who groomed her was so shocked also, she just kind of looked down.

Now the funny thing is the same girl also groomed her dog and made a point of saying to her that her dog was over due a groom and they had to cut some of his hair (I do not want to speak ugly of her dog, he was adorable). The groomer said to me as I was leaving and I am sure loud enough for Mrs Rudeness to hear "See you in 8 weeks for your next grooming" LOL.

I just thought both experiences within an hour were strange and kind of offset each other.

I am going shopping today but I am leaving Sophie at home, I am not sure her ego can take another blow LOL.

Thanks for letting me vent.

[MeganS]

aww. I'm sorry about the rude comment. I think it's ovbearing sometimes when people just handle your dog without asking. Especially because you never know what they will do - usually they just want to pet or play with our pups because they're so cute , but you never know if someone is going to steal your dog or whatever. If someone asks to pet Tucker, I always say yes - he loves the attention - but if someone is going to hold him (no one has gone to pick him up yet) it would probably bother me. I always make it a point to ask someone before I pet their dog, so it's nice when others do the same.

As for the woman who made her remark...just ignore it. I know that it's rude and it hurts...but someone who could pick on an innocent little dog is obviously pretty messed up. I wish that people could keep their rude comments to themselves. Don't let her get to you, you know that Sophie is cute, we know that Sophie is cute, nothing else matters. With something like that, I'd just say "Just like people, yorkies come in all shapes, sizes and colors."

[SophieKatesMom]

Thank you, that is a good response. Honestly I think that lady who made the rude comment was either having a bad day or maybe she is has no filter.

Again, appreciate your feedback Thank you.

[kcook323]

My kids are bad about going up to dogs and petting them. I have to remind them that their owner may not want them to do that and they need to ask permission first. Sometimes I don't think people actually think before they do things.

How rude of that woman to make that comment about your dog! Even if your yorkie wasn't up to her "standards" doesn't make it alright to comment about someone else's dog. If you weren't questioning, "is my dog a purebred?" then she should have never made the comment, IMO. I have to agree with you, she either was having a bad day, or she has no filter.

[LilMissy]

I was annoyed when I approached a small pet store in my area on Friday night. All of the staff was outside surrounding the front entrance smoking cigarettes. There is a 3 meter rule here, where you must be 3 meters away from the door. So, my 3 kids and I (and Missy), had to walk through their smoke to get into the store. When they were done their cigarettes they all came up to me and started petting Missy with their smokey hands! They didn't even ask. I was upset.

I know that I'm overprotective, but still...shouldn't pet store employees know to ASK before petting someone's 11 week old puppy?

[marcerella02]

*sigh* some of the not-so-fun perks of being a yorkie owner- we get many rude comments- i just smile and keep on my way. It's not worth it anymore. And as for people holding Layla- I don't let them- I just say she is very timid. You just NEVER know who is going to grab our babies and run off with them. Petting is fine but no holding thank you

[mackymom]

I have trouble with my neighbors 6yrs girl ringing my doorbell everyday 2 or three times to come in and play with my Maci (14 weeks) Maci chases her and she is not careful about not stepping on her, she is rough and scares me because She wants to hold her Maci nips quite a bit and she just drops her ...The mom said "I hope you dont mind Jae coming over to play" I said well Maci is just a baby has not had all her shots and is quite delicate, she replied "well she is just a dog!" Ive not let her in since!...hurt my feelings!

[maxmom]

Call me overprotective, I just do not like people petting Max without asking first, sometimes, even if they ask, I just say, sorry, he is not very friendly, that usually keeps them away.I don't see people trying to pet big dogs..
About the rude comments, it is sad to see how often it happens, I learned to ignore them.

[BellaAmore]

One day I was sitting in the car waiting for my husband to come out of the store. I had Bella with me in the car thankfully on her leash. A woman came up to the window on the opposite side of the car from where I was sitting and was gushing all over Bella. Where did I get her, how old was she, did I live in the area, and many other questions all while she was petting her. I was getting nervous, I was afraid she was going to take her, jump in her car and take off. I was so glad I had her on her leash. Finally she got in her car and left. Still gushing how cute she was.
Another time my daughter had Bella at Pet Supply (local pet store) on her leash. When another Yorkie came around the corner. Bella got excited and was jumping around, then she pooped on the floor. The woman looked at my daughter and said, "Well she isn't very obediant is she". My daughter cleaned up Bella's mess and left the store upset.

[Ashley V]

My biggest problems have been with children. Chip doesn't like kids and I'm finding all too often that parents don't watch their kids and they come over and surround him and then he gets defensive. One time we were at the pet store look at the hamsters and this group of 5 kids came over and cornered him by the cages and started pulling at his hair. He was so scared and he was still a puppy then! I picked him up so fast and told those kids they need to learn how to treat a dog. Another time this little kid came up and actually asked if he could pet my dogs. I told him he could pet "the big one" and "not the little one" so I was trying to hold Smokey still so the kid could pet him. Smokey is just overbearing and the kid was only about 4 (and the mother wasn't even in sight). So as I was trying to settle Smokey down, the kid starts chasing Chip around me. Chip is trying to hide from him and get away and I keep telling the kid "no you can pet this one". Finally Chip stops, turns around, and shows his teeth. The kid stops and backs away then runs to his mom (who finally showed up) and said Chip was mean! He's not mean, he just doesn't like kids and I tried to tell him! Another time I was at the mall and standing outside one of the stores. Chip was maybe about 5 months old and still looked very much like a puppy. This little kid ran (literally) up to me screaming "PUPPPPPPPPPPPPPY!" Chip was so scared he hid behind my legs. The kid started trying to pet Chip. Thankfully, the mother took her kid away.

Here is a cute story though! We took the pups to the river to swim and play... well we were walking back to the car and walked past this family... this little kid (probably like 3) says loudly "Look Mommy! It's a CHIHUAHUA!"

[maxmom]

Sometimes you can see in people's faces they like dogs and they mean well, even if they go overboard with complements and questions,I have to admit to that myself, and more than once but there is no need for a rude comment, besides, what in the world can be said negatively about a Yorkie, or a Yorkie owner ??? Absolutely nothing!

[luvfla]

When I take the boys out I expect them to be petted. However! Adults & children should learn that not every pet who is out in public likes to be touched.
My gift shop is pet friendly & I learned from my customr who fosters therapy dogs that it is polite to ASK if you can pet someones dog. I think it's just education...cause I didn't even think of it until she started coming in.

[AvyQuinn]

lol I hate the public and this is a good example of why I prefer to be a hermit.

As for that stranger taking your dog out of her bag and fussing over her, I'd be very upset that this person came up to me and started to fondle my property. I mean petting her in whatever vassal I am carrying her IN is ok, but don't be so bold as to disrupt her.

Hiro is my baby. I plan to have no skin kids ever (that's a whole 'nuther can of worms) and so I treat him as though he sprung forth from my own loins! (lol) I care for him like a child, I feed him quality food, I am attentive to his every move, mood, etc. I take him to the vet, I am concerned when he isn't himself, I know him like a book. People don't seem to understand that to some of us it's not 'just a dog' but our dogs are our babies! And I will protect my baby just like any other parent!

Oh, as for kids.
I am not afraid to tell other people's kids to behave themselves. I don't touch other people's kids, I don't yell at other people's kids but I will tell them to behave in order to maintain my right to peace and quiet. I have even more words for the parents of said kids.. I am a no nonsense type of person and I have a right to protect myself and my interests.

[mattiematt]

I knew from before getting Sophie, now 14 months, that this breed and probably more to the point, this size dog doesn't usually like kids. So I have gone with that always in my mind. I have never had a bad comment, in fact sometimes I've been a bit embarrassed at how some people will criticize their own dog because they do not view it as "beautiful and perfect" as mine. How sad. When I purchased Sophie I just wanted to be sure she had a health guarentee, that her parents were friendly and sociable with other dogs and that her breeder was sociably agreeable to our family as well. What she looked like, how big she would be (keep in mind, she's a yorkie so how big could she be even if she would be big by yorkie standards) what kind of purse I would buy, just didn't enter the picture. Sooooo, knowing that she would probably be afraid of short people I started from the get go to help her be around kids. So as they approach, with that look (and you all know that look), I ask them if they would like to "meet" Sophie. If they reach out, I ask their parent if it would be OK. If there is no parent, I tell the kid "you need to ask your mom first" and that "I know Sophie would love to meet you." If the kid comes back it's usually with a parental figure. I also know that the kid really does want to meet my dog and has gone through this extra step to do so! I tell them that Sophie is very young that she is a little afraid of little people but has never bitten anyone. Then I teach a child how to approach. If she's on the floor, I have the child go down on one knee and with their hand in mine we touch "Sophie" under the chin. If Sophie is in the store basket seat, I do the same. Sophie loves to be pet by me, of course, so she learns that this is or can be true of a child as well. I tell them how much Sophie seems to love their touch and the child glows and Sophie melts! (my favorite moment!) Now that being said, I don't allow Sophie to play with children, even when I'm there. Everyone gets too excited, including Sophie, and something could happen that can change both of them forever. As far as adults, I think it's fair game for me to respond in the same way they present. But I have not yet had anyone be rude in such a way that I feel I should respond. I guess the worse thing that has ever happened is when a parent pulls their child away and tells them not to touch that dog. Kinda sad I think, but at the same time, I probably don't want Sophie to have that encounter anyway. So, there ya go. Win some, lose some. Either way, Sophie always comes out a winner.

[Catrina]

just ignore it..your baby is adddooorable and shes probably jealous..!

i know ppl will say i shouldnt go to her level, but i would have commented on her face and how shes not a very good "human" either and pointed out her imperfections