Children trying to pet your yorkie - YorkieTalk.com Forums

citygirl123 · 05-24-2011, 09:02 PM

What do you do about people wanting to pet your dog? Do you let them?

I walk Copper in the park every day. Because he is little and cute people, especially children, want to pet him. Today a boy, about 12 reached over to pet Copper and Copper snapped at him. I know Copper does this when he is scared. The next child that wanted to pet him (same trip), I quickly said, "Don't, he bites." The dad was right there and I explained that we are working on this, but Copper is young and when he is scared, he snaps. The dad was very supportive and of course told his child that he should not reach out to a dog...etc. It was all positive. Copper is very loving and friendly normally in his home.

Anyway...do you train your yorkie to be friendly to strangers? How do you respond to people when they want to pet your dog?
Just looking for some feedback.

dispatcher · 05-24-2011, 09:13 PM

I don't mind as long as they ask to pet Bitsy. I always ask if it's ok to pet someone elses dog.

Mom to Hot Rod · 05-24-2011, 09:55 PM

I am pretty lucky as most kids have asked first. I make sure to Thank them for asking. I look at the dogs to see how they are reacting. If they seem afraid, I do not "make" them go up to the kids. If they go up and want to see the kids, I will hold them up so the kid(s) could pet them. I also ask them to give a kiss. The kids usually love this.

IsabelleOllie · 05-25-2011, 02:30 AM

I don't mind if they ask first. Belle is still a puppy and she seems to love everyone. However, if she was uncomfortable I wouldn't let them pet her. I also pick her up for people to pet her so that she isn't afraid of anyone standing over her and reaching down to pet her as that really scares her.

Rachael1983 · 05-25-2011, 04:36 AM

I have an 8 year old, so there are children coming all the time. Troy likes children but I always tell the kids that they need to ask to pet him or sit on the floor when they want to pet him. When we are out at a park or in public elsewhere, I'll sort of hold Troy back a bit before I let him walk up to kids to let them pet him, look for their parents and ask the kids "Did they ask their mom/dad" could they pet him. I try to be proactive before they or my dog gets hurt.

smepperson · 05-25-2011, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IsabelleOllie

I don't mind if they ask first. Belle is still a puppy and she seems to love everyone. However, if she was uncomfortable I wouldn't let them pet her. I also pick her up for people to pet her so that she isn't afraid of anyone standing over her and reaching down to pet her as that really scares her.

I love that you pick her up. I'm sure it is far more of a comfort for her when strangers approach.

I never had a problem with Gizmo ~ he was never a biter or snappy although he was also never really interested in kids (I think he was afraid of them). Teddi seems to have the same temperament (the no biting thing) however he is still young (9mos.) and does mouth my hand sometimes when we are playing. Never vicious or just snappy but I still don't allow just any child to pet him. One of our neighbors has an eight year old and he seems to like her so we're fine with that.

So strange that I would see this thread this am ~ hubby and I were just talking about this last night. His point was that they seem to all have dirty hands, so he doesn't let them when they are walking! lol

smepperson · 05-25-2011, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachael1983

I have an 8 year old, so there are children coming all the time. Troy likes children but I always tell the kids that they need to ask to pet him or sit on the floor when they want to pet him. When we are out at a park or in public elsewhere, I'll sort of hold Troy back a bit before I let him walk up to kids to let them pet him, look for their parents and ask the kids "Did they ask their mom/dad" could they pet him. I try to be proactive before they or my dog gets hurt.

Lovetodream88 · 05-25-2011, 05:07 AM

Callie has always loved people especially little kids. If she is in the cart at the pet store or her stroller at a pet expo she will reach out to anyone who walks buy, she will hit them with her nose and then wag her tail and normally they pet her. I have actually had more kids ask if it is ok to pet her then adults ask. I pretty much always let people pet her but I do always watch to make sure the kids aren't being to rough but most at the pet store who are old enough to reach her when shes in the cart have always seemed to know how to pet her gently. Even though Callie loves other people she will not take a treat from anyone but me, my parents, or grandparents.

Ringo1 · 05-25-2011, 05:12 AM

The kids have been good about asking and I usually say yes. Last evening gave me pause; on the way home from our walk (which was long and Lucy was tired); I noticed that she almost snapped at a little one who approached her from behind. Usually, she runs right up to them!

After she realized she was being petted - she tried to run up to the other little girl (who was very young) and promptly screamed as Lucy approached. Then her Mom told me she was afraid of dogs.

SO. I did not like this experience and will be much more careful about who I allow to pet Lucy. She almost snapped at someone because she was too hot and tired and then another little kid scared HER when Lucy approached.

There's going to be an age limit for me as to who can pet Lucy. And it won't be at the end of a walk.

She's always been so good with kids and I don't want to ruin it.

AlicetheYorkie · 05-25-2011, 05:37 AM

This is always a though one and I usually just try to avoid it all together by just keeping walking because as has been said, sometimes you just don't know how it's going to go.

My Beagle has this strong sense about people, kids included. Once when I was about 21, single and childless

, I took her to a bar friends of mine owned (with their blessing of course) on Halloween because I had her in a doggie costume

. She was a huge hit of course and was great with everyone petting her. Then, after being petted about 30+ times by different people, this one lady reached out to pet her and Darla growled at her

. I think the lady wasn't very comfortable around dogs (you could kind of tell - she just had her hand reached out and stayed kind of back) and my dog knew it. Ever since then if someone asks to pet on a walk - I watch the dogs reactions to that person carefully first. If they go right up to the person curious and wanting the attention, I say sure. If they seem scared or just uninterested, I usually just say "oh - she's afraid of strangers" and if it's a kid I simply say "sorry honey, she might bite" and they quickly pull their hand back lol. I know that sounds mean but hey, it's not worth the risk - our walks aren't a traveling petting zoo lol there's purpose to it and I like the dogs to just focus on "traveling".

Alice backs away from strangers on walks so that's easy lol, my Akita usually completely ignores them and most people are slightly scared to pet her in the first place cause she looks like a wolf lol and Darla's selective about people so it depends.

Taryn0405 · 05-25-2011, 05:50 AM

Aww poor Copper. I would think that most people would understand about you trying to work with him with the snapping. However, most people can be kind of dumb sometimes (negativity is from working with people wo much!

).

However, I like the idea of picking up your furbaby is someone wants to touch him or her. Especially, since you can control the situation more. Gizmo has no problem with kids or adults stopping to pet him, so we've been fortunate. But, I still let little kids know that is they come running up to him that that can sometimes scare dogs, and even if Gizmo likes children that there are some dogs out there that can get scared easily. Some parents don't like me saying that to their kids, but most will agree and then tell their kids to ask first.

So, I guess it's just turning it into a learning experience.

Good luck though, I know Copper will get the hang of it. It's just training the people around him too that seems to be the challenging part.

kdhawks · 05-25-2011, 06:05 AM

Levi adores children, so I always allow them to pet him. I do prefer that they ask first. I prefer to pick him up and then allow kids to pet him because a) Levi gets really, really excited and it helps calm him down if I am holding him while he is being petted and b) it eliminates the temptation for little kids to pick him up, which I don't really allow. This works well for us because he does love kids and all strangers. I'm not sure what I would do if he didn't - he has just always been this way. Good luck with Copper!

Britster · 05-25-2011, 06:21 AM

It doesn't really bother me. It's nice when kids/people ask first but it doesn't terribly bother me if they don't. Jackson can be pretty shy but he's a pretty approachable dog and enjoys children. We have been lucky that most kids are respectable in the way they pet him and also most do ask. I also would never make him if he was uncomfortable.

The other day I went to a kids baseball game and a little boy, no older than 2, came walking up to Jackson and went out to start petting him and Jackson basically ignored him but still allowed the kid to pet his head. The father then came running over to say sorry, his kid had ran over there so fast. I told him no big deal. I also watched thoroughly what actions the kid was making and if Jackson seemed uncomfortable, etc. I didn't want him to do an ear pull or anything, lol.

I like a dog to be socialized and I've always let Jackson experience children in a positive light. I go to parks, cousins little league games, have young siblings, etc, so I can't be shocked or surprised if a kid reaches out without me knowing, it's gonna happen. And I want to be able to trust my dog not to bite or anything but that's just how my lifestyle is. I also am sure to always carry treats with me... a lot of times I ask the kid if he wants to give Jackson a treat and they all say yes, and of course Jackson loves that.

AllDogBoots · 05-25-2011, 06:24 AM

My dogs love kids so much that before a child has an opportunity to ask if they can pet my boys, they are usually mauled over and laying on the ground receiving lots of puppy kisses. We are working on this

I'm also grateful that my boys are too big for children to pick them up.

In Copper's case you may want to make sure it's him doing the approaching rather than the child. Also, just reading Britster's comment, perhaps you can bring treats with you and let the kids offer them to Copper.

(oops not sure how that sleepy face got there!)

ArmaniMan · 05-25-2011, 06:26 AM

I don't like when they just reach down and grab at them because I feel like it puts kids in a negative light in my dogs eyes, which is bad for overall socialization. If they ask first, I don't mind- I am able to bend down, pick the dogs up closer to the kids height and have control over the interaction, I feel it goes much smoother that way. If I have treats I will ask the kids to put their hand out and I will put a treat in their hand to give the dogs- that is always a big hit with the kids- they love that the dog "licks" them in the process of the getting the treat and it further reinforces the idea that kids are "great" and "yummy" with the dogs.

05-24-2011, 09:02 PM	#1
citygirl123 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,233	Children trying to pet your yorkie What do you do about people wanting to pet your dog? Do you let them? I walk Copper in the park every day. Because he is little and cute people, especially children, want to pet him. Today a boy, about 12 reached over to pet Copper and Copper snapped at him. I know Copper does this when he is scared. The next child that wanted to pet him (same trip), I quickly said, "Don't, he bites." The dad was right there and I explained that we are working on this, but Copper is young and when he is scared, he snaps. The dad was very supportive and of course told his child that he should not reach out to a dog...etc. It was all positive. Copper is very loving and friendly normally in his home. Anyway...do you train your yorkie to be friendly to strangers? How do you respond to people when they want to pet your dog? Just looking for some feedback. __________________ Lynn and Copper

05-24-2011, 09:13 PM	#2
dispatcher Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: SC USA Posts: 672	I don't mind as long as they ask to pet Bitsy. I always ask if it's ok to pet someone elses dog. __________________ Beth, Bitsy Girl & Mookie

05-24-2011, 09:55 PM	#3
Mom to Hot Rod Donating YT 5000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MD Posts: 10,908	I am pretty lucky as most kids have asked first. I make sure to Thank them for asking. I look at the dogs to see how they are reacting. If they seem afraid, I do not "make" them go up to the kids. If they go up and want to see the kids, I will hold them up so the kid(s) could pet them. I also ask them to give a kiss. The kids usually love this. __________________ www.kissecollar.com Soft Cone Collars for Post-surgery and much more! 10% (non-food) - Discount code YT10 Last edited by Mom to Hot Rod; 05-24-2011 at 09:58 PM.

05-25-2011, 02:30 AM	#4
IsabelleOllie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Syracuse NY Posts: 1,590	I don't mind if they ask first. Belle is still a puppy and she seems to love everyone. However, if she was uncomfortable I wouldn't let them pet her. I also pick her up for people to pet her so that she isn't afraid of anyone standing over her and reaching down to pet her as that really scares her. __________________ Melissa and Belle

05-25-2011, 04:36 AM	#5
Rachael1983 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Burbs of DC Posts: 2,198	I have an 8 year old, so there are children coming all the time. Troy likes children but I always tell the kids that they need to ask to pet him or sit on the floor when they want to pet him. When we are out at a park or in public elsewhere, I'll sort of hold Troy back a bit before I let him walk up to kids to let them pet him, look for their parents and ask the kids "Did they ask their mom/dad" could they pet him. I try to be proactive before they or my dog gets hurt. __________________ Owned by Troy(RIP) & Emma

05-25-2011, 05:07 AM	#8
Lovetodream88 Yorkie mom of 4 Donating YT Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: LaPlata, Md Posts: 23,247	Callie has always loved people especially little kids. If she is in the cart at the pet store or her stroller at a pet expo she will reach out to anyone who walks buy, she will hit them with her nose and then wag her tail and normally they pet her. I have actually had more kids ask if it is ok to pet her then adults ask. I pretty much always let people pet her but I do always watch to make sure the kids aren't being to rough but most at the pet store who are old enough to reach her when shes in the cart have always seemed to know how to pet her gently. Even though Callie loves other people she will not take a treat from anyone but me, my parents, or grandparents. __________________ Taylor My babies Joey, Penny ,Ollie & Dixie Callie Mae, you will forever be in my heart!

05-25-2011, 05:12 AM	#9
Ringo1 Ringo (1) and Lucy too! Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: On the Edge of Glory Posts: 3,447	The kids have been good about asking and I usually say yes. Last evening gave me pause; on the way home from our walk (which was long and Lucy was tired); I noticed that she almost snapped at a little one who approached her from behind. Usually, she runs right up to them! After she realized she was being petted - she tried to run up to the other little girl (who was very young) and promptly screamed as Lucy approached. Then her Mom told me she was afraid of dogs. SO. I did not like this experience and will be much more careful about who I allow to pet Lucy. She almost snapped at someone because she was too hot and tired and then another little kid scared HER when Lucy approached. There's going to be an age limit for me as to who can pet Lucy. And it won't be at the end of a walk. She's always been so good with kids and I don't want to ruin it. __________________ Mommy to Lucy, Ringo, and Matthew

05-25-2011, 05:37 AM	#10
AlicetheYorkie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 889	This is always a though one and I usually just try to avoid it all together by just keeping walking because as has been said, sometimes you just don't know how it's going to go. My Beagle has this strong sense about people, kids included. Once when I was about 21, single and childless , I took her to a bar friends of mine owned (with their blessing of course) on Halloween because I had her in a doggie costume. She was a huge hit of course and was great with everyone petting her. Then, after being petted about 30+ times by different people, this one lady reached out to pet her and Darla growled at her. I think the lady wasn't very comfortable around dogs (you could kind of tell - she just had her hand reached out and stayed kind of back) and my dog knew it. Ever since then if someone asks to pet on a walk - I watch the dogs reactions to that person carefully first. If they go right up to the person curious and wanting the attention, I say sure. If they seem scared or just uninterested, I usually just say "oh - she's afraid of strangers" and if it's a kid I simply say "sorry honey, she might bite" and they quickly pull their hand back lol. I know that sounds mean but hey, it's not worth the risk - our walks aren't a traveling petting zoo lol there's purpose to it and I like the dogs to just focus on "traveling". Alice backs away from strangers on walks so that's easy lol, my Akita usually completely ignores them and most people are slightly scared to pet her in the first place cause she looks like a wolf lol and Darla's selective about people so it depends. __________________ Jenn, mom to: Dayton , Alice ,Darla, Miya , Summer & Chooch

05-25-2011, 05:50 AM	#11
Taryn0405 Owned by a Gremlin Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: The Mitten State! Posts: 3,706	Aww poor Copper. I would think that most people would understand about you trying to work with him with the snapping. However, most people can be kind of dumb sometimes (negativity is from working with people wo much!). However, I like the idea of picking up your furbaby is someone wants to touch him or her. Especially, since you can control the situation more. Gizmo has no problem with kids or adults stopping to pet him, so we've been fortunate. But, I still let little kids know that is they come running up to him that that can sometimes scare dogs, and even if Gizmo likes children that there are some dogs out there that can get scared easily. Some parents don't like me saying that to their kids, but most will agree and then tell their kids to ask first. So, I guess it's just turning it into a learning experience. Good luck though, I know Copper will get the hang of it. It's just training the people around him too that seems to be the challenging part. __________________ Taryn Momma to Gizmo AKA Monkeyman My husband, daughter, son, and dog make me who I am "My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am."

05-25-2011, 06:05 AM	#12
kdhawks Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 2,359	Levi adores children, so I always allow them to pet him. I do prefer that they ask first. I prefer to pick him up and then allow kids to pet him because a) Levi gets really, really excited and it helps calm him down if I am holding him while he is being petted and b) it eliminates the temptation for little kids to pick him up, which I don't really allow. This works well for us because he does love kids and all strangers. I'm not sure what I would do if he didn't - he has just always been this way. Good luck with Copper!

05-25-2011, 06:21 AM	#13
Britster Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 17,814	It doesn't really bother me. It's nice when kids/people ask first but it doesn't terribly bother me if they don't. Jackson can be pretty shy but he's a pretty approachable dog and enjoys children. We have been lucky that most kids are respectable in the way they pet him and also most do ask. I also would never make him if he was uncomfortable. The other day I went to a kids baseball game and a little boy, no older than 2, came walking up to Jackson and went out to start petting him and Jackson basically ignored him but still allowed the kid to pet his head. The father then came running over to say sorry, his kid had ran over there so fast. I told him no big deal. I also watched thoroughly what actions the kid was making and if Jackson seemed uncomfortable, etc. I didn't want him to do an ear pull or anything, lol. I like a dog to be socialized and I've always let Jackson experience children in a positive light. I go to parks, cousins little league games, have young siblings, etc, so I can't be shocked or surprised if a kid reaches out without me knowing, it's gonna happen. And I want to be able to trust my dog not to bite or anything but that's just how my lifestyle is. I also am sure to always carry treats with me... a lot of times I ask the kid if he wants to give Jackson a treat and they all say yes, and of course Jackson loves that. __________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier Last edited by Britster; 05-25-2011 at 06:25 AM.

05-25-2011, 06:24 AM	#14
AllDogBoots Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Delray Beach, FL Posts: 7,984	My dogs love kids so much that before a child has an opportunity to ask if they can pet my boys, they are usually mauled over and laying on the ground receiving lots of puppy kisses. We are working on this I'm also grateful that my boys are too big for children to pick them up. In Copper's case you may want to make sure it's him doing the approaching rather than the child. Also, just reading Britster's comment, perhaps you can bring treats with you and let the kids offer them to Copper. (oops not sure how that sleepy face got there!) __________________ I'm Karen - Devoted Mama to the Drama Boyz - Cooper & Max www.alldogboots.com Last edited by AllDogBoots; 05-25-2011 at 06:29 AM.

05-25-2011, 06:26 AM	#15
ArmaniMan I ♥ Armani & Chloe Donating Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 3,895	I don't like when they just reach down and grab at them because I feel like it puts kids in a negative light in my dogs eyes, which is bad for overall socialization. If they ask first, I don't mind- I am able to bend down, pick the dogs up closer to the kids height and have control over the interaction, I feel it goes much smoother that way. If I have treats I will ask the kids to put their hand out and I will put a treat in their hand to give the dogs- that is always a big hit with the kids- they love that the dog "licks" them in the process of the getting the treat and it further reinforces the idea that kids are "great" and "yummy" with the dogs. __________________ Armani & Chloe