Strangers with my dog

[Free Blueberry]

Just a little rant.

I've had my Nemo for 2 months now and enjoy his company so much. I live in a condo community and so he's become popular with the neighbors. With his teddy bear face he can do no wrong. So much so that I a lady I've been running into seems to think she's an expert at what I should or shouldn't be doing. I can't enjoy a conversation about taking him to the lake without her saying "you shouldn't be doing that he may drink the water".
That's just today's example. She's no expert...she's only owned one dog. It's just because my dog is so cute it feels like she needs to "help."

There is a part of me that would like to reply ..."well should your Morkie be overweight that's not so great either " but I digress. I'll be seeing this person more often then not and like to maintain the peace. Any thoughts?

I know I'm on a site for advice...but I didn't realize there would be so much unsolicited ones to when getting a dog

[lillymae]

And the lady could be rite. There can be deadly toxins in lake water for your dog. Certain types of algae grow in lake water that will kill your dog IF the algae is growing in that lake. I'm sure this lady is getting her info from the News as it seems to be on there often, about how another dog has died due to drinking toxic lake water. Not to mention the recent death of humans contracting deadly Amoeba from lakes. I would NOT be letting my dogs drink from Any lake.

[Wylie's Mom]

Hmmmm...I wonder if you shouldn't react at all, period. As in when she says something, you kind of just give her the tiniest of smiles but say absolutely nothing...wait 2 seconds...then comment on how beautiful the lake is today. No fuel, no fire...?

[mybellababy]

Hi If it was new info to me I would say thanks for the heads up and if I already knew it I would say I know it is very dangerous for them to drink the water I sure will be watching her. I would just here her out and take what is useful and forget the rest.

[Free Blueberry]

Originally Posted by lillymae

And the lady could be rite. There can be deadly toxins in lake water for your dog. Certain types of algae grow in lake water that will kill your dog IF the algae is growing in that lake. I'm sure this lady is getting her info from the News as it seems to be on there often, about how another dog has died due to drinking toxic lake water. Not to mention the recent death of humans contracting deadly Amoeba from lakes. I would NOT be letting my dogs drink from Any lake.

Not drink from the water...enjoy playing and I mean walking along the shore lines in Northern Ontario where this is happening. The water is clean. That was just an example Btw. She doesnt' believe in neutering either. In a nutshell we have different views in "raising" our furbaby like many on this site.

My post mostly related to people who don't really know boundaries just because your puppy is cute. But I do realize now that perhaps this is part of owning a dog and being social.

[canana]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Hmmmm...I wonder if you shouldn't react at all, period. As in when she says something, you kind of just give her the tiniest of smiles but say absolutely nothing...wait 2 seconds...then comment on how beautiful the lake is today. No fuel, no fire...?

I would agree with Wylie's Mom. I usually get annoyed by people giving me unwanted advice left right and centre. Fiance's extended family had so many comments when I first got Scottie. ..."shouldn't he be potty trained by now?" (after 1 month of having him)..."you should cut his hair, it's too long". It wasn't a one-time comment. It was on a weekly basis!

It was so annoying! I had to bite my tongue, smile, and not tell his aunt.....well, a dog's bladder is a lot smaller than a child. Even children take a long time to be potty train. One month!? Please. And I don't tell you when to cut your son's hair, don't tell me when to cut my dog's hair. lol...

Anyway. I had to learn the hard way that the best solution is just to smile, ignore, and change the subject. It actually works wonders for everything else too, not just dog related stuff!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Free Blueberry

Not drink from the water...enjoy playing and I mean walking along the shore lines in Northern Ontario where this is happening. The water is clean. That was just an example Btw. She doesnt' believe in neutering either. In a nutshell we have different views in "raising" our furbaby like many on this site.

My post mostly related to people who don't really know boundaries just because your puppy is cute. But I do realize now that perhaps this is part of owning a dog and being social.

It might be. But if you are actually in Toronto as I am, you can look at the water quality. Cherry beach and heck the one at east end of Queen street are the only two official leash free beach access points. I try to never let my dogs drink from lake water anywhere. But heck it will happen. Plus water will get into their mouths when we do water retrieve work.

You do what you decide is best in the overall for u and ur dog. And u are right a fat dog will have long term consequences.

[Jkpal]

Isn't if strange how much 'strangers' know about our dogs and what we should be doing with them?! One guy I run into calls Piper a "rat." Really, is that supposed to funny or something? He also tells me to leave Piper alone in backyard, give her some freedom--like I'm damaging her little psyche or something. Obviously because of these idiotic comments, he's an ill-informed, delusional, self-appointed expert-on-nothing. He is completely boorish and waste of my time. My response to any comment he made was, "Well, Piper isn't like any other dog!" However, the simplest, most affect solution for me is to keep walking, smile, wave and tell him it's Piper's walk and she's in a hurry...Andthat, finally, has freed us from his irritating, boring, time-wasting sermons!

[chachi]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

Hmmmm...I wonder if you shouldn't react at all, period. As in when she says something, you kind of just give her the tiniest of smiles but say absolutely nothing...wait 2 seconds...then comment on how beautiful the lake is today. No fuel, no fire...?

Thats what I do when anyone gives me unsolicited advice they get the hint

[Bamboo15]

Originally Posted by Jkpal

Isn't if strange how much 'strangers' know about our dogs and what we should be doing with them?! One guy I run into calls Piper a "rat." Really, is that supposed to funny or something? He also tells me to leave Piper alone in backyard, give her some freedom--like I'm damaging her little psyche or something. Obviously because of these idiotic comments, he's an ill-informed, delusional, self-appointed expert-on-nothing. He is completely boorish and waste of my time. My response to any comment he made was, "Well, Piper isn't like any other dog!" However, the simplest, most affect solution for me is to keep walking, smile, wave and tell him it's Piper's walk and she's in a hurry...Andthat, finally, has freed us from his irritating, boring, time-wasting sermons!

When I had my first Yorkie, one of my aunts who had larger dogs her whole life but did not have a dog at the moment used to insist I let my little Yorkie out into my (fenced in but large) backyard unsupervised. I told her I would not do that because I'm afraid of him being carried off by a hawk, an animal getting in/over the fence, etc. She used to make fun of us for being paranoid.

Then my aunt got a big Labrador. When it was about a year old she brought it over our house. She doesn't have a yard so we told her she could let her dog run around our yard of she'd like. Her response? "No, what if an animal gets under/over the fence, etc"

[maxdog]

Originally Posted by chachi

Thats what I do when anyone gives me unsolicited advice they get the hint

Agreed. Just politely ignore it and change the subject with a smile on your face.

[maxdog]

Originally Posted by Bamboo15

When I had my first Yorkie, one of my aunts who had larger dogs her whole life but did not have a dog at the moment used to insist I let my little Yorkie out into my (fenced in but large) backyard unsupervised. I told her I would not do that because I'm afraid of him being carried off by a hawk, an animal getting in/over the fence, etc. She used to make fun of us for being paranoid.

Then my aunt got a big Labrador. When it was about a year old she brought it over our house. She doesn't have a yard so we told her she could let her dog run around our yard of she'd like. Her response? "No, what if an animal gets under/over the fence, etc"

That is too funny!

[matese]

I would just say "thank you for that information" smiling and walk away.Not worth me getting uptight about it.

[JennaPenny]

Last night, before the crazed neighbor, I was in walmart with my husband, holding chewie who proudly (and angrily) had her temporary harness on displaying her to be a therapy dog. We are getting a buddy belt, but I digress.

Two giggling young women kept glancing over and one of them asked if she could "steal" my dog. I said nope, and gave a chuckle and then turned to my husband with a look that said geez! Well, that young women couldn't just laugh and let it go. WEll, I don't know WHY you're laughing! I have one that looks JUST LIKE THAT at home!!! And her name is PRADA. Something you obviously don't have hahahaheeehheee.

Our income is very decent, and we've been blessed.That's not really the point, though. I brought it up because it's like people just lose their minds and try to do and say whatever they want. Including a so called yorkie owner. That's the first one I've ever ran into that acts like that. Usually I've ran into yorkie owners that are so sweet and ask to pet, tell me about their babies, and move on. I had one in target, same thing, it showed she was a therapy dog in training, ask to hold her. Not pet- hold. I'd have said no any way, but she did NOT like that at ALL. She flipped out in the middle of the store. Well, what does THERAPY have to do with it?! She's a dog not a worker! (not a yorkie owner) I'm sorry you're going through this, we are to the point where we are looking chest carriers and strollers, and she's SUPPOSED to be training to go between my legs and walk by my side. They are NOT teddie bears. They may look like it, but they have personalities, and they aren't toys.

[JennaPenny]

Originally Posted by matese

I would just say "thank you for that information" smiling and walk away.Not worth me getting uptight about it.

I like your attitude. I REALLY do!