[chattiesmom]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

I think this is awesome. However, it would not work with Kaji. Kids scare the pee out of him! I had a big scratch that bled a little on my neck to prove it from when we encountered some kids on scooters. Kaji just panicks. What I do like is when people ask, and that allows me to control the situation. Like on Sunday I went to the feed store and in the parking lot a sweet lady approached ooing and aawwing over Kaji and asked. "oh he's a shy boy. You know the best thing we could do for him is let me pick him up. May I?" Of course by now Kaji was under my car's fender. I allowed her to hold him because I agree that it's good for Kaji. It's a learning opportunity for him. A while back a toddler saw Kaji and wanted to pet him so badly. The mom basically held her boy back which allowed me the time to scoop up Kaji, hold him, and bend down to the toddler's level. The mom was so nice showing her baby boy how to gently pet Kaji's back.
However, not all people are this considerate. At the dog park, Kaji was running around with the other dogs minding his own business, when this lady took a liking to him. She chased after him, cornered him, and picked him up against his will. Kaji was in full panick, scratching and trying to get away. I rushed over and said "excuse me, I don't think he wants to be held." To which the lady responded, "he's just so cute and his hair so soft I just had to hold him! Besides, who are you to know what he wants?" my response, "he's my Kaji boy and I'm his mom, that's how I know." THe lady still took her sweet time letting him go. It made me so mad!!!! As long as I can control the situation and turn it into a learning experience for Kaji, I usually don't mind the petting. But I'm also not afraid anymore to say no even if it makes me look like a meanie.

You hit the nail on the head when you said "control the situation". I never let my little ones get far enough away from me in public that I cannot control the situation. I don't use public dog parks -- just way too many risks for injury or contracting parasites and/or diseases.