I don't want strangers touching my dog!

[Rae Rae]

I personally wouldn't take my pup to Petsmart if he wasn't vaccinated fully yet. I took Bella once to Petsmart when she wasn't done with her shots, but kept her in her carrier the whole time, and the only reason she came with was because she was already with me at my moms and we were on our way home, and I didn't want to leave her in the car. If your getting something that needs to be tried on your pup, you can always purchase it, try it on and if it doesn't fit bring it back and return it. Petsmart is really good about letting people return pretty much anything.

As for people touching your baby, it's your baby and you have every right to not allow anyone to touch him. Especially with so many people stealing yorkies, alls it would take is someone petting them and then grab them and run. I agree with those saying it's O.K though because it helps socialize the puppy, so it's kind of up to each person I guess. The worst is people wanting to HOLD them though! I know theres already threads on that, but that is what really bothers me!

[Baby Madeleine]

I actually don't mind people petting Madeleine, as long as they don't try to take her out of my hands!

[MindieRose]

I don't mind if someone pets my dog. However, I get upset with people (even friends) when they let their little kid who isnt used to handling small dogs scoop my dog up. My dogs are pretty used to being manhandled by my 3 year old, but 1) my 3 year old still knows for the most part what is and isnt ok, and 2) in public strangers dont know if my dog is even kid friendly, but they are very lucky that they are! I get so upset when my friends come over and let their kids drag my dogs around. I just end up putting the dogs in the crate because I would rather have them bummed out that they cannot play with the kids than have them injured.
I hate it more when I have a newborn baby (skin baby ) in public and strangers touch them.
At sams club the other day, I actually had an older lady ask me if she can hold my 8 month old daughter. I was like "If she'll go to you, your more than welcome to" 8 month olds are pretty notorious for stranger and separation anxiety, so Kiana took one look at the lady putting her arms out and started bawling. Maybe next time

[sweetr72]

Originally Posted by ashleylewis

When I was bringing Oliver home, the breeder I bought him from suggested I not let strangers touch him at the vet and I assume anywhere else animals gather just in case their dog has something, because he's still a baby.

I brought him to Petsmart with me about a week ago to pick out a new harness (the one I got for him before was a little too big and he was wrestling out of it) and had I not needed him there for a fitting, I wouldn't have brought him for exactly that reason.

While I was there, he got a lot of attention. I was able to deflect most of it just by holding him close to me because most people are polite enough not to touch him while he was so close to my chest, but there were of course a few who didn't understand personal boundaries and pet him anyway, and I'm willing to bet that they're the same type who rub the belly of a pregnant stranger as well.

Anyway, I'm taking him to the vet on Monday and more so than Petsmart, even, I'd REALLY prefer he not be touched by strangers there. I'm going to try keeping him in his crate but I know well enough at this point that he's going to cry until I take him out and hold him, and if I have to do that I'm not going to know what to say to avoid sounding rude if anyone wants to pet him.

The breeder told me she just simply says no when someone asks to touch, but no one at Petsmart asked first so I assume this will be the same. I have no problem saying something like "actually I'd rather you not touch him, he's still young and I can't afford for him to get sick" but what would YOU say if someone tried to argue that?!

I don't want people touching him, but I also don't want them to glare at me from across the room.

You should say exactly what you said in your first post..say that he is still young and suseptible to illness and he cant be touched until he has all his shots..sorry...if they glare at you..glare right back at them as they should be told and understand that you dont want a sick puppy..definetly leave him in the crate as long as you can to avoid that from happening..give him a chewy or keep the crate on your lap so you can pet him through the door and talk to him...

Dawn

[My Baby- Jazzi]

I only went to Vet and back home until my Yorkie baby had all puppy shots. You must know people love a little cuddle puppy, so get use to it after he is safe to be out and about with his Mom. Yorkies are just too cute to resist.

[KathyinCali]

I say that Lucy has made me a better person and she has actually "socialized" me more than me her. I have always had people who got to know me tell me I have an intimidating, less than come hither look until they get to know me. I think I was just actually so self-absorbed I wasn't aware of others. That has changed over the past few years.

Having Lucy, she is such a love bug and draws so many people with her wagging wiggle butt-she gets so excited to meet people and wants to kiss them that it's just not in the cards for us to be aloof...lol. I have to admit that since I've had her I notice the light and smile in people's eyes when they see her that I enjoy sharing her with others-I would have never thought that possible! She especially loves children and if they want to pet her, I let their parents walk them over and they are very gentle with her. It lightens my heart to see how gentle and smiling they are.

I guess she's turning me into a social butterfly in my old age

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by kalina82

i don't mind when most people ASK if they can pet morgan but i hate the ones that just think they can do it without asking. if that do that i smile and turn away. if i see someone i don't like oooing and ahhing at her from a little distance away and heading in our direction i will walk away. I too hate it when they pet her when i'm holding her against my head. hellloo? what happened to personal space.

Me too!! Joey used to be more friendly, but he's had so many people just dash to pat him that now he barks when approached too fast. Men seem to be better, they allow Joey to sniff their hand, but women and children just reach out and start petting away. Someday, I'm afraid he'll bite someone, who's fault will it be? Mine, for not protecting him from these people.

[Tillys_mom]

I let people pet Tilly but no holding her. It just isn't safe.

[PrincessDiana]

I ALWAYS ask people if I can pet their dog. I don't mind when people pet Franklin either, but I would appreciate if they would ask first. You're right.. personal space (and courtesy) is practically non-existent these days.

[SladesMommy]

Originally Posted by Sookie

As soon as my girls had their shots I let people pet and hold them (if they appeared normal of course ).

Socialization is so important and the only way you will socialize your dog is to allow it to interact with people and other animals.

Good Post and I agree 100%! Even before Slade was complete on shots if I took him anywhere like on campus where there weren't other animals I would let people pet him and hold him (if they were sitting down).

As soon as he had all his shots he was out meeting other people, other animals, etc. I've never had any problem and he is a very loving, agreeable, socialized dog.

[MyFairLacy]

If it keeps your dog safe and healthy, then it's worth getting glares from those people. He's your baby so you do what you think is best for him...if those people don't like it, oh well. I don't mind people petting Lacy if they ask (it annoys me when people I don't know just pet her without asking). Obviously, if I know the person it's fine but I just think it's strange to walk up and pet someone's dog when you don't know them at all. I normally don't let people hold Lacy either..she's not tiny so I'm not so much worried about her getting hurt, but she gets nervous when people she doesn't know hold her. I only let friends and family hold her.

You should get a stroller that zips up so people can't touch her. I went to a dog festival this fall and had Lacy and Rylie. I had a few people ask if they could pet them and I just said no because I didn't want to unzip the stroller.

[spoiledgirls]

I will let people pet my dogs, only if they ask. It makes me uncomfortable if they just rush up and pet them without asking. I really don't take my dogs out in public much.

[kwaymon]

Originally Posted by jrincon17

I let people touch Ziggy, especially the female race , im a hony lil devil. Is that bad to say on here if im a guy?

LOL! You're such a guy!! Don't worry, I'm not offended. I've been married to a very macho man for the past 10 years and I'm used to it!! LOL!

[kwaymon]

I agree with a couple of diff. posts. I think before you get his shots, people and dogs should have to stay away, but after his shots, he does need to be around people and other dogs so he can be well-socialized. I've yet to have a problem with people petting Tucker without asking first. I guess because I live in the overly-polite south?

[madison625]

I never mind when people ask to pet Madison. I have a problem when i have her in her bag and her little head is sticking out...MANY people just come right up and stick their hand in my bag or even worse start to give her kisses!

I just dont think its appropriate for a complete stranger to not even ask and begin kissing my dog. I dont know how to say stop that! without being completely rude. I mean they are lucky Madison is a sweetheart and doesn't bite, but they don't know what they are getting into when they dont even bother to ask.