how about this...
 

If they get as far as having the dog in their arms, you could quickly grab him away and say, "I'm so sorry, you are now most likely invested with fleas." and saunter away.

LOL...Too funny!

I had a little girl follow me all over Petco one day and every two minutes she was asking me if she could hold Adie. Adie loves kids and was chomping at the bit to give this kid kisses but I just can't see letting anyone that doesn't know her try to handle her. I was at a small dog meet-up once and one of the other owners there picked Adie up and promptly dropped her from a standing position - I'd say about 4 - 5 feet. My husband saw it and was just furious. He really told that woman off. Imagine another small dog owner letting that happen! Argggg.

Yeah, one of my mom's yorkies was dropped when she took it to her school with her (she teaches 6th grade). A student dropped Mickey and that;s why I am so against it. They really are wiggly and a fall can seriouosly injure them even if it is short.

I have the same problem, and I hate that people stick their hand in her face. So naturally Lulu licks and I seriously don't know where their hands have been.
I tell everyone that I don't know she bites. Works every time.

I know I would have a fit if someone just blantently picked up my dog. I am very protective and stand over them... I think I became this way after I was preggers the first time, I didnt understand that the belly somehow became public property. I figured a way to stop it real quick though, and grab them back ... the look of shock, and then I would just say sorry, i thought it was your custom, so I was responding in kind!!!

I was at Petco this week and the visit went so well until the checkout. We were patiently waiting and Sophie was actually sitting quietly. This crazy boy in front of us grabbed a laser pointer off the counter and started shining it at Sophie. My blood started boiling because I was afraid he was going to burn out her retinas. I coughed and got the mother's attention.....my face must have said it all because she quickly redirected the kid. Unfortunately she bought the thing for him and he'll torture someone at home.

I wish I'd thought of that when I was having kids! :yelrotflm

Ugh, how annoying! I hate those laser pointers.

I've got one that works every time! I tell them she pees on strangers! That stops them in their tracks!
Pat

this is funny..there is a thread where everyone is saying before they got yorkies that they thought they were mean and yappy because that was their experience with them. everyone is saying this is how they thought of them..

and then people here in this thread are admitting that they say their dog bites or other negative (untrue) things about the dog to strangers so that people wont pick them up etc. so then the strangers probably get a negative reaction to the dog.

these two things are so obviously connected :p

That's perfect!!!

I was thinking the SAME thing!! I actually came back to this forum to post it!!! Haha, but you beat me to it!

Well, I now know why people think Yorkies are "mean and nasty" I would teel people that about my baby just so they would leave her alone too:D

MIA, vocalizes her distain....
 

Whenever Mia is on my lap she has a little growl when a stranger reaches for her. I was working with her to stop this behavior. The worst I ever experienced was nosey questions.(How much did you pay for her? Is she yappy?) I would have a fit if anyone tried to take her out of my hands. Less and less do I want to change this protective growl. With people stealing yorkies, why not let them believe she is difficult. Who would want a grouchy, biting, peeing dog? She is my baby, and constant companion. My most valuable possession. I would hate to read a thread that someone's dog was taken right out of the owners hands, and then stolen. I keep her in my purse when out in public, and only let her down if no one is around. Maybe I am creating a dog that may not be socialized as well as she could be. I am open to suggestions...

I can't believe people just pick her up without asking! I have never had anyone do that, I think I would be so stunned I wouldn't know what to do.
If you put her in a bag instead of on her leash then maybe less people would notice her.

I've had people come up to me without asking and start petting Duke, and they ask me all kinds of questions. I usually try to be nice and just make my answers brief. It doesn't happen as much now that he is older, but I stopped taking him with me to a lot of places because of all the people.

When I'm holding Annie and a stranger reaches to pet her, I tell them that she sometimes snaps at people if I'm holding her......they always back off quickly !!! I wouldn't want to be responsible for them getting bit. I do think its rude to just walk up and start to pet the dog of someone you don't know (even if the Yorkie is adorable !!!).

Ok, this is what I don't understand...My kids, even my 3yr old, know to ALWAYS ask an owner's permission before touching a dog and I doubt they would EVER ask to pick up someone elses dog, so WHY is it so hard for grownups?
I was at the local farmers market here, which is a pretty populated event, and had my boy in his stroller which was zipped up. I actually had someone come over and start to UNZIP the stroller so she could pet him. While I appreciate loving dogs and all, what would make you think that was ok? I usually don't mind people petting Alastor when he is in my arms, but I was very obviously keeping him in there for a reason. I didn't want him getting manhandled! How did this woman know he wasn't a bitter, or sick, or gets sick easily, or that he is MY dog and I zipped the stroller up because I want it that way?! I must admit I am often to shocked by people's behavior while it's happening but always think of something I should have said when they have gone, however, this time I managed to tell the woman that he jumps out and gets hurt and that he runs away very fast if the stroller doesn't stay zipped (which isn't true). She just looked at me like I was daft. But in reality, she is.
Unfortunately, Alastor has yet to learn to walk on a leash because I am always holding him or have him contained up off the ground when out. I am just so worried he will get hurt, stolen etc because he is so tiny and people have no manners.
I was wondering if it is bad manners to pet a dog one has met before, without asking, and been allowed to pet before? That doesn't bother me, but I wondered how other people feel.

Just tell them that She Is In Training... it gives an excellent reason for her not to be touched.

People do not always engage their brains before they do something like that. Noone should ever touch another person's dog without first asking if it is ok.

Oh, I feel for you. I've had Tequila for 3 weeks and I've already had people trying to grab her out of my arms. I just turn my body a little bit and tell them, "No, no, sorry you can't touch her." lol. I completely feel for everyone now when they tell their stories about this stuff happening. I knew to expect some of this stuff happening, but when it does it still shocks me. If it were Odie in my arms it'd be a different story, that boy has some issues. He doesn't like strangers one bit, Tequila is so different from him already, she's so warm and friendly and loves everyone. Hang in there. :)

My goodness, I don't know what i would do if someone just picked up my pup. Most people out here are scared to touch pups cause they realize how much they cost. When I had my pup i would hold her at the kids level and let them pet her.
With my boyfriends chi I usually pick him up and hold him when we go out. He likes ME to hold him. He jumps at my heels until i pick him up. He is more of a mommas boy then a daddys boy. :)

I almost forgot to mention, when I use to work at Sears, there was a women that would being her weiner dog in and she had a patch on her pups sweater that had a hand crossed out (like the no smoking signs) and it said something about no touching because he was in training. She said it helped from keeping from people grabbing at him. She bought it off the internet.

They aren't being very sensible eh. How do they know she doesn't bite or anything. They'd soon complain if she did. I would never dream of stroking a dog, even, without the owners consent.

Abbey sweetie, you are too cute, and will have to learn to put on an aggressive face when people do this. lol.

Hugs Shirl x x

They aren't being very sensible eh. How do they know she doesn't bite. I would never dream of touching anyone's dog without their permission.

Abbey sweetie you are too cute. You'll have to learn to put
on an aggressive face when folks try to pick you up. lol.

Hugs Shirl x x

Ohh that sounds cool, I'll look into that.

They know she doesn't bite bc this little girl is so silly, she gets so excited when she sees people she is practically SMILING. I need to teach her a mean face.

(hand in the air)...guilty - I am guilty of doing this (oh for shame!) I do go up to others with adorable dogs, especially yorkies, and ask if I can pet them. Most say it's ok..........but one lady who I thought was quite smart said "she's pretty snappy".......so I just backed off.....told my hubby she doesn't want anyone touching her dog, that's the easiest way out.

I love it when people pet my Jeanie...not pick her up though. But pet her, she loves the attention!! So why not :) And I love dogs - All dogs - I live in an area with MANY MANY dogs...and I walk around petting dogs all day when I am on a walk. It makes me feel good...and they like it too.....

But ya, picking up is kind of rude. But I have seen some pretty adorable dogs, and I think I have picked up one, after I asked.

So I am a bad bad BAD girl....:laugh:

I always tell them that they bite! to kids young and old! It's just better that way. I had a s**tzu when I was younger I just had got her and this lady just picked her up and dropped her. Poor thing cried for like 5 min. thankfully she wasn't hurt but she was just a little puppy and squirmed like most do and the lady dropped her so now with my yorkies I always say they bite.:D

WOW I cant tell you how long I have been fighting this fight. I don't mind when people ask "can I pet your dog, I generally say yes unless I notice there hands being unusally dirty (bums-yes that has happened to us before). But when someone tries to pick her up or pet her or reach for her when I am holding her....I am a little rude...and I will tell you why....My dogs are like my children...you wouldn't reach for a newborn child and you certainly shouldn't do it to someones dog. I am also rude because if you don't have the common sense to ask then you are rude and I am going to treat you how you are acting....or you can just tell them she has rabies..that usually works too...hehe...