What do you say?
 

Ok..Pasquale and I just went out for a nice walk. Most of the time when we walk we at least run into someone that wants to pet him. And i dont mind stopping and giving him a break to socialize when they ask cause he really enjoys people. However, today we were walking....and some lady came running over to us to see the "puppy!!!" as she screeeeched. :rolleyes: Anyways...she just grabbed Pasquale and picked him up (by his arms,mind you, with NO support) , and then kissed him. Pasquale who normally loves people was squirming..cause i dont think he really enjoyed the way he picked her up. So as he started squirming.....she ALMOST DROPPED HIM!!!! I caught him! OMG it drives me NUTS!!!!! when people dont ask to play with your pet first. After she almost dropped him , i gave an angry disgusted sigh out and just said "c'mon Pasquale let's go". I dont know..am i overreacting? I just feel like i wouldnt run up to a stranger's baby and just pick it up and start kissing it. I'm curious if this ever happens to any of you...and if it does...what do you say when people start to do something you would rather them not? I feel like i need a nice but effective way of saying...HEY DONT TOUCH MY DOG! Any advice?

I very firm in my get away from my dog.
Mine is not overly happy with strangers in its face for various reasons.

If back off does not work. I just tell them to go get there own dog and leave mine alone.

If that does not work and it was not. I put myself in between my dog and the on coming fool and look like all heck will break loose if they try.. cause it will.
There will be no one picking up or touching my dog without me saying so.

When I am working a dog I am soicalizing and someone runs up. I say good way to get oneself bite is to pull that on my other dog. Try this instead.
I go about teaching the right way to interact with any of my dogs.

JL

Puppy owners get this all the time :p While it's certainly flattering for strangers to want to love on your puppy, it can get pretty irritating, fast. I know there are many people on here who have had "those" type of stories/encounters with random strangers approaching their dogs in a way they don't really care for. One time when I was at the bank and brought Mocha with me, the teller was like "Let me see him". I brought him closer so that she could pet him, but to my surprise, she actually leaned over the counter and grabbed him from my arms :shocked7q I started backing away when she did this, hoping she would get the idea...but she still went for it rather insistently :mad: Some people think that if somebody takes a dog out in public, that it's fair game to play and interact with them. They just don't understand that we see our furbabies as parents see their skinbabies.

Oh, as for advice, you can tell people that your pup is very wiggly when strangers hold him, so you prefer not to let people hold him, that it's for his own safety and your peace of mind. You can also say that he's in training and you don't want him to have any distractions.

Thankfully, I've never encountered someone who would just pick up someone's fur-baby without asking. Whenever someone asks, I'll tell them he's rather squirmy..

I definitely think asking first is the the polite thing to do when it comes to pets/talking to children, etc.

I would say to look at your surroundings when walking with your furbaby and if you see a lunatic person like that running to you, to scoop up your baby fast or go in front of your baby signaling to the eccentric person that they must go through you first before your baby.

On a similar story, Wookie and I were walking where there was a fair the next block and a group of kids was fastly approaching us. Wookie is usually friendly but for some reason I didn't feel like having anyone pet him during that walk. So when one of the kids starts looking at Wookie, smiling, they asked me if they can pet him. I said "no, sorry, he's grouchy today". And on cue, Wookie to my amazement said "GGGGGRRRRRRR". I laughed in my head and told the kids, "see I told you so". lol

We've had this happen to us too, except the man who picked Mika up was-I can't think of a nicer way to put it-mentally disabled. I feared if I made a fuss he might freak out or something:eek:So I reached out to take Mika and said with a smile "I better take her, she might pee on you" he giggled and handed her over! PHEW! You have to be sooo careful as you never know how people might react when they've got your baby in their arms.

I tell everyone that she is too squirmy, and that she might fall.

I have this one lady who works at a local store that when she sees me tries to take her from my hands....I say sorry you can't take....then she says..o its ok I know how to hold her, I have a dog of my own....I mean reall lady, what part of no don't you understand!! Anyway now I won't take her in there with my anymore:mad:

I love it when kids and adults want to hold or pet my girls when were out. The more the merrier :D..........BUT NEVER EVER run in front of my bike when I have the girls in the basket, to stop me just so you can see and pet them. This happen once and I told the lady NEVER do that again........you could have caused me to wreck and hurt my girls and THEN I'd have to kick your @$$. Takes all kinds I guess. :rolleyes:

I don't think you are overreacting, and I don't think because they are small everyone should be allowed to do anything they want to them. You have to act really fast, and almost be on the look out for this, because so many people will move in before you get a chance to intercept. I'm always trying something new to stop this, most of the time I just say, "He doesn't like strangers."

I think its great that you let your baby socialize with other humans. I don't think you are overreacting though. Some people dont realize how fragile smaller dogs are. I would have done the same thing as you.

I feel the same way.......but I do get nervous when young children want to pick up Daizy. But thankfully that hasn't happened too many times. I guess some people just don't realize that not everyone is open to them grabbing up their furbabies...and should learn to ask first.

I usually just tell them not to pick them up because they are squirmy when they're excited. I will pick them up to show them, but I won't let anyone hold them. You never know when someone might drop them or even just take off with them.

I have not experienced this yet; but I am sure I would be the "don't touch my dog" person! I know people may think that is rude; but I am sorry! I know that Bailey is awfully squirmy and if someone would pick her up and drop her because of her squirming I would be very upset! I think people should look at puppies like babies.....if it is not yours.....don't touch it! Again, that sounds rude on my part but that is how I feel! I just don't think it is right and I agree with you totally!

You are not overreacting! There has been situations where crazy people picked the dogs up and steal them! :eek: I usually say please dont pick my dog, he doesnt like to be on anyone's arms except mine( it is true anyways) but you can pet him.

You're not overreacting at all! I appreciate and want someone to ask me before they pet Alfie, let alone hold him! When I'm not in the mood or just get a bad vibe from the person, I'll tell them that he's training right now, sorry. Or that he bites. I'm usually okay with people playing with my dog, because he loves the attention and it's good for him. But I have days where I just don't feel like it, and that's okay.

I too don't think your over-reacting. When I'm walking Roxie and see someone approaching I just pick her up and keep walking briskly. I just smile and say hello but don't stop. Your body language can help give off some vibes. But if that fails...I tell them it's not a good idea to hold her that when she gets nervous or overly excited she pees. The pee thing usually works like a charm since no one wants to be pee'd on!! :D

I should also mention that Roxie doesn't appreciate people coming up and just wanting to grab her. I can feel her pulling away from them and hanging onto me as tight as she can plus she starts shaking. She's fine at our home and when people come over but when we're out she's out of her element and likes to stay close to me.

I tell people not to pick mine up because they will bite! They won't of course, but they reaaly don't like strangers grabbing them. They are very friendly ON the Ground.

You are not over reacting!!! I feel the same! Just tell them "WATCH OUT SHE BITES!" lol... kidding.

There have been a few times when strangers try to pick Mia up... I can't believe they do this without asking!!! Rude!

Before they get her off the gound I say "PLEASE DONT PICK HER UP!". And I tell them she's a wiggle worm when she doesn't know you and she will wiggle out of your hands. This is true! I let a friend hold Mia for the first time, and he dropped her. Thankfully she was ok! He was afraid to hold on to her to tight. If its a friend that has never met Mia, they hold her while sitting on the ground. That just the way it goes! She just doesn't like strangers holding her anyway.

I think is part of owning a yorkie, people go nuts:rolleyes:I ussually tell them to be very careful and I there holding the leash very short just in case:rolleyes:

Thank you for all the responses....i think i just need to keep a closer eye out for people and speak up immediately. I guess i was sorta in shock some stranger would just pick him up without permission. Thanks again everyone