Isn't it sad that we have to consider #2 now days! I don't know if I'd contact the police - but I live in a small town where I could find out her identity fairly easily.

I don't know, I think there are better ways to strike up a conversation or a friendship than to just invade someones property and let their dog leap all over yours. I think Claire was right to act the way she did and I would of reacted the same way. Like someone else said, she could of stayed on the other side of the fench and held a conversation.

:thumbup:

I don't think you overreacted at all... I think in this day and age it's better to be safe than sorry and if something doesn't feel right to you and your not comfortable then you should remove yourself from the situation... it's worse when it's on your own doorstep.

U NEED A LOCK ON THAT GATE !
AND I WOULD NEVER LEAVE MY LITTLE ONE OUT OF MY SIGHT...OURS IS ALWAYS ON THE LEASH...JUST IN CASE...
U COULD HAVE ALSO SAID ..
EXCUSE ME BUT DID I INVITE U INTO MY YARD !
AND THAT $$$$ QUESTION IS WAY OUT OF LINE AND MY RESPONSE TO THAT ONE ...IS NONE ..JUST I GOTTA GO.....CU !!!!!!!!!!!:animal-pa

Ewww, how weird!!! Whenever someone usually asks how much Lilly is, I always respond, "Ahhh, about that much".

omg!
that is freaky!

even if i was fascinated by a dog, i would never EVER go into someone's backyard without being invited!

The woman went tooo far and over stepped boundaries. She should have never walked into your garden without being invited. Most people have common sense not to do that. Especially is it is a stranger!
you had every right to react the way you did. That is your property. i'd feel threatend too if A stranger did that to me. Of course you had every right to become defensive! :mad:

The question could have been just curiosity. However why did she just go into her property? She could have asked from outside. That was very rude. I don't like it either when people ask too many questions about Mia. Specially if they start by asking the price. I've heard too many stories about Yorkies being stolen and then sold. I told my father to stop telling people how much she cost because people I don't even know come up to me and tell me "o your father told me how much she cost" and making stupid remarks that get me very upset.
In any case I agree to be very very carefull

She definetly overstepped the boundaries. I would have asked her to leave as soon as she got there. I would have said I don't feel comfortable with people just walking into my yard.

I agree with the others who said that it is very important to go with your gut. And it was rude and wrong of her to just come into your garden, and worse, to "chase" you back into your house with her dog!

I would definitely be extra cautious, and I would also keep an eye out for her...just in case.

I would definitely be extra cautious, and I would also keep an eye out for her...just in case

Yes and if u see her coming head for the hills...meaning the door :)

Oh heck no - I would have been VERY unhappy too if she would have just walked in my yard and opened the gate like that without even asking :eek: WHAT THE ???? :confused: I would FOR SURE put a lock on that gate! There are WEIRDOS out there and she could be one of them no doubt - why risk it :thumbdown

That is weird. I would have felt uncomfortable also.

The other day when we went to the movies I was walking Suri across the street to potty and this lady ran up behind me...I got so scared I picked Suri up and started walking back. She then came up and said that she was picking up her yorkie pup the next night. Some people get so excited to see a yorkie that don't realize that they can be a bit scary. :rolleyes:

My neighbors don't know I have Suri for the reason that I don't need people snooping around.

I can just imagine how scared you were!! Over the summer I posted a thread about 2 weirdos asking how much I would of sold my Jeter to them for while I had taken him out for a morning walk. They even said that they had a girl Yorkie at home and we could breed them:eek: the guy pulled out his wallet and I had already picked Jeter up and my son and I started walking away!! I was scared of them and they called me stuck up when I said NO price would I sell him while I walked away from them. Lucky they did not follow us! You don't know these day's what people will do so It's best to be safe and cautious of the weirdos!

It sounds like she had no manners. Definitely boundary issues, or she just didn't care.
I don't think I know anyone who would just open someones gate and help themselves, and not even try to control their dog.
People are so weird and rude now days.

Yup. Always go with your gut feeling. Even if she was just trying to be friends. She sounds like she would make a crazy friend anyway.
Also, the money question (about anything that belongs to me) really puts me off and is a red flag to someone's personality in general to me.

You did the right thing.

To have someone just barge right into my yard like that would freak me out just from that. And then to follow you towards your house, it also sounds like she was too close and invading your personal space as well which would make anyone uncomfortable. And, if all that was not enough, to start asking more personal type questions without even knowing you, is just too much. Curious or not, you don't start any type of friendship by just going right into someone's yard and practically into their house like that. That is just too weird. I know I would have told her from the beginning to please leave as I have something I need to do and then go straight into the house with my baby in my arms. I would have then watched to see where she went to see if she even lived nearby. I would have then called the police just to have it on record in case she did come back again and maybe even try to take your baby. You just really never know.
It is possible that the woman just doesn't know how to properly introduce herself without being so overwhelming and overbearing. But, from your description, that incident would sure make me leery of her. :confused:

i absolutely hate when people ask how much i got riley for.. its really none of their business anyway. its always the same questions..

how old is he?
how much does he weigh?
where did you get him?
how much did he cost?
are you going to breed?

it makes me feel uncomfortable sometimes.

Okay I don't understand why it sends up red flags because she was in the yard. My neighbors come in my yard to talk. They did it as soon as we moved here, just to talk and all. Is it a southern thing here compared to other places? I'm not for sure.........but I do not fine such a big deal of someone coming into the garden I hate when one of my neighbors yells at me from across the street so I would prefer for him to walk over and say whatever it is. If the OP found this offensive maybe she needs to get a NO Tresspassing sign up so this cannot happen again.

I hate the how much was he/she question. Even when it's coming from friends/family because the next thing is always "those dogs are so expensive"
It's funny because if you get an engagement ring, new expensive outfit, or even furniture most people would think it's rude or innapropriate to ask how much you paid.
Unless the person is interested in getting one and wants to consider your breeder they should just control the urge to ask.

She didn't just step on the grass of her yard, a complete stranger opened the gate and let herself in with an unfamiliar dog! I can't imagine that NOT being a breach of southern manners. If it was a well known neighbor that may be one thing, but that was not the case. At the very least this woman needs to learn some boundaries (and manners). You shouldn't have to put up a No Trespassing sign, most civilized people know not to open a strangers gate and walk in to a private yard without invitation. Too many owners are afraid of not being polite and end up putting their babies in bad situations, bravo to her for not doing that. As a previous poster said, even if she was just trying to be friends, this woman's complete lack of propriety (i.e. craziness) would not exactly make the possible loss of a friendship with her sad. She needs to learn basic manners if she wants to make friends. :thumbup: Lucia for standing your ground and letting her know in no uncertain terms that her behavior was not acceptable!

I actually don't mind answering curious questions when I'm out with my baby for her walks. I know I'm always curious myself especially when I was looking to buying one. If possible, I'd have wanted to buy from a breeder who's been proven by a healthy sweet yorkie I fell in love with in person where the owner of said sweet yorkie vouches for the health and temperament of her dog. And of course, price is important to me too because I don't want to get my hopes up if it's at a range I couldn't justify spending. At that point, knowing where they got their dog from may or may not matter anymore except to note that said breeder probably breeds healthy dogs I cannot bring myself to buying. Good to know to refer to another who doesn't question the cost of living and loving around here. :)

Problem here is, this woman does seem highly suspicious if not also very lacking in manners. I would understand that she helped herself through the gate if no one was outside and she wanted to knock on the door or ring the doorbell with her unleashed dog carried or left outside otherwise next to her on leash. Conversing over a fence and/or gate that's low enough for them to have seen you from the otherside of it to begin with, isn't the same as shouting across the street. When the resident of the house is right there, it's up to him/her to open the gate to welcome you onto his/her home or to offer for you to let yourself in.

Again, I'd be wary of her returning, but not so much for your dog, that might have been a disguise for her true interest in investigating your household for future burglaries... That's the kind of world we live in now, sad as it is.

That is Nut's !!!!

I have a lock on my gate. It makes me glad Brownie isnt friendly When people are weird like that with my other 2 i always say how nasty & unfriendly they are.

I would keep an eye out for that loon.

I don't think she needs to hang a "No Tresspassing" sign at all. It's bad manners to intrude into someones space without first asking. What if Claire's Twinkle happened to have dog agression and then went for the larger dog when it was leaping all over her? If a fight had of broke out who do you think would of come of worse? Would you then say it was acceptable for the woman to just walk into Claire's enclosed garden? This also wasn't a neighbour, it was someone who was unfamiliar to her.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Exactly.

Actually, I have neighbors come in my FRONT yard all of the time and that is okay, but is sounds to me like this person (a STRANGER w/ a larger dog) walked in to a gated yard! My gated yard is MY space and really nobody should be in there without being invited! I would have been upset too! You can never be too careful.....trust your gut!

wow. Personally I don't think that is normal at all! Why the **** would someone open a complete strangers gate??? I would have done the same exact thing and I will be even more careful with my baby!

I would not want someone opening my gated yard:eek: when I have my Yorkies out back in our fenced in yard they are off leash and I would not want them getting out! How very rude! I also do not like the $$$$ questions because really if they are looking at getting a Yorkie then they know that they are "pricy". When I get the $$$$ questions from complete strangers, I usually just tell them mine are priceless. If I think they are serious I will give them my breeders information and then they can check it out for themselves:rolleyes:

Ooh, that is a good response. I think I may have to "borrow" that one!

Thx.

To address southern hospitality. Yes they are friendly forthright folks but I have never met a southerner that did not say "come in, have a seat, or can I get you something to drink". They key there is that the offer to enter is given. If someone comes to you and enters a gated area WITHOUT an invite then it is indeed intrusive and rude. In true southen style as well, the person entering would usually say, do you mind if I come in. So this woman crossed the line.

The problem is that you didn't stop it right there as she was entering. Upon the realization that she was crossing the line you should have said, "Oh, thanks for wanting to chat but I do not allow other dogs in my yard or near my dog. If she continued forward you say "Seriously, please do not come in but we can talk outside of the gate". I would hate to say my dog was sick but saying my dog is going through a round of shots and the vet is not sure of the outcome would do it.

It is difficult to have dispute with neighbors. If things go sour, you still live near these people so you try to get along. I always handle people that ask me questions I dont feel comfortable with by responding with questions. How much did you pay for your yorkie? my response, "are you familiar with the breed?" and just talk them in circles. When you get good at it your opponent (because at this point it IS a game) will get tired of addressing your questions and move on.

Sylar and I regular Petsmart since he gets baths and puppy class there. One time a lady asked if her kids could pet him (they were relatively young 4 & 6 I believe). They were gentle with him the youngest one picked him up and his mom set him down. Then the 6 year old tried to take my Flexi leash away from me and I tried to be as nice as possible. Then after all that we walk to the next aisle and a woman gasped at the sight of my dog and picked him up and started cuddling him without my permission. I thought it was absolutely strange and rude. I ranted to my boyfriend when I got home. I know Yorkies are tiny but that doesn't give a right to a stranger to pick up the dog. If I had a German Shepherd I don't think they'd just pick up the shepherd. Sheesh.

Some people just don't know boundries. They just can't say, "oh how cute" and move on. The woman who went into the yard was way out of line. What if her baby got out. You don't need to open a gate and walk right in to talk to someone. To my knowledge she didn't introduce herself as a new neighbor or say Oh I live down the street. This woman was just walking by with her dog. Especially that she had a dog with her, is she crazy to just go into someones yard. Especially if you a neighbor, whom she never met. Some people are very nervy. She did the right thing. But I would be creeped out. I would watch my baby like a hawk. and GET A LOCK!!!

:aimeeyorkCOCO :aimeeyorkPEBBLES :aimeeyorkTRIXIE