CDD (Cute Dog Disease) - A HUMAN Illness
 

Cute Dog Disease (CDD) is characterized by exuberant approach of a total stranger with a high pitched voice and teeth bared (:D smiling). Victims of the disease, while seemingly intelligent enough, suddenly lose all capacity to use sound judgment :scratchhe upon sight of small, fluffy, or cute dogs. Sufferers believe that every dog adores them instantly. Said dog, being small, is frightened of this high pitch voiced stranger with teeth bared, and feels the need to issue a warning growl as a protective measure. CDD sufferer tends to get upset with said dog...wondering why it would growl when (s)he is just 'trying to be nice'.

Small dog's parent wonders how to convince CDD sufferers to express their exuberant greetings from at least 3 feet away in a non-threatening manner??:mad:

Betcha can't tell how my morning has gone! ;) How do we take Milli out in public to socialize her without having to deal with people like this? I don't want her to be afraid of strangers but, goodness, I'd be afraid of some of these people if I were her! I don't blame her for growling to scare them away!

LOL, what a great writer you are! I know exactly what you mean, I was taking Joey everywhere, and things were fine, and all it took was a few people reacting like he was a celebrity to make him get all Sean Penn-like. I have no advice, I had to start leaving Joey at home; people would reach for him before I could warn them not to do this. I mean they would never shove their hands on a 90 lb dog's head, why do they think it's safe with a small dog? Now that he's four, he's much more settled and I've started taking him out again, but this time we are walking, and he's not in his basket where his head was so easy to reach.

I think this is a variation of the disease that causes total strangers to suddenly start making funny faces and talking in gibberish when they see a baby. These same people, who otherwise wouldn't speak to you at all, also feel the compulsion to place their hands all over your pregnant stomach and tell you that you look like you are going to drop that kid any minute now (even though you are only 5 months pregnant...) :rolleyes:

When we go out, I carry Cherrios in my pocket and when I see someone zeroing in on the pup, I grab one and shove it toward the approaching whirlwind saying "Here you go! He can't bite while chewing!" They'll either freeze.........or better, slowly offer it. It's a win/win for Puppy, and me! LOL!

LOL...you're right! It must be a variation of the same disease! People just don't make sense sometimes. My sister in law got upset with me and thought I was 'rejecting' her newborn son a while back because she offered to let me hold him and I declined. I simply declined because I've had enough experience by now to realize that a newborn doesn't want some stranger holding him (just like our little puppies!)...he wants the familiar feel and smell of his momma. I was trying to be kind...but she didn't have the experience yet to understand. Same goes for our little dogs...people just don't understand. (I admit to making these mistakes in past until I learned it was wrong.)

Mom2dogs...I love your idea! I'll actually try that and see how it works! Brilliant!

A few years ago I had cute dog disease. I was one of those intelligent people who completely lost it whenever I saw a puppy or small dog. My disease went into remission when I got my little one and I find myself explaining to people why I won't let them pet her. I think I am cured of CDD. Now when I see a puppy or small dog, I usually ask the owner first if it's okay to pet their dog.

Most people are really cool about it though. They usually asked me first. I never let children pet Brandi and I feel so bad because they are really curious but better safe than sorry. Brandi for whatever reason does not like children or most men. She has to be around them for long periods of time before she starts warming up to them.

Er umm actually more ppl then you would think actually do that. A case in point, a couple of nights ago, I had the opportunity to witness, a man walking a large spitz mix dog through our narrow laneway. Young boy maybe 10 yrs old or so, is zeroing in on said dog. Owner is watching me, and I am watching him, two big dogs, narrow space, I stand back, boy launches himself at that owner and dog, and after reaching up and over the dog's head to pet the head, he proceeds next to stand to one side and give that dog a great big hug. The dog hated it, tail down, hunched over, etc. Man and dog walk off I walk to laneway, boy starts running to me, my hand goes us like a traffic warden and I say stop. He says why? I said you have no clue how to greet a strange dog. He say's well is your dog a bad dog, no I say he is a guard dog. Now let me explain how you greet a strange dog, I put Magic in a sit stay, you walk slowly up to the strange person and dog, without swinging your arms and waving them about energetically, and stop about 6-8 feet back. Then you talk to the owner for a bit, you ask if you can say hi to their dog, and what is the dog's name etc. You approach slowly, never pet over their head that is a threatening gesture, instead offer your closed hand to be sniffed, if the dog backs away, let the dog go, and don't try to approach the dog. If sniffing is all good, you can scratch or pet on the side of the neck and from the side of the dog. Never hug a strange dog, the hugging action is also a sign of dominance, and or can be perceived to be a threat. Wow he says |I never knew that, I said well I hope you remember it. Now you want to pat Magic? Try out your new techinque? :) He does and all goes well, he says to me boy he is big how much does he weigh, I said I bet he weighs more than you do. Anyhow about 125 lbs the boy was about 80 lbs.

It is not just children either, many many folks here in the city were never taught how to approach a strange dog.

And I've gotten the ankle biter business, and the yappy business, and the she although he is a he.
Well Razz isn't an ankle biter, but he does bark sometimes a fair amount particularly at play. I just laugh, but personally I love the balls comment.

I might just say watch out this is my "attack" Yorkie - he goes for the balls :)

Great post! Very funny, but also right on point.

Nancy: Sean Penn, lol

Gemy: Very good instructions

I want to print this out and hand it to the people I encounter. Thankfully, Maxman is very tolerant of people rubbing his head in circles and waving fingers in his face like a Three Stooges routine. Teddy, however, will snap at buffoons.