How protective are you when it comes to new people interact w/ your little one?

[Mistymillar]

Originally Posted by Maximo

When Max was a puppy, a couple of people picked him up without supporting his rear end. After I saw that, I decided no more.

I'm sorry your little Draco was injured. When my brothers visit, Max likes to go on their laps and flip over on his back for a belly rub. It makes me so nervous because Max is accustomed to me or my father spotting him. I have to remind my brothers to make sure Max doesn't fall from the couch or chair.

I also have to be careful with petting in public. Everyone wants to stick their fingers in Max's eyes and rub in circles on his topknot. Max is tolerant of it, but Teddy is not.

This just made me wonder can they be hurt if the rear isn't supported? I am trying to think how I pick Alfie up, once up he is either tucked up in my arm with his bum on the inside of my elbow, or carried like a baby to get his belly rub, but I don't always hold his bum when picking him up.

[KimInMD]

I will let some people pet my girls, but not everyone. In stores, the girls stay in their Kwiggy Bo. I clip the Kwiggy to the shopping cart. I keep a splitter leash in the carrier pocket. I loop it around the cart, then clip their harnesses to the splitter. In the stroller, they always have their harness and leashes on. The leashes are tied to the stroller. I have never once had anyone try to pick the girls up when they see that they are tethered. Having them tethered keeps them safe from falls and people who may try to grab them and run off. I started doing this after I noticed a guy in his 20's really scoping out the girls. Nothing happened, but it sure got me to thinking.

[Deb1]

I know when we are out in public, our 3 are quite the attraction! People always ask to pet them and ask a million questions! I have never had someone ask to hold one and if they did I would have to say no! I have, had a child try to pick up Tatiana when I was outside taking her potty! I gave him a firm "No" and told him to never pick up a stranger's dog as it might bite. It scared the heck out of me because I thought she was going to fall!

It is always better to be safe then sorry!

[ironmike86]

Originally Posted by Deb1

I know when we are out in public, our 3 are quite the attraction! People always ask to pet them and ask a million questions! I have never had someone ask to hold one and if they did I would have to say no! I have, had a child try to pick up Tatiana when I was outside taking her potty! I gave him a firm "No" and told him to never pick up a stranger's dog as it might bite. It scared the heck out of me because I thought she was going to fall!

It is always better to be safe then sorry!

Parents need to teach there kids not to touch without permission. And when they grow up they can teach there kids and live by example. I never pet someones dog with out permission. Unless it runs up to me and start to lick/sniff me. But walking on a leash or if there held I always ask.
Simple manners imo

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by Mistymillar

This just made me wonder can they be hurt if the rear isn't supported? I am trying to think how I pick Alfie up, once up he is either tucked up in my arm with his bum on the inside of my elbow, or carried like a baby to get his belly rub, but I don't always hold his bum when picking him up.

When I'm picking up my boys together, I wrap my hand around their chests from the side, under their front legs. Once they are up in my arms, their rear ends are supported by my arm/elbow as you described. When I pick them up individually, I support their rear ends (especially because my boys are bigger).

The people who picked up Max were essentially holding him by his front legs, facing him, and letting the rest of his body dangle. That is not good.

Originally Posted by ironmike86

Parents need to teach there kids not to touch without permission. And when they grow up they can teach there kids and live by example. I never pet someones dog with out permission. Unless it runs up to me and start to lick/sniff me. But walking on a leash or if there held I always ask.
Simple manners imo

Sadly, a lot of adults do not know how to behave around dogs. Teddy came to us perfectly trained and socialized and I believe he was ruined by people running up to us, squealing with delight, and trying to grab him. I don't blame him for being nervous around strangers.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by KimInMD

I will let some people pet my girls, but not everyone. In stores, the girls stay in their Kwiggy Bo. I clip the Kwiggy to the shopping cart. I keep a splitter leash in the carrier pocket. I loop it around the cart, then clip their harnesses to the splitter. In the stroller, they always have their harness and leashes on. The leashes are tied to the stroller. I have never once had anyone try to pick the girls up when they see that they are tethered. Having them tethered keeps them safe from falls and people who may try to grab them and run off. I started doing this after I noticed a guy in his 20's really scoping out the girls. Nothing happened, but it sure got me to thinking.

The splitter leash is a great idea for riding in shopping carts.

[Bellabean]

I prefer for people to just pet her.

[lexi43]

I wouldn't let anybody I didn't know ever holld my dogs. I don't even like when people pet them because I don't want any law suits. You never know with dogs how they are going to react. Although our dogs are super friendly and love attention I am always leary.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Tibbe and many small dogs will try to jump out of the arms of people they don't feel secure with so I don't let most people hold him unless he knows them very well and I've shown them how he can wiggle away and jump. I tend to keep him away from most as I don't know whether they will grab him or what. If they ask to pet him, I will generally say okay unless it is a child. He's not used to children so I don't know if he might get scared and nip so I tell children that ask that he could be a biter so it's probably better if I hold him and let them pet his back. He acts like he loves all people but I still am very cautious with him around strangers.

[Biewers]

I'm OCD over the top paranoid. If you touch my babies you better have sanitized your hands and don't even think of holding them.. You might drop them

[Teresa Ford]

My dogs don't fear strangers. Three of them are active working therapy dogs. BUT I do the holding and the other person does the petting. It is easy to make it a positive experience for everyone. I just say something like, " He/ she loves pets, see..... and demonstrate where to pet. If necessary I add ,
He is a therapy dog he's not allowed to be held unless the patient is in a wheel chair or bed. Takes all the sting out of NO

[KimInMD]

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford

My dogs don't fear strangers. Three of them are active working therapy dogs. BUT I do the holding and the other person does the petting. It is easy to make it a positive experience for everyone. I just say something like, " He/ she loves pets, see..... and demonstrate where to pet. If necessary I add ,
He is a therapy dog he's not allowed to be held unless the patient is in a wheel chair or bed. Takes all the sting out of NO

I love this.

[ChibiLuv]

People STEAL Yorkies every chance they get....why in the world would anyone allow a stranger hold their puppy, and then been stunned and amazed when the person dashes off with the pup?????

So true- this is reason #1 to not let anyone hold your pup! People with kids, people that seem friendly any one of them could steal your dog in a heartbeat.
I will let people pet if they ask first but I will usually hold them while they pet or be close enough to stop them if they try and run. Rather be paranoid than yorkie-less

[Draco]

I live in LA and the idea that someone would dash off with my Draco had never crossed my mind. Most of the time I've heard of dogs being stolen it was either from their yard or the dog was tied up while the owner was in the store.
Though one day while visiting a friend who lives in Hollywood, I was getting out of my cara nd walking down her street and had just put Draco in my bag, and a woman came up to saying he was cute and if he was for sale!

[Verbena]

Originally Posted by Draco

I live in LA and the idea that someone would dash off with my Draco had never crossed my mind. Most of the time I've heard of dogs being stolen it was either from their yard or the dog was tied up while the owner was in the store.
Though one day while visiting a friend who lives in Hollywood, I was getting out of my cara nd walking down her street and had just put Draco in my bag, and a woman came up to saying he was cute and if he was for sale!

crazy