Messin' With Piper's Head, Man...
 

Ugh, we have this problem too. Middle aged women are the worst, I'll take 10 kids over one woman any day. To make it worse I look like I'm 16-18, I'm 25, so they don't take me seriously.
Even when Lola has a big bow in her top knot they go for her head.

I've taken to saying yes you can pet her, but not her head. Lola will climb my shoulder if she doesn't like the way someone touches or speaks to her.
It doesn't always stop the problem though, so I have to walk away.

It's funny when men pet her and mess up her top knot a little and their wife tells them off. The way men tend to pet her head doesn't bother her near as much as the face grabbing.

Seriously, people are clueless. Kids are far more respectful than adults.

I cup Cody's face numerous times a day, why? cuz his face is soo darn cute. I would probably do the same to a wee little baby, and for the same reason, just to cute. I did it to all my babies, they just have such sweet little faces faces and the brightest eyes. I'll have to keep this in mind if I run into a wee lil baby.

I think I'd work on a short quick statement - petting is fine - but not her face or head. She loves xxxxxxxx- back scratches or shoulder rubs.

Doing it to your own dog, or even just a dog that knows you well, is a million times different.

I can do just about anything to Lola with no problems, including touching her head and face, that doesn't mean other people can do these things or that I'd do them to another dog.

It completely baffles me when adults think they can walk up and grab a strange dog's face and that they don't realize if the dog is trying to get away from you stop touching it!!

I have had people ask to pet Bonnie and then they try to pick her up! It makes me crazy, so I understand.

If they are asking your permission first to pet your pup, that is a good sign. You could just answer with. Sure, but she is shy and doesn't like to be touched on her head etc. These little furballs are just so darn cute that everybody wants to love on them;)

Poor Piper may not be shy as you think because what she is experiencing most dogs do not like from strangers. Getting in a dog space, leaning over and petting a dog on the head, getting in their face and hugging are all very intimidating. When meeting a dog for the first time the proper way is to allow the dog to approach first, if they don't people need to learn to leave them alone. If and when a dog welcomes a pet it’s best to approach them on their side. If a person needs to lower themselves bend at the knees without leaning over, pet the body not the head. At any point when a dog backs away or pulls away, people should back off too.

When we first got Penny, she was nervous when strangers approach so I didn’t want people to pet her. I would say, “I’m sorry, she's shy and not good with being petted but we’re working on it.”

Once Penny was ready to receive petting I made sure she was not on the ground where people could lean over. If she was, I'd ask people to wait so i can pick her up. How I hold Penny was important to how we were to avoid what I mentioned above. I held Penny like cradling a football, with one hand underneath her chest, my fingers holding the harness strap across her chest , her upper body along my arm, back legs tucked between my chest and arm. I presented Penny’s side and give people verbal and visual guidance on how to pet her.. “She loves to be petted gently here like this but she doesn’t like her head touched.” While Penny got her pats, I was giving her treats with my free hand and giving calming massages on her chest with my fingers. If someone was being over zealous tried to hold her and take her from my arms I can grip her harness strap, back up, elbow block or use my free hand.

:thumbup: This is great advice that I received from other doggy experts too. I direct people to pet shoulders and chest.

Jkpal, we have the same problem with people wanting to go for the head. Many people turn into the Three Stooges with their hand movements around Max's face and head.

Rubbing his topknot in circles is a favorite, and practically putting fingers in his eyes. Max does not have the sense to shut his eyes, so that worries me a lot.

The worst incident was a large man, football player size, who asked to pet Max. He walked over and bopped Max on the top of the head hard. Max air snapped and quickly went into a sit position, looking at me, because he feared he had been naughty. I couldn't blame Max because he was essentially hit on the head.

For me it's plain and simple, NO strangers touch my dog's. I do not trust people.

MIne are used to certain people and thats it will stay.

Your blue highlighted sentence says all you need to know. You wouldn't let some stranger touch your baby like that so the same goes for Piper. I am always very assertive. If I choose to let someone touch my girl, I tell them exactly what I expect from that interaction. No one would dare cross my boundaries.

Thank you for practical, useful advise; and thank you for sharing similar experiences. I now have a proactive plan to follow for Piper's well-being and my peace-of-mind. I am so grateful to have wonderful Yorkie Forum friends to guide me with my little Piper girl. Just love you guys!
You always think you could have done more. That’s why you need a friend — to tell you you did all you could. ~Robert Brault

If someone stops us while we are out on a walk and wants to pet Gracie I pick her up and hold her making sure I have her head secure on my arm or in my hand. I have had bad experiences when people bend over to pet her. I want her to feel comfortable and also make sure of just how they are going to touch her.

Everytime I read the title of this post, I keep thinking: keep messing with Piper's head... mentally.... LOL Sorry, I had to let this out. :p

Everytime I read the title of this post, I keep thinking: keep messing with Piper's head... mentally.... LOL Sorry, I had to let this out
Magnus, you totally "get it!" I absolutely meant it both ways; sorta harkening back to that '70's lingo. Smiling with you!