I COULD have acted offended but..
 

I took Teddy out for a walk which, as some of you may know, is a monumental task due to his anxiety. However, he walked like a champ today! In addition, a very nice poodle met up with him and he didn't bark at this poodle or do anything embarrassing or loud!


However, the owners of the poodle then allowed their other 2 dogs (which were much bigger than this poodle and about 3x the size of Teddy) jump all over me and Teddy. As a result, I had to sweep Teddy up into my arms, thus, ending his good behavior. I had to remove him from three overly excited (but sweet) dogs because Teddy was on a leash and these weren't. Because Teddy wanted to engage, he kept getting tangled in the leash whilst these three dogs were tackling him and so I feared for his safety. Well, Teddy obviously thought there was a threat, so his whole demeanor changed after that and he barked at the dogs and the owners. Clearly, he was scared because he would bark and hide behind my legs when I sat him down again and went from friendly to very defensive and paranoid.


Anyway, I don't know if I did the right thing as far as his anxiety goes i.e. making him think there was something to fear...but I was just so worried he'd get tangled up in the leash and then trampled or bitten...I dunno...


Also, the guy says to me, "So, that's a Yorkie and a....?" Well, okay, Teddy looked a little maniacal. After all, the grass was wet and he's due for a groom. I said, "Just Yorkie.." The man replied, "Oh, he's very small." Yeah, I know.... THIS IS WHY I WOULD PREFER YOUR THREE DOGS DO NOT JUMP ON HIM. :D


Anyway, point of the story is:


1. Teddy is clearly improving as far as social skills
2. Teddy is clearly improving as far as anxiety (could be a fluke - we'll see)
3. Teddy is CLEARLY a spitting image of all pedigree show dogs (see pics below - Teddy on left AND add sarcasm here..) I should be offended, I think (?), because as you can see, Teddy looked EXACTLY like the dog on the right this morning! I spent exactly 4 minutes on his PONYTAIL to get him into show condition! How dare you question his pedigree you unseemly man! :p

Teddy is just gorgeous!! I love his colouring. Good for Teddy doing so well before the dogs crowded him. Although I think their owners should have had them all on leads.

4. Teddy is freakin' ADORBS

(I love your Teddy stories...they always make me smile/chuckle. Sidebar...do you feel odd saying "chuckle"? I always feel dorky using that word, like I'm chuckling as if I'm Santa Claus or something?)

Some people really don't know what Yorkies look like . . They see puppy pictures and that is it. .

Don't worry about it. . . Teddy is just adorable.

Hmmmm, what kind of little white lie could we come with to keep someone else's dog from jumping all over Teddy?

1. It is good to see Teddy stay calm. The last dog that jumped on him like that lost his ear.
2. It's OK if they get close, I am PRETTY sure Teddy is over that infectious disease.
3. ????


Teddy is a cutie pie!

As a dog walker, I've learned a lot of people are idiots/uninformed/ignorant. LOL. Most mean well. But you won't believe the amount of people who think that *every* dog should just WANT to say hi to their dog.... or "oh he's friendly!" as their boisterous Lab is running up to me. Umm, he may be friendly, but maybe my dogs not? I think we live in a culture nowadays where it's just expected that all dogs be best buddies. Imagine if we as humans were expected to stop and talk to EVERY person we walked by on the street -- it's a nice 'gesture' but not everybody has time, or wants to. Dogs are the same way.

I've picked Jackson up before (and he's big, LOL, 18lbs) when I thought he may be in harms way and unfortunately it puts him on the 'defense' (and he's very friendly and social in public). When he's up in my arms, he will begin to lash out, and act defensive. I think it makes him feel vulnerable being up in my arms. So I try not to do it unless I truly believe he's in real danger.

:thumbup::thumbup: Our last trip to the vet's office, my Teddy was sitting on dad's lap in the waiting room when a woman let her rambunctious lab come over to say hello (translation: get in Teddy's face). Teddy did his gargoyle impression and dad tried to tell the woman to back her dog off. The woman wouldn't stop insisting that her dog was friendly. Dad couldn't convince her that the problem is Teddy didn't want to be friendly.

Misty, your Teddy is adorable and obviously all Yorkie. :)

This is mean but I would have said " My dog is just getting over being treated for an INFECTIOUS BOUT OF PARVO, you should probably take your dogs to the vet to get tested."

Teddy is just adorable and Teddy looks exactly like the dog on the right lol. He is a little cutie for sure.

Poor Teddy, they overwhelmed him. He is so cute.

i vote for
 

U
I vote for number 1!
He's adorable and some dog owners are dumb as a box of rocks.jmho

Haha! I love #2! I just may have to use it, lol. Teddy is gorgeous and I happen to think he looks tons better than the pooch on the right.

Teddy is adorable! What a special boy, and such a cute face.

It is very confusing to me how some people can be so non-understanding of a dog's 'natural instincts' of 'person' and 'space' when they themselves would feel 'violated' if a human unknown to them did the same to them that they allow and/or encourage their dogs to do to other people or their dogs.

At least Teddy wasn't injured, but it may not have helped his anxiety much. I hope sweet Teddy gets better greetings from other dogs he happens to meet.

Teddy is a beautiful beach blonde! We had a similar situation recently with a pit bull mix in the neighborhood. It was leashed but lunged at Joni - she didn't know to be afraid of it. I scooped her up quickly just on instinct. The older man holding the pit bulls leash made a remark that I didn't have to be afraid. Pfffft. It only takes a blink of the eye for something tragic to happen.

Hi all!


Teddy and I thank you for your compliments and the time you took to answer this thread!


I was told by Teddy's breeder that the popularity of the YT is waning which may explain why so many people are fascinated by him. I have literally had people stop and ask to take a pic with him which I find so weird since, although he is very cute, he is not as beautiful as some Yorkie's I've seen!


I also couldn't quite figure out why I was so offended by the park encounter but, in retrospect, I believe it is because the man paid more attention to Teddy's breed and size than to what his dogs were actually doing and what they could POTENTIALLY do as a result of his lack of inattention. I guess I could understand if we started out in the midst of their area, but their dogs ran the length of a football field to greet mine. In addition, I never got any acknowledgement (much less apology) from him regarding the fact that I had to quickly remove Teddy from the fray.


Also, I think I'm annoyed that he was doing so well with his anxiety and I felt we were sort of accosted. I hope there isn't any lasting damage but I guess I won't know how far (if at all) this has set Teddy back until we go out again.


Argh - thanks for listening x