[Beragagnu]

Me, my friend, and Cleo went to petsmart to get Cleo a pinch collar yesterday. When first got there we looked at the birds and reptiles. As we were looking i felt a tug on the leash and a woman that worked there was patting her legs to signal Cleo to jump up on her! I was like "God help me not cuss this woman out!" I have been working with Cleo to teach her NOT TO JUMP ON PEOPLE! Ugh, talk about piss me off! Oh and thats not all! She did not ONE time look at me nor speak to me the whole time! When she was done petting her she left. And one of my biggest pet peeves is for someone to pet her without asking! Sorry guys, just had to vent.....

[TOOGUEITEME]

Was she serious? Now, if Cleo(God forbid this is just a scenario) would have jumped on her and knocked her ass down, then she would’ve been all mad and ‘get your damn dog’ and all. It blows my mind when people start rubbing all over my dogs or telling them to jump on them. Do they not see me? The person ATTATCHED to the leash? Could you nost ask? Hell, you don’t know that dog! Some people are just..idiots. My first to questions are directly to the owner: ‘May I pet him/her?’ or ‘Is she people friendly? Does she/he bite?’ And based on those two answers, I either approach the dog or I don’t. It’s not like the dog has a mouth and can tell you!

[Beragagnu]

Yeah girl i know! It doesnt take a lot of effort just to politely ask....

[Jueqelyl]

I don't like it either, but I think when you're in Petsmart with a dog, everyone assumes that the dog is safe and friendly. Otherwise, most people wouldn't bring their dog there. I know there's always an idiot that will, but most reasonable folks won't.

I don't bring mine to stores for that very reason. Too many corners, too many dogs, too many running children, too little control.

[unatkot]

I usually very sarcastically in those situations say (rather loudly), 'WHY OF COURSE you can pet my dog, thank you EVER SO MUCH for asking'. And in situations when one of my dogs is wearing a fricking service dog vest that has DO NOT PET patches all over it I add, 'I am SOOOO sorry you never learned to read, it's never too late to start though!'.

Idiots.

[Beragagnu]

Yeah, i really like to show people how friendly these dogs are and Cleo really enjoys everyone and she always has a blast....me on the other hand could do without the people part. Im just glad she has a chance to get out of the house for a little while.

[dolaBeetCeage]

I am having this same problem with my GSD (not too many people do this with my APBTs thankfully!) I will have her out working in her service dog vest & neon orange leash (yeah, I know, ugly color for a leash but it's required by state law) & I cannot BELIEVE how many people try to distract her or even get her to come to them! When I firmly tell them it is AGAINST FEDERAL LAW to disturb a service dog while it's working, they usually act surprised & back off in a hurry. She already has "Service Dog in Training" & "Service Dog on Duty" patches for her vest but it doesn't seem to deter some people. I'm going to get her patches that say "Seizure Service Dog - Do not Distract" but I don't know how well that will work.

Some people.

Blessings ...

[unatkot]

I am having this same problem with my GSD (not too many people do this with my APBTs thankfully!) I will have her out working in her service dog vest & neon orange leash (yeah, I know, ugly color for a leash but it's required by state law) & I cannot BELIEVE how many people try to distract her or even get her to come to them! When I firmly tell them it is AGAINST FEDERAL LAW to disturb a service dog while it's working, they usually act surprised & back off in a hurry. She already has "Service Dog in Training" & "Service Dog on Duty" patches for her vest but it doesn't seem to deter some people. I'm going to get her patches that say "Seizure Service Dog - Do not Distract" but I don't know how well that will work.

Some people.

Blessings ...

It won't work lol. In the past 6 years of having service dogs and taking them outside in their vests I have TWICE (!!!) had someone about to come up and pet one and then back off and say oh I apologize I didn't realize your dog was working. TWICE!

[Beragagnu]

All it takes is common sense....

Some people just drive me freaking crazy!!

[Angelinaaiiiiiiiii]

Me, my friend, and Cleo went to petsmart to get Cleo a pinch collar yesterday. When first got there we looked at the birds and reptiles. As we were looking i felt a tug on the leash and a woman that worked there was patting her legswas she patting her legs for her to come to her or her chest to signal jump up? just curious on my part. to signal Cleo to jump up on her! I was like "God help me not cuss this woman out!" I have been working with Cleo to teach her NOT TO JUMP ON PEOPLE! Ugh, talk about piss me off! Oh and thats not all! She did not ONE time look at me nor speak to me the whole time! When she was done petting her she left. And one of my biggest pet peeves is for someone to pet her without asking! Sorry guys, just had to vent.....

petsmart employees are suppose to ask for permission to pet, and also acknowledge the owner, so she was going against the rules, and I would have went to the manager, she needs to get disciplined, so she doesn't get hurt in the future.
she may have been a new employee?

[Beragagnu]

I didnt know that was a rule! She may have been new, i dont know....that was just direspectful to not ask or speak. If it happens again i will inform the manager. I am a pretty regular costomer there, so im sure ill see her again!

[pharmaclid]

I do feel for you on that, i never bring my dogs to petsmart. though when i go i never even usually touch a dog there or anywhere else for that matter, i just say cute dog and walk away.. (most of the dogs i see are grody anyway)

[SHpuntik]

petsmart employees are suppose to ask for permission to pet, and also acknowledge the owner, so she was going against the rules, and I would have went to the manager, she needs to get disciplined, so she doesn't get hurt in the future.
she may have been a new employee?

Wow, in all the many times I've been to Petsmart never once has an employee actually asked. They just encourage the dogs to run to the end of the leash and generally misbehave. In fact I get dirty looks when I drill Lily on her OB (great distractions in there!!) and their "trainer" at the Boise one actually broke her platz on purpose with a biscuit that she's not even supposed to have (grain allergies) and said out loud while giving me a shitty look, "Oh you don't have to sit for this." Luckily my mother raised me better and I didn't cuss her out.

Reasons I shop at small local pet shops as much as possible.

[TOOGUEITEME]

Lol at these answers. PetSmart is a pretty crappy place if you don’t want people to kill themselves trying to be all over your dog. I remember I took Shiki to get groomed, and afterward the grooming lady spent about 25 minutes kissing her(on the lips now) and rubbing her and cooing. I get she’s a fluffy white powder puff, but really? After waiting for THAT long to get her groomed, all I want to do is get my dog and go home. PetSmart employees should be better at this really, seeing as they see dogs every single day all day.

[tramdoctorsss]

I was just at Petsmart the day before yesterday buying some bird supplies and looking for a terrarium liner for the turtle tank. We had both Ike and Rita with us and it was...wow. Little kids and people all over coming to pet the friendly "Pit Bulls". Apparently, half the freaking world has no clue American Bulldogs exist and I own a normal and then a funny lookin Pit The only person I didn't wanna maim by the time we left was the manager because he was polite.

We go to the local Pet Supplies Plus afterward to grab food and bones as they don't sell our brand at the other stores and the cashier, as always, loses her grip when she sees our dogs. This time, the is patting the counter and encouraged Rita to jump up there for a treat! Really? Umm, I don't like my dogs on tables or counters, thanks!

[seperalem]

i understand Cleo is still a pup, but once she matures, you shouldnt take her there anyway. too much risk...sick dogs, aggressive dogs, etc...

[Beragagnu]

Lol I'm glad yall feel me on this

Seems like most of you have the same problems....

[N9NACzws]

I always ask before petting someone's dog. Went to PetSmart a while back, and the lady had a great dane pup. Handsome dog. I got to talking to the lady a little bit, and then asked if I could pet him, I didn't just run up and pet her dog.

That would have made me mad as well. There is dog petting etiquette to follow.

[Eh085zE7]

they always ask me to pet my pup at petsmart. i usually keep an eye on everyone because a few times people would just walk up to pet him and he would get scarred and snap. those people usually ask after they tried to pet him. really annoying to have to keep an eye on people and not your dog.

[BlackBird]

I don't like when people don't ask to pet my dogs either. I really don't like it when I'm in the pet store, my dog is either in a sit stay or a down stay, and I'm looking at something...then I turn around and see someone crouched down right in my dog's face, not even glancing at me to get permission.

I always say yes when people ask to pet my dog, but I really do prefer them to ask.

The few times people have tried to call my dogs to jump up, I've always just told them(the dog--usually its Umah, not Gypsy, lol) to sit and stay. Then I'll tell the people my dogs don't jump up.