[dXI9XFOA]

The other day my boyfriend and I took the dogs out to the field and we see this lady at the other end of the field with her off leash dog with it running everywhere and her throwing a ball (which Roxy loves) so we start to walk opposite of her so we don't have to come into contact with her dog. What does she do? Continues to follow us...everywhere we went. We managed to stay far enough so her dog wouldn't come running up to us but really??? You can see that we are avoiding you!!! Back off!!! Stupid people!

[Flefebleaft]

Ughhh to the first part about the yorkie. That lady is so rude... You clearly was doing the right thing and shouldnt have to leave the park. The second part about the guy with the dalmation, I wouldve found it rude too if the owner kept turning the other way when I wanted to greet a pup. He probably wouldve understood if you told him that she's training in the first place lol instead of turning away multiple times.

[CxofxJFm]

I've said it before and I'll say it again- it's not my job to make you feel good, or bad. It's my job to train and protect my dog. So if you want to go around sticking your hands where they shouldn't be be my guest, but don't expect me to feel bad about 'disrespecting' you when in fact it is a bigger disrespect to touch someone's property without asking.
I don't have time to explain to people that I'm trying to train my dog when they're out there grabbing at her trying to undo the training I'm doing. If he had ASKED, like everyone else, I would have simply told him 'yes you can pet her but only if she sits', and then when she doesn't sit I turn around and start over. However, he simply tried to pet her and get her all excited without first affirming that it was OK to pet my dog. Respect is a 2 way street, and I was not trying to be rude, I was just trying to train my dog. But since no one in the neighborhood trains their dog and half of them think it's ok to walk their dogs off lead because 'they're trained and they listen' even when they're 20 feet ahead of them NOT listening, I guess I'm the black sheep.

[VottCetaVeivE]

Is that you in that pic vypa? you're really cute.

[CxofxJFm]

Lily and I went for our daily walk. And it was a cluster f*** all over the damn place.
First, we went to the playground, like we do every day. She likes to get hugs from the kids, and I like to do sit and down stays with a lot of distractions. For some reason, the whole world was there today, but we even weaved through a couple people and she did fine. Then this guy and his son walk into the playground with a brindle am bulldog puppy it looked like, and they tie it to a bench and walk away. They're still at the playground, but at the other side, where if something happened they would be nowhere close.
THEN, about 5 minutes later, this mom and her kid pull up and out comes this raggedy ass yorkie, of course with no leash. Now, Lily is getting better about dogs, but loose dogs is something she just can't handle yet. Anyway, I'm trying to stay away from this dog, I'm at the other end of the playground. In hindsight I should've just left.... All of a sudden it comes running up to us. So I pick Lily up, because I don't know how this dog is going to react. This woman has the NERVE to tell ME that if I can't control my dog maybe it shouldn't be at the playground. I told her exactly this: "Ma'am, my dog is only about 8 months old. I'm currently training her to be able to work under distractions. She was doing perfectly fine until your dog came running up to her. If you notice over there *point to sign*, all dogs must be leashed on this playground. I'm sorry if you think my dog is out of control, but I'm merely protecting her from your dog, who came running towards us in what I saw as an aggressive manner. Please leash your dog before a kid gets hurt." She said "humph" and said "marty let's go", of which the dog of course did not respond. I just carried Lily away to the next block, far away from the playground.
I don't want to stop taking her there. She loves it, and she kind of views it as her 'training place'. She's always very attentive when she's there, and it's the only place where we can walk up to a stranger and she will sit politely and let them pet her and have kids give her hugs.
But if there are going to be jerk wads hanging out there, we may need to relocate.
But wait, this rant isn't over yet! Question: Why do people think you're mean for training your dog? If your confused by that question, let me explain. On our continuation of this hell walk, we come across this guy with a dalmatian talking to some people. I tell Lily to leave it, and focus, and we slowly approach them. Lily's doing ok at this point, interested by not pulling me towards them. Then all of a sudden the guy bends down like 'hey puppy come here!' and of course Lily tries to run over there to greet him. I quickly turn the other way and gain her attention back. She focuses again, and we make our way past this guy, again. She is literally right next to him as we make our way past him and he bends down and tries to pet her again, so of course she breaks. So we turn around again. He says "what she can't say hi!?". I said no, sir, I'm training her to ignore people, and I didn't give you permission to pet my dog. He goes "well maybe if you had more control over her I wouldn't need permission to pet her". This guys going to get bit if he keeps putting his hands where they shouldn't be.
What is all this about me not having damn control over my dog!? I don't need validation from people saying 'oh what a good dog', but I don't need people who can't tell their ass from their face telling me what a horrible owner I am for leashing my dog and teaching her to ignore people.
That was the end of our walk. I really hate people right now, and I needed to get that out. So thanks if you read that.

[Jellowstrom]

God is great... Beer is good... AND PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!
It's my theme song for a day like the one you had!
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKpQRjj_WbU"]YouTube- Billy Currington - People Are Crazy[/ame]

[oxixernibioge]

Some people. I hate when people do that especially when you are the one that has your dog in control. I would relocate if you don't feel comfortable there anymore.

I am sure you could find another playground or park that is more low-key but it could happen there, too. Irresponsible dog owners are everywhere sadly.

All we can do is educate but if they are just not willing to listen just smile and keep walking your dog.

4paws - I love that song. Perfect for these kinda days.

[Jueqelyl]

Unfortunately, this is the way of the world! Rant away, but I doubt people are going to change any time soon!

[Grarypealumma]

People are so STUUUPID these days.
I am sorry your walk with Lily got so chaotic!

Today I was out in our backyard with Bransen, and it is not yet fenced (can't wait until it is!) so I had him on his chain, of course.
We were doing spring pull and having a blast, when some guy walks up the alley with an off-leash dog.

The dog comes waltzin into our yard, so I get up, about to tell the dog to back off.
Bransen, of course, gets territorial and races over to the dog barking like a slaughter machine, hackles up, snarling.
The owner looks up like he is just pissed and says "Learn how to control your pitbull, those dogs are dangerous."

[CxofxJFm]

4paws thanks for the video (and actually it made me laugh because I thought about how my friend is completely obsessed with him).
2mnydgs, I know that the world sucks. It just usually doesn't all suck at the same time. The world just didn't want me to enjoy a peaceful walk after a stupid day of work and being stuck in traffic for almost 2 hours.

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 PM ----------

People are so STUUUPID these days.
I am sorry your walk with Lily got so chaotic!

Today I was out in our backyard with Bransen, and it is not yet fenced (can't wait until it is!) so I had him on his chain, of course.
We were doing spring pull and having a blast, when some guy walks up the alley with an off-leash dog.

The dog comes waltzin into our yard, so I get up, about to tell the dog to back off.
Bransen, of course, gets territorial and races over to the dog barking like a slaughter machine, hackles up, snarling.
The owner looks up like he is just pissed and says "Learn how to control your pitbull, those dogs are dangerous."

Exactly. Sorry you had to go through that.
People don't ever see that THEY are the problem. And no one ever mentions to me about her being a 'pit bull', probably because she's 30lbs and white.

[Tnzxovoz]

When we go out in public, we have to face the reality that most people are clueless. If you take a dog out, people WANT to pet it, some people are TERRIFIED of your dogs, some people just want to talk to YOU about your dog. I have been standing at a park and had a child run up and hug my dog without any warning. Public places are unpredictable, and if anyone is uncomfortable with an unpredictable place they should NOT take dogs into public.

I do a LOT of distraction training with my pups, but I don't usually mind if people run up and bug me about petting and tell me it's ok for dogs to jump on them. I think I am 100% to terms with the fact that people are NOT me or the other good members of this board, lol. Since they are the majority I sometimes just have to fit in.

As far as people having off leash dogs running up to me, I do not even give them the time of day. I will happily do whatever is necessary to protect my dogs safety, and a yorkie is just as dangerous as any other dog IMHO if it is off leash!!

[CxofxJFm]

I'm not uncomfortable in public places. I have kids run screaming up to Lily all the time. I always tell them they need to ask before petting a strange dog, because apparently their parents didn't bother to teach them (or supervise them).
Just because people think it's ok to allow my dog to jump on them doesn't mean I have to allow it, or even cope with it. I will continue to train my dog the way I want to train her. If people insist on touching my dog without my permission, then I will just walk away.
I don't have to make people happy. My dog, my rules. If they want to learn common courtesy and ask, then Lily can say hi, but only if she sits (and that's what I tell people when they ask to pet her).

[OlegSan]

i hate people, and avoid them at all costs.
i only have one friendly dog, though, so that makes it easier....

[VottCetaVeivE]

God is great... Beer is good... AND PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!
It's my theme song for a day like the one you had!
YouTube- Billy Currington - People Are Crazy

That's my theme song for LIFE.

---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:31 PM ----------

i hate people, and avoid them at all costs.
i only have one friendly dog, though, so that makes it easier....

You sound like me.