Why do people tell me their dogs don't like "strangers" and then

[Breeze54]

their dogs run up to me, wagging their tails and wanting to shake my hand and following me through the store wanting
to play tug of war with the rag in their mouth and laying down on the sidewalk, belly up, for me to pet and scratch them?! :rofl:

Is it me or are the owners lying?! :rofl:

[Breeze54]

1. I was in the Auto parts store and at the counter and then suddenly

I felt pressure on my shoulder and it was a golden retriever that had come out from under the counter and had jumped up and put it's paws on my shoulder, wanting to play tug of war. The clerk told it to get down but... the dog was smiling at me!! :P The owner of the store came out and chastised the dog but when I was finished with my purchase, the dog tried to leave WITH me and ignored the owne, until I told the dog to sit, and it did... then I told it to stay and it did! :P I just moved to a new place and didn't realize that we can have a pet here, for an extra deposit. Hmmm... I'm thinking about getting a dog now! That was fun today! :D

[Nevilledog]

2. Dogs are wonderful judges of characters.

You, obviously, have a dog worthy character. True story...my old dog Gibson would try and bite the shoes of every boyfriend I had (not like it was tons, mind you), but the first time he met my now husband he walked up..looked at him long and hard..and jumped up to be petted. He had never done that to anyone before. I knew this guy was a keeper if Gibson approved..LOL

[Breeze54]

3. Thanks!! The funny thing is, is that it happened the night before that too!

Tonight was the golden retriever and yesterday, it was a 'scottish shepard'?

The black & white sheep dogs... the terrier kind/sheep herders. Can't remember the breed name.

That's the dog that laid down on the sidewalk, after I said; "Hello... baby!"

and the owner said; "It doesn't ever do that for strangers, he never likes strangers!"

Maybe they smell something on me they like? :P

What ever it is, I miss having a dog. It's been a long time now.

Maybe it's time to get another one. ;)

:hug: Thanks for saying that.

[Nevilledog]

4. Only get one if you want unconditional love....

if you can't handle that, don't bother. :hug:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

9. You're probably thinking about Border Collies

They're black and white (not terriers) and come from Scotland.

Mick doesn't "like" strangers. He'll growl and bark and all his hackles will go up, then when we say the person's okay, he'll generally be friendly. He's just a real good watchdog. I'm guessing our new Border Collie pup will be friendlier. She loves everyone and is much lower drive. Mick was a watch dog already when we got him at 6 months, and he sounds like he weighs 100lbs. He came sounding that way, which was pretty funny, because he only weighed 28lbs when we got him.

[NMDemDist2]

12. Mick is like that?? wow

my bubba would help the robbers carry out the TV (if only he had thumbs) LOL

when I used to take him to agility class, he'd get down on his belly and crawl up to the little tiny dogs so they wouldn't be scared

:rofl:

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

13. Oh Mick loves little dogs

He crawls up to them and licks their toes at the dog park.

He just wants a proper introduction to strange people.

[Breeze54]

5. Sounds like Gibson was a very smart and affectionate dog! How lucky you both were

to have found each... :hug:

I miss my dog Laddie still.... after all these years. She was 'put down' when I was 13 yrs. old, due to cancer. She was MY dog, out of 7 children, she always slept under my crib and next to or on my bed as I got older. She was the best Collie/Shepard mix you'd ever want to have!!

[driver8]

6. My wife says that I have never met a dog that didn't like me.

I love dogs, and I think that they can sense it.

There was one dog that didn't like me -- I just remembered.

When I was in high school, my girlfriend's family had a Chihuaha that hated my guts!!

[curse of greyface]

7. Because one more bite and it's off the the rainbow bridge via the Green Mile?

[curse of greyface]

8. Dupe

[surrealAmerican]

10. One of my dogs is like that.

Most people he actively avoids, to the point where I have to tell them not to try to pet him (he normally backs away in alarm), but once in a while he meets someone new who he just takes a liking to.

[dawgmom]

11. Some dog owners do it deliberately -- the whole Alpha in the House thing

First of all, dogs are excellent judges of character, and that is probably why the dogs react to you that way. They know you're no threat.

But as for why some owners say that -- I worked with a woman who said she NEVER lets strangers pet her dogs, because they want the dogs to only identify only with them, and to see strangers as "others" who are always suspect. Ugh. I've never understood the whole "dogs as protection" thing. In reality, most dogs will bark if someone approaches the house, and that is enough to scare off any would-be burglars, etc. That's because they're territorial by nature. It really isn't necessary to teach them to beware of strangers. In fact, I think dogs should always be trained to accept a stranger's petting, when they receive a clear signal from the owner that it's OK. Mine have been taught to sit, and then they can be petted.

[wartrace]

14. I always tell people that.

It's a liability issue. If they DO bite you I can always say "Hey dumbass, I told you they didn't like strangers."


Moe, Curly & Larry. They don't like no strangers!

[flvegan]

15. Two things:

First, a store is neutral territory. Lots of the protectiveness of territory goes out the window.

Secondly, depends on the stranger. Dogs are good judges of character.

Also, the owner's demeanor largely comes into play in each meeting.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

17. Yep -- territory is a huge thing

Strangers at the house or people within view of the house?
Mick needs a full and proper introduction lasting a couple minutes before he'll quit snarling (then he wants them to play tug of war for hours).

On the street?
He'll eye them warily with hackles up.

At the dog park/pet shop?
Everyone is his buddy, especially if they throw a ball for him.

The neutral territory thing totally holds true.

[flvegan]

18. You're even sexier when you talk "dog".

Ruff!

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

19. No

[flvegan]

20. I love having you back.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. "Bacon aftershave".

Many pooches like me. Perhaps they know something, with their open hearts, that humans cannot or will not perceive? (Then again, some dogs don't like me.)

[lukasahero]

21. Why do people ignore you when you tell them your dog is afraid of people?

My pup has every right to be afraid of people and we're working to socialize her but I can't tell you how many people ignore me when I tell them that and they just come right up over her and try to pat her on the head. Then they get all offended when she barks at them. :grr:

[Orsino]

22. Well, there's a difference between a stranger on the dog's turf...

...and one the dog meets somewhere else. My Cattle Dog is extremely territorial, but docile and even friendly during trips to the vet.