Comments on: Irritating dog people

By: Aneil

Aneil — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 19:05:00 +0000

I totally know what you are talking about here. I have one dog who I’m working pretty hard with because she can get very aggressive if we’re walking in a strange area with close quarters. So I was working on “counter-conditioning” (I”m no expert, this is what the vet told me to do) my dog so that whenever she would look at a stanger and basically get the posture that means she’s about to go nuts, I would make a noise to distract her and then give her a treat when she focuses on me instead of the stranger. I don’t know if this is right or not, but it was working.

So I had her by the elevator in a building and this dude comes out, stops, and stares at my dog, and reaches to the top of her head to pet her. She immediately went nuts. She starts flipping, rolling, spinning, and growling and this guy keeps trying to pet her like an idiot. While I’m busy wondering what in the F this guy is still doing here (I’m a little occupied now thanks), he proceeds to talk to me about Caesar Milan and being a good pack leader. He’s still lecturing me about using a treat and rewarding “red zone” behavior, while I just want him to get the hell on his way. This lasted until I decided not to bother with the elevator and take the stairs all the while the dude was still talking.

By: Pooh

Pooh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 02:39:52 +0000

A looonnnng time friend has a 1 year old puppy. when she comes to visit, the constant scolding is tremendously irritating. Right across the front of me. Ugh. constant. I don’t know if others in the room feel the same way when this is going on but they must. How can I tell her without being offensive that I don’t want the dog here without more puppy training? Go to puppy training school first. Don’t bring your dog until after graduation! This group gets together every few months and I don’t want them to join us with this issue!! help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:53:57 +0000

Not all people like dogs and not all people, in my opinion, should own them. I have a friend with BIG dogs and they are allowed to run around, knock people over, get on all furniture, grab food from the table. She thinks her dogs are super smart, and they may be, because I think they are smarter than she is. She claims to be a bit of a dog expert, but she’s wishing, at best. Her back hurts because they drag her, she can’t ever leave them at home because they tear everything up, she can’t have a job because she can’t leave her dogs alone for 10 minutes let alone during a work shift. She and her husband fight about it all the time. He thinks they should be trained and she thinks they don’t understand. But, she thinks her dogs are genius for knowing how to find a toy under an upturned flower pot. She took one of her dogs to a graduation ceremony in a huge auditorium and didn’t understand why people didn’t appreciate it. She doesn’t understand why hotels won’t let them bring their dogs. They tear up every piece of furniture in her own house. Why would she even ask? The dogs aren’t puppies. They are huge.
I’m sorry for venting, but there are seeing eye dogs who can behave in public, there are service animals who know not to knock people over. I just cringe every time she tries to tell me how smart her dogs are.
No one goes to her house anymore because of the dogs and she just doesn’t get it. She gets mad if someone says they don’t want her dogs on them. She would never tell the dogs to behave. They’re just being dogs.
Anyway….a shout out to people who do train their dogs.

By: Modern Dog Blog » A whole new level of cool

Modern Dog Blog » A whole new level of cool — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:43:46 +0000

[...] Matt is. Well, thanks Matt. I’m guessing that Matt really didn’t read the post – this one that he was commenting [...]

By: Mary

Mary — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:28:14 +0000

Entertaining article. I’m a dog owner and find it frustrating dealing with the owners that you describe, especially the owners who think that all dogs must be friends.
Jen, I agree with your comments, too. For a long time I worried about my dog getting a bad label because he’s reactive on leash (which I know now is very common), and I had to go up others’ driveways to give him breathing space.

Recently, I was working in my front yard (quiet street), my dog was near me (his leash on so I could take control when necessary), and a woman walked by with two tiny dogs, each on a retractable leash. I took my guy’s leash and walked him back to the house, praising him for not reacting. This foolish woman decides to give her dogs *more* leash while they walk by, one of the little rats growling at my husband who is also working in the yard. Unbelievable. I’m far from perfect (always learning), but if I saw someone taking a 90lb dog in the opposite direction, I’d be considerate and keep my dogs close, and keep moving.

Before I get off my soap box, I also wish children (and adults) would receive more education about dogs’ body language. When we have guests, I feel like an idiot when I have to tell them not to stare at my dog until he’s comfortable with them – they look at me like I’m nuts.

As Stanley Coren said, it’s amazing that dogs don’t eat us, considering the rude behaviour we exhibit towards them!

By: Matt.

Matt. — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:55:37 +0000

You know you sound really unpleasant, right ?

I typed ‘ irritating dog lady ‘ into Google, and your blog came up. I think you were first. Try it.

Also, you misspelled -assistant- when you described your husband.

That’s all.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:01:21 +0000

I thought I was the only one who felt this way! My dog isn’t friendly to other dogs, so I can’t stand when other folks don’t have their dog on a leash, or understand that when I go up someone’s driveway on our walk, I’m trying to give my guy the breathing room he needs.

Retractable leashes make me crazy, especially when they’re attached to a little yappy dog and a clueless owner who lets the leash out to 10 feet. Argggh!

Thanks for the entertaining read.