Maybe I Need Training
So along with a husband, I have also obtained a new child — Miko, a three-year-old Samoyed found in a shelter. As the husband’s gone this week, I’m the sole caretaker of our kid. I have never owned a dog in the city. Growing up, our dogs just roamed the countryside. Needless to say I’m learning a lot.
However, I have a few etiquette questions.
Miko weighs about 40 pounds, but looks a lot bigger due to his massive fur. Therefore, whenever I’m taking him for a jog on Katy Trail, and we come across a smaller dog, I see some trepidation in the eyes of small-dog’s owner. Is it wrong for me to let Miko sniff the small dog? He likes small dogs and is nice. But I don’t know how others handle those situations — do you ignore each other? Or let the dogs play?
Also, when Miko (who’s very affectionate) overpowers me and jumps on someone (we’re working on breaking this habit) and they keep petting him, do I pull him off or let them decide when they’ve had enough?
And one other thing: Do I have to tell someone their dog is cute even when I think it’s probably the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen? People always say Miko’s beautiful, but I know some of them have to be lying. I see their dogs. They don’t know what beauty is.
I don’t know the answers to any of your questions but Miko is very pretty and looks very happy that he has a new mom.
You need to jog the Katy Trail with a hat that says “My dog can lick your dog”. Then folks will just steer clear of you both.
Regarding dogs sniffing each other - I usually ask the other owner if they mind once both dogs start towards each other in a friendly manner. Some dog owners take their unfriendly dogs out in public, which doesn’t make sense to me. I usually pull my dog off if he jumps on someone. They’ll let you know pretty quickly if they like it or not (I don’t mind at all if someone’s dog jumps on me). The one thing to pay attention to is the other person’s attire. If they have white pants on, yank the dog away before you have to pay for their dry cleaning. If they are running on Katy Trail, odds are they won’t mind if they’re dog people. And lastly, all dogs are beautiful. My dog is a one-eyed mutt and he’s simply charming.
He’s adorable!
two words- “owner training” at petsmart
Thanks, Kersten and Logan. The poor guy always looks like he’s smiling, so no matter what mood he’s in, we think he’s happy.
BC, thanks for the tips and k, I had no idea that even existed — I will have to check it out.
I’d pull him off of people. If you let him jump on someone who doesn’t mind, it will make it harder to break him of jumping on the people who do mind. I have a 4 year old 80 pound golden retriever that used to be my parents. They let him do whatever, and we just got him out of the habit of jumping on people(thank goodness!). I also usually ask first before I let him sniff another dog, there’s some pretty “overprotective” dog owners. Ask for the sake of the owner more than the dog.