I couldn't resist...Have any people asked you about your dog and gave a lie about him?

Question

People always go up to me and say does he bite, so they can pet him.
I say yes..and they walk away.. I crack up inside because I get asked many times .I don't like other people touching Peanut..He gets a little frightened too.

Answer 1

I have been known to give a less-than-friendly look. If I'm in a hurry, or I am walking the dogs(4) to get them worn out.. I don't want to be bothered. My dogs get to socialize plenty. I'd rather not deal with people asking freakish questions. I've been asked by children if my pug can talk... Like Frank from the movie Men in Black. Yes, it's cute, but when I'm trying to get my sweat on... I'm not in the mood. My favorite question is if my cavalier is my irish setter's puppy. She's a blenheim cavalier... not even a ruby. Since I have the 4, people always ask if they all belong to me... how big my house/yard is..etc.. Sometimes you don't feel like playing 20 questions. I will admit... I'm not a fan of little kids poking my pug and cavalier in their eyeballs. I could do without that.

Answer 2

I do not lie.. I know I will be approached by people when I take Fred out.. so if I dont want to be bothered, or I know he's in a bad mood, I leave him at home. He is shy, but he tolerates strangers petting and touching him.

I supposed if he was really uncomfortable with strangers, I might light about him biting tho, just to help him avoid the confrontation.

Answer 3

My dog's half Elkhound (and half something else???) and some people think he looks like a small wolf. He's also 13, so less energetic than he used to be, but still gets around well (so it looks like he's just well-behaved, not old). And he'll often stare people down when he doesn't trust them (won't attack... but will watch every move they make). We also like to "explore" bad neighborhoods (rad abandoned buildings and graffiti art), especially when we were in Chicago (ie: lots of bad neighborhoods). Commonly asked questions and lies of answers:

Asker: Is he part wolf?
Me: Yes.

Asker: Does he bite?
Me: Only if I tell him to.

Asker: He's so well trained! What commands does he know?
Me: Sit, stay, attack... You know, the usual.

Of course, I say all of these nonchalantly in the course of friendly conversation. I only started doing this now that he's older and can't defend himself/me in necessary, and if we got into an altercation, I'd have to pick him up and run. So when it suits us, I gladly let people think he's dangerous (even though he's not... at all).

EDIT: Oh yeah... we also have a game where I make him growl at me (been playing it since he was a puppy... it's just a game, and I can kiss him on the nose while he's snarling)... And if someone's really freaking me out, I'll secretly make him growl a little... and the person who's freaking me out doesn't realise it's a game, and (with one or two exceptions) will immediately leave. =D

Answer 4

No I don't lie! Have big dogs! I usually have people ask me if they can pet them first which is very nice.
What I crack up about is when they ask if the are a breed other than what they are. I had one person ask if they were Great Danes! Their Golden's! LOL

Oh Iggy it's so nice to see you!

Answer 5

No, I can't think of a time I lied in a situation like that....most of the time, if people ask if they can pet my dog(s) I say yes because it helps with their socialization and for my cocker...it helps with the bad rep cockers have. My Zoe is so sweet and I want people to see a sweet cocker...especially when their kids ask to pet her....Zoe is so good...she just plops her little butt down and raises her head and lays her ears back and gives them that sweet loving cocker expression....it's hard not to want to pet her.

Answer 6

I have told people that the dog will bite if they don't like them.. just to get rid of weirdos.. And I have acted as tho I am unsure as to whether they would bite or not, just to keep people away. For some weird reason, people like to race over to Dobermans and screech in their face and pat them hard on the head.. I don't like it, and I am sure that the dogs aren't impressed either.. SO we have our ' back off ' things we use with freaks.

Welcome back Iggy.. I knew you couldn't stay away for long ! :)

Answer 7

DP, my Dobermans get the weirdos that pat them on the head too! What is that about?!
The only thing I can think of that I lie about is when I am walking them late at night and someone is approaching I act like I am having to calm them down so they won't attack! It scares off the weirdos, but what's funny, is I am usually reigning them back so they don't go and lick the stranger half to death. They are so friendly, but at midnight, you feel safer acting like they are mean, snarling beasts!

Answer 8

No I dont lie about my dogs. I dont get asked if my Malamute bites but he hates strangers touching him without his consent so I have to stop people and let them know he will go to you if he is interested. My pit bull loves people but most people cross the street when they see her.

Answer 9

An obedience instructor once suggested we not lie outright, but just say something like, "Not in the last few months", or "Not usually." It makes 'em wonder. I have a very inquisitive 6-year son, so I always try to be very polite and don't use those lines, but I like them.

Answer 10

No, but I should have on Halloween! Some bold little punk had the nerve to reach into my home and reach into my candy dish to help himself. I stopped him, but what I should have told him was that my dogs were trained to attack! Would have scared the heck out of him at least.