My neighbours are driving me NUTS!

[TrishB]

But not for the reason you're thinking....

My neighbours LOVE Parker. He's quite the celebrity in our neighbourhood. He's buddys with many of the other dogs and we often head down to the park togther for an off leash romp.

The problem is, when they see him, it's "Paaaaaaaarrrkeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrr" in a high, squealy voice, fast movements and patting of legs. I'm sorry, but I don't know of many dogs, never mind my 9 month old pup, that can ignore such a greeting.

Then when I correct him, they look disappointed that I got mad. What are these people thinking? Can they not see that I'm being dragged by a 90 lbs dog as a result of their actions?!? Never mind that THEY are the ones getting him into trouble. :p

In the mean time, I've told them to stop it. He's in training and it's inappropriate for a dog his size to drag me or to greet in such a way (he normally runs and body slams into their legs). I've said if you can't greet him calmly and quietly, AFTER I've told you it's okay - you can't greet him at all any more.

I need to send my neighbours to obedience. :p

[Sharon Marples]

Hooray for Parker's reputation as the neighborhood playboy!

I can certainly think of a whole myriad of things that would be a lot worse! :D

Just hang on and maybe someday you'll find those "human" obedience classes!

Sharon Marples

[TrishB]

Originally posted by Sharon Marples
I can certainly think of a whole myriad of things that would be a lot worse! :D

Me too Sharon! LOL If you ever come up to Toronto and see a woman with straight brown hair being dragged by her Rottweiler towards squealing people - be sure to stop by and say Hello! I'd love to meet you! :D

[alexav]

Since they seem to like him so much, why not make thier day and ask for help?

I have had to do this before and it worked out beautifully.
"Since you seem to like my dog so much, would you mind terribly helping me with something I'm working on with him?"

"Great! This is what I need you to do...." And so on.:)

Dog training is 90% people training afterall...So be a responsible neighbor! Train them!:D

[Stubby]

Nice, Trish :D
Wondering what neighbourhood you live in! All my neighbours avoid Aussie Bear and me!! :D

Somehow, I don't think it's the dogs :(

[Luvs]

Trish, I have a similar situation with some of my neighbors. One of my neighbors has 4 little boys who just LOVE to come play with the puppies and go on walks with us. When ever they see us out with the puppies they come running all excited and of course the puppies are just as excited to see them. I make the puppies sit and usually I squat down next to Akasha so that I have more control over her until the initial excitement wears off. Once they have greeted them and given them lots of kisses then usually they are fine for a while.
We have really tried to encourage the boys coming over to play with the puppies since I don't have any small children and I want the puppies socialized with kids. The only bad thing is when I am working graves and sleeping during the day and they come over and everyone starts barking at the knock on the door. It wakes me every time. I am the type of person that has trouble going back to sleep once I wake up. Right now I am working swings so it's not as big of a deal.
The boys don't have any dogs so we are trying to teach them while they play with the puppies. I feel that it is a good way to educate them while socializing the puppies at the same time. I also feel that the more my neighbors get to know my puppies the happier we will all be.
Good luck with your neighbors! I can totally relate to what you are going through;)

[DivaDog]

Wow, do I sympathize with you! I take my pup to our church, my husband is a youth director, and I like her to meet the kids that are there for childcare so she can be well socialized. Today they caught sight of Zitoe before I even walked in the door and the screaming and flailing began. They were so loud I wanted to scream! I love children, but I hate screaming children. I was trying to tell them how to treat her properly but they were sooooo out of control they couldn't even hear me Now I know that next time I visit I'm going to go into the class first without Zitoe, tell them that they have to sit down, be quiet and I'll bring the dog around to them. Oh well, lesson learned for me, and hopefully they can learn how to enjoy a puppy without bombarding it:)

[cartuin]

That is a great neighbourhood you live in.

I am lucky too in the fact that most of my neighbours like my dog. The kids think she is the best thing but they all know now not too run towards her without asking.

I bring my dog to work with me, I work in a office and some days I am all by myself and Haley is my protection One day somone I work with thought he would play a trick on her and I was on the phone and wasn't watching him. He snuck into the office, crawled on his hands and knees and scared the living daylights out of Haley. I don't know what scared him more, Haley lunging at him snarling or me yelling at him, telling him what a total idiot he was and that he should be lucky she hadn't bit him.

just when you think you know people :p He is much more careful around her now.