When non-dog lovers come to your home...

Unless I know that someone is a true dog lover, I usually put the dogs outside. My dogs are well-behaved but the do seek attention and not everyone is interested. It doesn't bother me at all. I've actually been in situations where someone's dog was annoying the heck out of me and they didn't do anything about it, so I prefer to err on the side of caution.

Interesting perspective cakana!  I'm probably one of those owners who doesn't do anything about it as often as I should, I've always figured that unless my dogs are licking, jumping, or otherwise invading someone's personal space, then I don't need to do anything.

I have a very good friend who allowed her dog to beg at the table (the cat did, too).  The one rule I was always firm about with any of my dogs or cats is that they park themselves elsewhere when I ate.  I loved her dog, but hated it's lack of manners.  There is nothing more annoying to me when I'm trying to eat than a dog standing a foot away, jumping up & down, barking, and begging.

I will leave my animals in the room if I feel they aren't being troublesome (get your scritches and go), but if they are, they are removed from the situation.  That includes non-mealtimes.

LillianD

 I guess, my point it, do you think it's rude when someone won't acknowledge your dog(s)?

 

Similarly, I would never punish my dog, Kirby, because he is rude to a guest or stranger and chooses to ignore them rather than interact.  He does this all the time with strangers when we are out that approach him.  When they call to him or bend down, he won't give eye contact or make any move to approach.  Sure some people might call him rude, but it is his way of polietly refusing interacting with them.  So does that make him a human hater?

 I have chronic pain problems and believe it or not, I hate being touched, even, unexpectedly. I understand that people know I train dogs and have like a million dogs that live inside with me, and assume I love having dogs swarm all over me, but I do wish more people were polite (or their dogs were better trained). It's obviously no one's fault that I have issues with it, but I remember this when people come over to my house, even doggy sorts, and usually the only one left out is Maggie when we have visitors. Then if people want to see the dogs, they'll ask.

I don't care at all if someone doesn't want to love up on my dogs -- but they'd better be accepting of them.  I share my home with the dogs and they are welcome to be part of anything that happens there.  If someone has a problem with that, we can meet somewhere else.

That said, I do *very* little entertaining at my house.  In fact, I rather despise having company over.  I'm a hermit.    I had a few people over when I first bought my house, but now pretty much the only people who stop by are my parents on occasion, and lord knows they are fine with the dogs.

One of my friends who lives a few hours away comes by occasionally.  He's not much of a dog person -- he usually makes small talk about the dogs when he first arrives, then we generally ignore them.  The dogs don't care -- they go and sleep on the couch.  This doesn't bother me in the least.  The only thing I would have a problem with is if someone asked me to do something with the dogs.  I'd say no.

My personal take on this is that regardless of whether the dogs are friendly or not, the company is there to see me or my husband.  If they specifically ask to see Willow then fine, for a few minutes, but otherwise she's either set up in the bedroom or out on the deck. 

And, Willow is Willow but I think this will pretty much be how I handle it with any future dogs too.

KarissaKS

I don't care at all if someone doesn't want to love up on my dogs -- but they'd better be accepting of them.  I share my home with the dogs and they are welcome to be part of anything that happens there.  If someone has a problem with that, we can meet somewhere else.

I have this same mindset.  If you're coming to my house, you know I have dogs, so deal with it or don't come by.  I don't care if they choose to ignore the dogs, as long as they aren't rude about it.  Now if one of my dogs is getting too excited, jumpy, etc, I will take them outside or into another room until they settle, because I don't want my dogs being rude, either.  If someone comes over with small children, which is very rare, I may even put the dogs on leash until they and the children are properly and safely introduced.  But I'm not going to make my dogs suffer in isolation because someone who doesn't like dogs chooses to come to my house.  After all, it's the dogs' house, too.

Over Christmas I was staying at my brother's house.  They had some people over the Saturday after to watch the UFC fight.  Harry was with me (we hadn't adopted Sammy yet), and my brother has a dog.  One of their friends who came over made some rude comments when either dog approached him.  He was sitting on the couch and Harry and Seager (brother's dog) both came up to greet him, not rudely, jumping on him or anything, but just sniffing, saying hello, etc.  This guy said "I think it's time for the dogs to get to know the bedroom."  My SIL bluntly told him that if he didn't want the dogs around, he was more than welcome to get to know the bedroom, lol!

For first time visitors or service and/or repair people type persons, I'll always ask if they are comfortable around dogs.  If they're ok with dogs, Jamison gets introduced, gets some scritches, and is on his way.  (Jamison is a lover dog so he's friendly with just about everyone.)  If not, he gets put out in the back yard.  For my regular friends and family, I don't do anything special - just pretty much let everyone be.  Jamison is such a couch potato that he usually settles down right away and really couldn't care less who was there or if he's getting attention from anyone or not.  He's more like a dog who will lift his head, look at everyone in the room, let out a HUGE sigh as if to say, shhhhhh - you people are interrupting my nap !!!

Deb W.

willowchow

My personal take on this is that regardless of whether the dogs are friendly or not, the company is there to see me or my husband.  If they specifically ask to see Willow then fine, for a few minutes, but otherwise she's either set up in the bedroom or out on the deck. 

And, Willow is Willow but I think this will pretty much be how I handle it with any future dogs too.

Same here. If it's someone we know well, I will let Rascal loose, but usually he's crated in another room.

I am 100% a-okay with people ignoring my dog, or disliking him, or being happier when he's not around. The only things I will not tolerate are unacceptable behavior towards him (teasing, scaring, doing things I told them not to do) or snarky comments about him. But that's just general good manners. You don't have to love, or even like, dogs to be polite.

 Just like if I go over to someone's house to visit them, I don't necessarily want to spend time interacting with their kids, or pet snakes, or whatever. 

I would 1,000,000,000 times over rather have someone ignore my dog than have a non-dog-savvy person attempt to be "friendly" to him and end up terrifying him.

Krissim Klaw

LillianD

 I guess, my point it, do you think it's rude when someone won't acknowledge your dog(s)?

 

No, then again I do this one all the time, especially when going to say the dog park or when around dogs I don't know well.  I'm not a very trusting person and don't have any real desire to get all cuddly with a complete stranger, dog or human.  I also find ignoring a dog far from offensive, especially to the dog.  Lack of eye contact, touch, or focus are all non threatening signals that at the very worse simply let the dog know the guest in question isn't interested in interaction.  Dogs use this sort of silent body language all the time when they aren't interested in socializing with one another or humans.  I much prefer a guest coming over to my house that will ignore Kirby than one that tries to lunge at him, pick him up, or stick their face right in his and baby talk him.

Similarly, I would never punish my dog, Kirby, because he is rude to a guest or stranger and chooses to ignore them rather than interact.  He does this all the time with strangers when we are out that approach him.  When they call to him or bend down, he won't give eye contact or make any move to approach.  Sure some people might call him rude, but it is his way of polietly refusing interacting with them.  So does that make him a human hater?

I actually ignore dogs at the dog park also, well, with a few exceptions. for dogs I see frequently and "know".   I don't care at all if strangers interract, but I feel like with people I know well, that's different. More of a people to people issue then a people to dog issue. I know my dogs don't care at all and they do get the hint about who wants to acknowledge them or not.  I think for me, it's more the thought that if someone loves me and knows I love my dogs, it feels like a slap in the face when they act like my dogs are nothing more then a pest.   I probably shouldn't think of it like that though, it's not personal, I'm sure,

Cita

willowchow

My personal take on this is that regardless of whether the dogs are friendly or not, the company is there to see me or my husband.  If they specifically ask to see Willow then fine, for a few minutes, but otherwise she's either set up in the bedroom or out on the deck. 

And, Willow is Willow but I think this will pretty much be how I handle it with any future dogs too.

 

Same here. If it's someone we know well, I will let Rascal loose, but usually he's crated in another room.

I am 100% a-okay with people ignoring my dog, or disliking him, or being happier when he's not around. The only things I will not tolerate are unacceptable behavior towards him (teasing, scaring, doing things I told them not to do) or snarky comments about him. But that's just general good manners. You don't have to love, or even like, dogs to be polite.

 Just like if I go over to someone's house to visit them, I don't necessarily want to spend time interacting with their kids, or pet snakes, or whatever. 

I would 1,000,000,000 times over rather have someone ignore my dog than have a non-dog-savvy person attempt to be "friendly" to him and end up terrifying him.

I can see what you are saying, I think that's a good way to look at it.  I wouldn't want to interract with a pet snake or certain other types of pets (not fond of rodent types), and shouldn't expect it back.

Now, what would you consider a snarky comment?  I've heard a lot of "no, I don't want to pat you...go away" to "get out of the way" stuff like that.  In that case I'll usually just remove the dogs and crate them or put them outside.  For some reason though, those types of comments really offend me and I think the guest is being rude.

If a non-dog person comes to my home, I will simply put them to bed in the bedroom for the duration. Now, if it interferes with the dogs' meals or potty time, then people will have to live with it. But if it's just a general visit, the dogs go in the back bedroom where they are when we are not home.

I have come to accept, and respect, that not everybody looks at animals (or dogs) the way that I do, and I will acknowledge that they don't have to be bothered by them if they don't wish to. That said, people who come to my home recognize my love and passion for dogs, so they also don't tend to dare say anything if I do have them out. LOL. 

But it's as good for my own dogs as it is for the visitors. The last thing I will expose my stranger-sensitive dogs to are strangers who dislike dogs! 

I crate my dogs, gate them in another room, or put them outside.  Nikon's going through this crazy adolescent hyper phase where he's chewing a lot lately and also redirects when he gets aroused, generally by running around barking, trying to get other dogs to play.  So, it's easiest just to crate the dogs and they dang well know better than to throw a fit when they are crated for company.  We don't have people over often as it is b/c our house is so small and sort of revolves around dogs (the main living room/den is also the dog room so it's not that easy to keep dogs out of the way).  However, my best friend comes home from law school rarely and when she does we might spend 6-8 hours together so for that, I generally divide the living room/den area in half so the dogs don't have to be crated, but can't bother her/us.

Many of our friends and family don't care for dogs (and many love them).  It doesn't bother me.  I think some people's kids are brats but I can't change who is my family and won't disown them because they never liked dogs.  Most people don't care one way or the other about my dogs or my cats.  I've never had anyone say something downright mean/rude about them.  I just think, I don't particularly like ferrets or large birds and prefer that those animals be contained so I'm not going to lose friendships over containing my dogs.

Unfortunately, I do have one acquaintance who is so allergic to cats she cannot even come in my home.