Uh, is it rude to not immediately acknowledge the dog? - Page 2

[Dreaming]

Originally Posted by Jilian

The only thing that annoys me more about pets is when you go to someone's house and their dog jumps all over you- and they do nothing about it. \

gnkx
oops.
i mean
"this."

[delicious]

i am with mamag. if you just pet them for a second, they will think you are old news and move on!

[GearGirl]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty

I have the opposite problem, I tend to spend too much time acknowledging the dogs and ignoring the friend. They have to say "Hello! I'm standing here waiting for you to say hi to me!" Well not really, but they might think it.

This is my problem. By the time I'm done saying "whose the cutest doggy ever" even the dog is sick of me .

[Verity]

Originally Posted by oceanbaby

I guess I was just not privy to this unwritten rule about visiting a house with dogs.

I had never heard of this rule, either. I would have assumed that acknowledging the dog would tend to encourage jumping, licking, etc., and that the dog would think you want to play.

[QuestionGal]

SIL has a wonderfully annoying habit of coming in and getting the dogs ALL worked up. They do backflips when she walks in the door, i've asked her over and over to please stop and to ignore the dogs until they settle down. She does it anyways.... then i put them in their kennels or outside before she comes over, she gets upset that I put them away.

It's really aggravating b/c now they think that's how they should act EVERYTIME the doorbell rings.... UGH

I don't believe in rewarding or encouraging unwanted behavior in a dog.

[super kitty]

Originally Posted by mama ganoush

yes, it is a huge insult to the pet.

[Sepia]

Originally Posted by oceanbaby

I feel like saying to them "yeah, I'll say hello to the dog when I'm good and ready," but really, who wants to start off a visit with that kind of attitude.

Cesar Milan (dog whisperer) would say you're doing the right thing. by acknowledging the dog when he's spazzing you're reinforcing that behavior.

my reality tv watching came in handy tonight! must tell dh

[Periwinkle]

If someone ignored my kid that was jumping up and down to say hi, that person would no longer be welcome in my home.

First of all, dogs aren't kids. Though I suspect some dog owners would argue this point.

Second of all, if a child is bouncing off the walls to get my attention, I am highly unlikely to go goo-goo over them. I think excitement mixed with excitement in this situation is a bad combination. If it's a child (human) of course I would say hi automatically but if the child were hanging on my clothes, spinning around my leg, and loudly whining no way no how am I going to reinforce that by starting to play with them.

ETA just read Sepia's post about the dog whisperer, and I am totally LOL about the child-dog comparison. I LOVE Cesar. He is wonderful. He's like the AP version of a dog trainer.

[Red]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty

If someone ignored my kid that was jumping up and down to say hi, that person would no longer be welcome in my home.

Me too!

[Kristine233]

I'm NOT a dog person but I have a big black lab. He's hyper and will plow down someone at the door. I have resorted to putting a gate up at the steps so he can't get to the door. Gives the visitor time to react, lol. If he gets too wound up he goes in the basement. Dh does not understand this and thinks its funny when the dog gets excited. GUess who the dog listens to? Yup, me. Mom rules the roost. Seriously, I like *my* dog but I don't want to even touch someone else's dog. I HATE dog hair and dog drool even worse. If your dog is wild when I come in I'll back right up out of the house and wait for it to be handled. I don't allow my dog to do that to me or anyone else either. There are a few people who ask for it and I let the dog go after them with full energy. LOL. ILs are one of them. (evil giggle) The meter reader is the other one. (Our meter is in the basement so he lets himself in, which is fine, but always has treats for the dog which gets him wild)

[KBinSATX]

I think there's a difference between further exciting the dog and just offering the dog an opportunity to verify that you are not a threat. After all you are entering the dogs home. Gosh just in how much of a hurry are you that you can't be bothered to say 'hi, fluffy'?
As far as kids goes: my little one is only 4 1/2 months old and it really makes me mad when he tries so hard to interact with someone (smiling at them, cooing, etc.) and they ignore him.
Sorry, if you don't have time to be friendly, then don't come at all.

[KrystalC]

My overgrown puppy thinks she's everyone's best friend and expects them to treat her as such. However, if she gets too crazy (which happens often), I crate her until she's ready to settle down. I don't like for her to jump all over people when they come over. I actually find it a little embarrassing that she's such a hellion!

Don't get me wrong, I love my dogs to bits and treat them as part of the family, but I don't excuse or reward bad behavior!

[Ellp]

Originally Posted by Sharlla

My BIL's mom tells him that her dog is his brother

My ILs refer to their dogs as Dd's uncles! ARRRGH! Its a total insult in my culture and to Dd's real uncles, but they just don't get it and think its cute. It bugs the H*LL out of me!

[MamaAllNatural]

Originally Posted by mama ganoush

yes, it is a huge insult to the pet.

My thoughts exactly.

I do think people should do their best to keep their dogs from bothering people. While it's hard for me to understand, I do realize that there are plenty of people who don't like dogs. I think it's important to respect that and, like mama g, I even offer to put the dogs in another room if anyone's uncomfortable with them at all.

Originally Posted by Sepia

Cesar Milan (dog whisperer) would say you're doing the right thing. by acknowledging the dog when he's spazzing you're reinforcing that behavior.

This is what I was going to say. I just read Cesar's Way and loved it. Recommend it to your friends. (disclaimer...though I'd love to see it, I've never actually seen the show - just read the book. No TV )

It's funny, I'm trying to train my dogs to ignore visitors unless they call them over and I can't get the visitors to just ignore my damn dogs! They won't do it. Opposite problem.

But then...I'm the chick who comes to your house and talks to your dogs and massages them for like the first hour before I hang out with you. :

[AlbertaJes]

My dog is restrained or stays in her bed until the guest invites her over. If they don't invite then she doesn't get to greet them. Their decision, not hers. Makes our guests appreciate us and her even more. 90% of them will at least say hi and give her a little pat.

[chellemarie]

Originally Posted by HelloKitty

If someone ignored my kid that was jumping up and down to say hi, that person would no longer be welcome in my home.

If your kid is jumping on me, licking my face and shoving his face in my crotch, I think it'd be better if we met on neutral territory without our kids.

A relative has large indoor dogs who are nice, but easily excited, barky and believe they're people. I think it is rude to consider your dog's feelings over your guests' comfort and I have this problem all the time with this family member. Even when we're on the phone! I don't even call anymore because it's pointless. So, I'll say hi to your dog, but if it doesn't stop trying to eat me, it's not okay to laugh and say, "Ohhhhh he LIKES YOU!" instead of moving the animal to another room. Drives.me.nuts.

[PuppyFluffer]

I have not read all the replies...but I can say that the "greeting frenzy" behavior that dogs exhibit is directly caused by making a fuss over them when you come in the door.

The vast majority of annoying dog behavior is created or enhanced by the owners.

Come on over to the Pets forum if anyone wants ideas on how to fix this annoying habit!

[ZeldasMom]

Originally Posted by PuppyFluffer

but I can say that the "greeting frenzy" behavior that dogs exhibit is directly caused by making a fuss over them when you come in the door.

ITA.

[oceanbaby]

Originally Posted by KBinSATX

I think there's a difference between further exciting the dog and just offering the dog an opportunity to verify that you are not a threat. After all you are entering the dogs home. Gosh just in how much of a hurry are you that you can't be bothered to say 'hi, fluffy'?
As far as kids goes: my little one is only 4 1/2 months old and it really makes me mad when he tries so hard to interact with someone (smiling at them, cooing, etc.) and they ignore him.
Sorry, if you don't have time to be friendly, then don't come at all.

Oh please, I didn't say I ignore the dog the whole time and kick it when no one is looking. All I ask is that I get to decide to say hi, not be ordered to, and especially not within 30 seconds of walking in the door.

As far as the example I gave about my kids, I meant it in the vein of trying to teach my kids not to interrupt, and if they're getting spastic then I will step in and take care of it, not direct my guest give them what they want. I'm not talking about a kid politely trying to say hi and some tightwad ignoring them. That bugs the hell out of me, but that's another thread.

[MamaAllNatural]

Originally Posted by KBinSATX

Sorry, if you don't have time to be friendly, then don't come at all.

I agree that this is a bit extreme. Not everyone has to love dogs. It's only going to make people hate dogs more to force your dogs on them, kwim? I try to be responsible w/my dogs and not allow them to bother anyone so people will like dogs more.