Stand up for your growly dog!
Be your dog’s ambassador!
And stand up for yourself while you’re at it! 😊
People will make hurtful remarks to you when your dog kicks off.
🐾 Maybe he didn’t come back when you called and that annoyed them.
🐾 Maybe he barked frantically as they passed by with their dog.
🐾 Maybe he lunged at their off-lead dog who was in his face.
These people may be know-it-alls who think they could manage things better.
Or they may be blustering because their dog is out of control and caused the immediate issue!
Either way, usually this takes the form of
🐾 “You should show that dog who’s boss”
🐾 “Don’t let him get away with that”
🐾 “Be the leader” and other such tosh
All punitive, bossy, stuff.
And none of it applies to you!
Glide on, regardless.
Because YOU know that what you’re doing is right for YOUR dog.
YOU know that your dog is not, as they say, giving you a hard time, he’s having a hard time.
You know how lovely your dog is at home!
They don’t. They have no idea. And they certainly don’t want to be told.
So, say
“Thank you, I’ll keep that in mind”
OR
“Thanks - I’m off now”
OR
“That’s an interesting point of view …”
OR
just give them a cheery wave as you smile and depart.
You can dismiss them with politeness, and then toss their words out of your mind.
You don’t need them!
Some folk are honest enough to say that it was only when they got their fifth dog that they found out what reactivity was about. Up to then their dogs had been easy, compliant, no bother.
Our dog may be plenty of bother!
(But how rewarding he is for all that.)
We build an unbreakable bond with our growly dogs. We love them with a passion, and they love us with equal devotion.
Enjoy your dog. And pay these people no heed.
Would a stranger say to you,
“You shouldn’t let your husband do that”
Or
“You should keep your children in their place”?
They’d better not!
And you’d disregard their nonsense straight away. None of their beeswax.
Treat these hurtful remarks about your dog with the same contempt.
You’re doing fine!
