My dog is a 'Meeter and Greeter'

Better old goat than what my son sometimes calls me - 'old tart*. It's supposedly affectionate.

breeze. We are hoping to get a schnoodle
puppy whose mother is a miniature poodle and the dad is a schnauzer. We are going to look at the puppies in a couple of week's time but the owner says she won't let us have one if she doesn’t like the look of us!
My GN nickname by the way is the name my son affectionately calls me. Nice.

Collies are fabulous, in the right hands. They are highly intelligent but difficult if they don't get lots of mental stimulation and exercise. In the right hands! Wow! There are dogs that are far more 'protective' than collies (don't get them mixed up with sheep protecting dogs and sheep herding dogs). Collies are trained to work with sheep, so herding, so they can be snappy around ankles as it's their instinct. They are not bad dogs. Just like a lot of other breeds, misunderstood if you don't understand what they're bred for and know what you're doing. Jings, look up www.tripadvisor. gingerbreadcottage. witch.com. Think you'll find something suitable.

You can still take dogs into schools, homes etc. They do need to be registered and healthy etc etc. The term is a P.A.T dog, pets as therapy. There is also a scheme to help reluctant readers to read to dogs!

I would advise against a border collie, even though they're great fun and very clever. But their main instinct seems to be to protect their owner and family. Another one we had was worse, he wanted to attack people we met. I think he had been illtreated as a puppy.

Must remember to only ever book holiday cottages that stipulate 'no dogs'.

Well you're doing the right things (no staring, moving body slightly away), so I guess it could be that the Husky isn't getting what it needs (lots of running) and is frustrated and over excited. Probably not getting the stimulation it needs from it's owner. They are beautiful dogs but people often forget, when choosing a breed, what a breed may have been designed for. There are so many unfortunates in rehoming centres, or being put to sleep, because unlike oldgoat, they don't research the breed before they purchase (then purchase from responsible breeder). I guess you can only try to avoid and at least it is on a lead. Most dogs, if you ignore them, will ignore you. I sympathise with your OH. I really do.

breeze what you describe is exactly what we do of if we can divert our path before we get close we do, it doesn't seem to make any difference and for some reason our walks seem to coincide even though we vary the times. Maybe the dog does it to lots of people but my OH seems to think the poor dog has it in for him.

Yesterday we went out and as we reached the park the heavens opened so we ran to shelter under a tree (no lightening thank goodness) and a gentleman with a dog joined us much to OH's dismay but the dog sat down by his owner although it was obvious he wanted to say hello and OH eventually relaxed and the dog approached calmly for a stroke, it was so nice for a change.

He was actually crispy! Yuk!

oldgoat (I don't like calling you that!) please post a puppy photo. You will please us all! Which breed are you getting? You sound like perfect dog owners. Waiting until you had the time to give to new pup. Wish everyone was like you. Wait to fall hopelessly in love!

Here's the other one on the same holiday looking 'not so beautiful'! Plum tuckered after doing his most favourite thing in the whole world. Playing in mud! No hosepipe where we stayed!

Thank you Nina.

It may help if you don't make eye contact. Eye contact (especially direct staring) is perceived as confrontational to dogs. And often, when people are scared, their eyes widen and they stare at the object of their fear. Tell your OH to look away and turn body slightly away. The dog may be friendly of course, I don't know, but even friendly dogs shouldn't be allowed to lunge at strangers, as some are fearful and it's not fair to make them frightened. Both of you, look away, turn your bodies slightly away. That is what a canine, who doesn't want confrontation, would do.

Maybe doggie owners can give me some tips we walk regularly and as I said OH is scared of dogs one in particular a husky walked by a young man and every time he sees us he starts pulling whining and if we get close enough barking and jumping up on his extendable lead. We try and avoid him and I feel bad for him and the owner but is there something we are doing wrong?

The dog we look after for a neighbour is a meeter and greeter - a Breton spaniel, very gentle and sociable. But our own dog, a border collie, is very suspicious of other people, won't even allow them to stroke her. But she's fine with family, even if we haven't seen them for ages, she seems to know.
But I can't stand those over-effusive dogs who jump up.

Reading this thread has convinced me that our decision to get a dog is the right one. We have decided on the breed we want and are going to look at some puppies in a couple of week's time when they are starting to show their personalities. We both had dogs when we were children but only had cats when we were at work all day. OH loves dogs and likes to look after DD's. I worry that he doesn't get out enough and think that taking the dog out will make his life more interesting.
We've been weighing the pros and cons for ages but are now convinced that getting a dog will be a good thing. Can't wait!

Beautiful dog breeze

This is so true! We have lived in our village for almost 40 Years. Inevitably in that time things have changed, people have come and gone and there has been a certain amount of "new build". I may not know everyone as I did 40 years ago but Imdo know all the dog walkers and their respective dogs!

One of mine 'relaxing' on holiday last month!

This is Zeta enjoying her holiday

I find the same when I am out and about with Zeta,my German Shepherd,she is very friendly and it never ceases to amaze me how people take to her.I am just back from a few days away with her.Was waiting in the bus queue when a crowd of boisterous teenagers appeared,If alone I would expect to be ignored,however they were all taking turns to clap her and one young lad around 14 made a point of sitting beside me on the bus,fussing over Zeta and chatting about his holiday etc,feel good factor all round.

I've not got my little girl out recently, due to being unwell. I have though today asked my son to take my mobility scooter back out of the boot of the car and then I can at least get her to the park nearby. She has a great way of making me feel guilty and I do owe her as she is there for me no matter what.

I love dogs and cannot understand anybody who is afraid of them unless they were bitten at some stage. I could not look after a dog properly, hence my lovely cat Tara. I do love animals around me. I am always happy to dog sit and we usually have great fun.

I always talk to people with Staffies. They are usually very friendly and pleased to talk to someone who doesn't think their dog is likely to eat someone.

One Sunday I was out walking them and I met up with some younger people more my own children's age with their dog, and we were all doing the doggy talk thing..as you do.. when some others came along and we were all talking and chilling.

I felt so happy to be accepted into a younger age group, and when we parted the only thing I did not do was the knuckle to knuckle thing because I did not feel at my age is was appropriate

Had there been no dogs present we would have walked pat one another without a second glance