Met a woman on walk - made me cross!

I was out with Jack this afternoon and we were busy minding our own business. Actually Jack was doing some really good wait work. I saw a lady with a saluki and a retriever walk past behind us, but Jack was focused so I ignored her and so did he. I went off to school and walked back through the same park on the way home.

The same lady walked up behind us and Jack started getting fidgety ( as he always does on the lead) so I put him in a sit to let the lady pass so I could keep his focus. Which he did beautifully.
Now I know she had seen me working him earlier and I clearly put him into a sit for a reason. So she says "what a shame you wont let him greet other dogs, it'd be good for him" . So I looked at her and asked why she thought that I didnt let him greet and she answered by saying that " I had deprived him earlier of greeting her dogs and was doing so again now."
I replied by saying that Jack occasionally takes exception to some dogs whilst he's on lead and I was working on him to keep his attention on me.
She kind of shrugged and said she was walking the same way, so I grudgingly walked along with her. Now Jack was a perfect gentleman all the way. He walked next to her retriever with his focus on me, as good as gold.
At the bottom of the hill she says, "you have a high energy dog there, he needs high energy work. You should get your son to run around with him, or get him another terrier."

My chin was on the floor. Jack is quite highly strung but anyone who knows even the tiniest bit knows the opposite is true. Calm is what Jack needs, not winding up further!!!

Then she added insult to injury " You should watch that Dog whisperer" she says, "he knows about energy in dogs"

My son and I walked away at that point. It was then that Ben ( son ) said "Surely Jack needs calm Mum not more excitement."
I need say no more. Ben is 9 yrs old!

Isn't it great.... a few shows on TV and everyone's a dog trainer

I dont let my dogs greet other dogs all the time because I want them to understand that they cant say hello and play with every dog that we pass (not that it does any good of course!) Doesnt mean to say they arent socialised and that woman should have minded her own business.

It annoys me greatly when you are trying to control your dog and another dog owner doesnt respect this. I had Kai out yesterday and we came across a Labrador which wanted to play. Now, Kai is strong and i'm only short, plus the ground was muddy and slippy so I was having difficulty keeping hold of him. The dog owner had no idea where their dog was or what trouble it was causing me and they obviously didnt care.

It's a different scenario but other dog owners have no right to stick their noses in when you are trying to train your dog, particularly if they have no idea why you are putting them in a sit or whatever.

My goodness, I salute your restraint! I`m afraid she`d have got an extremely short answer from me. It`s amazing how everyone`s an expert. Well done for keeping your dignity!

Well done you for keeping calm

I hate that some people think that everyone is interested in hearing their opinions, even worse when they are talking c**p!

well done for keeping calm!! (and having sucha well behaved dog!!)

id have said mind your own effing business

Your'e damned if you do and damned if you don't I don't let Ollie meet every dog he see's although he would like too.
Some people have no idea do they or to mind their own busisness. I am dreading the warmer weather and meeting the local dog whisperer round here. Who of course knows everything and even how Ollie thinks.
Well done for being so calm.

Aww thanks guys. I was beginning to think I was being over sensitive, but she really rattled me. I would have been knarked if she had been right but the fact that her advice was wrong and she was still sticking her nose in got me rattled!!!

You are much more polite than me, I often make my two sit and behave if i think they are likely to get all silly, and let another person pass.

As Lynn has said you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. You should told her where to stick her advice Ben is obviously more switched on than your helpful lady

Well done for having a well behaved dog who focuses on you in situations like that . And well done too for keeping yourself calm. I bet you wanted to give her a mouthful really . At the last agility class I went to , training had been going very well , Missy working off lead and not in the slightest bit interested in other dogs or people. Then this woman came over and started making a fuss of her. I was happy for the woman to say hello but when Missy started getting overexcited and jumping up , I moved her away and told her to sit. The woman said "oh , don't be like that" and started approaching Missy again. I explained that she was rehomed and was very bad for jumping up at people , and that it had taken me a long time to train her out of it. Would the woman listen ? No , she started talking to Missy , and patting her hands on her legs, trying to get Missy to go to her . I then told her that I would be more than happy to meet her after the class , so she could make a fuss of my dog .BUT do you mind leaving her alone please as you are undoing months of work , and I need her to concentrate on the agility equipment right now. Her and her husband STILL kept trying to attract Missy's attention so I had to take her away to the other end of the training area. The rest of the class didn't go as well as normal , Missy was too wound up . She even jumped over the wing once instead of the actual jump. Mind you , the wing was about 3 feet high and it was quite funny .