I was wondering if this kid is right?

[Miss Molly May]

Yesterday I stooped at the full service gas bar with Molly. We always fill up here because the young gas attendants love Molly and always wants to pet her.
So we pull up and roll down the back window for Molly to get her weekly rub. The attendant walk up with a new employee(trainee) who reach in to pet her. The attendant told the trainee to never reach in and pet the top of the head but to rub the dog under the chin. He said that that reaching and petting the top of the head could trigger aggression? I told them you should never reach in and pet any dog unless ask permission. I never said any about his comment about petting a dog on the top of the head because I wasn't sure if he was right or not? What do you think does he have a point or is he full of

[Courtney]

Mine does not want anyone outside of our home petting him on the head...he does not show aggression but will squirm backwards away from them...I always instruct to pet him on his back.

I know in training class the instructor will greet all of our dogs one by one..they are to stay sitting, she always goes under the chin..never on the head.

Interesting..

[doggiedad]

1>>>> is your dog ok with anybody reaching in the car for a
pet?

2>>>> i don't think it's a good idea for one attendant to tell
another to reach into a car and pet a dog.

3>>>> if you're going to allow people to pet your dog
you as the owner has to make sure your dog isn't
hand shy. you never know where people are going to touch
your dog.

4>>>> you're totally correct.

5>>>> same answer as #3.

Originally Posted by Miss Molly May

1>>>> So we pull up and roll down the back window for Molly to get her weekly rub.

2>>>> The attendant walk up with a new employee(trainee) who reach in to pet her.

3>>>> The attendant told the trainee to never reach in and pet the top of the head but to rub the dog under the chin.
He said that that reaching and petting the top of the head could trigger aggression?

4>>>> I told them you should never reach in and pet any dog unless ask permission. I never said any about his comment about petting a dog on the top of the head because I wasn't sure if he was right or not? What do 5>>>> you think does he have a point or is he full of

[FG167]

My DS took the reaching over the head thing as a direct sign of ill intentions and acted accordingly - I NEVER let anyone pet him on top of his head. Actually, I never let anyone pet him at all unless I was extremely careful and it was someone he needed to be ok with. When someone would run up anyway, I would try to shove their hand to his cheek with my hand and it did help but mostly, the unfriendly stare he leveled at people made those that wanted to touch him few and far between.

I always touch dogs under the chin or on the cheek when I am helping test for CGC, I think it's more acceptable to the dogs - whether they are shy or reactive or whatever.

[martemchik]

Sorry but if a dog can't take a pat on the head it should not have a CGC, considering that's the first step to most therapy dog certifications. Just my opinion. Making the owner think their dog is more stable than it really is, is never a good thing.

If a dog is well balanced, any kind of petting that doesn't involve pain, should be acceptable. I've heard the "don't stare into a male dogs eyes" thing because that can cause a reaction, but again, if the dog is well balanced that should never happen. If you know your dog is reactive to human touch, I would never let anyone pet it, how are you supposed to control someone that just slips up and pets the dog on the head?

Our instructors always greet the dog from the front, let them sniff their hand, and pet them on the head. We've never had an issue.

[Rerun]

No he's not full of poop, it's an accurate statement. Many dogs don't want strangers petting them on top of the head, but are fine otherwise.

[Miss Molly May]

[QUOTE=doggiedad;2373002]1>>>> is your dog ok with anybody reaching in the car for a
pet?

2>>>> i don't think it's a good idea for one attendant to tell
another to reach into a car and pet a dog.

3>>>> if you're going to allow people to pet your dog
you as the owner has to make sure your dog isn't
hand shy. you never know where people are going to touch
your dog.

4>>>> you're totally correct.

5>>>> same answer as #3.[/QUOTE]

Molly is very friendly with everyone! We don't let just anyone reach in and pet her. We have been going to the same gas bar since Molly was a puppy they all know her well

[Miss Molly May]

Originally Posted by Rerun

No he's not full of poop, it's an accurate statement. Many dogs don't want strangers petting them on top of the head, but are fine otherwise.

I thought it made sense but I wasn't sure!

[GSDMUM]

I believe it is better for new people to let the dog sniff their hand first and if that goes okay to scratch them under the chin, never on the head at an introduction. A hand from above can be percieved as a threat to some dogs. It is much less threatening under the chin. Once the dog knows and accepts the people it should be okay to pet them on the head.

[FG167]

Originally Posted by martemchik

Sorry but if a dog can't take a pat on the head it should not have a CGC, considering that's the first step to most therapy dog certifications. Just my opinion. Making the owner think their dog is more stable than it really is, is never a good thing.

I didn't say these dogs passed. I would just as soon not get bit to prove a dog should not have its CGC. They fail for other reasons if the nerve isn't good. Either way, many times, the pet on the head is unwelcome and an owner in an Intermediate Obedience class is at least trying to do something with and learn something about their dog. I would like them to feel safe that the people teaching them are not going to set the dog up for a bite/nip/fearful behavior. Having had a dog that would bite your hand for this, I feel it's helpful to inform people with these types of dogs how to live in the real world if someone insists on coming up to their dog after they have said no to petting. My goal is not to lie to the owner about their dog and cause problems - I am sorry if it came off that way.