# Could you please keep yer mitts off my new puppy? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 25, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610 "2003-08-25T22:05:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/1 "2003-08-25T22:05:19Z")
So I have a new puppy and he’s **REEEEEEEALY** cute. Obviously, he’s bound to get attention. But - what on earth is it with people randomly coming up and picking up my dog? Does this not strike anyone else as: a) kinda rude and presumptious b) kinda dangerous - he could be a biter (he’s not) c) a good way to get clobbered by an over protective owner? (No, I haven’t clobbered anyone). The typical culprit seems to be a woman with 2 inch long finger nails and Very Big Hair[sup]TM[/sup]. On Saturday I had a woman grab him and refuse to give him back even after I asked multiple times. Eventually I had to haul him out of her arms, grabbing her boobs in the process - hey, it was her own damn fault! Puppy is starting to get a bit demented. I mean, he likes people, but he’s not crazy about complete strangers grabbing him and squishing him and generally refusing to let him breathe. BAH! Leave my poor puppy alone! And for the love of Pete - **ASK** before you pet strange dogs! (And **DON’T** just pick them up!!) Hosers! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/2 "2003-08-25T22:15:19Z")
And make sure you tell people not to reach over the puppy’s head from in front to pet him – it makes some dogs anxious and nippy. Tuck under the chin, rub on the shoulder or neck are much better. ---
**Author:** ![Lotida](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@Lotida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lotida)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/3 "2003-08-25T22:17:28Z")
The moral decay of the world is upon us and your pissed because someone loved on your puppy!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![greyseal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@greyseal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greyseal)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/4 "2003-08-25T22:29:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alice\_in\_wonderland \* > \*\*Eventually I had to haul him out of her arms, grabbing her boobs in the process - hey, it was her own damn fault! > \*\* So what you’re saying is, it wasn’t all bad? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jlzania](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@jlzania](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jlzania)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/5 "2003-08-25T22:39:56Z")
But he’s so cute I couldn’t help it! [sUB](Disclaimer: this is not an admission of having either big hair or dragon nails)[/SUB] ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/6 "2003-08-25T22:45:47Z")
This is just plain stupid. I was taught to ALWAYS ask before petting somebody else’s dog. (Cats make it pretty clear whether they want to be petted, but dogs aren’t always so obvious.) I wonder if they’d sue somebody if they messed with their dog and got bit? Animal bites are NOT always the animal’s fault, no matter what some people think! Can I pet your puppy? I bet he’s adorable! And feel free to pet our boys, especially the golden, he WUVS being petted. ---
**Author:** ![Peach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@Peach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peach)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/7 "2003-08-25T22:48:09Z")
i always ask - even if the puppy comes running up to me. ---
**Author:** ![Delly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Delly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delly)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/8 "2003-08-25T22:49:59Z")
So what type of puppy is it? ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/9 "2003-08-25T23:35:26Z")
And let’s see some pictures! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/10 "2003-08-25T23:38:49Z")
My 3-year-old assumes that every dog she encounters wants to be petted (and, FTR, she has no big hair, no long fingernails, and certainly no boobs:)). But I always restrain her, ask the dog owner first if petting is acceptable, and then **honor** what the dog-owner says. If they say “No, I’d rather she didn’t pet the dog”, I tell my daughter she can wave to the dog and blow it kisses, but not pet. If she is allowed to pet, I make sure she does so gently. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/11 "2003-08-26T01:20:20Z")
When a dog or puppy rushes me, I tend to put my hands on it so I can control it, in case it’s a little too playful. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/41988e/32.png) [@El\_Cid\_Viscoso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Cid_Viscoso)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/12 "2003-08-26T01:38:47Z")
Hey Alice, you’re very right. And don’t forget, strange people may carry diseases and other stuff from their own pets. Might be a legitimate excuse for telling people off… The chick who grabbed your little buddy deserves more than a boob-tweak, in my book. Speaking of books, try “The Art of Raising a Puppy” by the Monks of New Skete. Worked wonders on my dog Blue. ---
**Author:** ![Gadfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gadfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadfly)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/13 "2003-08-26T01:57:01Z")
I can understand people petting a dog. But you ask before you pick up someone’s pet, period. You are hoisting their companion off the ground, holding them at dangerous heights, making odd cooing noises, and generally being strange. At least you could, you know, ask first. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/14 "2003-08-26T02:04:52Z")
Gah! And then there was the silly cow who picked him up, with out asking, and proceeded to say: “Well, he’s cute, but _MY_ dog is **MUCH** CUTER!” **WELL THEN GO TORTURE _YOUR_ DOG YOU STUPID BITCH!!** Fortunatly, Voltaire is a very mild mannered dog and he’s not prone to biting. I was talking to my mom and she suggested saying “Get your fucking hands off my dog, NOW!” which seemed like it might work. FTR, Voltaire is a bichon/shitzu/yorky cross. He’s small and brown and furry. Pictures will be coming soon (my friend has them on her digital camera and hasn’t e-mailed me yet). ---
**Author:** ![Beagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/85f322/32.png) [@Beagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beagle)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/15 "2003-08-26T02:06:28Z")
I never pick up a strange puppy. I like to just get down to their level and see if they’ll come to me. You are right to fear a possible bite response. Famous last words, _snarl_ “Don’t worry, I have a way with dogs…” or “my dog won’t bite.” I’ve found that any dog will bite if the wrong buttons are pushed. Even if the puppy doesn’t bite the stranger, peeing all over the stranger is quite possible. That’s bad enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/16 "2003-08-26T02:09:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Beagle \* > \*\*Even if the puppy doesn’t bite the stranger, _peeing all over the stranger is quite possible._ \*\* I would give Voltaire as many dog-treats as he could eat if he would do this. Sadly, he’s doing a little too well with the potty training for it to be a risk. Darn smart dog! :mad: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/17 "2003-08-26T03:26:51Z")
Pictures - now! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/18 "2003-08-26T03:31:49Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by Alice’s dog_ > > I have never made but one prayer to God, a very short one: ‘O Lord, make my enemies ridiculous.’ And God granted it. [More Voltaire quotes](http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes.php3?author=Voltaire) ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/19 "2003-08-26T04:23:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NoClueBoy \* > \*\*[More Voltaire quotes](http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes.php3?author=Voltaire) \*\* Like I said - the dog is **BRILLIANT!** And he comes when I call him! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610/20 "2003-08-26T06:46:16Z")
I always ask. Always. But you better let me because I just have to touch him! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-please-keep-yer-mitts-off-my-new-puppy/197610.md?page=2)