I don't force my dog on others and I do usually keep her on a leash when I'm out in public with her. She is extremely friendly though and she does like to go up to them and try to give them a cuddle. I come from a nation of dog lovers and many people like my dog being friendly to them. There are old people that live round here for instance that are quite lonely and it seems to really brighten up their day when my dog wants to say hello to them. Some of them even carry doggy treats in their pockets. She isn't a bloodhound and she doesn't slaver all over people. I do sometimes get people backing away though and some people telling me that their kids are afraid of dogs. More often than not, when I say sorry to people when my dog goes up to them they say that it's fine and it's really only people that dislike dogs that are bothered by her friendly behaviour. I hardly think that my having a friendly dog counts as antisocial behaviour but I do think that people that don't like it are a bit unsociable. There's no leash law in Edinburgh but the only time I ever let her off the leash is when I take her to somewhere like the park or beach where she can run around and fetch her ball. There's no law against that and lots of people do it. I do sometimes get annoyed with people that don't control their dogs when they come over and try to mount my dog because she's not neutered and it annoyed me when I had a male dog and other dogs would try to fight with him. That's basically it. If someone says, "Can you keep your dog away please?" I restrain her and expect other people to do the same with their dogs but most people don't have a problem with friendly dogs and it's like saying that I shouldn't say hello to people in the street.

To get back on topic though, my dog lives here and this is her home. I spoil her a bit and I allow her to lie on the couch and she will follow me from room to room because she likes to be close to me and she is allowed to sleep on my bed when I don't have other female company. I have a female friend that comes round here for a chat sometimes and she likes to play with my dog and give her cuddles but sometimes my friend won't want to do that and she will tell my dog to get off or push her away. I do that myself sometimes and the way that I see it, it's no different from me going into a woman's house and having her children trying to get me to play with them. I'm a fairly laid back person and if someone's child puts their grubby paws on me or drools on me I don't make a big fuss about it. I doubt that I would get on that well anyway with a woman that had some sort of problem with my dog just trying to be friendly and if someone can't understand that when you have a dog it's like part of the family they are free to go and date somebody else and good luck to them. I don't inflict my dog on people but she is my companion and if somebody doesn't like that, tough.

As an apologetic gesture, I invited her to dinner and fed her Asian Slaw Dog.

Judge ordered me to give her two kids.

Asian Slaw Dog
: 20 min., Grill: 7 min. Squeezing the juice from grated ginger is easy and adds fresh flavor to this Asian-inspired slaw. To easily release the juice, press the ginger against the back of your measuring spoon using a finger.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Ever heard the phrase "unconditional love"? That's what my dog gives me and no woman ever has. I've had two girlfriends since I've had Keira. Both of those women are gone and Keira is still giving me love.

Apart from the love and companionship that my dog gives me she also does things to help me that are worth more to me than someone cooking me breakfast, which I can do myself. Some people feel safer when they have a dog to protect them. Some people use a dog as a mobility aid. Some people even use their dogs as a way to meet other people. People talk to me when I'm out with my dog all the time because they like dogs but they would just ignore me if I didn't have one. I met my ex girlfriend because she was out in the park one day with her dog.

Are you really saying that I should get rid of my dog because that's going to increase my chance of meeting a woman? I don't think so and I've never had a girlfriend that disliked my dog. Frankly, if some woman is looking for a batchelor to move in with, there being a dog here is the last thing that she's going to be worrying about. The dog is more housetrained and well behaved than I am.

Is that legal?

if your dog jumps up on someone or makes physical contact in any way with someone who does not want that contact... it is definitively forcing the dog on them. I am simply giving the perspective of someone who does not want contact with pets - unless I choose to pat them on the head or whatever. I understand mistakes can happen. Perhaps the pizza delivery person should have called on his way to remind you to make sure any pets were restrained. My dog that I had as a kid used to jump on people, and I understand it can be hard to prevent - I'd put her in a bedroom and someone else in the family would open the door...

It sounds like you are a good dog owner, but definitely not going to be compatible with someone who does not want to live with a pet, and that's fine. It's a preference.

Quite frankly their are many dog owners who do not restrain their pets and have a snotty attitude about having to do so (therefore we have laws). I don't think you are one of those though. Not at all. I feel just as you do. I do not have pets and if someone does not like that...tough :)

doesn't mean we can't chat tho'

Oh, it's nothing sexual. I don't even like her watching when I've got a woman round here. My last girlfriend didn't mind but it made me a bit self concious.

I have a few male friends who fit that description. All of em slightly effeminate, but still, they like those three things you listed :)

I'd have to send him by ferry, seeing as you're in the U.S

lol

I don't see it as forcing my dog on people if they come into my front yard and she gives them a friendly welcome, anymore than it would be forcing my kids on them if I had any and if they did that.

Actually, when someone comes to my door I don't usually just throw the door open and let her run outside because I don't want her getting out of the gate if they've left it open and yes, there are some people that will poop their pants when they go to someone's door and a dog runs out. I just sometimes forget because it really doesn't bother most people and any regular visitor to my home knows my dog and likes her. Fair enough about the delivery guy because I asked him to come and I told him that I would remember the next time. If someone comes to my door uninvited though, they're annoying me and if some Jehova's Witness or somebody like that doesn't like dogs it's really not my problem. They are the ones trying to force themselves on me and it's not like my dog bites. My dog is always on a leash when I'm out in the street with her and if they come near enough for her to be able to jump up and give them one of her cuddles, they're coming into my space, just like someone coming to my door is.

My atitude about it is that people should know how to behave around dogs and you shouldn't try to put it all on the owner. There's this idiot that lives upstairs from me and one day when I was coming home from a walk with my old dog the guy came up behind me and said, "How are you?" in his stupid loud voice, which would have sounded aggressive to the dog and he stuck his hand out to pat my dog on the head. The dog nipped him and he also nipped a couple of other idiots that did stupid things that the dog found threatening. There are just some people that don't know how to behave around animals and quite often it's their fault if a dog bites them. The dog that I have now wouldn't bite anybody though and that's why I'm more relaxed about it when I take her out in public, or if someone comes to my door.

Well said, sweetestgirl11.

Owners ARE ethically responsible for the actions of their pets, and a responsible owner does not allow their pet to inflict itself in any way where it is unwelcome.

. . .

Regarding "unconditional love" from an animal: Those who need or want that sort of relationship are certainly entitled to have one. It may, however, discourage a love relationship with a human who does not have similar needs.

Guess what? I don't give a shiney shite what you say that I'm ethically responsible to do. There's no legal obligation to restrain a dog that's just being friendly. Maybe in whatever fascist state you want to live in but not here.

As far as my excluding certain women that might possibly date me because I have a dog goes: I met one girlfriend that was out walking her dog because I had one and the last girlfriend that I had was someone that I met on here that asked me if I wanted to go for a walk because she knew that I have a dog. Having a dog is a great way to meet women. I chat with women all the time that are out walking their dogs and I've got a friendly dog that does go up to people in public places and the majority of people like her and I get, "Your dog is smelling my dog on me" all the time. The last date that I had was with a woman that wasn't even keen on dogs and she wasn't bothered when she saw what my dog is like and she said that she's a nice dog.

I'm not noticing you making a thing about how if someone has kids they might put off potential partners and I really don't like the patronising way that you're trying to say that I'm doing that by having a dog.

People often become emotional when they personalize general comments (i.e., think the "shoe fits") -- and become defensive.

Yeah and like I said, my dog isn't out of control. If someone tells me that they're scared of dogs or that their kids are I keep her on a tighter leash and I do the same when I go into the local store with her because if I don't she will steal the sweets that they have out on display there that they put within reach of small children. When I'm out with my dog she likes to go up and say hello to people and other dogs because she is very friendly and I let her do that. Most people are fine with that and when somebody is nervous I tell them that she's just being friendly. If they still don't want her near them they can tell me so or just bugger off. I'm not going to chase after them insisting that they pet my dog and I'm not forcing her on anybody.

That's patronising as well. It's obvious that you were responding to something that I said and whether you're talking to me or trying to have a go at people in general who happen to have friendly dogs I can still respond to your remarks about that because I'm one of those people.

You are correct while in your home or on your property..off of your property however it is best to restrain your dog. some folk are deathly afraid of them....my attitude (which also lawful) is that it's basically best not to assume that others will see your dog as you do. That does require some maturity. But on your property - that is different usually

unless there is a bite incident. Here in the US those are always supposed to be reported to authorities regardless of who is at fault. I have been bitten twice while running on PUBLIC property. I did not report either one because I kicked them away (fully within my right, and with NO CONTACT to the animal) and the bite did not break the skin, but if it had happened again with the same dog I would have, and told one of the owners as much.

If a person really does love their animal they will make them behave.

I also made my kids mind if we went any where bye the bye...and if someone told me that my kids were not welcome at their home, usually I did not go to the event. But on occasion I got a sitter.

I totally agree with this. It is inconsdierate to assume others wish to pet your dog

If you don't want contact with animals, don't go near them. I live in a very dog friendly city and never have contact with people's pets unless I say it's ok. There aren't dogs running around, jumping all over people. I do stop and ask people if I can pet their dogs. I did that earlier today and the owner warned me that it was a puppy and he might try to jump on me. It was then my choice whether to try and pet him or not.

If animals make you uptight, stay away from them :).

The condescending attitude you have may discourage people as well. It's all a choice, though. If animals make you that uptight, make sure you let people know in the beginning that you are not an animal person.

If you're not a pet person, you're not going to understand the importance of pets to their owners. That importance is not going to change when they start dating someone new. Rather than expecting that, hopefully you just make sure potential dates know how you feel about pets so you don't end up involved with someone who has pets.

Here it is law to keep your pets under control. If someone is at your house be it the mailman, pizza delivery man, paramedics, police;etc you must keep it under control; friendly or not.

Ok, so what's the problem?