PPl get offended by the dumbest things

Casadena

Dear Prudence,

I carry treats on walks because my dog needs them for various training issues (heeling, listening, etc.). We often see other dogs at a nearby park, and become friendly with some. I’m always happy to give the other dogs treats if their owners are OK with it (I usually take extra just in case), but sometimes there are owners who never return the gesture, even though they also have treats. For example, one will let her dogs bother me incessantly for treats, weakly protest, “X, stop begging,” but when she gives her own dog a treat, she does so secretly, crouches down and turns her back, and palms the treat like a card shark as if she doesn’t want me to or my dog to see. She never offers my dog a treat. Is this weird behavior or should I just get over it?

banana468

Leave it alone.  I wouldn't feed a stranger's kid so why would I feed a stranger's dog? 

climbingsingle

Jesus. Once again, I can't imagine having to write to Prudie about this. Maybe she can't afford extra treats. Who knows. Why do you care?

levioosa

Jesus. Just stop handing out treats? This is so annoying. 

VarunaTT

Again with the:

short+sassy

The LW needs to get over themselves.  They are actively thinking about treats before a walk, because they use it for training.  And it is really nice that they think far enough ahead to have extra for other dogs.  But most people aren't like that and that is fine, too.

The best part about giving a dog a treat, whether it is your dog or a stranger's dog, is how happy it makes them!  That is the reward for the human, lol.

charlotte989875

Why are you giving other people’s dogs treats? 

short+sassy

charlotte989875 said:

Why are you giving other people’s dogs treats? 

I could see it.  Not to a completely random person or dog.  But the way the LW describes it is they are a regular at a dog park and so are other people.

I picture it more like they are chit-chatting with someone whose dog is playing with their dog.  It's time for the LW's dog to have a treat.  They don't want to leave the other dog out, so they ask the owner if it is okay to give that dog a treat also.

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I have a hilarious story about the time Izzy almost got a huge treat from a little girl, on accident.  My H and I were in the outdoor area of a local coffee shop.  Izzy was with us because we walked her there.  She was on a leash and I was holding it so she couldn't go more than a few feet away from the table.  But we were talking to friends we bumped into and I was only looking down at her every minute or two.

There was a family at a table next to ours.  They had a 4-5 year old little girl with them and also their dog.  I looked down at Izzy and it was just barely in time to avert stolen baked goods!

The little girl had her back to Izzy and was facing her dog.  She was telling her dog that he couldn't have any of her bagel.  To emphasize the point, she was holding said bagel...slathered with cream cheese, I might add...behind her back.  Not realizing she was putting it only a couple inches away from my dog's face, lol.

My Izzy is such a good girl!  I could see the confusion on her face like, "I think that's for me.  But I'm not sure, so I'm still thinking about if I should take it."

We've never specifically taught her to do that with food/treats, but she has always instinctively waited until we give her some kind of verbal or motion "okay".  I immediately said her name to avert her gaze away from the bagel and then patted my leg so she would come closer.  I shortened my hold on the leash until the little girl went further away.

I was so proud of her.  So many dogs would have just snatched that bagel right out of the girl's hands.  But since the little girl wasn't looking at or talking to Izzy, our dog wasn't sure if it was okay, so she didn't.