My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

-DB

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500, DogBytes
wrote:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Almost certainly: the fact that he puts his front paws on their
*chest* tells me he's big enough to be perceived as threatening.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

What's wrong with people who expect me to act as a playmate for their
dog and are too ****ing rude to even ask for permission first?

I *like* to play with friendly dogs. I like even more to be given a
*choice* in the matter. Get it?

Lee

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500, DogBytes
wrote:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Almost certainly: the fact that he puts his front paws on their
*chest* tells me he's big enough to be perceived as threatening.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

What's wrong with people who expect me to act as a playmate for their
dog and are too ****ing rude to even ask for permission first?

I *like* to play with friendly dogs. I like even more to be given a
*choice* in the matter. Get it?

Lee

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500, DogBytes
wrote:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Almost certainly: the fact that he puts his front paws on their
*chest* tells me he's big enough to be perceived as threatening.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

What's wrong with people who expect me to act as a playmate for their
dog and are too ****ing rude to even ask for permission first?

I *like* to play with friendly dogs. I like even more to be given a
*choice* in the matter. Get it?

Lee

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500, DogBytes
wrote:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Almost certainly: the fact that he puts his front paws on their
*chest* tells me he's big enough to be perceived as threatening.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

What's wrong with people who expect me to act as a playmate for their
dog and are too ****ing rude to even ask for permission first?

I *like* to play with friendly dogs. I like even more to be given a
*choice* in the matter. Get it?

Lee

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500 DogBytes whittled these words:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

Don't let him do that. It is rude behavior.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Absolutely. A person on a public trail is under no obligation to allow
your dog to jump up on him. A dog has no business touching a human (or
another dog for that matter) unless invited. People (and dogs) have
personal space that they want respected. Your dog might not mean harm but
the term "friendly" is debatable. In both dog language and in human
language the behavior your dog is showing ignores the feelings of and
personal space of others. That is not "friendly" behavior, that is rude
behavior.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

Lots of people enjoy playing with friendly dogs but want to reserve the
right to ASK the dog to play rather than being forced to by the dog. The
behavior your dog is showing, BTW, is not "non-aggressive". It is pushy,
insistent and self-centered. A polite friendly dog would stop before
reaching the people, it would turn slightly to the side, indicating lack
of challenge, make eye contact then immeditely look away, make eye contact
and then dip either the head or the entire body in an invitation to play.
If the other being indicated reception THEN there would be greeting
perhaps with physicial contact. If the other being did not indicate
reception the polite and friendly dog looks elsewhere for someone who does
want to play.

Call your dog away from people in a light tone. Teach your dog to follow
your lead and sit quietly at your side while you say hello and ask if your
dog may approach. There are plenty of us who are delighted to meet a
polite and friendly dog.

Diane Blackman

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500 DogBytes whittled these words:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

Don't let him do that. It is rude behavior.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Absolutely. A person on a public trail is under no obligation to allow
your dog to jump up on him. A dog has no business touching a human (or
another dog for that matter) unless invited. People (and dogs) have
personal space that they want respected. Your dog might not mean harm but
the term "friendly" is debatable. In both dog language and in human
language the behavior your dog is showing ignores the feelings of and
personal space of others. That is not "friendly" behavior, that is rude
behavior.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

Lots of people enjoy playing with friendly dogs but want to reserve the
right to ASK the dog to play rather than being forced to by the dog. The
behavior your dog is showing, BTW, is not "non-aggressive". It is pushy,
insistent and self-centered. A polite friendly dog would stop before
reaching the people, it would turn slightly to the side, indicating lack
of challenge, make eye contact then immeditely look away, make eye contact
and then dip either the head or the entire body in an invitation to play.
If the other being indicated reception THEN there would be greeting
perhaps with physicial contact. If the other being did not indicate
reception the polite and friendly dog looks elsewhere for someone who does
want to play.

Call your dog away from people in a light tone. Teach your dog to follow
your lead and sit quietly at your side while you say hello and ask if your
dog may approach. There are plenty of us who are delighted to meet a
polite and friendly dog.

Diane Blackman

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500 DogBytes whittled these words:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

Don't let him do that. It is rude behavior.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Absolutely. A person on a public trail is under no obligation to allow
your dog to jump up on him. A dog has no business touching a human (or
another dog for that matter) unless invited. People (and dogs) have
personal space that they want respected. Your dog might not mean harm but
the term "friendly" is debatable. In both dog language and in human
language the behavior your dog is showing ignores the feelings of and
personal space of others. That is not "friendly" behavior, that is rude
behavior.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

Lots of people enjoy playing with friendly dogs but want to reserve the
right to ASK the dog to play rather than being forced to by the dog. The
behavior your dog is showing, BTW, is not "non-aggressive". It is pushy,
insistent and self-centered. A polite friendly dog would stop before
reaching the people, it would turn slightly to the side, indicating lack
of challenge, make eye contact then immeditely look away, make eye contact
and then dip either the head or the entire body in an invitation to play.
If the other being indicated reception THEN there would be greeting
perhaps with physicial contact. If the other being did not indicate
reception the polite and friendly dog looks elsewhere for someone who does
want to play.

Call your dog away from people in a light tone. Teach your dog to follow
your lead and sit quietly at your side while you say hello and ask if your
dog may approach. There are plenty of us who are delighted to meet a
polite and friendly dog.

Diane Blackman

On Wed, 26 Nov 2003 17:27:55 -0500 DogBytes whittled these words:

My dog is very friendly and likes to greet passers-by on the hiking
trail.

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

Don't let him do that. It is rude behavior.

The other day someone got angry at this and threatened to spray my
dog.

Is this legal?

Absolutely. A person on a public trail is under no obligation to allow
your dog to jump up on him. A dog has no business touching a human (or
another dog for that matter) unless invited. People (and dogs) have
personal space that they want respected. Your dog might not mean harm but
the term "friendly" is debatable. In both dog language and in human
language the behavior your dog is showing ignores the feelings of and
personal space of others. That is not "friendly" behavior, that is rude
behavior.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

Lots of people enjoy playing with friendly dogs but want to reserve the
right to ASK the dog to play rather than being forced to by the dog. The
behavior your dog is showing, BTW, is not "non-aggressive". It is pushy,
insistent and self-centered. A polite friendly dog would stop before
reaching the people, it would turn slightly to the side, indicating lack
of challenge, make eye contact then immeditely look away, make eye contact
and then dip either the head or the entire body in an invitation to play.
If the other being indicated reception THEN there would be greeting
perhaps with physicial contact. If the other being did not indicate
reception the polite and friendly dog looks elsewhere for someone who does
want to play.

Call your dog away from people in a light tone. Teach your dog to follow
your lead and sit quietly at your side while you say hello and ask if your
dog may approach. There are plenty of us who are delighted to meet a
polite and friendly dog.

Diane Blackman

On 26-Nov-2003, DogBytes wrote:

He runs up wagging tail and jumps up putting his front paws on their
leg or chest wanting to play.

You know that he wants to play, but how do I know that? You are responsible
for your dog. Don't expect others to take responsibility for you. If your
dog was properly trained, it would not do this! It sounds like you
should keep the dog on a leash until you train it to behave properly
around other people.

What's wrong with people who don't want to play with a friendly dog?

I was once surprised by a big dog who, in the fraction of a second that
I had to react, looked like he was going for my throat. My reaction
was a right cross to the side of his head (with the butt of my hand, not
a fist).

Some people are afraid of dogs or have allergies etc. Don't expect them
to like or want your dog around.

Mike