[Khajiit]

So just this past Saturday my boyfriend picked up the latest addition to our family (we also have 5 cats), a 2 moth old female English Bulldog. Freybug is a happy and very healthy little girl. She's an absolutely silly little thing and a big time cuddlebug. She's also super smart! We love her (the cats are indifferent, hehe).

Anyway, I've been taking her for good puppy appropriate jaunts to help get her energy burnt off and get her used to living in the city, but I've also been encountering quite a few obnoxious people who feel it's their right to tell me how and what I'm doing wrong by my puppy. Anyone else dealt with this "issue"?

Examples...

“You’re walking her too fast!” * as I’m walking her at barely normal walking pace and she’s happily trotting around me*

“Slow down! She’s too young to be pushed so hard!” * as I’m taking her for a very slow 20 minute walk around my block and not even forcing it*

“The leash is TOO TIGHT! TOO TIGHT! TSK!” *as she’s wearing a HARNESS that’s FITTED PERFECTLY. Not too snug and not too loose! And it doesn’t pull around her NECK.

“She wants you to carry her!” *as we stop on the sidewalk for a second and she sits, looks up at me, and whines a little bit*

“I hope you’re being GOOD to her >:/” *as I untangle myself from the leash she just wrapped around my legs. Like, no. I’m terrible to her. Never yell at her, never get angry, always patient, gently coaxing… I’m a monster.*

“Tsk, she doesn’t have legs as long as you, you know!” *again, as we’re walking and she’s happily keeping up with my slower than average pace*

"Oh, she's a Bulldog? You know they're all unhealthy and expensive, right? Tsk, the poor thing... you should have adopted a healthy mutt from the shelter!" *Ummm, excuse me? I won't even get into this one other than say thanks for thinking I'm an idiot and don't know what I'm doing *

ETC…..

I slightly dread walks with Freybug through the neighbourhood because of all the seniors who bitch at me for *gasp* walking something with stumpy little puppy legs! OH NO! SHE’S GOING TO EXPLODE!

I’m not a social person. Clearly.

But seriously, she’s a puppy. She has energy. She needs the exercise to get her excess puppy energy out! Good lord, she’s not made of glass and she’s not a human infant. She’s a dog. I treat her with the utmost care and affection a puppy needs, and definitely better than many others even would! MYOB, ya know?

Ugh, anyway. Normally I don't care, but having a new pup is taking a bit of a toll on my nerves, so I'm more sensitive than usual. I'm a bundle of anxiety, but it'll pass with time. Sigh... people sometimes...

Here's a video of the Freybug in her "natural" habitat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNrARfX14f4

 

[Dawnben]

Sounds like you are doing great get a pair of earphones and just shrug your shoulders like you can hear. Enjoy you new pup and being out doors with her don't let anyone take away your joy.

 

[tiffanyandteddy]

Everyone always has something to say. I agree with @Dawnben wear some headphones and don't acknowledge anyone. Your little girl is such a cutie!!

 

[Grabby]

No need to let these people bother you. Just keep moving. Everyone has an opinion but the opinion of strangers encountered on the street is of little importance. Think of the many people who don't say anything but might be thinking "what an adorable puppy and a good owner." That's what I'd be thinking if I saw you and your pup.

 

[sassafras]

"Who are you, again?"


Which is more polite than "Good thing I don't really give a <poop> what you think about it."

 

[Shandula]

Definitely throw on some headphones. I do that now with my new puppy. I don't even play music, and I wear sunglasses, normally these two things prevent people from bothering me. People in general are obnoxious.

Everyone is an expert, didn't you know?

 

[revolutionrocknroll]

I know how you feel, I never liked living in a city but I never realized how much I hated it until I got a dog.

"Can I pet your dog?"
"No, she bites."
*Still tries to pet my dog*

Or "Why is she so skinny?/where is her tail?/why does she look so afraid?/any question that insinuates that I'm abusing her."

Your girl is adorable though, bulldog pups are the cutest, squishiest puppies!

 

[kelly528]

I second the earbud idea. Everyone's an expert when you're walking a puppy.

And if they touch her without asking just apologize profusely and inform them that she has worms

 

[Shandula]

I second the earbud idea. Everyone's an expert when you're walking a puppy.

And if they touch her without asking just apologize profusely and inform them that she has worms

Better still, tell them she has Giardia. Easily passable to people!

 

[mathilda]

Well, as a dogowner you've got to become a bin hearing selective, there will always be nagging people and everyone has some kind of opnion about you and your dog. better get used to it.
However, not every advice is bad, some people just genuinely want to help you, especially if you seem to them like a first-time-dogowner.

I think they were right that a 8 weeks old dog shouldn't walk for 30min long walks yet. this can be bad for the bones and ligaments.
a good rule of thumb is five of walk more for every month of the puppies life.
So a 8 weeks old dog this would mean a walk of ca. 10 min.
several small walks during the day is better for them than one big walk.

 

[Khajiit]

All very good advice. Thank you all very much!

 

[Khajiit]

Well, as a dogowner you've got to become a bin hearing selective, there will always be nagging people and everyone has some kind of opnion about you and your dog. better get used to it.
However, not every advice is bad, some people just genuinely want to help you, especially if you seem to them like a first-time-dogowner.

I think they were right that a 8 weeks old dog shouldn't walk for 30min long walks yet. this can be bad for the bones and ligaments.
a good rule of thumb is five of walk more for every month of the puppies life.
So a 8 weeks old dog this would mean a walk of ca. 10 min.
several small walks during the day is better for them than one big walk.

I just feel that there's a difference between offering advice versus getting grilled by a complete stranger who doesn't understand the situation, ya know? I'm always open to suggestions, just not people talking at me instead of to me. It's extremely off-putting and only serves to have me snap back (which I don't enjoy doing, but my patience with people is on the thin side). Maybe I'm just too introverted and thin-skinned, I don't know.

Anyhow, yes. I agree that 30 minutes is too long at this stage. Thanks for pointing that out. What people aren't seeing is me carrying her a good part of the way to or from work as well, hehe. I'm very slow/gentle in my approach to our walks.

I'm wondering if maybe I have no business being a dog owner at all because I'm so drained after being social :/