Never going to that petsmart again

[StarFox]

Uh I hate the petsmart near my house. Actually I hate the people that go there. I took Zeb there today since he hasn't been for a car ride in a while and I know he LOVES petsmart. So my mom and I were looking at the training scedual because we were thinking about enrolling zeb into a class to kind of keep him refreshed on all his commands and to socalize him with more dogs. Zeb was standing next to me like a good dog and not bothering anyone when all of a sudden I hear a loud plastic smack somewhere behind us and zeb freaks out and pushes his way in between me and table where the training info was. He was so scared, his tail was between his legs and he was trying to get away from whatever was behind us. SO I look and there is this stupid little girl (about 5 years old) behind us smacking a frissbee on the ground. And she sees zeb and tries to get closer all the while smacking the frissbee on the ground. I'm trying to calm zebra down who was trying to run away and trying to back out of his collar. When all of a sudden the girl just starts running towards zebra holding the frissbee over her head. All I could think was "oh god she is going to hit zebra with it" so I pushed zebra back into the isle that we were closest to and stand in front of him and look at the girl and go "No you don't!". The kid backsup looking at me like I'm the devil and walks away. Ok I was pissed and I'm looking around trying to find the parents of this kid and they were half way across the store in the check out isle watching the entire thing!!!!! :evil: :x Who the hell lets there kid loose in petsmart and lets them run up to dogs like that! That kid could easily run up to a dog in petsmart and the dog could bite the kid and it would be the dogs fault!

SO I was pissed and decided to get into the chekout and I put zeb into a sit stay next to me while I got my money out and someone almost runs over his tail with a cart! Luckily I grabbed the cart in time to stop it and the guy pusing the cart got mad at me! Maybe if he was watchiing where he pushed the cart instead of looking behind him when he is pushing there wouldn't be a problem! Also zeb wasn't in the middle of the isle or anything he was sitting close next to me so the guy would have probably hit me with the cart too. :-?

ANd if things couldn't get better while I was paying that damn kid came running around the other side of the counter (they still hadn't left!) and yet again I had to stand in front of zebra and tell her "NO!".

Arg! That petsmart is so close but everyone that goes there are just complete morons! I'll go to the petsmart in the "rich" neighborhood from now on even though it's 10 miles away!

[xavierandrea]

:o
Some parents forget to teach their children manners. If that was X doing something that stupid I would show him what smacking a Frisbee is like.
God forbid Zebra did something to that kid then it would be Zebra fault and not the crazy kid's teasing! :evil:

[Crested]

You seemed to have a "great" time... :-?

[Pumpkin the musher]

Precisely the reason I have dogs and not children. Unfortunately this child is a dog bite waiting to happen, and the loser will always be the dog. I had a similar situation this last weekend- I was doing a craft show, and I had Cricket with me, (who, incidentally, was being a complete angel :angel: ), and this little snot-miner comes running up and literally throws himself on her, trying to pick her up. Cricket only weighs about 5 lbs, and is fragile! Poor Cricket is just screaming, parents no where to be seen of course. I had to pick up the brat by his shirt to get him off of her! His parents got an earful from me. Morons.

[Baileysmom]

And then I informed her of her ignorance

LMAO!!!!! :roflt:
I'm so sorry about these things happened to both of you, its really a shame when parents can't bother to teach their children about being around strange animals and then have the guts to leave them "alone" in a petstore - and get angry at the pets owners!!!!
but the way you put that had me laughing me outloud! way to go!!

[Guest Anonymous]

aw mel i'm sorry you had a bad time, all the ore reason to head to wo WA we have a great petsmart that is not eve a year old up here and everyone is super nice ;)

[mouseatthebusstop]

I think I would have complained to the parents,

[Baileysmom]

DAL - which petsmart do you go to?

[Canis erectus]

Unfortunately the "Other People's Kids" scenario is always going to exist, and is something that, as dog owners, we all have to be vigilant about. Sadly what creates the situation is not a lack od education, but a lack of the childern's parents attention to their kids and teaching them very basic common sense. It's not necassarily the kid's fault but that doesn't make it any less infuriating.

When I take my girls out and we get 'confronted' by children you'd think the little booger-eaters would want to pet the dog that's at the end of her leash, all slobbering tongue and just begging for one of the little spawn to pull her ears or tail. No, of course not. They want to pet the dog whose sitting meekly behind me with her face turned away and her ears back (her ears are almost always back, but as a universal rule of mammalian communication, most creatures should percieve laid-back ears as a warning). They still want to molest her even though China moves away from them, I've even had instances where her growling at them doesn't cease their advances. All the while, short of grabbing the children and shaking them senseless (which tends to get you arrested), they just have no respect when you tell them to leave the poor beast alone! Sometimes the parents will be right there, staring placidly at the whole scene while they are too busy talking on their cell phones to bother with what thier dependants are doing. Sometimes there won't be a parent anywhere in sight. or earshot for that matter.

My point is... that children are a threat to dogs and humanity and that they should all be destroyed!!!

No wait, that wasn't my point. I seem to have forgotten what it was now...

[sarahmyjoy]

Canis erectus napisał(a):

My point is... that children are a threat to dogs and humanity and that they should all be destroyed!!!

No wait, that wasn't my point. I seem to have forgotten what it was now...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :rofl:

[sarahmyjoy]

petsmart is supost to be a pets place and parents of childern should be aware of their kids and keep them in line. (I know they dont, usually) :-? Maybe the kids should be on a leash :wink:
We got some odd looks but never any comments when we took Tory our rotty(RIP) to P-mart . :-? Some people....... 8)

[Guest Anonymous]

I go to the one at lakewood town center. i love it ;) what about you? the one off of Highway 16 ?

[courtnek]

poor Free has the same problem. She doesnt LIKE children, plain and simple. But since she looks like a Lab everyone and their brother yells "Oh look at the pretty Lab! You can go pet her!"

I have had to stop children from approaching her at petco every time I go there. Their parents get all upset and say "Labs are GOOD dogs, why cant they pet her?" SHE'S NOT A LAB, SHE'S A LAB **MIX** AND SHE DOESNT LIKE SMALL CHILDREN!!! Dont you have the brains to teach your kids not to try to pet a dog WITHOUT ASKING THE OWNER FIRST??????

(I had this exact conversation with an idiot mother the last time I was there) Free will tolerate small children if I tell her to, and if she is not jumped on or suprised from behind. She doesnt care for it, but she will sit still and let herself be petted. IF she knows about it up front. small children
frighten here, with their quick movements and arm waving, she prefers to avoid them. When they force themselves on her, she tends to duck behind me, and then raise her lip a little in warning if they keep coming on. She has never bitten anyone, but do I want to take that chance? no. she will always respond to my "CHILL!" command, but what if I wasnt paying close attention? I hate people like that.

this last time, the people that worked there were really great. They stood behind me and said "no child should ever approach a dog without the owners permission, for the childs safety and welfare". WOO HOO!

[imported_Matty]

I have an unpopular view on this :oops:
If I had a child in a local pet store where people brought their dogs in while shopping, I would assume the dog was stable and is not going to be upset by commotions and people who may rush up to the dog.
I would only take a stable dog which does not react to rushing children or people who approach my dog in the wrong manner. I do not expect to teach every one in the world how to approach dogs, and I do not expect them to learn by having my dog snap at them or show fear.

So for my own opinion. I would not take a dog into a public area where unless I was confident the dog was going to handle every thing properly.
:wink:
don't mean to be on the other side of the fence.

[Baileysmom]

No Matty, I do agree with you also - eventhough it is a place for pets, it is also a store and people should be careful about taking a dog who is not good with other people, otherwise they will be liable (and their beloved pet) should it bite someone. but as a parent, I also am careful to teach my children that you never know if a dog is friendly even if they are in a store in public and always ask first before approaching an animal and even then they are taugh the correct way of approaching and making contact. - unfortunately though - obviously not all parents teach children that.

DAL - yes, I go to the one off hwy 16, but I think Im goign to try the lakewood one too :wink: I get my allergy shots jsut down the street, so Im over there failry often

[schippsmom]

:Dog_run:

Hey Matty, always enjoy seeing "the other side of the fence"

I used to take Re-Run to Petsmart to socialize him, most people do ask to pet him but a few don't. He did bite one little brat, sorry, girl but her mom simply said "how many times have I told you to ask first!" Yes, I got very lucky there and I know it.

Now Re-Run can handle most situations but he had to get used to being in strange places and the only way to do that is to be in strange places.

Paula & Re-Run

[coastie_wife]

My 7 year old son, despite my constant nagging, lol, doesn't know a stranger. He also, like me at that age, doesn't know a mean dog. We watch him vigilently at stores like Petsmart (actually he's skinny enough that we usually stick him in the cart, lol, or if the dogs are with us hand him a leash....that keeps him busy) but that doesn't mean he doesn't occasionally get away from us, just as our dogs get out of hand at times.

In my opinion taking a fearful or aggressive dog out in public is a big no no. I had to put our weim to sleep last year for those reasons, but long before that final decision was made we decided he was not safe for the public due to his aggression in private. That said, I agree that some people should be shot for allowing their children to act in certain ways. I'm sure these are the same people who allow their children to run wild in grocery stores and toy stores, and wonder why people get irritated with them for using the toy aisles as babysitters.

I dont' *allow* my son to approach people with dogs without asking permission before approaching, but until recently it really didn't sink in. He has finally realized that not everyone with a dog on a leash wants him running up and petting the dog--which is why I have spent the last 7 yrs grabbing him when he attempts to do so, lol.

[courtnek]

Free doesnt bite, and she never has. she does warn. In a store where pets are allowed, I believe people should be more aware of what their kids are doing. because even the best, socialized, non-aggressive pet could react to a kid teasing or tormenting. there is NO WAY TO KNOW. I perosnally hate people who let their kids run wild in restaurants and stores. the stores are NOT babysitters, keep control of your kids!

I have a kid. I NEVER let him run wild in stores or restaurants. He was MY responsibility, not the stores....

[Seijun]

I agree that only well socialized and behaved dogs should be taken to public places like Petsmart, but IMO, even a socialized dog can get scared if some kid runs up to it banging a frisbee on the ground. Another important thing to remember is that dogs hear a lot better than we do. A frisbee banging on the ground might sound as loud as gunshots to a dog. I know a lot of good, stable dogs that would be spooked by such loud and sudden noises.

~Seij

[Horsefeathers!]

I dunno... I have kind of mixed feelings. While I wouldn't take a blatantly aggressive (lunging at everything moving) dog into PetThis or PetThat, I find them great places to work on socialization for iffy dogs, or dogs that are works in progress. It's kind of ironic to say that dogs need socialization, but then say that they must not be allowed in public until they're socialized. I've taken many a foster into the PetWhatever stores just to socialize them and see how they behave in a crowd away from home. I also have little tolerance for people who let their children run amok in public and expect the store, or other shoppers, to babysit them or entertain them. If people used common sense (dog owners AND parents), everyone could coexist peacefully in these places. I'll keep my dog close to me and under control and you (figuratively) do the same with your child and the two of them should have no problems. I have no problem curtly telling someone or their kid to back off when they are encroaching on my space (and that doesn't have to mean there's a dog with me :o ).

[courtnek]

thank you HF and Newfiemom. we expect our dogs to be well behaved out in society, I, for one, expect CHILDREN to be well behaved as well.

[coastie_wife]

As the parent of a child and 2 dogs:) I have to add that sometimes it doesn't matter how well you teach your child that they should not approach a dog without permission. Hell, my son is almost 8 and still doesn't quite *get* that people he doesn't know are strangers, rather than friends he just hasn't made yet :roll: I have told him to ask before approaching dogs, and 90% of the time he does, but that doesn't mean it's a perfect system. People bringing their dogs in public need to realize that the world is not perfect==there will be people with ill behaved children around. Irregardless if their child knows better--until a certain age the child doesn't necessarily listen.

My son, like I wrote, is usually in a cart or handling a leash while we're in Petsmart, so he is unable to approach people with dogs. The same doesn't hold for people walking their dogs in our front yard, however. I would find it amazing if someone walking their dog in my yard (causing my dogs to bark) yelled at my 7 yr old for approaching their dog. If you are going to walk your dog in public, expect to be approached. Not being a perfect society every approach is not going to be perfect. I agree that children should not just approach a dog without warning, but at the same time, if your dog has issues where you are worried about them biting a child or other person......don't subject the public to them.

[Horsefeathers!]

[quote name='coastie_wife'] If you are going to walk your dog in public, expect to be approached.
That's a double edged sword. Kind of like- if you're going to let your children encroach on someone's space, expect frustrated strangers to tell them to naff off. I understand that it's not a perfect world and that kids will misbehave. It doesn't mean they're my problem to deal with, though.

I agree that children should not just approach a dog without warning, but at the same time, if your dog has issues where you are worried about them biting a child or other person......don't subject the public to them.

Simple solution... keep kids out of PetWhatevers then and I'll keep my dogs out of Toys R Us :wink:. I mean, using that logic, if you (figuratively) have a kid that isn't trustworthy around dogs, why take them into an area that will almost certainly have dogs? There are plenty of dog free places to go. There aren't very many child free public places to take dogs for socialization exercises.

Seriously, I'm not worried about my dogs biting anyone because I can promise you that as long as I'm holding the leash, it ain't going to happen. However, I WILL, in a manner that leaves nothing open to interpretation, tell a boisterous young'un to back off. I feel well within my rights to not have to expect to be disturbed by someone else's rowdy kid. Approaching is one thing. That whole running up, squealing and lunging for my dogs is another. I won't tolerate it in my own personal space and don't expect my dogs to have to, either.

Indeed it's not a perfect world, so expect strangers to become frustrated when they've had it up to here >imaginary line< with other people's ill behaved kids.

Disclaimer: I'm not advocating taking blatantly aggressive dogs into PetWhatevers. However, I do feel they are great for socialization exercises for iffy dogs in the hands of responsible, competent handlers.

[Guest Anonymous]

Bailey'sMom ---

I LOVE the petsmart in Lakewood it's big and open and bright, looks friendly.. the one on hwy 16 is ok, but people are much more friendler to us over here.. but Cody also went to puppy class for 6 months there. so they all know him ;)

[Cairn6]

I've gotten frustrated by children in the past. Well really the parents. Because you can't expect a child to know what to do if they haven't been taught anymore then a dog knows what to do if they haven't been taught. They are both innocent in this. I have always taught Samantha since before she would walk how to interact with dogs. Starting with our own dog I would take her hand and teach her how to pet the dog nice. Then I taught her when she was a toddler to not run up to strange dogs. And then as she got older that you need to ask before petting a dog. Now she is 10 and is training Toto and Shadow in training class. The instructor is very impressed with her. She does better then the adults in remembering the commands and hand signals.

My point of this long post is that teaching a child in this society how to deal with dogs is as important as any other safety issue. Dogs are apart of our lives whether you have one or not and hopefully will always be. Any chance I get I try to talk to children about safety around dogs because someone has too. As I said before they are as innocent as the dogs.