My son just took my gsd and chi/pom up the park for a walk. While theer mia (chi x ran up to a poung couple who tried to stroke her , my son came over to then and started to call Mia away when the young chap commented on how nice she was and he already had two chihuaha's and how much would we sell mia for as he would like to buy her.!!!
My son fortunately can think on his feet and said she not for sale and any way would not be of any value being a crossbreed and then smartley exited the park with both dogs on leads.
Fortunately Mia does not like stranges and although they can get a way with quick stroke she keeps her distance which would have made grabbing her more difficult.

As you can imagine we are all in shock and furious

I would be livid, would offer my OH for sale before the dogs!

Absoultly Lacy !

I'd be pretty startled too, but unless there's more to the scenario don't immediately assume they would have snatched her, they might have genuinely admired her and thought it was worth asking. I agree though, I'd sell hubby before the dogs! (good thing he doesn't read this forum)

Unfortunately I tend not to trust people although I agree I wouldnt assume they would have snatched  her think  myWhispa would have had something to say if my son got upset with something.
We have had incidents around the wider area of south london with peoples dogs disappearing including one at gunpoint in their house when a puppy sbt was stolen in the afternoon.
Its so horrible being suspicious of everyone

I'm a naturally suspicious person and when people start asking the wrong questions and a question like that would be one of them i'd be concerned as to what they were planning on doing.
I've been asked similar questions about one of mine, is he entire etc - I tend to make a quick exit away from these people.. No real genuine interest in breed or type imo..
In the south east there has been a huge spate of dogs being stolen.. People being followed to see where they live and many dogs stolen from gardens - one breed went through a spate in Sussex not too long ago..

This made me think of someone offering to buy one of mine.  But not while out - in my home.

They had phoned up asking to see pups, and they were invited to view a litter, but told that it did not guarantee them a puppy.  I just said that we both had to be able to vet each other.

Two females turned up, and said they ONLY wanted a pet.  Usually you get to meet most of the gang, as they all come in to have a nose at visitors.  I don't stop the dogs from coming in, it gives me chance to see how people react to Battersea Dogs Home running in, and they can judge temperament of my gang.

One of them immediately selected a young adult (one I specifically kept for the benefit of my lines.)  She said "how much?" and when I said that she was mine, and not for sale, they lost interest.  The funny thing is, they made  out that they wanted a pet, yet chose a bitch that was one of my best.  If they didn't know what they were looking for, why choose her?  Perhaps I'm just suspicious too!

I once walked past my house and walked the block and up a back alley  when asked too many questions about one of my dogs... Yep I am suspicious too....

about 2yrs ago i was followed for two weeks while on dog walks by two teenage girls from a certain community. we were out at a dog show one day and these girls climbed our 6 ft fence to snatch one of my dogs. lucky my son was at home and caught them. its one of those things that you think will not happen to you, we partly moved house becuase of it. anyhoo, no, i dont trust anyone questioning my dogs it does leave you paranoid. rolleyes

I have told people, I think look dodgy, who have asked what my Papillons are that they are just little cross breeds and nightmare to live with- eat every stick of furniture and pee and poo everywhere for fun. Poor dogs to get such a bad press

get asked it a lot walking my weimaraner-used to really unnerve me when she was a pup. had appalling visions of her being snatched off me .
my stock answer is gosh can't remember exactly but was about same price as a staffy at which point they generally lose interest as they think i mean the grotty unregistered mutts people flog cheap round here that are allegedly staffies.  i always throw in thats shes neutered and second hand value of a neutered adult dog is zero and theres loads of them in rescue just like her.

I agree I trust no-one. If I am asked what breed I always say they are a cross breed , I get told off for going out alone with the dogs!

When I have puppies I never meet visitors  alone and always 'lock the front and back doors' , keys goes in my pocket, just in case we leave the room and they tried to steal a pup lets face it ..this does happen.

> always 'lock the front and back doors'

It's a relief to hear that!  I thought I was just paranoid.  I once had a ladies husband desperately trying to go out to fetch something from the car - he looked as if he was worried about what sort of person had locked him in!

> he looked as if he was worried about what sort of person had locked him in

;-) Those mad dog people , you hear all sorts of stories about THEM ;-)  :-)

> I once had a ladies husband desperately trying to go out to fetch something from the car - he looked as if he was worried about what sort of person had locked him in!

PMSL....

I was once asked by a stranger when i was coming back from a walk with my golden retriever, where do you live and have you ever bred from your bitch? when i said she had been spay they lost interest!

Soon after that i read in our local paper that a few locals had their dogs stolen from their gardens.

One of my males isn't KC'd and is a good 3 or 4 inches above the breed standard with slightly less bone but way more muscle but has the most astonishing movement like a dressage horse and 9 out of 10 times when walking him the local teenagers/twenties constantly stop us and ask about him. Some of the questions they ask are quite un-nerving and several times I have had to change my route on the way home or start jogging with him to put a bit of distance between us.  It isn't so bad when I have all 5 dogs with me but being 8 months pregnant I now have to walk them in shifts of 2 and then 3.

I get this all the time with Phoenix, because he is a lemon brindle and still a young dog he hasnt been neutured yet, we get people coming up asking a) how much to sell him or b) how much to breed him!

I think it is rude, I would never ask anyone how much their dog was unless they stated they were looking to rehome them.

god, it is worrying, i say mine are both netured if asked,sad world we live in, i do feel safer walking my newfie even though he is a pup,i worry abot walking my pug,
jo

Blimey! Thank goodness your son is a quick thinker. I would be so angry if someone asked me this question. I would also keep any eye on your dog incase they are hanging around there. How dare he ask to buy your dog! to me he does not sound a dog lover!

To right we will be keeping our eyes open more than ever. I think my son would have done something unmentionable if anyone tried to touch our dogs and I wish I could think as fast as he does he is brilliant

What a sad world we live in.
I was asked by someone recently if my dog was a lurcher.
I said yes thinking they liked her.
Next question was WHEN will you breed her!!!
Large alarm bells & I'm not she been done - very swift exit on my part.

How terrible for your son, glad he thought on his feet and beat a hasty retreat!

Someone tried to pinch Maddi when she was a few months, he was petting her, and trying to undo her collar while the woman chatted about my other dog, I picked her up and went home, OH went looking for him (the guy was known locally as a bit of a nutter).  He was off his face and it was scary for me, a grown woman. 

OMG if I had a pound for every time I heard someone offering me money for my Chihuahua, I'd rich!! ;) It happens all the time and I just say "he's priceless" and smile.

I get it too with mine.  For some reason people assume because I am walking 5 of them that some must be for sale.

I haven't had people offering money, but have had plenty of chav types asking 'is that a full rottie?'

'so the rescue centre think'

'niiiice, I could breed my staff bitch with him'

'bit late, he has been neutered!' (obviously I wouldn't anyway).

All this is said while they stand quite far back, a few times I have said he is friendly, you can come and say hello if you like.

'na na na' is the response I've had a few times :D

LMAO.... loved your responses to there Q's

i used to have people questioning me all the time before my baby a(dogue) went to sleep (R.I.P CJ)

at least you guys were polite i just used to say a curt F*** O**

I had an enquiry a few days ago for a dog puppy - I replied yes I do have dog pups remaining. Anyway conversation went on and I was asked about endorsements... yes I replied they are all endorsed (even the one I am keeping) and the response was 'I am not paying that for an endorsed dog - it should be a lot cheaper'!!!!! When I told this lady that reputable breeders usually endorse their pups she replied 'I know loads of XX breeders that don't endorse'

Basically she has a couple of bitches and was looking for a stud dog - which is fine by me but only if he makes the grade and all health tests are good...... 

Because I've got an unusual coloured bitch, very pale, I get a lot of comments when I walk her where there are other dog walkers and people, if I had a pound for every time I get the comment, I'd love a dog her colour, I'd be able to buy a round at the pub :) 

Joking aside, I did have one guy practically stalk me, wanting me to let him use his dog on this bitch, his dog wasn't KC registered, but is KC bred, bargain price out of a bitch that had already had six litters registered, grrrrr.  Fortunately, I did working trials training with Indie, who will 'speak' on command.  She's the friendliest big bear of a girl around, but, with an large bitch barking non-stop at you, it can be intimidating.  Good ole Indie bear ;)  

Just to change tack slightly...

Have any of you been stopped by "A Crufts Judge"?

Living in a holiday area, I assume that some people feel anonymous and can assume an alter-ego.

On several occasions Ive been stopped on the seafront but a "CJ" or 'dog show judge' and told that my dog is magnificent or a winner or other such term... even when I've walked rescue boxers who are no 'oil paintings' shall we say.

Once sold a quite plain boxer pup to a nice couple who rang me up in excitement...a CJ had told them they had a star. They were over the moon he had even offered to buy him at a big price.... should have snatched his hand off.... no I didnt say that :-)