Snickers has a stalker!

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Snickers has a stalker!  So my husband takes Snicks for a walk everyday through this subdivision across the street. Almost everyday he runs across this woman who coos around Snickers, oh he is so cute, so soft etc.  She will even come out from her house to “greet” him.  My husband has always felt uncomfortable with the attention as he wants to get on with his walk (he is very task oriented).  However yesterday it just got weird…as she is lavishing her attention she stands up looks at my husband and says. “You know if you ever want to sell him please come to me first as I would LOVE to buy him he just looks like the perfect dog.  I would definitely pay you a fair price.” He really didn’t know what to say except express some nervous laughter, then continued his walk.  How weird is that??
 
We don’t have children so Snicks is like our child, can you imagine if someone said if you ever want to sell your son or daughter I would love to buy them, I will give you a fair price!  Too weird, I told him to take a route around her block from now on! Have any of you ever heard of such a thing!

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

LOL LOL I always tell that to my 11-year-old daughter - I say they would get tired of hearing her talk nonstop and bring her back!

[shelly]

Okay.... FREAKY and CREEPY! Yep! Change your walking route! and put up some surveillance cameras too while you're at it! I'd watch your husband too - LOL

[Jennifer Tramell]

You know, this isn't the type of thing I would ever do but I think it is probably just innocent and over-exhuberant admiration. I know people who just have that personality and they are very sweet people but sometimes they don't know when to stop (my kids have this tendency, too!). There is also the point that many people have to rehome thier dogs and perhaps she thought that she'd be bold and make the offer in case you ever needed to find Snickers a new home. Unfortunately, many people do not take the commitment to dogs very deeply, once the puppy phase wears off, they lose interest.
I would take this as a huge compliment that your dog is well mannered and a great ambassador for doodles everywhere. I would tell this woman that there is a great doodle rescue organization and that she could find her own "perfect dog". If she is seriously interested, the rescue organization would screen her, assess her abilities to home a dog, and a doodle may end up with a great home. A lot of time these over-exhuberent people give their dogs great homes where the dog is the king of the home. If she's not interested, I'll bet she backs down :-)

[Carol and Banjo]

That's a very thoughtful observation and you could very well be right.

[Robyn, Greg and Snickers]

Jennifer, thanks for the thoughtful observation. Yes Snickers can be very well behaved around strangers so I think she could have been fooled :)

I just was weirded out since he is my baby and I could not imagine ever giving him up so the question was a bit disconcerting.

The replys on this board have been so interesting I guess doodles are
just fascinating to many
people.

And yes, my husband has mixed up the walk route as he doesn't want chit chat while he is on the mission of walking!

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

As I was reading all the responses, I wanted to make a post to head it in this direction instead, but just sort of got sidetracked (so thank you Jennifer). Although I wasn't there, I just want to believe that the lady wasn't serious about thinking you would give up Snickers! When we get comments along those lines, like, I'll just take you home with me, we usually reply with "well, you'd bring them back". And I always just think of it as conversation. The one thing about skipping the lady though is you never know (unless you personally know her) but what she lives alone and this is the highlight of her day! I guess I go down this path because we do pet therapy work and I see the joy that my girls bring to so many people, and this lady could just easily be one of those. If that is the case, it would be really sad if you skip her street! Just consider it giving back for all the Joy that Snickers brings into your lives. If she continues making offers to buy him, then fill her in on the DRC.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

Very good idea Jennifer :-) I might use that myself the next time we are at the dog park and someone swoone's over Hunter - Oh wait - normally once she jumps all over them and tries to eat there shirt they change their mind!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know, there are certain dogs in my neighborhood that I also make a fuss over every time I see them. There is one German Shepherd who pulls strings out of my heart every time he walks by. He is a friend of Jack's, and I never fail to tell his owner how gorgeous he is, how he is my dream dog, etc., etc., etc., and I probably have drool running down my chin and starry eyes while I'm saying it. I also of course asked who his breeder is. But there are differences. One, I know the man and Jack has wrestled around with his dog many times, and Two, it would never in a million years occur to me to say "if your ever want to sell him", etc.
I think most of us can tell when someone is just a very effusive person who is complimenting our dog, and when there is something "off" about it. As self-defense experts tell us, when someone makes you uncomfortable, there's usually a good reason for it...it's nature's warning system kicking in.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

LOL I am picturing you with the starry eyes and drool Karen! Jack is thinking "what is up with my mom?!"

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack has apologized to me for not being a German Shepherd, and he does try his best to make up for it by shedding like one.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh, I hope Jack's feelings are not hurt. He is such a special boy and so unique. Give him a huge DK from me and Gracie Doodle. xo

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jackdoodle says "Thank you for the hugs (especially from Gracie Doodle- hubba hubba), but not to worry...I have my mom's heart totally wrapped up in ribbons, and I know it, too!"