Tactful way to tell a so called friend.....

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

that my Daisy is not a B_ _ tch because she does not care for her two dogs crowding around her while on leash sniffing and bumping her and "barks" her dogs off.

This has happens every time we are walking through the neighborhood and run into them. Yesterday was the final straw for me and I am angry.

One of many scenarios:

Happily walking Daisy in the evening through the neighborhood, walk around one bend and there is the 4 of them, Husband and Wife and their two cattle dogs. They see us and immediately let one of their two of leash to run to us. We get appropriately excited and greet him and the other 3 quickly come up where all 3 dogs say hello...after a few sniffs and leash tangling Daisy gets anxious and barks...said friend, the woman, says Daisy is such a b-word. Usually I just consider the source and move on but last night I was ticked! Seriously?!? I never said anything but I was seething.

She now refers to my doodle as that. I am really done with it. I don't want to make an enemy but I do want to put her in her place. We used to be closer but since they don't follow the association rules i.e. keep your dogs leashed, and I am on the Board I have had to distance ourselves from them. The dogs have charged other animals and walkers so many times and even bit an elderly gentleman that they have a fine and threat of their animals being removed from the property.

Don't get me wrong, I actually love their dogs, and so does Daisy but only when all are off leash and playing at the dog park or in our basement.

The other thing that bothers me about the humans in this foursome is the way they don't pet Daisy and she is such a people pup. The husband actually puts his hand in his pocket when she goes to him to say hi. When Daisy was little, they loved and cuddled her so that is what she thinks she gets with them but they just ignore her and talk about their dogs.

I know I am being a big baby about this but I really am offended and I just want it to stop. Any suggestions?

[Rose Ann and Amante]

OMG small world!! Were in Warren did you live!!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

At the time we were at Sherwood and Mound near 10 mile but it's all changed now - freeway, service drives, there by 94 East. My cousin bought the family home and he still lives there.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

that is great advice Karen.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

There you go, Karen....taking the mature and tactful route!  WTD?  My advice was to say..."YOU calling Daisy a bitch is seriously ironic"!  Okay, of course that's NOT the best way to handle the situation, but it would be kind of fun.  And then I'd get the Board to fine her for having an off leash dog.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good advice, Karen.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I would be livid! In fact, I am livid! What jerks for saying what they said about Daisy Doodle! I agree with Jane, they are not your friends. Put em in their place Lisa!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Thanks Sherri, I think I will - after she moves Ha ha

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

if all else fails, turn around and walk the other way (and hope the dogs dont come running up behind you)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

At this point is sounds like she is clueless. The language~ well is she young?  Young ones are using this word freely and it seems to be acceptable.  NOT for me but I am noticing it so much.  Just awful.

Okay,I would approach her just as you would your children.  Wait for a calmer moment.  When these incidents happen it sounds as if things are already escalated.  If this is not possible, call her on the phone.  No dogs, no activity, no whirl win going on walking down the street.

Then, come right out and calmly tell her you do not like this. Be respectful but certainly get to the point.  If you like her, tell her, " Hey I really like you, our dogs seem to play nicely in the basement, but I really hate that word. I just find it offensive and I would like you not to use it.  I feel it would be better if when the dogs are on leash we don't greet that way... etc.

I think you will have a better outcome.   Good neighbors are important--after all you have to live with them for a long time.  It sounds as though some meetings have been worth it~ dogs playing etc.  So, try to make it worth the long haul.  Maybe there can be some more good times.

If this does not work--forget her.  But calmer, is better.  Approach her, like you would like to be approached.

[Adina P]

Well that and the word refers to a female dog. So if someone was annoyed with a female dog it wouldn't be too 'off' to use it.  But I agree with the others that she was being quite rude and I would have been frustrated too.

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

If only she meant it in that way I could look away, she is just not being nice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I call Calla a bitch when I am seriously angry with her, for example when she steals Luca' food : )