Breaking the rules for your dog

[jabear]

"Rules are made to be broken" and around us we always break the rules for Bear. We got to schools that post signs that say no dogs (so do many people here), we let him walk off leash when the rules is on leash, we give him lots of people food when the main rule is no human food, we let him on our couch and bed even though he should be off according to most people and today we broke a new rule- we let him swin in our complex pool when the rule is no dogs.  We have seen many people bring their 5 lb. dogs into the main pool area by the office and not get in trouble so we thought that it would be fun to bring him in while we were there. Well, after everyone else left we decided that he was hot and needed to cool off. With no one looking...we snuck Bear in the water and he went for a quick dip. Just a few laps- nothing major. 

So, since we are rule breakers for Bear I was wondering what rules you break for your dog?

[LuvmyMal]

Sometimes we can do the no leash in a leash area when hiking, depending on how she acts. We were taking her to Sonic when we would go and eat, but we were curtious and sat near the grass, no one ever said anything, but she was smaller then, I wonder how it would be now! We let her get in any water that looks suitable even just for a walk no matter what signs say, she plays in the sand at the parks that specifically say "No animals allowed" she also plays in the sand at the volleyball nets. I am waiting for someone to say something, my response "she is not a dog, but kid with fur"

[jabear]

Awesome response! I wanna use that sometime. Luckily there are  tons of places here where we take Bear to eat with us- nice restaurants in a strip mall on the patio of course. I guess that our minds work this way: If there is a patio when have to ask to bring Bear in with us to eat.  So far,out of all of the places we have gone to we have only had a handful say no to us. 

[shangrila]

We don't usually break too many rules with her since we don't trust her enough to have her off leash in public (we play soccer with her in the backyard and as a result she thinks that its a fun game to make us chase her - i can't risk that when theres no fence to protect her). But we have broken a few...

The day we brought zoey home we needed a few last minutes things for her, and it was so late after our long drive that the only store with dog supplies that was open was a walmart. Well, we weren't about to leave her in the car, so we put her in a cardboard box and put it in a shopping cart. No dogs were allowed, but hey, who could complain about a tiny puppy!

We take to her casual outdoor resturants. We will walk to a sandwhich shop nearby and sit with her on the picnic benches, and we have taken her to eat at the picnic benches at the 'mcdonalds playland'.

I can't think of anything else off the top of my head. It's pretty hard to sneak such a big girl into anywhere.

[Lucysdad]

Lucy gets invited (encouraged) to break all sots of rules. Usually by strangers or acquaintances that want to indulge her. She's been invited into all sorts of stores, banks even a few restaurants. e mostly quit doing things like that a few years ago when she was invited into a bank and when I brought her in ALL business stopped. The tellers stopped helping customers, the customers stopped preparing their transactions the managers and loan officers came out from their desks and for about a 1/2 hour Lucy had everybody's undivided attention. Lucy's most important command is "Sidewalk", and she better get there quick or she's in big trouble. Most other commands are casually enforced, but she really wants to be a good girl so it's no big deal. Mutt has no rules, he's a terrier, just ask him........... .............. .

[jabear]

I feel bad now....Bear is such a rebel.

[mastiffmommy]

Dont feel bad Jabas... We are bad too. The dogs totally own the couch (you will all have to sit on the floor when you get here, the dogs mind you will probably find room hehe) Our bed is our dogs bed. The pard we like to take the dog to, has a playground, with a sign saying no dogs, well I always bring them in there so they can play with Jennifer, or at least look at her when she is playing, and usually they are a big hit among the kids and parents who are there. We are bad about the people food treats. Galahad especially is totally expecting a little snack whenever we eat, the others are a bit more polite lol.... I am sure it is concidered a nono to let the dogs bring their slobbery bones up in couch and bed too, but well, what can I say, more than once have that happened, and when I am about to say something, I get THAT look, and I think, what the heck.... it is only a bone, and I let them stay chew away on my comforter, after all the drycleaning place has to live too......

Going on vacation to Myrtle Beach and in laws who are closing on their condo in aug. well they said no dogs there. So I have found a doggy spa/resort where Galahad will stay during night, and then I will go get him and be with him at day. Hera and Zeus will be with one of our friends, but my Galahad is just a baby and with his meds now, well no way I would go without him, and if I cant have him in the condo, at least I can be with him all day. North Myrtle has the stupid rule that no dogs on the beach between 9 and 5, we have only been down during off season before with the dogs, and they can be on the beach all day then. Sooooo now I have to come up with a plan to break that rule without  hubby even knowing I am hehe, and I am working on how to sneak a 96 lbs dog into the elevator and condo without anyone noticing.

If you have any tips they are very very welcome 

Marit

[pndlake]

When Niki worked in our video stores delivering movies we were breaking all the rules because in California you are not supposed to have an animal in a store if you sell food.  Even though all of our food was pre-packaged we still were not supposed to do it.  Nobody said anything.  I snuck her into a mal and she was entertaining kids by cleaning up trash and a big fat security guard said "Is she one of those dogs, where is her cape?"  I said "yes but I left the cape at home".  She really has a cape that says Niki, Customer Service, so I am going to put it on her and walk all over mals for fun.  Can't Wait.  I LOVE skirting laws.  Help me with more law-breaking ideas. 

Peggy

[Anky]

Did you know that if you bring your dog into a store, and claim its a service dog the store HAS to let you andyour dog in?  A friend of mine is deaf and looked into training her hearing dog herself.  Well she found that out, and so she trained her dog, and his service vest is coming in a few days.  We joked about me just getting the dogs vests, but I'm seriously thinking of training Sanity as a support dog.  I have REALLY bad knees (Horseback riding and football accidents, and I'm stubborn and won't go to the doctors) and sometimes they give out.  Sanity always seems to know and he'll lean on me right before it happens. 

Ang

[DixieSugarBear]

Sugar Bear and Dixie Darlin go into our local Post Office (no dogs).  Several of the ladies like to play with them so they take us into the pack so they can play.  I know it makes the people in line a little crazy. 

Lisa

[pndlake]

Well, they agreed to let a 200 lb. pig on an airplane just because the passenger said it was a helper pig. (big calamity ensued) So if you trained your dog to help and you are courteous and have him on a leash - then whats the difference?  Some laws were made to be broken.  No dogs on beach between 9 and 5.  Service dogs ok.  Guess they don't poop if they are a service dog. 

Peggy

[GYPSY JAZMINE]

Sugar Bear and Dixie Darlin go into our local Post Office (no dogs).  Several of the ladies like to play with them so they take us into the pack so they can play.  I know it makes the people in line a little crazy. 

Lisa

I have taken Samson into the post office too...Just trotted him in & did my business like it was o.k...Nobody said anything about it except to admire him!...On our trip to Missourri to get Pippin we stayed in a very nice hotel...Their policy was pets 30 lbs. or under...I did get it o.k.'d first with some fast talking...lol. ..but we stayed & Sammy was wonderful!...He acted like he stayed in hotels every day!...We left in the morning right during the rush on the continental breakfast & it took us nearly 20 minutes to get out of the lobby!...Sammy was a star!...lol!

[newflvr]

We snuck our first Newf, Otis, in to a "no dogs allowed" Marriott for my son's family weekend (Otis WAS family!!!)  We stationed a kid at each end of the hall and walked him in to our room with no problem.  He was such a perfect gentleman...be tter, by far, than most two year olds!  He was completely quiet the entire weekend and we all had a great time!

I always take the Newfs to our local mall and into most stores.  If anybody questions me, I always tell them that they are in training to be therapy dogs (Cowboy is a certifed therapy dog) and they need to be subjected to all sorts of different environments.  Seems to work fine!  They are more stable and easy going if they are included in all family activities!  We do hate, however, those restaurants with the tiny little bistro tables. WAY too easy to knock over!!!