h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't mind anyone petting my dogs - it stops them yammering for attention anyway, but any stranger touching my tummy is liable to lose their fingers! I don't even let *me* touch my tummy too often!

I might pat a dog, but I'd probably walk past a baby without much noticing it, to be honest. As for interfering with pregnant women's tummies - what a bizarre thing to do! Wouldn't even occur to me.

Not everyone smiles at dogs. I have a game I like to play when out walking the dogs: it's called "spot the people who are terrified of dogs". You can see it in their eyes. If the dogs are not on their leads it gets worse. And it gets worse still if the dog runs up to them. They throw their arms in the air and go "aaaargh!" Some people conceal their fear with anger. "Oi you! Those dogs should be on a lead!"

Or they could just be pointing out that your dog *should* be on a lead.

I get annoyed when people touch my dogs without asking. I always tell children off if they do, because although I doubt they'd ever bite there is always a very small chance and Buster's not keen on kids. I don't like adults doing it either, because of Buster's back. They always want to stroke him too hard and he's got no strength in his back legs at all.

people smile at dogs because they are nice creatures. Or perhaps they want to smile at the owner, but find dog-smiling more socially acceptable. (or to avoid risking the "what the beep are you smiling at, you beeping beep?!)People smile at my dog, but he does bare more than a passing resemblance to Lady out of Lady and the Tramp, and does that "me? beautiful? I know! pet me!" look with impunity.

I concur with that. I regularly say 'woof' to dogs, but I feel that is something I should keep to myself.

Oh.

>> I regularly say 'woof' to dogs <<

Now come on Roymondo, you're being economical with the truth here? You'll say 'woof' to anyone with a nice ( | )

RF

And *you* don't RF......

I've never said woof to RF. Draw your own concussions.

(sorry to post that after you've gone RF - I didn't notice this earlier!)

I concur.