larussel03
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2005
- Messages
- 1,747
So, I'm kind of annoyed right now and need to get it out before bed. Actually I really think my feelings are more hurt but I'm mad because I get defensive.
Here's the story: FI and I were having dinner with some friends of ours who live in the apartment above us. We get along really well with this couple and were having a great time. They have a dog who gets along famously with our dog, so it's fun to have neighbors that we like so much who also love dogs.
Anyways, my friend, M, was telling me that she encountered this other couple who lives in our apartment complex in a different building who said that they thought FI and I are RUDE because we don't allow our dog to play off-leash with their dog.
First off, it's illegal to have dogs off leash in an unfenced area in our city, even if you can control the dog. M and her bf J are able to let their dog off leash and I don't think it's bad, even though you're technically not supposed to, but we simply cannot with our dog -- she literally will take off and run away and be gone until she decides to come home and it's so scary to me because she will not come back and runs into busy streets and could be seriously hurt. We adopted our dog from a shelter at 2 years old and she was never raised to be good off leash and it's super hard to train her to be good with it now...heck, I'm trying to get her to not pull the leash and thought that was good progress! Plus I think with a dog of her size (she's only 50 pounds too!) that we should be able to control her at all times outside in case for some reason something spooked her or she didn't like someone or whatever...she's never been violent at all towards people but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks.
Anyways, I was really upset to hear that this couple was saying we were rude when M and J were saying how they'd become close friends with us. I've barely ever seen them out, maybe a handful of times, and when I've run into the man with his dog he's always been super friendly, but his wife never makes eye contact with me, which I assume means don't talk to me.
There was even one time where I was literally 10 or 15 feet behind them walking with my dog and they never turned around to acknowledge me or say hi -- and they had to know I was there...maybe I should have run up and said hi but it's awkward to run up to people you don't know and say hi when they have their back to you...
To be honest I never put that much effort into making friends with people who live in my complex that I don't know pretty much because when I'm walking my dog I'm in a "zone" and just thinking about my day or things I have to do and don't go out of my way to be more than friendly when outside walking my dog. Plus in my job, which I love, I HAVE to be so outgoing and chatty and friendly with people who may or may not want to interact with me, so maybe I just shut off when I get home or something...
M said that she told these people that she was suprised they felt this way because FI and I are outgoing and really nice and that we really can't let our dog off leash but they still seemed to just think we were rude. Fi said he's not always outgoing with them, but I just don't get how they get "rude" from us just walking by and waving and saying hi? I never ignore them and I always smile and say hi when I see them...
I know it's not a super huge deal but it hurt my feelings. Fi thinks I shouldn't bother saying anything, but part of me really wants to say something.
Should I do anything?? I just don't get how they get "rude" from not letting my dog off leash or from me and FI only saying hi, but in a friendly way?
Here's the story: FI and I were having dinner with some friends of ours who live in the apartment above us. We get along really well with this couple and were having a great time. They have a dog who gets along famously with our dog, so it's fun to have neighbors that we like so much who also love dogs.
Anyways, my friend, M, was telling me that she encountered this other couple who lives in our apartment complex in a different building who said that they thought FI and I are RUDE because we don't allow our dog to play off-leash with their dog.
First off, it's illegal to have dogs off leash in an unfenced area in our city, even if you can control the dog. M and her bf J are able to let their dog off leash and I don't think it's bad, even though you're technically not supposed to, but we simply cannot with our dog -- she literally will take off and run away and be gone until she decides to come home and it's so scary to me because she will not come back and runs into busy streets and could be seriously hurt. We adopted our dog from a shelter at 2 years old and she was never raised to be good off leash and it's super hard to train her to be good with it now...heck, I'm trying to get her to not pull the leash and thought that was good progress! Plus I think with a dog of her size (she's only 50 pounds too!) that we should be able to control her at all times outside in case for some reason something spooked her or she didn't like someone or whatever...she's never been violent at all towards people but I don't want to take any unnecessary risks.
Anyways, I was really upset to hear that this couple was saying we were rude when M and J were saying how they'd become close friends with us. I've barely ever seen them out, maybe a handful of times, and when I've run into the man with his dog he's always been super friendly, but his wife never makes eye contact with me, which I assume means don't talk to me.
There was even one time where I was literally 10 or 15 feet behind them walking with my dog and they never turned around to acknowledge me or say hi -- and they had to know I was there...maybe I should have run up and said hi but it's awkward to run up to people you don't know and say hi when they have their back to you...
To be honest I never put that much effort into making friends with people who live in my complex that I don't know pretty much because when I'm walking my dog I'm in a "zone" and just thinking about my day or things I have to do and don't go out of my way to be more than friendly when outside walking my dog. Plus in my job, which I love, I HAVE to be so outgoing and chatty and friendly with people who may or may not want to interact with me, so maybe I just shut off when I get home or something...
M said that she told these people that she was suprised they felt this way because FI and I are outgoing and really nice and that we really can't let our dog off leash but they still seemed to just think we were rude. Fi said he's not always outgoing with them, but I just don't get how they get "rude" from us just walking by and waving and saying hi? I never ignore them and I always smile and say hi when I see them...
I know it's not a super huge deal but it hurt my feelings. Fi thinks I shouldn't bother saying anything, but part of me really wants to say something.
Should I do anything?? I just don't get how they get "rude" from not letting my dog off leash or from me and FI only saying hi, but in a friendly way?