For months now I’ve been foolishly deluded into thinking I was invisible.  Every time I ventured out with Asa, people would surround him while ignoring me.  I thought for sure I was inadvertently doing something wrong and making people ignore me.  But then it occurred to me the problem is not what I’m doing, but the lack of basic social etiquette in humans!  The following is a refresher on the polite greeting of an older dog with a puppy brother:

First, when you see a dog walking with a puppy do not start squealing and gushing from miles away about how cute the puppy is.  Puppies are inherently self-absorbed little creatures, who know they are cute and use that cuteness to their advantage.  Please do not encourage this thought process by reinforcing it with your high pitched adoration.  Instead control your enthusiasm.

Second, when approaching do not immediately focus all your attention on the puppy giving him the misconception that you came out especially to see him.  Rather ignore the puppy!  Pet the well behaved older dog first.  Clearly he’s who you’ve waited all your life to meet.  The cuteness of puppies quickly wears off, but the handsome maturity of a dog remains.  Oh and most importantly when approaching, never announce, “I want to pet that one!” while pushing the older dog out of the way.  Seriously, that recently happened to me!  But I won’t take it too personally.  Despite being the same age as me the offender was a child, and therefore has the same narcissistic perspective on life as the puppy!

Third, if you happen to forget your manners and lavish all your attention on the puppy, do not suddenly notice the older dog and say something well-meaning but insulting to him.  Some phrases to avoid are, “oh he’s cute too,” “aren’t you lucky to have such a cute brother,” and the dreaded “oh I didn’t see you!”  Also whatever you do, never call the dog a “blockhead!”  Yes, dog enthusiasts use the term to refer to a well shaped head, but my emotions are a bit raw and I think you’re referring to the Charlie Brown insult.

I admit it is easy to succumb to a puppy’s innate cuteness.  But these essential rules of basic social etiquette should be learned, and with practice will become a part of your every day life.  As Lillian Eichler Watson once wrote in The Standard Book of Etiquette, “To be thoughtful of others, to be gentle and kind, to be generous, agreeable, friendly and above all fair – that is the best manners anyone can have.  Make that your guiding principle in all contact with others, social or otherwise.”  Indeed, that is the Golden way!

Please don’t treat older dogs like they are invisible.