Yes that's pretty RUDE!  I'd never give someone else's dog food or a treat without their owner's permission first.  Glad she's OK.  Probably really liked the trip to the store, lol.  Modoc would take food from anyone too.

jeri

people shouldn't try to give food and should be scared to get too close. He was just drunk. Stupid fool.

Rhonda

Jill, I agree with Rhonda he was just drunk most people have the common sense not to feed others dogs or at least ask for permission prior. We had a fourth of July party and my neighbor cooked up a brisket and some other bbq i tried really hard not to give Gracie any but she was being so good and so many people weren't able to resist the stare I gave a few people the ok to give slight snacks but one guy didn't even ask and tried to plop down a huge plate infront of her. point is you always have to  be carefull the drunks are always stupid

I agree... he was drunk and stupid. Anyone who loves dogs enough to approach a huge strange dog outside a store must love dogs enough to know that it is NOT ok to feed them whatever they want! I wouldn't be too concerned about leaving her outside the store in the future. As for family and friends, we just keep reminding them that Barrett CAN get at anything on a table, counter, chair,etc and he WILL, and he's not to be eating people food! Passing around the reminder that he will help himself if given the opportunity but is not to be eating it usually is enough to drill in the idea that he's not to be fed people food! We do give him scraps and treats from time to time, but WE are the ones to give it to him and he only gets it when he's in the living room. If he sees us with a little something in our hand and tell him to "go sit" he'll run to the middle of the living room and plant his butt! That is also where he will take anything he steals or is given by someone other than us, so we just keep an eye out for the big dog darting to the living room! He's also not allowed out of his kennel if we're having strangers (pretty much anyone but family and a few friends who are always over and know the Barrett rules!) over or a large group of people, partly because of all the food and the doors opening all the time, but mostly because of his age and he's not always very well behaved yet. He still gets really excited easily and forgets his manners! Any more than like 6-8 people and he's in his kennel. He does get to come up and greet everyone for about an hour or so during the party so everyone gets to see him and he gets attention and whatnot but we are still able to keep an eye on him and what people are doing around him. I think its more important to train the people that interact with your dog than it is to train your dog! More than once I've thought about getting a t-shirt or a little kid craft apron and making Barrett a shirt that says "you can pet me but DO NOT FEED ME without asking my mommy or daddy!!" to wear when we go out or have people over! Brandon just rolls his eyes at me!