Walk your dog down the lane, across the neighbourhood or to the park. How often have strangers pay a compliment or comments on your pet? It's a great opportunity to meet people!

Once I was training my 6 months old puppy (poodle) in the field. I gave him the command to sit and stay while I slowing move a couple distance away and watch if he could heed to the command and still stay put. And he pass with flying colours. Next we went to the heel on command without the lease and he was brillant. After a couple of time, I gave the release command and he trottle happily away to explore the surrounding.

This lady stepped up to me and paid me a nice compliment. "Wow you have an educated dog, which university did he graduated from?" I was amused at her comment. Apart from the usual 'Oh isnt he/she cute?" type or likes kind of comments like the one above, do you have any other interesting encounters to share?

Did you every use your pet as an excuse to meet someone or to excuse yourself from a situation?