I don't know about you, but the first question I get from most people meeting my dogs is, "Can I give your dog a treat?"

I suppose it's natural, and I admit I've done it before, but I've mostly broken myself of the habit. My feeling now is, treats are for training purposes, and most dogs get plenty of treats. If you allow everyone who meets your dog to give them a treat, it cuts down on the effectiveness of using treats as a reward.

But I admit I feel a little like Scrooge when I tell people, no, I'd rather not you give them a treat. Usually, I'll tell them OK, but I'll give them a tiny treat to use and have them make the dog do something.

I thought about this over the weekend when I went to a party at a friend's house. They had a gorgeous and friendly golden retriever, and I saw several people slipping the dog everything from cheese to french fries. No one seemed to mind. I honestly wouldn't have allowed my dog to run loose in an environment like that.

Is it just me, or has anyone else given this some thought?