Should I let other people pet my dog?

​A question I get asked frequently, especially by puppy owners. In short, my answer is NO. 
Here is why:
While it is important to socialize puppies and dogs with new environments and distractions, dogs don’t need to be tolerant of being touched by everyone. The only people who really need to be able to touch your dog are the close family members you live with and your vet. That’s it. Just think about those times you go to the grocery store; do you like or even hug everyone you meet there? NO? Then why are you expecting your dog to like everyone they meet and even get touched by strangers? It is a common misconception that this means socialization. 
“But my dog is so cute, and people adore him/her.” That is fine, but you have to allow your dog to have its own personality and its personal space. Maybe your dog is a social butterfly; maybe your dog is more of an introvert. If your dog is more of an introvert and you keep pushing your dog’s limits by letting strangers invade its personal space, you are setting your dog up for failure. At some point, your dog will most likely do what their genetic blueprint tells him to do in order to regain their personal space: growl, bark, show teeth, and even bite. If your dog does not like to be petted by strangers, then stand up for your dog and say so. A simple “No. But thank you for asking” is a great reply to the question “Can I pet your dog?”. You don’t need to make any excuses or even apologize for it; just say No.
In the case that your dog is indeed a social butterfly and likes people, I would still recommend that you say No when someone is asking to pet your dog. The reason for that is that your dog may generalize being petted by one person to every other person they meet. In their mind, everyone they come across is a potential giver of affection and attention. If their expectations aren’t met, the dog might try harder to get attention and affection by jumping on people, which is generally not a desired behavior. Also, do you want your dog to pay attention to you or be occupied with looking at other people when being out and about with your dog? 
It is absolutely okay to say No. Don’t be afraid of saying it and standing up for your dog.