Politely approaching people and their animals

I used to be a dog walker, and I really like dogs.

When we are out for a hike and I see someone approaching with a dog, I have the urge to say hi to the animal.

Is this impolite? I guess the normal thing is to address the person and say “Cute dog” — but that’s really not what I feel like doing. What about saying hi to both the person and the dog?

I guess I should say hi to the person first, but the dog is usually in front.

Alternatively, is it weird if

I tell my friend, “What a cute dog!” within hearing of the owner?

I’m just kind of shy and don’t want to interrupt people when they’re exercising.

Gentle Reader:

“Cute dog!” said — or shouted — to the owner in passing is perfectly fine, as long as there is no expectation that the interaction go further.

Dear Miss Manners:

When ordering a wedding present from an online registry for the daughter of an acquaintance, I specified that the gift be delivered to the bride’s home, where she lives with her parents. The couple did not provide an email address for what was offered as a “gift receipt” — which apparently allows recipients to return or exchange presents without the prices being revealed — so I used the email address of the bride’s mother.

I don’t know how this “gift receipt” document was worded, but it was clearly vague enough that it misled the bride’s mother into thinking the present was intended for her, not the bridal couple. She has sent me a warm thank-you.

What should I do? The mother will be embarrassed if she realizes I did not send her an expensive gift out of the blue. But the only options I can think of are pretending never to have seen the texted thank-you, letting the family sort it out when the gift arrives addressed to the couple, OR buying another of the same item and shipping it to the mother! This was an expensive mistake.

I suppose the latter is the better option, and should be considered the unfortunate price to be paid for cooperating with the lunacy of a wedding registry in the first place, but what does Miss Manners say?

Gentle Reader:

Both of your proposed scenarios, Miss Manners is afraid, will surely alert the mother of her mistake. But one is at the greater expense to you.

Perhaps you may reply instead, “I hope that you will all enjoy the ‘His and Hers’ cashmere bathrobes while Tabatha is still staying there, but this particular set was intended for her and Marshall. I would be happy to procure some for you and Howard, though, for another occasion.”

It is unlikely that she will agree to this, but if she does, at least you will be able to check those two off of your list with something that you know will please them.