Would you be upset and annoyed by this?

[Fullboarder]

I was walking my 2 dogs this morning in the woods. As I approached 2 women with 3 dogs between them I noticed one of them getting a lead out. As I got closer she said to me that one of them was aggressive - and sure enough, her smallest dog suddenly ran and literally went for one of my dogs (my smallest one who we rescued a year ago and who is still quite timid). The poor thing was shrieking with fright and her dog just kept going at it. I shouted at her to get her dog under control but she was unable to get the lead on it - both of the women kept saying it's ok, the dog is muzzled. Eventually she got the lead on after 2/3 attempts. I was so angry - I told her that she was selfish and inconsiderate. She just walked on saying that the dog was muzzled. No apology. Nothing.

[ImNotBloody14]

No. I wouldnt be upset and annoyed. Its over now, no- one was hurt. Some people are rude. Forget about it. Being annoyed wont achieve anything except for you to be anoyed.

[aldiwhore]

YANBU.

She did at least warn you (too little too late).

She should have had the lead on her dog the second she spotted you.

I had an aggressive dog (aggressive to other dogs that is) and if I could see anyone in the near vicinity (ie, the entire beach) his lead would be on. He'd frightened an Alsatian so much the poor thing had a heart attack. He was a lovely LOVELY rescue dog but we suspect he'd been hurt by an Alsatian at some point because he'd always go for them with utter fury.

[MrsMeg]

What else could she have done? Her dog was muzzled, she put its lead on the minute she saw you. It was you being rude and unpleasant I think

[runningonwillpower]

It's hard to allow for every doggy personality.

Hers is too aggressive. Yours is too timid.

At least she's trying with the muzzle.

No-one was hurt so I'd let it go.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

What else could she have done? Had the lead on the dog all the time? If she has an aggressive dog who is not under her control, she needs to get it under her control.

[CloudsAndTrees]

Yes, I would be upset and annoyed.

I was very surprised at how upset I felt after a dog attacked my dog, and he wasn't hurt badly.

The fact that this dog was muzzled was obviously neccesary, the owner doesn't deserve any special credit for ensuring that it was. She should have got the lead on the dog quicker than she did.

[Fullboarder]

No mrsmeg, that's the point. She didn't put the lead on when she saw me. If she had, then I wouldn't be upset and angry about this. I just feel that if you walk a dog that is aggressive then it should be on the lead.

Thank you ImNot, you're right, I'm not angry now I was just upset that the other dog walker didn't seem to care.

[amistillsexy]

If I'd been walking in the woods with my children, and that dog had done that to one of my boys, I would have beeen furious, and taking further action. the owner had no way of knowing what or who her nasty dog would come up against, and my DS1 is traumatised by dogs as it is. Muzzle or no muzzle, the dog is not in control of itself, so the owner should control it...by having it on a lead at all times.

I am sick to the back teeth of dog owners letting their dogs roam free, then telling us 'he's very friendly' as the bloody thing slobbers and wipes its muddy paws all over us, or barks and snarls and blocks our way. Dog owners need to realise that, where they see a 'woverly ickle doggy woggy', some of us see a shit machine on legs.

[HoneyDragon]

Were your dogs on the lead then?

[Shutupanddrive]

YANBU, she should have it on a lead at all times if aggressive unless she is sure she won't come across another dog. At the very least she could have apologised

[SupermansBigRedPants]

Yanbu I'd have had the lead on at all times. My mum fostered a german shepherd puppy who was aggressive and wild she muzzled the poor thing to save other dogs being mauled. She also had a 3 placement leash - 2 metre length, shortened by clip to 1 metre then clip again to half a metre I.e 'heel' I'm sure it's just a standard puppy training leash.

She had the dog muzzled which is in her favour but if I was in her shoes I'd have felt more secure with the leash on let alone how other dog walkers felt about it.

[Viviennemary]

She is an irresponsible and selfish dog owner. If she knows her dog is agressive then she should not be allowing it to attack other dogs.

[YourHandInMyHand]

I have a timid dog and I'd be upset too.

[boodles]

Aggressive dogs should be kept on leads at all times.

[DontcallmeSteven]

YANBU, the dog should have been on a lead.

[toffeelolly]

If she cannot control her dog she should not have one. And she can not control it when she could not get the lead on in time.Hope your little dog is OK!

[justmyview]

YANBU the dog should have been kept on a lead if it's likely to be aggressive. Sadly lots of dog lovers have no idea what it's like to be frightened by a dogs

[numbum]

It had a muzzle on. How much damage could it have caused? (genuine question as a person who dislikes all dogs anyway!)

[numbum]

Actually on 2nd thoughts I'd have been annoyed if they dog had run towards my DC even with a muzzle on so I don't know if YABU or not as useful as a torch with a solar panel

[toffeelolly]

All dog's with muzzle's on should be kept on a lead in public places. I would not like to see a dog with a muzzle on running to ward's myself or my dog.

[latenightmum]

lol 'shit machine on legs'
dogs owners become obsessed with them more than if they were children - so aggressive - and all these people who think they can control the dangerous/ rescue that could turn on you ones - pure ignorance - know loads of we turned it around stories but really.. having any dog capable of harming from an unknown background is an example of how stupid some people are.

[Fullboarder]

Thank you for all your comments - they have put my mind to rest that I wasn't entirely wrong to feel as I did. My little dog is ok but when he was being attacked I was so worried that he'd just run - when frightened dogs run they don't usually stop. He did spend the rest of the walk very close to my side and he kept looking around him.

Numbum, in answer to your question: although the dog was muzzled and couldn't actually bite my dog, the distress that it caused my dog by its chasing and lunging (despite the muzzle you could hear the snapping and snarling) was really quite upsetting. Every time my dog tried to run to me the other dog just went for it - he was shrieking with fear, it sounded almost like a child. Thank goodness I didn't have my children with me. The muzzle was around its mouth but its front teeth were bared and there to see - to be honest I was scared!

[WorraLiberty]

YANBU

An aggressive dog shouldn't have been off the lead...muzzled or not. She could have at least had it on a retractable lead.

My dog got a deep scrape from the tooth of a muzzled dog who went for him. It still managed somehow to catch him on his paw as it pinned him to the ground.

[MatersMate]

the muzzle may save physical injury ( though not in worras case) but the emotional damage to a timid rescue dog could set it back months. daft cow.oh yanbu!

[Tee2072]

And once again I am convinced that a dog is not something I ever ever ever want to own.

Ever.

Ever.

Ever.