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AIBU?

t think if your small dogs are scared of big dogs, it doesn't mean the big dog has to go on a lead?

77 replies

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 10:51

Once a week, my guide dog and I take my 8yo to her swimming lesson. To get there we walk along a footpath by a river, with some trees etc. It's quite a popular dog walking spot, and we often pass other dogs having an off-lead run around. DD and I walk along the path together and I let my guide dog have an off-harness, off-lead run around for 10 mins. Guide dogs need regular free runs too.

The last two times, we've coincided with an elderly lady with two very yappy, bouncy little dogs (not sure of breed). The lady looks quite frail and seems to have trouble managing the dogs. They jump up at her and pull and wind around her legs and bark continuously, so she looks like she is struggling.

This morning, she got cross with me and shouted that 'a dog like that should be on a lead'. My dog wasn't anywhere near her dogs, she was trotting along sniffing around the trees on the river bank. Admittedly, her dogs were jumping and barking and straining at their leashes. She said they were afraid of big dogs and mine should go on a lead.

Am I wrong to think that isn't my dog's fault? She wasn't bothering them, she was at least 20 yards away all the time. Usually she likes meeting other dogs on free runs, but she steered clear of these two. I did explain that my dog was a guide dog, which I think she took on board and perhaps found reassuring. I don't want to cause her stress or anxiety - but neither do I want to deprive my well-behaved dog of her free run (we are limited in where we can get to for these, for obvious reasons) because these other dogs aren't well controlled.

AIBU?

OP posts:
TheWitTank · 03/03/2015 10:58

No, yanbu. As long as your dog isn't interacting with her dogs (i.e. going over to sniff or attempting to play) then it's fine.

Cosmomouse · 03/03/2015 11:01

No of course not! Her dogs have the issues, not yours.

It would be a different story of your dog was approaching them off lead, but how stupid to suggest that yours should not have his run in case you come across them.

Is it a yappy dog owner thing? I had a row a few months ago because my collie snarled at a westie who ran up to us a snapped in his face. But it's ok because her dog is smaller... ;-)

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 11:01

If she did go over on a future occasion, I would call her away - she is very obedient (perhaps because I always have a dog treat at the ready ....) Presumably that would be fine too?

OP posts:
EponasWildDaughter · 03/03/2015 11:02

YANBU

It sounds as if she was frustrated with her own yappy pair and was trying to put the blame for her lack of control over them on to you. To save face.

isseywithcats · 03/03/2015 11:03

yanbu she is as her dogs even though on a lead were out of control if they were jumping lunging and barking she should have trained her little dogs in the first place, i had a little dog as in a cairn terrier and when out he had to stay on his lead as he was not good with other dogs as in would have the guts for garters of any big dog he came across, soi used to warn people please put your dog on a lead as mine will not be nice and friendly with yours

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 11:03

I am new to dog ownership (my guide dog is the first dog I have owned) so unsure of dog etiquette! If she approached another dog and I thought the owner was bothered, I would call her away.

OP posts:
BurningBridges · 03/03/2015 11:35

Did you say to her that's my guide dog its trained to ignore other dogs? Mind you, I've met that type so often is not worth saying anything. When one dog is on a lead and another off, it does seem to cause the dogs to get agitated but your dog was not bothering them - completely different scenario.

I usually put my dog back on the lead (assuming he is off lead in a safe place) as a courtesy and for my own dog's safety if we meet another dog and I feel its going to kick off - mine often runs away if he doesn't like his new friend! However, I did know one lady whose dog was so nervous she never walked it around other dogs and if you did meet her she'd cross the road; she knew that her dog was unpredictable and stressed so she took action to avoid any problems.

That's what your mate on the footpath should be doing!

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 11:41

Guide dogs are trained to avoid other dogs when working on harness, but off-lead, they are like any other dog and sniff to say hello. My dog wasn't greeting hers though, she was well away.

Should I always call her back to be next to me whenever another person comes along? Round here it is big dog-walking territory, and there is almost always someone else with another dog in sight.

Or should I just call her away if she looks like she might approach a dog on a lead?

OP posts:
EponasWildDaughter · 03/03/2015 11:42

If you've got a dog which is well trained enough to come away from anything or anyone when you call it (and you have OP) you are perfectly entitled to let it off the lead in the circs. you describe.

This woman's dogs are so highly strung, excitable and out of control, even on their leads, that the very sight of your dog sends them potty, but that isn't your fault.

SoupDragon · 03/03/2015 11:45

SoupDoggyDogg is always on a lead due to recall issues. I would like other dog owners to call their dogs in so that they are close but I would never expect them to put theirs on a lead. Usually the dogs just engage in a spot of mutual butt sniffing but sometimes SoupDogg is surrounded by the multiple dogs of a dog walker and he looks a little uneasy so I would want the owner nearby in case it all kicked off!

In your case I would just call your dog in close but not put the lead/harness on.

Ludoole · 03/03/2015 11:46

I have a small dog and i always put him back on lead if there are other dogs about, whether or not the other dogs are on leads. When they have passed i unleash him again. Simple and stops others complaining.

AlpacaLypse · 03/03/2015 11:46

I'd go with your second choice Wolfbasher. If I've got off lead dogs and we encounter other off lead dogs, I'll let them greet each other.

If they're on lead, I'll either steer away or put mine on lead. More likely steer away as it's a faff calling in and leashing up to six bouncing hounds!

If it's not too windy, I might call out 'Mine are fine, are yours?' or something like that, and respond appropriately.

EponasWildDaughter · 03/03/2015 11:46

To your last Q, OP - i would call my dog back if they began to approach a dog on a lead.

I would not automatically call my dog back if it approached a dog off the lead however. In that scenario i would take note of the other dog owner. If they started calling theirs back then i would do the same. If they seemed happy to let their dog meet mine - then no problem.

Always be ready to act when dogs meet though. You never know if the strange dog will become aggressive.

SoupDragon · 03/03/2015 11:47

I will always hang back if small dogs (Jack Russell terrier and smaller) or white westies approach as SoupDogg has been "attacked" by similar dogs and is a little more unpredictable around them.

SoonToBeMrsB · 03/03/2015 11:49

My mini jack russell has no recall and is a bit of a dick to other dogs so he is always on the lead and I do get a bit pissed off when other dogs come up to him, get him stressed out and then he ends up barking and snapping at them. He was attacked by a staffie about a year ago because the owner wouldn't call it back (NOT a comment on staffies in general, I've owned staffies and they are lovely dogs).

If another dog isn't bothering my dog and is minding its own business at a safe distance then I have no issue. In the situation described, YANBU and it sounds like the woman has trouble controlling her dogs.

EponasWildDaughter · 03/03/2015 11:52

I guess the size of dog does matter, thinking about it. My great dane was a big softie, but i knew his size was intimidating. To other dogs as well as people.

I was wary of little dogs having a nip at him.

honeyroar · 03/03/2015 11:54

I put my dogs back on a lead when I see other unknown dogs as one is a bit grumpy. I've noticed that most owners seem to catch their dogs too when they see my dogs are on a lead, just while they go past, almost like an unwritten rule.

It does sound as though she was struggling to control her dogs and panicking. If I were in Your shoes I'd call my dog back and hold onto it while she goes past. It would calm her down and your dog would be free again in a few moments..

dejarderoncar · 03/03/2015 11:54

It may obviously be more difficult for you if you have a visual disability, but whe I am out with my dog I nearly always make judgement calls based on the humans who are with the dogs rather than on the actual dogs. The dogs reflect their owners normally, ie. laid back casual owner, ditto dog.

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 11:54

Thank you, all very helpful. All new territory for me! I will call her away from any dogs on leads.

She is a big dog and runs fast, which could be unnerving to strangers, I imagine. She likes to circle around me and the DC (herding instinct!), so she's never very far from me. I've only had her a few weeks yet, but I definitely think that giving her plenty of free runs helps to keep her happy and relaxed - I try and give her a long one at the weekend with DH, and a couple of shorter ones during the week with the DC.

OP posts:
Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 11:57

dejar - yes, exactly, I am visually impaired (obviously) and also hearing-impaired, so it's not always easy for me to judge what other people want at a distance!

OP posts:
IreneA78 · 03/03/2015 11:58

Sorry if this is insensitive, but I thought people who had guide dogs were totally or nearly totally blind I am actually quite surprised that you can see 20 yds.maybe she thought you couldn't see?

BanKimoon · 03/03/2015 12:03

My small dog is pretty scared of big dogs...mostly because wankers with big dogs off lead let them chase him, roll him and pin him down yelping while either saying 'he's just playing' or calling their dog's name ineffectually. I love meeting polite big dogs because I see it as an opportunity to try and undo the bad work the other dogs have done. Bad behaviour should never be acceptable in a dog of any size and it sounds to me like she was in the wrong there.

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tabulahrasa · 03/03/2015 12:09

Dogs on leads are usually on them for a reason...it might just be that their recall is bad, but, it could be because they're not ok with other dogs or because they're old and infirm or unwell. So the good mannered thing to do is to not allow your dog to approach.

My dog has huge issues with other dogs and it is easier for me if other dogs are on leads as a dog running sets him off more than a dog walking...but I don't actually expect other people to know that, or in fact care, that's my dog's issue, lol.

As long as an owner prevents their dog from approaching him, I'm happy.

Wolfbasher · 03/03/2015 12:09

Not insensitive, Irene, fine to ask about that. Sight loss is a much more complicated business than most people realise. Some guide dogs are totally blind (i.e. absolutely no vision whatsoever), but I believe it's less than 5% of owners.

I am 'severely visually impaired' (which is sometimes called 'registered blind' - I have a tiny patch of central vision which is pretty good for distance vision (though need strong glasses to read print). However, it's pretty useless for mobility as I have no peripheral vision (my field of vision is less than 10 degrees whereas yours is probably about 180 degrees). It's a little bit like walking around always looking through a telescope. So I can see what I'm looking at in the middle distance quite well, but my guide dog stops me bumping into things or people, or tripping over things and helps me find doors/gates/kerbs/traffic crossing boxes/turnings etc. etc.

My particular vision problem is a fairly common one among guide dog owners, I've been told. It is a progressive condition though, so others may have more vision than me and some less.

OP posts:
MsMcWoodle · 03/03/2015 13:01

A tiny weeny dog just bit my big puppy lurcher. 180 quid of vet bills and can let her run for 10 days. We will both be insane by the end of it.

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