Pack of dogs!!

[fridayfreedom]

If you were in the woods, Forestry Commission Land, used by walkers, runners , young families etc would you be alarmed if someone had six large dogs ( my waist height) running as a pack, all off lead, 4 with no collars?
We had this yesterday. The woman with them warned us as she let them out of the van that they were a bit boistrous but friendly. They were ones used to round up cattle in South Africa??
They bounded up to us , and charged around the woods. Two of out party do not like strange dogs and the dog we had with us was growling which is very out of character as he tried to protect the daughter of his owner.
When we got back to the car , she also arrived back and they were all around us with their heads in our boot etc, she didn't seem happy when I shouted at them to get out!.
WWYD, would you report her for having dogs without collars in a public place, and a pack of intimidating dogs off lead? If we had had my others friend's daughter with us who is very wary of dogs she would have been beside herself.

[Mrsrudolphduvall]

My dad always carried a walking stick with him while out walking in case he came across marauding dogs.

[Marne]

I would have been pretty pissed off too, what control did they have over them? (probably none) and if one did turn on someone or another dog the others would probably join in. I think all dogs should be on leads when in public places.

[MrsKeithRichards]

As far as I am aware collar and leads aren't a legal requirement as long as the dogs are under control. Whilst I agree and its bit a situation I'd enjoy being in I don't think they were out of control given it's a popular dog walking area.

[NothingIsAsBadAsItSeems]

I have 4 large breed dogs (and currently 8 large breed puppies, 7 of which will thankfully be going to their new homes soon)

Mine go off lead and have a good run (all have collars on and are chipped) but are quick to recall. I certainly wouldn't let them run up to strange people or dogs on leads

[ditavonteesed]

collars are a legal requirement as a dog must always have an id tag in public whihc it obviously couldnt if it didnt have a collar on.

[ohfunnyFRANKENface]

It sounds like she had no control over them if they were in your boot?

Report her- it's an accident waiting to happen.

I once saw a woman open the doors to a camper can, turn and run whilst a big black bear dog charged after her. I was so shocked I thought I was hallucinating. When he stopped to sniff my dog she told me that was how she walked him. I was in tears laughing so hard.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

Not much you can do as she was obeying the law.
Do dogs have to wear an ID tag in England?

[FarrahFawcettsFlick]

Honestly - I would have freaked. I don't care how 'soft' your big/little snuffum's is, out of the house, with his friends, he is a dog.

We experienced this on holiday in Cornwall. Got off the beach to the car park. Couple putting their dog in boot, another car with 3 dogs also in boot saw the other dog and chased and attacked it. Completely freaked me, DH and our then 2yr DS out. Not nice to watch.

Is there a park ranger type you could have a word with, just to make them aware?

I'll say it again - why are we so anti muzzle in this country? If you want your dog off the lead, put one on your dog. They shouldn't hurt and the dog should be able to drink when wearing one. Safer for you and the dog.

[TaggieCrimbleBlack]

Report her to who?

[5hounds]

I have 5 large breed dogs, the greyhounds stay on lead due to no recal, the basset, shepherd and staffy are off lead but don't run up to people and recall. All have collars, chips and tags.

[MrsKeithRichards]

oh apparently so, I had no idea. Although a tag wouldn't have turned them into well behaved dogs!

[TheNebulousBoojum]

5hounds, no one is suggesting that there aren't responsible dog owners of large breeds out there.
But there are a lot of dog owners who see their animal's behaviour as acceptable, and others that don't.

[neontetra]

I'm not sure that reporting her will issue in anything as the dogs did not hurt you/your dog. Also, do you know where she lives? If not quite difficult to report her.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

We had experience of this in the summer, my 2 children and I were sitting on a bench in the woods eating lunch when 2 women turned up with 10 dogs between them , mostly not on leads. I think they were dog walkers as they had such a random assortment. Anyway, it was a bit scary as the pack came over and one tried to pinch son's sandwich causing him to go "arghh" and the pack owner then told him off for shouting at her dog.

[EndoplasmicReticulum]

I then wondered if there was some sort of legal limit for how many dogs you can take out with you, but couldn't find out.

[NothingIsAsBadAsItSeems]

I will admit to not putting mine back on leads since it's such a faff. They are recalled and put in heel

Having used a muzzle on a dog who didn't like other dogs when on lead fine off lead I wouldn't use one again. What's the point when my muzzled off lead dog is then attacked by a non muzzled "very friendly" off lead dog. She couldn't defend herself. Being large and non too happy about it she would have easily sorted the other dog out without either of them getting seriously hurt. As it happened I ended up with a hefty vets bill and a talk with a useless dog warden

[Marne]

Yes, all dogs have top wear a collar and ID tag (it is the law).

I only have one dog but she's kept on a lead at all times (i used to let her off where we used to live as we had a field behind our house ans no one else was ever about, her re-call has got worse though so now i dont risk it (she can get a bit excited and jump up at people).

If i had 5 or 6 dogs i dont think i would take them all out together as i would not be able to control them all.

[fridayfreedom]

she did seem to have some control in calling them back but by then we had been surrounded and they were quite intimidating being so huge.
I was concerned that if another dog got cornered and growled at them then they would attack en mass! Also with no collars there was nothing to hold onto to pull them off. Grrr , I love dogs but hate entitled owners!

[MsElleTow]

We're they Rhodesian Ridgebacks? My sister had one of those, he was bloody huge!

I wouldn't have liked it TBH, and when my DC were little I would have probably had to have taken them home because DS1 would have freaked out. He didn't like dogs, and still doesn't like big ones. I don't like dogs running and sniffing around me, because I was bitten as a child. There isn't a dog in this world I would trust.

[SantasHoHoHo]

I would have crapped myself! I'm really wary of dogs since I was bitten doing a paper round. Even when a playful puppy bounds up to me I feel really on edge.

[TheMonster]

That would have been a disaster if I had been walking my two. My two cannot be off lead because they are very aggressive to other dogs and the thought of several dogs approaching is scary.

[mantlepiece]

Why oh why do people with dogs think it is ok to allow a dog to run up to to and "buffet" other people...
I have a dog and she is always on lead unless on our property.

Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about selfish dog owners and they know it.

[TheNebulousBoojum]

'Unfortunately there is nothing you can do about selfish dog owners and they know it.'

Not yet, but the laws are slowly getting tighter and tighter. Eventually we will arrive at a place where dog owners are forced to take responsibility for their animals.

[catgirl1976geesealaying]

No I wouldn't have an issue with that

Dogs need to be let of the lead and the woods sounds like a good place to me
I have no issue with dogs bounding up to me

I'd be pissed off if she didn't seem to be in control of them but you say they came back when she called them

[fridayfreedom]

yes they were Rhodesian Ridgebacks, so bloody huge!!!