Antisocial dogs and dog walkers

[Difficultdora]

Today one of my labs was attacked by a lab being walked by a dog walker. After dragging the large dog off mine, who was on his back screaming, she apologises and tells me that this was the first time that this had happened. She is walking 6 dogs and most of them are off lead. I suggest to her that she should have this dog on lead so he is not able to attack other dogs and tell her that this is definitely not the first time that this dog had attacked as he has launched himself at my dog on several previous occasions. If my dog was squaring up to her dog then I wouldn't mind but my lab is unneutered because he is so lacking in confidence and has a very gentle and soft nature. She told me that she cannot walk the dog on a lead because he pulls!!! She is only the dog walker and therefore not responsible for the dog and that I should discuss my issues with the owner. I do not want to put my dog on a lead because on a previous occasion the dog attacked mine while I was putting the lead on and I only just missed getting bitten. This was all witnessed by several other people so it is not just my word against hers. She is walking in a very popular area in the middle of morning. I can understand that my dog was not on lead and therefore not under my total control but this dog has come over several hundred yards to attack my dog previously.

I feel very strongly that if you are walking multiple dogs as a job then you should be able to control their behaviour and if not, then they should be on lead.

I am so so cross. This ruined what would have been a lovely walk this morning with young dog and pupster.

Rant over

breathes

[Twitterqueen]

She shouldn't be a dog-walker. Do you know the owner at all?

[TheoriginalLEM]

She absolutely IS responsible for the dog - she is talking utter shite! She should also be insured!

How in God's name someone can walk six dogs and claim to have them under control is beyond me.

[sparechange]

If the dog pulls, then the dog walker can use a halty, or do some bloody training! Ridiculous excuses!
And legally, she is responsible for it while she is walking it.

In my area, dog walkers have to be registered with the local council- do you know if you have something similar with your council?
Can you flag her and the dog up to the local dog warden?

[mollie123]

I don't quoite understand this in your OP
my lab is unneutered because he is so lacking in confidence
was your dog off lead and the attacking dog was also male?
I do agree - the dog walker was out of order to have 6 dogs (some off lead) and not have control of the aggressive dog

[TheMightyMing]

She should have control and have the dog on lead no question but my understanding is that entire male dogs give off a threat scent to neutered males. My dog walking group don't allow entire males for this reason. Not claiming to be an expert though. If you have have your dog off lead then you are taking your chances I am afraid.

Today she is not responsible for the dog is utter rubbish of course she is.

[tabulahrasa]

If the dog approached yours it'd have made no difference if yours was on lead.

And yes she is responsible for it while she has it and yes she should be doing something to prevent it attacking other dogs.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

The dog walker wants to familiarise herself with the law a little more, there was a recent story about a 70 year old who settled out of court after the dog she was walking for a friend cause an accident which left a cyclist with serious injuries. News report here.

[babyblackbird]

Just because the OP's dog is not neutered does not give other dogs the right to attack it and she certainly should not have to keep an otherwise friendly dog on the lead because OTHER dogs have aggression issues. My own lab is un- neutered for exactly the same reasons and the advice I have had is that neutering him whilst he is so timid could well lead to him becoming aggressive towards other dogs. My own suspicion is that a large number of neutered males are aggressive because they were neutered too early.

[Difficultdora]

Thank you very much lovely mumsnetters! After the first few responses on this thread I decided that I would contact the local dog warden, who was very helpful. He told me that dog walkers in this area do not have to be registered and there is no limit on the number of dogs that you are allowed to walk. When I told him the name of the dog walker he told me that she was known to him. I am obviously not the first person to have a problem! So the incident has been logged and he tells me that he has greater powers since the change in law in October. So I hope that she will think again about the way she lets this dog attack and intimidate others.

[TheMightyMing]

I am neutral on the neutering vs not as there are pros and cons for both I am sure. But if you can't control your dog then it should be on a lead end of.