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The doghouse

Should I Report This to Someone?

9 replies

Evenstar · 05/10/2019 13:28

Yesterday I was taken off my feet at our local park by a woman walking a large boisterous dog on a tape flexi-lead. I have bruised my hip badly and my arm and hand don’t feel right.

I have come across the dog before, it is a street dog from Greece which has been rehomed to her and her husband by a local rescue. It bowls small dogs over regularly and tangles every one up in its lead. Some of the more experienced owners in the park have tried to suggest training classes etc as it is around six months old, I don’t think the owners have had a dog before and they have been told it could reach the size of a German Shepherd. They brush off suggestions of training with excuses about not being to go together etc

I felt it was an accident waiting to happen before yesterday, but now I am very concerned for the many elderly people and young children who walk dogs and use the park, a fall like I had yesterday could be a broken hip for an old person.

I am not anti-dog and have 3 of my own, but in 30 odd years of dog ownership I don’t think I have come across anyone so naive and ill prepared to deal what is going to be a very large dog, and as it appears to have spaniel and collie in its make up potentially very hard to control if it is not trained properly.

I feel ringing our dog warden to put this on record might show there is a pattern of problem behaviour if there is trouble in the future. I considered calling the rescue, but feel they may not be bothered if they let them have the dog in the first place.

OP posts:
Fucksandflowers · 05/10/2019 16:41

I would just avoid the dog.

You say it's on a lead so presumably this is fairly easy to do.

I have to laugh at the mention of spaniel and collie making it tricky to train.
They may be working breeds but they are amongst the most biddable and eager to please of dog breeds!

Hoppinggreen · 05/10/2019 16:48

Unfortunately unless it bites you I doubt anyone would be very interested

Evenstar · 05/10/2019 16:55

It would be easy to avoid if they didn’t make a bee line for anyone else who is walking in the park!

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 05/10/2019 17:00

Ask them to stay away as their dog has already knocked you over?

Fucksandflowers · 05/10/2019 17:05

Turn your back and change direction if they are making a beeline for you, or walk faster so they can't catch you up is what I would do.

You know they don't have adequate control, the dog has injured you as a result, so avoid them in future.

Don't worry about appearing rude.
They should have adequate control of their pet.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/10/2019 17:19

Were the owners at all apologetic, @Evenstar?

I don’t know if reporting the dog will be of any use, but having a chat with the dog warden might be a sensible idea - it can’t do any harm.

I would also look out for them in the park, and tell them that their dog hurt you, and that they need to get it properly trained before it really hurst someone! Be firm but polite. Hopefully, if they are reasonable, they will listen.

Evenstar · 05/10/2019 18:49

She did apologise but that won’t help if someone breaks a hip 😢 and if her husband is out with it he is really ineffectual, he seems to think he can’t do anything to stop this behaviour and said the dog is biting his hands and feet hard at home.

I agree with PP that collies and spaniels if trained are biddable, but equally the intelligence of the collie and the exuberance of a spaniel combined in one undisciplined and untrained dog are not a good combination.

I think I will just have to walk away and ask them to keep away if they follow, it is a shame as we are a very friendly community and everyone helps each other.

OP posts:
Veterinari · 05/10/2019 19:18

Flex leads are a nightmare. You should report OP. If nothing else then a chat from the warden might encourage them to be more responsible and focus on training

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 05/10/2019 19:30

This is definitely one for the dog warden. I've been knocked flying by a dog (my own, my fault) and it bloody hurts.

Flexi leads are a bloody menace, and usually say a lot about the owner (well-meaning but not well up on training). The owners of this dog really need to see a trainer.

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