‘But he’s friendly’

@Baffledandalarmed agree - no idea how they would enforce it because I just assume people will be happy to do it.

My heart breaks for all the XL bullies I'm seeing for rehoming at the minute. I'd take them in a heartbeat but my dog isn't a breed you should have other pets with - of course people do and some are lucky but most end up fighting because people don't listen.

I don't even have recall in the bloody house. Probably 50% of the time he looks and me, I see his cogs turning and he goes "nah". Other times I get a paw that I didn't bloody ask for. Open the fridge door tho...

It's because my dog is over friendly that she is always on a lead when out.
She is a totally stupid French mastiff. Looks scary. Is totally soft and a bit over exuberant. I always stand and wait with her when people walk by. I tell them she is over friendly but she is stood next to me not running up to them.
But the other day a woman had a little yappy dog. She started at yelling at me to put my dog on a lead (she was I was just holding her collar as well). Whilst her little dog yapped and jumped all over my dog. When my dog bent down to try and sniff little dog the woman hit her twice. Picked up her little yappy dog and stalked off.

I had to fend off a 'friendly' Labrador who knocked over my terrified 2 year old! Yes he might be friendly and wanting to play but he was the same size as my tiny toddler and when a child is clearly scared of the dog that's jumping at them, owners should recall their dog! And if it doesn't have good recall it shouldn't be off a lead next to a play park full of children!

Wow, the gall of some people although it's not surprising from their behaviour. I wish you had reported them, that's the only way people might learn

@Ponoka7 exactly the same. I have an American Akita and I worry my on lead, well trained dog will get the blame over the dog that started it.

I've had this so often that I don't even try and be nice about it anymore. I've also kicked a few dogs while trying to protect my dog from their teeth.

It's not just small dogs, it's any "naice" dog. Labradors, doodles etc.

I think there needs to be some serious changes regarding dog ownership.

'No. Just because a dog is off the lead it doesn't mean your dog can say hi or that because my dog is off the lead your dog should be'

I didn't say I agreed I'm saying as a dog owner others do seem to think if yours is off lead theirs is ok to be too. I'd just keep your puppy on the lead until it-s less likely to bolt round others.

No their dog shouldn't have come over but as we all know there are lots of thick dog owners out there so just avoid busy places with off lead dogs for the time being.

Tbh there seems to be consensus amongst dog owners that if someone else's dog is off lead, it's ok for theirs to be so they maybe thought you wouldn't be bothered.

Also, if walking in a busy area with a puppy in the bolting stage I'd have had mine on their leads anyway, easier to calm/diffuse a situation if you can easily walk your dogs away.

My DM had a 'just being friendly' dog jump up on her the other day with muddy paws that left her coat filthy.

When she pointed this out to the owners and suggested the dog should be in a lead they stormed off muttering about 'dog haters'.

I am just curious, whether this will be dismissed as another "dog hating thread", or whether as a dog owner you are allowed to be annoyed with untrained dogs and stupid dogowners.

Anyway, it's clear that those people won't change on their own, they are too ignorant. What change would you suggest to make situation better? Some legislation/policy? Some behaviour change from responsible dog owners? Maybe using existing legislation and calling police?

Idiots. My small dogs are trained in exactly the same way as my big dogs, that is to stay the fuck away from everyone else. Admittedly, one is a bloody hooligan, has to wear the worlds smallest muzzle and cannot be let off anywhere but the rest heel to me and ignore everyone else. Which is how it should be! They absolutely are spoilt rotten but they know how to behave and I would be beyond mortified if they behaved as you’ve described op.

YANBU at all. I'm sick of dogs at this point tbh.

An "it's okay, he's friendly!" dog went for my toddler daughter a few years ago. I kicked it, police got involved, lots of aggro all round. The long and short of it though is that the owner wasn't actually bothered beyond trying to stop me telling the police what had actually happened. The dog is still in their possession and DD, while physically fine, is now scared of dogs and of that part of our local park. That owner, if you're reading, well done you absolute dick!

2 “friendly” off lead whippets pinned our Staffy (on the lead) to the floor. DH had to kick one of them up the arse to get it off.
DH goes mad at his mate who never puts his dog in a lead. It runs up to everybody else’s dogs. DH had told him time and time again that the on lead dogs may be scared and reactive and feel threatened. All he says is on it’s ok, he’s friendly!!

Who on earth are the 7% of posters who think the OP is being unreasonable?

I think if I had to walk dogs in an area where people won't or can't control their dogs I might be tempted to wear a bodycam.

I hope the bite heals well @Baffledandalarmed

The worst trait of some dog owners is they think everyone should love their stupid ducking “fur baby”

Agree completely. I have a lab who is just daft but if he were to go bounding over to other dogs owners would likely have a problem with it regardless of the fact he is harmless. And rightly so. So he goes on a lead in public. And I notice a lot of other large dog owners follow suit. But small dog owners don't seem to follow the same courtesy so I end up try to control my bouncy lab who can't understand why he can't play. And he has been nipped a couple of times. If you can't control your dog they need to be on a lead.

I have a large breed puppy, she is on the lead all the time (except when i rent a field out to practise) as her recall isn't where I need it to be.

At least once every walk a small breed will come up snarling and snapping at her and the owner always says their dog is usually so nice/friendly/just playing, or blame it on my dog because she looks scary (she doesn't, and she just sits patiently or hides behind me).

If my dog snapped and hurt theirs then it would be blamed on her.

It's so bloody annoying.

I have an EBT
He is always on an extendible due to having the EBT standard recall. 🙄 (not if over there looks fun)
He loves other dogs and very rarely doesn't want to play, I still lose my rag when people let other dogs come bowling over.
You check first, had two Jack's before my boy and the bitch was absolutely horrible. Rescue dog, hated everyone bar me.
I want my EBT to continue thinking dogs are ace and people are dull.

I have a Kerry Blue Terrier, he is a rescue and he is very well behaved and trained . The breed is known for not being keen on other dogs but my lad is generally ok except for brachy breeds which freak him out. He has great recall but prefers to stay close and due to the large number of rabbits where we live we usually keep him on the lead. The number of times a poorly trained dog has bounced over and got in his face in the last few months is unreal. My boy will give a warning snarl and low bark which often gets the other dog owners annoyed that he's reacting. It's really tiresome.

I don’t think dogs should be off lead in public places full stop. There are dog parks for that exact purpose. Use them.

I had to haul a “she’s friendly” Labrador out of the basket under my pushchair the other day (no doubt attracted by the general toddler detritus). Thankfully I am perfectly comfortable grabbing the collar of a sizeable dog, and hauling it away, but I was livid that I was in that position.