Apparently you "shouldn't walk a dog if you don't want other dogs to say hello"

[daffodilandtulip]

I've posted similar before and I know I'll get the dog rights vigilante posters but I'm so fucking angry.

Walking along a footpath by houses with my dog on the lead. A larger dog comes bounding up with no owner in sight, snarling, clawing and jumping on my dog so I end up picking her up.

Dog owner appears and I ask the owner to call the dog off. Dog doesn't respond and is clawing at my legs. I tell the owner that he shouldn't have the dog off lead if he can't control it. He says the dog isn't doing any harm, he just wants to say hello. I said that my dog clearly didn't want it to so can you call your dog off. He tells me that he can do what he likes with his dog and that I'm a miserable cow. He finally catches the dog and calls me a stupid bitch.

And this is why retrospective dog laws won't matter. There needs to be checks/training/license from day one. Make it hard for people like this to get dogs in the first place. I'm so sick of not being able to go fucking anywhere without a "friendly" dog inviting itself. When will this end?!

He'll do it to the wrong dog one day and it won't let go, you put your dog on a lead when you see another dog for your own dog's safety as much as the other dog's safety. As for natural, have you seen how vicious street dogs will get with a dog they don't recognise? Your dog isn't being natural, he's stuck in puppyhood galloping over to play with another strange adult dog.

What I don't understand is, why do some people find it hard to say 'sorry'?

Obviously, in an ideal world, everyone would have full control over their dog.

Sometimes though, accidents happen.
My dog is an ill mannered little prick, he thinks the whole dog (and to some extent, human, although we have made a lot of progress there) population would like nothing more than to have him be right in their face at any given moment. He IS friendly, but I'm aware enough to know that that's not the point.

I've had 2 separate occasions of longlines failing me (since replaced) and very luckily, both times he's ran up to and invaded the space of the 'right' dogs. Regardless, I apologised. I didn't get arsey, I didn't make out that because my dog is friendly that it should be an issue, I just apologised, and explained that I'm very much working on it.

I've had a reactive dog before, so been on the other side too, and an acknowledgment that it's not the under control dog at fault really does go a long way. For me, at least.

He's an idiot and an irresponsible dog owner. Since dog was considerably ahead of him he has no control over it, it may poo he wouldn't know, it was all over your dog and you and he wasn't there. Sadly there are more and more like this since lockdown, out of control, poorly behaved dogs with no recall.

@daffodilandtulip

You're not being unreasonable at all. I'm sick to death of the fucking entitlement of some dog owners. Obviously not all. Particularly the ones who let the dogs run around off the lead. They are usually the same ones who let their mutt shit all over the place as well (in public walkways.) And do not pick it up.

I've just been a four mile walk this morning. On a popular public walkway through some fields and woodlands and past the canal. During my walk I counted about 20 dogs and 4-5 were not on their leads. A couple of them were and growling, and snapping at the other dogs on the leads, and running rings around them ... and the people with the dogs on the leads did have to pick them up and shoo it away. The stupid fucking entitled dog owner(s) who have a dog off the lead, just end up saying 'come here, Lassie/Billy/Fido!'

They don't even bother apologising.

I have no dog and was just on my own, and for about 10 or 15 minutes this morning, this one dog that a couple had OFF the lead, (they were about 150-200 yards behind me,) kept running up to me, running rings around me, and standing around 15 feet in front of me (just sitting there, blocking my way.) So I had to veer to the left or the right to walk around him.

I left him behind, and 3 or 4 minutes later he did the same again, Caught up with me, ran rings around me two or three times, and then stood in front of me. So I had to go around him again... Rinse and repeat at least 6-7 more times over about 8-10 minutes. The dog owners, who at this point about 100 yards behind me, were doing absolutely fuck all to call him back or stop him.

He wasn't hugely aggressive, but he wasn't friendly... He growled at me a little bit, and kept coming within two to three feet of me. And a couple of times he actually brushed past my leg. And even pushed me slightly once or twice. At this point, after about 15 minutes I gave up and let this couple walked past me and get a 5 or 10 minute walk ahead.

About 15-20 minutes further down the path they had stopped, and I caught up with him again and the bloody dog started it over again. I gave up in the end. I just walked off in a different direction. As I say, some dog owners are absolute nobheads.

I have two small dogs. Chihuahua and a cross breed chihuahua Jack Russell. Both are Jack Russell sized.

They are off lead in the fields or the park.

I can usually tell if there is a nervous dog or dog owner and I offer to put them on the leads if I think it warrants it. It's just considerate of other people and their dogs.

We seem to be very lucky where we walk as no bad experiences with owners or dogs to date.

Lots of massive dogs off leads, so far these dogs have all played well when passing and a they seem to remember each other when we cross paths.

We live in an area that has a lot of young lads in black north face tracksuits with massive dogs. They are actually a credit to where we live as their dogs are very well behaved and gentle with my two little ones.

@daffodilandtulip

You're not being unreasonable at all. I'm sick to death of the fucking entitlement of some dog owners. Obviously not all. Particularly the ones who let the dogs run around off the lead. They are usually the same ones who let their mutt shit all over the place as well (in public walkways.) And do not pick it up.

I've just been a four mile walk this morning. On a popular public walkway through some fields and woodlands and past the canal. During my walk I counted about 20 dogs and 4-5 were not on their leads. A couple of them were growling, and snapping at the other dogs on the leads, and running rings around them ... and the people with the dogs on the leads did have to pick them up and shoo it away. The stupid fucking entitled dog owner(s) who have a dog off the lead, just end up saying 'come here, Lassie/Billy/Fido!'

They don't even bother apologising.

I have no dog and was just on my own, and for about 10 or 15 minutes this morning, this one dog that a couple had OFF the lead, (they were about 150-200 yards behind me,) kept running up to me, running rings around me, and standing around 15 feet in front of me (just sitting there, blocking my way.) So I had to veer to the left or the right to walk around him.

I left him behind, and 3 or 4 minutes later he did the same again, Caught up with me, ran rings around me two or three times, and then stood in front of me. So I had to go around him again... Rinse and repeat at least 6-7 more times over about 8-10 minutes. The dog owners, who at this point about 100 yards behind me, were doing absolutely fuck all to call him back or stop him.

He wasn't hugely aggressive, but he wasn't friendly... He growled at me a little bit, and kept coming within two to three feet of me. And a couple of times he actually brushed past my leg. And even pushed me slightly once or twice. At this point, after about 15 minutes I gave up and let this couple walked past me and get a 5 or 10 minute walk ahead.

About 15-20 minutes further down the path they had stopped, and I caught up with him again and the bloody dog started it over again. I gave up in the end. I just walked off in a different direction. As I say, some dog owners are absolute nobheads.

"He needs to learn" (that not all dogs want to say hello or play) is my particular favourite.
Damn right he does and he needs you to teach him. That's your job and not the job of my dog, feckwit.

Oh dear. Don't come crying on MN when your dog bounds over and gets bitten. Perhaps control him. Not every other dog, human or small child wants a dog like yours bouncing all over them. Be more aware!

Off lead dogs are not the problem. Idiots owners are.

I have 2 dogs. One loves meeting and greeting other dogs, the other isn't bothered. They are frequently off lead. I allow the sociable one to meet and greet if the other dog is off lead unless it is apparent the owner or the dog don't like it. If we approach an on-lead dog, I call her back to me unless it's clear the other owner is comfortable with a meet and greet.

Happens all the bloody time. When I walk my dog on lead it’s because I’m working on his training, or I’m short on time and need to get home quickly, or he’s reacted to something and I’m calming him down, or whatever. I don’t want another dog bothering him because its owner hasn’t gone to the bother of training it and so hides behind the ‘he just wants to play’ lazy mare excuse.

My dog will appear to be cute and interested in an approaching dog. Then she will turn around and bite, very hard, without warning

Badly trained, badly socialised dog. Hope a kid never runs near it.

Most of the anxious dog owners on here should never own a dog, it ruins it for everyone else. My dog is walked off lead, zero complaints as she has no interest in other dogs or people but the pained expressions or snidey remarks because l have the audacity to have her untethered, these owners look about as miserable as their poor tethered dogs, and dogs kept on a lead will react more fearfully as they feel trapped. MN dog owners should own a robot dog instead of a real one.

🤣🤣

These lazy owners will also be the same ones who happen to be busy on their phone/talking to their friend/looking the other way whenever their dog does a shit. It makes me so angry!

People are selfish. Wait til their dog is on the receiving end of a "friendly greeter".

You are literally the person I absolutely dread meeting on my dog walks.
dogs are by their very nature, sociable animals and they can't understand the nuances of human behaviour, older dogs etc.
i agree it is down to the owner and if I spot a clearly old dog or a dog that doesn't want to play, then I immediately call my dog back abd he has excellent recall. But he will bound over and see if your dog wants to play because he is a DOG following his natural instincts!! @Quirrelsotherface

My elderly JRT was blind and deaf and took all approaching dogs as a potential attack and snapped immediately. That’s why she was kept on lead.
She could have been better socialised but as she was 13 when we adopted her there’s a limit on what new tricks an old dog will learn.

Fucking stupid owners who thought it fine to let their dogs bound over and “see if your dog wants to play” were the bane of our existence and really stressed the poor old thing out.

Isn't that typical. Say no to a man and you want something to stop and he tells you your wrong, your bot enjoying getting it.

OP, you do not know your own mind and need to bow to his superior knowledge of what you do in fact enjoy.

Probably badly socialised because so many dickhead owners won't let them introduce their dog gradually...

Why does your dogs natural instinct to bound over and want to play trump anyone else's dogs natural instinct to not want that to happen? Why are you and your dog so special that no one else gets a choice?

I've had such dogs just 'playing' hanging off my horses tail - you know horses that are prey animals and naturally want to be away from one of their natural predators. And somehow that's still my fault because my horse should just overcome his natural instinct to not be attacked by a predator so people like you don't need to be bothered to control your own dog.

My JRT was very well socialised until someone like you misjudged the situation and my dog was attacked by theirs, residential street, their 'friendly' dog off lead, mine on lead. I got bitten and nearly lost her, the dog just nailed her with no warning, the body language was as clear as day, not that it mattered because the dog totally ignored the owner anyway. Now because of that she is defensive around other dogs she doesn't know and intimidated by them bounding up to her. She doesn't have the choice though according to you.
My spaniel will ignore your dog, up to a point, but she doesn't want to play either, she's far more interested in me and the exciting smells she's tracking, but again she doesn't get a choice because your dog wants to bound up and play and that's all that matters, push her too far and she'll snap at such dogs because that's her natural instinct.

You are the problem, the person with the dog that's not under control and has decided the rest of us have to put up with it. You don't get to decide what is a good enough reason for your dog to leave others alone, leaving others alone should be the default.

Most of the anxious dog owners on here should never own a dog, it ruins it for everyone else. My dog is walked off lead, zero complaints as she has no interest in other dogs or people but the pained expressions or snidey remarks because l have the audacity to have her untethered, these owners look about as miserable as their poor tethered dogs, and dogs kept on a lead will react more fearfully as they feel trapped. MN dog owners should own a robot dog instead of a real one

Thank goodness there's someone on here with some sense!
I too feel sorry for these dogs, trapped and terrified and acting aggressive because the owners have encouraged and enabled them, 'protecting' them from playful, loving, socialised and normal DDogs.

How do you know they're permanently "trapped and terrified"? I let my dogs offleash a mile or two away from where other people are letting their dogs run riot, they get their exercise, and we walk back on the leash. Still wouldn't appreciate your mutt bounding up to mine. They're on a leash when we might come by other people or other dogs out of courtesy because runners/families enjoying a nice walk/people with leashed dogs don't need my dog interrupting their own activity just because we're sharing a space unless we both agree to let our dogs play with each other.

I have zero problem with off lead dogs which don't come and bother my dog.

Not that it's really any of your business but my dog's issues are as a result of me letting him play with a 'friendly' dog when he was young and a fight started suddenly and she nearly ripped his eye out. Unsurprisingly that has made him (and me) wary of badly trained ill mannered dogs.

He is fine with dogs he knows and plays happily with them in lots of situations. He doesn't like bad mannered dogs though.

The person you've quoted has a dog which is well trained and well mannered. Your dog is poorly trained and bad mannered. They are not the same.

It’s tempting when this happens to pick it up yourself and hand the bag to the owners with the words ‘Yours, I believe’. I once did similar to a group of littering teenagers.

You should muzzle your aggressive dog.

I don't recognise all the rage and angst on this thread about dogs being off leads. I live in the countryside and everyone walks their dogs off the lead (except near livestock) in the fields. The dogs and owners greet each other, have a little run about (dogs, not owners) then everyone goes their separate ways. It's perfectly normal not to have your dog on a lead unless walking the lanes or in the villages where there might be traffic. Folk seem very het up. Is dogs not being allowed to greet each other a new 'thing'? Must be hard to maintain now they are allowed everywhere.

There's a big difference between greeting each other and being pinned down, clawed and snarled at.