“Don’t worry, he’s friendly”

[BigJean]

This should probably be in The Doghouse, but I’d really like to hear from people who probably don’t go there.

I know on MN that everyone is a perfect dog owner with their dogs properly under control, but I also know that in real life there are far too many people who don’t. If you are one of those people I’d love to hear your reasoning. Namechange for anonymity if you want.

My dog is reactive, for lots of reasons, and I am successfully working on it and every month is better than the last. She is a large dog, and as such could easily kill another dog if provoked enough to do so (she’s not a bully breed, she’s walked with a muzzle but could still damage another dog). I am a responsible owner, I have her under control.

Every week I come across at least two other dog walkers who don’t have any control over their dogs. They run up to people, dogs, horses, children and leap around whilst the owner calls it pointlessly, and cries out “it’s ok he’s friendly”. It’s not ok.

This behaviour enhances my dogs reactivity, it sets her back every time. I have a yellow “nervous dog” coat and collar, they don’t give a shit.

I put my phone on to film every time, because I’m very aware that if anything happened to another dog mine would be blamed, even though I’m doing everything I can possibly do to manage it, and it’s the friendly dog’s owner who is being irresponsible.

Please, come and tell me why you do this, and tell me what you would do if your dog was killed by a reactive dog because you haven’t kept your dog on a lead or taught it effective recall.

Very well said! As for "I put my phone on to film every time, because I’m very aware that if anything happened to another dog mine would be blamed, even though I’m doing everything I can possibly do to manage it, and it’s the friendly dog’s owner who is being irresponsible"... yes, your dog will be blamed, despite being a responsible dog owner- you will be blamed. Some/many " come to mummies and daddies" have NO respect to anyone, their dogs are not under control ever and yet ...

My dog is very friendly. I still understand other dogs might not be. If I see a muzzle or flash of yellow I always put my dog back on the lead. I’m sorry you’re having these experiences OP.

I agree. They are clueless and it's absolutely not on

Well said, OP.

My dog is never off lead in public. She's a hunting breed with a strong prey drive and I wouldn't trust her not to go for someone's pet cat.

My dog goes off lead. But he has never failed to recall in his life

If your dog doesn't come back, then it shouldn't be off lead. Ever.

We watched a dog owner chase his dog around a beach last week, clearly shouldn't have been off lead as it just wasn't bothered that it was being shouted at. Obviously it was running at people/ other dogs and generally upsetting people.
That's what bothers me about dogs / dog owners - I have to modify my own behaviour, ie not go for a walk in certain places, as the likelihood of dogs off lead jumping at me and my toddler is so high.

“He won’t hurt you, but he might lick you to death…” <tinkly laugh>

Please. Please make him stop.

My friend is terrified of dogs. She doesn't want "friendly" dogs running up to her or jumping up at her. My rescue dog is also not receptive to other dogs running up - she likes to approach them in her own time. She is always on a lead. Please put your dog on a lead when you see someone approaching! Other people shouldn't have to deal with your dog invading their space.

It depends where I am. If I am in an on-lead area my dog is always on-lead. If I am in a designated off-lead area then he is off lead. If you’re frightened of dogs don’t go in an are where they are allowed to be off lead. Appreciate circumstances may differ depending on where you live and what facilities are available.

Not a dog owner, crazy cat lady. People walk their dogs around here off the lead and have seen several chase my cats. Owners pointlessly calling them while saying "oh he's friendly" "he's just having a look" etc.

I'm not f*ing friendly and if you can't control your dog, I will put myself between it and my cat, and have it put down if it bites. Never without my phone outside either.

I'm absolutely not a dog hater, I will speak to the dog on a lead before it's human and always pet them if they are the go to everyone for a fuss type.

Some people just shouldn't have dogs.

"My dog goes off lead. But he has never failed to recall in his life

If your dog doesn't come back, then it shouldn't be off lead. Ever."

🙄 too late when he's already run over to someone who doesn't want him to. Put it in a lead unless you're in a dog park ffs

One of my absolute pet hates. Your dog might be friendly but I'm not, do Fuck Off.

I get this around my children. DS 3yo now worried around dogs, my brother is terrified of dogs aged thirty something because he was knocked over by one. Obviously I protect my children in this situation. At the weekend this happened and the dog was muzzled (which would be an indication the dog isn't trustworthy) so even more scary for my child when it's trying to get at him, even if it's a friendly nuzzle.

I shouted at a large-dog owner who was 150m away from their off-the-lead dog on a busy greenway through my town. I was standing still under a tree with my toddler and my older daughter the large dog (taller than my son) was hell bent on getting to my children. It was “friendly” apparently. The Owner failed to recall the dog three times.

My son was especially terrified as the dog kept trying to get past me to him - nothing like a huge pair of jaws slavering at you at head height!

The owner totally ignored me and eventually he walked close enough that he was able to recall the dog.

I believe it is a sense of entitlement amongst many dog owners that they have a right to exercise their dog off the lead.

There is no recourse so they do exactly as they please.

I couldn’t have put it better myself @BigJean

I also own a reactive dog and am doing ongoing training with her. Dogs charging up to her set her progress back. I don’t give a toss how friendly they are, that doesn’t mean they should be allowed to run riot. Owners of small friendly dogs are the worst in my experience, they can do no wrong!

I nearly came to blows with an individual who allowed her 50kg+ dog to come charging across a field at me and my dog. My dog is always on lead and barked at it (what else was she supposed to do). The woman called it back several times, it totally ignored her, so instead of coming to retrieve it she just gave up and walked off! When I told her not to let her dog run up to mine, she had the nerve to tell me my dog was out of control because she barked, and that my dog should be muzzled. I told her she should be muzzled 😂

I reported her to the dog warden.

Report to the dog warden. Even if you can’t give a name, they will patrol the area and if the dog owner is a repeat offender they may get a warning.

Small dog owner here, mine is never off lead as very nervous. After a lot of bad experiences we don’t walk in parks anymore and stick to the roads

Wanky male owner had large off lead breed dog chase and knock over a terrified child.

He had Zero control
His excuse?”
“He’s A Puppay, just a Puppay, he thinks you want to play!”

Bloody moron.

No. HTH

I can’t let my dog off the lead, I have no recall and I never will, he’s a cs and I’m not a trainer!! We go to classes but he’s selective over what he decides he’ll do and while the trainer can get him to do stuff (because he respects her), he ignores me. He does what I call ‘tricks’ for me- watch me, sit, go to bed etc, but all bets are off if he gets a better offer😉

Op very few dogs are trained to the point where if something‘exciting’ happens they won’t just ignore in the same way humans might. I know it isn’t fair but I think your only solution is to walk in a different place/ at different times. I hate saying it but people don’t change

"No. HTH"

Exactly. You're the type of dog owner these threads are about. Letting your dog run towards other dogs and people because you're entitled

Yup. My kids are scared of dogs, no previous incidents but they’re just not round them much. They’re small so when a dog they don’t know, that comes up to their shoulder runs at them I’d say it’s pretty reasonable to be a bit scared.

They cry, owner says oh they’re friendly! Usually looks at my with sadness because how could the kids possibly not love their dog, sometimes followed by patronising information on how to make my kids not scared of dogs. Just don’t let your fucking dog run up to people then there wouldn’t be an issue!

Had a guy in a cafe recently telling my 2yo sternly not to approach dogs or touch them without asking (she’s 2 she can’t understand you mate) and this was after his dog approached her and she ran away!! In a cafe! Fuck off!

Ugh, this. My DD loves animals. But she's very wary of dogs licking her because when she was younger a dog licked her and she immediately started breaking out in massive welts as the start of a major allergic reaction. We got it under control, but she felt crummy for a few days and had to go through another allergy test as we were concerned she was allergic to dogs. She wasn't, but apparently the dog had eaten some treat with peanut earlier in the day and the residue in its mouth was enough to endanger DD's life. 🙀 That's a lot of backstory for a random dog owner laughing at DD desperately trying to avoid being licked by unknown dogs on the street, though. Sorry for being unrelated to OP but there are so many reasons people react badly to ill-trained dogs.

I doubt you will actually get the people you are asking this to actually to own up and give you answers, instead it will descend into a bitchfest about dogs as these threads always do. But truthfully, opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one, and we will never solve this as there are too many of us humans living our lives saying what about MY OPINION. What about my reactive dog, what about my child who’s scared of dogs, what about dogs ruining my lunch in pubs, what about my cat being chased by dogs and so on, there’s too many variables to solve both for and against dogs, and like it’s always been most just don’t care about others issues unless it directly affects them. So the answer is unfortunately you have to do your best to avoid areas that may not be great for your dogs nature and just bite your tongue when someone gets on your tits, neither of you will be totally in the right.

Any dog owner who says “don’t worry he’s friendly” should have their dog taken away. It just proves they aren’t a responsible owner.

I worked hard to teach my dog-loving dd to never approach a new dog without asking permission from the owner. Permission is supposed to be reciprocal. Dogs should not approach without explicit permission either.