“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.

Jobs a good'un

I am currently in a&e waiting for an x-ray thanks to a twat of an owner. Our big breed (still training) dog on lead, off-lead dog comes running at us with no owner in sight. As I was screaming in agony after the fall, no owner approached, no check to see if it was his dogs fault (it was) or to bother checking if I was ok. I couldn't even manage the 5 min walk home and DH had to come and carry me home in a fireman's lift.

Dogs are banned from beaches in Cornwall between May and September and yet and yet, plenty of dogs on the beach because the rules don't apply to them.

The dog numbers where I live seem to have calmed down thank god but half the city is a no go zone for my children because of all the dogs.

I really think some of these "friendly" dog owners don't realise the risks they're taking with their dogs. I work with some service dogs and their handlers have to walk them at 5am to avoid this stuff.

I agree totally they are not robots, but just because they may have a moment, does not mean I should not let my dogs off the lead, which is what many on this thread are saying.

Those of us who make the effort to train our dogs, and can recall them when required should not be subject to the "all dogs should be on a lead" rhetoric.

My dogs come in coffee shops and other shops if I have them with me, if they were not well behaved they would not do.

I say again, dog behaviour comes down to training. Many problems with dogs have been seen since the stupid purchasing of dogs during covid.

Our dog does not have reliable recall. She's a rescue put we did get her as a puppy so maybe that's not a good excuse. Anyway we have tried a lot and can't seem to train her to always come back.

She doesn't jump up on people but she approaches every dog. I personally don't let her off the lead because of this but my DH is oblivious. He just thinks she's so small and friendly it doesn't matter.

I walk a reactive dog regularly. I have to keep my head on a swivel and will literally tell people loudly from 20m+ away “MY DOG IS NOT FRIENDLY” as I work to pass around them or given them space to pass. We have to step into a lot of driveways, into fields and onto streets very conspicuous ways while doing this and it’s exhausting. Being very loudly proactive helps, but a frustrating number of people are just idiots.

He needs to realise, and I hope not too late, that one day, she might approach the wrong dog.

We had a dog like this and to be honest I guess we never really thought about it. He wasn't going to change, nothing we tried worked. We didn't want to stress him out when he was just being a normal dog. It was nice when other people let their dogs free and they could play naturally together instead of being constantly jerked around and yelled at.

He was only a Pomeranian though so if people were getting cross about it we just laughed really.

Worst one I had was when mine was a pup. I was walking by the lake with mine on a short lead. An off-lead dog came up to mine, followed by their owners a bit behind. The guys actually shouted to me, "careful with her, I wouldn't trust her!" Like wtf? I don't trust your dog mate, but surely at least you should by having her off lead? Their dog then went for mine. Luckily I lifted him out the way pretty quickly, but still shake my head remembering their stupidity.

I agree of course dogs should be let off leads, I walked mine off lead tonight. But as owners we need to use common sense, I have a dog with excellent recall and a very low prey drive who I’m pretty sure I could walk through a herd of sheep and he’s more likely to be chased by them than vice versa but I always put him on the lead just in case. I’m not taking a chance that he has a completely out of character moment.
I live rurally in a area with one of the lowest population densities in the UK so I rarely meet people but if I lived in a city and walked in a busy urban park on a sunny Sunday afternoon with families picnics ball games etc I’d keep my dog on the lead my dog has a weakness for sausage rolls 🤣 his recall is good but like with the sheep I’m it taking any chances it’s less stressful for both of us.
I

When another dog runs up to me and my dog, owner calling, it’s friendly, my always retort, I’m not fucking friendly, control your bloody dog! I do have a resting bitch face😳🤣

They annoy me the most when they make no effort to recall their obviously annoying / nuisance dogs. Can forgive them if they’re trying and at least acknowledging their dogs being pain.
I occasionally walk a neighbours dog, one of the dogs is over excitable with poor recall so stays one the lead. Last time I walked them, some arrogant dickhead just let his dog continue to be a pain in the arse walking over to mine, despite watching me struggling to stop mine jumping all over it, if the dog had turned aggressive then a fight would have broke out.
Prick walked past me all blasé and asked me how I was. Grrr…

I was walking alone on the local playing field and an off lead dog ran up to me and bit me, completely unprovoked and unprompted, WHILE ITS BLOODY OWNER WAS SHOUTING "don't worry, he's friendly"

Oh and by the way, there are no dog-free National Trust sites in the UK.

Just two that request dogs on short leads: Bodnant Garden in Wales, Formby in Liverpool.
So that's no good.

Has anyone actually got any legitimate suggestions for walking in the countryside for people who do not want to encounter off lead dogs?
In East Sussex preferably.

I have searched but found nothing at all.

You cannot be serious. Last time I checked, yes - dogs were allowed on the pavement outside my house. And on the green across the road. And in the nearby woods. And in the local pub. The issue is NOT that dog owners can't find anywhere their dogs are allowed. The issue is that it's a struggle for people to find anywhere to go that's dog-free. Talk some common sense!

I pay quite of money for my RHS membership as it's the only outdoor space locally I can find that is dog-free. Costs loads, and its still 45-50 mins drive away. Sorry I can't help with East Sussex, but I do understand your frustrstion.

I think you are the one who needs to speak sense - I actually think you are being obtuse now for the sake of it.

I don't want to go to costa or primark thanks.

I want to go for a short daily walk in the local countryside.

Y'know - like all the local dogs can, but none of us that are anxious about off lead dogs can.

Well said op, my dogs are great with people but hate dogs, they are cute frenchies but I literally will not walk them in parks etc for this reason. They get walked at 530 as there are no other dogs about

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings I was just giving you examples, completely off the top of my head, of all the places you could go and not bump in to a dog - even though they are allowed absolutely everywhere.

As said previously, I've been on countless countryside walks and not bumped in to anyone else, but apparently that's impossible for you so I don't know what to tell you.

Perhaps rent a field for an hour?

Well no-one has come up with any dog free off-road places so far that anyone anxious of off lead dogs could go on a daily walk.

You sound like you have some ideas? Please share them...

I could tell you plenty of places but only where I live, how is that going to help you?

Maybe you should book a dog field yourself, you can happily walk around it for the hour and I guarantee there will not be a single dog there.

I'll just take a big stick with me perhaps and if any dog races up to me or my kids I'll give it a thwump.

Perhaps more of us should do this and you lot can have the anxiety about your dogs being off lead instead of us?

No dog free country walks then.

Thought not.

I rest my case.

I'll just take a baseball bat with me from now on I guess

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings why would you feel the need to whack my dog with a stick? He would just be walking past you. Or do you count his mere presence as bothering you?