To have assumed it was common courtesy among dog walkers

[SomewhereInbetween1]

To put your dog on a lead if you see another owner do so to their dog once they've spotted you? Especially if your dog's recall is a little sketchy? I've seen a lot of owners put their dogs on the lead at the sight of other dogs because they may, for instance, not get along with other dogs. But if the other dogs are off the lead and so still able to approach the one on the lead, it entirely defeats the effort. Anyone had any experience with this?

Our spaniel has near-perfect recall after many years of training. If I see an owner put their dog in the lead I say "off" to her, she stands at my heel and walks alongside me. Not once in 5 years has she wavered from that position til I've told her to, so I'm probably one of those arsehole dog owners folk complain about letting their dog off-lead. I do put her on near horses though, just because I wouldn't want to take the risk.

I've seen lots of dog walkers let their boisterous dogs bound up to other dogs on leads and wondered why they assume that the other dog will be ok with it. Perhaps they just don't see that some dogs aren't happy with being bounced on.

I do have a sociable dog, but he's on a lead so he doesn't eat himself sick!

Let's not even start on dogs running up to horses. I've been the rider in that situation and it's bloody scary.

"People who get annoyed with friendly social dogs because their dogs aren't social wind me up more."

But it's not friendly to approach dogs that either aren't interested in you or are actively wanting you to go away...

"I would have assumed that if you have an unsociable dog that it is common courtesy not to go to the park etc so that those who are ok can run free."

But dogs need to be walked - it's pretty much impossible to walk somewhere where there aren't dogs offlead, unless you're lucky enough to own your own land.

It is OK if a dog comes to say hello providing the owner is happy for their dog to be told to go away by mine quite clearly. Those who become precious when mine responds to her invasion of space are the worst: she's not a bloody robot, and let's see how well you do if you some stranger came up to you and started touching you.

Ha ha it's not an unreasonable expectation to think that others dogs owners should recall their dog or put it on a lead if the other dog is put on one and if you read the thread it is not an uncommon expectation. I realise there are two camps the first looks at the other owner and follows suit. The second thinks dogs should be allowed to run with any other dog it encounters. Neither group will agree with the other so I try and avoid the latter.

Navy, to your point, no it's not common courtesy. Those with unsociable animals shouldn't be in a public place. It spoils it for the animals which aren't aggressive. Those with issues need to take their dogs training. Most dog owners who get aggro with others in this situation tend to be up themselves (funnily enough).

We were always told to let the dogs sort it out between themselves!

Sadly bitey I can't avoid the latter because they are always in the park with their dogs on lead spoiling it for the good dogs.

Fertis, exactly!! It's normally the one on lead with all the problems.

My dog is reactive and it drives me fucking nuts.

I am not going to stop taking him for a walk in the park, because other people can't control their dogs. Have them off lead and they don't have recall.

I use to be able to have him off lead and chasing a ball and he doesn't give a flying shit about other dogs, unless they are right in his space. Now, however, he has to always be on the lead because people just don't teach their dogs recall.

I have had dogs run away from their owners, up to my dog, a full football pitch away and their owner yelling its ok they are friendly. Bully for you but my dog isn't.

Fortunatly, the field I can take him, has times of day where it is empty

We no longer go to the park on account of clueless twats with badly trained dogs.

She goes off lead in wide open spaces where I can see what's coming, and we have as much right to be there as anyone else. I try to avoid busy times, but no reason to steer clear of anywhere there might be dogs.

Your dog zooms up to mine, then it's your own fault if your dog is told to back the hell off by mine.

"Navy, to your point, no it's not common courtesy. Those with unsociable animals shouldn't be in a public place. It spoils it for the animals which aren't aggressive. Those with issues need to take their dogs training"

Actually those dogs "without issues" are the ones spoiling it for other people - that friendly dog is actually causing behavioural issues in other dogs.

Dogs do not wake up one day and decide they don't like other dogs, they have bad experiences and then develop an issue.

My dog has to be on lead and muzzled because he has arthritis and what he has learned from exposure to other dogs is that they hurt him.

Because people have this weird notion that normal dog interaction is rushing up to other dogs and playing with them, whether the other dog wants to or not.

That's not the behaviour of a well socialised dog.

BigFatBollocks maybe that is the difference. I can avoid most other dogs and people and if I spot another dog I put mine onlead and move away from the track/ trail or path so I am out of the way and can work on getting my dog to focus on me. So the dogs off lead who are in control can walk by as I am out of the way. It's the running up to mine without calling back I object to as I have put myself out of the way waiting for the other person to pass.

Bitey- you've actually pushed other dogs away?

tabulah I agree with this "Because people have this weird notion that normal dog interaction is rushing up to other dogs and playing with them, whether the other dog wants to or not." so much. Our spaniel waits til I tell her she's ok to say hello. If I don't give her the nod, she'll stay away because she's trained to know that actually, not all dogs want her face in their backside no matter how sweet she is.

No tabu, I think not! Take the dog training, to a reputable trainer.

But mine has had:

• Three years training (reaching advanced obedience).
• Several months with a behaviourist.

You can't completely rehabilitate most dogs. We're at a point where we can pass others with little/no fuss. What she'll never be able to do is tolerate a strange dog in her face. And why should she? I'd bloody well kick off if a stranger invaded my space to that extent too.

Then when she does growl, we get the blame! Well, mine is on lead causing no bother until yours harassed us. A quick sniff? That's probably OK. But we often encounter more than that - think leaping on her head, trying to have 'relations', and yet it's never their dog's fault.

Ferrisday yes but I do have a hiking stick if I think the other dog might be aggressive to put between me and them otherwise if I am crouching down with my dog and the dog is in mine and DDogs face I will gently push them away whilst asking the owner to recall their dog as I training mine.

Tabula. It is friendly for other dogs to approach each other. They are social creatures and this is how they socialise.
And what a load of rubbish that the good dogs spoil it for others.
The behavioural issues are 90% caused by owners with their own issues and insecurities, who shit their knickers any time another dog comes their way.
And yes dogs have bad experiences. Because of bad, nervous owners.
I'm not disputing there are bad owners, who don't recall their dogs. It is annoying. My point is just because someone doesn't automatically put their dog back on a lead as soon as they spot you doesn't mean they are letting their dogs run riot.

SomewhereInbetween1 I agree with you.
Jumping on other dogs isnt friendly behaviour between strange dogs any more than it is strange people. Its OTT, puppyish behaviour.

You may have a 'friendly' dog, but its irrelevant. If the other dog is on the lead, that can change its reaction. It could be a rescue and under training, or the owner could be disabled.
The dog might be having an off day and be under the weather, recovering from surgery or ill.

'Its normally the one on the lead with all the problems' because dogs change their behaviour when on leash.

I have a fear aggressive dog who is only a few weeks out of rescue. Terrified of other dogs and lunges and snaps if they come too close. No recall, so always on lead. Behaviourist reckons it's months before we'll see any change in her, if at all, and that she is likely to bite if another dog gets too close. We try and pick routes / times where we're unlikely to see other dogs, but it's impossible to avoid completely. Most people in our area are really good at calling their dogs to heel / putting them on lead when I shout over she's not friendly but there are a few that let their dogs get out of their sight, so I've been in a position where I've got a 'friendly' dog heading straight towards mine at speed ignoring the fact that she's stressed out of her mind and I'm trying to keep her behind me to avoid an altercation, owner nowhere in sight. Whose fault will it be if my dog bites I wonder?? Our yellow lead and bandana arrives tomorrow!

YANBU.

As soon as I see another owner with their dog on a lead, I clip my dog's lead on. I expect other people to do the same if mine happens to be on the lead....many people don't. I've even explained to people sometimes (while trying to control my excited dog) that I am teaching him he can't play with everyone. They just stand still watching me struggle, allowing their dog to run round and round mine, rather than carry on walking!

What I really don't understand are people whose dog is off the lead, then mine approaches them for a game (he's young and playful but never aggressive)...then they look cross or even say things like "mind my little dog".

Er.....they're in open countryside walking their dog untethered. Realistically, other dogs, children or animals may encounter them. Do they honestly expect there to be no-one else around to bother them, ever?! 🤔