To be annoyed about other dogs

[Anewhope]

Every day we go on a walk to some nearby fields. My dog is a small spaniel and is obsessed with her ball. If another dog comes over she doesn't even glance at them, all she's bothered about is us and the ball.

Every day she gets mobbed by other, (usually bigger) dogs. It's not too bad if there's just one of them because she generally runs off and the owner can shout them back but recently there have been groups of 3 or 4 big dogs that come bounding over to us, so the owner isn't close enough to stop them. It happens every time, different owners and dogs.

My dog tries to get away, she isn't interested. But they end up all crowding around and jumping all over her. It's awful. She gets stressed and barks if there isn't any space for her to get away and I worry they might hurt her. I don't know how to stop it, I imagine it would be worse if my dog was on her lead cause she couldn't even get away.

Any advice? Would you say anything? Or do I just suck it up and let it go? Or change dog walk location? It's perfect for us other than that, she's a spaniel so needs that free, off lead time really.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'crowding' and also the signals the unsure dog is giving. If a dog is showing initial signs of 'don't come near me' and the other dog still does then I don't necessarily think the dog is rude just not well-trained. That's the owners fault. If the unsure dog is happily playing and the other dog wants to join in then it's not going to know it's not welcome until it goes up to it and tries to play - some people may see this as unwelcome crowding, I don't think it's rude of the other dog, just natural interaction.

The important bit is a well-trained dog should back-off when given the signals by the unsure dog.

But in my experience they don't and the clueless owners don't, and in some cases, refuse to recall because they can't read the signs and believe "my dog is friendly" trumps all.

I haven't mentioned this before on this thread that I do get some Dogs are rude - while one of mine is nervous the other is one of those that "just wants to play". The difference is I restrain him if other dogs are about because I know he will run, and if I fail to see the dog in time I am running after him and apologising to the other owner.

My old dog was fearful of other dogs running up to her and could be reactive if they persistently got in her face. I used to hate the ‘He’s Only Being Friendly’ brigade.

Now my old girl has gone, we have two young ex-racing greyhounds, who are doing brilliantly (recall, good with small dogs, staying away from an on lead dog etc).
But since I went away for a couple days and left them with DH and DS1, they’ve started charging up to certain dogs, woofing and bouncing. Once they reach the dog, they sniff bottoms nicely and are very calm.

They only seem to do it to medium/large dogs who are a bit bouncy. They’re especially bad with other sighthounds. Most of the dogs have been ok with it (they have scared a couple ) but it’s very scary for owners.

I’ve become ‘that’ owner with ‘Those’ dogs! I’m back to scanning the horizon now and putting one on a lead when we see a dog I think will excite them.

Annoyingly, they don’t do it when DH or DS1 walks them. I’m at a bit of a loss.

I agree with Bluebell. I think some of the posts on here are ridiculous.

Yes, I agree with Bluebell too.
When my dogs bounce up to someone, I can see the other dog giving unsure signals and mine are currently ignoring that.

They barge up and crowd the other dog without waiting to be invited Iyswim.
It’s rude. I want them to go back to checking with me before they go and say hello.

“They normally want to play so the usual thing for them to do it run up to another off-lead dog and perhaps 'crowd' - this is just how they communicate.“

No it’s not... properly socialised dogs read the other dogs body language before approaching, approach at normal speed and greet cautiously well before attempting anything like playing.

Crowding isn't polite dog behaviour. Especially when more than one dog is involved in the 'crowding'

tabulahrasa I meant if the unsure dog is playing..I think it's pretty normal for the other dog to bound over to join in. If the unsure dog is walking beside the owner (still off-lead) a well-trained dog should approach cautiously. Our dog normally does the bow-down thing to gauge the other dogs reaction.

I agree with tabulahrasa. I don't think most people know what an actual genuinely friendly dog approach looks like. Barrelling up at full pelt isn't friendly. You might be confident that your dog isn't remotely aggressive but it just isn't how well socialised dogs approach each other. It's a much slower, often sideways approach.

I do think this is an interesting thread. It's good to chat these things over I think.

I do think it's interesting to hear it from both sides and open up discussion. It's clearly a sticking point for both sides of the argument.

I agree with tabulahrasa. I don't think most people know what an actual genuinely friendly dog approach looks like. Barrelling up at full pelt isn't friendly. You might be confident that your dog isn't remotely aggressive but it just isn't how well socialised dogs approach each other. It's a much slower, often sideways approach.

Trouble is, for those of us who have [rescue] dogs that weren't socialised properly as puppies... how do you go about teaching them doggy etiquette without letting them loose with other dogs? You can't exactly read them bedtime stories about "Spot the Dog displays good manners in the park" and hope it sinks in, and it's not like training tricks.

As detailed upthread I do stop my dog being too much of a pest but I'm aware his social skills aren't the best and he does like his full pelt greetings (though he seems to slowly be learning to slow down on the final approach) because he's just way too excited to see a potential new playmate. He's been mildly told off by other dogs on a couple of occasions for other things and I've completely taken the attitude that he deserved it - because he did (and I've told the other dog owner so).

I don't think most people know what an actual genuinely friendly dog approach looks like. Barrelling up at full pelt isn't friendly

It can be! It depends on the dog. I think some of the attitudes on here are a bit strange tbh. All dogs are different.

I've not read all of this thread but some of the 'train your dog ffs' when talking about what is essentially normal, friendly, dog behaviour is just unrealistic, miserable and weird imo. And comparing dog behaviour to being groped in a pub - words fail me. Glad I don't live near some of you 😆

To be honest though, like I said in my OP.. I'm not too annoyed by ONE dog running over. That's a bit easier to control, you can fuss the dog to distract then or keep walking. My main issue are when an owner has two or three that all surround and jump over my dog. She gets overwhelmed by that as she can't get away. I get that everyone needs to socialised their dogs and the didduculty with rescue dogs etc, but one boisterous dog I can deal with. Three I can't. Especially when the owner is far away and even when they get there can't control all three.

So many typos, sorry! Fat thumbs..

I feel for you op and my post wasn't aimed at you but some things that have been said by others on this thread are a bit odd. I say this as the owner of an often slightly nervous and sometimes 'crowded' dog (never heard that expression before) but also very playful once initial nerves are gone.

It's interesting to read some of the posts on here and read some peoples' view of what constitutes 'normal' and acceptable dog behaviour, especially in light of how much sheep worrying has increased in recent years.

I live in a rural part of the country and injuries to sheep from out of control dogs, resulting in the death of sheep and the loss of unborn lambs, is increasing year on year to the extent that many local farmers are losing their livelihoods.

Each of those dogs that are out of control and killing sheep belongs to someone, someone who is among an increasing number of dog owners who are allowing their dog to run riot in fields full of someone else's sheep.

Clearly there are a great many very poorly trained dogs around and a great many owners who don't give a damn.

Hey op do you think that the owners might be dog walkers?

This is one of my biggest soapboxes in life. I'm a vet and an APBC accredited behaviourist as well as the owner of very well behaved dogs who hate being charged at by strange dogs and will never, ever approach a strange dog on a walk - they are trained working spaniels and just want to sniff and hunt around for rabbit and bird scents. I mostly walk them in very rural and quiet places and they're hardly ever on lead but are always under total whistle and voice control. If we are in a busier location though I can always spot the dogs that are going to come running at them and I call out politely to their owners. Much of the time they actually will stop the dog from approaching, which is great and I thank them sincerely. However, if they can't or don't bother to recall it, or are ambling along 1/4 of a mile away totally oblivious to what their dog is doing then I will catch it and hold it until they come and take it away and I'm less polite if I get the 's/he's just being friendly' line.

It is really not 'normal behaviour' for dogs to charge full-pelt up to other dogs and get in their face and/or jump all over them. It is bad manners and poor social skills. It is also not 'precious' to expect a nervous, ill, elderly or simply disinterested in strange dogs but perfectly well behaved and under control dog to be able to enjoy their walks on or off the lead without being harassed.

The dogs that charge willy-nilly up to every dog they see are the ones that are inadequately socialised - and inadequately trained if they cannot be recalled - not the dogs who are minding their own business and give clear body language to show that they are not happy with being approached. Well socialised and well mannered dogs approach each other slowly and with calm body language (curved body shape, often sidelong approach) and carefully read and react to each other's responses; they don't eyeball, stalk, charge in a head-on rush, lunge at or bounce on other dogs.

Letting dogs charge around in an uncontrolled, overstimulating free-for-all at the local park or field is not 'socialisation'. If your dog barrels up to every dog it sees and you cannot recall it from doing so then it should be on lead while you work on its recall and socialisation in a controlled environment.

^ should be 'uninterested in strange dogs' not 'disinterested'.

vet I wish every dog owner would read your post.

My dog has some issues, not very well socialised as he was a rescue, and we’re working on it every day. He cannot stand other dogs charging up to him and I get very frustrated with people who then think that HE is the unsocial one because he runs away from them.

@Livinglifepeachy yes I think there's a chance some of them are because they have three or four different breeds. Though saying that there are a few dog walkers that let some off lead and keep some on lead, which is great because they clearly work with the temperament of each dog and they usually don't bother us. But some for example have three if those really big visla dogs (or is it vizla? I'm not sure) or a couple of labs or other big breeds so I'm pretty sure they're owners.

@Vetoncall I agree, everyone should take heed of your post! I wish I were brave enough to grab the collars of the more boisterous dogs but I guess I get a bit nervous when they're big, bouncing around and there's a few of them. I try to just keep moving and get my dog out if the way.

My dog is the same re the ball. Is also a small spaniel and while the ball is in sight.. nothing else matters.

My dog was also the same re other dogs until a cousin who we see a lot also got a dog. As we see them so often the two dogs are together a lot.

It has definitely helped socialise our dog, who even though was fine with other dogs, was never interested and certainly didn't want to play with them.

Now when other dogs come bounding over she still is ball focused, but definitely does not seem as fussed as before.

My advice: a friend or family member who can.spend lots of time with yours? My cousins dog is very hyper which helped (much to the horror of my own dog initially)