About dogs and deer

[crispysausagerolls]

Ok sorry because this is my second dog-walking thread but I am so outraged by the following and want to know if AIBU:

I am heavily pregnant (still! When is this baby going to make an appearance?!?) and I was walking my dog today in the park. There was a huge herd of stags lying down that we had to go past to leave the park, so we have them a wide berth and my dog was walking to heel. As we came level with them, a rogue dog charged into them barking, followed by his owner who was jogging. The owner failed to respond and the deer began stirring, standing up and starting to freak out. I was yelling at the owner to get his dog and eventually he did, with a lot of “I didn’t see the deer/it’s not my fault”. The deer were about 10 seconds from freaking out completely and charging, and if they had come at me or anyone else, serious damage could’ve been done!

AIBU to expect people to be vigilant in a park with deer?!?!?

@crispysausagerolls but others are saying a lead is no guarantee that your dog will
Stay under control.. do you agree with that? Presumably not as you have just pointed out you used to keep your dog on the lead.
My point is that anyone can think they have excellent recall with their dog but no dog is 100% reliable for all the reasons that the previous poster pointed out (boredom, distraction etc etc). So I would have thought restricting dogs to leads was sensible but it seems that others are saying even that is no guarantee that the dog is controlled.

Ellapaella

I think it depends a lot on the type of training the dog has had. I agree no dog can ever really be 100% trained. I think that dogs should only be off the lead if they are trained, and honestly even on the lead all dogs should have a degree of training! The Husky in someone else’s example shouldn’t really have been out and about if it wasn’t safe to be nearly people or controllable. The dog today was completely out of control, and had no business being in a park containing deer, with an owner who wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings.

My point is that anyone can think they have excellent recall with their dog but no dog is 100% reliable for all the reasons that the previous poster pointed out (boredom, distraction etc etc)

My dog is gundog trained and the number one thing his trainer says is above. He hates dogs having harnesses as they “mask” the issue, and he hates dogs being trained with treats because if a dog sees something like a squirrel, he won’t give a shit about your biscuit. Gundog training is quite a different kettle of fish because the dog has to be COMPLETELY under control, to sit on a shoot for long periods of time and to only collect the birds when required. Obviously not every dog needs this level of training, but most dogs respond well to training that doesn’t require distraction techniques or treats.

@crispy What exactly is your trainer using to motivate the dogs?

I used to live near Richmond Park and about 20 odd years ago I remember it being cliaed because a dog was killed by deer. Her dog ran towards them and she ran after the dog. They started and she was trampled to death. It was the talk if the whole neighbourhood. There was an enquiry, and it was decided there were adequate notices around the park warning of the dangers.

I used to use the park a lot - some people are just idiots, walking towards a herd to take photos or trying to pet them. I am surprised there hasn't been more deaths.

And who forget 'FENTON'

AvocadosBeforeMortgages

Using the desire to retrieve as an incentive, a routine that means they look forward to going out with him and are focussed on him when they do, growling when they do something wrong. It’s actually really amazing to watch - I wouldn’t have been able to do it myself, and I don’t fully understand it but my dog absolutely adores him and replicates the behaviour with me. He did have to go away for a month though which was pretty heartbreaking, but you can’t have any risks around guns.

Btw I didn’t mean to sound so shitty in the above post - of course other types of training work for other types of dog! Was just agreeing with the fact that not all dogs training is “foolproof”.

KC225

I’ve heard of several dogs being trampled by deer, it’s a terrifying prospect!

I think last summer a woman was very badly injured after getting to close to one in Richmond Park too, and she complained about a lack of signs up warning...but there are signs up everywhere about not feeding the deer and their yearly schedule/times of aggression etc

@crispy I won't pretend to know anything about gundog training, but I had feared you were going to start talking about the dogs getting a clip around the ear when they did something wrong...

I'm glad it has worked for you and your dog, though I'm sure there are some dogs that don't make the grade as working gun dogs!

I've got a terrier cross - bred to chase small furry things on one side of the family, and mid sized furry things on the other, so asking him not to chase a deer or sheep would be unrealistic. I regard squirrels and magpies to be fair game, though he's never caught one. He's always on lead if there's a realistic chance we might meet something like a sheep or deer, because he has ultimately been bred to chase and I could never 100% trust him. Much like your dog's main desire is to retrieve, his is to chase, catch and kill.

Due to his background, training him to be an acceptable member of society has always been my core goal, mostly achieved with occasional blips. Crufts obedience champion? Fat chance

@crispysausagerolls try to avoid the little bridge by the car park (Diana fountain) if you can, that's where the idiots feed the deer. It's horrifying when you see how many have had to be put down due to ingesting the wrong things. I do love Bushy though, it's a great park.

I never trust animals even though I was brought up in the country and live in the country now.
I'd avoid herds of large animals, I always give cattle a wide berth. I don't think they'd deliberately hurt you but they are BIG!

AvocadosBeforeMortgages

Women gundog training methods are disgusting and barbaric - making dogs hold thistles in their mouths etc or hitting them! We had to look high and low to find a gentle approach, sadly. I’ve seen dogs come back from training who flinch when approached, it’s heartbreaking!

I completely agree with you re squirrels etc, and you are right about instrincts, which is probably why my dog doesn’t care so much about the deer but yours would do. We had jack Russell’s growing up and they were not to be trusted anywhere in the vicinity of deer 😂😂 I love terriers, so mischievous!

HelloDoris

I know exactly where you mean! And near the playground there seem to be an awful lot at the moment, right next to picnicking families who are giving them titbits. It makes me sad that, like the lion article someone posted on the previous page, the animal always ends up being blamed for doing what comes naturally to it when it feels harassed etc

*SOME gundog methods, not women 😂🙈

@BlankTimes This is the best advice ever! :)

if something's bigger than you and/or has pointy sharp bits on it, give it a very wide berth