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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report uncontrolled dog?

22 replies

Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 09:02

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone has done this, or perhaps a WWYD if not. I'm on the fence with what to do and looking for perspective.

My dog was attacked as a puppy, spent years in obdience school only to be attacked again and now doesn't like other dogs. Last night on walk DH spotted a dog up ahead and we changed direction (only he saw it, our dog didn't).

Unfortunately the other dog had seen us, and as was off lead chased after us. DH picked our dog up and I stood in front to try and shield our dog. Ours is a Staffordshire bull terrier, the other dog was a Doberman. We were calling for the owner but he was nowhere to be seen, DH struggling to hold our fiesty dog whilst the Doberman was on his hind legs leaning on us both or jumping up at our dog. Eventually the owner appears, shouts 'don't panic' in a patronising way complete with eye roll. He clearly thought I was being dramatic.

The guy couldn't recall his dog, it completely ignored him. Eventually managed to secure the dog and off they walked, with a barely audiable 'sorry about that'. We're left with an anxious but angry dog, DH and I covered in mud and fur and I had been bitten (by my own dog, my fault). We know who the guy is and where he lives. Would we be U to report him? To be honest I'm not sure what outcome I would want. He clearly cannot control the dog and the situation could have been awful had my DH not been there as whilst I can pick our dog up, it was me shielding him that stopped either of them biting one another. I'm also completely fed up with the situation. If people cannot control the dog, don't let it off the lead. Both times my boy was attacked it was very similar situations. It's hard having the breed I do, especially if he can be dog aggressive but is not his fault.

That was so long, I'm sorry!

OP posts:
Fstar · 02/10/2018 09:29

Sorry to hear your dog has had a bad time, i have a sbt too who was attacked twice by neighbours jack russel and my boy just wouldnt fight back, twice my partner had to pull the little shit off my boy. I didnt report it (dog was on lead but got out of collar) i didnt think it did much damage at the time but days later his hair fell out with scabs on face and neck. I didnt report because i didnt want them to potentially lose their dog (not sure if that would happen).

I think give yourself time to think it over and if you still feel strongly report it.

Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 09:39

Oh No, our poor dogs Fstar.
I definitely wouldn't want them to lose the dog, I guess just to learn a lesson and not let it off lead if no control?

OP posts:
CloudCaptain · 02/10/2018 09:43

Well the doberman was only being friendly. He just wanted to play. I'm not sure what you would actually report.
I say this as someone who is not a fan of dogs and has actually had my toddler attacked by a dog.

Wellfuckmeinbothears · 02/10/2018 09:45

I would definitely report. He sounds like an irresponsible dog owner. His dog shouldn’t have been off lead if it had unreliable recall.

FairfaxAikman · 02/10/2018 09:49

@CloudCaptain that's not "friendly" that's rude and not properly socialised.

OP YANBU - I bloody hate that kind of attitude. My girl was also attacked and while not reactive, prefers her own company and gets stressed when her space is invaded. But arseholes like this think their dog's fun trumps your dog's fear/stress.

Have you tried a YellowDog bandana? I find that combined with "oh she's contagious" gets them to control their dog's PDQ.

Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 09:49

I get that Cloud and respect your opinion, but by law the dog was out of control. It could have injured me as was jumping up at me and DH, leaning on us etc. For all I knew it wasn't friendly, my dog didn't appreciate it. Say my dog had reacted, attacked even if I didn't shield him. Would the playful Doberman still be playful or decide to fight back?

OP posts:
Floatingwhale · 02/10/2018 09:50

"He just wanted to play" - the most annoying thing "friendly" dog owners say.
You don't know how someone else's dog is going to react, you don't let your dog run up to strangers without making sure it's okay.
If you can't recall your dog away from something it's interested in then it shouldn't be off the lead.
We have this problem endlessly with ignorant owners, unfortunately I'm not sure there's much that can be done about it until someone's injured.

Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 09:53

Fairfax, we did have the yellow collar and lead. They really are great. We found it opened up conversations with people as they were curious about why he was wearing it.
The lead wasn't the most sturdy so maybe I'll look at the bandana instead. Thank you

OP posts:
Ihaventgottimeforthis · 02/10/2018 09:54

I think I would report. The dog is not sufficiently trained to be reliably under control - although that is the case for many (most?!) dogs, the fact he showed such interest in your dog as to jump up at you is concerning - this could well happen again.

On another note, have you seen those colour coded leads & harnesses, which say clearly NERVOUS or CAUTION or STAY AWAY and things like that? I don't see them around much but when I do they are quite effective!

FairfaxAikman · 02/10/2018 10:01

@Berimbolo the bandanas say "I need space", which I prefer as space can be needed for many reasons. When we used "nervous" the He's Friendly Bridge has the cheek to say I shouldn't have her out in public. (Nervous wasn't strictly accurate either.)

Pidlan · 02/10/2018 10:05

YANBU but I would be concerned that your dog bit you. Unfortunately, you cannot control what happens outside your home, so if you take your dog for a walk you might see overbearing dogs/people/small children who get far too close to your dog. If your dog is at risk of biting them, he needs to be muzzled.

chatwoo · 02/10/2018 10:09

I wouldn't report this time, but if you see them again and have the same trouble, I definitely would. Not everyone wants to be harassed by something the size of a doberman and the owner should be VERY mindful of that.

Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 10:10

That's good Fairfax, we did originally want the orange as it's for dogs good with people but not other dogs. We couldn't get one in his size for so long so went with the yellow as said nervous on it. Plus he doesn't always react to dogs and it did encourage conversations. Maybe I'll just get the orange bandana now

OP posts:
Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 10:15

Thank you Pidlan, honestly I'm not concerned. I put my hand on him same time as the dog headbutted him and it frightened him. No skin broken but a bruise.

We did muzzle him for walks after the first attack especially as we used to do a lot of nature reserve walking. Unfortunately the second attack happened when he was wearing it and wasn't able to defend himself because of it. The obdience school recommended we stopped for street walks, but sadly he has a fear reaction to it so I personally prefer he doesn't wear it. His reaction was so bad that we had to stop obdience school because I am not prepared to harm his health in making him wear it (unless for the vets of course)

OP posts:
AlrightTreacle · 02/10/2018 10:19

From the government website:

"Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

  • injures someone.
  • makes someone worried that it might injure them.

A court could also decide that your dog is dangerously out of control if either of the following apply:

  • it attacks someone’s animal.
  • the owner of an animal thinks they could be injured if they tried to stop your dog attacking their animal."

@CloudCaptain If a Doberman was jumping all over you, would you not be a little bit concerned?! I love my dog, and spent a lot of time socilaising him with other dogs, and training recall. My biggest pet hate is when some random dog comes running up off the lead, I call my dog and he comes, but is followed by random dog, exactly like the OP has described, owner nowhere to be seen, and when they do turn up I get told "he's just being friendly" Hmm. Half the time the dog doesn't seem friendly to me, and I'm nervous about dogs running up to mine because my friends dog was attacked in front of me by two other dogs years ago and nearly died.

Either train your dog or keep it on a lead!

Pissedoffdotcom · 02/10/2018 10:21

Report report report. There is nothing friendly about a loose dog on hind legs at you. Legally the owners had no control over their dog & put you in a situation where you felt uncomfortable & uncertain about what the dog's intentions were. The dog should not be off lead if it is not 100% under control...which it clearly wasn't purely for the fact they couldn't see the damn thing.

Call the local dog warden & have a word

Booboostwo · 02/10/2018 10:28

Yes, of course you should report, this is exactly what the Dog Warden is for. He will go and have a chat with the owner and explain things (the owner should know anyway), like how he should not let the dog off lead if it doesn't have a strong recall, how he should always have the dog in sight when off lead, etc.

CloudCaptain · 02/10/2018 10:29

I get annoyed and nervous when any sort of dog jumps up at me or even approaches me. I much prefer them to be well trained and preferably not allowed into all public spaces but unfortunately dog is king in this country. I would much prefer dog owners to need a licence which proves they are responsible owners to be honest. I was merely suggesting the dog warden/police is rarely interested when it's a dog on human problem let alone dog on dog.
I'm sorry you have a nervous dog and that there are some arrogant and useless dog owners out there.

Pissedoffdotcom · 02/10/2018 10:33

The dog warden is in place for exactly this sort of situation. The police wouldn't be interested because the dobie didn't bite a human...but under the alterations to the DDA which every dog owner regardless of breed really needs to familiarise themselves with a dog doesn't have to bite to be considered out of control. A dog can be classed as dangerous now if it barks at someone walking past your garden & they decide they are fearful of it (batshit or what?). The DW will attempt to educate the owners & give them a friendly warning that similar incidents could see them imposed with restrictions such as lead & muzzle in public

Original poster
Berimbolo · 02/10/2018 10:33

Just want to say thanks for the replies, really appreciate every response

OP posts:
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 02/10/2018 10:49

There is no pondering to be had her.
There is no question about this you must report it.
Heaven forbid but neXT time and there wiLl be a next time, your dog may not be so fortunate. Also next time it could be a child.

SnuggyBuggy · 02/10/2018 11:00

Report. It's bloody stupid leaving a dog unsupervised. What if it ran into the road and caused an accident?

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