Who was unreasonable? Dog walking.

[Bearlover16]

Walking my dog up the field. Let him off lead for a run. He approaches another dog to say hello who was on lead. Other dog attacks my dog, bites him quite nasty on the leg. My dog retaliates. Owner rants at me that my dog should be on a lead and she's sick of people like me as her dog gets the blame being a bull terrier. I respond that surely my dog should be allowed to have a run off lead?
Who was being unreasonable? Should her dog be muzzled if it's viscous even on lead?

You state on another thread your dog is a giant breed, you should definitely be aware that that size of dog off the lead, Can be Intimidating to many others whether you believe it to be friendly they may not.

All these saying it should have been muzzled is all well and good until you get attacked by an off lead aggressive dog and yours has no way of defending itself! I've had to kick, yes kick, repeatedly at another dog to get it off my old dog reactive dog. How about you keep your dog under control. If it doesn't bother a dog on a lead it won't get itself bitten. Oh and a child/dog comparison is pointless my old dog was wonderful with children and if you're willing to let you child run up to an unfamiliar (or even familiar) dog and get in its face then you shouldn't be in charge of children either!

Oh dear, another entitled mn princess who thinks the rest of the world should change its perfectly reasonable behaviour even further in order to facilitate her prancing about doing exactly what she pleases even in the face of an entire thread of yabus 🙄

Anyone seen the OP anywhere?

Our dog is a nervous rescue that is never off lead. We have invested in a lead that says ‘no dogs’ very clearly to stop this happening.
I have had someone bring their puppy up to my dog ‘ to meet other dogs ‘ even though I said no. I had to quickly pick my dog up to prevent injury. After some colourful language, I explained that dog is a nervous rescue and not suitable to meet a puppy.

My dog was once very friendly and loved all other dogs. One day she was attacked while on lead by a loose dog who's owner was miles away. I received nerve damage prying the two apart (stupid I know but worth it to protect my dog) and my dog is now terrified of other dogs. I can no longer take her to the dog beach or other dog play areas, she can never be walked off lead and I now can't take my toddler on walks with us because dog goes in to protective mode convinced that dd could be attacked at any moment. Every time we see another dog, on or off lead, we have to cross the street, if that is not an option we must move away from the path and I have to physically comfort my dog until they have passed. If an off lead dog approaches I will stand between them, put out a hand and tell the dog to leave, more than once I have had to tell an off lead dog off loudly enough that it goes running back to its owner (who is always miles away) with its tail between its legs. Neither my dog nor I get the same enjoyment we once did from walks, and after 7 years with a happy obedient well socialised dog it breaks my heart.

This thread has cheered me up so much to see how many people recognise just how unreasonable you are. And no I will not muzzle my dog, too much enjoyment has been taken from us for me to punish her further by putting a muzzle on her. Not to mention the fact that being incapable of defending herself will only cause her more anxiety.

My dog is kept on the lead unless somewhere I can see anyone entering or exiting the field, as she is scared of other dogs. She’s never bitten, but she gets so frightened I would worry she could run into a road and get hurt in her panic.

I get seriously fed up with people allowing their off lead dogs to come bounding up to us barking while she yelps and winds her lead around me like a maypole trying to get away.

OP, huge YABU. Because of people like YOU my DC is absolutely scared shitless of dogs. Too many “just friendly” dogs knocking him over.

Doubt you’re still reading OP but just to say people like you are the reason I no longer enjoy walking my dogs. Mine are bull breeds, totally friendly, well trained and completely uninterested in anything or anybody else except our little pack and chasing their ball.

The number of times we’ve been approached by off lead dogs with inattentive, irresponsible and inconsiderate owners is astounding, as is some owners reaction when they realise it’s ‘nasty bull breeds’ their dogs are bothering. Worst of it is, if there ever was a fight, it’s my dogs who are most at risk of being blamed and probably destroyed simply because of their breed.

People like you don’t think of the consequences, for yourselves and your dog or for other people and theirs but are the first to start squealing and blaming everyone else when your out of control dog causes a problem. Take your head out of your arse and get some common sense ffs

One of my dogs was socialised and friendly, and interacted well with other dogs from being a pup, she wasn't aggressive or reactive, a small breed.
Then a few years ago whilst on her lead in a public area, as she should be because I don't want her getting run over or bothering people, an off lead dog attacked her. It cost me £300 at the vets, plus 8 stitches in my arm. I managed to prise the other dog off and pick my dog up, but got caught by the other dog lunging for mine. What scared me was I was on the way to collect my daughter from school (wait outside the gates) and had it been on my return journey the concequences could have been much worse. Duly reported to the police and dog was PTS for biting, I wasn't the first person this had happened to. Felt utterly awful for the poor dog, a responsible owner would have prevented that happening. I was advised there was no point pursuing damages so all that was out of my pocket.
Now my dog reacts when approached, so unless I can see the way is clear she's on a lead. Even when on a lead she is still approached, despite polite requests not to as she's not friendly. I pick her up, and have other dogs leaping at me. Been knocked to my knees by one large breed, fight almost ensued.

Why should I take away my dogs ability to defend herself while she is under control, so that someone else who can't or won't control their dog off lead can continue to not control their dog? Why should my dog be restrained and muzzled, allowing another dog to approach and possibly attack without any method of defense? My dogs body language will be defensive and she will growl, the other dog may well react to this and become defensive and attack, and now my dog can't defend herself.
So no, there's no way I'm muzzling my dog so yours can run up to mine.
Have control off lead and if you haven't put the dog back on.
It's quite simple really.

One of the clearest 'yes, you are being absolutely unreasonable' threads I have ever seen but the OP doesn't seem able to accept it .

You claim your dog retaliated so it doesn't sound like your dog was any more able to 'control its mouth' than the other dog, so how come you think only one of them needs a muzzle?

You, sorry but I also lead up my dog around other dogs, I hate it when other dogs are left off when mine is on a lead. It really p,s me off.

You. Dont allow ur dog to approach leashed dogs when off leash

I am interested in all the comments on here about children.

Very, very few of the children I meet have been trained about approaching dogs.

When I am in the park with mine, I feel like a Public Information Service.
I have a spaniel, soft looking, floppy ears and big soft eyes, and he is a kids magnet.
Fortunately he is also soft as butter with kids and would actually allow a child to hurt him rather then hurt them (not that I would put that to the test)

I am ALWAYS having kids barrel up to us and start fussing. Each time I patiently say, Stop, wait, you MUST ask, because not all dogs like being fussed and some are scared of people approaching. Oh yes said one little boy, they can bite can;t they? (Yes, so why did you run up to my dog without asking?)

The other day a tiny tot, maybe 2or 3 got out of her buggy and ran across to us going DOGGY DOGGY! I stopped and my dog sat down and waited patiently. When I said nice and gently to the little girl, it isn't a good idea to come up to a dog you don't know her mum called across - Oh yes she's normally pretty good.
I just stood there thinking, you have just allowed your tiny child to run up to a dog whose face and teeth are right at her face level, and you didn't call out, or say -wait, or ask me if the dog was OK or anything.

I would never trust a child to do the right thing around a dog.

We live very close to a popular dog walking beach and it really is lovely to see all the dogs who get together and play for hours in the sea whilst the owners wander and chat, but people bring their dogs to the beach knowing it is a free play environment and only suitable for non-reactive dogs, and most people also respect the space around dogs on leads.
I went down to watch the sunrise one morning (5am ish) and chatted to a gentleman who is on the beach at that time every day so his reactive dog can have some free off-lead time, because it's not worth the risk at other times.

Keep your fucking dog on a leash. 

My dog is always on a leash and getting attacked by free running dogs.

And I always get blamed for having her on a leash.

Gahhhhhh. 😡

@steppemum

I've had dogs my whole life. Lots. And lots of different types.

Not one I'd trust with a small child.

Ds (5) knows to ask both me and the owner before touching a dog. The amount of people that tell him it's fine and he doesn't need to ask  or let him touch a dog that clearly doesn't want to be touched is astounding.

And the amount of parents that let their tiny children touch my very large dog amazes me. I always say 'you should never touch a dog without asking it's owner and your parent' and usually get the response 'oh but she looks so sweet!' Yes she looks sweet and always has been but she's also fucking massive and could take your kid's head off in one bite!

Both TBH. Your dog approached her dog. However, she didn't move her dog away or alert you that her was unfriendly. Presumably she was walking in a popular dog walking spot? Usually people with unfriendly dogs make efforts to keep curious friendly dogs away. She did not. At the same time, you should have been able to call your dog back when the situation became clear.

@steppemum

Fellow soft spaniel owner here. I think I must have been lucky. Our Poppy dog is a kid magnet but I'd say 90% of the time kids ask before approaching her. And that's with her wagging her tail like a lunatic.

I do feel a bit like a dog information service though. Telling g kids how she likes to be stroked.

You, if your dog can't be recalled you should put the lead back on as soon as you see another dog.

You've decided the other dog is dangerous to make yourself the victim here, but it's more than likely it's afraid of other dogs and that fear reaction caused the bite. Unfortunately certain breeds have been labelled dangerous because of irresponsible owners and then prejudiced people who treat them badly and that not the dogs fault.

My mums dog really friendly with other dogs but is always put back on lead of one approaches, he's a big dog and little dogs not on leads often attack him and their owners excuse it because they are small and he's a 'dangerous' breed and has been attacked by other owners because they can't be bothered to control their dogs. That's not an excuse for them or you!

Use the lead and don't blame people who are being responsible.

Am totally in agreement with everyone who says OP should have her dog on a lead or train it not to approach others dogs.

But so many people are using the F word in their responses here - surely it's a bit hypocritical having a go at OP for not controlling her dog when you clearly can't control your own bad language and aggression in your responses!

I might be wrong but I reckon that as your dog retaliated if the other dog needed vet treatment you could be deemed liable for their vet bill because they will be seen as having a dog under control (on a lead) yours won't be (off lead) and you dog will be judged as having instigated it by approaching (out of control)

It's interesting that people think reactive dogs shouldn't be walked in 'popular' dog walking spots. Why?? If a dog is on the lead & not lunging at other dogs...which in this case OP makes no reference to any aggression until her dog gets in the other dog's face...then why should owners keep their dogs away? It isn't a legal right to have your dog off lead anywhere

Other dog was on lead for a reaason. You should never let an off lead dog run up to an on lead dog no matter how friendly your dog is... for all you knowshe could have been training an extremely nervous dog and you have just undone all her hard work...

One of mine gets really narky if other dogs bother her when she's on her lead. Off-lead she's fine and will either play or just run off out of the way. This is really, really common behaviour. Despite the fact that she's a brindle Staff, she isn't vicious, she just feels vulnerable when she's on the lead and can't get away from a situation.