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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unsociable dog and no warning

48 replies

MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 12:45

I’m quite irritated by an incident I had this morning, I realise it’s pretty insignificant in the grand scheme so have come here to rant and save peoples ears IRL.

Walking my dog with my baby in the pram and leaving the park down a path (probably 5 metres wide), I spot a teenage girl (17/18) approaching behind me walking her collie on a lead. My dog is off lead, so I looked at her directly and gather my dogs lead ready to clip him on if necessary, I asked “is he ok?” looking at her dog. She ignores me. I realise she has headphones in. She continues to approach me. I assume by her lack of response and nonchalant attitude that her dog is ok.

I turned my head to look at my baby who is crying and being fussy, at which point her dog lunges at mine as it passes. My dog yelps, then pulls away. I clipped my dog on pretty quickly and said that “some warning might have been nice, I did ask” and she just continued to ignore me.

I totally respect that some dogs need space and have had a reactive dog before, but I also think if you have a reactive/aggressive dog you should engage with fellow dog walkers to warn them. She was walking faster than me and would no doubt have just come up behind with no warning had I not have clocked her.

OP posts:
SomewhereInbetween1 · 01/07/2019 14:17

OP I don't think you were being unreasonable at all, perhaps the only thing I would mention is that on pathways that are narrow it is always best to have your dog on a lead in case you pass someone who doesn't like dogs or as in this case, a reactive dog.

If the other owner knew her dog was reactive she should have taken measures to ensure her dog wasn't close enough to yours to lash out or to cause them anxiety. If that means stopping and waiting then so be it, you make allowances for dogs that get easily stressed.

Dog walkers who walk or run with headphones on annoy the living shit out of me. You cannot keep a reasonable eye on your dog if you cannot hear them, or are distracted from spotting potential hazards. She should not have been listening to music.

I hope your dog is ok

MuthaFunka61 · 01/07/2019 14:24

When walking dogs the owners should pass each other with the dogs on the outside.
A lead does not mean a dog is under control, it simply means it's tethered.

In this instance I'd have moved my dog to the other side whilst walking to heel, but the other dog walker should have been paying attention to her dog and the surroundings.

I'm really glad no damage was done.

SavingSpaces2019 · 01/07/2019 14:43

she had headphones in so obviously didn't hear you - she didn't have a 'nonchalant attitude' Hmm

Maybe her dog is actually pretty well behaved, a 'lunge' towards your dog doesn't necessarily mean it was being aggressive.
Maybe it was just being excited/friendly and trying to go up to your dog like lots of dogs do?

If the 'space between' your dogs was an issue for you - why didn't YOU move, especially once you realised she couldn't hear you due to her earphones?
Mind you, you need to have YOUR dog already on its lead to do that.

DottieLottie1 · 01/07/2019 14:53

Sorry another one who thinks your dog should have been on a lead.

Iliterallycantthinkofanythingq · 01/07/2019 14:54

Sorry I think YABU. I keep my dog on a lead because sometimes he doesn't like other dogs. Her dog couldn't hurt your dog because he was on the lead so she was able to pull him back. Yours should have been on the lead too. There's no way I'd have the confidence to tell someone I don't know that they should put their dog on the lead! She's already done her part by having hers on the lead.

Nesssie · 01/07/2019 14:56

The issue is, 2 dogs without problems should have been able to pass each other. Even if one was on lead/one was off lead.

However in this case, the collie clearly has either lead aggression/frustration. If the pathway had been narrower, the collie may have made contact with the ops dog. It was only the length of the lead that stopped it. the OP had no way of knowing the collie was going to lunge - is she suppose to give all on lead dogs 10 ft of space 'just in case' - or would you assume that if a dog you were going to pass had lead issues, the owner would either move over or let you know.

An on lead dog doesn't necessarily mean it is under control (legally or morally). A little worrying that people think having a dog on lead absolves you of any responsibility and potential liability.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 01/07/2019 14:57

Your should have been on the lead. End of.

One of my Mum's dogs is unpredictable and aggressive towards some other dogs (but not all). She is ALWAYS on the lead, and I hate it and get very stressed when someone approaches me with their dog off-lead for this very reason.

Please keep your dog on a lead.

Nesssie · 01/07/2019 15:02

FFS @GreenFingers.

I empathise as my dog is lead aggressive but you can't expect all other dogs to be on a lead. You can expect them to not approach you and your dog - which is what the OP did, she called her dog to her side and her dog did not interact with the other dog. They did not approach, they were walking along the same path.

If the OPs dog had been on a lead, the collie would have still lunged. That is not acceptable.

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:17

Thanks for the responses.

Just to clear up - the collie did make contact with my dog, hence he yelped and pulled away. The collie lunged whilst passing. I couldn’t have gotten out of the way, the other dog walker was walking faster than me and was overtaking. The path wasn’t wide enough to create a large enough space.

The other walker pulled her dog away and carried on, completely unphased.

My dog walks to heel (he does agility and we do Cani X) he’s pretty well trained. A lead or not he wouldn’t have been any closer. He pulled himself away irrespective.

Just as a side. If you read the Dangerous Dogs Act does not require that your dog is on a lead, but under close control. Arguably here the collie was not under close control, despite being on a lead.

I have had a reactive dog and in this instance I would have held back so not to pass the other dog closely, if I was desperate to pass I would have gathered my dog closely and shouted ahead that he’s not friendly.

Anyway, no real harm done. My dog is sociable but prefers a “job” like chasing a ball so seldom approaches other dogs as it is.

OP posts:
Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:19

@GreenFingersWouldBeHandy

I have had a variety of rescue dogs and foster dogs. Including reactive dogs, but also including dogs who are on a lead because their recall is poor. That’s why I always shout ahead or ask. I have total respect for dogs not approaching on lead dogs here and if you read my post you’ll understand that’s not what happened.

OP posts:
Bluebell878275 · 01/07/2019 15:25

Perhaps the collie is generally good with other dogs which is why the walker didn't warn in the first place. Sometimes dogs take a dislike to each other with no apparent reason (to us). She may have been surprised that her collie went for the OP's dog and was embarrassed. Still good to acknowledge and apologise but it does sound like it was over and done with in seconds.

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:29

@FriarTuck I mentioned she had headphones in because i was looking and speaking to her directly to assess the situation and speak with her and she ignored me. Best practice with an unsociable dog is to be aware of your surroundings and any potential triggers IME.

OP posts:
Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:29

@Bluebell878275

Yes that could well be the case. I was miffed at the other walkers attitude. It’s not the dogs fault.

OP posts:
Justathinslice · 01/07/2019 15:39

Her dog lunged, but did it make contact with yours?

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:45

Yes it made contact. It didn’t bite, but snapped at mine. They were entangled but my dog pulled away.

OP posts:
itsagodawfulsmallaffair · 01/07/2019 15:51

This exact story has been posted on nn quite a while ago.

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 15:53

@itsagodawfulsmallaffair
I can assure you it wasn’t posted by me. But am not surprised this has happened more than once in the history of mumsnet, given how common place dog ownership is.

OP posts:
TheRealShatParp · 01/07/2019 15:57

If I was out walking my dog and someone was about to pass me with their dog on a lead common sense and courtesy would tell me to put my dog on a lead. I’d be more annoyed if I were her to be honest.

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 16:08

Actually as I’ve thought about it despite opinion I’m glad my dog wasn’t on a lead. He was close enough that a lead wouldn’t have made any difference re how close he was to me and wouldn’t have prevented the other dog lunging. As it was my dog took himself away from the pram and the baby, he was only able to do that because he wasn’t tethered.

OP posts:
LittleLongDog · 01/07/2019 16:17

YANBU and all the people telling you to put your dog on a lead need to rtft.

She was being irresposible to walk him so close to you if she knew he was reactive.

Booboostwo · 01/07/2019 16:22

Ideally dog owners should place themselves between the dogs and not allow random dogs to socialize in a tight space, especially when one is on lead. Lesson learnt.

User24689 · 01/07/2019 18:58

You know, given your update I will say that it sounds like you're a responsible dog owner and it isn't as though (as I first pictured it) your dog approached an on lead dog uninvited and got snapped at. However I will stand by the fact that I think it's sensible to assume any and all dogs can take a random dislike to another dog and snap so it may not be that the teenager had reason to 'warn' you and putting your dog on lead when you see another approaching on the lead is sensible/ courteous.

Tbh though you seem more and more sure you are NBU each time you post so not certain what point of posting was!

Original poster
MonkeyTrap · 01/07/2019 19:52

@upthewolves

I agree, dogs can take a random dislike and this might have been the case here.

Posted to voice a rant and have satisfied that itch.

OP posts:
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