Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask what you’d think if you saw someone putting their dog on a lead?

145 replies

LionsShare · 29/10/2019 13:59

I always think they don’t want me to go near their dog so stay away or walk further away from them.

When I was walking my dog today I put her on the lead because she can sometimes be reactive to other dogs. Mostly she’s fine but she was attacked and gets scared if dogs approach her sometimes and I could tell she was in one of those moods today so I put her on the lead as the other dog was approaching and started walking a bit away from them. The man kept coming directly towards me, he had a big husky so thought I was putting her on because I was worried his dog would be aggressive. He kept walking towards me saying it’s ok he’ll only want to play, I was like I know but my dog won’t want to Hmm

Am I unreasonable in thinking if you see someone recall their dog and put them on a lead you stay away? Not sure what else I could have done to keep her away? She started showing her teeth, she doesn’t go for the dogs just warns them away because of her fear, but I always worry about the other dog reacting to her and things escalating.

We have been going to training classes and she is getting better but doesn’t like dogs who jump around her still. Walking past dogs etc she’s absolutely fine.

OP posts:
livinginthegreenfields · 29/10/2019 14:02

I think exactly like you, if I was walking towards another dog and owner and they put the lead on then I would copy them and do the same

AryaStarkWolf · 29/10/2019 14:02

Yeah, I would think the same as you

ThreeLittleDots · 29/10/2019 14:02

YANBU and I'm not a dog owner - but even I know that:

it’s ok he’ll only want to play

is a case of not reading the room when you've literally just put yours on lead

Maneandfeathers · 29/10/2019 14:03

I always put mine on lead and expect other people to do the same.

My dogs are friendly but I don’t want them pestering or frightening people or dogs so I keep them with me at all times.

Whichoneofyoudidthat · 29/10/2019 14:04

I’d assume the owner was trying to control their dog in anticipation of it being anything from aggressive to overly boisterous/friendly with my dog.

Theresnobslikeshowbs · 29/10/2019 14:04

I’d think the same as you. It’s either their dog isn’t good around dogs or are scared. So you do the same thing- normally they say something like ‘she’s a little scared’ etc and it’s a non issue.

Kaykay06 · 29/10/2019 14:07

I usually recall my dog if we see another as I don’t want that dog approaching mine. Not because he’s reactive or anything but you never know about dogs who just run up and owners who don’t seem to care so I keep him with me.

onanothertrain · 29/10/2019 14:07

I recall and put my dog on lead at times but it's never to do with other dogs, it's usually horses, small children running about or cars.

BossAssBitch · 29/10/2019 14:08

YANBU. We have two beautifully natured dogs who love other dogs but as soon as I see a husky, they are back on the lead, we have had so many aggressive encounters with that breed, they have no recall and are often highly strung and unpredictable. The only breed that makes me nervous due to so many bad personal experiences on walks.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 29/10/2019 14:10

I usually don't bother with a lead, just call mine back and get her to walk next to me. If she couldn't be trusted then I would. It doesn't matter how friendly she is, if people are trying to avoid her it's for a reason.

AmIThough · 29/10/2019 14:10

I think you should put your dog on the lead whenever you see another person, with or without a dog.

You don't know the other dog and you don't whether they'll be aggressive, playful, nervous, so both dogs should be restrained.

Honeybee85 · 29/10/2019 14:11

I would slowly approach since in some places it’s not allowed to walk your dog without a lead and then see the owner’s reaction.

Btw, YANBU my old dog was small but very fierce, could be agressive towards other dogs triple her size so I would always put her on a lead and get highly annoyed if other dog owners, particulary those with dogs much better then mine, let their dogs approach mine.

PhilomenaButterfly · 29/10/2019 14:11

I think "meh".

AmIThough · 29/10/2019 14:11

@BossAssBitch a husky's recall can be good if they've been properly trained, like every other breed.

easyandy101 · 29/10/2019 14:11

When I'm out walking the dog i don't assume anything and make it clear to people to keep their distance

The dog in question is an extremely anti-social staffy that never gets walked off lead in public and only gets an offlead run about at 2am in the fenced in, deserted dog park. She's fine with people and other animals but seemingly can't be fully socialised with other dogs

A few people have wilfully ignored but most people i meet in the dog park at 2am are there for the same reason

But yeah i never leave it open to someone else's interpretation

Honeybee85 · 29/10/2019 14:11

Not better, bigger then mine Blush ofcourse for me she was the best Grin

missyB1 · 29/10/2019 14:12

In that situation I would have called my dog over to walk by me and distracted her with treats. I may or may not have put her on the lead.
You don’t say if the other dog actually came over to your dog? Was there any trouble? You say your dog bared teeth and growled, what was that in response to?

BertieBotts · 29/10/2019 14:14

I don't have a dog - it wouldn't occur to me to keep particular distance from someone I saw putting a lead on their dog. I wouldn't think that it was for a particular reason - perhaps just that the off lead part of the walk was over and they were going home.

Isn't there a yellow lead or banner or something which is meant to indicate nervous dog please keep distance?

cheeseislife8 · 29/10/2019 14:14

I HATE that "Oh it's ok, he's friendly" as some dog comes running up to my blind nervous dog.

YANBU, putting back on lead to me means give me space

Beagled · 29/10/2019 14:15

@easyandy101 just out of curiosity do you see a lot of people at the park at that time?

sophiasnail · 29/10/2019 14:16

Er.... it might be the Yorkshire in me talking..... but why don't you just talk to the other owner???????

If we approach another dog owner I shout up "Is he ok with other dogs?" and then respond accordingly! If the other owner has a black labrador (which my toy poodle is frightened of, having been attacked by one) I shout up "Will you keep him away, poodlesnail is scared".

Problem solved!

Beautiful3 · 29/10/2019 14:16

I would think the same as you.

AmIThough · 29/10/2019 14:16

@BertieBotts you can get a yellow 'nervous' lead but idiots ignore that too.

They also don't take the hint when the dogs cowering behind their owner and still try to entice them out with treats too big for them (without even asking the owner if it's ok) - rant over Grin

FreeInk · 29/10/2019 14:18

YANBU

I've got an anxious little dog who doesn't like other dogs coming into his space and will act aggressively if they do (although appears very eager to play up until that point).

99%+ of other dog walkers get it and put their dog on a lead too if likely to approach mine (many amazingly well behaved and lovely dogs couldn't be less interested in mine and don't need to be on the lead). Like yours, mine is fine if just walking past and does not bark or act aggressively. He is definitely capable of 'starting something' though if a dog gets too close though.

You always get the odd t* who thinks because their dog is fine with other dogs 'just friendly' that it will be ok. That's great but mine is NOT friendly and likely to go absolutely nuts if your dog (who is 20x bigger) comes bounding towards it and right up to its face.

Mine is nine now and much better than he was - I also think people are better now than they used to be, which helps a lot. On the odd occasion that an off-lead dog comes hurtling towards mine (rare now) I just pick mine up (tiny)...I know you're not supposed to do that but...I would rather that than we end up with a fight.

LemonPrism · 29/10/2019 14:19

It's just in case you're bothered by dogs or incase your dog isn't good with other dogs. It's just polite.
I would if I saw you do it