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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who was in the wrong here? Dog attack

135 replies

BlanketTime · 02/12/2019 16:21

I was walking my Jack Russel earlier along a path which runs alongside a field. My dog off lead so he could run around the field. In the distance, two big dogs playing together off lead (so I assumed them friendly as they were off lead). My dog ran over to the smaller of the two (later realised they were Doberman’s, the smaller one was female). They were nose touching and tail wagging so I assumed all was fine. Then bigger of the two (male) ran over and joined in the sniffing. A bit of play started, all tails wagging then I noticed my dog looked worried and was trying to get away. The big dogs were chasing him. I called him back to me and the big dogs followed. Two owners shouting of their dogs with absolutely no recall (the smaller female went back to owner momentarily but darted off again before she could grab her. Ended with my dog cowered near me and male dog growling and biting at him. Female also started to join in. I shouted at the owners to control their dogs. The female eventually buggered off back to owner and finally the male buggered off too. Owners said the incident was my fault as I let my dog approach theirs. I say it was their fault as, if they had no recall they shouldn’t have been off lead!! They then argued that their dogs were only playing as my dog would have been injured otherwise. My dog certainly did not enjoy the “game”.

AIBU to think this was 100% on them?

OP posts:
lily2403 · 02/12/2019 16:52

They shouldn't have been off lead if they have no recall

bloodywhitecat · 02/12/2019 16:53

You shouldn't allow your dog to approach others if you do not know how the other dog/s are going to react.

Biancadelrioisback · 02/12/2019 16:54

Yeah I agree fault was 50-50

lowlandLucky · 02/12/2019 16:54

Sick to death of dog owners who allow their dogs to approach other dogs and people.
We have just had a case here where a Police officer was walking 9 dogs off the lead on the path along the river, the dogs attacked another small dog and its owner, and yes the police woman got away with it.
You cant walk on the beaches, woods or holls here without uncontrolled dogs running at you.

MoiraRose · 02/12/2019 16:55

However I wouldn't be letting my small dog approach two unknown, big dogs in the distance who were playing together, off lead or not

Absolutely this. We have two big.dogs, a Husky and an Akita, we never let them off lead, however, the amount of times somebody with a little yappy dog off lead just lets their dog come running up to them actually really annoys me. The Husky is fine but the Akita gets a bit barky with other dogs, especially if they start with her first (both rescue, dont really know their full history) and we never know how she'll be if the other dog gets too close and really don't want to find out. But I'm sick of dogs running about freely and coming over to ours then me having to drag them in bushes or go the opposite direction to avoid free running dogs finding out if ours is just over friendly or not!

Both of your faults. Don't let your dog go running up to big dogs you don't know.

AryaStarkWolf · 02/12/2019 16:55

Agree with 50/50 however if you have two large dogs like tose, they're going to cause more damage if things go wrong so they need to be properly trained/have a good recall.

MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet · 02/12/2019 16:55

Although dogs are 'allowed' off lead, doesn't meant they should be off lead. Off leads dogs doesn't always equal a positive experience.

YouSawThePlans · 02/12/2019 16:56

You shouldn't have let your dog approach the others. They shouldn't have been off lead with no recall.

But if anything had gone badly wrong, your dog was much more vulnerable so for that reason, I think you were more in the wrong.

BarrenFieldofFucks · 02/12/2019 16:57

If I see another dog off the lead I lead mine until we are clear. Precisely because you never know how they will react to each other.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 02/12/2019 16:57

I think it's 50/50 to be honest.

Your dog approached them. And you 'assumed' they were friendly which was your mistake.

But if their recall is that bad, they shouldn't have been off lead.

Hope your dog is OK!

Jaxhog · 02/12/2019 17:02

50/50

Never let your dog approach another dog, especially if the other dogs are off lead. You just never know. But I'm glad no-one got hurt.

DontCallMeShitley · 02/12/2019 17:03

Aside from the dogs not being trained etc. please be careful, so many dogs are being stolen in front of their owners. Either for dog fighting or sold on depending on the breed.

Sadly some are being taken for food too.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 02/12/2019 17:05

Dogs with no recall shouldn't be off lead.

This ^

They are not under control

And I used to think it was reasonable to assume that if someone has two large, powerful dogs, and they are off-lead, then they are safe. Sadly there are a lot of tatty owners about now, and they refuse to take responsibility for their animals.

It is a natural instinct for a well-socialised dog to approach and ply with others, even if they are unfamiliar. I have had dogs racing in size from tiny terriers to border collies. I've only ever had a problem with one, and that was because two dogs attacked her when she was a pup - it made her defensive-aggressive, and we had to keep her on a leash.

If your dog is likely to respond aggressively to the approach of another dog, then you keep it leashed.

I would bet my bottom dollar that this isn't the first time his dog has done this - no apology or contrition. He knows that dog is unreliable. Unfortunately the police don't pay much attention to dog-on-dog aggression, no matter what the situation.

I'm so sorry your dog has been hurt - I hope it's not too serious, and that his confidence isn't affected.

Charmlight · 02/12/2019 17:08

All dogs off the lead - 50 / 50.

Loopytiles · 02/12/2019 17:08

Fault on both sides, but much more fault on the part of the owners of the big dogs.

Debbie698 · 02/12/2019 17:08

YABU. It wasn’t 100% on them. At best, it was 50:50.

Disfordarkchocolate · 02/12/2019 17:11

I think you should have put your dog on a lead until you were sure of how the other dogs would react.

DarlingNikita · 02/12/2019 17:13

Sorry but it was down to you. You can't/shouldn't assume anything about strange dogs.

WhenOneDoorClosesAnotherOpens · 02/12/2019 17:16

YABU

You should not have let your dog run up to the other dogs. You assumed they were friendly, but clearly they were not. That was your mistake.

The other dogs shouldn't have been off lead if they have no recall.

Also, you screaming at the other owner, their dogs, etc would have probably made the situation worse (made the dogs more excited or panicked).

I walk my dog on lead because he is scared of other dogs. The number of dogs off lead who run up to him because their owners think all the dogs should play together is horrible. Just because a dog is walking in the dog park doesn't necessarily mean they want or are able to play with other dogs. My dog is not agressive he's actually scared of other dogs and tries to get away when they run up to him. It makes walking him a complete misery for us.

Maybe next time ask the owners 'Are you dogs ok to play?' before encouraging your dog over to strangers.

Puppytooth · 02/12/2019 17:17

If you knew your dog was approaching two strange dogs, why didn’t YOU call your dog back? I assume your dog has perfect recall?

hariboismydrug · 02/12/2019 17:18

Your fault for allowing your dog to approach theirs. My dog wags his tail and looks friendly but he would possibly seriously injure a dog that run up to him because he's protective of me.ive lost count of the number of times people shout it's ok he's friendly when mine is on a lead! 🤬

Yarboosucks · 02/12/2019 17:18

Yes, but when are you going to tell us about the attack?

GruciusMalfoy · 02/12/2019 17:19

Six and half a dozen.

Your dog shouldn't have approached them before you checked with the owner. The other owner shouldn't have had their dogs off lead if they're likely to go deaf when recalled.

Original poster
BlanketTime · 02/12/2019 17:20

He was growling and biting him. My dog was terrified. That is an attack.

OP posts:
merrymouse · 02/12/2019 17:20

if they had no recall they shouldn’t have been off lead!!

completely agree.