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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:
Sparrowlegs248 · 02/12/2019 17:56

Yabu for letting your dog run up to 2 large unknown dogs.

eurochick · 02/12/2019 17:56

I think 50/50 because you let your dog approach them.

churchandstate · 02/12/2019 17:57

I think you let your dog approach two strange dogs. So YABU.

Littlemeadow123 · 02/12/2019 17:58

OP I agree that these dogs should not have been off the lead. However, I dont think I would have let my dog go running up to two big dogs who I didnt know. So there was fault on both sides here.

bikinibottommuffintop · 02/12/2019 17:58

Labs are not always nice at all, what a ridiculous generalisation! Some labs can be real thugs.

I think it’s a 50/50 tbh. Your dog ran a fair old way to the 2 Doberman, there’s no way you have of knowing what it did when it got there. In fact travelling a distance would suggest some nervousness and need to ‘check out’ the other dogs.

We have 3 GSD and a lab. They do play together, (1 of the GSD and the lab) but not all dogs have a need to run, or play, with other dogs at all. Just as some people are happy enough in their own company. Dogs of similar breeds enjoy playing together more, so ours like a wrestle which wouldn’t be well matched with a jrt or whippet, who usually prefer a chase type game.

The number of times I’ve had little terriers or fluffy things barrell over, run about snapping at my dogs legs or just generally being a rude pain in the arse is ridiculous. I recall and put them all on a lead now if we’re passing other dogs, because they’re big they are automatically are seen as ‘the aggressive one’ regardless of fault.

Spied · 02/12/2019 17:59

Agree with pp's who say your dog was the one that approached them.
If your ddog had wandered past there's a good chance they would have ignored but your DD approached.

Offredismysister · 02/12/2019 18:03

It’s nothing to do with the breed.
I have a Dobermann who is perfectly well behaved & who has good recall.

Puppytooth · 02/12/2019 18:04

Why do some people think it is appropriate for their dog to approach other dogs and their owners that are not known to them in the name of social interaction? Surely the other owner has some say in that!

MrsFoxPlus4Again · 02/12/2019 18:05

@PuppyTooth

EXACTLY!!! Grin

bowchicawowwow · 02/12/2019 18:07

I would have put my dog on the lead and waited to see if it was ok for him to say hello to the other dogs.

He's fine with one other dog (provided it's neutered, not a puppy and not fluffy) but an established pair trying to interact with him with no introduction would be carnage. Dogs can be hard to recall once they have started behaving like twats

Picklypickles · 02/12/2019 18:08

YABU. You should never assume that just because a dog is off the lead that its friendly and will get on fine with your dog. The other dogs owners are also unreasonable to have dogs they are unable to recall off their leads.

Spitsandspots · 02/12/2019 18:12

In the distance, two big dogs playing together

So they were nowhere near your dog until...

My dog ran over

You should have recalled your dog and not let it run up to other dogs.YABU

wishingforapositiveyear · 02/12/2019 18:12

I'm confused was he bitten or not? If he was surely you'd be at the vet as there would be puncture wounds? My dog growls when playing , she doesn't bite but chase growls.

Floralnomad · 02/12/2019 18:17

If a Doberman has bitten a JRT it would be injured this is not an attack , it’s dogs playing rough . My dog has been attacked twice on both occasions it was all over in a matter of seconds and on both occasions my dog was bleeding .

TaighNamGastaOrt · 02/12/2019 18:18

Yabu. Your dog was not under control. Keep it leashed.

StoneColdSaidSo · 02/12/2019 18:29

100% your fault. You let your dog run off to two unknown dogs, who were happily playing with each other. Yes, they should have better recall but they were minding heir own business before your dog interrupted them.

Big dogs do play rough. I have a Rottweiler, a Husky cross and a Cavalier King Charles, so a big, medium and small sized dog. When the big dog plays with other big dogs, I put my little one back on the lead as she could accidentally get hurt. You let your dog run off towards two big dogs that you didn’t even know. Never a sensible thing to do.

StoneColdSaidSo · 02/12/2019 18:32

Also, count your lucky stars that the Doberman’s were only rough playing. This could have ended very badly for your dog. If they really did attack your dog, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Next time, get your dog back on the lead.

TheLittleBrownFox · 02/12/2019 18:33

Dobermans are frightening
unless it's a lab, they're always nice

Are you for real??? If you are, are you one of the gits who used to let their dogs approach my nervous fear aggressive labrador who I put on a lead when other dogs were anywhere within sight, and would only dream of reacting if a dog was allowed to get up into her space? Angry

FattyCutty · 02/12/2019 18:34

I agree 50/50 fault and I had a rescue Doberman who had had an awful start in life (used for backyard breeding) she hadn't even been walked before. We trained her to have 100 % recall as all dogs off lead should have, all her dog friends were small dogs mostly Chihuahua and she was never aggressive to any dog. The dog at our local park that almost killed my dog was an Akita, mine was on lead the Akita wasn't. My point is that it doesn't matter what the breed is it's all about the training.

Happygoldfinch · 02/12/2019 18:35

What incident?!
I'd have picked my dog up and walked on. Off-lead play can often turn. My (large) dog tries to get every other dog to play with her, and was nipped last week on her ear by a little dog who took umbrage. Blood everywhere with every head shake, but not every dog wants to play and now she knows that. I understand your protectiveness because it's horrible to see your dog cower, but I'd just pick him up and walk on. If there was an injury... I'd feel differently.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 02/12/2019 18:43

No dog should be off lead without instant recall (and if you have to shout half a dozen times, that's not sufficient recall and it should be on a lead). So the owner of the large dogs was absolutely unreasonable. However it's also unreasonable to allow your dog to approach the others and it's pretty naive to presume they'll be friendly.

echt · 02/12/2019 18:43

YWBU for letting your dog run over to other dogs.

TWBU for not having re-call. Oh and for saying their dogs were "only playing". I've noticed this always the case when owners have no re-call, and are nowhere near their dogs so can't judge what's going on. Wankers.

Irisloulou · 02/12/2019 18:54

*Dobermans are frightening
unless it's a lab, they're always nice

Yes I’m for real😀 I think most people find dobermans frightening, they are guard dogs, I didn’t say they were bad dogs, I said the OP probably panicked ( as they could have just ripped her dog apart if they wanted to) dogs feed of our feelings and react accordingly.

I’m a very responsible dog owner, have been for 15 years, my dog has perfect recall. She doesn’t like groups of dogs, or being rushed at. As she’s got older she’s got less tolerant of this.

I’ve never had an incident in 15 years of dog walking, twice daily. ( and I walk on a very, very busy dog walking moor)
I’ve only met one lab, who was unfriendly, they are generally lovely dogs. ( not a breed I’d call a thug)
THe reason I’ve not had an issue is that i understand dog language and call mine to heel when we pass others.

My dog is perfect, if yours is anti social that your problem, it would not pose a problem for me, mine would be walking perfectly to heel. ( beacause I trained her to do that, plus she’s a nice dog)

Brimful · 02/12/2019 19:16

@Irisloulou

The family favourite labrador is responsible for the highest number of canine attack personal injury claims, according to research by pet insurers Animal Friends. (via The Independent).

A dog's behaviour is largely down to it's upbringing and training, not it's breed.

Jellybeansincognito · 02/12/2019 19:17

Thinking on this more and more I actually think you’ve displayed quite irresponsible dog ownership behaviour here.

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