Who was in the wrong here? Dog attack

[BlanketTime]

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?

(Shrugs) just sounds like dogs being dogs....no harm done.
I'm not convinced your dog will have been shaken up for more than 30 seconds.
They probably won't run up to a pair of larger dogs for a bit, but that's not a bad thing.
Yes the other owner should have better recall in a ideal world, but dogs have their own minds and can be buggers to get back if they are engaged in their natural behaviours.
I think you've over reacted, JR are usually well ab.e to look after themselves!

Small dog owners who don’t understand play fighting/ dog behaviours have all but ruined the enjoyment of off lead walking for me. My young lab has twice now been screamed at and kicked for what are normal dog interactions with small fluffy pooches. My other dog is a chihuahua, for context, and they play like this happily.

He’s now on the lead almost all the time unless it’s super early in the morning and no ones about. His recall is actually really good but my anxiety is sky high. And he is now nervy around small dogs when he’s on the lead so basically the whole walk is just tense as fuck.

I wonder if the op knows that her jrt as a breed is more likely to attack/ bite another dog/person than the doberman are

I’m not keen on dogs running up to me to be friendly, then yapping, barking and jumping up. Hopefully you’ve learnt something, and so has your dog. I’m pleased he wasn’t attacked and I hope he’s learnt not to approach strangers...dog or human.

It is a natural instinct for a well-socialised dog to approach and ply with others, even if they are unfamiliar.

Not for all though; my current dog has never really wanted to interact much with other dogs - the very occasional well - matched play mate who wants to chase being the exception. He doesn't approach other dogs and if approached by others very, very rarely wants to play. He will ignore them but if they are really persistent will get grumpy about it (growling, not physically doing anything about it). When we see other dogs I tend to put him on a lead to signify we don't want approaching and I'll walk in a wide arc around them also; luckily I live rurally and don't see other dogs at all on the majority of our walks so they are nice and peaceful.

We also run together a lot on a running lead / harness and in that scenario my dog really doesn't welcome any approach from dogs wanting to play - he is focussed on the task in hand. I don't either having been badly injured in the past from being tripped by dogs racing up to us.

My young lab has twice now been screamed at and kicked for what are normal dog interactions with small fluffy pooches. My other dog is a chihuahua, for context, and they play like this happily

Just because your dogs (who know and trust each other) play together like this does not mean most others will appreciate it though...

I sometimes play fight with DH, I'd be fucking terrified if an unknown man ran over and did the same.

You can't blame the small dogs and their owners.

I have met quite a few young labradors who have been utter nightmares, who have raced over and basically body slammed my dog and tried to engage straightaway in rough play.

My dog is frightened and will react aggressively, she is only slightly smaller than the average Labrador.

I have had an utter moron joyfully tell me her dogs are only playing once aswell as they flipped my dog over, bit her legs and growled in her face.
She was sufficiently terrified she peed herself.

No doubt those dogs, that know and trust each other relish that kind of play but other, unknown dogs don't appreciate it and their owner shouldn't have allowed it

It is a natural instinct for a well-socialised dog to approach and ply with others, even if they are unfamiliar

Actually, research suggests most mature adult dogs are not massively fussed about socialising with strange dogs.

See I personally dont let my dog off lead because of this and it really scares me. I know everyone is different but it's hard to know what other dogs are like. I'm wondering if the female dog was on season, coz male dogs will get snappy at another dogs being thrown into the mix, and then the female can get agitated aswell.

You can't blame the small dogs and their owners.

No you can't, however, any time I've had a bit of an issue while out with ddog it's always been with a small dog - or should I say their owner. So many times a tiny dog has run over to us, while my dog is on lead, and started barking at both me and ddog. But have been told 'it's ok he/she's so friendly they won't hurt you look at the size of her/him. Even laughing and thinking it's funny. Not only is it stupid and irresponsible for the sake of their dog - I would be the one blamed if my 35kg dog grabbed a hold of one of them. I don't think he would and he's never shown any aggression but he's a dog and you never know. I don't like being nipped at either.

I love all dogs big and small, its clueless owners I have a problem with.

Responsibility is shared 50:50 when both dogs are off lead. Saying that, I wouldn't let my dog off lead unless they were friendly and I would expect the same of other owners, so I'd be cross if I was you!