There is a bloke near us with a young Labrador bitch. Last year we saw him out on the field with his dog (first meeting) so I put my Frenchie on his lead. This man came up and told me to let him off so they could play. Fair enough ... my dog is friendly and I only put him on lead incase his wasn’t. I let him off to play and they immediately started fighting (his was very young at the time, around 8 months old). I apologised and grabbed my Frenchie saying it was so out of character for him ... he said “no leave him, they need to sort it out! It’s socialisation! He’s only playing anyway!” But his heckles were raised, both dogs had teeth exposed so I said “no, he’s really not playing” and put him back on lead. He shook his head and said this is why dogs don’t get socialised properly. I wished him a good day and carried on walking. Very odd experience.
Months later I got a Doberman bitch puppy. Out on the field I saw him again and he said “oh a new puppy! Let her off to play!” So I did ... his dog jumped on my puppy and ... at the time I thought was just playing too rough and my pup was scared so I put her back on lead. Again he lectured me on the importance of socialisation. She was already at socialisation groups and training class so I dismissed his opinion and carried on my walk.
Since then, the guy has become a real menace. My Dobie became leash reactive and whilst walking her he would seem to seek us out, bringing his dog closer and closer even though mine was going mental. I told him to stop it and he said I was ruining the dog not letting her play. I told him she was in training and wasn’t going to get what she wanted by acting out like this. He made it so difficult for me following me around while my dog was acting like Cujo.
A few months back I had her on the field on lead and he saw us, let his dog off lead who then ran over to us and started fighting with my dobie. It was very nasty and he wouldn’t even help me separate them at first, he just stood laughing. When he eventually helped me he had blood all over his hand and my dog was left with a big scar down her back.
Since then, I’ve found out that his dog has attacked numerous dogs in the area. Both on the field and in the street. Most worrying one was he was seen at the shops with his dog on lead. He saw a woman walking past with a bichon type thing and for some reason let the lead go!! His dog attacked this bichon and the poor woman was in tears. He told her it was an accident and was so out of character for his dog but it isn’t!!! The dog is aggressive and he’s in total denial about it insisting it “play” with everyone else’s dog.
My Dobie is finally starting to play nice with other dogs (a year of relentless training!!) and I’m terrified this idiot will let his dog lose on her and it will set her right back!!
AIBU to report him to the police? Dog on dog attacks ... would they even care? I don’t know his name or where he lives.