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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If your dog doesn't recall 100% reliably keep it on a lead!

135 replies

Nottherealslimshady · 13/10/2020 15:05

Just had someone's dog get in my car!

Saw it coming so got my girl straight in the car and shut the door just as he came up to it. Went round to get in drivers side and it pushes past me to get in. Had to shout three times "will you come get your dog, he's getting in my car!" Ended up piss wet through standing in the rain trying to get his dog out while my dogs making it very clear she doesn't want to meet him.

OP posts:
legalseagull · 13/10/2020 16:04

How would you train a dog without ever letting it off lead?

Hereward1332 · 13/10/2020 16:06

When he last month ambled up to a toddler who was on the local commons and the father ran up with huge big arm motions and tried to place a shield between him and the child going on about the naughty dog. the one who was creating the issue was the father not the dog who thought he was inviting to play. Stupid thing is if he had remained still he would have seen dog was actually after the ball that was about 1 meter behind his child (Dog ball not child ball) and isn't generally interested in children when we are on the commons.

It sounds like your dog ran up to a toddler, and you're blaming the toddler's parent for getting in between an unknown dog and his child. Why would you throw the dog's ball near children?

AwaAnBileYerHeid · 13/10/2020 16:07

@Enko but how was the father to know that the dog meant no harm in a snap second decision? Do you honestly think it's unreasonable for a parent to panic a little at some strange dog going right up to their toddler? He doesn't know your dog from Adam.

boriselbow · 13/10/2020 16:08

YANBU

I have a rescue dog who is nervous of other dogs (and humans). I walk him on a harness and lead and he wears a muzzle (to be sure he can't damage anyone if he is surprised and reacts) and we go out of our way to avoid being too close to anyone. It's pretty obvious he doesn't want to play.

This morning a man with 2 off lead dogs allowed his dogs to come up to us 3 times (whilst we were desperately trying to get out of the park and away) despite me asking him to get them on lead, my dog barking etc etc. Each time he called them back ineffectually until they eventually felt like joining him. I saw them also run up and bark at several other dogs as well- with a few others obviously trying to avoid them.

It's really not that hard- train recall or put your dog on a lead (there are lots of ways to train on long leads etc- we're doing it). If your dog makes a mistake, apologise and put it on a lead until you are away from the on-lead muzzled dog.

DishingOutDone · 13/10/2020 16:14

Someone's dog came and sat on my lap in the park recently. My dog was fucking outraged. Owner wasn't bothered though Hmm

WooMaWang · 13/10/2020 16:15

@IWantChocolates

I'm not a dog owner but recently I have been doing plenty of walks with my toddler and the number of dogs who come right up to us, sniffing round, with no attempt by the owners to recall them is ridiculous.

All they say is "He's perfectly friendly", but a) my toddler isn't used to dogs and may do something the dog doesn't like (like getting in their face or trying to put his fingers in their ears or something) and b) why should we have to put up with dogs sniffing round us just because you say they're friendly?

I think it's the complete lack of any attempt at recall that's frustrating. Just an assumption that everyone is happy with a dog sniffing round.

This is so annoying.

DH and I were in the park and a dog came up to the buggy and tried to lick our baby’s face. The owner made no attempt to stop it. That’s seriously not on.

I’d also suggest that my local dog owners put their dogs on (non-extending) leads if they’re on the shared use cycle/walking paths. Especially if they know their dog chases cyclists (and snaps at them). Similarly, it’s not ok to have them on extending leads stretched across the shared path while you chat to your friends.

Responsible dog owners actually think about the environment around them and consider other people. Sadly there are enough irresponsible ones to make the rest of us very cross.

sqirrelfriends · 13/10/2020 16:15

@Idontgiveagriffindamn

Completely agree. The amount of dogs that run up to my children and the owner saying it’s ok they’re friendly. Well the one that nipped my terrified child wasn’t. This is not all dogs / dog owners just the entitled ones
This is what gets me. A dog bowled my DS over when he was one, the owner made no attempt at recall, assured me he was friendly and offered nothing if an apology. He then got shirty with me when I pointed out that it's illegal to bring dogs into children's playgrounds. I'm just glad it wasn't worse.

There have been countless incidents of random dogs coming up to DS, none have gone for him but I have no idea which dogs are aggressive and which aren't.

WooMaWang · 13/10/2020 16:16

@legalseagull

How would you train a dog without ever letting it off lead?
You’d take it somewhere suitable to do so.
LST · 13/10/2020 16:17

I had a saluki. They are notoriously hard to train recall. Almost impossible. And he was no exception. The only time he was ever allowed off lead was in secure dog fields that we paid for.

I have a collie who is hardly ever on a lead, he has brilliant recall. He has no interest in other dogs, people or kids and even though he is ball obsessed he won't go and play with someone else who has a ball unless I say it is OK. I have time for people who are actively training their dog. There is obviously going to be time when they slip up, but the 'oh he is OK' crew really piss me off. People who assume just because my dog is off a lead he is OK to have dogs jump all over him piss me off as well, because he hates it

Enko · 13/10/2020 16:18

@Hereward1332 & @AwaAnBileYerHeid

I specifically used the word "ambled up" as that was exactly what he did I have a basset hound they are sniffy creatures. He was not interested in the child who was busy digging a hole in a sandy area. He was however interested in the ball that was laying on the edge of the sandy area (NOT thrown by me Hereward but thanks for thinking the worst)

What did happen was the dad so overreacted that the dog thought dad wanted to play with him. And YES I 100% get that the dad doesn't know that my dog is friendly. However by faffing arms around and yelling loudly most dogs will take that to be an invite to something. Thankfully with mine, it is not an invite to fight as it will be for some.

RopeGoat · 13/10/2020 16:18

Did you see the BLM protest in London where a firework was set off under a police horse causing it to bolt. The police officer riding it couldn't get it under control and she ended up in hospital after hitting a traffic light. That is an incredibly well trained animal with years of experience that couldn't be brought under control by a professionally trained, experienced human. There isn't an animal on the planet that is 100% trained. You're suggesting absolutely everyone, always keep their dog on a lead.
Also, how would you expect dogs to become trained? Training is a process and if you haven't gone through your dog not listening, they won't learn to listen. It's not like being vaccinated or spayed where you keep them on a lead until that time - they need to be off their lead to learn to come back.

MrsElijahMikaelson1 · 13/10/2020 16:19

I have a puppy with zero recall and very energetic. Got told I was miserable in the park as I wouldn’t let her off lead because “ah look she only wants to play”-yes and bloody scarper and I won’t get her back for ages. YANBU

CJMc110 · 13/10/2020 16:21

Training your dog all starts in one place... crate training or kennel training. Only then will they learn obedience and can be trained further. For anyone looking for tips on this check out this guide I put together.

www.kennelstore.co.uk/news/crate-training-your-dog-our-top-tips/

It mentions all of the following:
Types of Dog Crates
Step One: Introduce Your Dog to the Crate
Step Two: Feed Your Dog In The Crate
Step Three: Extend Your Dogs Time In The Crate
Step Four: Responding To Whining
Safety Tips For Crate Training Your Dog

Parkandride · 13/10/2020 16:22

It wanted to get out of the rain Grin

I wouldn't let DDog off near cars so I feel you. Can't pretend he's never pinched another dogs ball if they're slow though, they all have their weaknesses and you have to work with them - so not off lead if someone else is playing fetch. This is why I prefer to stick to fields, I'd never want a child to be nervous etc

vanillandhoney · 13/10/2020 16:23

No dog in the world has 100% recall, because they're animals. They're not robots. I remember watching a police dog programme a while ago where the normally impeccably trained German Shepard ran off after a rabbit, much to the officer's extreme embarrassment Grin However if a dog does slip up and run over to someone, the correct thing to do is apologise profusely and get your dog back on a lead.

I don't know any dog owner who's never had an issue with their dogs behaviour - training takes time and mistakes will happen. The attitude of the owner goes a long way, though. An owner who's clearly apologetic and doing their best will get much more sympathy than one who clearly doesn't care.

Janevaljane · 13/10/2020 16:23

Bless him. If he was just daft rather than aggressive I'd have found that funny.

Sexnotgender · 13/10/2020 16:24

25% think you’re unreasonable 😂

YANBU at all. Had to yell at a lady the other day to get her stupid pug with zero recall who was harassing my on lead dogs.

Floralnomad · 13/10/2020 16:24

@legalseagull you keep them on a longline until they are trained enough to be off . My dog doesn’t recall well , he’s a very stubborn working type terrier , but he has a very solid down command so if I shout down he drops instantly and waits for me to get to him , it’s a sort of compromise on both our parts . I would be furious if a strange wet dog got in my car . When my ds was a baby a pony tried to get in our car on Dartmoor , baby was strapped in his seat , I had gone to fetch ice cream leaving my mum and sister with the baby and the pony climbed in through the open back door to get to the bag of pony treats in the centre console ( we have horses) . My mum and sister both got out and were trying to pull / push the thing out with poor ds still strapped in his seat and a German tourist kindly pointed out that you are not supposed to take the ponies home without bothering to help remove it . It’s funny in hindsight , wasn’t at the time and made a right mess of the back seat and headlining .

Porcupineinwaiting · 13/10/2020 16:24

How would you train a dog without ever letting it off the lead?

We not near livestock for a start. Or on a bridleway if it's the type to like to "make friends" with horses. I've just spent the afternoon with a farmer whose just had 3 sheep mauled by a dog with seemingly no recall at all. I love dogs, I rely do, but I wouldn't have liked the farmer if he'd just shot this one.

Porcupineinwaiting · 13/10/2020 16:25

I wouldnt have blamed the farmer.....

WooMaWang · 13/10/2020 16:28

That 25% will be the ones who let their dog jump up on everyone in the park and try to lick newborns in prams, and who feel aggrieved if people aren’t delighted by their dog doing so.

Mochudubh · 13/10/2020 16:28

My old (rescue) dog absolutely loved a car. She had perfect recall but did have a habit of just getting in any car with the door open and sitting there waiting to be chauffeured, so I had to keep her on a short lead near parked cars. She'd even try to get on buses if we happened to be walking past a stop when a bus was there.

Sorry OP, doesn't help much but did make me feel nostalgic.

RopeGoat · 13/10/2020 16:31

@WooMaWang

That 25% will be the ones who let their dog jump up on everyone in the park and try to lick newborns in prams, and who feel aggrieved if people aren’t delighted by their dog doing so.
No. The 25% will be people who understand you can't train a dog without letting them off the lead first. So, the idea of not letting them off until they're 100% trained is a physical impossibility.
vanillandhoney · 13/10/2020 16:32

@legalseagull

How would you train a dog without ever letting it off lead?
Use a longline or training lead. You don't just let it run about freely and hope for the best!
vanillandhoney · 13/10/2020 16:34

No. The 25% will be people who understand you can't train a dog without letting them off the lead first.

No, you use a longline or training lead. You don't just let dogs off lead without knowing whether they're reliable or not!