Out of Control Dogs 😡😡!

[Heathercob]

Am I allowed to have a moan about a dog on the beach this morning that was completely out of control and not responding to the owners?
Was having a relaxing boxing day beach ride until it decided to try and attack Heather's fetlocks (ankles). Luckily Heather is a good girl, although I could tell that she was worried about it. When the dog finally went back to the owner, they didn't even put it back on the lead 😡😡!
I REALLY don't want to come off and potentially end up in hospital because someone doesn't bother to train their dog - especially at the moment with Covid about!

How is it entitled?
I would never take my dog anywhere where there was a good chance horses would be.

The OP said she was on a beach, I’ve already said if it’s a beach where dogs are not expected to be loose she is in the right.

The three examples in my post you would not expect horses.
There were no bridleways, if there were, I would have had my dog leashed.

Horses are like sheep when it comes to dogs.
Even dogs with normally perfect recall can lose themselves.
My own dog has very, very good recall (hence why she is usually loose)
She doesn’t approach people or other dogs usually and if she goes to (very rare) I can, and do call her back and she comes.

I agree that aggressive out of control dogs are never acceptable.

But, no dog is perfect and even the most well behaved dog can do somthing unpredictable, especially around another type of animal or one it's not seen before.

My dogs a whimp and is afraid of horses. He wouldn't attack or chase, but if the horse approached him, he may get aggressive from fear. We didn't discover this until it happened. But he's a small breed and we put him on lead as soon as we saw he was unsure in the situation - knowing he may do somthing silly.

But if you've got a big dog come across a horse for the first time, and you're not close enough to get the dog back on lead - the dog may react badly and there is not much the owner can do.

It's not nice for horse or rider, but clashes are going to happen between different species sharing space. We all just need to try our best to minimise problems. But accidents can happen when it comes to animals with their own minds.

The unpredictability of dogs is why I think large powerful dogs like huskys and dobermans should be banned. They're just too dangerous if out of control in the wrong hands.

YANBU.
I'm a dog owner AND a rider.

My dogs have decent recall, but if I become aware that there is a horse in the vicinity (heard or seen) I call them in. The older ones will sit off-lead until it has gone past. The puppy is still kept on-lead. If we walk through a field with horses, the dogs are either on lead or at heel (there's only one I'd trust at heel, and then not close to the horses).

Owners of out of control dogs get the rest of us a bad name.

Dog owner here. It's not about dog bashing, it's about owners just being so lazy. They 'love' their dogs too much to realise that you cannot 'free-range parent' your animal. I see it all the time where I live, especially now that all the world's a 'lockdown puppy' experience. I have friends who shouldn't have dogs. No discipline. No obedience. Running in and out of cyclists, running up to every dog in the world, jumping on strangers, their kids... because 'awww, in'she sweet?' No. She's not. She's a dog and she needs training. Dog owners like this think you'll find their dog as adorable and 'cheeky' as they do. It is annoying as hell.

I know someone who was killed because a dog attacked his horse, which then bolted. The owner was identified and eventually fined a substantial amount of money for having an out of control dog.

On these threads there are always loads of people complaining about off lead dogs jumping up at them or their kids when they go out for walks.

Genuine question. Do dogs only jump up at people who don't have their own dog? Because we have a dog (that doesn't jump up on people outside or thsr he doesn't know) and none of my family have ever had a dog jump up at us, even though we spend a lot of time walking around places with loads of off lead dogs.

@Hotchocolatewithcream

What utter bollocks.

Oh here we go again..
Yes, some dog owners are shit. What a revelation. Let the dog bashing commence
It's been at least a week since the last one.

I would never take my dog anywhere where there was a good chance horses would be.

Do you have a crystal ball?

I don’t let ddog off because she’s crap at recall. So if she’s getting off lead she’s walked ridiculously early. 6/6.30 in the winter and 5.30 in the summer.

However, the beach near me has a sign up to say it doesn’t allow riding and if you want to ride go to the beach a mile away. We meet horses regularly in the summer (not so much in the winter).

What utter bollocks
Hardly.

So according to you dogs left to their own devices don’t typically chase and sometimes injure sheep and horses then..?
I think you’ll find a significant proportion do.

Knowing that dogs tend to chase horses do you think it wise then to take horses into areas not designated for horses..?
Areas with no bridleways?
Areas known for off lead exercise of dogs?

The OP hasn’t specified what sort of beach, I’ve said it twice and I’ll say it again, if the beach is a lead only beach or a no dogs beach OP is in the right, the dog either shouldn’t have been loose or shouldn’t have been there at all.

The areas I spoke about, you would not expect horses.
They are filled almost exclusively with dog walkers and off leash dogs.
No bridleways.
Why take a horse there?!
It is irresponsible and stupid.

My dog doesn’t come off her lead if there are other people or animals around. Dogs are unpredictable, not worth the risk

@BounceyBumblebee perhaps having a dog jump up at us is more of an issue to those of us who don't own/don't like dogs ?
It's a very common occurence where I live, and just about every family out for a walk seems to have a very bouncy Spaniel/Labrador/Labradoodle type thing.

Dogs should be on leads, all the time in my opinion. They are unpredictable and most dog owners usually don’t give two hoots about anything else except their darling pooch. And before you say it, yes, we have a dog.

I would never take my dog anywhere where there was a good chance horses would be.
Do you have a crystal ball?
If I see bridleways I expect horses are a possibility and leash.
Ditto roads, pavements.
I wouldn’t approach stables and exercise areas.

Do I expect horses to be in big open fields that are always heaving with loose dogs?
No, and I’d be really fucked off to see a horse there and be faced with a rider angry that my dog has frightened their horse.
Use common sense and don’t exercise your horse where there are almost certainly going to be loose dogs.

If the beach OP went to is dog friendly she is exactly the same as every other entitled, selfish horse owner risking their and their horse’s safety.
If the beach wasn’t I’m in agreement with everyone else, OP wasn’t unreasonable and the dog owner was in the wrong.

@Travelledtheworld
I also don't want dogs jumping up at me or my kids, not even my own dog. Who wants to be covered in muddy paws.

But dogs dont jump up at me. It's literally never happened. So is it that dogs only jump up at people that don't have dogs - is it somthing to do with body language or that you don't have your own dog to ward them off?

Dog jumped up at DS yesterday whilst we were on a walk. He is already scared of dogs, this was a lab puppy so not massive but very bouncy.

Poor DS screamed and cried which made the dog bark. Dog owner laughed and said don't be silly it's a puppy. I was furious. It doesn't matter if it's a puppy DS was scared and you've just made that fear worse 😡

Heathercob I have nothing to add re: dogs because it's obvious YANBU but just wanted to say Heather is gorgeous and I'm glad you're both ok!

If the beach OP went to is dog friendly she is exactly the same as every other entitled, selfish horse owner risking their and their horse’s safety.

Sorry but I've read that as 'NO ONE CAN USE THE BEACH EXCEPT ME AND MY DOG, ANYONE ELSE THERE IS ENTITLED AND PUTTING THEMSELVES AT RISK"

The beach isn't for your dog. Horses, runners, children etc are just as welcome at the beach as you and your 'predatory animal' as you state.

Your attitude is just down right bizarre.

@Nymeriastark1 what would you say about the horse owners on the beach I go to which states on a sign on the way in that horses are not permitted on this beach? I see them every other day in the summer. Fair enough it’s early, but I deliberately choose that beach because it’s a dogs are allowed off lead beach and I go early to avoid other dog owners or people.

We have a (fairly) calm Dalmatian ,Where we walk in the New Forest .come across Ponies sometimes .As soon as they are spotted ,we put his lead on him ,stand to one side and let them pass .They often wave and thank us ,However we are just doing the right thing! no medals needed! .There is a very big ,out of control pooch who throws himself at him and wonders why he doesnt want to play FFS!

Not unreasonable to want dogs to be well trained but it really pisses me off to find horses on the beach unexpectedly.

@Mdmd the op wasn't in a no horses area, and hotchocolate from what she has written is your typical entitled do owner and isn't coming across very well.

I would say to the owners you're referring to it is at their own risk if there's a big sign saying no horses. But they've got the same thinking process as you. They've gone early to avoid people. Even tho they probably shouldn't and it's a risk. You go early to avoid people and let your poorly recalled dog of the lead, even tho it's also a risk. Swings and roundabouts.

If the beach OP went to is dog friendly she is exactly the same as every other entitled, selfish horse owner risking their and their horse’s safety.
If the beach wasn’t I’m in agreement with everyone else, OP wasn’t unreasonable and the dog owner was in the wrong.

100% agree. Any pets/animals should be exercised responsibly and sensibly. We have some horse owners living near us who exercise them on the road, resulting in horse crap on the road. Fair enough, it's a narrow rural road and cleaning up is not legally required.

However, they tend to pull in to driveways if a van/tractor/largish vehicle is coming along. I have seen them let the horse crap on a driveway and make no effort to clean up. That's inconsiderate, disrespectful behaviour but apparently it's fine as horse crap is not dangerous . And no, that fact some ignorant dog owners don't clean up after their dogs is not justification. They're in the wrong too.

[quote Nymeriastark1]@Mdmd the op wasn't in a no horses area, and hotchocolate from what she has written is your typical entitled do owner and isn't coming across very well.

I would say to the owners you're referring to it is at their own risk if there's a big sign saying no horses. But they've got the same thinking process as you. They've gone early to avoid people. Even tho they probably shouldn't and it's a risk. You go early to avoid people and let your poorly recalled dog of the lead, even tho it's also a risk. Swings and roundabouts. [/quote]
First off, I never ever go to the beach that says dogs aren’t allowed so it’s not the same.

Secondly, if I see anyone else, even in the distance, she is put on the lead right away. Even on the beach in those walks.

Thirdly, she’s a rescue ive worked hard on her recall but she’s not there yet. I take her out every day to a dog park (in the uk, before anyone asks) to do recall training. She’s about 70% there but there is still a proportion of time when her recall isn’t pin sharp and instant and until it is she’s not off the lead around people.