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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aggressive dog should be muzzled?

189 replies

OdiesMum · 06/05/2021 08:55

Where I live we have a long pedestrianised walkway down the side of the house, big grass verges on either side, a lovely walk for dogs as no roads and no danger. Lots of people let their dogs off lead around here to play with each other, myself included. My dog is a friendly little thing who just loves to play. The locals have used this area to exercise dogs for years.
Recently a woman has been on the grass verge with a Dobermann. She has it on a long line and throws balls for him etc on the grass. Last week my dog ran over to hers to play and her dog went ballistic and almost pulled her over. I was terrified it would get away from her!! I ran to get my dog and she shouted at me that mine should be on a lead. I politely explained that people use this area to let their dogs play and she said hers was dog aggressive which is why it’s on a long line and so should everyone else’s dog be on lines. I didn’t get into an argument with her, just got my dog and walked away. This morning I was talking to another dog Walker who said to watch out for the Dobermann on a long line as it had attacked her dog!!! If I see her again I’m going to tell her to muzzle the bloody thing. Why take your aggressive dog to an area where there are off lead dogs?? AIbU?

OP posts:
Isanyholeagoal · 06/05/2021 08:59

Your dog shouldn’t be allowed to just run up to others especially those on a lead, you should recall it u til you know the dog is ok for yours to play with. She is entitled to exercise her dog but as a responsible dog owner, if she k owe her dog is aggressive she should either muzzle it or walk it where there are limited other dogs

Honeycombskl · 06/05/2021 08:59

To be fair it's common knowledge amongst most dog owners not to let your dog approach a dog who is on a lead or long line. If her dog is that aggressive she should probably have it on a shorter line though, but you also shouldn't be allowing your dog to go up to it.

Monkeybunkey · 06/05/2021 09:03

Off-lead dogs should not run up to on-lead dogs. My dog is reactive and always on a lead. I'm sick of having to call over to people to recall their dog as it approaches mine, even more sick of those who cannot recall their dog immediately. If you can't control your dog, keep it on a lead!

Having said that, if this lady knows her dog is dog-aggressive, she should consider a shorter line or avoiding areas busy with other dogs. I take mine to an enclosed field so he can run around quite happily and chase tennis balls without worrying about other dogs.

wildeverose · 06/05/2021 09:03

To be fair - if your dog has form of approaching other dogs it should be on a lead. Dogs shouldn't be allowed to free roam where other people/dogs are, it's just irresponsible.

dementedpixie · 06/05/2021 09:04

You shouldn't be letting your dog go up to a dog that is on a lead

k1233 · 06/05/2021 09:04

Leash aggression is not uncommon. What is the council law with respect to requiring a lead in the area you are walking? If the law is all dogs to be leashed then you're the person at fault.

Orangesand · 06/05/2021 09:09

YABVU.

Do you know how hard it is to try and rehabilitate and increase the confidence of a rescue dog or a dog with difficulties? That dog could have been making loads of progress and you letting your dog run over to him could have set him back weeks, regardless of if your dog is 'friendly'.

My dog was abused and kept in a cage for 3.5 years before we rescued him, never being allowed on a walk and is petrified of other dogs because he has never seen them. He reacts by lunging and snapping. I keep him on a lead to keep control of him and have a longish lead where we can play ball in peace but he is still attached so I can control him. If I was that woman I would have been furious at you. It's etiquette to put your dog on a lead as you walk past or call your dog back when you see an on-lead dog.

FTM91 · 06/05/2021 09:16

You shouldn't let your dog run up to another dog on a lead

She should have her dog either on a shorter lead, or a yellow lead/harness

So I think you were both unreasonable

Neron · 06/05/2021 09:18

YABU.
The Doberman doesn't need to be muzzled
People like you, need to control your dog and stop letting it run up to other dogs.

Newkitchen123 · 06/05/2021 09:22

Let's put this another way. The other dog was playing happily with the owner until your dog ran up to it.
Who is the one at fault now?
Do not let your dogs run up to other dogs.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 06/05/2021 09:23

She is doing what she can to reduce her dog's reaction to others. I do the same, mine isn't aggressive, just very reactive and impossible to distract from another dog.

So I use a long line in one park and walk him on a long lead, both give him more sense of freedom and allow me a bit more control. Slowly he is getting better.

What I cannot control is other people and how they allow their dogs to run around.

Your dog obviously has little recall or you would have been able to call it away from her and her on lead dog. As would the woman who let her dog get hurt - it was her fault as she too should have been able to recall her dog before it got close to the on lead dog.

If you cannot recall your dog then it should be on a lead. Regardless of how locals use the space you are in. Love your dog well enough to keep it safe.

In doing so you will also be reducing the harm your lack of control does to the dog being properly trained and restrained!

Whammyyammy · 06/05/2021 09:23

YABVU to let your off lead and uncontrolled dog run up to a dog on a lead

If the doberman had bit your dog, the owner would not be liable at all, as it was under control, yours wasn't.

My dog is reactive, not aggressive. I wear a body cam every time I'm out, if anything does happen I can prove my dog was on the lead.

Fixitup2 · 06/05/2021 09:24

Your dog should have been on a lead

Whammyyammy · 06/05/2021 09:24

@Neron

YABU. The Doberman doesn't need to be muzzled People like you, need to control your dog and stop letting it run up to other dogs.
Nailed it.
LadyWhistledownsQuill · 06/05/2021 09:24

Don't let your dog run up to dogs on leads. This is basic etiquette. If you think the other dog is probably just friendly with crap recall, a quick call of "is your dog friendly" suffices.

The other dog is frightened of dogs, and your dog has been scaring it. This will only make things harder for the dog.

Muzzles aren't a panacea either - they can still do a lot of damage, by essentially punching another dog with the muzzle.

itwa · 06/05/2021 09:30

I think you've been told!

I had a massive male Labrador approach my reactive dog yesterday. The lab was perfectly friendly but very insistent. I asked the owner to call him back, she couldn't and limped over with a stick to prod her dog away.

We were on a short lead, getting out of the car, I backed so far into bushes until I hit the fence.

Mine did react, which then sets him up badly for the next few days. No damage done, just bad manners from the unleashed dog's owner.

Recorditnow · 06/05/2021 09:30

On a Judge Rinder episode a woman's dog was on a lead and it attacked one not on a lead. The ruling was against the woman whose dog attacked the other.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 06/05/2021 09:30

I am guesssing that this isn't quite what the OP was expecting Grin

CuriousaboutSamphire · 06/05/2021 09:33

@Recorditnow

On a Judge Rinder episode a woman's dog was on a lead and it attacked one not on a lead. The ruling was against the woman whose dog attacked the other.
Nope! That's far too short a sound bit to make any sense.
InDubiousBattle · 06/05/2021 09:33

YABU you should have had your dog on a lead. I've also developed an utter frustration with phrases like "he/she is a friendly little thing that loves to play!!" because it's so often shouted at me by a dog owner with no control over their dog that is jumping around my scared to death 5 year old. I imagine it's the same for owners of scared/nervous dogs.

Flowerlane · 06/05/2021 09:38

You are the problem. Not every dog wants to play with your dog!!!!

This pisses me off so much! My dog is always on a lead and I get fed up of other dogs running over to mine because they want ‘to play’! Angry

Leonberger · 06/05/2021 09:39

Recall your dog and don’t let it run up to other dogs on lead.

Problem solved.

If your dog is not within distance of the other dogs mouth then it can’t be bitten..

NewJobNervous · 06/05/2021 09:43

This is so refreshing! I'm sick to death of owners with no recall shouting whilst their dog legs it over to mine Dont worry she's friendly*

Mine isn't! She's a rescue from a puppy farm. The only dogs she's ever met before being rescued were her brother who got her pregnant and her babies. Dogs scare her and she reacts by lunging and snarling.

You were at fault here. Keep your dog on a lead if it has shit recall!

lordalmighty · 06/05/2021 09:45

I have a rescue dog. Amazing little thing but nervous of other dogs & I always keep him on a lead. He isnt snappy/barking or growling as such but it is my absolute pet hate when other dogs come bounding over to him & when I tell the owner he isn't friendly & to recall their dog they always say oh he looks so sweet bla bla. Yes he is sweet but he's also terrified please don't let your dog approach him. My friends dog is also dog reactive and struggles to even walk her now due to so many dogs approaching her on lead. She even got her a bright lead & jacket that say she is reactive but people just don't seem to care. It's the strangest thing. But, if this dog is aggressive then for the owners own peace of mind she would be wise to muzzle when out in busy areas.

Whammyyammy · 06/05/2021 09:47

@NewJobNervous

This is so refreshing! I'm sick to death of owners with no recall shouting whilst their dog legs it over to mine Dont worry she's friendly*

Mine isn't! She's a rescue from a puppy farm. The only dogs she's ever met before being rescued were her brother who got her pregnant and her babies. Dogs scare her and she reacts by lunging and snarling.

You were at fault here. Keep your dog on a lead if it has shit recall!

When I get the "its ok hes friendly "

I reply with "well mine isn't, and is a lot bigger than yours and has a companion, so good luck....", I find that usually gets their arse into gear

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