Aggressive dog should be muzzled?

[OdiesMum]

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?

I posted earlier on this thread that it's pretty much guaranteed every walk that someone will let their dog go right up to mine (on lead, reactive, frightened).

Sure enough, this afternoon a woman watched me walk right the way off the path up the bank to let her dog pass, and distract my dog with commands and treats. Then she un-clicked her extending lead and let her large lockdown puppy run straight at Ddog and start sniffing her Fucking pillock.

So proud of Ddog. Just stood there scoffing treats and keeping her eyes on me - a couple of months ago, she would have gone out of her mind.

Come on OP where are you?
Maybe she's out walking the dog

You couldn't make this up - having posted about my dog near the beginning of the thread... We were walking down our road at about 6pm, me, DH, our 3yo and our dog (on lead of course). One of our neighbours has a dog that they literally leave in the front garden all day and it barks at everything that moves. Today we walk past, it nudges the gate open and charges at our dog and my son (who starts screaming which he never normally does with dogs as he's used to them). It's barking and jumping at my dog, who then growls, I'm 39 weeks pregnant and instinctively put myself between the dogs to try and get the other dog to leave ours alone. I'm shouting through the lady's open front door that she needs to recall her dog, NOW. She comes out, tells me her dog is friendly (at which point I'm shouting slightly frantically "mine isn't and it's scaring my child, grab it please". It was clear she had no recall over the dog whatsoever and she then had the nerve to shout at me saying "alright, alright, you're not giving me a chance to catch her". Irresponsible ownership at it's finest and perfectly demonstrated what I said up post about if the importance of not letting your dog approach those on lead, regardless of how friendly yours is and especially if they don't have any reliable recall (as I gather OP's doesn't!) urgh.

Anyone can report any dog that they believe is dangerous. It's your right to do so and people need to do it more often IMO, especially in off lead in residential areas or parks etc

The general public haven’t got the first clue about dogs, including most of the owners. A dog described as a ‘‘Friendly dog’ is an industry known code for an out of control bloody nuisance

Please, think of your dogs social skills as like a guide dog. They should be neutral to other dogs, not scared but not overly bothered. Happy to interact if allowed by their humans but never taking that decision into their own paws

OP (if you are still here lol) YOU are in the wrong here. Your dog was out of your control. Plus if it was properly socialised, it wouldn’t be running up to reactive dogs, because it would have noticed and acted accordingly to the other dog’s early warning signals (and yes, they are ALWAYS there) to get lost.

That said, I wouldn’t bother walking a reactive dog where idiots let their dogs run riot either. Too much hassle

@Flaxmeadow

Anyone can report any dog that they believe is dangerous. It's your right to do so and people need to do it more often IMO, especially in off lead in residential areas or parks etc

Oh for sake. You want the doberman reported for being on a lead and reacting to an uncontrolled dog?

It's fine to have your dog off it's lead if it has very good recall. You shouldn't allow it to approach a dog which is on a lead without checking with the owner first. It's well known that dogs with temperement issues will be kept on their leads so until you know otherwise you should assume a dog on a lead doesn't want to be approached.

Something should be done about these entitled fks, maybe they should understand the law and read a copy of the CONTROL OF DOGS ACT. If you cannot 100% recall your dog out of a situation it should be on a leash in a public place
Whilst I agree with the sentiment of dogs being under appropriate control, the law does not state that a dog has to be on a lead unless it has 100% recall.The law states that it's illegal for dogs to be 'dangerously out of control'.
I've been in fields with dogs who are in training and going from long lines to no lead. Their owner has had to call them a couple of times to return from sniffing a hedge or a pile of grass. They are off lead, not 100% recall, but are not dangerously out of control so are within the law.

Misrepresenting the law and calling people entitled fucks is unlikely to make people listen.

Do not let your dog run up to any on lead dog. Basic dog etiquette. My dog isn’t aggressive but has arthritis and so we limit his off lead time, he would growl if your dog wanted to play and was running about him as he is more vulnerable on the lead, plus in discomfort. Off lead he’d be happy to play.

Sorry but I agree. A dog should be kept on lead if they are going to approach other dogs.

I dont think this has gone the OP wanted

It’s not fair for your dog to run up to a dog on a lead and then blame the other owner & dog for what happened. You don’t know the other dog or their history. Your dog should have been on the lead or at least the owner first if it’s ok for them to meet.

My dog was attacked when he was a puppy, he was on a lead and the other dog was far away but still ran straight up to my dog and attacked him. The owner did apologise but then said that’s never happened before, he’s usually very friendly. Since then my dog has been nervous around bigger dogs especially of the same breed that attacked him. Please respect other dog’s personal space, like humans not all dogs want strangers running up to their faces and sniffing their butts.

@Flaxmeadow

Anyone can report any dog that they believe is dangerous. It's your right to do so and people need to do it more often IMO, especially in off lead in residential areas or parks etc

Hopefully someone reports the OPs dog then, as that as the uncontrollable dog off leash and the Doberman was grand by the sounds of it.

@mummabubs in your case I don’t think I would have any hesitation of reporting that dog as per the linked www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

There was a real worry this dog would attack or harm you, your child and your dog. Next time it could actually do so.

OP won’t return as she’s had her arse handed to her about her out of control dog. It’s refreshing to see so many responsible dog owners on this thread.

Our dog loves people but can be very nervous and uncertain around other dogs. We put this down to a couple of incidents when she was very young:

1. We were in the woods and she was on her lead. Four greyhounds burst out of the woodland and ran at her, and she was so frightened that she managed to slip out of her harness and do a runner (she was young enough, and I was a completely inexperienced dog owner, that I didn't pre-empt this happening). The dogs chased and chased her, and their owner - who was utterly lovely and incredibly apologetic - and I couldn't recall any of them for several minutes. She then made each of her dogs offer mine a paw and 'apologise', and really couldn't have been more apologetic. She also promised that from then on they'd be on leads.
2. A puppy had been let loose in the woods and came careering up to mine (again she was on a lead), barking and snapping and yapping at her. The puppy couldn't be recalled and I couldn't get it away from our dog. By the time the owner appeared my dog was shaking with fear. The owner gave me a jolly "Morning!" and then "running off lead is so good for their socialisation, isn't it!" I stared at her with a face but she just didn't compute that she had enabled her puppy to terrify mine. Total lack of self awareness - and she had an older dog with her too so presumably had more experience of dog ownership than I did!

It’s infuriating that people allow dogs to go up to other dogs on a lead. It’s infuriating - however small they are - they should be trained or on a lead. One of my dogs is on a lead for a reason. One stupid person laughed ‘let’s just see what happens’ allowing his puppy to jump up.

@LolaSmiles

Something should be done about these entitled fks, maybe they should understand the law and read a copy of the CONTROL OF DOGS ACT. If you cannot 100% recall your dog out of a situation it should be on a leash in a public place Whilst I agree with the sentiment of dogs being under appropriate control, the law does not state that a dog has to be on a lead unless it has 100% recall.The law states that it's illegal for dogs to be 'dangerously out of control'. I've been in fields with dogs who are in training and going from long lines to no lead. Their owner has had to call them a couple of times to return from sniffing a hedge or a pile of grass. They are off lead, not 100% recall, but are not dangerously out of control so are within the law.

Misrepresenting the law and calling people entitled fucks is unlikely to make people listen.

People who cannot control their dogs, do not have recall and allow them to run up to other dogs are not in control, and there are lots of situations this could be dangerous. And in this situation could easily be dangerously out of control. We are not talking about dogs who don’t bother other dogs in this thread are we!!!! And BTW i still am entitled to my opinion that these people who do not respect others are entitled fucks. Thankyou.

People who cannot control their dogs, do not have recall and allow them to run up to other dogs are not in control, and there are lots of situations this could be dangerous. And in this situation could easily be dangerously out of control. We are not talking about dogs who don’t bother other dogs in this thread are we!!!!
In terms of the law, it doesn't matter if the dog could become dangerously out of control or if there are situations where poor training could become dangerous.
The law states that it is illegal for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control'.
You claimed that people should read the law and that a dog must be on a lead unless it has 100% recall. That isn't what the law states.

Like I said, based on your version of the law it's illegal for the dogs minding their own business to be off lead.
If you're going to start using the law to back your points up then it's not unreasonable to expect the law to be correctly referred to.

And BTW i still am entitled to my opinion that these people who do not respect others are entitled fucks. Thankyou.
Of course you are entitled to think that of them, the name calling and misrepresenting the law to suggest your opinion is the law isn't going to change anyone's mind.

This happened today!

Our blind, deaf 14 year old mongrel who is obviously on the lead as he can't see or hear me was attacked by an off the lead dog who could sense his weakness and nearly killed him! He did nothing other than have his own ball in his mouth and the other owner said it was because his cane corso wanted my dogs ball. I couldn't give a shit if his dog wanted anything my dog had. It was awful to watch and his owner basically had to choke his dog with a lead to make his dog let go. There are 8 other puncture wounds on his back and neck but this is the biggest.

She should have the dog on a short line and to heel around other dogs but not muzzled.

A muzzle means her dog can’t defend itself. Sadly lots of reactive dogs are allowed off lead. Why should her dog be unable to defend himself in the event of a staffie attack for example?

I would happily support an on lead ban in all spaces where other dogs or people were around.
It’s sad but the amount of idiots owning dogs at the moment are making it impossible to let mine off safely anyway despite them ignoring others

I have a dog who can be nervous and reactive when she's on the lead but she's generally fine and very sociable when off it.

I try to avoid walking in close proximity to other dogs, especially if they are approaching head on when my dog is on her lead, for example when we are walking on the pavement or in confined spaces like narrow paths. If another dog runs up to her or lunges and strains on its own lead, even if it's in a friendly over-excitable way, she will panic and growl or snap. She doesn't like to feel she can't run away if she's nervous.

Off lead is another matter. She's happy to approach and be approached by most other dogs. I'm always hyper vigilant to the body language of other dogs and of their owners when i see them approaching. Some will put their dog back on the lead as soon as they see mine in the distance. That tells me their dog is likely to be aggressive or they think mine might be. No problem, I just put mine on her lead and walk in the opposite direction to avoid getting too close. Not every dog likes to play and not every owner is comfortable with socialising their dog.

A bit of courtesy and some common sense goes a long way.

OP I’ve just realised you let your dog bound up to her dog. Yours was off lead, hers was on lead therefore hers was under control (until yours ran up to ‘socialise’). She has every right to use the green like you do.

So many people let their dogs off lead to go gambolling, playing and chasing random dogs in public areas. Horrible for dog-wary people, children and owners of reactive dogs.

Dogs that aren’t trained to steer clear of other dogs or read social cues should never be let off lead unless it’s private land.

My reactive dog isn’t aggressive, he just hates other dogs getting in his face or startling him. He doesn’t wait to see if they’re playful or not he ends the ‘fight’ before it starts. Like many rescues he was abused as a pup and not socialised until adulthood. Since I’ve had him he’s been attacked by off lead bull breeds 3x. Every time he was on a lead.

I can hold him on his short lead but if your dog keeps coming I can’t prevent an attack. And if yours is aggressive I’ll let mine defend himself. Luckily for him he’s big, lightning fast and agile but I feel very sorry for owners of reactive dogs whose dogs are always leashed and vulnerable.

Bring on the blanket ban for leashing all dogs in public areas, IMO it’s well overdue.

@NewJobNervous

This happened today!

Our blind, deaf 14 year old mongrel who is obviously on the lead as he can't see or hear me was attacked by an off the lead dog who could sense his weakness and nearly killed him! He did nothing other than have his own ball in his mouth and the other owner said it was because his cane corso wanted my dogs ball. I couldn't give a shit if his dog wanted anything my dog had. It was awful to watch and his owner basically had to choke his dog with a lead to make his dog let go. There are 8 other puncture wounds on his back and neck but this is the biggest.

That is awful, I am so sorry this happened. It must have been so terrifying.

Have you reported the attack?

@LolaSmiles

People who cannot control their dogs, do not have recall and allow them to run up to other dogs are not in control, and there are lots of situations this could be dangerous. And in this situation could easily be dangerously out of control. We are not talking about dogs who don’t bother other dogs in this thread are we!!!! In terms of the law, it doesn't matter if the dog could become dangerously out of control or if there are situations where poor training could become dangerous. The law states that it is illegal for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control'. You claimed that people should read the law and that a dog must be on a lead unless it has 100% recall. That isn't what the law states.

Like I said, based on your version of the law it's illegal for the dogs minding their own business to be off lead.
If you're going to start using the law to back your points up then it's not unreasonable to expect the law to be correctly referred to.

And BTW i still am entitled to my opinion that these people who do not respect others are entitled fucks. Thankyou.
Of course you are entitled to think that of them, the name calling and misrepresenting the law to suggest your opinion is the law isn't going to change anyone's mind.

Why not put more words into my mouth LoLa! I have nothing against dogs minding their own business, as they arent out of control. I have already made comments about having problems with people dogs who have no recall and are insightful running up to my dog. That IS out of control if it causes problems and can in some cases be dangerous. However, you know best.