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?

@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.

im so sorry for your dog. Similar happened to our dog. Dp had a stick in his pocket to throw. Another dog wanted the stick so attacked ours who was on lead.

Shes been attacked a few times now, so now we always leash her around other dogs as she can get a bit defensive and as a staffie, she could do a lot of damage which noone wants to happen. If the other dog is calm and just walks past, she doesnt react, but if they come up to her and get in her face, she wont always take the time to interpret it correctly anymore.

The doberman should be muzzled and the OP should keep her bloody mutt under control. This is a delightful example of a situation where everyone is being unreasonable.

how would the poor doberman play ball with a muzzle on?

@DiseasesOfTheSheep

The doberman should be muzzled and the OP should keep her bloody mutt under control. This is a delightful example of a situation where everyone is being unreasonable.

Why should the doberman be muzzled?!

WowIlikereallyhateyou
I'm not putting words words your mouth.

You said:
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.

The law does not state that dogs need 100% recall to be off lead. It is an offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control'.
Not that it might become dangerously out of control.
Not that they must be on a lead unless they have 100% recall.

Like I say, a dog minding it's own business who took a couple of calls to return does not meet your 100% recall criteria that you claim people would find if they read the controll of dogs act.

I agree that dogs shouldn't be charging up to other dogs. I think the OP in this situation is unreasonable. But claiming dogs need need have 100% recall to be off lead is simply wrong.

@LolaSmiles

WowIlikereallyhateyou I'm not putting words words your mouth.

You said:
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.

The law does not state that dogs need 100% recall to be off lead. It is an offence for a dog to be 'dangerously out of control'.
Not that it might become dangerously out of control.
Not that they must be on a lead unless they have 100% recall.

Like I say, a dog minding it's own business who took a couple of calls to return does not meet your 100% recall criteria that you claim people would find if they read the controll of dogs act.

I agree that dogs shouldn't be charging up to other dogs. I think the OP in this situation is unreasonable. But claiming dogs need need have 100% recall to be off lead is simply wrong.

As I say AGAIN, You missed my key words.. OUT OF A SITUATION...

Read it again, if you cannot recall your dog out of a situation. Ie bothering another dog/person/child causing problems. Out of control.

This does not mean all dogs off lead OR minding their own business.

Anyway enough.

Why should the doberman be muzzled?!

Because, by the owner's admission, it is dog aggressive, and as we all know, the world is populated by idiots who don't control their dogs. Thus muzzling the dog aggressive dog is the only reasonable course of action. My dog aggressive one is never out without a muzzle because it's up to me to make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble when somebody's loose dog approaches him.

I haven't really caught up with this thread, but I was listening to a podcast yesterday, an interview with the owner of a dog-reactive rescue dog.

She and the interviewers all made the point: don't set your dog up to fail. Don't take your dog where you know off-leash dogs are likely to run up to it, until you have reached a point of desensitisation where you expect your dog to be able to cope. So, for example, avoid the beach busy with early-morning walkers making the most of the sunshine, but take the dog instead to a quiet corner of the country park, where there will be other dogs, but where you are better able to maintain a distance.

In this instance, the owner took her dog to what sounds like a busy and quite narrow area. And, no, other walkers shouldn't be letting their dogs run up to dogs on leads, but equally, as the owner of a reactive dog, you know that this is likely to happen and it's your job to make your dog feel secure.

@DiseasesOfTheSheep

Why should the doberman be muzzled?!

Because, by the owner's admission, it is dog aggressive, and as we all know, the world is populated by idiots who don't control their dogs. Thus muzzling the dog aggressive dog is the only reasonable course of action. My dog aggressive one is never out without a muzzle because it's up to me to make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble when somebody's loose dog approaches him.

@DiseasesOfTheSheep but she was controlling her dog? She had it on a training lead and the OPs dog ran up to it. The owner of the Doberman sounds responsible. The OP does not.

Why should the Doberman suffer because the OP is irresponsible?

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman but the OP is also setting her own dog up to fail. She is not caring for it responsibly by letting it behave in such a manner - it could get attacked. You should also be directing that advice to the OP who is failing her dog by not controlling it adequately.

@DiseasesOfTheSheep

Why should the doberman be muzzled?!

Because, by the owner's admission, it is dog aggressive, and as we all know, the world is populated by idiots who don't control their dogs. Thus muzzling the dog aggressive dog is the only reasonable course of action. My dog aggressive one is never out without a muzzle because it's up to me to make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble when somebody's loose dog approaches him.

So if the ops dog went up and attacked the doberman it wouldn't be able to protect itself either? And it was minding its own pissing business.. how would it play with its ball muzzled? Just because people like the op can't control their dogs.

Because, by the owner's admission, it is dog aggressive, and as we all know, the world is populated by idiots who don't control their dogs. Thus muzzling the dog aggressive dog is the only reasonable course of action. My dog aggressive one is never out without a muzzle because it's up to me to make sure he doesn't get himself in trouble when somebody's loose dog approaches him

It’s far from a ‘reasonable course of action’ to muzzle a dog just because it’s dog-aggressive. How would the Doberman defend himself if attacked by an off lead dog? Doberman could end up dead thanks to the muzzle!

I have a dog-aggressive dog who is ALWAYS on a short lead in public. He’s a rescue who has been attacked many times by other dogs especially bull breeds. Thanks to his size and quick reactions mine always gets the upper hand when attacked.

Though I worry about him eg what if a pair of dogs attack him or when he gets older, will he be as adept at defending himself? We walk him on private land as much as possible but to get to that land we often pass through areas with off lead dogs. Most dogs have enough sense not to approach an unfriendly or scared dog. Those that do get in his face or jump on him learn a swift lesson (as do their owners).

Muzzling him deprives him of his ability to defend himself if attacked. His safety is my priority.

I’m not going to muzzle him just because people don’t train their dogs not to approach a dog on-lead. I try to drive off-lead dogs away if I see them approaching, and shout to the owners to recall, and mine will bark and lunge if the dog keeps coming.

It’s not my dog’s fault he’s a rescue. He’s only aggressive to dogs never to people. I’ve spent a fortune on residential courses and training. He has a red warning harness. If some fool lets their off-lead dog jump all over him he will react aggressively and (as I have explained to these owners) I’m not responsible for any vet bills. They’re at fault for letting their untrained dogs get into his face!

@WeightyMama I also said,
And, no, other walkers shouldn't be letting their dogs run up to dogs on leads

Dog owners who want to walk their dog off lead should make sure their dog has a solid recall. Dog owners who have a reactive dog should walk their dog with there is no chance of meeting other dogs with idiot owners.

I have met far more reactive dogs over the past year than I ever have, after 30+ years of owning dogs.

Thank God I put in the training as soon as my dog was rescued from a rehoming centre.

“My dog is a rescue” does not absolve its owner from putting in the necessary effort. You CAN teach a dog new tricks.

“My dog is off lead because he is friendly and wants to meet other dogs” is a pathetic excuse for someone who wants their dog to run free - without putting the effort into making sure he can recall quickly.

If every dog owner put in the time and effort to train their dog the dog walking world would be a much happier place.