Off-lead dog running over to my on-lead dog, other owner responds aggressively

[yellowleaves123]

For some reason I can't shake this so coming to AIBU.

I took my dog for a gentle walk this afternoon. He is recovering from an injury so was on a long-lead, to prevent him running but also so that I could communicate to other people that he doesn't want to say hi to their dogs today (I reel some lead in for this - it's not an annoying flexilead, it is a highly visible bright lead that you can't miss at all). This is what I did with other dogs I saw, whose owners respected this and didn't let their dogs approach.

We were in an empty field so he had a bit of lead with freedom to move around and sniff but could be shortened. Part of it got tangled in a branch that had been blown over so I was untangling it. As I did, an off-lead dog appeared out of nowhere and charged towards my dog. He was a few metres away from me as I was reeling his line in and it was stuck on a branch. I called to the owner "he is recovering from injury so is on-lead and won't want to say hello to yours". The man smiled and did nothing. After five seconds or so of looking super uncomfortable with a dog sniffing his face (which most dogs don't like anyway let alone when in pain), my dog asked the other dog to move. It didn't, so he chased it away (out of character behaviour because he is injured). He made a bit of noise whilst doing so but didn't make any contact - he wouldn't. By chase away, I mean he ran the couple of metres of his lead he had back to me and the dog happened to run alongside him.

The guy then shouts "FOR F* SAKE". I asked why he let his dog run up to on-lead dogs (there was another on-lead dog with me and a friend, that one was fine but is nervous so isn't let off), and he said "this is a woodland, your dog shouldn't do that". I told him that I have as much entitlement to walk my dog as he does his, and mine was on-lead, his shouldn't have approached or he should have recalled it.

He made a big scene of checking his dog over (fine to do - I witnessed the whole thing happen and my dog didn't touch his but did make some noise, as dogs do when communicating) and went on without saying anything. I did note that he put his dog on a lead afterwards. For some reason I can't stop thinking about it - I think because it's a normal walking spot for me and I don't want people to get the wrong idea about my dog. This was out of character for him due to recovering from an injury, and because his lead was around a big branch it was tight. My dog is generally comfortable with small dogs (which this was), doesn't like GSDs so we just avoid them.

I think I'm just a bit more flustered as the man got aggressive, usually people acknowledge that the other dog was on a lead.

YABU - you're in the wrong and should have apologised
YANBU - the man should have recalled his dog when you said yours was injured and on-lead, and not blamed you

I should add I work with dogs professionally so in terms of reading the incident etc I know that my dog did nothing but make a bit of noise to clear the other dog off. Feeling extra touchy over the last few days...aunt flo is due.

The problem is there are odd lead dogs everywhere now. They are on our Cory paths weaving in and out of cyclists, families, approaching other dogs while their owners had a chat with their companion. My dog also has 99.9 recall however is always on loess on the path as she could change direction quickly and get in the way of a fast moving bike or a child who was scared of dogs. Sadly many don't seem to have the same consideration

Agree @liveforsummer the amount of times I have to ask people to call their off lead dog away from my toddler it's ridiculous. "Oh he loves kids" I literally could not care less. My dog loves children but I'd never, ever let him approach kids he doesn't know unless they asked if they could say hi and he seemed interested as well.

I wouldn’t worry about it these things happen and if you’re a dog owner you k ow there’s a BIG difference between a dog “shouting” at another dog to leave it alone and attacking another dog! My dogs really a people person, she’s totally fine in the company of other dogs and will happily let them chase her chasing her ball and pick up her ball but she will have something to say about a dog continuously jumping up at her face or god forbid trying to hump her 😂 but that’s how it works in the dog world she has never and would never actually bite another dog. It’s so strange anyone or any child regardless of age could do anything to her but she just won’t tolerate another dog jumping at her face and no other dog owner has ever had an issue with her reaction to their dog in face the opposite (especially with pups) where the other owner will say it’s a good thing for her to tell them off so they know what’s ok and what’s too much - also fyi she herself has been told off many times in her life and I’ve never had issue with it x

Also she is always off lead, however walks past other dogs like their not their and will take a wide berth if they are voicing that they aren’t keen on her 😂

YANBU

I say this as a serial GSD owner. We once owned a very reactive BC "Bella", who was never off lead unless I could be absolutely sure there were no other dogs around. One boxing day, I, my DC and the dog were at our local park. DC sliding on a frozen pond and the dog on lead. I was aware of a woman repeatedly shouting "Timmy, Timmy" but it was fairly distant so wasn' t too bothered. Then DC wanted to go to play area so we headed off, only to have a little yappy poodly thing in a pink jacket keep coming up to "Bella", who kept turning round and growling at " Timmy" who wouldn't take the hint so she barked and lunged at him ( still on lead so didn't make contact). The woman came rushing up and I snapped ( don't think I farted) and told her to get her bloody dog on a lead.

She was very huffy and said "Timmy" wasn't used to such antisocial dogs. I responded that Timmy had invaded my dog's space and she was on a lead for the very reason that she was anti social and the woman was lucky Bella was a BC and not a bigger breed that would have Timmy's bloody head off.

She did a sort of "well, really"! Head toss and stalked off, but she did put the dog on a lead.

We're back to GSDs now and while I know they're generally better natured than BCs, not everyone does, or even like dogs at all, so I keep mine away until I know otherwise.

You did nothing wrong OP.

If the man heard you say your dog was recovering from an injury he should have called his dog away. Your dog clearly growled and chased his dog which could be interpreted as aggressive but the man clearly overreacted and shouldn't have shouted and sworn.
For now I would keep your dog on a shorter lead just so he can't run and hurt himself and you can more easily keep him away from other dogs whilst he recovers .
It's just one of those things put it from your mind and move on.

Thanks for all of your responses. Was feeling quite sensitive when this happened and the man's reaction threw me. I'm hoping we won't see them again even when my boy is better as clearly the dog has no recall and shouldn't have been off lead anyway. It was also really rude in doggy speak (charging over and getting in a dog's face) so I don't think mine will be the last dog to tell it off.

The other owner is in the wrong. Off lead dogs should NOT be allowed to approach on lead dogs. Yet this happens again and again and again. I’m sick of irresponsible owners who allow it to happen and then try and blame you!! You can tell I’ve had experience of this, over and over.