Was I rude/wrong in this situation?

[clankist]

Was out walking my two seven month chihuahuas today. I have treated them like dogs from day one and they are very well trained. They walk off lead absolutely fine and don't bother other dogs at all, however if a dog comes running over to them they will bolt.

Today I was walking them off lead and there were two big golden retriever with two women who were chatting. We were quite a distance away but one of the retrievers started barking and running towards me/my dogs. I put my hand out in a 'stop' motion as it got closer. I said, 'stop' and when that didn't work I said 'no'. That didn't work either and my dogs started to run away.

I moved away from the dogs and began to call for my dogs but the retriever kept following me so my dogs were standing watching at a distance but wouldn't come over due to the dog being next to me. I shouted across to the woman, 'can you please get your dog?' No reply and she continued talking.

I moved away again, calling my dogs and the dog followed me again. I looked at the lady and shouted, 'can you get your dog?' She didn't move.

I moved away again and the dog followed once again, at this point I was exasperated and said a little sternly, 'will You move your dog!?'

She came over and said, 'my dog isn't anywhere near your dogs' rudely.

I said, 'yeah because they ran away terrified due to your dog coming up to them. If your dog is off lead it shouldn't be running up to my dogs'

She went to say something but I just held up my hand and said, 'thank you'.

I then continued my walk with my dogs and the lady met another dog walker who then started pointing to me and shaking their head.

Did I do the right thing to deal with this situation or was I too sensitive? I just think you shouldn't have your dog off the lead unless you know they will not approach any other dogs without permission.

You weren't wrong. Dogs shouldn't be off lead and shouldn't be allowed to run up to other dogs and bark.
I'd have kicked the barking dog to protect my little dogs, the owner would be quick to recall them then.

I don't have a dog.

Im a human being with eyes that see's dogs do this when they are on the lead in normal
day to day life.

Do you walk round with a hat over your eyes? Or do you just not much about dogs and not realise until today that they liked to sniff each others butts?
Shock horror, they do. And get this - it's perfectly normal dog behaviour!

I don't have a dog

Enough said 😂

Your first point is generally accurate, but doesn’t take account of very small dogs being intimidated or even afraid of big dogs. Those of us with little dogs (for what it’s worth, I used to be a Rottweiler owner) are entitled to walk them in parks without them being terrorised by big dogs bounding over to them with no limits placed on them by their owners.

Well, I'm going to buck the trend here and say no, I think the other dog owner was unreasonable to the point of rudeness in her negligent attitude. She clearly wasn't paying any attention to the behaviour of her dog at all.

It happens around here all the time, people wander along, gossiping to friends, with their dogs off leads, not taking a blind bit of notice of where the dog is going or who or what may be approaching, and becoming belligerent when anyone objects to their hound bounding up to them or other dogs who are ignoring it and not giving it any encouragement to do so.

She should have been attentive to the situation her dog was causing and should have recalled it the minute she heard you say no to it. Rude and entitled, like so many dog owners.

I've had it happen to me when out walking, (alone, sans canine companion) and some great slobbering hound has dashed up to me and jumped up, often with muddy paws, and I've shouted "down!" at the thing, eliciting a, "oh he's friendly, he won't hurt you!" if there's any awareness or acknowledgement of the situation at all! I usually retort that that is not the point and, should I want some great hairy brute slobbering all over me, I'll obtain my own thanks very much! Far from saying if your dog bolts when chased by other dogs it should be kept on a lead, I'd say, if you're too damn lazy or indolent to keep 100% of your attention on your off-lead companion, put it back on a lead!

It does sound as though you're saying 'my off lead dog wouldn't follow my instructions but it was HER off lead dog' s fault.'

Yes you were rude. She was rude too for ignoring you but why was it ok for your dogs to be off leash but not ok for hers?

Generally there is the assumption that when dogs are off leash they can approach each other to play. And if your dog does not have good recall it should definitely not be off leash.

YANBU. I’d have been pi$$ed off with some idiot owner allowing their untrained dog to run up and harass my 7 month old pup in training. My dog had been walked off lead since 4 months old - except in places where it’s not safe for him to be off lead such as town, pavement walks, amongst wildlife, cattle, nesting birds etc.

Im unsure how SOME posters think dogs are trained to recall and Walk with its owner if they are not allowed off lead? Ah wait… those would be the dog owners whose dogs have never experienced the freedom of being off lead…. Because they have never been given the opportunity. Sad 😞

They are the very people who criticise owners of well trained dogs who are trusted to walk off lead and exclaim at every given opportunity, “All dogs should be kept on a lead”. They think because their dog is always kept on a lead that they are superior dog owners. I feel so much pity for an on lead dog who is straining to play with other off lead dogs, having the time of their lives running around on the beach. Whenever I have suggested the onlead dog joins them I have been told, “No. I can’t let him/her off the lead. S/he won’t come back”.

In other words the owner has never allowed their dog to have fun. Why on earth do owners think their dog will run away from the person who feeds them, grooms them, cuddles them, loves them…… Ridiculous!! Poor dogs. Imagine spending your life tethered to someone and never being trusted to have fun just because the person who bought you has no
ides of your basic needs. So sad 🥲

You have no idea what you are talking about. There are certain breeds of dogs, anxious dogs and aggressive dogs that are all walked on leads and for that you should be thanking the owners not reprimanding them. You are a complete arse! Most on lead dogs are taken to proper places where they can run free so no need to feel sorry for them, their owners love and Understand their needs. Good for you all smug!

Generally there is the assumption that when dogs are off leash they can approach each other to play

Not true! My dog is a working dog. When he is not working he doesn’t want other dogs running up to him wanting to play. He is free to play in certain situations, such as when we are in holiday or at the dog park. He has a runaround every morning with his working friends. He has no inclination to play with a random dog when he’s out for a walk. Why would he?

Please don’t let your dog run up to other dogs, whether they are in a working harness or not. Some dogs are trained to ignore other dogs. It isn’t fair to put them in a position where they have no choice than put up with the intrusion.

Personally I call to the crappy owner to call their dog. If the dog doesn’t respond (9
times out of 10) I clip a lead onto
the dogs collar and wait, with a deadpan look, until the owner catches up and takes their dog. That’s the only fair thing I can do for my dog

You have no idea what you are talking about. There are certain breeds of dogs, anxious dogs and aggressive dogs that are all walked on leads and for that you should be thanking the owners not reprimanding them. You are a complete arse! Most on lead dogs are taken to proper places where they can run free so no need to feel sorry for them, their owners love and Understand their needs. Good for you all smug

Of course I have no idea what I’m talking about. I’ve only trained working dogs for 30+ years 😂

What “Breed” of dog needs to be kept on lead??

Im so glad you walk your untrained, aggressive dog away from public places. That would hardly be the beach I mentioned would it? Unless you think the beach is not a public space? I give up! 🤷🏻‍♀️ Idiot dog owners everywhere! That’s why I choose not to walk my dog among them if I can help it.

Anyway I’m glad you keep your aggressive, reactive dog on a lead. That’s a step more than some idiots!

You keep your dog on a lead in public spaces and I’ll keep mine to heel in public spaces. My dog can run around with his mates every morning. Your dog can do what you think is best - as long as it’s not harassing my dog - Then everyone’s a winner - done?

You sound like an uptight dog Walker! Why are people like this if you don’t want your dog interacting with others keep it on the lead. Recent similar experience walking my chihuahua and toddler. Chihuahua off the lead and someone rudely shouts at me- dog also off the lead- ‘will you get your dog he’ll bite!?’ Crazy and entitled lol

I agree. Off lead dogs will always run up to other dogs. If yours run off they shouldn’t be off lead.

Her dog ran off so did yours, both in wrong.

bizzarly you think putting your hand up resolves anything as you did it to the dog then treated the owner same.

I'm surprised at how many dog owners on here think that just because a dog is off lead it's fine for their dog to run over to it - I know many 'grumpy' or anxious but well trained dog who can be off lead and under control but if another dog ran over wouldn't be happy about it. I've got an over-friendly rescue who I tend to not let play with random dogs on our walks (he gets plenty of socialising and time to play but with dogs I know as I've worked really hard on his recall and him learning that he can't run over to any dog or person) and if I see another off lead dog I'll usually recall him and get him to lie down behind me so I'm between the dog and him and obviously blocking the other dog and I still get oblivious owners letting their dog try and get past me to jump on him. I'm not a confrontational person and always try to be polite but I think a response like yours is fair enough when the person isn't listening and you want to protect your dog.
However I would work on the bolting issue as whilst the other dog owner shouldn't have let their dogs run over - people are idiots and it probably won't be the last time and bolting is a really scary behaviour for the safety of your dogs.

Why title a post “was I rude?” And then insist you weren’t? You react with stern indignation when people (the vast majority actually) confirm that yes, you were rude. But you don’t want to hear that.

You were very rude and in the wrong. Your dogs were also off the lead and out of control, yet you blame the other women. Take responsibility for your own actions.

You were rude, she was rude. Your dogs weren’t under your control, her dog wasn’t under her control. Your dogs should be on a lead, her dog should be on a lead.
you’re no better and no worse than each other.

You were rude.

I have been in a similar situation where an off lead dog chased my puppy (on a training lead), my young child and someone else's young child. Neither the dog's owner of the people looking after the other child were paying any attention!

I asked the lady to call her dog away and she was incredibly rude and argumentative. This was in a park with kids play equipment!

So I understand your frustration here, if any dog, kid, whoever is causing concern to someone else then the owner, parent, whoever should at least stop it when asked, if they haven't stopped it in the first place. However I do think you were rude, it could have been an opportunity to explain rather than hold your hand up and shut the lady down. I think a pp was right, you are feeling a bit uncomfortable about your handling of it, which is why you're asking. Not worth stewing on though, you can just move on, you can only control your own behavior and your own dogs.

People are wrong when they claim it's a free for all with dogs off lead, it's actually about whether dogs are under control. Yours were until they were chased by a considerably larger dog. I do agree that keeping them on a lead would mean there's less misunderstanding but you absolutely do have the right to decide which dogs approach yours whatever the situation, particularly if they are close to you and under control. What you did was an attempt to try and get the woman to listen after trying the conventional route.

A off lead dog is not an indication that it wants to play.

My dog wants to snuffle in the woods and come back to me as we walk. He has good recall and I trust him. He does not want to play. He does not like other dogs and happily ignores them.

I put him on a lead when other dogs are on their leads.

My dog does not want to interact with your 'friendly' overbearing dog.

Another shit owner. They shouldn't always run up to fucking anything

Dog trainer for 30 years! Good for you. I never said my dog was aggressive or reactive, you did. So you have presumed before properly assessing the dog or looking into its behaviours. Great dog trainer and I have worked with many. Working with working dogs from pups is a whole other easy ball game to dogs previously rehomed due to abuse or unknown reactive reasons in their past. But you know that as you clearly know every dog and everything being able to make such sweeping statements. Jog on (with your dog stuck to your heel)

Yes you were very rude. And your dogs should be on a lead, you don’t have full control of them. I don’t know why you think you do when the point of your post is that your dogs had run off and wouldn’t come back. Your dogs should be on a lead, and if someone held their hand up to me…wow. So so rude. I’m surprised you’re even questioning whether holding your hand up to someone when they’re speaking is rude tbh.