Sick of ‘little dog’ owners.

[Ratdoghater]

Every damn walk! Every sodding walk without bloody fail a little dog attacks or lunges or snarls or chases aggressively my large (retriever) dogs.

I am sick of it. Today’s dog was a cockerpoo. Yesterday it was a JRT. Day before it was a chihuahua.

Every fucking time the useless piece of crap owners say ‘he’s just playing.’ Newsflash, if your dog is snarling, lunging at my dogs, curling their lips or jumping up and snapping it is NOT playing. If my dog is backing away, my dog is not happy. If my dog is screaming, it is not happy

Big dog owners also often suck, but at least they have the decency to say sorry and put their dog on a leash. Or often leash their dogs before we meet. Little dog owners just laugh…and say ‘well he’s little so he won’t do any damage’ and then once I’m past let their dog go again - which 9/10 times means their dog chases mine!!! Honestly, do they not understand that being attacked for most dogs, when it happens near constantly, does affect their confidence and is a prime reason why so many dog do suddenly snap and turn aggressive?? Its basic common sense.

I know this thread will make no difference - little dog owners will continue to be entitled and incompetent. And little dog owners will pop onto this thread and say ‘my dogs not aggressive.’ Great. BUT disproportionately little dogs are the main instigator in most dog fights or dog on dog attacks I’ve seen.

that's the thing, though. you are aware your dog is reactive, and remove them from the situation. you don't just let them charge over and harass other dogs.

Soon as I see anyone coming with any dog I quickly pick up my Chihuahua and turn my back because as much as I love him so much, he definitely is a nasty git.

I hear you op. I own a greyhound and he's very friendly but really is only best with medium or other large dogs. He isn't great with the little yappy things and the amount of times I've had to explain this to owners is insane. 'Oh he needs someone his own size instead, tinkly laugh' seriously it's getting boring now 😂

It's really frustrating.

I have had both chihuahuas and lurchers, often successfully together, even though common wisdom says you can’t. They have all been good friends with no issues. All rescue and none of them, not one, has been allowed to behave like op describes. I currently have multiple dogs, including multiple chis. They ignore all other dogs and people, because I have trained them that way. No barking, no reaction. Nothing. They respond to the command “on me” and they heel to me and trot on. I have had many, many dogs and whilst I currently have one tiny one who is an asshole he is kept on a very short lead and never gets anywhere near any other dogs (other than the rest of mine. Who he loves). Not all dog owners are the same.

Not small dogs are reactive a*holes and I, therefore, keep them on leads at all time.
Not all small dog owners are as twattish as you describe.

I have a large Labrador, and until a couple of years ago I also had a Chihuahua, he wasn’t aggressive and didn’t yap/jump up. He was well trained, well socialised and just a lovely boy. He was feisty and knew his own mind but that’s what is lovely about them.

not all little dog owners are irresponsible, and not all little dog owners are clueless airheads who don’t know what they’re doing. I’ve met plenty of ignorant large dog owners who seem to think they’re more important because of the size of their dog.

but irresponsible dog owners I’m fully behind being fed up with. there’s two dogs on our street that go ballistic at anyone or anything (including our toddlers minding their own business) and there’s not so much as an acknowledgment or apology from their owner, she just ignores you. Even when they scared our toddler to the point she screamed.

I hate when you see people using them by roads too. those clips on them are rubbish and give out really easily. if that dog sees something across the road, there's every chance they'll just run across the road.
people have had horrible injuries from them too, people should look up degloving images before they decide those useless leads are worth it.

My 1yo cockapoo hates other dogs and barks at them 😒

She also takes a disliking to some people.

We paid £320 to a dog behaviourist which was frankly a waste of money. Currently trying to clicker train her into associating other dogs with a treat, so she associates them as a good thing. We just want to get to a stage where she can just ignore other dogs completely.

She's very fetch focused, so that helps to keep her distracted in the park. I spend the time moving in the opposite direction to other dog walkers!

I absolutely do not condone her behaviour and always apologise for it profusely.

All in all, I don't recommend a Cockapoo! She's been really difficult for various reasons. My lovely 6yo mini schnauzer is good as gold and loves meeting other pooches for a good butt sniff.

Doesn't matter if they're playful or not.

Hurtling up to another dog barking, showing teeth, growling etc is unspeakably rude in 'dog speak', and liable to result in a less than friendly response from many perfectly sensible dogs.

Doggy play that involves rolling around growling, barking, chasing, nipping at necks or shoulders or legs... is something acceptable between two dogs who know one another extremely well.

Would you think it ok if a stranger ran up to you screaming and threw their arms around you and kissed you and then pushed you over for a play wrestle?

In fact you'd feel uncomfortable if a stranger WALKED up to you and simply stood in your personal space and held eye contact for too long, never mind the above scenario.

Dogs also have social rules - direct, maintained eye contact = potentially a threat. Hurtling straight up to someone = a threat. Barking/lunging/growling from a strange dog = a threat.

Just like humans, there are behaviours that are acceptable between two parties who know one another very well, that would absolutely not be appropriate between strangers.

A polite greeting between off lead dogs involves arcing around one another, approaching nose to side/bum, not head to head. Sniffing, circling, then perhaps a play bow to invite play, then some careful posturing and chasing and pausing and watching to see if it is reciprocated.

Most owners unfortunately can't tell polite greeting or appropriate play from confrontational aggressive display designed to drive the other dog away, or bullying relentless chasing, or even predatory behaviour.

I've just lost my little dog, miniature pincher, I always had big dogs but she wanted a home and I took her in at 8 months old, now I'm broken hearted, without her. Let me just say in her prime age, she'd run up to any dog big or small have a sniff and want to play, if the initial sniff told her I don't like this one she'd growl or jump at it if it came near her, she was boss lady I called her, stubborn little girl, she never had one fight as such, but I knew she never ever showed or was afraid of any dog, saying that I read up on her breed and it said they're very stubborn, they will rule and take over your home if you allow the m to, possessive of their own toys and owners, but what always worried me was fact of I knew it of her, I knew if I didn't watch out keep a eye she could have got herself into big trouble as in getting really hurt even killed by bigger dogs, no fear in her whatsoever, and that's what I read the day I looked up, it said they and most little dogs actually think they are much bigger than the big dogs, they think no matter what they will fight that dog if it comes to it, they ruled and that was that and many times I had to stop her running over to any of the big dogs, I just used to put her lead on or just stear her away, as she got older she wouldn't bother anymore she just done her own thing, if the big dogs came running over and looked argumentive I'd just ask the owner to please put their lead on or just say she's snappy be careful, no prob, big or small if you're the owner just be sensible it doesn't take a lot to work out, better to stop it before it begins, I'd give anything to have my girl back it's only been 5 weeks and even though she was small, my home feels so bloody big, empty, and quiet without her.
Now over rainbow bridge, god bless you Coco god bless them all big and small and hopefully I get to see her again one day..

I have a little dog and a medium sized dog. Both are kept on leads. The owners I find annoying are the ones of whatever sized dog who allow them to run up to my dogs with no control over them.

I run. <awaits comments on tude runners>

I try to give dogs space so they don't get startled.

it's mainly the small dogs that 'chase' me or jump up at me.

my favourite route I can only run when it rains, because that eliminates the shit dog owners.

I swear I live in a different world.

In 20 years of walking dogs in a variety of towns, cities and countryside, I can count the number of aggressive dogs I've come across close enough for them to be an issue, on one hand. And I think I've only been jumped on with wet muddy paws about four times I can recall.

I don't know what I'm doing differently- if I did I'd recommend it.

I live in a lovely village. I am not exaggerating when I say dog shit is all over every street. I’m going to start taking photos to send to the council. I love a walk in the night when it’s all quiet and i now walk on the roads when possible as I know I tread on dog shit there. It’s horrendous and absolutely disgusting. There are no dogs roaming free, so these dogs are being allowed to shit all over the pavements by their owners.

I used to have a snappy little dog. He was attacked and almost shaken to death by a big dog off lead and after that every big dog that came closer than 5m was barked and lunged at.
I realised when I carried him, he felt safer and was quiet. This wasnt ok for big dog owners either though. I was told many times how i shouldnt be so precious and how my dog would probably love contact with other dogs. Nope.

Dogs also have social rules - direct, maintained eye contact = potentially a threat. Hurtling straight up to someone = a threat. Barking/lunging/growling from a strange dog = a threat.

It's annoying when owners allowed their dogs to just stand there staring at your dog. Being on a lead can make even well socialised dogs more reactive; with enough staring and barking, even my friendly dog will lose her shit after a certain point. If your dog has a tendency to stare, it takes just a small amount of effort to distract them, call their name etc; they break their stare to look at you so they're not being so intense. Likewise not allowing your dog to rush up and approach another. My friendly dog wanted to run up to every dog she saw to say hello when we first got her, she soon learnt 'leave' means we don't run up to other dogs and give them space to work out whether they/owner is ok with saying hello.

You can lessen reactivity with consitent training and patience. My greyhound was in rescue for 3 years partly due to how reactive he was. He was absolutely terrified of other dogs and would lunge and growl at them. Eight years on and he's lived with two other dogs and will happily walk past other dogs on walks without being afraid or making a peep. Sadly, very few owners seem to make the effort to train their dogs out of barking on the lead. I've seen more owners shout at and hit their dogs when they've barked and lunged, rather than use distraction techniques.

I appreciate that some dogs are more polite than others. But what OP reports it's really not a daily experience for the vast majority of people so I'm trying to make sense of it.

Thanks for the patronising ebook on stuff I already know though!

I have a fear reactive chihuahua, she's always on the lead, never ever off and we keep her away from other dogs. She's never attacked any other dog because she's not allowed near them. Simple.

But we get other dogs coming up to her, we explain she's reactive and they don't control their dog, so we keep ours under proper control.

@WiddlinDiddlin
Most owners unfortunately can't tell polite greeting or appropriate play from confrontational aggressive display designed to drive the other dog away, or bullying relentless chasing, or even predatory behaviour.

Truer words were never spoken! Too often the useless owners just stand there smiling indulgently - like parent's when their child is being a terror and the think it's being 'cute' 🙄

Unfortunately, one day these dogs will do it to the wrong dog and they will come very unstuck. And you can bet who the owner will blame then...the other dog, not their dog which was completely out of control and harassing or attacking the dog that finally snapped.

I’m so fed up with dogs off the lead running up to dogs on the lead. The owner then unapologetic and telling me it’s only 9 months old. This happened again to me yesterday, jumping up at me, around me while I’d picked my dog up to untangle her lead. Bloody bloke with the woman then had a go at me. I’m not the one at fault, they are, because they’re not keeping their dog under control. Dog owners, unless your dog has good recall, keep the damn thing on a lead.

Dog owners are wilfully ignorant of canine behaviour.
Anthropomorphising of dogs is stupid, but the owners are stupid.

I keep two of my little dogs on leads for this exact reason. One is a rescue JRT that has had a bit of trauma and can go for other dogs sometimes with no rhyme or reason as to why. The other is a Daschund who is basically just a little swine and likes to give it the big I am.
I do have a third Dog, another JRT who is beautifully behaved and just potters along. I don’t think it’s just small dogs however. Lots of large dogs will bound up to mine and their owners will allow them to. If I was a tiny dog and had a massive (to them) Labrador towering over me I suppose I might also nip. So ime it goes both ways. Basically a lot of dog owners are inconsiderate and don’t control their dogs sufficiently in my view.

Any dog that doesn’t have good recall is annoying and should be on a lead.

I run with my medium sized working breed dog (who has fantastic recall) and whilst out recently a cockerpoo type dog was chasing mine. Now my dog is happy to coexist with other dogs and will never go out of her way to run up to them or be aggressive. However, she hates being jumped and snapped at. I warn the owners and ask them to call their dog back as she doesn’t like other dogs up in her face. The little dog completely ignores their half hearted attempts so I call my dog back to me as I can see she isn’t enjoying being harassed by the little dog. Said little dog then proceeds to snap at me whilst I’m running. Again I have to tell the owners to call their dog back and again it ignores them! All the while jumping and snapping, it actually managed to bite me at one point (luckily not hard). In the end I gave it a swift shove with my foot to get it away.

this sort of thing happens quite a lot. It’s not all little dogs, I used to have some little dogs who whilst a bit mouthy, were well behaved and had good recall. But it does seem that on the whole smaller dogs are not as well trained as bigger dogs and their owners often think they’re being cute when they’re actually being aggressive.

I have a beagle puppy, gorgeous breed.

This is why I don’t own a dog. Sick of them yapping about my leg. The big ones are just as bad and more intimidating.