Page 3 | Did this dog walker expect me to leave the area?

WhatWouldDianeLockhartDo · 05/03/2026 18:19

TheCyanCrab47 · 05/03/2026 17:12

I'm one of those controversial people that says all dogs should be on a lead unless they are in enclosed fields, so I'll put that out there first of all. I have a reactive dog. It's bloody hard work. I've constantly had people say to me that their dog is friendly (mine isn't), my dog just wants to play (mine doesn't), and I've had to tell of many, many dog owners to come and collect their dogs as they have no control and recall and are hassling my dog. One thing a reactive dog is good for is making you an advocate, because you have to in every situation. My dog is never off lead. Ever. Unless he is in a pre-booked field. He sees a dog and goes nuts, he sees people getting too close to me and he goes nuts, and not in a nice way, so he also has to wear a neon top telling people to give him space. The entitlement of some dog owners is shocking. I'm in solidarity with you!

Completely agree with you, there should be more dog owners with your mindset. I’m a massive advocate for my dog. I remember the first time a dog went for him and I protected him. I literally saw him fall in love with me a bit more.

really well written too

WhatWouldDianeLockhartDo · 05/03/2026 18:22

MrMucker · 05/03/2026 07:49

I don't believe in a dog being reactive as much as I believe in a dog owner not putting in the research and work to train it.
In general.

Perhaps. But mine is a high intensity prey driven, hunting & fighting dog. It’s just best he’s on the lead.

Hhhwgroadk · 05/03/2026 18:25

We had a "reactive" dog: Always at heel when a custard cream in pocket was sensed! Don't tell me what isn't good for a dog: He had and ate and drank it all (the bad stuff) and lived to 18 years only going to vet once (sore paw) apart from yearly check-ups.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 05/03/2026 18:32

WiddlinDiddlin · 04/03/2026 15:36

Reactive means exactly that - they react to certain triggers and contexts in a way that puts themselves or others at risk or at least, involves behaviour you'd rather they didn't practice.

Some dogs are reactive on the lead - because it traps them and reduces their options from flight/fight/freeze/fiddle about to just 'make a bloody big racket'. Those dogs might well not be remotely reactive off lead but might also have a shit recall.

Some dogs are of course reactive on lead and off it, aggressive to other dogs, or children, or squirrels etc etc.

Some dogs are reactive but not aggressive, just lacking in manners and with a rude approach to other dogs and a poor recall.

Some dogs reactivity might be to run away, dangerously across roads, in a blind panic.

One of mine can be a bit reactive on lead because he's excited and silly and makes ridiculous hound noises and thinks people wish to cuddle him, but he's also 30kg of hairy dribbly hound, who has no recall because once his nose is down his ears are switched off - he genuinely has no clue we've been shouting him, and similarly, just expects us to be right behind him as he beetles off after a scent and is utterly bewildered to find we are not (but this hasn't given him any ability to switch the ears on when scenting).

So he stays on a long line and we avoid getting near people who might look at him or engage with him (he's fine if people ignore him, but not if it looks like they'd like to say hi!) as his excited 'I want to cuddle that person' noises sound bizarre (Strangled howling, the boy cannot hold a tune).

Not an aggressive bone in his body, he wouldn't know how. But would still be a flaming liability off the lead.

So if he got off the lead he would say hi to other dogs, try to solicit cuddles from people (sit on their feet then when they bend down to pat him, or fall over him, squash them with a full GBGV cuddle), slime them with dribble... and after a couple of minutes of that he'd be nose down and halfway to the next county, oblivious to everything but the scent.

Reactivity does not determine what the dog is like off the lead, and aggressive behaviour is only one way a dog can be a liability to themselves and others.

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I would love to meet him, @WiddlinDiddlin - he sounds very loveable.

SnowyRock · 05/03/2026 18:48

Isnt this what the yellow leads are for?
Seems a simple way of avoiding potential issues as people who may assume your dog is friendly if unmuzzled will realise its not to be approached.

Livelovebehappy · 05/03/2026 18:50

What does a dog walker storming off look like? I walk my dog and am struggling to think what I would do differently if 'storming off'. Maybe she just accepted what you said and just kind of carried on walking.....sounds like you might have wanted her to look pissed off and to storm off just have some perceived drama on a quiet day....

eastegg · 05/03/2026 19:39

DonaldJohnTrump · 05/03/2026 07:12

We have the same problem here in the US of A.

I'm think I'm gonna bring in an Executive Order that every dog must be in one of these (see photo) not on a lead.
The thingy in picture is quite small, for the yappy type dogs, but there will be biglier ones for biglier dogs.

Another beautiful thing is it saves having to pick that poop too - it stays inside the err... I think we will call it the Trump Truck.

Byoodiful, really byoodiful…

JellyRolling · 05/03/2026 19:50

I totally agree that some dog owners have a sense of entitlement. We learned the hard way when months of training was undone and our well-socialised, unreactive dog (who was on a lead and happily trotting along with his nose to the floor) was chased and pinned down by the throat by an off-lead dog.

I may have managed to get it off quickly but the damage was done… now he’s very reactive with any unknown dog, no matter how many times their owner says they’re friendly.

I can’t trust other car drivers not to crash into me so I have insurance. I can’t trust other dog owners so the lead is always on, unless in an enclosed field.

mondaytosunday · 05/03/2026 19:51

My (late) dog was not reactive but didn’t like to play much, might give chase a bit but usually either ignored other dogs or quick sniff then leave me alone and would give a little warning bark if a dog was too persistent sniffing her nether regions. I often had dogs bound up and a call of ‘he’s friendly’ which was fine as mine would be off lead so I guess they assume it was ok, but mine just didn’t like to play so I’d tell them that after a greeting expecting them to move along and call their dog away but no they seemed a bit oblivious- whether my dog was on or off lead (and by my side) it would be the same - get your playful dog away please.

Atsocta · 05/03/2026 19:53

I completely understand,
Loose boisterous dogs are my nightmare our little rescue had him 6 months reacts to other dogs, we think via the rescue he came from he was attacked by a large dog, he has a scar on his leg, he’s slightly better with small dogs, but large ones he really reacts… I just wish people would keep their dogs on leads in public places, even retractable leads, but they just let them run all over the place many have no control at all.
we have a rescue dog in training sleeve on his lead, but some people are so dumb or selfish it makes helping him much harder ..should be laws protecting likes of our little feller not to mention young children….

WiddlinDiddlin · 05/03/2026 19:58

Theseventhmagpie · 05/03/2026 09:04

The thing is I would love a cuddle from your dog- he sounds ace! 😀

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Oh he is and his cuddles are awesome, once he knows you've got him he lets go all his muscles and he has such heft to him, he's like a weighted blanket. It's something the breed are known for, liking a proper full on, both arms around them, hug.

He is also just a lovely character, very aimiable, relaxed, friendly but not without being invited (but he does think 'eye contact' is an invite) - he is also low to the ground, hairy, long ears and dribbly beard sometimes so if someone looks at him and thinks 'URGH YUCK'... he doesn't realise, he thinks it means 'yay, come cuddle me'... so we have to be sensible to stop him making poor decisions!

He's also the only dog I've owned who is genuinely offended if someone does not like him (which to be fair, has been a sum total of two people, my sister and my Dad!). All the others have just been rather 'oh well suit yourself' but the Long Wheelbase Hound genuinely has his feelings hurt if his advances are spurned!

Jellytotsapplepie · 05/03/2026 20:02

mindutopia · 04/03/2026 10:28

I think she may have actually wanted your dog to play with hers. 😂 You’d be amazed how annoyed people can get if your dog isn’t allowed to interact.

People are nuts though. We were out walking ours in a quiet forest area. She’s in season but we hardly ever see dogs there, so seemed safe enough. Down the track come 5 dogs, all dragging their leads behind them, and a woman half heartedly trying to recall them and none of them listening to her. About a mile back we’d passed a family with another dog, but it wasn’t theirs, they found it in the wood and it had followed them on their walk. Turns out that one was hers too. So she had 5 off lead dogs who were completely ignoring her recall and so many of them running in different directions that she couldn’t catch them, plus another one that she’d lost at least 30 minutes or so before and had no idea where it was. Hopeless. One of those dogs is going to get hurt one day running into the road or coming across a reactive dog while she’s a mile or two behind poodling along with no idea where it’s gone.

Cant believe your describing others as nuts when you are walking an in season bitch amongst dogs

are you sure it wasn't your in season dog that was making hers go wild?

Its basic knowledge you need to keep her away from dogs when in season and walk her on lead not to an area you say “there are not many dogs” then encounter 7

Partypants83 · 05/03/2026 20:24

I'm not a dog owner. I like some dogs but not if they jump up at me, lick my face, bark at me and I'd rather they didn't come up to me. I prefer it if we just go about our respective businesses.
Anyway. I often (daily) go for a walk in the parks and woodlands around me.
Lately, I have seen dog walkers with what seems to me an unreasonable number of dogs with them.
Yesterday, there was a woman with 5 dogs on the leash. She had a further 3 trailing behind her she was calling. As she reached her car parked on the nearest road, I saw there was another dog left in the car. So she was responsible for 9 dogs.
I don't think one person can control that number of dogs, even excluding the one in the car!
Willing to hear other views. Except I haven't worked out yet how to see comments back. Please enlighten me and I'll keep an eye on this thread to learn how x

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 05/03/2026 20:31

SnowyRock · 05/03/2026 18:48

Isnt this what the yellow leads are for?
Seems a simple way of avoiding potential issues as people who may assume your dog is friendly if unmuzzled will realise its not to be approached.

But what about off-lead dogs who assume that the other dog is friendly? Do they understand the meaning of the yellow lead?

Pearlstillsinging · 05/03/2026 20:31

BrownBogie · 04/03/2026 20:30

Not an off lead area, it’s a pedestrian footpath with large grass verges on either side.

Then the dog should have stayed on the lead anyway.
It drives me mad when we are at the beach with 4 Labs playing together, under close control, and someone sees them and decides it would be nice for their single dog to join in.
No it wouldn't, one of them is nervous of dogs she doesn't know, another is gormless and is likely to knock other dogs over.

If you want your dog to play with another there are several options available to you

Get another dog yourself
Arrange to meet a friend and their dog
Take your dog to one of the dog parks that has free-for-all social sessions.

But don't just expect strangers to welcome your dog with open arms.

Hellohelga · 05/03/2026 20:46

MrMucker · 05/03/2026 07:49

I don't believe in a dog being reactive as much as I believe in a dog owner not putting in the research and work to train it.
In general.

I don’t believe in people being rude or antisocial, it’s the parents fault for not putting any effort in.

Hellohelga · 05/03/2026 20:48

Partypants83 · 05/03/2026 20:24

I'm not a dog owner. I like some dogs but not if they jump up at me, lick my face, bark at me and I'd rather they didn't come up to me. I prefer it if we just go about our respective businesses.
Anyway. I often (daily) go for a walk in the parks and woodlands around me.
Lately, I have seen dog walkers with what seems to me an unreasonable number of dogs with them.
Yesterday, there was a woman with 5 dogs on the leash. She had a further 3 trailing behind her she was calling. As she reached her car parked on the nearest road, I saw there was another dog left in the car. So she was responsible for 9 dogs.
I don't think one person can control that number of dogs, even excluding the one in the car!
Willing to hear other views. Except I haven't worked out yet how to see comments back. Please enlighten me and I'll keep an eye on this thread to learn how x

I agree. Legal max should be four dogs per walker if a professional.

Hellohelga · 05/03/2026 20:53

OP did the lady do or say anything wrong? Sounds like she kept her dog on lead and walked off. Isn’t that ok? Did she frown in an offensive way whilst doing so?

WiddlinDiddlin · 05/03/2026 21:05

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 05/03/2026 20:31

But what about off-lead dogs who assume that the other dog is friendly? Do they understand the meaning of the yellow lead?

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Er no. You the owner should understand the meaning of it and recall your dog/keep them away from the dog wearing the yellow lead.

@MrMucker ... do you think training is some sort of instant thing, snap your fingers and dog is instantly perfect in every way?

If not then you must be able to comprehend that someone might be managing a dog whilst training takes place, and the dog does still have to go places and do things in that time, you can't generally lock them up and fail to meet their other needs whilst you just focus on training.

LongStoryLong · 05/03/2026 21:46

MyThreeWords · 05/03/2026 07:49

She "looked disappointed", "stared" and "stormed off".

Are you sure this isn't just you being overly anxious and defensive in your interpretation of another person's body language?

And even if she was at all irritated, isn't silent irritation ... allowed? It needn't imply a judgement of you, just a sense of frustration when encountering an obstacle to letting her dog off-lead.

You are setting the bar very high for other people to adopt a demeanour that reassures you that they don't harbour any negative feelings at all towards you or your dog.

This. There’s an awful lot of interpretation of a total stranger’s non-verbal communication here. I put it to you that she actually did nothing wrong, it’s entirely your perception.

DtotheOG · 05/03/2026 21:52

BrownBogie · 04/03/2026 20:30

Not an off lead area, it’s a pedestrian footpath with large grass verges on either side.

Fair enough. We have a local off lead dog zone and it annoys me when people deliberately walk their unstable dogs on-lead there and then complain that other dogs are off lead, especially when there is a lovely on-lead dog walk path next to it.

SnowyRock · 05/03/2026 22:04

PuggyPuggyPuggy · 05/03/2026 20:31

But what about off-lead dogs who assume that the other dog is friendly? Do they understand the meaning of the yellow lead?

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Obviously the owner would be the one to see the lead, they should be able to stop their dog from going over if its well trained enough to be off lead.
Realistically they shouldn't be letting their dog run up to any dog who is on a lead, the yellow lead just avoids the repeated conversations explaining that the dog wont want to play and allows people to be considerate and keep a bit of distance to reduce the dogs stress levels.

BeagleSkunk · 05/03/2026 22:11