To have kicked an old man’s dog?

[itsme189]

This morning I was walking my 2 very small elderly dogs on lead in the woods near me where it’s nice and cool for them.

they love people but they don’t love when dogs run up to them and get all in their face, valid I wouldn’t like that either. If a dog on or off lead just walks past or gives them a quick sniff they don’t mind. I always tell people not to let their dogs come right up to them.
Theyve never bitten just growled and I just don’t want to risk anything.

there was an old man walking a large greyhound type dog off lead and he’s miles away from it it runs at us very fast so I stick my leg in front of my dogs and the dog doesn’t stop runs straight into my leg. He then excitedly throws his foot on top of my smallest dog he squeals in pain and my other dog starts growling and showing teeth.

so I picked them up and then the big dogs starts jumping up at me to get to my dogs so I kick it away.

Old man then starts screaming at me for “abusing” his friendly dog and a lady walking passed then said to him “I saw her kick the dog”

and now I don’t know if I did too much but I was so overwhelmed and worried it would become a fight and there’s no way my old boys would do well in that situation. To make it worse the lady made a post about it in our local Facebook group (luckily no pictures) and everyone’s saying awful things but they only know one side!

For the record the dog was not hurt didn’t even squeal!

In the few seconds OP had to consider her response when the BIG DOG was running - UNCONTROLLED- at her, do you really, honestly think a BIG dog V two SMALL older dogs would be safe for the smaller dogs even if the big dog just "Wanted to be friends"?

Stompythedinosaur
Jumping at doesn't mean attacking, does it? I'm imagining an excited jumpy dog. Obviously that shouldn't happen, but not fair to kick a dog to correct bad behaviour.

OP is five feet tall and her arms were full, she would have been unable to catch herself if she fell. Or else she'd have had to drop her dogs, which for all she knew the greyhound regarded as prey.

If the greyhound was jumping at her, it could easily have knocked her over.

Oh dear.

Oh well, hip replacement is easy these days.... And a broken wrist is really no particular problem, after all.

If the op was being attacked by the dog she had the right to defend herself, absolutely. I don't imagine anyone disagreeing with that.

I just think it would have been mentioned if the dog was snapping or biting.

I’d have kicked it too. I have a big friendly dog. I’ve also trained her and keep her on the lead. Dog owner needs a kick.

If the concern was balance I don't think kicking would have helped really.

Or maybe the aggressive dog should have been on a lead?
🐶🤯

Mindblowing that such a device has been invented, eh?

I think there were other ways to handle it. I don't think harming an animal should be anyone's go to action if they aren't in danger.

I get that the other owner was to blame, and that the dog should have been better trained. Of course the dog shouldn't have run up to her.

But we don't live in a world where you have free license to use violence just because you don't like someone's actions, if you aren't in danger.

I’d have done the same.

I don't think every greyhound needs to be muzzled if it's on a lead.

( also wondering how the greyhounds spend their money)

She felt her dogs were in danger = she took appropriate measures.

Ignore FB post.
Be glad you’re all OK, had a little dog that was once bitten by a rescue greyhound. Greyhound had escaped. The owner was mortified. We handled it like adults.

I think the concern might have been that a dog might knock her over no matter how good her balance would be if she was not being pushed over by 35-40kg or so of excited and uncontrolled dog.

I also agree with you OP. A dog should not be allowed to jump up on you and if it does, consequences are what they are. I jog and I have regularly been jumped on by off leash dogs. I’m not afraid of dogs and usually I manage OK but it is also clear in my mind that if a dog starts to bite, it is getting a kick and I have no compunction. Off leash dogs should be under the control of their owner st all times. If they have no recall, they should not be off a leash in a public place.

my old dog was reactive to other dogs due to a traumatic start to her life (rescue). As a result she was never off her leash. 🙁 But it was the only responsible thing to do as I couldn’t guarantee her recall if she was approached by another dog.

Retired greyhounds are apparently really lazy and don't need much walking - I guess they left it all at the track🤷🏻‍♀️

It’s obviously not great but I don’t necessarily disagree either. I can’t stand dogs being off the lead when they clearly aren’t trained or controlled by an owner. We live near a field and the amount of dogs that end up running around our front garden because they aren’t trained and won’t get in the car is astounding. It makes me very nervous for my elderly cat in case she ever runs out and gets caught in it all.

I’d be pissed off at myself for allowing my dog to run up to someone and be a threat. If my dog is considered a threat to someone and they take action it’s my own fault for allowing it to happen. If another dog is running at mine with no recall I would absolutely protect mine by kicking the dog away if I had to.

TL:DR

All dogs should be muzzled when out in public - I'd prefer them to be on a lead, but 🤷🏻‍♀️

At least then it's just the weight of a big uncontrolled dog v a small frightened one, eh?!

I'm out.

To all the responsible doggers <cough> on the thread -
Thank you for keeping your dogs on a lead.
Thank you for not letting them jump up.
Thank you for the many hours of training and the love and effort you have made to make them the wonderful pets they are.

I'm still scared of dogs so will be sticking with my velcro cats.😽

So I should have let it continue to hurt my dog just because it’s bigger?

It should, but that wasn’t the OP’s question was it? She asked was she unreasonable to kick the dog. And my answer is yes.

I am astounded by the amount of victim-blaming and second-guessing on this thread, along with inability to read and understand your posts. OP, you were fine to do what you did.

I hope your two dogs are OK after the trauma?

I'm sorry that you had this awful experience. What happened was unacceptable, and the man should absolutely keep his dog on a lead as he obviously can't control it off lead. I dont blame you for kicking it, protecting your dogs is your right. I've had my onlead greyhounds attacked and injured, needing vet treatment (one needed 3 operations) so have absolutely no patience with useless, irresponsible owners like this one who shouldn't even own a dog.

I'm also annoyed as a greyhound owner that this idiot is giving the breed a bad name. Most of them are OK with other dogs, but some aren't, and aadly sometimes awful things do happen when they're not under control - as happens with other breeds too. One of mine was reactive and might have bitten a dog that ran up to him, so was always kept on lead and muzzled. This should obviously be the case with any breed, whatever the size. Any dog runs the risk of being injured or even killed by running up to a reactive/aggressive on lead dog, that dogs owner is potentially risking its life. Dogs are often kept on lead for this very reason. Dogs that run up to others that are on lead, and have totally ineffectual owners who can't or won't even try to get them back when asked, is my biggest bugbear as an owner.

I carry K9 First Strike spray that's legal and harmless, and I've read accounts where it's been effective at preventing an attack. It contains essential oils that overwhelm a dogs senses, and this takes its attention off the dog or person in its sights. This might be an option for you.

It would not stop jumping at me I held my dogs, turned my back. Hard to walk away with a dogs paws on your shoulders tbh. It had already hurt one dog should I let it hurt them more and me?? Some people have made some helpful suggestion like the second lead and treats for distraction

If a dog can't behave off lead it should be on a lead at all times. My Husband shot a dog the other day, he hated doing it but the dog was chasing our livestock. The woman that owned it had no control of it. She had parked on the verge and let her dog out into a field with livestock, what a bloody idiot. She didn't even have a lead for the dog. That dog was chasing livestock for 10 mins. The damage done was awful. She now has a dead dog and our vet bills to pay. this is the second time in a year this has happened.

You asked for views and have argued against everyone who disagreed with your actions. if you were capable of kicking a dog you were capable of walking away from it.

If you really were unable to walk away and had your hands full of your own dogs, how would you manage a lead or treats?

Yes, OP asked for views and she has plenty of people telling her she did nothing wrong. The majority of people have vote OP is not being unreasonable, and she is entitled to post and get support, sympathy and reassurance.