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!

The unsocialised dog is the greyhound that doesn't know how to approach another dog. You talk about thousands of years of genetically bred behaviour - but that is exactly why dogs on a leash, even ones with great character, are often very uncomfortable when approached by other dogs - and especially bigger ones that are not on a leash.

If you know anything about innate dog behaviour it will be clear to you why that is.

100% agree. My son was afraid of dogs when younger (and he’s still not keen now if they’re very boisterous) and I was absolutely sick of owners telling me how friendly their dog was in an offended tone when I stood between the dog and my frightened child.

I'm an absolute dog lover but you did the right thing. Especially with a greyhound and you having small dogs. We're meant to have control of our dogs, he had none. Friendly or not, it should be close enough if off lead and have good recall to return when he saw another walker. Mine are often off lead but I'm always on the lookout for others and put them on at a certain distance.
If you're in the mood for it, I don't know how it works but Facebook allows you to post anonymously. You could even just ask what was the dog doing so far from its owner, it can't have been under his control. Oh, depending on how much detail you want to give away, say the person they're talking about is a friend of yours and she only did it as it was going for her two, small, elderly dogs. That way you won't feel on overdrive defending 'yourself' while still giving the other side.

There's a difference between a 'go away' kick to protect your dogs/yourself and from giving the dog a beating. Imagine if it ran up on to a big, nervous dog? It'd have a really bad day and the owner would be entirely to blame.

Of course you can kick a dog that’s bounding up to you. Why wouldn’t you be allowed to? If it’s approaching you putting you in fear or alarm you can do what you like. If the owner doesn’t want his dog to be kicked he needs to put it on a short lead.

This stuff isn’t complicated.

The only reasonable conclusion the casual reader could have to this post is that you are an irresponsible owner of a larger dog. Small ,especially small and elderly, dogs should not have to put up with being trodden on by great lummox hounds. Yes, it can, and probably would, cause them pain!
FFS…

The entitled man in this scenario is the only person at fault. He is actually putting his own dog at risk of retaliation by not controlling it. Someone might one day, inflict far greater harm on his poor dog if he isn’t careful of who it jumps at.

This. I love living in a country with sensible 'dogs on leads' unless in a dog park rules. No one has to be fearful in public. I really can't imagine that scenario with a small child as well. Some dog owners are thoughtless and selfish and should absolutely always keep their dogs on a lead unless that dog will never interfere with anyone else's day in a way they don't want it to.

So the person that had her dogs on leads is wrong and the person that lets his dogs run wild and run up to dogs on a lead is right and person with dogs on lead shouldn't take them for walks to allow loose dogs to run amok?? Wow. What a ridiculous viewpoint.

Without hearing the other side of the story I would say both of you were unreasonable with your behaviour. The lady who saw what happened probably has the most unbiased view and you sound upset on what she said which is telling.

I can’t believe people are defending that old man , , my friend lost her Boston terrier that was mauled to death by an off lead dog . I witnessed first hand the trauma that those 4 children & their parents went through . To say they were devastated is an understatement . Their dog was only 10lbs and was super friendly , an absolute sweetheart . Their dog suffered horribly before she died , so all these irresponsible people actually defending that old fool is unbelievable . Get a grip she was only trying to get rid of that dog that should have been on a lead in the first place .

You did nothing wrong, OP. The dog may have been playful but greyhounds have a strong prey drive and that could have changed in a heart beat. I have had a very frightening incident with a greyhound in the past with one of my terriers. Even if you didn't have your dogs with you, why should you put up with dog jumping all over you? If a dog was climbing all over me and not taking a telling, I would become a lot harsher as well. If the owner didn't like it, he should have had his dog under control. How do you think someone terrified of dogs would react to a dog jumping on them and pawing them?

I have a year old staffy who is a very sweet, amiable dog but far too friendly and wildly excitable in new situations and around new people. When he gets excited he does not pick up on social cues from dogs or people AT ALL! He might not be as tall as a greyhound on his back legs but he is built like a battering ram and he could hurt someone jumping all over them. So he stays on the lead around other people or until he has calmed down enough in group situations to remember his manners. I would hate someone to kick out at him and hurt his feelings but if it did happen, it would be my fault as an owner for putting him in that situation.

I cannot believe some of the replies you are getting here! No wonder dog owners have such a bad reputation.

It depends if the lady is a dog lover many of whom think that out of control dogs are just fine, just having fun, just being friendly

I agree. Once you had picked up your dogs you could have walked away. The other dog would have gotten bored and left you alone. I think kicking him/her was too harsh.

Years ago my small dog was nearly killed by a greyhound (an ex racer). I would have done the same thing as you OP, I wouldn't trust a greyhound anywhere near my small dog to this day.

This " standard advice" is absolutely not applicable in all situations.

And it certainly wasn't in this one, the OP had two, elderly, small dogs who reacted to an uncontrolled , presumably younger and much larger dog.

1. Having two dogs in fear reaction mode is much worse than just one, they will pick up on each others energy.

1. Elderly. These dogs will not react like younger dogs. Also they are obviously more vulnerable.

1. Size. Whilst it is correct that picking up the dog can stimulate reaction in an aggressor and should be avoided if possible, sometimes it's just easier quicker and safer to pick up the smaller dog and repel the agressor. Which is what OP did.

I think her actions were correct in this case.

You are completely within your right to kick away any dog that is jumping up at you. I once had an off lead dog jump up and knock my 2 y old over whilst we were walking along a narrow path by a river with a river bank one side and a steep wall on the other thus no where’s to go. So I picked up the dog and threw it down the river bank.

@Mistymaglets Lots of experienced dog owners and trainers on this thread have disagreed with you on this and given the exact same advice I have. As do all dog resources online - size and age of the dog does not matter. It is irrelevant. Picking up a dog in a situation like this is as stupid as sticking your head incinerator.

I'd be interested to know your experience of dog ownership and training, given how experienced quite a few of the posters are who have agreed completely with my advice.

You shouldn't have kicked the dog. Sounds like it was a friendly dog that just wanted to interact with your dogs.

What's the right thing to do, offer her small dogs as a sacrifice to the hound?

I agree with you OP, I have 2 small/medium sized dogs who are both very friendly to people but reactive to other dogs. I never let them off the lead and always tell people with dogs not to let their dogs approach my dogs because they're reactive. I think people who let their dogs off the lead (without 100% recall) are irresponsible. I don't walk my dogs in fields etc as I expect other dogs to be off the lead in that situation.

Turn away? Ask the owner to call him back?

If someone is in danger, of course they have the right to defend themself, but the op hasn't claimed the dog was attacking her. So there was no need for her to hurt the dog imo.

Yes the dog shouldn't have been bothering her, and should have been under control, but that doesn't mean it was necessary to kick him.

Any off-lead dog that attacked my on-lead dog would get a punt that resulted in a drop goal being awarded

I do this without thought if the off lead dog doesn’t listen to stop, me blocking it or have its owner nearby to control it. You absolutely did the right thing and anyone who says otherwise has obviously not been in that position which is lovely for them.

only one owner has said anything about me kicking their dog. She called me a “fucking bitch” and had zero come back when I said it wouldn’t have happened if she had her dog on a lead or she had trained it.

I’ve only had to do it a few times but I’m not sorry at all.

well done for looking after your dog.

There we have it

evidence that people think their dogs should be able to irritate and annoy anyone they like cos they are being friendly

is a dog being friendly the new “it’s just banter “ ? Completely inappropriate behaviour that people tolerate for far too long long

it’s not ok ever to have you dog approach people or dogs who may not want that interaction - people who have been bitten or attacked by dogs, people with allergies

your dog is not welcome and you need to train it, keep it on a lead or stop keeping dogs

OP's dog was hurt. Her first post said 'my smallest dog he squeals in pain'. She also says 'my dog who was hurt when he had his head smacked into the ground.'

The greyhound didn't stop when OP picked up her dogs, he jumped at her.

Of course OP was going to kick the dog. Turning away and calling the wet lettuce owner would have done nothing.