Not to want to be yelled at by ignorant pig when i am out with my DD and DP and Ddog!

[LucyEllensmummy]

We have just had a lovely walk along our beach - just the right weather, DD and DP on scooter and me there behind them (quite a long way).

Dog off the lead (small jr type) not bothering anyone with children (he used to do this and was kept on lead but doesn't bother now). Lots of other dogs off lead - loads, hundreds possibly, all happily meeting greeting and generally having fun. Its lovely to watch - my dog is a friendly little character.

So, my dog approaches some dogs on the lead - one of the dogs starts snarling (NOT mine!!) as is quite common with dogs on leads - my dog is a bit dim and thinks it a game so is bouncing around. The owner then starts bellowing at me to put my dog on the lead (by this time my dog had walked off anyway) that i was breaking the law by having him off lead on the beach. Which i know is not true as dogs are banned from that beach between may and september only. Its perfectly legal any other time. My dog wasn't bothering anyone else. Comes when called etc. So the guy gives it all "well we'll see about that" Gets his phone and calls who? The council, the police??? I just go and sit on the wall and say, call who you want, we'll wait!! WANKER!!!!!!! Its not my fault his dog is aggresive to other dogs and his wife goes into a panic. I think he might have an interesting walk today - thousands of dogs on the beach off the lead, with people with and without dogs/children enjoying watching them play.

I would have had my dog on the lead if he were a)bigger (i used to have rotties and only ever walked them off lead in the depths of winter as they are a bit intimidating. b) aggresive c)likely to approach children (i don't like this myself) or liable to be a pain and not come away from other dogs - he is none of these.

What a thoroughly unpleasant man!

Waits to be flammed, just ranting really - i know I ANBU

The only dog I know whose owner takes herself and her dogs too seriously is a red setter.

That's hilarious! Well done! for a horrible moment there I thought it was going to be the dog I love to hate, and then I'd have to do that thing where you won't say either way, for fear of being flamed, and people would see right through it! Though that's easier to do in cyberspace as people can't read your expressions. One of the few times when that is actually a useful tool and not a communication hinderance...

MOB - I used to hate dogs, and particularly the smell of dogs, and all I can say is, when you have one you change. I can nuzzle my face into my dogs' necks no matter how smelly there are. In fact I love it.

I was terrified of dogs as a child as I never really knew any growing up. When I was about 10 I came across a stray dog coming the other way, down a narrow footpath. There was no-one else around, just me and this dog. I tried so hard to be brave but as it passed it snapped and bit me, then just walked off. After that I would cross roads to avoid a dog (even on a lead) for the next twenty years! The thing is, I now realise that I was so terrified of this dog that as I walked past I kept my eyes locked onto it, out of fear, looking for a sign that it would make a move. Dogs see intense eye contact as a threat, and the poor dog was out alone and obviously as nervous as me! It didn't do me any real physical harm - just a warning nip to say 'back off, you're making me nervous.' A classic lack of understanding on both sides. The only one to blame was the stupid owner, who should have been taking better care of it.

dollius - re: outing the breed, do you think I'm mad? I am relatively new to MN but even I know that there are some things that are just not worth it. I'm not that masochistic and I don't have enough time in my life for the inevitable ten page row that will ensue.

MN Rottwiellers aside, dog lovers are fiercely loyal to their breed and generally blind to any character flaws that are patently obvious to the rest of the world, (now that's an area that definitely can be equated to children!!!)and I'm sure Im no different (though of course I picked a breed with no flaws .

It's just in my experience I meet this particular breed of dog again and again, and the owners are usually humourless and po-faced, never ones to chat, and the dogs are like the class swot, teacher's pet with no friends, no discernable attractive personality traits (from another dog's perspective) and an overly superior air.

Just my humble opinion of course.....

I bet it's a small annoying little dog? Give us a clue at least

Absolutely not. Sorry.

If you have a dog then you have a responsiblity to other people to keep the dog under control in public places.

Not everyone likes dogs, even "friendly" dogs like yours.

Not everyone appreciates a dog that is not on a lead approaching them.

If your dog bites someone when it is off its lead then you are responsible.

Advice : keep you dog on its lead in any public place you take it.

Tiggy, I guess border collie.

hmmmmm, threadworm i was thinking the same thing. Their owners are often middle aged women who wear fleeces with dogs on them. Everything is done with a clicker and sponteneity is simply not encouraged. They definately have a sense of humour failure, but i bet they carry raw meat in their pockets to make their dogs behave See, i dont care who i upset - ive been here too long .

Oi my Mum has a border collie(well X'd with a springer) LOL

lovely dogs

Nah LEM not anywhere as near as me,you're not allowed to upset me. *

Mum isn;t ike that, she and dad sit on park benches chatting to anyone

*Whilst I have been ehre longer than oxygen (OK 2001) you are allowed to upset me. You can'tmakeme care though

but peachy that is because there is a crossbreed.

Gosh there are a lot of anti dog people about aren't there?

Personally I like dogs and am seriously thinking of getting one as I think it would be a great additition to our family . I speak as someone who has been

1 Bitten by a dog on the leg(completely unprovokesd) in Italy once and had to consider anti rabies injections as a result (wasn't necessary in the end- thank goodness).

2 Been chased and actually pinned against a wall by a friend's alsation in her house while it barked and lept in my face (That was a seriously untrained dog)

I would still like a dog as just becasue some dogs are not well trained doesn't mean all dogs are dangerous As for dogs never being absolutely 100% safe - nothing in life is.

I have howevber picked up some interesting points here on dogs though. From what I have gathered to be a good dog owner you need to

• keep your dog on a lead if it is not to be trusted to come instantly when you call (for whatever reason)

• Do not allow your dog to jump up on or even approach any other person (adult or child)

• Do not allow your dog to approach any dog that is on a lead (They are probably on a lead for a reason eg they are nervous of other dogs or people or they are aggressive or don't come when called etc.)

• Do allow you dog to approach and be friendly to other dogs that are not on leads so that they can socialse and be friendly and have fun.

• Above all be vigilant and watch your dog at all times so that you can call them if they seem to be approaching someone/something they shouldn't.

Sounds pretty simple to me really. Now I just have to decide on a breed and do some intensive dog training

As for the OP - I can't tell if the man was being reasonable or not to be annoyed with your dog but swearing and being aggressive sounds like it was an over-reaction. He should have been clearer that you needed to keep your dog away before the exchange between the dogs happened.

I used to have a border collie but I lived on a sheep farm and she was used to round the sheep up. Never had a clicker or raw meat.

By bloody dog has just scared the life out of me. He took off after a fox (beautiful long scene of shining, faintly bored fox streaking across field with dog in pursuit).

He got muddled up about where I was and, unknown to me, crossed a busy road and made his way home. I was shouting in fields for ages before steaming home to find him there, filthy, bedraggled, with a 'What? What have I done now?' look on his face.

One of mine does that all the time - though thankfully she hasn't needed to bring herself home yet. The only time I've ever gone completely hysterical was when a whole family of deer appeared out of the woods about 10 feet in front of us, and she gave chase and somehow managed to separate the daddy from the mummy and the two babies. He tried to keep up with them but he knew would have to cross her path if he did, so he backed off, and just watched whilst she went into the woods after them. It was really traumatic to watch. Being half lurcher she though it was all jolly good fun but I was beside myself. I don't have the stomach for hunting! I called her off (wailed like a possessed banshee, more like!) and thank the Lord, she came back and no harm was done. She had that same 'What?' look on her face! My nerves can take the odd rabbit or pheasant (just about) and I'm used to dealing with half mutilated birds and mice brought in by the cat. But deer? No thank you. I would need sectioning after that. I once had to put a badly mangled wood pigeon out of its misery and that nearly finished me off.

Dogs are lovely, except for ansty yappy terriers owned by MILs's (you know how the dog reflects the person LOL...). Ilike big dogs, dh likes small toilet brush resembling terriers so we'd never agree enough to get one (did onceagree to get a schnauser if we ever did get one).

I like BC's but yes mine have neen crossbreeds: Mums with a spaniel (sdaftest mutt on the palnet) and mine when I was a kid was with a dalmation (adorable but thick). DH had yorkies

I like 'ansty'. Does it mean nasty or angsty? My terrier is angsty. He is like Disney's dog Bolt. he thinks the world is full iof deadly peril, requiring constant vigilance and the use of his Dog Superpowers.

I know what you mean about many small dogs. But Parson Russell Terriers are so clever, so comical, and incredibly obedient most (def. not all) of the time.

Just come back from a dog walk and met a woman we often meet with her rottie and other dog both off lead Whilst we were chatting and our dogs were sniffing arses I thought of kerrymumbles and wondered how the lovely lady would react if I suddenly punched her in the face!!

TiggyR - please do tell. Your post had me in stitches.

I'm trying to recall every dog I've ever met now and work it out......

Not fair!

Dogs should be on leads all the time unless very distant ftom other dogs and people. I have two dogs and they are never let off the lead unless on the beach and seriously far from other people. This issue drives me mad. I'm 48 and have had dogs all my life. My DH and I have had 5 dogs. So I consider myself fairly experienced. My dogs are walked through woods, heathland, beach and on the street. Every single time we go out we are accosted by some other person's dog off leash. There should be a law against it. Dogs are dangerous animals. rangely it's most often bigger dangerous (german shepherds, bull terriers, huge mastiffs) dogs that are off leash. My older dog (12) has been practically raped three times lately by dogs off leash on the beach. These are dogs that run hundreds of yards to clasp onto her rear and I'm swinging her (she's small) and them around to shake them off. She is spayed but the issue is that people apologise profusely but JUST KEEP YOUR DOGS ON THE LEAD. Often my two dogs are attacked by dogs who have run away from their owners and leapt on my dogs (on the lead). You have no control whatsoever over your dog off the lead. My older dog is a rescue dog who hates other dogs and will attack them off lead but other owners never learn to keep their animals away from ours. The law should be changed to make it illegal to let a potentially dangerous animal (all dogs) run loose.

The number of other owners I've met who see me dragging my dogs away from theirs who are loose, who will say to me it's ok because their dog is harmless. They don't think to themselves is the other dog harmless? I have a Jack Russell and she is never off lead. They are particularly hard to control and they bite. They will bite children and other dogs. How will you feel when your dog has to be put to sleep because of your irresponsibility? All dogs bite. You have no control of them off lead. It really annoys me that irresponsible dog owners walk their dogs around children and other dogs off lead. They are responsible for vets bills for damage to other dogs.

I've just read that the law states that a dog out of control off leash in a public space can be seized and put to sleep and the owner prosecuted. Please think about other people and animals before taking your dog off lead.

I'm with Christie.

We have 2 rescue dogs. One has been attacked (while on a lead and muzzled to protect local cats) by a dog off lead (our dog needed 41 stitches). Our dog is terrified of other dogs that are off lead and shows aggression by barking if they come close.

Other owners with 'off lead' dogs don't seem to appreciate that having their dogs roaming around really makes life difficult for us responsible owners who are keeping our dogs under control. Selfish and thoughtless.

And I am not an aggressive owner - just one who is fed up of people who don't think they have a responsibility to keep their dog under control.

Yes I agree with you ZippysMum. I'm a serious dog lover. I'd never be without one. There maybe should be an information campaign to tell people that dogs ahould always be under control in a public space. The only way to achieve that is to put them on leads. Our rescue dog is 12 now and a bit arthritic. She is a real softy at home but she hates other dogs. A lot of dog owners seem to have no real knowledge aabout how dogs behave. They are pack animals not toys. No dog can be truly trusted never to attack another dog or a child. That's the nature of the beast. A lot of dog owners don't know the law or have any respect for other people. You wonder why they have dogs. As toys? It should be made much harder in law for people to own dogs.

Why has this thread been resurrected after 7 months? [confued emoticon]