...or was he? (Dog walking)

[HarderToKidnap]

Me and dog in park yesterday, we go quite late when it is quieter.

Only saw one other person, who was walking a massive muzzled dog on a lead. My dog is a titchy toy dog.

When we saw them, my dog started running towards them. Immediately this guy started shouting "call your dog off!! CALL IT OFF!!!" My dog was still about twenty feet away and was ambling, and I knew full well it would stop within about ten feet unless invited by the other dog to come closer. So I called my dog and he stopped. I went over and put him on the lead. Then got a mouthful from the guy about how I should not allow my dog to frighten other dogs by running up and that I would have ruined his dog's walk and "she will be useless now" (his dog was going mental, baying and howling).

I felt/feel bad but not sure if I should. After all my dog did not go very close, stopped when told to and did not display any aggressive behaviour at all. And tbh, before Mumsnet I wouldn't have thought twice about it, but dog owners are judged so strictly on here I am second guessing myself all the time! After all, surely the whole point of a walk is for dogs to meet and chat with each other? So it's understandable my dog may approach other dogs?

You are being totally unreasonable, although I also think he popped at you excessively. It is never acceptable to just allow your dog to run up to another dog - and one who is muuzzled and on a lead - are you mad? CLEARLY that's a dog who is either very aggressive or very scared of dogs (or both). Size of dog is irrelevant.

I totally disagree with the poster who says, "let them sort it out". With my dog, you'd have a dead dog. He's been attacked by other dogs 4 times in his life when they've just run up "to play" (FFS) and now will bite first, ask questions later, so, I will only let him off the lead on our own land or where I know there's no other dogs (we don't live in a town and I'd never take him to a park), and his recall is spot on in all circumstances, including in the presence of other dogs.

If he sees another dog, he's SCARED. If another dog runs over to him he's REALLY SCARED. It can totally ruin a walk - I completely understand the man's POV and as he's done so much to try to protect his dog, it's really horrible when other people just let theirs run up to mine even when I politely ask them to not do.

In this case, there's so many complaints about people not leading or muzzling dogs - FFS at least this bloke was doing that! Surely you can have the courtesy to realise that this is not a dog to be played with and keep yours away?

Walks are for exercising dogs. If someone shows an inclination to let their dog play with yours and you're happy with that, then so be it but if a dog is on a muzzle and lead, 'tain't rocket science, 'tain't a happy and friendly dog.

Recalls don't "wear out". What a strange thing to think. Why not walk out with some titbits and always give your dog a treat when he comes back - it can be something like a tiny cat biscuit or a portion of his daily food - nothing to give him excess calories - but he'll always think of coming back to you as fun, then.

I as a dog owner think your dog should have been on a lead.

My dog is a beautiful placid non aggressive dog who loves long walks unhampered by his lead- i however am on pins watching all the time cos whilst I know hes gentle as anything other dog walkers just see a pitbull/staffie and freak.

I agree that the OP seems to be making an issue of the size of dog, as though she has some justification for letting it run up to other dogs because it's usually the smaller of the two.

The size is not the issue. Some animals, and a lot of people, don't like dogs running up to them whatever the size. There is not necessarily any correlation between size and termperament anyway.

Whatever breed or size of dog you have, when you take it out to public places it is your responsibility to keep it under your control and not causing annoyance to anyone.

The man's reaction sounds a bit OTT, but that's not the point.

I have a large dog and am fed up of people assuming it's okay to let their little dogs run up and have a go at him. In fact, often they think it's funny.
He is always on teh lead now and I still get dogs coming up to him all the time and have to shout to their owners to come and get their dogs.

"I always carry a stick and will hit the mutt if it does not move out of the way" - hmmm - not sure if that is the best approach. What do you do if the dog retaliates?

My husband maintains that small dogs look at bigger dogs and think, "That must be what I look like! I'm big and strong and brave and powerful".

Whereas big dogs look at smaller dogs and think, "Bugger me, is that what I look like? I'd better run away coz I'm a tiny little runty thing".

Yes, my big dog doesnt realise he is a big dog!

Rainbow, exactly my German Shepard was petrified of small dogs and i kept him on a lead at all times for his own safety, he would panic and run away if approached by a small dog.

Owners of small dogs, found him cowering behind my legs, very funny.

claw coz it's so hilarious to scare an animal, huh. Like, if your dog had scared their toy thing, they'd be SOOOO laughing about it .

Well I think you called your dog off when he asked so obviously no major transgression on your part.

But I agree you shouldn't just let your dog go bounding up to other dogs (or people for that matter).

Obviously it is lovely for dogs to socialise but unfortunately not all dogs are able to - our dog came from a rescue at 6 months old and was terrified of other dogs. We've worked on it a lot but small dogs really terrify her - if your dog had run up to her she would have laid on the ground with her tail between her legs looking terrified.

I wouldn't have had a go at you though - plenty of people do it without thinking it through.

my dog is always kept on a lead because he hates other dogs and cant be trusted, and i always tell other owners, very politely, that he's a vicious little shit no matter how cute he looks, so please keep your dogs/kids away from him! i never react angrily, just tell them how it is and apologise that they cant run free around my dog, its my dog, therefore my problem!

OP, you werent being unreasonable, how are you supposed to know if a dog has psychological issues? [cant believe im using that term]
he on the other hand was being VERY unreasonable, he could have just said, please mind your dog! to stop him initially, and then just said 'my dog is not good with others, sorry about that!'
doesnt have to have a rant on it.

There was no reason for the other person in the op to shout at the poster. Only he needed to do was call to her to check her dog wouldnt approach.

Carrots, he was the biggest softy ever, even when attacked by small dogs, he wouldnt fight back. Small dogs seemed to sense his fear and would often attack him, even the ones who were 'usually very friendly'

I can understand why the guy was pissed off with the OP, 'his dog was going mental, baying and howling' a very good reason not to let your dog charge at another, even if it is just to play.

claw I have the same problem, mine had a couple of attacks from "usually friendly, wouldn't hurt a fly" dogs as he was obviously afraid. Now he just, understandably, goes for them first so I have to stop that from happening.

It's a real shame but there are a few dogs out there that just can't cope with other dogs and it's a shame that when an owner of one is doing their best to deal with it, others don't respect or understand it.

If it had been a terrified child screaming and crying, I wonder if the OP would have thought it was ok to let her dog run towards them, even though SHE knew it wouldn't get close or "do anything". Or indeed if the parent of the child had had a go at her whether she'd have thought THAT was unreasonable.

The owner sounds a bit undiplomatic but please be aware that what looks reasonable to you and other humans can be very unreasonable for a dog. My (big) dog is kept on a lead because she sometimes attacks other dogs that approach her. A small dog running towards us/her would upset us both because she would be going through her defense strategy and I'd be worried about a fight. I would also be then worried that the owner might assault me if/when she grabs hold of the small dog and chews it. I always warn people that she will maybe bite their dogs so they need to take control. Its funny how many people say "oh, they'll be alright..." and then act surprised when the teeth come out.

I'm probably going to get flamed here for thinking its funny , but I just remembered an incident a few years back when a little dog approached a friend of mines rather large dog and started having a go. The big dog cocked his leg and pee'd on it! I have never seen anything like it! the little one ran off yapping, and we just stood there jawdropped while the owner went nuts!

What were we supposed to have done? It was a tad unexpected!

Kind of brave really of the big dog in a way! sorry I'll get my coat!!

PMSL KAQ.

Remonds me of the saying: 'When in doubt, act like a dog. If you can't eat it or shag it, piss on it and walk away'!

Sorry OP. YABU in my opinion.

My big dog was attacked by two unleashed sausage dogs when she was a puppy.

She is now very pseudo aggressive towards small dogs. I say pseudo aggressive, because she is gentle and wouldn't hurt anyone. But she puts up a good front!

It annoys me when other owners allow their dogs to approach without checking with me first.

I walk her, not so that she can socialise with other dogs, but because she needs to be exercised.

Just wanted to give you another perspective...

I walk my dog off lead through open countryside. If I see another dog walker approaching I watch to see what the person does when they see us. If they call their dog I call mine. If they don't I assume their dog is fine and let the two dogs meet and greet. That way, my dog gets to socialise with friendly dogs and avoid the unfriendly ones.

My parents dog is not good with dogs she doesn't know and likes her space. Her recall is brilliant, so she's walked off lead in quieter areas and put on the lead if other dogs approach. If the dogs walk past, no problem. If they don't and the owners can't/won't recall them she's afraid and tries to get in there first.

She's a large, strong Lab and it's hard work hanging on to her when she's like this. So I can understand that this man was probably a bit pissed off when his dog is on the lead and muzzled and you STILL don't get the message.
Ok you did call your dog away, but you shouldn't have let it approach in the first place. If his big dog had injured your little dog (and it could have done) you would have been cross. But it would have been your fault.

Your recall won't 'wear out', just make it worth his while. Call him back for a game, then you'll be much more appealling than other dogs anyway.

"I always carry a stick and will hit the mutt if it does not move out of the way" hmmm - not sure if that is the best approach. What do you do if the dog retaliates?

Or the owner! (and I just might)

Tbh so might I...

if my dog is on a lead, he is a turd with other dogs, if he is off the lead he is an angel. I generally let my dog approach other dogs even if they are on the lead as this usually results in a quick "hello" and they move on. If i see another owner put their dog on the lead when they see mine then i put him on his.

I just think that COMMON SENSE has flown out of the window with regards to dogs. If you have a dog, you have the responsibility to have it under control - that doesn't always = on the lead. It means that it shouldnt approach people unless they encourage it, it means it shouldnt fight with other dogs and it should come back when you call it. All this dogs on leads at all time is bollocks - I walk my dog (JRT) and my mother's huge yeti dog along the beach, they do their poos as soon as they are let off the lead so i take them away from where people are and pick it up and bin it. If there are loads of people i keep them on the lead, if its less busy i don't. On the whole, other dog owners want their dogs to play with other dogs - its all a matter of COMMON SENSE. If you have a dog that doesn't like other dogs, don't walk it in areas that people let their dogs off the lead.

Our beach is always busy, even in the winter, but just a short walk takes us to where most non dog people don't walk and its fine. Never had any problems.

The other week there was a MONSTER bull mastiff on the beach, i swear i have never seen anything so big in my life - it was gorgeous but it was huge. It was off the lead, but trotting along with its mum and splashing in the sea, oblivious to everyone else. Then there was an idiot woman with a staffie, which im sure was lovely, but it was charging up to everyone and actually knocked someones child over, she would have got a peice of my mind if it had come near mine, she nearly got a piece anyway as its owners like this who make it hard for everyone else.

I feel sorry for dogs that are only walked on leads, if you dont have access to an area where you can let your dog off the lead, dont have a dog

has anyone thought that the guy shouted at the OP because he was thinking of her dog? he had his dog on a muzzle {which is a good thing}, but if a little mutt came runningup at it he may cause troble/damage to it so the owner of the muzzled dog did right...he had his dog on a lead and muzzled, dogs shouldnt be off a lead in an open park where kids could be...not just the enclosed play area, kids are allowed outside too.

And ripeberry, I agree if a dog should run up when you have kids you have every right to protect your family and if hitting it does that then it is the owners fault for not keeping it on a lead where there are families.

So how close does my dog have to get before I am becoming unreasonable by letting him "approach" other dogs? Bearing in mind he was twenty feet away from other dog when he stopped. is there an exclusion zone around dogs and kids that other dogs cannot cross into?

No hard and fast answer to that is there? But I'm assuming the fact that you posted on AIBU suggests that you weren't sure whether you were or not, so I guess you need to look through the responses and think about it and decided what to do.

Bottom line though - anyone who chooses to have a dog should keep it under control (just as when you have kids!!). And a lot of people don't like having a dog haring straight towards them, a lot of other animals don't either. It's impossible for anyone else to know what your dog's recall is like, and unfortunately not all animals will stop. I've been licked, drooled on and jumped up at occasionally by animals - I don't invite it, I don't welcome it, and it pisses me off. If we could be 100% sure that every dog will always stop 10 feet away, then that's one thing, but they don't do they? And actually, depending on size of dog, 10 feet is pretty damn close anyway. If you're a 3 year old, you'd be pretty scared by a large dog running up that close even if it did stop.