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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dog walking etiquette - very small dogs walked in large open spaces

80 replies

Avantia · 27/02/2011 17:50

If you had a very small lap type dog i.e dashchound and you walked off lead in very large open spaces where lots of people walk dogs mainly off lead would you get a bit miffed when a larger dog came up and wanted to sniff and play with yours ?

OP posts:

ditavonteesed · 27/02/2011 17:51

no, my dog border terrier would be most offended if all the big dogs ignored her, she thinks she is one of them.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 17:53

there's more ... and then when you picked up your littel dog to get it away from bigger playful dog - you were surprised when bigger playful dog jumped up -wrong to jump up I know but any surprise ?

OP posts:

ditavonteesed · 27/02/2011 17:55

wouldnt pick my dog up (might be small but she is a dog) ((unless other dog was attacking her)) so couldnt answer that, I get jumped at constantly though, might be the treat bag I have attached to my coat. never suprised.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 17:58

dog not attacking little dog - normal dog behaviour sniffing and running around.

OP posts:

DooinMeCleanin · 27/02/2011 17:59

My medium to little dog would be most miffed I picked him up and took him away from the fun. I dare say he would probably let me know how miffed he was with his teeth if I did not out him back down immediately.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 18:43

I was told by the owner of this little dog , who happened to be a burly middle aged man 'to keep my f**king dog under control ' and a torrid of abuse. I think there was a little of the big man , very small dog syndrome .

I was a bit taken back and got my dog on her lead, mainly because I did think he would kick her , and told him he shouldn't walk his dog off leadin such a place if he didn't want dogs to come up to her . I was told further to F Off , I ended it with suggesting that he get a larger dog .

OP posts:

EdgarAleNPie · 27/02/2011 18:47

your dog jumped up. you were at fault.

SlubberKongWubba · 27/02/2011 18:50

Avantia, I've got to the point now where, regardless if dogs we meet are off lead I will always recall my dog, put her back on lead (or into a sit wait) and wait until I can ask the approaching dog owner if it OK for my dog to play with theirs. Many times I get told "no thanks ", for all manner of reasons and the owners are always polite and seem very relieved that I have asked.

Iirc you have a lab pup too don't you? If yours is anything like mine is it a bit " HI THERE!!!! " in your face bouncy bouncy. Quite a lot of dog's don't like it, and fair enough, they are allowed to have a nice off lead walk without being bounced all over by my dog.

On the other hand we (both on and off lead) have encountered off lead dogs (see my fed up thread) and neither of us have enjoyed the experience.

I think it's only polite to check first before allowing your dog to have a play with someone else's.

MothershipG · 27/02/2011 18:52

Sounds like the guy was a complete tosser and I pity his dog...

...but as the owner of 2 small dogs (who are not picked up and are permitted to play with whomever they like ) I do wish owners of the larger, more bouncy varieties would acquire the common sense to realise that if my little dog looks miserable and is trying to get away from yours then it doesn't matter that your darling "just wants to play", he's making a nuisance of himself, and should be got under control, sharpish!

I'm sure that wasn't the case with you.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 18:53

I know my dog jumped up - I have acknowledged that , but he picked dog up as he didn't like my dog being playful with his . My dog jumped up as he had little dog in his arms - wrong I know but as I said - any surprise?

If you are going to be precious about your dog don't walk it off lead in a very open space which is popular for dog walkers espacially big ones that want to run around - plus there was no need to be for him to be so abusive

OP posts:

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 18:56

Well the small dog in question was also a puppy - I learnt afterwards= so fell sorry for it that it will not have the joy of learning to socailise with other dogs.

BTW we were walking on a path and caught them up , my dog saw little dog at last moment - at no time did he call his dog off or make any jesture to do so .

OP posts:

SlubberKongWubba · 27/02/2011 18:58

" he shouldn't walk his dog off leadin such a place if he didn't want dogs to come up to her"

I'm afraid I completely disagree with you here. While I dislike with a passion default shouty, sweary behaviour, an off lead dog is NOT an open invitation for all other dogs to come and play with it.

You need to keep your dog under control until you can ask. That as I believe it is the correct etiquette for such situations.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 19:01

But you have to accept that it will happen in big open spaces which is popular with dog walkers - why get shitty and abusive when it does happen .

OP posts:

GrimmaTheNome · 27/02/2011 19:01

I have a dachsund (a standard so not very small).

We don't usually let him off lead, in part because while most owners of large dogs are considerate and have them under control, not all do

Our last dachs - while on a lead - had his eye quite badly hurt by a playful boxer which trod on him. Ever after we had to get him under close control whenever we saw a boxer - for the larger dog's protection!

I don't object to larger dogs doing normal sniffing etc but would be wary of a big bouncy dog - they can accidentally hurt a little chap.

My dog jumped up as he had little dog in his arms - wrong I know but as I said - any surprise?
Yes! If your dog isn't well trained enough not to jump up at people then what's he doing off lead?

SlubberKongWubba · 27/02/2011 19:02

It's not up to you how he socialises his puppy.

It's up to you to keep your dog under control, especially in highly dog populated areas.

Sorry if I am coming overly stern but we have been on the receiving end of way waaaaaaay OTT bouncy dogs who were "only being friendly and wanting to play". It has really really frightened my dog and freaked me out too.

SlubberKongWubba · 27/02/2011 19:05

No Avantia, why should I have to accept that this will happen?

After an awful incident last week with "a puppy that was only playing" I have decided to stop walking my dog in a very convenient and pleasant area of common ground because of repeat incidents like this.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 19:09

Well obviously I am in the wrong here and all other dog walkers here have very well behaved dogs that come to recall immediately .

Must make a note to keep going to dog training classes .

OP posts:

minimu1 · 27/02/2011 19:16

Yes I would be very miffed. Dogs should not approach other dogs unless invited to do so.

Many small dogs have had broken legs and even been killed by larger dogs running up to them. The owner had a right to be annoyed.

Little dogs have as much right to be running off lead as big dogs.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 19:19

Annoyed and extremely abusive ? Is that Ok in a public place ?

OP posts:

SlubberKongWubba · 27/02/2011 19:22

What's with the ?

I got a good ticking off on here a few weeks back because I was allowing my off lead dog to walk on crops. I took it on board and now we are working on close heel off lead walking. It's not perfect yet and so we will not be walking on paths near crops off lead until it is. Fair enough. My dog, my responsibility.

As a good example as why you should ask, a week ago we spotted an off lead Alsatian walking between a couple. I recalled and got my dog to sit and wait. When they were in earshot I called and asked if mine could play. They said no thank you as their dog was almost blind and she got very frightened by dogs appearing out of nowhere but still liked the freedom of stopping and sniffing and keeping her owners nearby so she could still hear and smell them.

minimu1 · 27/02/2011 19:23

Is it ok in a public place for a dog to cause major injury to a small dog?

There are ways and means of asking but to be honest the owner should not have to be put in the position to ask - he should be able to walk his dog safely

Choufleur · 27/02/2011 19:24

My 1 year old springer wants to be friends with any other dog he sees. I put him back on the lead the second I spot another dog as I don't trust him not to leg it over to them, nor do I trust that other people's common sense, as some people will let dogs off who are aggressive with other dogs.

He didn't need to be so rude though.

Original poster

Avantia · 27/02/2011 19:26

The is because people make out that their dogs are so well behaved and would never do anything like this and anybody that does 'allow 'their dog is a bad dog owner and need to train their dog !

I am surprised that he was so abusive.

OP posts:

BeerTricksPotter · 27/02/2011 19:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MothershipG · 27/02/2011 19:28

Avantia if, as another poster suggested, you do have a young lab please do keep going to the training classes and work on that recall and soon you'll have a fantastically well behaved dog

In the meantime imagine if a 20 ft toddler rushed up to you and bounced all over you, you'd be wondering why it's giant mummy wasn't keeping it under control?

OK, silly analogy but I'm trying to find a light hearted way of getting you to see things from the little guys perspective.

But absolutely no one is saying that there was any excuse for that man to be so rude to you.

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