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The doghouse

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Original poster

Puppy told off by woman for wanting to play with her dog!

89 replies

ohnoudidnt · 30/07/2012 12:48

She screamed at her to go away and told me to put her on a lead Shock as her dog didnt want to play and she picked her little dog up....I called my 6 month gs pup back and she came to me and we walked a different way.Not sure if this should be in aibu but it really just pissed me off as she did nothing wrong.

OP posts:
JennerOSity · 30/07/2012 16:05

It was embarrassing we have never let him live it down! Grin the diamante on the T-shirt spelt out "Princess'

He is a great lolloping big girls blouse beast too. Arf!

JennerOSity · 30/07/2012 16:06

Yes to the big puppy/small dog thing - this is probably why lots of small dogs can be a bit chippy - they need to be so often! :)

pinkbraces · 30/07/2012 16:14

Your pup didnt do anything wrong, you did. Why is it ok for your pup to bound up to any dog wanting to play, especially if the other dog is either on a lead or being held by its owners?

When my medium sized dog was 10 months old she was attacked by a dog just wanting to play (thats what the owner said) she was walking by my side when this huge dog came running up to her, the owner shouting "its ok" she just wants to play, this dog got mine by the scruff of the neck proceeded to attack her, it was horrible and I couldnt remove the dog for what seemed like a very long time. What did the owner do?, Nothing absolutely nothing, she just said oh, thats not happened before.

Since then my dog is happy to play if she can approach or be approached calmly, Im very careful when I walk her off lead, if I see other dogs I either hold her or put her on lead. It makes me so angry when other dogs bound over to her,and Im greeted by the owners with "she just wants to play" and when I ask the owner to take their dog away Im normally greeted with either abuse or told to just let them play Angry

Please dont let your dog run over to others without permission, you dont always know the back story.

EasyToEatTiger · 30/07/2012 16:38

If our dogs meet other dogs who are off the lead, it is normally assumed that they want to investigate each other. It is not polite to allow your off lead dog to race up to an on lead dog. Puppies will get given what for by an older dog. Usually this just involves the older dog putting the younger in place.

If you pick up your dog when it has just met another dog, and off you go, you risk teaching your dog to become afraid. You could then end up with an aggressive animal. Most dogs, like most people do not go out to start a fight. They are more likely to if they are afraid.

Personally, I prefer my dogs to be unafraid, unlikely to cause harm, and generally socialised. If other dogs are around, I also prefer not to be too close to mine in case they think they're being protective. Dogs need to be able to run away.

We used to come across a lot of dogs who were completely out of control, bouncing around with no owner to be seen. There are useful tactics for dealing with these dogs without being afraid.

flapperghasted · 30/07/2012 16:53

A dog that won't socialise shouldn't be off the lead imo. I get sick to death of aggressive dogs coming up to my pup when she's on her lead and having a go at her. It's not on. It's scary for owners when a dog rolls your puppy and nips it on the neck. FFS...If you can't control your dog, keep it on a lead. If it's scaring my dog or starting to worry her, it's not in control.

Having said that, if a dog's off the lead and comes towards my girl and is friendly, no harm, no foul.

MothershipG · 30/07/2012 18:02

Jenner I think I love you! Sorry! Grin But it's so lovely to come across a big dog owner who appreciates why some little dogs can appear to have a chip on their shoulders!

If you pick up your dog when it has just met another dog, and off you go, you risk teaching your dog to become afraid.
I know what you're saying Easy and I do try to avoid picking mine up, but on occasion I have felt that I needed to be better safe then sorry when the size/behaviour discrepancy has been nothing but a recipe for disaster.

Cuebill · 30/07/2012 18:17

I hate it when dogs I do not know bundle over to "play" with my dogs. I will always turn direction and avoid the dogs. However my dogs are fully socialised and are encouraged to play with dogs (or fully trained owners) when I can see that the dogs are fully socialised themselves.

The problem dogs are the ones that bound over, owner has no control and the "he just wants to play" is uttered whilst their dog is bowling my to the floor in a shoulder lock.

Incidentally a small foster dog had his leg broken when a large dog just "Came to play". so small dog owners do have a right to protect their dogs from injury.

Cuebill · 30/07/2012 18:19

bowling my dog to the floor

LookBehindYou · 30/07/2012 18:54

If you have an unsociable or agressive dog the onus is on you to control your dog and take steps to make it safe. It's not the other dog owner's problem. If I can see that an owner is taking specific action I keep my dog with me, but otherwise it's great for my dog to socialise and where I walk this is encouraged by pretty much all of us. Dogs that don't want to play are ignored in the main by other dogs anyway. Puppys need to learn.

Original poster
ohnoudidnt · 30/07/2012 19:01

PINK Your pup didnt do anything wrong, you did. Why is it ok for your pup to bound up to any dog wanting to play, especially if the other dog is either on a lead or being held by its owners?

CUEBILL I hate it when dogs I do not know bundle over to "play" with my dogs.

At what point did I say this happened?
I was about 6 ft away from the woman and my puppy was calm and gentle.

OP posts:
Cuebill · 30/07/2012 19:40

ohnoudidnt I really can't see what the problem was or why you are so cross about it. Your dog was undercontrol another owner asked for your dog not to approach (for reasons you do not know) your dog came when called so why are you so offended?

I mentioned the bundling as this happens a lot and the other owner was not to know your dog was impeccably behaved and I am sure has been on the receiving end of untrained dogs before.

Chill have a glass of Wine and move on

Original poster
ohnoudidnt · 30/07/2012 19:43

Just to clarify BOTH dogs were OFF Lead.For those of you who are saying it was wrong of me to allow my dog to approach another,then how do you ever introduce dogs? On leads with permission ? Genuine question Smile

OP posts:
Cuebill · 30/07/2012 20:16

Have your dog close to you when approaching other dogs, then see other owners reaction. When you are close enough to speak ask or listen to the other owner. Also for your own dogs protection study the body language of the other dog and also the control the other owner has over the dog before you let your dog play with other dogs.

There are 100's of reasons why an off lead dog does not want an encounter with another dog.

LookBehindYou · 30/07/2012 20:22

Dogs who don't want an encounter ignore and trot on. If they're the kind of dog who would attack if approached they should always be on a short lead. You're making a huge deal out of nothing Cuebill.

OatyBeatie · 30/07/2012 20:27

I think cuebill is spot on. What good does a short lead do if it is the other dog's approach that starts the aggro. All the short lead does is make the on-lead dog more defensive.

Cuebill · 30/07/2012 20:28

Me? It wasn't me that was pissed off - you asked a question - got a reply and are now getting narky Confused

An aggressive dog is not the only dog that should not be approached.

An elderly dog would not want an encounter with a bouncy puppy should they be on a lead all the time?

Some dogs do not like encounters with other dogs

Some dogs may be in training and not want to be approached by other dogs

Some dogs may be getting over an injury and may not need to be approached etc

EasyToEatTiger · 30/07/2012 20:33

Any dog who came bowling over to ours would be in big trouble. The same as crashing into someone in the street, then expecting a conversation. It is very important to watch and watch and watch. That's what dogs do. They spend huge amounts of time watching. Us humans are less good at it. I don't think OP did anything wrong. Dog owners can be really weird.
We were taught to watch and watch and watch, to allow dogs to sniff each other, and to back off unless it was very clearly an attack. A lot of noise is in human terms like a shouting match. I don't know, because there is clearly a lot of trouble to get into.
I grew up with terriers. We call them the terriorists. They are small, but ferocious. The problems with dogs is that they don't know what size they are. I think most of the inter dog problems are caused by owners.

EasyToEatTiger · 30/07/2012 20:36

There are some good trainers out there who do outside work with dogs, and off-lead work outside. This kind of exercise makes going for walks where you will find all sorts of dogs and owners far more relaxing!

LookBehindYou · 30/07/2012 20:39

Grumpy old dogs snap a warning and the other dog gets it. I see dogs interact enthusiastically with some, snap at another and completely ignore more. Dogs give off all kinds of clues easily picked up by other dogs who are given an opportunity to use their instincts.

Cuebill · 30/07/2012 20:53

Lookbehindyou I think you are over simplifying things. What about the nervous anxious dog that rolls onto its back when another dog approaches. This encounter with a bossy dog can cause major upset to the dog.

Dogs do not know how to control all situations and as an owner, who know their dog best, it is ok to ask for a dog to be kept away surely?

LookBehindYou · 30/07/2012 21:03

Earlier I mentioned a guy that has an agressive dog. He calls warnings out to people who don't know him. He is, however, able to control his dog if a dog ignores the recall command. Dog owners are generally very helpful in my experience and recall if they see something is up or are told there is a problem. I said this earlier.
An owner should not have a problem dog off lead.
Off lead dogs are deemed ready to play unless proved otherwise. In my experience dogs either start play, or sniff, or ignore. It's never been a problem. I have no idea where all you guys live that have such a stressful time out with your dog.

RedwingS · 30/07/2012 22:02

I think if a dog is off-lead, it's okay for other dogs to approach it.

Since when did everybody have such unsocialized dogs that other dogs can't come near? I think it's a real shame that dogs' lives are getting more and more constrained. They are social creatures, and should be able to socialize.

There are people in my village who got puppies last year, never socialized them when they were young, and now have dog-aggressive dogs. It's such a shame because there was no need for it to happen.

I am getting used to people with tiny dogs picking them up when my husky is near - or, like last week, screaming and running away with it (?!). I don't mind (apart from the screaming) - he is very gentle but they don't know that. However, if they could read his body language, they'd know there isn't a problem.

topknob · 30/07/2012 22:06

See I keep my dog on her lead and usually muzzled because of off lead dogs like yours & Spaniels..my dog would try and hurt them. However I deal with it by keeping her on lead at ALL times, however this doesn't stop other dogs approaching her even though she is on the lead and usually muzzled. I do not understand why owners allow the small dogs to carry on approaching her when she is going nuts barking etc..don't they pick up on her vibes?

TeacakeTilly · 31/07/2012 00:24

So as a first time dog owner, AIBU to be a tad annoyed that two off lead spaniels came up to TeacakeDog and did the usual sniff bum greeting, which she was ok with, and then they wouldn't leave her alone so she snapped a warning at them and I had to change my walk to drag dog in the opposite direction, because their owner had let them off the lead where she couldn't see them?

Sorry, that was a bit garbled Grin but surely you keep an eye on your off lead dogs? Not let them go out of sight to annoy a dog that although is very soft and non-aggressive, gets a bit narky if annoyed (hence her being on lead) and could also squash many dogs just because of her size?!

MothershipG · 31/07/2012 07:27

I am getting used to people with tiny dogs picking them up when my husky is near

Redwings A Husky in my local park killed an elderly Yorkie so I am much more cautious of unknown Huskies than I used to be. Sad It was a tragic progression from unruly youngster to out of control adult that was entirely the fault of the useless owner.

I'm not confident enough in my ability to read an unfamiliar dog's body language to risk my dog's safety, so I would use human communication with the owner. Wink

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