Grrr walkers

[Heartstart]

I took ds to walk and took our Border terrier with me on lead as usual. Loads of parents do same and there was one woman who had 2 spaniels on leads too. After drop off I took dog over recreation park for walk. The dog was fine and my friend and I were chatting when I suddenly noticed woman with spaniels who were still on lead at other end of field my dog shot off to play with hers, as I got nearer it was obvious woman was not happy and she shouted at me to call my dog, I did and just as he started to come she walked away so he followed her as he thought the dogs were playing. She was clear cross (I was hollering like a navvy at dog to come) as I got nearer them I called (pleasantly) if you could just stop for a minute he will come to me and I'll put him on lead. He thinks your playing. so she stopped I called dog and he came immediately and I put him on lead. She then walked off and shouted back at me you should keep your dog on a lead.

We were on a field where loads of people walk their dogs, often there are 10 dogs with parents from school it was unusually quiet that day just her and me with dogs. My dog was not aggressive, he wanted to play .... Ok he didnt come first time but she did distract him. When she stood still he came straight away.

Why if it bothered you would you take your dogs there, or aibu

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Shame it has gone this way.

[LovesGSD]

this happened to me last week, walking thru the fields minding our own business (2 dogs and a baby) and I see a wee dog coming our way so I put mine back on leads as some people can be touchy about German Shepherds I've noticed. The other person doesn't bother so I have one hand on a buggy another trying to hold back 2 large strong dogs, was getting really pissed off at this point so i let mine back off. My dogs are vocal and started barking and chasing the wee dog. The owner had a cheek to get annoyed at me!! but luckily the man she was with said not to worry their dog needed put in its place, i did say that the reason I put them on leads was because they are vocal and do like to chase (not to fight) but because mine were bigger and reacted I was made out the bad one!

[Heartstart]

Exit I agree.

At no point have I said or even thought she has no right to go to the park
I was not on mobile
My dog does come at call most times but is not 100% reliable so he is put on lead when we see unknown dogs
I just hadn't seen her. She was in the a blind spot.
My query was genuine and I am interested in the responses -


Interestingly DH saw same woman with her dogs today and they were jumping at kids (any not hers) outside school and she did nothing

[ExitPursuedByABear]

As dog owners it would be good if we all had a bit more understanding of the issues we all face. I tried to call a cocker spaniel back tonight as it was dark and I thought it was my boy ignoring me . The lush owner was very understanding and even Bastarddog was good tempered.

[MagratGarlik]

I was going type out a detailed reply, but I can't be bothered because obviously you don't see anything wrong. Says enough.

[Heartstart]

I have just re read this thread from the beginning MG suggest you do too,


I made a mistake (missed blind spot) called dog straight away, he started to come, he went back, I apologised called again he wouldn't come - he should have. I asked her to stop called again he came straight away, I was on way to put him on lead when she started to walk again, which is fair enough, he then followed her dogs, not good enough on my/his behalf. I called and asked her to stop sotha incould get him away from her dogs more quickly as soon as she did he came to my call. He never touched the other dogs or bared his teeth. I apologised again. She was very very rude.

I have also said in this thread if I had seen dogs I would have not let hm off lead.


I made a mistake, I apologised, I asked a question here about why would someone who wanted to keep dogs on lead for what ever reason would walk where there are usually numerous dogs off lead would take their dogs there.

I didn't know there were so many dogs with problems such as others have message about here. I am not convinced that her dogs were anxious so may be she was training them but I don't know.

How that makes me likely to leave my dog crap on the ground is beyond me and why people should feel ok to just have a go rather than ( as some have) explain what it is like to have an anxious dog is beyond me.

[gymmummy64]

Heartstart, I'm sorry you've had a hard time. Posts in the Doghouse often don't get this many replies, so it's clearly a subject on which there are strong feelings. You even triggered the starting of a club! So hopefully in among the strong feelings, some of us have learnt a thing or two.

I've leaned something - I have a reactive dog but I have no experience with puppies or playful dogs. Until I read your post I didn't know that walking away could be seen by a puppy as an invitation to play. I've certainly tried to walk away many times! I'll remember that in future, so thanks.

[fanoftheinvisibleman]

I think the main reason you have taken abit of a flaming here us because your dog was loose and not responding, you blamed her, asked if YABU and got defensive and blamed her even more when you were told you were. As for her dogs jumping up, two owners being irresponsible don't make a right.

I sympathise to a point. As I said my border pup woold do exactly the same and we all make mistakes. But by standing there calling him several times you aren't taking effective action.

As soon as mine freezes I am making a dive for him and if he bolts when I have not spotted someone first then I have to bolt too, full of mortified apology. Instead of getting all defensive, dust yourself down and accept she may have had her reasons and chalk it down to experience. And just be prepared to run if a mistake happens again as your dog is your responsibility.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Heart I remember being out with my BastardDog when he was just a puppy and only recently off lead. He chased after a woman and her dog, in the snow, and I was limping after them as I was recovering from a broken heel - I couldn't climb over the stile to get to him. I was calling out pathetically hoping she would stop, but she didn't. Fortunately he came back, but I still see her now and still hate the bitch have strong feelings of dislike. Another chap was out with is pointy dog, and he stopped and was lovely. I still see them with their new pointy dog and we have jolly chats.

There are the good ones and then there are the others.

[FernandoIsFaster]

I would have been annoyed to be honest. I am a very nervous dog walker after a few nasty experiences and keep my dogs close by on their leads. My bitch is partially blind and quite nervous so gets upset if unknown dogs run up to her while she is on lead.
I agree with others up thread that unless your dog has a cast iron recall it shouldn't be off the lead.

[gymmummy64]

Exit that bitch could have been me! As I said upthread, I know a bit now about reactive dogs but nothing about puppies. I didn't know until reading this thread that walking away could make things worse. I've always walked away (as fast as I can) from any dog who is paying us too much attention.

Nowadays I very much hope I would notice if an owner was struggling and act accordingly, but at the end of last year I was so anxious after attacks on my dog and being bitten myself that if I saw another dog all I could do was get away as fast as I could. It was not a good time! I can see from this thread I am very much not the only one.

Fortunately Gymdog and I are both much improved now but we're still a work in progress!

[ShakeWellBeforeOpening]

My dog was walked on a lead for a few weeks after an op - you couldn't see anything wrong with her initally but bloody annoying when other dogs came up and started playing - don't mind the odd 'good day sniff'.

I walked her in places where other dogs were off lead - why not ?

Also a big bug bear of mine is when dogs follow us and try to play with mine but she is clearly not interested - but owner makes no attempt to call it back ( too busy on mobile phones )

Don't start me on dog walkers who are too busy on their phone to take any notice what their bloody dog is doing !

[digerd]

I am lucky as I can take my nervous of strange people and dogs for a walk - on the lead though as has no recall-< breed standard, but non aggressive, non bouncy, no hunting instincts> and is very small, where I meet no other dogs. Funny though, she wants to play with cats, but they don't with her.
One day I took her out a little earlier than usual and met 2 owners with friendly dogs. She dropped her tail between her legs , moved backwards and started trembling. Owners 2 men, just smiled and said she'd get used to it in time. One thought she was a puppy, but she's 2 years old - just a small furry sweet thing.
I could never let her off the lead as walk her by a canal, and seems interested in playing with the ducks. And ignores all my commands as if she is deaf.
Does understand a high pitched "OIH" and a sharp NO. But that's it.

[Heartstart]

Took dog to rugby today he had a ball - on lead all the time I hasten to add.

[ExitPursuedByABear]

Gymmummy I know what you mean, we can all react in different ways, but the great thing about MN is it teaches us about what others might be going through.

More love and understanding and less shouting....

[hennipenni]

I have a dog and person nervous 8 month old pup who with great help from me, my daughter and our dog trainer is slowly becoming more confident around other dogs (but not people).

We were out walking him yesterday (off lead- his recall is very good as he doesn't like to go far due to being so nervous and always comes back straight away when called). He was happily minding his own business with his nose down, tail up busy but relaxed when he was set upon by a really nasty snarling, growling and snappy dog. Luckily no blood was drawn from my pup but he was a nervous wreck when the dogs owner eventually managed to pull his dog off mine, he had to be pulled off as wasn't responding to his owner. Said dogs owner said sorry and walked off, he didn't even hang around to make sure our pup was uninjured. Fortunatly this dog owners walking buddies stopped to make sure that we and our pup were fine.


I really wish that having been on the receiving end of my dog being attacked, that if people don't trust their dogs to respond straight away to recall that they keep them on a lead in places where other dogs are being walked.