"my dogs not friendly, do you mind putting yours on a lead"

mrslaughan · 2013-04-30T19:47:03+00:00

When hers is off lead, and it's I'm a dog walking area, where they are all off lead..... I thought, bloody cheek, but am I right?

flowery · 30/04/2013 20:49

She should put hers on a lead. If she did, it would be courteous to do the same for yours, but she can't ask other people to put their dogs on a lead so that hers can run free.

Original poster

mrslaughan · 30/04/2013 20:57

We were heading in opposite directions - so we passed pretty quickly.
When I see a dog on its lead, I put mine on, it was just the asking , when she had no intention.

OP posts:

ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 30/04/2013 21:04

That's very cheeky. I've been known to ask owners to recall their dog if it's making a beeline for mine (he doesn't always react well) but I always lead my dog if I see someone coming.

Scuttlebutter · 30/04/2013 21:24

Generally, the etiquette is (or should be) that a dog in need of space tends to be on the lead,especially where others are off and may be wearing a yellow ribbon/bandana. If you see this, it's courteous to keep your dog away/give it space/ recall if it is approaching. See this poster and this website.

However, in this instance, I think it's a little bit cheeky when hers is off the lead as well. To me, that's a signal that a polite approach is OK.

Floralnomad · 30/04/2013 21:39

Not hijacking but I had an incident today which I'd be interested to get opinions on ,on a similar theme . My dog was off lead today playing fetch, he is ball obsessed and never approaches other dogs , a rather obese Labrador ran up to him and literally jumped on him pinning him to the ground ( he's a Patterdale x about 13 kg) , he started snapping at the dog to get away and the lab ran off. If my dog had bitten the other dog who would be to blame ? I will point out that the other dog had a lead attached where it had escaped its owner and I had to help catch her .

flowery · 30/04/2013 21:42

Yes she was cheeky. I always recall my dog and put him on the lead if there is a dog on a lead approaching. I assume there is a reason the dog is on a lead and mine bounding around will probably not be appreciated. If a dog is off lead in a common dog walking area, I assume the owner is happy for friendly dogs to approach.

PregnantPain · 30/04/2013 21:43

Would have told her to take her own advice and put a lead on her dog, the cheeky cow.

Original poster

mrslaughan · 30/04/2013 21:56

My dog is over friendly, which we are working on....I am using the wait command so he walks more calmly up. He is is only 9 1/2 months, so feel he is doing really well, we are getting a huge improvement, everyday he is better.

as I said if I see a dog on the lead - I put him on lead....and If I am worried he will get very strong he gets the halti

His recall has been fab, but is going through an adolescent phase in the last couple of days, so has got a bit patchy.....

Floralnomad - I think the lab is definately in the wrong and if he gets bitten by a dog he gets pinned by he deserves it! The owner should try a halti, or something he can't get away from her with.

Scuttlebutter - thanks for the heads up about the yellow ribbon/collar.

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Kungfutea · 02/05/2013 02:26

My dog isn't reliable with other dogs (rescue dog who probably wasn't socialised enough - not aggressive but seems to piss other dogs off!). I always have him on a lead when other dogs are around. I couldn't imagine asking other dog owners who have dogs without ishoos to put their dogs on the lead so he could be off-lead! I do feel sorry for him that he doesn't get to be off-lead much but that's just the way it goes.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 02/05/2013 09:47

In all honesty I think it depends what you define as 'over friendly'. My dog is 9 months and is over friendly - he still jumps up into other dogs faces and if any interest is shown than he is like the proverbial rat up a drainpipe and thinks nothing of leaping all over the other dog. So, if there are other dogs around I do lead him. Just because they are off lead doesn't mean it is ok for my pup to make an absolute menace of himself (and he does!)

It does make me sad but I'm trying to be considerate as my pup is the one who would blunder in whether welcome or not. We are working on it by spending lots if time walking with dogs we know so he learns how to behave.

I think the circumstances depend on who was being unreasonable. If your pup was minding his own business and she requested it purely because you were in the park then I think she is being unreasonable. But if your pup bounded over and was bothering her dog (as in florals case) then she is not.

Doesn't mean I don't share your pain as I have 'that' young dog too but I think it is my responsibility to prevent him annoying a dog who hasn't approached him.

Original poster

mrslaughan · 02/05/2013 18:41

My dog is a giant, so doesn't really jump - too much bulk to get off the ground, he is also doing really well with the wait command, so he approached dogs calmly.
He also is the biggest wimp, so if he approaches and gets "told off" he runs away with his tail between his legs.

This doesn't mean that he doesn't play but he has really learnt to take his cue from the other dogs.

I am also aware that being a giant, that some dogs find his size intimidating.

But in this case ddog was busy with her friends dog, and taking no interest in hers.

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fanoftheinvisibleman · 02/05/2013 22:10

Fair enough. Mine is a 7kg terrier with limited respect for the fact that he is little and a pain in the arse He is improving slightly so I have hope.

Original poster

mrslaughan · 03/05/2013 18:03

Of course today he completely ignored the wait command - just to make me a liar

Oh adolescence - I think they have begun....

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70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/05/2013 15:24

I'm not a dog lover but IMO the correct response from the other walker would be:

"My dogs not friendly- can you just hold your dog to your side while I put my dog's lead on"

so taking her dog out of the danger zone of romping off (to be unfriendly).
Then when she's past you she can let him off-lead.
Though I'd imagine in a dog walking area she's going to meet alot of dogs....

digerd · 04/05/2013 21:47

I always have my little dog on a lead purely because the breed has no recall - bred to be independent. All the dog owners in my area know this, and and also can tell she is non-aggressive/non threatening and all the dogs off the lead like her and are well behaved.

I have met one man who owns 2 white greyhounds who he has on the lead and stays away from me. The dogs show no aggression to mine, but she is small and furry and I think he is being on the safe side.

Chase1 · 08/10/2013 15:06

I have a staffy he has been socialised with dogs, chdren, and cats, and is lovely friendly chap, we have him off lead to ball catch if there no one around, but once we see anyone with a dog on it off lead, we put him back on, because if he gets attacked while off lead we would have no legal recourse, also if he approaches a dog on lead and gets attacked that would be our fault. We keep him sociable by allowing him to sniff another dog while passing, and reward him with a treat for good behaviour, we love having him off lead, but it is our responsibility to make sure he and others are safe. That's how all dog owners shod behave, then we could all enjoy the dog parks :-)

killerhamster · 12/10/2013 19:28

I think that is very cheeky.

Whilst hamsterdog has some reactivity issues when she is on lead and another dog charges her , and we have yellow ribbon/bandanna as she reacts if the lead gets tangled as she feels she can't escape, I think they were YABU if they were going to keep theirs off lead- YANBU if they were about to leash theirs and yours were charging and acting up, but not if they weren't within their general walking space.

That said I do ALWAYS shout across to other owners when I let ddog offlead first to check theirs are friendly. If not I either wait til they are gone, or go to the other side of the field to let ddog off (ddog is good 98% of the time but has kevin episodes occasionally despite having an almost rock solid recall ).

The only exception is if the dog was of someone that ddog had played with before and even then I would wait for a wave/thumbs up unless you are particularly close to the owner.

Generally this is what I try to do- sorry if I'm getting this wrong but I want to help others to the best of my ability.:

Yellow ribbon/bandanna: Give wide berth, do not approach dog or owner, try not to let yours bother theirs within a 5m vicinity. Don't let yours charge theirs under any circumstances.

"In training" jacket- Give wide berth and yell for permission

On lead: Approach and ask permission, but only if they are walking torwards you, some may be trying to train their dogs and head off in the opposite direction. Dont let yours charge, but a polite approach off lead not under 5m is generally accepted. If yours charge, apologize and get yours back on lead/under control, we have probably all been there at one point as dogs or humans are not 100% perfect, just dont scarper leaving your dog to barge my dog on a lead to the other side of the field 100m away.

Off lead, under very close control: Yell and ask permission, keep yours under very close control or put on lead, theirs might be ok as long as not interrupted and greeting is controlled when both parties agree.

Off lead, under close control: Yell and ask if friendly with other dogs

Off lead, under control but of significant distance and playing with other dogs, normally "fair game".

nostress · 24/10/2013 15:29

I've got a similar thing. There is a dog (lucher cross) that gets walked at the park and the mum has no control whatsoever (the dad better but hardly walks). This dog is getting progressively worse at charging my dogs. Started of charging, then charging growling and barking and yesterday was nipping at my dogs throat. My dogs are always on a lead. She was like oh sorry. But i just think its a matter of time before it savages mine (two terriers). What can i do? If it comes again and bites mine?

Original poster

mrslaughan · 24/10/2013 15:53

Ask politely, then not so politely (if she doesn't listen) to put it on the lead, yours are on lead, so the etiquette is her dog should be kept away.

I started this post - both dogs were off lead (well actually there were 4 dogs in total as she was walking with friends who had dogs - all off lead) - she asked me to put mine on lead - all others remained off....it was just bloody cheeky, made worse by the fact I put mine on lead and then her friends dogs came and jumped around giant pup.....

If hers had been on lead, I wouldn't have had an issue....but it is well in the past now. As soon as I see a dog on lead, mine goes on lead. no question.

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nostress · 24/10/2013 16:28

Yes I agree she was outrageous! Mine are never off the lead as I dont trust them with the wildlife (lots of ducks etc) or the cars on the road next door. I have to say there arent many dogs that I trust off lead. I'm fine if they are stay away dogs but not the others. One of my dogs is fine with all dogs but the other has anxiety issues so dogs she doesnt know freak her out. I have to say the best behaved dogs at the park are an irish wolfhound and a mastiff. The owner has amazing control. They are walked off lead but if the see another dog the run back to the owner (without her even calling) and LIE down. Its amazing to see. i only wish I had that control