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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

To the man whose dog my dogs just attacked

70 replies

cq · 13/12/2013 09:37

I am so sorry my dogs went for your dog. It was unacceptable and I wholeheartedly and unreservedly apologise for their behaviour, and will be taking measures to ensure it does not happen again.

However, they way in which you subsequently verbally abused me was not acceptable. You demanded that I 'remonstrate' with my dogs, which I had done the instant it kicked off. That was not enough for you, you clearly believed I should beat the crap out of them. I explained that would have no point after the event, and I asked if your dog was ok. You demanded over and over again that I 'do' something, and did not stop to check your dog was ok.

I held my hand up to stop the tirade and you then exploded saying 'don't flip me off, your dogs are out of control, don't you bloody flip me off'. I took a step back and asked if you were threatening me. You moved towards me again and shouted, don't flip me me off. I said 'I'm sorry if my gesture offended, is your dog ok?'

You carried on shouting about how out of control my dogs were at which point I pointed out that my dogs were on the lead, and yours wasn't.

After a few more seconds of this abuse, I turned and walked away, saying 'My dogs are on the lead.' You yelled at me ' your dogs are fucking out of control and you're a crazy bitch.' I cried for the entire hour of my walk.

I do hope your dog is ok. Had you not been so abusive I would have offered to pay any vet bills (though I don't think any physical harm was done). He deserves a nicer owner.

OP posts:

MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX · 14/12/2013 11:05

If you were coming out of a gate from a field/park etc then your 2 leaded dogs probably had a fright of their lives to suddenly have another dog jumping up on them or just invading their space. If they were coming out of their own gate it could have been all of the above but also felt the other dog was going to invade their property.

Just a thought. Please don't have your dogs PTS. This sounds like it could have been completely avoidable if his dog was on a lead and under control.

evelynj · 14/12/2013 11:07

Hope you're feeling better & have calmed down.

However, as pp have pointed out, your op has a nice opening one paragraph of an apology. The 4 subsequent paragraphs of self pity about the victim's anger really make the first look like a token gesture to rant about it. Accept that you are in the wrong & other people may not be behaving rationally so soon after the event.

You've had a shock too I know but still think you should offer to pay for vets bills for injured party.

needastrongone · 14/12/2013 11:11

OP was most certainly NOT in the wrong.

needastrongone · 14/12/2013 11:13

Sorry, Booboostoo's post sums this up perfectly for me, not sure what else she could have done?

tabulahrasa · 14/12/2013 11:15

Well to be fair - no-one but the OP knows what happened. But usually, the dog off lead is the one at fault for approaching on lead dogs.

My dog's a git if it helps though Curlew...most things are usually his fault - whether another dog's on or offlead.

34DD · 14/12/2013 11:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kchapper5 · 14/12/2013 11:29

I had my dog on lead, he's on lead because his recall isn't the best as he's easily distracted, at a country park last Sunday. We had 4 separate occasions where off lead dogs ran up to him despite me turning him around and shouting to the owners to get there dog as mine does not take kindly to being approached on lead, he does not attack and is not vicious but will very clearly warn them to stay away from him due to him being attacked on lead in the past. Not one owner apologised or even made a swift effort to get there dog. The OP is not at fault, yes it's an unfortunate situation but her dogs where on lead and clearly feeling threatened.

MonkeysInTheFog · 14/12/2013 11:31

"Attacked" is a very emotive word.

I'd guess that if the OPs dogs had truly wanted to hurt the incoming dog then they would have, and the result would have been a dog with visible injuries. The fact that the man wasn't concerned about his dog suggests that there was a lot of scuffle and noise - even mild dog-dog spats can look and sound horrifying - but ultimately nobody got hurt.

If the bloke had checked his dog THEN had a go at you I'd have more sympathy for him but since his primary concern was clearly to rant at you I'd say he is probably generally an arse and leapt on the opportunity to have a go at someone.

LackingEnergy · 14/12/2013 16:24

Sorry but if your dogs were on the lead and his wasn't more fool him, not your fault in the slightest. Everyone (with an ounce of sense) knows not to let an off lead dog interact with an on lead dog. I wouldn't even agree with two on lead dogs interacting.

He could have pulled his dog away before anything happened if he'd had it on a lead...

TheCowLady · 17/12/2013 23:36

i feel there are a mixture of things going on here. firstly i feel it was an accident, both parties shook up and upset, the guy obviously very reactive
the guy shouldnt of had his dog off lead, if mine are off lead and i see a dog on lead, regardless of muzzle or not i call them back. my little dog ignored me one day and got a hiding from the dog she approached. i appoligised to the owner of dog on lead, as mine ignored me, my dogs fault, the on lead persons were being responsible. sadly dogs dont always do as we tell them, luckily know one in my situation was hurt, or the OP's it seems.
if a dog is known to be aggresive, then it should wear a muzzle for everyones protection and be on a lead (or long line in open spaces), for peoples protection physically and leagally. some people however see this as cruel and would rather chance it, these people are stupid and an accident waiting to happen. i dont feel from what i have read that this is the case with OP dogs.

also if im in a residential area, where there are roads and/or children my dogs are always on lead, to many variables for an accident. the man should of had his dog on a lead. anyone could pop around the corner with or without a dog or child or make his dog jump or his dog could make them jump. plus not everybody feel comfortable seeing a dog off lead, especially with whats going on in the papers every other day. consideration for dog fearers should mean in public or busy areas dogs should be on lead.

i would put this experiance down to just that. i dont know if you went out of your gate/door first or your dogs did, but maybe just incase of other peoples random dogs popping up just make sure your exit first. Dogs are also territorial, a random dog taking them by surprise outside their home could of caused a reaction. i find alot of dogs now arnt taught or socialised in a way that teaches them the basic manners other dogs expect. too many dogs run up to another dog and pounce, in a playful way and dont got through any polite formalities, and some dogs dont like it, or are made nervous by such bold behaviour and that can cause a reaction from a normally friendly dog too.all sorts of things can. I wouldnt worry to much.

MissBetseyTrotwood · 18/12/2013 20:06

Being on a lead does not = being under control. Being muzzled is the only way of making sure a dog can not bite.

I have a dog (fear) aggressive dog with a very high prey drive. He is on the lead all the time in public places; if we are walking through somewhere I know there may be other dogs off the lead who may not respond to their owner's call I muzzle him.

The muzzle has two effects. It stops him from biting other dogs and sends a clear message to the other owners that their dog should keep away. Generally, when they see us coming they make a far more concerted effort to get their dogs back than when he happens not to be muzzled.

My boy's background is that he is a rescue dog who has been attacked seriously by two dogs since we adopted him. Both times he needed internal and external stitching; the second time he nearly lost his eye.

That man should not have ranted at you the way he did; at best he was in shock and at worst he was just an aggressive idiot. However, I would like to think you would consider muzzling them in future, especially if the exit from home is a territorial flashpoint.

Tiptops · 20/12/2013 21:53

Jesus stop giving the OP such a hard time.

Legally OP he doesn't have a leg to stand on. You had your dogs on lead and he did not.

There is no excuse for his behaviour. He may have had a shock but so did you, and if he had his priorities right he would have been checking his dog for injuries instead of ranting at you.

Branleuse · 21/12/2013 10:19

if your dogs attack when approached, then theyre not under control, even if on a lead

Karbea · 21/12/2013 17:15

My puppy died after an attack, I hope your dogs are muzzled from now on and never allowed off the lead in a public place again.

Lilcamper · 21/12/2013 18:05

Her dogs were on lead and leaving the garden, his was off lead in a residential area where all dogs should be on lead. He was at fault completely.

Karbea · 21/12/2013 18:11

Regardless of blame, if her dogs are capable of attacking they should now wear muzzles.

pumpkinsweetie · 21/12/2013 18:23

I'm sorry op, but i agree with the majority in that i would be pretty abusive too!

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 21/12/2013 18:23

Ive never understood why people post OPs as if it is a letter to the person knowing full well it is almost guarantee the person wont see the thread. If you need to vent/talk about tr incident then do it normally!

Lilcamper · 21/12/2013 18:24

Any dog is capable of attacking when they are caught by surprise and cannot run away from a rude off lead dog getting in their faces.

bellasuewow · 21/12/2013 23:58

Unfortunately just because your dog is on a lead it can still be out of control in a public place. Some people cannot control their dog on a lead if the dog is too strong for them and they are incapable of pulling a dog off or away etc so if real damage is done I am not sure the op can claim they were under control etc

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