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The doghouse

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Original poster

if you dog off the lead ran up to a dog on the lead and the dog on the lead went for him, whose fault is it?

64 replies

R4roger · 08/12/2014 12:37

My DM told me how this happened and how it was obviously the fault of the dog off the lead for running up, but ok, surely you pull your aggressive on the lead back and stop it from going for other dogs?

OP posts:
TooMuchRain · 08/12/2014 12:44

The fault is with the out of control dog I think, so the one off the lead. Of course the owner of the aggressive dog should react, but they didn't trigger the problem.

SirChenjin · 08/12/2014 12:48

The one off the lead surely? If it can't be trusted not to leave other dogs alone when off the lead (ie it's out of control) then it should be on the lead.

Whoknowswhocares · 08/12/2014 12:48

100% the fault of the owner of the off lead dog imo.

No dog should be allowed to run up to an on lead dog under any circumstances. If your recall isn't good enough to prevent your dog doing so, then it should not be off lead around others

grumpyoldgitagain · 08/12/2014 12:48

The one off the lead was at fault and out of control

If it was in control it wouldnt have gone running upto another dog and would have been recalled by its owner

How do you know the dog on the lead that attacked the off lead dog wasnt doing it to protect there owner who had an off lead dog charging in there direction

TwllBach · 08/12/2014 12:48

Sorry but it is the dog off the lead. My dog is not aggressive but around others I keep her on the lead because she wants to play all the time. Nothing fucks me off more than someone blithely letting their dog run up to mine with not so much as a "is your dog ok?" because you can be sure as fuck, if my dog WAS aggressive, and attacked yours for being in her face, someone would try and blame her!

It is really very irritating. And besides, if you can't stop your dog from running up to others, it really shouldn't be off the lead. It's irresponsible... accidents happen, people come round corners and you don't see them till too late etc but nine times out of ten it is preventable.

I didn't realise I felt so strongly about this but I really do. Why should my dog have to suffer because you (general you) can't control yours? Not fair, not nice, not on.

marne2 · 08/12/2014 12:49

The person with their dog off the lead. Why have your dog off the lead if you can't stop it from running at other dogs? I keep one of my dogs on the lead, she wouldn't bite another dog but her recall is hubbies so I can't stop her from running off towards other dogs. My other dog goes off lead when we are in fields, he will come back when I call him, we always check with other dog owners before letting my dogs approach.

mumofthemonsters808 · 08/12/2014 12:49

Another vote for the off lead dog being at fault.

FlossyMoo · 08/12/2014 12:53

Dog off lead is at fault....well the owner is iyswim.

marne2 · 08/12/2014 12:54

I always assume if a dogs on the lead it's probably not ok with other dogs or has a poor recall so I keep my dogs away. If I see a dog off the lead I assume it's well behaved and fine with other dogs ( or it would be on a lead ). People shouldn't let their dogs run up to any other dog unless they know it's safe.

GemmaTeller · 08/12/2014 12:59

The one OFF the lead.

I hate when dogs off the lead run up into the face of my dog, my dog hates it as well.

CMOTDibbler · 08/12/2014 12:59

Off the lead mostly, but if your dog is know to react really badly to dogs coming up then a) it helps if you don't take them somewhere that lots of dogs are off lead and b) should wear a muzzle if they will bite. I can't keep my eye on my dog every second (like if I'm picking up their poo), and with fast dogs they can be with someone on the other side of the park in the time it takes me to get a poo bag out.

wickedlazy · 08/12/2014 13:08

The owner that has let their dog run up to a dog on a lead, is at fault. As a pp said, the dog on the lead could be protecting their owner from a strange dog running up. You should put your curious/inquisitive dog back on the lead when you spot another dog on a lead, as much for your dogs protection as anything. If they do not come back when called, they shouldn't be off the lead until more training has been done (practising with protractable lead etc).

LoathsomeDrab · 08/12/2014 13:16

Definitely the owner of the dog that is off the lead.

There could be all sorts of reasons why a dog is being kept on lead aside from it not being great with other dogs. It could have sight problems, be deaf, be recovering from surgery, be old and frail. The list is endless really.

My lot generally have excellent recall but having had a severely fear aggressive rescue and knowing that feeling of despair as a dog bounces up and undoes all your hard work I always pop mine on the lead when we're anywhere near other dogs.

GraysAnalogy · 08/12/2014 13:20

Dog off the lead.

Expedititition · 08/12/2014 13:23

Dog off lead. Without a doubt. Silly, selfish dog ownership at its best.

MrsSquirrel · 08/12/2014 13:30

The owner of the dog off the lead.

My dog is always on the lead in the park, because she can get scared of other dogs and then her recall can't be relied upon. When I see this situation starting to happen, I try and divert away from the approaching dog.

It always winds me up when the owner of the approaching dog then says something like 'don't worry, he is fine.' Well, my dog is not fine about it, that's why she is on the lead.

Original poster
R4roger · 08/12/2014 13:35

ooh, interesting. It hasnt happened to me btw, but my mum was so adamant. and my dog did run up to another dog yesterday which I thought she had grown out of, and she told me.

in the past i had a dog kept on the lead because of her running away and I guess because she was on the lead she became aggressive,

fair enough.

OP posts:
brunette123 · 08/12/2014 13:38

Dog off the lead.

Mine is off the lead alot but when we meet another dog I tell him to wait and walk by me until we know what the other dog is like then I can put him on the lead if necessary. Do feel even though my dog is ok off lead, the receipient dog of his attentions might not be especially if on the lead. I used to have 2 dogs that I kept on the lead and it annoyed me that other dogs ran up to them and upset them and their owners got the arse with me if one of them reacted. If my dogs are on the lead but can be a bit funny with others, provided I have them under control then I have every right to walk them.
Annoys me as well when other friendly dogs jump up all over me with muddly paws - so what is they are just lively, I don't want to be muddy.

And just while I am getting it all off my chest it also upsets me when I am walking my dog (staffie cross) on the lead along the pavement and people walking without dogs glare at me as if I shouldn't have him even out of the house. He loves everyone plus he is on the lead along pavements. Some people are very anti-dog and let you know that, even when your own dog is behaving and is on the lead under control.
And breathe.

Original poster
R4roger · 08/12/2014 13:41

other peoples dogs jumping up with their muddy paws! Angry

OP posts:
Havingabeer · 08/12/2014 13:41

Dog off the leads fault. If your dog is off lead and something happens to him, then he should have been on the lead . If all dogs were on leads this wouldn't be a problem. I have a dog which other dogs seem to dislike so he stays on the lead for his own safety

FaFoutis · 08/12/2014 13:43

The fault is with the one off the lead.

everlong · 08/12/2014 13:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

muttynutty · 08/12/2014 13:49

Then have them on a lead Everlong and I disagree a trained dog will not run up to a dog unless told to do so.

If you can't be arsed to train your dog put it on a lead.

CalamityKate1 · 08/12/2014 13:49

The owner of the off lead dog.

Mines iffy with other dogs so I keep her away from them/onlead if necessary but you'll still get the idiots who let theirs gallop up to her and get on her face.

Even if you ask them to keep theirs away you get:

Me: Ooh could you keep your dog away? Mines not good with other dogs! Ta!
Idiot Owner: Oh he'll be ok he's friendly!
Me: Yes but this one isn't I'm afraid :-/
IO: Oh it'll do him good to get told off! Serve him right! Might teach him a lesson! Haha!
Me: Yeah well mines scared....could you call him away please?
IO: Aww bless her! You need to have a play, don't you?! He'll play with you! He's fine with other dogs!

Trouble is, to a lot of owners, "play" as defined by their dog is "jump all over/generally hassle".

And you never know why another dog is onlead. After my older dog (now gone) was spayed we were having the recommended gentle walk onlead a week afterwards and an off lead BT absolutely HURTLED over and knocked her flying. Made her cry :( Bloody thing. He was followed by a heavily pregnant young woman who did apologise ("He's always doing that. I don't know what I'm going to do when the baby comes.....") Hmm

She still let it off the lead after she'd taken him away though Hmm

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 08/12/2014 13:52

dog and owner off the lead. Well the owner/walker primarily as if your dog is off lead then you need to have either perfect recall or be prepared to accept any consequences.

I have dogs, one that is off lead as soon as we get to the park or open are, and her recall s about 90%, however it is my fault if something were to happen and she didn't come back, if the other dog was on a lead. If I see another dog approaching on lead I always call her and put her on her lead.

My other dog, was attacked by another dog (he was on lead being walked on pavement by my teenage son) and the other dog was off lead in a residential area, no open space just pavement/road/houses and he ran across the road and attacked my Labrador. Since then my Labrador is petrified of other dogs running towards him and will bark like mad. The other dog also bit my son several times, so my dog is barking to warn others off to protect us and because he feels vulnerable. He is on lead and under control as in he is on a short lead and walking to heel.

Why should he not be walked or be PTS because others can't control their dogs?

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