Why do ppl let their dogs run up to yrs!!

[MarcoPoloCX]

I was walking my friend's dog this morning who is reactive. So I take care to avoid triggers that would set him off. He's not aggressive but barks like a lunatic if a dog gets too close. We were walking on lead in a field and we saw an elderly lady with her dog. I turned and started walking in another direction. Her dog was off lead and was approaching us. I yelled 'can you recall your dog' She went ' oh it's fine, he doesn't bite, he's friendly' I responded 'well mine isn't fine with other dogs' she tried to recall but the dog wasn't responding and it started my friend's dog barking. I met up with my friend who was ahead of me and he tells me she's always like that, she never recalls her dog. Just makes me angry that a lot of people do not have walk etiquette and that you should not let your dog approach others without asking. I volunteer at a rescue. Dogs could be reactive, fearful, injured, recovering from op, old and young puppies need space. I'm sure most ppl know that. Are they simply letting them roam free and not recall because they think oh it's friendly and they wouldn't get into trouble. The other week a friendly dog frightened the living daylight of this little pup. The owner asked how old the pup was and then suggested the pup goes to a socialisation class while it's still young. Yeah, that would be good if you had asked first and not scare the poor thing to death. Rant over.

might just do that

Ther was a video that went round of a bloke in London going up to random bald men and stroking their heads. I'll see if I can find it

I'm surprised at all the responses. 7 mth old Lab pup always gets walked off lead in our local park. There are often up to a dozen other dogs around, nearly all off lead as well.

As a pup she's bouncy, and can get a little in your face. Early on other dogs were of course very tolerable, but she's been warned off a few times now. She always approaches unfamiliar dogs in ultra submissive mode (slinking to the ground, head turned away, rolls on to her back).

It really ought to be expected that if you walk your dog in the park they will be approached by other dogs off lead. Can't such dogs be walked on the pavement, where all dogs should be on a lead?

Jaydog likes cant be arsed dogs he is comfortable around them he is nervous around bouncy friendly dogs who dont take the hint of bugger off stance he has yet we have had dog owners tut and glare at our on lead dog who is just going about his walk not bothering anybody really annoys us

God yes, I get all the glares that I must be a cruel owner for not letting my dogs off the lead.

Sometimes to shut them up I say if I let them off they'll chase and kill the ducks. Which is actually true of one of them.

This seems to be an acceptable reason. Not that it's any of their business.

Still doesn't stop their idiot dogs from rushing up to mine.

There's no way to teach dogs how to approach other dogs other than letting them get on with it and picking it up as they go along.

Dd2 gets the most glaring because she is a teenager 1 woman said she shouldnt be walking him if she cant control him, she can control him her dog wouldnt take his warning so my dog air snapped she asked the woman to call her dog back and she said aww but she is friendly

You are right that is how puppies learn but it is up to the human walker to control the situation watch what your dog is doing and if the other dog looks like it is being hassled by bouncy puppy then call it away .

"It really ought to be expected that if you walk your dog in the park they will be approached by other dogs off lead. Can't such dogs be walked on the pavement, where all dogs should be on a lead?"

I don't walk in parks, I walk in actual countryside...given that there's often livestock in the next field people should be able to recall their dogs anyway, they just don't.

And no I'm not restricting my dog to pavement walks given that he doesn't get to run about sniffing anyway, I don't see why I should deny him sniffing grass because other people can't be bothered being considerate.

I already walk him at quiet times of the day (well actually one of his walks is in the middle of the night) in the quietest places I can find and make sure I'm well out of people's way so they can pass me easily.

Besides, other dogs aren't always on leads on pavements and I run the risk of being caught out by all the barking in front garden dogs.

You wouldn't let your dog lose in a playground area for little kids no matter how well behaved your dog is. Some kids are fine with dogs and some aren't. Same with dogs. Some aren't comfortable with other dogs. So why you not check if it's ok before letting it approach others.

This owner doesn't seem to be able to control his dog!

Collaborate Can you recall your puppy? If she's approaching another dog, however submissively, and you can see that the other dog is not interested can you recall her? At 7 months she may be all submissive but that is unlikely to last much longer. As she gets older and more confident if she continues to bound up to other dogs they might tell her off for being rude, when she isn't backing down any more a fight may ensue. I have seen this so many times, owners let their puppies get away with too much and don't put in the work training recall.

I say this as the owner of a dog that has really struggled with recall, done a lot of work, spent a lot of money and she is still not 100% so is only off-lead under in certain situations and always with a trailing line.

I also say this as the owner of small dogs, one of whom has a bark first, ask questions later response, to bouncy large breeds having been the subject of their unwanted attention too many times. I'm sure those owners all go off tutting about yappy small dogs and how their dog just wanted to play/say hello...

Dogs air biting/snarling at my pup is fine by me. It's just communication, something every dog needs to learn about.

It is hard if not impossible sometimes to call her back when she's seen another dog and is approaching, tail high and wagging, before coming over all submissive in the final stretch.

If the other dog shows that it really doesn't appreciate her attention I will call her back, and generally she's good at that stage and keeps her distance. I just think it's unreasonable to expect that, in a park, your dog won't be approached by other dogs, whether on a lead or not.

"I just think it's unreasonable to expect that, in a park, your dog won't be approached by other dogs, whether on a lead or not."

Because parks are just for off lead dogs?

Because your convenience matters more than other people's?

Do you let her run up to small children? Joggers? Cyclists? If not why is it different if because the person has a dog with them?

If an air snap connects, are you going to be ok with your dog being hurt?

If your dog starts to learn that approaching other dogs isn't always a pleasant experience and becomes reactive herself will that make a difference?

Its not really the approaching the op was talking about it was the owner who ignored her when she asked for it to be called back that annoyed her. And my dog cant walk in the street on a pavement he has car ishoos sigh dogs walk on leads on grassy areas we all need to rub along together and be considerate to other dogs imo if i let my dog off he would be like Fenton and run and run

children also need to learn social skills but generally we don't do this using random strangers.

puppies should be the same. Teach your dog manners in a controlled environment with dogs whose owners you have met (yes even just at the park every morning). have doggy playdates...(even my reactive dog can now enjoy playing with safe close friends... or just check the dog is ok before you let your puppy approach not after. basic good manners

I think that each dog owner has a responsibility to ensure that their dog does not attack another dog. There's no point taking a dog on a walk, on a lead or not, knowing that if another dog gets close your dog's going to attack, then putting the blame on the other dog. If your dog needs some help with socialising, get the help. Until then, surely a muzzle should be used?

You can't project responsibility on to a victim just because they choose to be in a certain place at a certain time.

You need to understand not every dog is delighted to see your puppy as you think im not going to muzzle my dog because you want your puppy to be adored and played with yours is the attitude the op and others are talking about keep control of every situation

Tbh, in RL, if a dog comes over and the owner is trying to recall it or says something apologetic I'm perfectly pleasant because they've at least tried or acknowledged that they've caused me a problem.

But the, well my dog isn't the one with the problem so why should I call my dog back people do make me quite angry.

My dog's behavioural issues are caused by those people, if they called back their dogs he wouldn't have such a problem with dogs.

His muzzle is inconvenient for training and playing, being on lead all the time has a pretty big impact on what he gets from walks, where and when I walk and the fact that I end up standing in muddy puddles and bushes so as not to be in people's way is all done so that other people aren't inconvenienced by him...but other people can't be bothered calling their dog back when really, it's just basic good manners to not let your dog cause other people hassle.

Agree with tabuhlarasa whilst is may be OK for you if your dog is warned/air snapped at, even having to do that may upset/setback the other dog for a while afterwards. That is not fair to others.
When we were in the UK (I'm assuming most of you are in the UK?) the law stated that your dog should be under control at all times, not being able to or struggling to recall is not under control. I doubt the law has changed much. Allowing your dog to be out of control in a public park isn't acceptable, keep them on a lead or training lead until you have them trained.
How would you feel if it was your dog being upset?

If a dog is being circled to be played withthe other dog and walker cant get passed can they? so they are stuck in a situation with playful dog and owners saying aww he is bring friendly. Dog on lead and owner turn to walk the other way playful dog follows dog on lead gets stressed and frightened owner is unable to get away because aww he is only playing the walker has a stressed dog to deal with playful dog owner tuts how is that fair .

Also if your dog comes bouncing over, ignoring the other dogs warnings, they aren't the victim they're the instigator.

We have spent hundreds of hours and £££ on trying to help our rescue dog with reactivity. He is terrified of all dogs due to being mistreated and attacked in the past.

This really upsets me and just because other dogs are friendly, doesn't mean it's ok- my boy just cannot cope. We've had people refuse to put their dogs on leads, move them from ours. And then our dog is accused of being vicious- no he's not he is terrified.

And don't get me started on all the helpful advice people give- you need to socalise him, it's fine for my dog to say hello- it will be good for your dog etc etc.

People just don't understand and it's my poor boy that suffers.

Rant over!!!! Op and others, you have my sympathy!

I think that each dog owner has a responsibility to ensure that their dog does not attack another dog.

Keeping a dog under close control fulfils this.
If a dog runs up to tab's and jumps on him/her then gets snarled/snapped at/bitten....who was the aggressor?

Collaborate - my dog is muzzled and he's had a huge amount of intervention, everytime he makes any progress it's ruined by someone letting their dog approach him.

I have no issue with dogs being offlead wherever their owners want them to be, but those who let their dog come over to me even though I've moved at least 20 feet from the path they're walking on.

It's not being in the wrong place at the wrong time, it's approaching someone who has made it very clear they don't want to be approached that's an issue.