grrrrr other dog walkers

[anxious123]

What is it with them letting their dogs bound towards mine - who is on a lead - and them calling "it's ok they're friendly"...frankly I don't care if your dog's friendly, mine might look like a tiny little Jack chi but he can be a grumpy sod at times hence him being on a lead. And then when he barks its his fault. Really annoys me! Rant over.

I think it depends on the place and circumstances. My dog is only ever off the lead at areas around our town where its known there are lots of dogs off lead (and they all play together). We have a great bit of green belt (over grown field) which dog walkers use behind our houses. If I am the only walker there and I see a unknown owner/dog on lead approach I put mine back on lead until the other owner confirms theirs is friendly (as mines is very submissive and gets a battering if the other dog isn't friendly, so this is a precaution I take).

There are regularly 5/6 walkers or more with off lead dogs playing. If someone comes into the field with a dog on lead we don't all lead our dogs up, they can either join in or go elsewhere. Its a very well known (not official, but the people who I've seen with reactive dogs do know the area) off lead dog walking area so its sensible, and kinder to your dog, to not to take it to an area known for off lead dogs if it isn't dog friendly.

I do understand how annoying it is when dogs come bounding up, but at think it's really sad to actually 'train your dog to stay away from other dogs'. Some dogs are not dog focussed, but some are, and absolutely love to have a play with doggie mates. My dog is on a lead, because he's had several leg operations and is in rehab, but I have often had other dogs come bounding up, and I'm OK about it, as I accept that if I'm walking in the dog walking fields, this is going to happen. My dog is a large breed and sometimes it is hard to restrain him as he is dancing about trying to play, but as long as the owner comes up and gets their dog, that's fine. Some dogs, if still young especially do not have perfect recall. I love to see dogs running about. Some dogs are really hard to train a perfect recall as theyre hard wired for other stuff, and thank goodness. Yes, these things can be annoying but this is a messy imperfect world, so a bit of tolerance is no bad thing.