Would you put a muzzle on your potentially aggressive dog in a public park?

[KindDogsTail]

I take my young dog to a small city park where lots of other friendly, family dogs play together, often off the lead. From time to time one will run up to another dog to sniff. They are all known to each other at least by sight even of they do not play.

There is a woman who regularly walks two large dogs on a lead there. One is a Labrador, the other a rottweiller. She never lets them off, but I had heard the rottweiller had pulled away from her the other day to go after a dog and she had not been able to hold him back at first as he is so strong. Everything was all right in the end. I did not see what happened myself but heard about it.

Today I saw her and thought I had better ask about the rottweiller, to find out more about it, incase our dog or another were to run up to it. I asked her what he would do if this were to happen? She answered that he would "Go for it". I asked, "Would he growl and warn, or would he bite?" She answered, "Oh, he would bite/attack it." I said "In that case do you not think it might be safer if he had a muzzle?" She said "No, because it is up to other dogs to be controlled and stay away." She said she did keep a tight hold of him and warn people to call their dog away.

I asked if there was a certain time of day she comes, and she said no she comes at all times of the day starting at 7.30.

I understand that in the law, she may be right - it is up to people to keep their dog under control and a dog on a lead which attacks another off the lead is not held responsible. But in practice, in a small friendly park where people bring their children and young dogs and puppies, and let them of the lead, in inevitably they run up to other dogs unless they are on the lead all the time.

I cannot understand her attitude, even if she is legally right. If I knew my dog was aggressive and were taking it to a small park, I would put a muzzle on it in case of an accident. A child could do something unexpected, let alone another curious dog. What would you think?

No, that is not true. Recall should be learnt and practiced on a long line and I would never let any of my dogs of until they were 110% reliable every time, too dangerous. I have scraped too many off roads (yes,even ones that have escaped from parks) and stitched up too many torn up by other dogs too take avoidable risks. Some people are also scared of dogs and your dog shouldn't be approaching them.
The law nor states your dog can be reported if it scares someone, it dosent have to have bitten. If your friendly dog jumps up at someone it could be reported, friendly or not.

Any dog trainier will tell you the same. Can't recall, don't let it off. The park is not the place for learning without a lead.

I don't care what you do with your dog as long as you call it away from mines face, not sure why that's an 'attitude' but fair enough!

Agreed with Greyhorses. My dog is dog reactive (He's only 3 and has been attacked three times - once pretty seriously). So I keep him on a lead, we [mostly] avoid busy dog places and cross the road/turn down side streets if we see another dog coming in our direction.

However, we do see other dogs sometimes, because we like to go on nice walks and so do other dog-owners! And it wouldn't be very fair to him if we were never to go through the woods or to the park, just because other people can't stop their dogs running up to him. There is no circumstance under which it is okay for somebody's dog runs right up to him. That would be an out of control dog.

this is a bit of a no-brainer really. if you are 100% in control of your dog he will not be attacking other dogs. however if you have yours on the lead and therefore the law on your side why are you not reporting these law-breakers? and if not surely its better to avoid these situations which are evidently distressing in the extreme for your dogs so why put them through it.

However i prefer the approach of the lady who did sufficient for her dog to improve its level of enjoyment of other dogs and people significantly to resume normal activity until then surely your dogs nerve inhibit its going out?

Report these dogs you have the law on your side as you say.

If her dog is the aggressor (i.e. her dog would attack any dog which came up to it, even if the other dog was docile and just interested) then yes - she should have it muzzled. A dog like a rottweiler can't be said to be under control just because it is on a lead - it is far too physically strong to be held back if it decided to go in for a full attack. And it isn't just the other dog that can get hurt. If the owner tries to help the dog he/she could get very badly bitten.

However if her dog only responds aggressively to dogs which are threatening (even they are tiny), then I can't see that it is her fault.

Hi everyone could anyone give me some advise please. I was walking my 8 year old rottweiler on the walkway at Fleetwood I was on the other side of the sea wall which is about 4ft 6 I always have my dog on a lead as he likes to play but not good at coming back also I respect other people who have small dogs and think they may be wary. As I say we were walking along minding our own business and this huge mastiff type dog. Off lead and on the other side of the wall came running at me jumped the wall saw my dog and pinned him to the ground my dog was screaming with pain it took and two men came over to help me my dog didn't stand a chance it kept him pinned down for half an hour I was frantic eventually this dog let go I took my dog straight to vets his neck was punctured and he's on anti biotics I rang the dog wardens who just said leave it as an informal complaint as they couldn't do anything about dog on doseg but rrthat wasn't the case it was unprovoked attack and could have been me or a smaller more vulnerable dog would have died I want them to do more as amthis dog which this girl can't control is still walking the prom what do you think I should do I am worried about going on prom now. Thanks all

I agree with Rottweiler woman.

Your loose dog should not be running up to dogs on leash, it is your responsibility to keep your dog under control.

I have a dog aggressive dog, she has never bitten or chased after another dog or anything though.

I have muzzled her in the past, I wouldn't again.

Why should I remove my dog's only way of defending herself (she is only aggressive in the first place due to other dogs aggressing at her, almost always unprovoked), cause her to behave completely miserable and shut down and ruin her enjoyment of a walk (as she loathes the muzzle) and cause other people to look unfavourably upon and feel fearful around my (totally people safe!) dog just because you have no control over your dog and think it reserves the right to bounce over uninvited and bother others?!

If it is leashed you don't approach.

Basic good manners.

Just realised it's an old zombie thread

Interesting thread op

I have a 4 month old puppy so all this lead and other dog etiquette is new to us.

Today though my teen dd and I were walking our puppy, he was on his lead when an Alsatian who was off lead went for him, full on snarling and trying to bite him. Luckily my dd was on the ball and literally pinged our puppy up and into her arms (he is a small breed and was wearing a harness)

We can all agree that the Alsatian owners are completely irresponsible dicks right?

That dog should be on lead and muzzled.

We are working on our puppy's recall and he is pretty good but the min we see an on lead dog we get him back before he sees the dog.

I personally would muzzle a dog that was aggressive to other dogs, i would feel too stressed otherwise.

Her dog is not classed as under control because she doesn't have the power to hold it back. It is against the law to take a dog on a walk on a lead if you are not strong enough to hold it back. This is why its illegal for kids to walk dogs as it should be. Rottweilers should be banned. Never known one in 40 years which was not agressive. Same as Jack Russell's and akitas . Every akita I have ever known has always attacked someone and had to be put down yet I regularly see people with 2 or 3 of them .the amount of Jack Russells I have seen hanging from peoples faces is insane. And always in tiny council housing and flats. Your on the dole but can afford expensive dogs. People on low incomes or benefits cant afford these and no knowledge of training whatsoever. Let's be honest, that is where the problem lies extensively.

This thread is seven years old 🙄

Any dog that's aggressive should wear a muzzle. Any responsible owner would do that. A muzzle is protecting your dog. If your dog kills another dog depending upon circumstances you could see your dog taken off you. Other dogs should not run up to it. However what if it were a child walking that dog ? Not worth the risk.

One of my dogs is reactive. She isn't muzzled - she is walked on leash and has a yellow warning lead with 'nervous' on it. She barks and growls if another dog approaches her but has no desire to attack. I can calm & soothe her quite effectively when this happens (as she trusts me). If I suspected that she would bite / attack an approaching dog I would muzzle her. However I do think owners need to be careful about letting their dogs run over to others without consent.