Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

The doghouse

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

Flip

Original poster

Why do dog owners think its funnny

22 replies

PurpleTango · 09/09/2016 01:30

When their small dog yaps and snaps at my large dogs faces? Why do they all smile approvingly and say "He thinks he's a rottie haha". Would they be as happy if my larger dogs snapped back?

OP posts:

imonaplane · 09/09/2016 06:56

This infuriates me too. I have large dogs and if I let them behave in the same way that most of the small dogs we encounter do, I would be in big trouble. It's not funny or cute. Small dogs should be trained as you would a larger dog.

Narnian · 09/09/2016 07:00

I'm sick of it too. My dog is huge and I've lost count of the times a small dog runs from nowhere snarling at my dog who is on the lead.

In the park I take my dog to, I exercise him off the lead in a quiet area of the park. We often walk to the cafe (with him on his lead) which is by the play area. There's loads of little dogs there off lead, barking and snapping. If my dog behaved like that in an area full of kids there would be trouble.

KoalaDownUnder · 09/09/2016 07:05

Yep, I'm with you

Don't even start me on the twats who think it's cool to walk their little dogs off-lead around the suburbs. Then allow it to bolt up to my big girl on her lead and stir her up, so I'm left trying to control 35 kg of leaping dog while they laugh at how 'cute' it is.

Really not funny, and not fair.

acornsandnuts · 09/09/2016 07:06

I walk my dog in a NAtional Trust estate which is strictly dogs on leads. However every time I go they're small snarly dogs trotting about off lead.
Apart from anything else it should be a safe place for people with a fear of dogs to walk.

gettingtherequickly · 09/09/2016 07:07

I have to muzzle one of mine to stop him snapping back, you'd think the muzzle would be enough to put people off, but oh no.

The dog walker said he "rolled" a chihuahua last week that was off lead and snapping round his legs. Thank god he did have the muzzle, I can only guess what he was trying to do (bit pissed off that dog walker didn't sort the situation before it got to that stage).

MothershipG · 09/09/2016 07:16

Why do dog owners think it's funny...

When their large adolescent dog rushes over to my small dogs who are minding their own business and bowls them over or chases them and then says he only wants to play, he's a big softy. While being completely unable to recall their dog or get it under control.

I'm not saying that there aren't rubbish small dog owners or excusing this behaviour but equally there are plenty of rubbish large dog owners.

NigellasGuest · 09/09/2016 07:19

My dog is medium

Puzzledconfusedandbewildered · 09/09/2016 07:44

I have a medium sized dog who seriously dog reactive. I hate anyone who let's their dog yap snarl bound over to mine. Usually it's retrievers and labradors with a "oh he's friendly" attitude from the owner but she also gets a fair share of shitty small dogs with "aw she's only small" attitudes. Yes your dog is small but mine is terrified of it get it away from mine!

Hoppinggreen · 09/09/2016 08:14

My ( on lead) Goldie thinks they want to play and usually swats small dogs that are annoyingly in his face and then rolls on their heads!!
Usually makes them back off

Rumtopf · 09/09/2016 08:23

We have a lot of that round here too. My old boy hates it and hides behind my legs. I've picked one small yapping creature up by it's scruff before now as it was snapping at his back legs that have only just recovered from cruxiate ligament ops.

plutoisnotaplanet · 09/09/2016 08:38

I have big dogs on little legs (basset hounds), one of whom is a rescue and is dog reactive, although not at all aggressive he's just noisy and unsure of himself.

Tiny little yorkie/ jack russel cross had a yap and a snarl at him this morning, proper up in his face and snapping at him... my dog was clearly unsure and did what all bassets do when they're not entirely sure how to react.. he let out an almighty "ARROOOOOOOF" as loud as he could and went into a lovely play bow with his tail nice and high, so clearly inviting play to begin. The little dog nearly wet itself and ran off, had no idea how to play so evidently wasn't well socialized. The owner came up to me and said "You need to control your dog, Betty is only a tiny little girl she doesn't need to be bullied by your dog!"

I laughed a lot and pointed out it was her dog that approached mine, what did she expect mine to do?

Then she huffed off, PICKED HER DOG UP OFF THE GROUND, tucked it under her arm like a handbag and stormed off..

Suddenly it became crystal clear why her dog hadn't been socialised....

TheFlyingFauxPas · 09/09/2016 10:00

I have a tiny terrier. I let him off in appropriate fields etc as he can run for England and needs it. When we get there however we check out dog situation as would hate to cause trouble. He is too extremely friendly as sees any dog as a potential running pal. He can be incredibly barky at them and I know this can annoy others. If they're happy to run and play he loves it and will run with them. If they don't want to run he barks and barks. So like I say I check put situation first before letting him off. If another dog arrives 90% of time (I'm very alert to new arrivals) I snap his lead on and reassess situation. If he darts up before I've had chance to grab him. I wouldn't laugh. I would be extremely apologetic and attempt to grab him (which is bloody tricky when he's leaping around it often means other dog owner grabbing him - safe to do so). I know this can be extremely upsetting for other dogs and am getting better at dealing with it. (had him about 8 months now) If other dog snaps that's our fault and would acknowledge that. I try hard to adhere to the good manners dog owner code and we nearly always get it right. 99% of dog walkers I've met have been lovely. We go to same areas and I've tried to get to know owners and dogs. One awful incident not caused by us a staffy flew out at us out of nowhere. Ddog still on lead. What upset me most was the owner who was so rude and not at all apologetic. Not all dogs are the same. Whatever its type I expect their owner to take full responsibility for their dogs, as I do.

tabulahrasa · 09/09/2016 12:37

"Why do they all smile approvingly and say "He thinks he's a rottie haha""

I have a dog aggressive rottie - weirdly, no-one says that to me about their dog, well I suppose they might be if I could hear them over my dog kicking off about theirs being too close...

Can't say their size makes much difference though.

Original poster

PurpleTango · 09/09/2016 23:26

Pluto YES! Isn't it strange how whenever a larger dog reacts to a tiny thing running around him and snapping at his face it is ALWAYS said that the larger dog is the bully? And I can't for the life of me see why people pick their small dogs up when they see a larger dog approaching. Isn't that the worst thing to do?

Out in the forest today with my two. One had gone into the trees. The other was walking with me. Along comes a Shih Tzu. He ran up to my dog yapping and began snapping at his face (as they invariably do) and began running around him, growling and barking, whilst snapping at his face every time they came nose to nose. My dog just stood there. All the while the dogs owner was shouting "She's ok. She wont hurt you. She loves other dogs. She only wants to play" Blah, blah..... I asked him to call his dog. He didn't. My dog became cheesed off with this and gave a growl - telling the small dog to back off. Along came my other dog from the trees. He approached us and the small dog legged it back to its owner - who still hadn't caught up with his dog. As he passed the owner picked his dog up and said "Those dogs should be on a lead if they are nasty"!!!! I was a bit lost for words!!

OP posts:

justdontevenfuckingstart · 09/09/2016 23:32

I am soo fed up of my placid Rott getting started on. Last Fete we went to heard them talking behind our backs about how he had obviously started it. When one bark back after some Shitzus went at him.

NavyandWhite · 10/09/2016 09:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

PurpleTango · 10/09/2016 16:23

No. Its not funny at all. I have seldom seen an aggressive Rottie to be fair. I encounter noisy, aggressive small dogs every day. I have no idea why snarling, yapping, biting small dogs are referred humorously (by their owners) as "S/he thinks s/he is a Rottie"???

Small dog owners - there is nothing funny or cute when your small dog gets in the face of a larger dog! If you think its funny then I hope you will think its funny when the larger dog retaliates. But I guess not

OP posts:

Spiderpigspiderpig · 14/09/2016 23:21

My deerhound is scared of small dogs.
He loves to play with other dogs but anything jack russell sized and he pulls away. They always snap at him. Poor boy has never bares his teeth in his life and he gets started on by a dog with small man syndrome

AlpacaLypse · 14/09/2016 23:25

I walk other people's dogs for a living. 90% of the time if there's trouble it's a short dog that's started it. (Mini Dachshund whose name I won't include as it's identifying, I'm looking at YOU!)

AlpacaLypse · 14/09/2016 23:28

Oh and to clarify, when Bastard Mini Dax starts up his annoying ranting he gets shoved back on the lead. So jolly well there. Leave the labradors to enjoy their run without your irritating yaps.

IloveAiredales · 17/09/2016 21:51

Embarrassingly we have a very reactive black lab, basically she's only happy at home with us and a very select group of visitors. She is small for a lab and is pestered continually by off lead dogs or dogs on long leads even when I've gone off to the side with her shielded by my body so she can't see the other dog - nope they never get the hint even when I shout " she isn't friendly"

We have an Airedale who is super friendly with everybody and everything but he is not allowed to pester anyone unless they have said its ok!
We live in a very rural area where you would hope people have more knowledge and understanding.

dudsville · 17/09/2016 21:55

I have medium sized dogs. Today a massive hound was off lead by owner and baked at us. I kept my eye on him and caught him as he charged at us barking. I rounded on him, shouted "hey!" And pointed with a face that read do not mess with me and he backed down. Owner was in the distance and acting as of nothing was wrong. Idiot.

Flip