am i over- reacting ?

[thefootofourstairs]

My 2 year old terrier that i have had now for about 5 months is quite scared of other dogs and we have been seeing a trainer and taking her advice , hes improved a bit recently too .
not long after i got him , we were walking down the street passed a row of shops when a lady got out of her car with a jack-Russell off lead , obviously intending to go in one of the shops ( i think shes the shop owner) The jack Russell went straight at my dog barking and snapping giving us both a fright . I pulled my dog away and the woman just trotted off without even acknowledging us .
Tonight i walked passed the same row of shops , i could see the woman and the jack Russell ahead , coming out of the shop and heading a little way up the street to her car so i slowed down , trying to create some distance and giving treats to my dog but hers just made a bee line for us . I shooed it off twice while she was stood calling him a bit halfheartedly , she then called out ' its o.k hes just a bit grumpy sometimes '
I told her its not o.k and i know hes grumpy because he went for my dog once before . i explained that my dog is scared of other dogs , on a lead for a reason and she shouldn't let her dog off if hes that grumpy nor let him approach another dog on a lead . she was really uppity and nasty and told me I was really rude and that she'd had a dog for 16 years and no one had ever said such stuff to her etc etc
i marched off in the end saying people like her shouldn't have dogs .
I am a bit hormonal at the moment so i'm wondering if i was a bit ott ?
what would you have done ?

I would've been cross too. Imo dogs shouldn't be allowed to approach other dogs without permission. It's rude behaviour.

You are quite right. I have a very objectionable dog and if her dog had approached her, he would probably have lost a piece of himself! She is never off lead and it's amazing how many idiot people let their out of control, off lead dogs approach her and then look surprised when she reacts in an aggressive manner. We took her on when she was 14 months old so are not sure of her history before that.

I'm glad people agree , she seemed to think i was the bonkers one .

I've had dogs that can't go off lead because they don't like other dogs and dogs that I don't let off lead because they love other dogs too much (lose all ability to remember recall), and nothing annoys me more than people who walk their dogs off lead when they don't have control. If she can't call him back consistently he shouldn't be off lead. I hate the old " oh don't worry he's friendly" line. I seriously don't care. Unless you're recall is 100% your dog should be on a lead.

So no, you didn't overreact.

You were absolutely right and not over-reacting.

I am infuriated by people who let their dogs approach mine without checking first (or even noticing sometimes). I've had to work very hard to train him to be calm near other dogs, and while he's loads better now he still doesn't like unfamiliar dogs entering his space.

She didn't like hearing a few home truths but maybe she'll think twice next time.

Good for you and I hope your training goes well with your boy.

Nope. not over-reacting at all.

Having dogs for sixteen years doesn't give you the right to let your dog threaten other dogs. If she carries on allowing it, she can expect more and more people to be 'rude' to her as it's not and never has been acceptable behaviour.

Perhaps let your local dog warden know and s/he can pop in at her shop for a bit of a chat.

You were absolutely justified but as others have said it never ceases to amaze me how many people don't understand basic dog etiquette even when they have had dogs all their lives.

My dog can be nervous of others and I came across a woman with 2 dogs one on lead and one off. I called out that mine who was on a lead was nervous so I would keep my distance. Her in lead dog was looking uncomfortable being close to mine so I steered a path away only to find her letting her off lead dog approach. When I asked her to recall she said "oh it's ok that one is fine with others"!!!! I had to actually point out to this eejit who obviously has a relative dog herself that mine was not always fine with others. It beggars belief how stupid people can be.

*reactive

This happened to me the other day. Massive dog came over and pounced on my petrified dog. Owner half heartedly called the dog back, he backed off for a second then started circling us and jumping on me, I'd picked my dog up by this point. Then the whole thing happened again a third time. The owner wasn't remotely bothered about the fact that she's probably just set my dog back weeks in building up his confidence, and set me back the cost of all the training we've been doing

you didnt overreact

People are often arrogant and rude when they’re embarrassed at being in the wrong. She was a silly cow and you told her so. Hopefully she’ll think twice in future.