Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The doghouse

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

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Dog Walking Rage

194 replies

Ickyockycocky · 05/02/2018 13:56

My dog is a bit nervous, especially when she's crouching for a poo. I think she feels a bit vulnerable. Anyway, today she was on the lead and happily doing a poo when two dogs came up and started sniffing her bum and generally milling around her rear end.

I started saying shoo, go away etc., but one of them was determined and was on the verge of stepping in the pile. I used my foot to protect the dog from stepping in the poo, I'm not sure if there was any contact but if so, it was the dog pushing against my foot.

Anyway, the dog's owner shouted at me aggressively, telling me not to kick his dog. I can't see any way he could have thought that I had kicked his dog. So I calmly said "I didn't kick your dog". He replied that his dogs were only sniffing because that's what dogs do, you silly woman".

I lost it a bit and told him that "actually my dog was having a shit, you silly man". He shouted at me again and I told him he should keep his "fucking dogs under control".

I'm not happy about having dog rage but honestly what type of idiot allows their two dogs to get right up the bum of another dog having a poo?

What would you have done in similar circumstances?

OP posts:
numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 02:36

Interaction.

BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 05:23

My dog goes to day care and is very happy interacting with other dogs. He also interacts with other dogs at group training and is happy to have a sniff and move on. The problem is when you get dogs that are three times the size who run over and start bouncing on the back of him or try and bite his neck and back and the owners think awwww how cute. It isn't cute and I have been in the vets seeing other people's dogs come in with bite marks having been attacked by other dogs where the owner hasn't controlled them.

Like human interactions some are ok but some aren't. I don't want my dog being bounced or on, chased or rough played with when his body language is bloody obvious he isn't happy and I make no apology for that. I always keep to my space when out to avoid dogs I don't know and move on and again the majority of people do the same. Unfortunately I have encountered a small number of owners, usually with off lead large overly bouncy dogs who have zero recall who don't care how their dog interacts with mine because they know full well it would be mine that comes off worse. Strangely enough it's these owners that are also quite in your face and aggressive if you ask them to call their dog away. I now avoid certain areas at certain times to walk my dog.

numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 07:23

The 'bouncy' dogs aren't aggressive though?

BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 07:39

If you are happy to have your dog being bounced on all over his back and face and flattered by unknown dogs then that's your choice.

After all, we own our dogs and therefore we get to say how we want to bring them up as long as we don't negatively impact anyone else. I prefer my dog to play with dogs I and he knows and outside of that I will avoid other dogs which is why I no longer walk him in a large park near me as most people walking in the forests and open countryside tend to keep to themselves.

BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 07:41

flattened*

MiaowTheCat · 07/02/2018 07:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

damnderek · 07/02/2018 07:48

@PurpleTango I've always had rescues and my 2 now are highly reactive. I agree that there seems more reactive dogs but actually I think we understand the problem better. In the past they'd have gone over threshold, lashed out, been labelled as aggressive and PTS or handed to a rescue centre.

It's a fucking nightmare owning a reactive dog. When these 2 are gone that'd be the one thing I'd try and avoid in another dog at all costs.

everything is harder for us. Before I had these 2 (not homed together btw) I had a lovely Heinz 57. The dog was lovely. Just pick up a lead, go. Never a drama. Could chat with anybody, go anywhere. It was a joy.

Now these 2 have good traits but the money and kit we've spent on training and equipment is kinda insane. To answer your question like with anxiety in people it's always been there, we just understand it better now.

mustbemad17 · 07/02/2018 07:55

All of my reactives have been rescues. All of my reactives have been attacked whilst leashed & muzzled. By off lead dogs whose owners shout 'it's okay s/he just wants to play' which drives me batshit. Socialised or not, if a dog is on lead nobody should be allowing their offlead dogs to approach. My rommie boy got attacked several times before I made the decision to walk him unmuzzled so that he could protect himself...it's impressive how quickly the tables turn when the owner of an off lead dog thinks their dog is going to get hurt.

I don't think we have more unsocialised dogs nowadays, i think we have more understanding of it. And more resources to deal with it, as well as punishments for people not dealing with it or just dumping their dogs on th streets.

numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 08:01

I can completely understand that some dogs are reactive because of negative experiences. I also know that some dogs are naturally more submissive. However most healthy well socialised dogs enjoy the company of other dogs and that includes being 'bounced on'.

blueskypink · 07/02/2018 08:02

Why are there so many nervous, antisocial dogs around?

Well one of mine is a rescue who has clearly been badly treated. Pisses me off no end when I ask people to call their dogs back and I get the inevitable, "it's ok luv, they won't do any harm". I then have to explain that their dog might not, but if my dog feels threatened he may well snap at theirs.

And whether or not they've been socialised, there must be some dogs - like humans - who are just naturally nervous.

StoorieHoose · 07/02/2018 08:16

Mines is a rescue who wasn’t socialised as a pup and has awful recall no matter what training methods we have tried so he is kept on a lead. After too many shouting matches with owners who can’t control their dogs I just keep walking and if their dog ends up miles away from them then tough shit.

Only last night a puppy came bounding up to us in the dark and after a cursory bum sniff I kept walking in the direction I was going. Cue owner weakly trying to recall said puppy then shouting at me cos I didn’t stop - I am a very antisocial dog owner and I don’t have a dog so I can have a nice chat with other owners

BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 08:16

numbereightyone My dog is very submissive and no he doesn't like being 'bounced on' by big strange dogs as he tries to hide behind me. Dogs all have different personalities and preferences and my job is to keep him safe and happy even if that pisses off other people because they think I should do as they think.

Original poster
Ickyockycocky · 07/02/2018 08:17

My dog doesn’t like being surrounded when she’s on the lead and having a poo. I think this is pretty normal really, even for the most socialised dog.

I dislike the trend seen these days that dogs minding their own business are blamed for other dog’s rude behaviour. It’s always the owner’s fault of course and a rude dog usually has a rude owner.

OP posts:
gingergenius · 07/02/2018 08:18

Actually the 'pack theory' has been debunked @numbereightyone

LittleCandle · 07/02/2018 08:19

There is a person who lives near us who has 4 extremely anti-social Chinese crested dogs. I had walked past her house one day last week and DDog stopped for a crap. She came out of her house across the street and a few yards away and there was a cacophony of barks and growls and she started swearing at me for being on a public road, waiting patiently to pick up the poo. Apparently nobody else in the universe is allowed to walk down that road at that time of day with a dog in case she wants to take her digustingly anti-social rats out. I have had the misfortune to meet her on several occasions dog walking, as we live in the same area and use the same paths. Each time, her dogs are salivating, trying to get to mine to savage him, and each time she swears and shouts about people walking their dogs at the same time as her. I don't know if this breed is an aggressive small dog breed or if it is just because of her (which I suspect is the case). My dog is a bit dim about social dog etiquette - he doesn't like being sniffed, but does persist in sniffing others if we don't make sure he comes away. I think he is adorable, but I am well aware that others may not.

gingergenius · 07/02/2018 08:20

Useful read if you're interested. Dogs are not like wolves. www.apbc.org.uk/articles/why-wont-dominance-die

numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 08:21

It doesn't piss me off but I think dog owners should try to help their dogs overcome their anxiety. Obviously that doesn't mean those people who have taken on tough cases from rescues and who are trying their best to give their dogs the best life possible after a traumatic event.
I see inexperienced dog owners sweep puppies into their arms at the first sight of another dog. We all had those moments as puppy owners where our tiny ball of fluff had to start interacting with adult dogs. It was heart in the mouth time but it has to be done to develop a happy, social dog.

BiteyShark · 07/02/2018 08:21

I think the term socialisation is now banded about too loosely and is often taken as meaning 'let dogs loose and sort themselves out' when it's about the experiences being positive for the dog.

gingergenius · 07/02/2018 08:23

Perhaps you should start charging for socialisation classes then @numbereightyone as you seem to be the expert!? Grin

numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 08:25

gingergenius if you mean an owner having to be dominant over a dog then yes that's been debunked. That wasn't what I said. I meant left to their own devises dogs will group together. Lots of animals do this in thier natural habitat.

FairfaxAikman · 07/02/2018 08:32

I hate "it's what dog's do". No it's what rude dogs with incompetent owners do.
I have a nervous dog and a rude dog and you can bet I am the first to be pulling rude dog away from others and apologising.

This article should be standard reading before getting a dog. suzanneclothier.com/article/just-wants-say-hi/

FairfaxAikman · 07/02/2018 08:42

@PurpleTango I should add my "nervous" girl is more misanthropic - she has no interest in other dog's whatsoever (except my other two, and even they get ignored unless it suits her) so a dog repeatedly invading her space and refusing to leave her alone despite her (and my) repeated requests annoys her. She takes a long time to get to breaking point - preferring to try and run away - and I'd rather that didn't happen.
She's like this as she's been jump d on too many times by "friendly dog's" - she didn't create the problem, they did.

numbereightyone · 07/02/2018 08:49

The owners who don't recognise that other dogs have issues and haven't trained their dogs sufficient recall are at the other end of the scale of the problem. Off lead walking is one of my daily pleasures but if I wasn't confident my dog wouldn't come back when called I would have to put her on a retractable lead.

Original poster
Ickyockycocky · 07/02/2018 08:50

I’m always forgiving of a rude dog when the owner takes appropriate steps to control them and apologises. Yes the comment “that’s what dogs do” infuriates me, also I am less than keen on being called a silly woman. 🙄

OP posts:
gingergenius · 07/02/2018 08:53

No @numbereightyone I meant the pack animal theory has been debunked as well as the alpha dog theory and the dominance theory. Some dogs prefer not to be chased and pounced on by other dogs