What was wrong with this ?

[NoProblem123]

So I just nipped into a small shop and was at the till talking and small dog came into my field vision. I carried on talking but dog was so cute I turned to it and said (in words nothing else!) ‘oh hello there’, turned and carried in talking.
Handler of dog said ‘can you not do that again please’.

Dog was at least 4 meters away and I never approached it, made a fuss of it or anything.
Dog had a jumper on and a normal harness, could have been working but nothing to suggest so, plus it was approaching me on an extending lead. Looked so sad with sad eyes, that’s what made me notice it.
So, in a nut shell is it now wrong to talk to (from a distance) a strangers dog ?

The dog owner sounds strange!

Feck knows some people are just weird.

If it was on a harness and the owner had an extended lead that tells you all about the owner. No sense when it comes to dog training and behaviour.

Agree with dog owner sounding strange

Not sure I’m clear why a harness and extending lead indicate that @percheron67 ?

Owner sounds strange.

Because of behaviour, not because of harness and extendy, both of which CAN be very sensibly used or some dogs/some circumstances.

Not sure I’m clear why a harness and extending lead indicate that @percheron67**

A harness is recommended for small dogs so nothing wrong there.

But extendable leads are the devil and should be banned.
I definately judge anyone I see using one.
So, so dangerous and I fail to see any specific benefit to using one that is inaccessible to you with a regular lead or a long line.

Extending leads cause so much trouble allowing dogs to wander all over the pavement and, possibly, under a car. I don't think harnesses are a good idea unless you are driving a team of huskies. Harnesses allow no degree of control over the dog's head and neck . I wouldn't ride my horse without control over its head - wouldn't want reins attached to the pommel! Life for dogs and humans is so much safer if said dog is guided to the path you want to take.

Long lines can be a nuisance as well.

Lots of people dont reel them in quick enough.

Having a long line instead of extender lead isnt a sign of a better owner or person.

A long line has caused me more trouble/danger than an extendy ever has.

As my extendy is an inch thick, strong enough for 3 x my dog's weight, my dog never runs full pelt to the end, it's clipped to a harness and never used anywhere there are other people, traffic etc to rouble, it serves me well.

Judge away - quite frankly judging is a full time hobby for most people. Must be a weakness in the human condition that we only feel better when looking down on someone else.

Dog owner is a bit dim:

1)Why would you say hello again after you’ve already said hello?

2. if they didn’t want their dog to be spoken to by people they shouldn’t let it approach people. It’s should also have a brightly coloured lead and harness saying “do not talk to me- training in progress/working dog”

3. extendable lead. Says it all.

Lots of people dont need control over their dogs heads, specifically. Theres no issue with harnesses and harnesses are no indication of how good an owner is.

A horse is completely different as you use their head, in part, to lead them. And you are riding them.

I donr have an extendable lead. But dont most of them lock? So dogs are on a short line on roads, around other dogs?

If people dont use that, then are daft. But plenty of people do use the lock facility.

I also use an extendable sometimes, though a fixed lead in urban areas, and am a bit over why it is essential to control the dogs head and neck. I am not forcing the dog to walk with me. He does so because that's how I've trained him. I don't use lead as an instrument of control - just as a safety line.

I would have been asking owner to explain

Extending leads cause so much trouble allowing dogs to wander all over the pavement and, possibly, under a car.

Surely if only used by someone who allows that?

Similarly, wouldn't a long line allow the same, if used in that manner by the owner?

We use an extendable lead on our puppy, we shorten it when we’re around people and use it as a normal lead
And we lengthen it when we want him to explore and gain confidence exploring/ practice recall but it’s not safe enough to let him off.
I’m rubbish with a long lead if I have to reel it in quickly. though we do use that if we’re going somewhere more open.
He’s only 15 weeks and doesn’t pull, we switch back to a regular lead at least one walk a day so he remembers how he should walk.

We see it as a valuable tool in his training.
Seems a shame to just judge everyone based on only part of the information
That seems to be a requirement of many people on the dogs section of Mumsnet, though not in real life luckily.

I asked her to repeat it because I thought I’d misheard and she just said it again dead straight face. I wanted to laugh.
Now I’m kicking myself I don’t pursue it with further questioning - like why was her dog in the (food selling) shop in the first place 😁

Well, judge away.

I use a harness on my small, extremely well trained dog. I use a harness because small dogs are in real danger of ending up with a collapsed trachea due to pressure if they're walked on a collar.

I don't need 'control' over my dog's head and neck as she doesn't pull because she's been trained not to.

I use an extending lead because it makes it easier for both of us in those places where I want to give her freedom to roam but don't actually want her off lead.

I know my dog is well trained and I know how to use an extending lead properly. No accounting for other people's strange opinions though I suppose.

I've seen plenty of dogs being walked badly on collars and leads; I don't go on to then judge all people who use collars and leads as stupid or incompetent dog owners.

The person in the shop sound as if they have some weird issues OP.

Maybe the dog was excitable and she didn't want it jumping up at your or barking?

When mine was a puppy and someone said "hello" to him he got so excited and jumped which obviously isn't great behaviour and I always used to ask him for a "sit" before he was allowed a fuss. Maybe she was just wanting the dog to remain calm while she was shopping?

I wouldn't take it personally. You never know how a strange dog could react - I always tend to ask the owners permission before saying hello unless I have my dog with me and the dogs are greeting each other already. Just to be on the safe side.

Unless you bent down and touched the dog I don't see why saying hello was an issue, especially if the dog was meters away as you say. If a dog has some sort of issue it should not be in a shop or should be wearing some sort of jacket saying so.
As for extending leads - they can be invaluable in allowing a dog some freedom yet retaining some control. I keep my dogs short when on pavements and then release the lead to extend when in the park. I do not understand why anyone would judge me negatively for that.