Off lead dogs approaching on lead dogs

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I have a 7 month old pup who is very boisterous and loves playing with other dogs, but he doesn't pick up on others dogs cues that he's being too rough, and since hitting the teenage phase his recall has completely gone to pot.

Due to these things I am trying to a responsible owner and keeping him on a lead, or in a large open place on a training line while we practice recall.

I'm getting really annoyed by the number of owners who just let their off lead dogs approach making absolutely no attempt to recall their dogs, usually small dogs so the owners seem to think because their dogs are small they're ok to approach who the hell they want.

It's so frustrating as I'm really trying my best to train him and it makes it really difficult when these dogs wander over and then my dog gets all over excited. I'm trying to teach him to ignore other dogs which is hard with unwelcome visitors!

I'm a first time dog owner and I just assumed there was an etiquette about on lead and off lead dogs... am I being too precious or are there just a lot of self absorbed knobhead owners where I live?!!

Rant over!!

But if you in an area where dogs are normally off the lead, and yours is on a training line, do quite long and away from you, it's quite normal that other dogs would be interested and other dogs owners might think recalling him when one approaches your dog is part of the training and why you are doing it there.

It's all about communication. If it happens, just explain when the owner gets in earshot what you are doing without sounding angry. Most will just recall their dog and wish you good luck.

It's obviously a totally different matter if you are walking your dog on a short lead.

@dontdisturbmenow I think we'll agree to disagree. I get the feeling you're one of the ones who lets their dog approach anyone and everything.

The problem is that as all these threads show you cannot get agreement about dog etiquette on approaching other dogs.

The only way I found was to remove myself from the problem and walk and train in places with very few dogs and people.

That's what I try and do @BiteyShark which is why it's frustrating as I think it'd obvious that I'm making effort to be away from everyone but in the current circumstances there aren't many places I can go that are completely deserted.

No I don't, typical assumption. My dog, especially being small, is never much far from me. I usually go with gaging the dog behaviour and owner non verbal.response and any sense that there's an issue, I call my dog who will come back immediately. Being a small dog, it's for his safety upformost anyway.

However, I've never come across an owner with a puppy in an open area where dogs are normally off the lead having an issue with other dogs approaching theirs. On the opposite, as stated above, they like the opportunity to train their puppy to be friendly in a non rough way. It's quite standard behaviour in my local parks.

If someone had an issue with it as said, they just need to mention it in a friendly way. It's not have to be war up there.

The worst I had was my dog on a lead with a trainer and another owner was deliberately ignoring the fact that his dog kept coming up to mine to interfere with our training.

Even moving to the edge of the area and shooing his dog away made no difference.

As with everything there are people who don't care as long as they are happy and you will never get them to change.

@BiteyShark

The problem is that as all these threads show you cannot get agreement about dog etiquette on approaching other dogs.

The only way I found was to remove myself from the problem and walk and train in places with very few dogs and people.

This is the answer, in the end.

It could drive me mad, too but honestly all that does is make me grumpy for the walk and - in the end - my dog started to pick up on that. So I've had to work on not being grumpy when it happens and just trying to do all I can to avoid off lead dogs, especially ones that look like they have dodgy (no) recall

One of the (many) reasons I am looking forward to the end of lockdown is that my previously isolated walks will become so again. Right now there's a lot of people in fields with dogs they struggle to control - at least near me.

One of the things that really helped me when mine was an excitable puppy and adolescent, and wanting to train not to jump or harass other dogs, was to try and be friendly and approachable to owners. That way I could let them know what I was trying to do and took away any hostility, the communication with other owners greatly helped.

Not all owners can accept their off lead dog with no recall isn't acceptable and can be unpleasant, but most (in my experience) have useful tips (gave me lots of advice) and when they're aware of your situation will avoid you to help.

If I see an on lead dog I absolutely would to to put mine on.
However, sometimes this does take a sec as if he sees another dog he stops to get a good look (let’s say at 20 metres) and if ‘on lead owner’ carries on walking towards us then that makes it really difficult for me to get it done in time. He doesn’t run up to dogs unless they’re within a few metres so I do think it would be helpful if, say your dog is worried, just to pause for a few seconds when the attempt is clearly being made!

@dontdisturbmenow

But if you in an area where dogs are normally off the lead, and yours is on a training line, do quite long and away from you, it's quite normal that other dogs would be interested and other dogs owners might think recalling him when one approaches your dog is part of the training and why you are doing it there.

It's all about communication. If it happens, just explain when the owner gets in earshot what you are doing without sounding angry. Most will just recall their dog and wish you good luck.

It's obviously a totally different matter if you are walking your dog on a short lead.

I tend to agree with this too. In our park puppies on training lines are often socialised in the area where there are lots of free running dogs on purpose at busy times also; to allow them to interact / play but still on a long line and safe. Owners of the free running dogs will facilitate this. Those wanting to train them alone go at quiet times or use other areas.

@ferretface

icegarden, presumably you have trained your dog to recall away from the on lead dog, if not, what i don't understand is why don't you train your dog to do so?

Dogs don't need to interact with every other dog they see, mine is trained to be happy just passing by because in some circumstances a greeting is not appropriate. Dogs that need to interact with every other dog they see are often rude and badly trained in circumstances where interaction is inappropriate (other dog is ill/scared/does not want to interact/owners do not want strange dogs jumping all over them)

Yes he is trained to come straight back and mainly ignores lead dogs but occasionally will run over to them before I grab him; if they are walking where lots of dogs are running freely.

God I hate this.

I’ve got 2 greyhounds, 1 is super nervous and obviously neither have recall so they get walked on lead.

Sick to fucking death of shit owners who allow their dogs with no recall to harass mine.

I tend to agree with this too. In our park puppies on training lines are often socialised in the area where there are lots of free running dogs on purpose at busy times also; to allow them to interact / play but still on a long line and safe
I'd also agree with this.

There's a difference between someone walking their dog on a short lead, or even a retractable lead, and someone exercising their dog on a long line in an area with off lead dogs.

When I trained mine we did exactly what you describe, and regularly see others doing the same in our common dog walking spots. The long line is typically a half way house between being on a short lead and being off lead whilst the pup develops their recall.

It sounds like a mismatch of dog walking expectations there and it's a bit much for the OP to decide that anyone describing how long lines are typically used must have out of control dogs who bound up to everyone.

@scochran

I don't let mine go to onlead dogs but if it happens to my puppy on a lead and a dog runs up it's a great opportunity to let her sniff quick then see if I can get her attention back to me with treats or by getting her to run away with me.

I agree with this actually. My dog is a similar age to yours and absolutely loves to play and is having similar 'teenage' issues with recall at the moment. So if we see an on lead dog approach we put his lead on as well. However if another dog runs up to us wanting to play, I secretly love it as it means we get the opportunity to practice calling him back when there is another doggy distraction BUT it isn't my dog doing the running off. Ideal IMO!

@Stellaris22 training a calm pass of other dogs is really useful, ours goes out to play with his friends multiple times a week and we'll allow him to play in off lead situations where both dogs are clearly up for a bit of a run around but absolutely i require him to be able to pass/ignore other dogs at other times without interacting. It's particularly useful when the other dog is reactive or clearly worried, or displaying ambivalent body language.

If you train it properly with positive reinforcement, the dog is happy to make the choice to look to you rather than engaging with the other dog. It doesn't mean that they aren't sociable in other situations.

As a dog walker, this is my absolute pet hate. I hate it.

Some of my dogs are on-lead because they're reactive and don't like other dogs. Last week, I was walking one and an old man had a young (out of control) puppy with him off the lead. The puppy was lovely and not at all aggressive but the owner had no control over him whatsoever and it was incredibly dangerous, really. The dog I was with isn't aggressive but he does react to other dogs - and he was getting increasingly wound up and this man made practically no attempt to come and get his dog or call it away.

If the owner is apologetic and comes to get their dog then I don't mind it as much (it can happen to anyone) but some people just don't seem to give a shit about anyone except themselves.

Had this happen today. Was mightily miffed, tbh. Two women with their dogs had them off lead, and they kept coming up to my puppy as I was training her. Several times!

Avoiding that area tomorrow. Everyone else had dogs on lead.

The problem is that logically, the areas where you can do training on long leads are going to be the areas where dogs are let off leads because of the space and likely safety.

Dogs off the leads are usually friendly dogs and going to other dogs and socialising is part of the fun and accepted behaviour in that area.

You are as entitled to be there and train your dog but just move as far away from the communal areas and inform any passer by of what you are doing.

my dog, for some reason, is a magnet for off lead dogs. He is a confident and sociable dog and is black (which I now understand is also a colour dog that gets attacked more often, don't know why!).

he is harrassed constantly by off lead dogs with owners apologising profusely that their dog normally has good recall but didn't today. He has been physically attacked several times while on lead and in fact, one owner suggested it was our fault because he hadn't been castrated (he was less than 6 months at the time!).

I agree with @BiteyShark though, the only way to avoid it is to go to areas where it's quiet!

Dog walking appears to be so super serious now, when l was younger we walked our dog for miles, never on a lead. No harm ever came from it. I walk my Mums dog now sometimes and l think a lot of the fun has gone out of it. The dog walkers look thoroughly miserable, so do some of the dogs.
I read posts on here all the time, endless complaints 're dogs off lead. I take my Mums lurcher over the fields and when she runs you can feel her joy, she is a running dog, yet so often you see them constantly on the lead. People say it's their recall, is it because once free they are reluctant to being constantly tethered again? Obviously with this type of dog you do need to take precautions, but to go on a walk and be terrified another dog may come and want to say hello, dogs are sociable animals, where's the fun in that?
I always post and run, not interested in replies. Just my observation.

@icegarden

What I don't understand is why so many people don't seem to train their dogs to walk off lead / recall at all. Then walk round the field where there are dogs of all shapes and sizes and ages playing freely etc. The poor dogs are often straining to get off the lead. There are some people in our park who literally drag their lead dog away from others and won't let them interact. That feels cruel really

Because some dogs are rescue dogs with different needs and complexities

@Sexnotgender

God I hate this.

I’ve got 2 greyhounds, 1 is super nervous and obviously neither have recall so they get walked on lead.

Sick to fucking death of shit owners who allow their dogs with no recall to harass mine.

Love greyhounds 😍

I am in total agreement with you, it really bugs me. I wish others would just accept on lead dogs are often on lead for a reason 🤷

Winds me right up this does.

Tiny dogs come charging up running faster than any human could possibly reach, circling our massive dog on lead and he gets spooked. The other dog starts yapping and the owners invariably make a comment about our DDogs size and how hell ‘have them for breakfast’ when he’s literally just chilling bumbling along on his walk minding his own business.