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The doghouse

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

Original poster

It’s been done to death...

145 replies

DiddlyWiddly · 23/04/2021 09:54

But when faced with a dog that won’t piss off, what do you do?

For the third time now I’ve had the same young, boisterous, enormous dog with piss poor recall harass my dog when I’m trying to play ball with her.

I always stay well, well away from other dogs so there is zero need to approach us but alas, it runs miles away from its owner to reach us.

It was constantly blocking my dog from returning to me today and in the end I got so cross I went to leash the bastard and return it to its ineffectual owner but it ran back as soon as I went to clip it.

It’s a big dog and of a strong guarding breed so frankly, although it is clearly a friendly, exuberant adolescent I am nervous about trying to restrain it or discourage it in any way because if it bit me it could do some damage.

I see it’s owner regularly and intend to talk to them the next time I see them and insist they keep their dog away from mine, I imagine that will go well Hmm

OP posts:
sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 15:27

@savvy7

Dogs need to be well socialised. The vast majority of dogs I encounter off leads in open areas are well socialised and the vast majority of dogs I encounter on leads in open areas are poorly socialised (or are young dogs being kept on leads by overprotective owners).

If you don't want a dog interrupting your play, then maybe play in your private garden?

A dog that runs up to others and that can't be recalled, is not a well-socialised dog.

Around here, the consensus is "off lead = social and happy to play" but you still need to recall your dog. Mine bumped into a spaniel this morning, they had a sniff and said hello and both the other owner and myself continued walking in opposite directions and our dogs followed.

Dogs who can't be recalled shouldn't be running up to other dogs. That's not socialisation, it's an out of control dog.

MissyB1 · 23/04/2021 15:32

@Ihaventgottimeforthis

Yes sirdidymus! A gang of adolescent dogs careering round in a field together isn't socialisation. It shouldn't be hard for somebody to keep their dog away from other dogs & their toys until there's a mutual agreement between owners that the dogs are able to have a muck around. If you can't have that control by voice, then you need a leash.
Actually a gang of adolescent dogs careering round in a field together is my dog’s idea of heaven! If there’s a doggy rave going on anywhere she wants in! And she’s a 4 year old mini schnauzer. She’s very good at reading other dog’s signals though, and learned doggy etiquette from being well socialised as a pup, and from going to daycare.
savvy7 · 23/04/2021 15:43

FGS, all dogs have their moments ... unless you have a robotic dog?

A dog that can't be recalled sometimes is hardly an out of control dog. Most dogs have something that will distract them, especially when they are young.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 15:43

Actually a gang of adolescent dogs careering round in a field together is my dog’s idea of heaven! If there’s a doggy rave going on anywhere she wants in! And she’s a 4 year old mini schnauzer.

It certainly is fun to some dogs (mine love it too!) but that doesn't mean it's good socialisation. Many dogs would find "careering round in a field" very overwhelming and potentially quite scary.

Mine loves doing it but only with dogs he knows and I'd always recall him if I felt he was uncomfortable or if he was bothering another dog.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 15:46

@savvy7

FGS, all dogs have their moments ... unless you have a robotic dog?

A dog that can't be recalled sometimes is hardly an out of control dog. Most dogs have something that will distract them, especially when they are young.

Then you keep your dog on a lead.

I'm a dog walker and walk a reactive dog. He's a rescue and wasn't taken anywhere outside of his own home and garden until he was one - he finds other dogs very, very scary unless they're introduced properly.

He will growl, snarl and lunge if other dogs' get in his space, so I keep him on a lead at all times. Why should he have to tolerate other dogs coming up to him and upsetting him? To me, a dog that approaches him and refuses to leave him alone is absolutely out of control.

If you can't recall your dog, put it on a lead or use a longline so you can stamp on the end. Don't just let your dog go up to other people (or dogs) and bother them. It's rude at best and potentially very dangerous at worst.

savvy7 · 23/04/2021 15:48

Sorry that's popplecock.

joystir59 · 23/04/2021 15:50

You sound so tedious OP. Why not let your dog socialise a bit as well as playing ball? The other dog is only being a playful dog

savvy7 · 23/04/2021 15:50

You seem to be mixing up recall and a dog that is pestering another dog.

A dog that doesn't recall sometimes (e.g. sniffing a spot of grass and not pestering anybody) isn't out of control.

joystir59 · 23/04/2021 15:51

Having said that I do recall my dog and leash him if another dog approaches on its lead. That's respect.

MissyB1 · 23/04/2021 15:56

@joystir59

Having said that I do recall my dog and leash him if another dog approaches on its lead. That's respect.
Oh yes I always do that too. Not because mine would be a nuisance but more that I worry the on lead dog might start something.
tabulahrasa · 23/04/2021 15:56

“Why not let your dog socialise a bit as well as playing ball? The other dog is only being a playful dog”

Because her dog doesn’t want to... and the other dog isn’t being playful, it’s being obnoxious. It’s the equivalent of running up to strangers and tickling them in a shop and then claiming to just be friendly if they object.

“A dog that doesn't recall sometimes (e.g. sniffing a spot of grass and not pestering anybody) isn't out of control.”

Well it’s not under control is it?

LolaSmiles · 23/04/2021 15:58

Dogs who can't be recalled shouldn't be running up to other dogs. That's not socialisation, it's an out of control dog.
I agree with this. Mine love off lead rough and tumble... with other dogs who also enjoy it and who are also under appropriate control.
I don't agree with the idea from some that dogs who enjoy chase and play are poorly socialised. The key element is that when the owners say stop, it stops. If someone can't do that then they shouldn't be allowing off lead chasing play.

savvy7 · 23/04/2021 15:59

Better call the Council then about an "out of control " dog.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 16:00

@joystir59

You sound so tedious OP. Why not let your dog socialise a bit as well as playing ball? The other dog is only being a playful dog
Because her dog doesn't want to play or socialise. Why is that so hard for some people to understand?

Not all dogs want to play with other dogs.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 23/04/2021 16:01

@savvy7

You seem to be mixing up recall and a dog that is pestering another dog.

A dog that doesn't recall sometimes (e.g. sniffing a spot of grass and not pestering anybody) isn't out of control.

But this isn't the case here.

This dog was running up to OP's dog and pestering both of them to play, and it couldn't be recalled.

That's out of control.

LolaSmiles · 23/04/2021 16:01

Apologies, I misread the socialisation comment. Blush

I agree, chasing around on a field isn't a form of good socialisation. It's something that some dogs can enjoy once they have been socialised and trained.

tabulahrasa · 23/04/2021 16:05

“I don't agree with the idea from some that dogs who enjoy chase and play are poorly socialised.”

No, as long as the dogs are all willing participants and they can be called back if need be, it’s not an issue... that’s how a lot of dogs play.

It’s when they ignore that the other dog isn’t in fact willing that it’s a socialisation issue, they either can’t read other dogs or don’t care and do what they want anyway.

“Better call the Council then about an "out of control " dog.”

A dog that doesn’t recall from sniffing grass isn’t likely to be causing an issue at that particular time, but if you can’t even recall a dog from something as uninteresting as grass, what chance have you got when a real distraction comes along?

Floralnomad · 23/04/2021 16:05

My dog doesn’t want to socialise , he has a couple of dog friends that he will say hello to but otherwise he is perfectly happy playing ball with me . I see no reason why he should have to stay on a lead because other people can’t keep their dog away from him .

savvy7 · 23/04/2021 16:10

I have no chance of recall if a sausage roll appears

MsAdoraBelleDearheartVonLipwig · 23/04/2021 16:43

There was an old episode of Victoria Stilwell on the tele the other night. A couple with a reactive dog. They said he was only happy when he went to doggy daycare with the dogs he knew.

Victoria went with them to observe him. She then had to tell the owners that he was terrified. He wasn’t aggressive but he was overwhelmed, trying to get away from other dogs, eyes down, ears flat, generally looking worried and scared. The owners had no idea, they thought he was just happily ambling about and burst into tears.

I thought it was a perfect example of how even well meaning owners can be utterly clueless and unable to read doggy body language.

Some owners have no idea about socialisation. They can’t recognise or pay attention to their own dogs behaviour, they’re certainly not going to spot the aggressive or scared dog that their dog wants to bother.

I really, really wish there was some sort of training and licensing for prospective dog owners. Would open up a whole new world for some people.

LolaSmiles · 23/04/2021 16:45

I have no chance of recall if a sausage roll appears
Then keep them on a lead.

savvy7 · 23/04/2021 16:50

I will keep my lovely well-behaved dog on a lead at all times ...in case a sausage roll appears. Sausage rolls have rights too

Original poster
DiddlyWiddly · 23/04/2021 16:50

@joystir59
You sound so tedious OP. Why not let your dog socialise a bit as well as playing ball? The other dog is only being a playful dog
Wow. Just wow.
My dog does not want to socialise.
She chooses to avoid other dogs.

I would love it if she was the sort of the dog that liked to make new friends.
As it is, she doesn’t like to meet and greet other dogs at all.

The ‘playful dog’ is considerably bigger than my dog, stronger than my dog, younger than my dog and my dog finds it an annoyance at best and scary at worst.

My dog made it crystal clear to the ‘playful dog’ she didn’t want to play or ‘socialise’

When the dog ran at her she:

  • completely ignored it
  • when it blocked her way she moved out of its way still avoiding eye contact. Repeatedly.
  • When it continued she growled
  • When it still continued she snapped.
Does that sound like a dog that wants to socialise to you?!?!
OP posts:
Original poster
DiddlyWiddly · 23/04/2021 16:56

@joystir59
Hang on a friggin minute..
Aren’t you the poster that had a really aggressive jack Russell?!?!
Did you take the view that you should ‘let him socialise’ too?!
Confused

OP posts:
LolaSmiles · 23/04/2021 16:57

savvy7
If your dog can't be recalled then they should be on a lead.

I've had dogs run up to me followed by their owners half a field away saying "oooh you've got treats in your pocket, my furbaby loves treats, you know he's absolutely brilliant but when he smells treats he's off". Hmm Their dog should be on a lead if it has poor recall and will bolt if it smells a kong toy.