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The doghouse

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Original poster

Do people ever try and call your dog when you’re out walking?

19 replies

UhtredRagnarson · 30/04/2021 20:57

I’ve had teens try and call my dog many times which are usually harmless. My previous old dog had eyes for me only and completely ignored every person and dog around so I had no fears about him wandering off. I have a new rescue, only had her a month and she loves everyone. I don’t walk her off lead so she won’t get away but tonight I was walking and a group of men who i think had had a drink, were walking near me and a couple of them started calling her with whistles and clicking and “here doggy” type comments. She of course was ecstatic and kept trying to get to them. I pulled her on and walked faster but the men were walking behind me and kept calling. There was no chance to cross the road for a good stretch as there are barriers between pavement and road so in just kept walking and eventually they went into a pub. I’m sure they weren’t actually trying to get my dog but I found it quite unnerving tbh. There were other people around so I could have probably called for help if I’d needed to. Does this ever happen to others and what do you do? Do you say “please don’t call my dog” it was on the tip of my tongue to say it but I wasn’t sure how they’d react. There were about 5/6 of them and I think a bit tipsy.

OP posts:

magicstar1 · 30/04/2021 21:11

Not usually... she’s a GSD and barks like a hell hound at strangers.
I have had a few people start to come over and I stop them and say “she’s a rescue and scared of people...better not come too close”. They respect that ... If I said she might bite, they say “ah no I’ll be okay”.

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 30/04/2021 21:50

Well I could try tell them she will bite but her demeanour will tell them I’m a liar

OP posts:

LadyWhistledownsQuill · 01/05/2021 23:42

I usually walk in a park that's full of students and 20-somethings who love dogs, but aren't in a position to have one of their own. Consequently, they're constantly trying to call DDog over at this time of year some have tried to entice him with bits of their picnic I was that dog-loving 20-something once, and while a bit pissed once paid a homeless guy a fiver so I could stroke his staffy

DDog is, however, much like your dog, not interested in humans he doesn't know. I frequently find myself apologising for him, as they look so disappointed that there will be no dog cuddles.

I can understand being unnerved by blokes following you down a street - I suspect this was a case of tipsy but ultimately harmless men who hadn't for a moment considered that they might be making you feel uncomfortable.

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 01/05/2021 23:48

I agree they were probably completely oblivious to how it was coming across. I do like the idea of charging people a fiver to pet her though maybe I missed an opportunity- drunk dog lovers.

OP posts:

LadyWhistledownsQuill · 02/05/2021 00:38

Honestly, I'm not even sure he was charging per se, I was just pissed, missed having a dog, and offered! I'd grown up with them, though the last one had died, and missed having one desperately.

Park yourself outside the local university with the dog and I'm certain you'd have a steady stream of customers. Much more profitable than doing the wholesome PAT dog in hospitals thing

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 02/05/2021 08:17

OP posts:

familychallenge · 03/05/2021 23:07

There is a local dog Walker here who is nice and friendly but also has a pack of dogs usually (and liver cake!) and will call mine over even when I have him on a long line and am clearly working on his recall. I like to see this as a challenge because she is well intentioned but it's frustrating when she then criticises that he is on the long line!

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 04/05/2021 09:26

What is her issue with the long line?

OP posts:

3JsMa · 04/05/2021 09:44

OP,I just had similar experience on Sunday afternoon.
I have 12 year old super friendly Staff X.I was with 2DC,waiting for a bus,area full of people leaving pubs etc.
My dog was sitting next to my kids and then the bloke nearby started calling my dog,waving his hand towards him.My dog is super sensitive to any form of attention and started getting excited.But he also hates the smell of alcohol.
I asked the guy if he drank something,he said yes.I told him '' I wouldn't advise you to go near him,he hates the smell of alcohol and may hurt you''.He was laughing but I persisted.Then he said to his friends ''Let's go guys,there is a dangerous dog here''.Tosser.
It irks me a bit that people think it's OK to start calling your dog and completely ignore the owner.My dog is quite large so he is likely to pull me,if I do make him sit,he's staring to howl and bark with excitement and it makes people around uncomfortable as not everyone understand his behavoiur.

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 04/05/2021 10:21

Tosser indeed!! What do people think will happen if you start taunting strange dogs? Dangerous dogs? No- dangerous idiots!

OP posts:

3JsMa · 04/05/2021 10:53

@UhtredRagnarson
Totally,the worst are that call the dog and when it gets excited they are quite offended and starting ranting about the dog

familychallenge · 04/05/2021 13:21

@UhtredRagnarson because she walks all her dogs off lead and thinks I'm mean not to let him run and play as much as he wants! She's a nice woman but just a bit know it all. Mine is going through a very defiant phase and I'm doing my best to keep him safe and learn not to run in the road and it irritates me that she calls him over, feeds him, lets her pack jump all over him and get excited and then tells me I'm mean when I recall him! To be fair it's great practice at recall under distraction....

NotQuiteUsual · 04/05/2021 13:38

I get it all the time. Great for her socialisation, but not so great for stopping her jumping up at everyone and being a Newfoundland puppy, jumping up is not acceptable. I've had people encouraging her to jump on their mobility scooter, up at their garden walls etc. It got ridiculous at one point, but now she's bigger than a lab it's calming down a little.

I have to tell people she just rolled in shit so you might not want to touch her

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 04/05/2021 13:46

[quote familychallenge]@UhtredRagnarson because she walks all her dogs off lead and thinks I'm mean not to let him run and play as much as he wants! She's a nice woman but just a bit know it all. Mine is going through a very defiant phase and I'm doing my best to keep him safe and learn not to run in the road and it irritates me that she calls him over, feeds him, lets her pack jump all over him and get excited and then tells me I'm mean when I recall him! To be fair it's great practice at recall under distraction....[/quote]
How on earth did she train her own dogs on recall without having a long line at one point? Surely even if she didn’t use one she can see why you are?? Silly woman!

OP posts:

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 04/05/2021 13:46

I have to tell people she just rolled in shit so you might not want to touch her

Brilliant!!

OP posts:

familychallenge · 04/05/2021 14:26

@UhtredRagnarson I have no idea! She just says 'oh mine never run away, you must not be calling him right!' Grrrrr I'm doing my best now get lost you smug idiot!

Original poster

UhtredRagnarson · 04/05/2021 14:31

Urgh!! Well if it helps- she sounds like she hasn’t a clue. Maybe she just keeps copious amounts of cheese in her pockets all the time

OP posts:

familychallenge · 04/05/2021 14:41

@UhtredRagnarson thanks, yes I think that is pretty much her approach 🤣🤣 it's just frustrating when I am doing my best. Plus as insecure newish owner of course I wonder if she's right and I'm just doing it wrong!

The3rdWatermelon · 04/05/2021 15:14

I used to walk miles with our border collie (she’s now in her teens and prefers to just sunbathe in the garden!). She’s a pedigree and had been to a fancy sheepdog academy. She really looked like a working sheepdog in her youth, despite the fact that she was utterly useless, and was more likely to follow the shepherd than the sheep! Somehow there would always be some clown whistling or shouting “come by!” at her and laughing. She’s very sensitive and had been abused before she came to us, so a stranger shouting at her used to really upset her.

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