Dealing with off lead dogs...

[StarfishDish]

I was walking my 14 month old lab and my baby in her pram in our park. A dog came bounding over from nowhere! I told my dog to sit (he is very excitable and just wants to play!) which he did.

This other dog was bouncing about, near me, near my dog as my dog sat there. As soon as it went near the pram, my dog jumped up but sat down as soon as I tokd him.

The owner is strolling up at this point, shouting this dogs name. The dog ignored her as he continues to jump around us.

Eventually, the woman manages to get her dog and then starts shouting at her for being a bad dog!

What can I do in that situation, should it happen again? I didn't want to let mt dog play as i wasn't sure if the other dog was friendly but I was so annoyed with the owner!

@Stellaris22

For me it’s the training to ignore other dogs I don’t get. If it’s a service dog it makes sense, but seems odd for a family pet. Allowing play is so important for their well-being and happiness.

So you have a steady dog who listens to you, not the Call Of The Wild from Milo down the road. I also train her not to jump on babies on prams, run into the road, chase squirrels onto a busy cyclepath, dance around horses’ feet, eat gravel and random shite she finds on the pavement………..

For well-being and happiness my dog needs a ‘job’ and to know that I’m in charge. She’s not going to get that being chased around a field by 20 Cockerpoos and a Jack Russell.

Well there’s a middle ground of course.
But I suspect there’s a lot of projection going on.
“I don’t like very much exercise or activity, ergo my dog doesn’t either”.

This is a park where owners talk to each other, share doggy stories and let the dogs play. It can be having a good chase, running after a ball or just sniffing around. Tails wagging and very relaxed, they’ll sit and wait their turn for treats (we always ask if it’s a new dog before offering food). It genuinely is lovely and dogs have solid recall.

They are free to wander off and sniff by themselves as well, particularly if it’s just been raining and smells are extra interesting.

A lot of it is to do with being approachable as an owner I find.

@Coronawireless

Well there’s a middle ground of course. But I suspect there’s a lot of projection going on. “I don’t like very much exercise or activity, ergo my dog doesn’t either”.

Yeah, that’s right, I got a working line Lab (2, in fact) because I loathe exercise and activity……..oh, wait…….

@Coronawireless that’s just absolute rubbish. I suspect just goady now.

@Stellaris22

For me it’s the training to ignore other dogs I don’t get. If it’s a service dog it makes sense, but seems odd for a family pet. Allowing play is so important for their well-being and happiness.

The point is you train them to ignore random dogs you meet out and about and if they’re a dog that does enjoy playing with other dogs, then you give them appropriate opportunities for that.

If you allow your dog to play with every random dog, you’re more likely to end up with an issue because that’s what they’re always expecting when they see a dog and they’re more likely to ignore you and your training because there’s a dog about and there’s a much higher chance of bad experiences because they’ve tried to play with dogs that aren’t interested...

@Stellaris22

For me it’s the training to ignore other dogs I don’t get. If it’s a service dog it makes sense, but seems odd for a family pet. Allowing play is so important for their well-being and happiness.

I don't trust other dogs and their owners.

Too many incidents where dogs have barrelled over to mine and caused issues, unfortunately.

@saucery
Yes I have seen very sedentary people get working dogs who are utterly unsuited to a life on a lead. Then they take them for a 20 minute walk in the park on the lead every day, and that’s the dog’s life.

[quote Coronawireless]@saucery
Yes I have seen very sedentary people get working dogs who are utterly unsuited to a life on a lead. Then they take them for a 20 minute walk in the park on the lead every day, and that’s the dog’s life.[/quote]
That’s a shame. Don’t worry, my dog isn’t one of those. But neither is she let off her lead the instant we leave the car park to bother other dogs and possibly damage her joints by chasing balls thrown by clueless twats or fed treats by idiotic strangers.

@Saucery

For well-being and happiness my dog needs a ‘job’ and to know that I’m in charge. She’s not going to get that being chased around a field by 20 Cockerpoos and a Jack Russell.

Having fun might be better than having a job

Having fun might be better than having a job

Working dogs need jobs @cherrypie66 - that's what they've been bred for, and it's what's fun to them.

Having fun might be better than having a job

Seen many Labs taught a good retrieve, @cherrypie66 ? I expect not.
My girl naturally tunes out other dogs when she’s retrieving, especially in water. I haven’t had to teach her that, it’s innate. She wouldn’t swap it for pelt-arsing round a field in aimless play. There seems to be plenty of dogs who do like that, so maybe all those owners should stick together and all the ones who want a bit more form, structure and basic obedience do their own thing.

“Having fun might be better than having a job”

I’m pretty sure she means channeling his drive to do something he finds fun rather than sending him down the mines or up chimneys...

It is so difficult when you have a young dog that you are trying to train. They do want to play and their recall might not be 100%, but it doesn't mean the owners don't care. How are they supposed to socialise and learn boundaries? Personally I don't understand how people walk dogs while pushing a pram, how can you do both safely, the dogs always look like they are in danger of being run over? Without the baby in the pram you might have reacted differently to the dog. I am sick of being chastised by know it all stress-monkeys, (never happens to my male partner btw) for not caring when I am doing my best to train my dog.

By being around well socialised (and trained) dogs since mine was a puppy, it’s really benefitted her and added to her training. She learned from older dogs, including boundaries and behaviour. I really do think it’s important for dogs to learn from others, we as owners can teach recall etc, but we can’t teach how to interact with other dogs.

It’s why I don’t agree with training to ignore other dogs. Being able to walk safely on and off lead is a must, but taking it to the extreme to completely ignore other dogs just seems harsh.

Does anyone have any recommendations for books/websites/videos about how to train excellent recall? I have the Happy Puppy Handbook and Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy, but I'd ideally like something with more detail.

@Selford

Does anyone have any recommendations for books/websites/videos about how to train excellent recall? I have the Happy Puppy Handbook and Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy, but I'd ideally like something with more detail.

Totall Recall Pippa Mattinson

I’d second Total Recall.

“ I really do think it’s important for dogs to learn from others, we as owners can teach recall etc, but we can’t teach how to interact with other dogs.“

Of course you can help teach it...

Some dogs through a mix of genetics and early experiences manage to pick up appropriate dog behaviour by themselves - if you have one of those and you’ve trained a decent recall, fine, do what you want, because presumably your dog isn’t out there causing issues for other dogs and people.

But others don’t just pick it up - why would you not teach those ones what’s appropriate and what’s not?

I mean, I’ve got a 1 yr old rescue... he’s a mix of rude and overexcited and anxious. Do you really want him loose with your dog? Because he’ll run up without checking whether it’s ok, start trying to wrestle by biting on it’s neck, get too excited and then hump... and if your dog tells him off he’ll get scared and start snapping.

Or should I carry on teaching him to ignore dogs I don’t know and to approach dogs I’ve arranged to meet calmly and intervening with his play when it’s inappropriate?

@MissyB1@Saucery thanks, I'll order it

@Hightechlowbudget

It is so difficult when you have a young dog that you are trying to train. They do want to play and their recall might not be 100%, but it doesn't mean the owners don't care. How are they supposed to socialise and learn boundaries? Personally I don't understand how people walk dogs while pushing a pram, how can you do both safely, the dogs always look like they are in danger of being run over? Without the baby in the pram you might have reacted differently to the dog. I am sick of being chastised by know it all stress-monkeys, (never happens to my male partner btw) for not caring when I am doing my best to train my dog.

@Hightechlowbudget Because my dog can walk sensibly and I hold him with one hand and push the pram with the other. His recall is also not 100% which is why we work on his recall when others aren't near.

Your dog shouldn't go over to other dogs though. What happens if the other dog is nervous?

God this thread is depressing! Totally sums up why I no longer walk my dogs in public.

I have a reactive rescue dog who would love some of our local walks if moronic dog owners could keep their dogs under control.
No she doesn't want to play with yours. The big yellow lead saying stay away is a good indicator of that! As is my hi vis coat! But still EVERY bloody walk we were bing harassed by off the lead dogs who's owners either didn't notice or didn't care.
I now walk in a private dog field or in some woodland. Dogs can run free and be safe and not harassed.

@Prattypatel

People,who dont let their dog off lead in safe areas,are people who either cant be bothered to train their dog,dont know how to train their dog,or in general(probably also with their kids) very anxious people.All dogs want to play( of course some areas are unsafe),like all children want to play.it is an important part of development.it is your responsibility to teach safe,responsible play.If you cant do this: DONT HAVE A DOG.

What a lot of rubbish! I have 2 rescues. One loves other dogs but is terrified of humans. The other loves people but is reactive to other dogs. So yes I keep them leashed when others are around its safer for them and no harm will come to them or others.

@Hightechlowbudget

It is so difficult when you have a young dog that you are trying to train. They do want to play and their recall might not be 100%, but it doesn't mean the owners don't care. How are they supposed to socialise and learn boundaries? Personally I don't understand how people walk dogs while pushing a pram, how can you do both safely, the dogs always look like they are in danger of being run over? Without the baby in the pram you might have reacted differently to the dog. I am sick of being chastised by know it all stress-monkeys, (never happens to my male partner btw) for not caring when I am doing my best to train my dog.

Socialising a dog doesn't mean allowing them to meet and play with every dog they meet.

Socialising a dog properly means teaching them that sometimes it's ok to meet other dogs and others it isn't. If you don't have damn good recall they should be on a harness and longline so you can remain in control.