Page 2 | “Don’t worry he/she is friendly”

Shouldofgotahamster85 · 2021-12-30T13:16:56+00:00

Said as their dear ddog comes bounding over leaping all over us and our pup [angry] gives me the rage We are taking dpup for walks at the moment and she is being really good. She has lots of dog friends she plays with but when out walking we are teaching her to sit or walk quietly past other dogs/ people and I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened to us now. We do get a balance of nicely behaved dogs and owners but today we just seemed to meet some incredibly oblivious people!

Stellaris22 · 30/12/2021 18:47

If you have a dog that's reactive to the point it will bite, then yes, it needs to be trained to accept a muzzle. It's a responsible thing to do, just as keeping dogs under control.

I think I live somewhere very laid back as I've never experienced owners being overly vocal about not allowing greeting.

Mine loves to say hello to dogs as she's just a happy, sociable dog. But as the owner I ask before letting her.

There have been times when I have t been observant, or a dog comes out of nowhere and my dog spots it first. There's nothing more annoying than an owner acknowledging you are trying to collect your dog, and keep on walking anyway. That's not helpful.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 30/12/2021 18:49

My dog gives them payback.

Bound up to him. Savages them 🤷‍♀️

icedcoffees · 30/12/2021 19:03

[quote KurtWildesChristmasNamechange]@BigMamaFratelli how would they be comfortable and well socialised in public if they're never allowed to socialise with people and other dogs in that setting then? [/quote]
Socialisation is learning how to behave around other dogs and people. It's nothing to do with allowing your dog to bound over to everyone it sees and jump around like an idiot.

EMOJIgate · 30/12/2021 19:20

I have been in 2 situations in the last 6 months where large dogs have been overexcited, have bounded towards me and jumped up at my pram and baby. Their owners have shouted "he's friendly" but on both occasions have failed to recall their dogs. They have tried but the dogs just won't listen. After it happened the first time I became more wary.

Growing up we had a very well-trained Rottweiler, so I am not a stranger to dogs. But, it really scares me when large dogs are seemingly uncontrolled like this! Your dog may be friendly to you and your family, but how am I to know it's not having an off day? Or that it won't knock me/ the pram over? Or what if it really hates cats and can smell our pet cat? Our family dog was usually friendly but would occasionally meet people it did NOT like for unexplained reasons, so I know it's not beyond the realm of possibility.

Helenluvsrob · 30/12/2021 19:25

“
Don’t worry he’s friendly “

Yours might be MINE ISNT ….. CONTROL YOUR DOG.

Is probably the only useful reply - even if it’s a fib !

LesterKnopf · 30/12/2021 19:46

When he was about 3 DS literally poo'd his pants and started crying because he was scared when a 'friendly' dog ran over and was barking really loudly. Dogs don't have to be aggressive in order to scare small children and he is now scared to walk past dogs in the park. If that dog had been on a lead/ been recalled as soon as it started to approach DS wouldn't now (a few years later) be scared to walk past dogs without holding my hand and needing reassurance it wouldn't hurt come over because it was on a lead.

CrumpetswithMarmite · 30/12/2021 23:49

Slightly different but worst experience I had was when I was sat in a park, on the grass, with my 14 old pup on a lead, watching people walk past (recommended as homework by the trainer whilst giving treats to help with socialisation).

Next thing I know two sibling cockapoos bundle in to my dog, get tangled up, jump on him, causing my dog to react with fear and growl back in defence. The owners couldn't give a shit, said they were friendly but bonkers, 20 weeks old, brother and sister before they ran off towards the car park with the owner chasing after them...

I mean WTF?!

I was pretty devastated as was trying to avoid any scary situations for my pup and taking it slow!! Luckily he has been okay after lots more training and isn't reactive but I hear so many horror stories of issues occurring from things like this.

Complete madness and so irresponsible.

I think it's different if the dogs are both off lead but it isn't okay to use the 'it's friendly' line if a dog just runs up to dogs on lead. It just doesn't seem fair and is so ignorant.

AwkwardPaws27 · 31/12/2021 01:11

@CrumpetswithMarmite

Slightly different but worst experience I had was when I was sat in a park, on the grass, with my 14 old pup on a lead, watching people walk past (recommended as homework by the trainer whilst giving treats to help with socialisation).

Next thing I know two sibling cockapoos bundle in to my dog, get tangled up, jump on him, causing my dog to react with fear and growl back in defence. The owners couldn't give a shit, said they were friendly but bonkers, 20 weeks old, brother and sister before they ran off towards the car park with the owner chasing after them...

I mean WTF?!

I was pretty devastated as was trying to avoid any scary situations for my pup and taking it slow!! Luckily he has been okay after lots more training and isn't reactive but I hear so many horror stories of issues occurring from things like this.

Complete madness and so irresponsible.

I think it's different if the dogs are both off lead but it isn't okay to use the 'it's friendly' line if a dog just runs up to dogs on lead. It just doesn't seem fair and is so ignorant.

The fact they had two puppies from the same litter indicates they aren't particularly well-informed or prepared unfortunately (littermate syndrome).

FestiveFuckery · 31/12/2021 01:23

My pet hate! I'm currently nursing a bruised hand and rope burn from an over enthusiastic dog who ran full bore at my dog and bounced off his chest with me trying to separate them. I could hear the owner screaming for her dog over my headphones from the other side of a tree patch so was prepared but I had to push the dog away forcefully. It didn't listen and came back at him shitting itself when my dog retaliated. Owner still hadn't come round the tree patch at this point but was running. I told her she shouldn't let her dog off if she didn't have full control. She told me she did. I said obviously. She insinuated it was my fault so in my finest moment I shouted cunt across the field.

I'm just so fed up of it. Every walk I have to bat dogs off mine.

Netaporter · 31/12/2021 05:38

I find this utterly bizarre. I also have a giant breed (Leo). We walk off lead in the Summer in the woods at a country park where reasonably you expect other dogs to be off lead but like everyone else, he goes on a lead if we meet a dog also on a lead. However in the winter when we are not in the woods I walk him by the sea in an area full of dogs but because of the sheer amount of humans it is sensible to have him on a short lead as he is 75kgs and I don’t want him to accidentally knock over a toddler just by turning around…However there are an alarming amount of idiot dog owners who allow their extending leads to come over 5/6m to ‘say hello’ to him. Wtf? As I said to a chihuahua owner the other other day, ‘yes he is friendly but if he accidentally steps on your dog, you may not be a dog owner any more’ she clearly hadn’t thought of this….

ErrolTheDragon · 31/12/2021 05:59

Most dog owners round here are sensible, but you always get a few. Yes, he's friendly but I didn't want muddy paw prints on my trousers or coat. No, we absolutely don't want a playful paw landing on the back of our elderly dachshund.

Our previous dog got a hurt eye when a boisterous boxer put a paw on his head. Thereafter, as soon as he spotted a boxer he'd be bristling ... the 'don't worry, he's friendly' owners would be told ours wasn't (though their dogs generally had the sense not to tangle with him!)

Kanaloa · 31/12/2021 06:15

I used to hate this because our rescue dog was nervous of other dogs and it really set her back to be approached in this way by a boisterous dog. Whenever we got ‘he’s friendly’ I used to call out ‘we aren’t!’

Even if you love dogs surely you can accept that other people don’t want your dog annoying them?

Cupcakesandjam · 31/12/2021 06:35

Drives me nuts too. Have found it tends to be followed up with , he/ she won't hurt your dog' this is if their bouncy dog is massive or ankle height and hurtling toward my dog.

My dog is not a fan of other people's dogs and is an unsociable loner with a death stare out in public, which results in an attempt to snap at other dog if sniffs or won't bugger off. Most dogs realise and don't bother but sometimes there is one which is over friendly and ignores commands.

I was once with Dd and the dog when a large bouncy dog ran at us and jumped up at dd, reaching almost her face, and wouldn't stop leaping up despite the owner calling it and saying it was being friendly. Damm thing was huge.

I put dd in front of me, to protect her face and the dog leapt up at back, dragging my coat off.

Mayhem, with dog barking, the owner shouting.
I said their dog ought to be on a lead, and got a stream of abuse as apparently the animal was ' only playing'

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 31/12/2021 06:35

@Kanaloa

I used to hate this because our rescue dog was nervous of other dogs and it really set her back to be approached in this way by a boisterous dog. Whenever we got ‘he’s friendly’ I used to call out ‘we aren’t!’

Even if you love dogs surely you can accept that other people don’t want your dog annoying them?

My rescue puppy is nervous of bigger dogs and even more so if there’s more than one. There’s a man near here who walks two labradors off lead, one of which has a reputation for being unpredictable. The man seems to find it amusing that his dog attacks other dogs ‘he’s being friendly, your dog needs to toughen up’. Complete a....hole. I do all I can to avoid meeting him 🤬

pateandbrie · 31/12/2021 07:09

On the beach yesterday with two DC (4 and 2), huge numbers of dogs running over to se what we were doing (building a sandcastle).

DS (4) is already scared of dogs - don't know why, personally I like them, but he always has been. So it was miserable for him.

Two large dogs in their excitement separately nearly knocked over DD (2), who usually likes dogs but was terrified.

All the owners without exception said 'he/she is very friendly'. Well thanks I'll just explain that to my small child who is now even more scared of dogs than they were before.

Also two other dogs (both with the same owner) decided to pee on my bag, that was on the sand next to me.

Utterly disgusting. And the owner said 'sorry, they're just trying to be friendly' and walked on. 😡

Rainbowqueeen · 31/12/2021 07:17

So infuriating.

Dog is only allowed off lead on the beach and I always go early when it’s only dog walkers or walkers and have a look to see who is around before letting her off.

If we go past a dog on lead she goes back on the lead until we are past.
There should be a special place in hell for those who insist on telling you their dog is friendly without trying to control them

autieok · 31/12/2021 07:35

I'm trying to train a very boisterous large Labrador. We keep him on lead, it really winds me up when other people let their dogs come over. If a dog is on a lead make your dog walk next to you and if you can't put them on a lead!!!

SirChenjins · 31/12/2021 07:42

Someone on MN on a previous thread about pain the arse off-lead dogs with no recall or socialisation skills and their idiot owners said she always replies to ‘it’s just being friendly’ with something like ‘it’s not required to be friendly, it’s required to be under control, now get it on its lead’ (I can’t remember the exact words). I’m looking forward to trying that one out.

Watchingpeppa12 · 31/12/2021 07:45

@Stellaris22 even the most patient dog can react if another dog is bounding all over them and just generally not under control, you cannot put that blame on the dog/owner that is under control!

Op this is my absolute pet hate! SO many irresponsible owners it actually worries me, should have to pass a test to get a dog

ErrolTheDragon · 31/12/2021 08:26

There have been times when I have t been observant, or a dog comes out of nowhere and my dog spots it first. There's nothing more annoying than an owner acknowledging you are trying to collect your dog, and keep on walking anyway.

The other owner might disagree about who is being more annoying here, don't you think? You know that the onus is on you to keep your dog under control, so don't blame others for how they respond to your lapses.

SirChenjins · 31/12/2021 08:44

There's nothing more annoying than an owner acknowledging you are trying to collect your dog, and keep on walking anyway

I missed that post - do you mean that you expect the other dog owner to stand still and let your dog continue to annoy their dog (or worse) while you attempt to put yours on its lead?

CoedenNadolig · 31/12/2021 09:00

@Netaporter

I find this utterly bizarre. I also have a giant breed (Leo). We walk off lead in the Summer in the woods at a country park where reasonably you expect other dogs to be off lead but like everyone else, he goes on a lead if we meet a dog also on a lead. However in the winter when we are not in the woods I walk him by the sea in an area full of dogs but because of the sheer amount of humans it is sensible to have him on a short lead as he is 75kgs and I don’t want him to accidentally knock over a toddler just by turning around…However there are an alarming amount of idiot dog owners who allow their extending leads to come over 5/6m to ‘say hello’ to him. Wtf? As I said to a chihuahua owner the other other day, ‘yes he is friendly but if he accidentally steps on your dog, you may not be a dog owner any more’

she clearly hadn’t thought of this….

I'm the same, giant breed owner. And when the "he's friendly" bichon owner on a extendable lead but out of control came along I said "that may be the case but my dog could injure yours just by stepping on him accidentally or flipping him when playing"

DDog likes to play by shoulder barging which is common in the breed, as they herd bulls as a pastoral dog. But he could injure a collie doing this never mind a toy breed.

Thing was yapping and scurrying everywhere. I'm sure my dog thought it was a toy by the way his tail was furiously wagging and he was doing downward dog ready to play. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Luckily he was on a lead and the "leave it" command followed by "sit" put my DDog back in to a patience and waiting mode.

whyarentiskinnyet · 31/12/2021 09:01

@SirChenjins

There's nothing more annoying than an owner acknowledging you are trying to collect your dog, and keep on walking anyway

I missed that post - do you mean that you expect the other dog owner to stand still and let your dog continue to annoy their dog (or worse) while you attempt to put yours on its lead?

Agree. I try and get my on lead dog away from an off lead dog as quickly as possible. No way I'm standing around waiting for you to get your dog back. I need to get away quickly to avoid my dog getting stressed.

whyarentiskinnyet · 31/12/2021 09:05

I have a small breed dog who is reactive to all dogs. Walking is stressful but off lead dogs make it 100x worse. We have to think carefully about when and where we walk and always keep her on the lead. I was on the other side once when our dog wasn't reactive and to be fair I was pretty ignorant about having her off lead but now I wish everyone realised / was taught good dog manners and kept their off lead dogs fully under control.

FestiveFuckery · 31/12/2021 09:21

I think it's a perfect example of peoples inability to see past their own experience. My mum has these naice hybrid breeds (shudder) and they are a nightmare. They are nice dogs but not well trained because their mistakes are usually forgotten due to their breed. They also have limited recall. She lets them off and doesn't even keep them in sight. I regularly tell her what would happen if they approached my dog without an owner around and how that would make me feel but she just nods and says most dogs aren't like yours and it will be fine.

I've had two labradors attack at the same time and as soon as I got one off, the other came back. The owner was across the field and a lot slower. She didn't even apologise. My partner said let the dog do his thing if it happens again but I just can't. I do kick at them now tho.