Just need a vent - clueless owners

[tootyfruitypickle]

I've been taking my nervous dog to a NT place where dogs are on lead.

Today a huge doodle or poo of some sort ambushed us 3 times. Not on lead . Third time I asked the owner what the hell she was doing . It had recall but not instant so it came right up to us leaping around.

It took me 40 mins to get my frozen dog out again, and he was making such good progress and walking so well for the past few weeks. We're going to have to take some steps back now. I was standing there with this terrified dog who wouldn't move thinking that she had no idea what stress she had caused.

The only positive I can take is that I advocated for him instinctively which is something I've had to learn. I stood in front of him, put my palm up to the rushing dog and said 'wait'. It did thankfully . And asked the owner to recall - nicely twice - third time I did lose my shit a bit though.

Just so entitled . She can go anywhere with her dog. Why come to somewhere where dogs are on lead and think it doesn't apply to her ? My dog has a yellow nervous vest too.

That's interesting @Avarua as I've never seen an official off lead area, we don't tend to have specific dog parks in uk. There are parks where off lead is permitted if dog is under control but that wouldn't permit an off lead dog approaching anyone and everyone. I've heard of dog parks in the USA where I assume they have specific areas for off lead dogs. This would be useful in uk as at least everyone would understand that there are specific rules for specific areas

@vivainsomnia what you describe is fine as a) you'd see the nervous vest and recall or b) I'd say 'he doesn't want to say hello' and you'd recall.

Both fine .

But no dog should approach an on lead dog unless the owner says it is ok.

We saw a lovely GSD this morning on lead and it barked at us but the owner was FANTASTIC and called over that he would be noisy as we went past so I was prepared with tons of treats. Was a good experience for him and renewed my faith a bit !

All fine if yours approach's off lead dog, not ok if you allow it to approach on lead dogs
Same approach. We get closer gently, assess the situation and how the dog and owner react and act accordingly. Only a handful of times was I told better not to get closer. Not a problem at all. Most dogs on lead are so because they don't have recall rather than because they are fearful or aggressive.

Saying that, it's more common walking on the pavement. My dog wouldn't normally approach a dog on lead in a park when she is herself of it.

But no dog should approach an on lead dog unless the owner says it is ok
Totally agree 100% with that.

I just felt a bit offended by the 'all owners ewho let their dog approach an on lead dog is a moron'

@anotherheadache everywhere in this part of the world is off-lead. Dogs are never fenced, they just roam. They catch fish in the lagoon and beg treats from tourists. It's dog paradise.
Attachment: sandy nose dog.

I appreciate I come from a different context! It just seems sad to me that dogs can't be free. It's mean to keep an animal like that. In my opinion.

@tootyfruitypickle

May I ask what breed and age your dog is?

I have four rescue sightbounds.

Two older and two younger.
The older ones just ignore other dogs on the whole but the younger two are very reactive and hunt when we are out for small furries

They are all walked on double click harnesses and the younger two currently with cloth muzzles not because of them but because ignorant twats let their dogs literally run at ours barking and shouting.

A small badly dog and four sighthoumds isn't a good combination.

We've had so many near misses that I now yell at the owners to grab their unruly dogs unless they don't mind them being torn apart

One women asked why her dogs shouldn't be free to run so I asked her why mine shouldn't be free tonwxcercise without being tormented.

We now avoid the usual areas loads of people walk their dogs and we walk them In lanes etc

We are trying to rehabilitate the youngest two to be calm and aloof like we have the eldest ones but it's hard to do with constant irresponsible owners around.

We tried to walk ours on a long line to give them abit more freedom but it's even worse then because they are so strong and like loose cannons

Dogs should be kept on a lead if they don't have perfect recall and aren't properly socialised.
I've been subject to an off lead dog with no recall taking a dislike to me on my mobility scooter. Pretty scary. His hackles were up and he was growling and barking at me. I kept telling the dog he was ok. But I think I was telling myself that. It really shook my confidence. The owner took forever to get him back on his lead and out of reach of me.
FYI Some perfectly lovely dogs bark at me on my mobility scooter the first time they see me. They get used to it though. I go on the same path regularly and generally see the same people.

@wtfisgoingonhere21 he's a greyhound and he's 3. He never raced - I suspect due to temperament . But he has a high prey drive although very obedient - now we can walk past a squirrel (after a hard stare). He's obsessed with cats and leaps all over the back of the car if we see one! Hoping that will get better over time like it has with squirrels .

I use his muzzle on pavement walks to protect cats but maybe will carry it anyway elsewhere - it was a bit terrifying with the small dogs at the weekend . He's never reacted aggressively but I do worry one day he might just snap. But also don't like him wearing it around other dogs as he can't defend himself , so in 2 minds.

Hopefully like your older two he will chill as he gets older and gets used to the world outside the racing kennels . I've had him 6 months.

Couldn’t agree more. It is completely out of order, of the other dog owner. I hope your lovely dog is okay

Happened to me the other day too, three huge dogs chasing my tiny girl - I called over ‘can you get them back please?’… ZERO recall training. I eventually had to pick my girl up. Owner came over and had the nerve to say, ‘yours must be in season you know’. Nope… She’s spayed, and you need to train your damn dogs! Ahhh vent.

@tootyfruitypickle

I'm biased of course but they're the best

One of my younger ones who was two when we adopted him and now three was tail waggy and excited to meet other dogs and would see a regular old lab on our walks daily. He would approach the lab and lock his face but since being jumped at by copious small unleashed dogs I wouldn't trust him to approach another dog at the minute till I can train the reaction out of him like the older two.

I agree I hate muzzle wearing but I have to say I find with the muzzles on they really are already calmer.

When we took on the youngest we had a real situation where every night she would find a hedgehog in our garden and bring it to me at the door

She would whine at the bak door to go out and her scent and prey drive was massive it was quite scary.
She was constantly on edge so one night I put her hard cage muzzle on that they use at the races once they've finished their race.

Well she literally stopped giving a shit at all because in her mind once they place that on the chase has stopped.

Physcological but it worked and she settled every night rather than hammering to get outside and hunt.

We also find what gives us great control is the double click harness as you can distribute their stength and I can hold the front of the harness to adjust her stance to break the concentration when she spots something small and furry.

Do you walk with a harness?

I had a staffy Rhodesia ridge back cross rescue dog. She was lovely at home with three competent dog handlers, but a little (!) more volatile outside with other dogs, she was always on lead and was so much more concerned with doing what we we, her owners wanted than any other dog.

One day I'd walked her for an hour, and was sitting on a bench where we were both having a breather. Suddenly, out of the bushes, came a Rottie. It looked like a lovely dog but my dog wasnt enamoured by the new dog. The owner called "it's ok, he only wants to play" I replied (hanging into my dogs leash for all I'd got) "ok, but she wants to eat him" The owner soon took her rather lovely Rottie away .

@wtfisgoingonhere21 that's really interesting about the muzzle. He only really goes in the garden for his bedtime and morning wees atm and I do muzzle him then as it's dark and I can't check for cats.

We had a while when he was waking up and hammering to get out but I shut him in the lounge and ignored him (it only lasted ten mins) once I'd worked out he didn't need a wee . Must have been the hunt instinct then - we live rurally so lots going on outside !

Went back to NT today and he walked fine again. I was able to be nice and patient for each stop he did which definitely helps in-the long run! Quite relieved as he settles each set back in his confidence is more quickly overcome.

As yes I have a harness and martingale with a double ended halti lead

@user1471453601 ok that's my new phrase !

Newfypoo. If ever a cross-breed name deserved a bitch slap!

I have two dogs. One extremely friendly to both people and dogs and wants every one to cuddle and make a fuss of her. Her recall is absolutely awful so she never ever goes off the lead when we are out.

My other has brilliant recall but is a bit stand-off-ish with people and other dogs, after another went for him at 5 months old. Slowly getting better and I do let him off when nobody is around but as soon as I see another person or dog he is straight back on the lead.

I always shout "this one isn't sure, please recall your dog" if an off lead dog approaches. Some owners ignore me, some try get theirs back. I've had quite a few over the past few weeks unable to recall theirs and I end up repeating my self multiple times 🤦🏻‍♀️.

@32wtfisgoingonhere21, surely if tour dog is reactive, the risks are not just with others dogs running to them. The one time I go really scared was in our local park, in the part where dogs have to be on the lead, we were on a path, passed a other dog on the lead, mine just sniffed the air, and the other dog jumped on her and attack her. Thankfully, no bites. The owner said nothing and didn't even apologised.

Surely if you have a dog who has the potential of being aggressive, the responsibility is on you to ensure they don't get close to a y other dogs, even on the lead.

OP, sympathies from me too.

My rescue sighthound with a very strong prey drive isn't aggressive but was not socialised with other dogs so reacts with a mix of fear and excitement. This has improved a lot, partly because I walk her in quiet residential streets where I can easily cross the road if another dog comes towards us.

She gets to run free at secure dog parks.

@vivainsomnia
Did you read my posts where I walk my dogs away from others. ?

We walk them on double click harnesses and with soft muzzles.
M they are the most docile dogs ever until small
Dogs lurch or run at them barking.

I've done all I can to make mine safe whilst enjoying their freedom,it's what comes with ex racing dogs that have been groomed to hunt.

Are you suggesting they can't be rehabilitated and should be shut inside because some people can't get their dogs to recall or behave??

My eldest two are oblivious to other dogs as per my posts earlier. That's because I've rehabilitated them and integrated them safely.

That's what I'm doing with the newest ex racers

It's being defensive rather than aggressive . If a dog runs up into his face and scares my dog, he might bite. That's not aggression.

Sometimes it's an unforeseen situation though
My dog is 9 months and he is an arsey adolescent whose recall has gone to pot.
We were out walking early with no one else around in a huge park. He was recalling nicely on the long line so I dared to let him off and again he was doing really nicely bouncing back to me enthusiastically which he will usually do just as long as there are no other dogs.
Then he spots a dog on lead way off in the distance way before I do and makes a bee line for it at top speed ignoring me completely. He runs up and gets in the poor dogs face bouncing and wanting to play although it was clearly scared. Dog's owner was on her phone not paying much attention but she couldn't really have done anything anyway it was our fault. I ran and caught him and pulled him off as soon as I could and apologised profusely.
I try really hard at training him and I thought I had risk assessed the situation and that it was safe to let him off to practice but clearly it was not.

@CovoidOfAllHumanity totally agree with this.

[quote wtfisgoingonhere21]@vivainsomnia
Did you read my posts where I walk my dogs away from others. ?

We walk them on double click harnesses and with soft muzzles.
M they are the most docile dogs ever until small
Dogs lurch or run at them barking.

I've done all I can to make mine safe whilst enjoying their freedom,it's what comes with ex racing dogs that have been groomed to hunt.

Are you suggesting they can't be rehabilitated and should be shut inside because some people can't get their dogs to recall or behave??

My eldest two are oblivious to other dogs as per my posts earlier. That's because I've rehabilitated them and integrated them safely.

That's what I'm doing with the newest ex racers[/quote]
Basket muzzles are a much better/more humane option than soft muzzles that hold the mouth closed. The soft ones are only designed to be worn for short periods such as at the vet/groomers and can be uncomfortable/dangerous even as they restrict panting and drinking. Plastic cage ones are a much better option for exercise