Off lead dogs and interactions

[Maverickess]

Hi all, I need some advice on how to deal with a situation that is occurring now fairly regularly and how I can improve and me and my dogs not end up in confrontational situations.

One of mine is nearly 14, she's fit for her age but a terrier and small and not as sprightly or fast as she used to be. She can be dog reactive with dogs she doesn't know that get in her space, she'll pretty much ignore them if they ignore her, she doesn't want to play or run and is happy with a potter and a good sniff. I have a carry bag for her for long walks when she gets tired for a rest. Works well. She now stays on the lead as she's losing her hearing and her sight isn't what it was.

The other is a spaniel, coming up 4, got her at 3 and have been working on training which is coming on, sit, lie down, stay, the recall is 95% - but - the other 5% is non existent. Usually when she discovers a scent attached to something she can chase, the ears become decorative and off she buggers. She does come back, eventually, but because I have no idea where she is or what she's doing between going and coming back, she stays on a long line and we continue to work at it, although having been brought up where she did this on a regular basis I'm not sure we'll ever crack it completely.

She loves other dogs and will happily play and charge around with them in an enclosed space (local dog field) when introduced properly , but due to some of the experiences we've had over the last 6 months or so, she's now getting defensive. She would ignore all other dogs unless they came right up to her, and then she'd keep trying to move away, or sniff and greet and then get on with sniffing and her walk.

The issue has been that the other dogs in some situations have been aggressive, running at us barking, hackles up, one circled us snapping and lunging and in one frightening incident 3 dogs just came at me and my two and went for the spaniel, I was bitten as was the other owner, I managed to stop the terrier getting involved and I got hold of one of the other dogs and the owner got hold of the other two. My spaniel was unhurt (bruised with a few scrapes vet checked) but is now understandably wary of others approaching and if they get too close then she will warn them off barking, moving in front of me and my other dog and the body language is 'no closer!'.

I move away from those situations, diverting my dogs attention and trying to just get out of the situation, asking the other owner to remove their dog. It seems to be working as long as the other dog backs off, she's less reactive and has pretty much gone back to ignoring other dogs and looking to me for direction when we're faced with a dog that just won't go away.

Today another incident where the owner was on the other side of a farmers field and one of their dogs broke away and came at us, I took another path into the next field and walked away but the dog kept coming, came round in front and barking, hackles up, growling. I turned to move away in another direction but the dog persisted, I was pointing away (towards the owner) and saying "No!" The dog did return to it's owner after a few moments but it was a worrying experience because that dog was not being friendly or wanting to explore or play, it was aggressive and I do feel if my dogs had reacted to the aggression then a 3 way dog fight would have been very likely and I'd have been on my own, attached to two of them and the other owner over a mile away with no idea where her dog even was.

I need a strategy to deal with these situations, I couldn't even speak to that owner but for some of the ones I have, I've had comments like "Well if she bites him it's his own fault, teach him a lesson!" With no thought to the fact that I'm going to be stuck in the middle of a dog fight and might well end up injured as well as my dogs and the inevitable vet bill. Or the "It's because yours are on a lead" - so it's my fault for having my dogs under control?!

Regardless of the rights and wrongs, my dogs stay on the lead because they need to and we get approached by dogs not under control fairly regularly that are causing problems. And quite frankly I don't want to get bitten again!

I don't go to places that are heavily dog walking areas, or at 'busy' times and I cannot afford to hire a dog field every day just so that we don't get approached by out of control dogs.

As I said at the start, I am looking for advice on how to manage these situations in the moment for the best outcome for me and my dogs.

TL:DR - how to manage situations and my own dogs reactions of being approached by out of control dogs that won't take no for an answer!

It's really difficult. I have a lead-reactive beagle with poor recall so he has to stay on a lead most of the time - we often get dogs approaching us, he gets wound up and stressed and the other owner just says "don't worry, she/he won't hurt him!" - totally missing the point, of course.

I've started body blocking strange dogs, shouting "NO. GO AWAY." and telling the owners to get their bloody dogs under control. If they say their dog is friendly, I say I don't care, they're breaking the law by having an out of control dog in a public place and if they can't recall via voice/whistle, then their dog needs to be on a lead - full stop, end of discussion.

I think the key is confidence (hard, I know) and not being ashamed to make a scene in public, lol. If none of the above works then I have been known to grab the other dog and return it to their owner, or stick my foot in the way as an extra "warning".

Most dogs do eventually respond to "no" and a loud, firm voice thankfully. I'm more forgiving if the owner apologises (mistakes happen, I get it) but when they don't make any effort then it really does piss me off and I'm not ashamed to call them out on their shit behaviour, ha.

I never take my dogs out walking without a stout walking stick and pepper spray (legal here) 🤷‍♀️. Though to be honest, they’re more for the massive mastiffs that guard sheep here than other dogs being walked, but effective whichever type of dog is being a nuisance. A water pistol might work?

Take videos and repot to the police and dog warden

keep doing what you are doing
irresponsible dog owners piss me off but the tide is turning. The dangerous dog act stipulates dogs must be under control and the idiots you are meeting need to be held accountable

Get a body cam if you need too x not expensive and I find telling people I’m filing gets miraculous results from owners

This one won't work if the other owner can't hear you, but you'd be amazed how they suddenly find the ability to control their dog when I shout "can you call your dog back please? Mine has mange".

He doesn't of course, but it works.

Thank you for your replies, the water pistol is an idea, I was talking to a friend tonight about today and he pointed out I would be well within my rights to report the dog from today - it made me concerned about my safety and was out of control.
I'm as sure as I can be that the dog was being aggressive towards my dogs and not me, but as I was there I did obviously feel uncomfortable about it.

I do ask people to get their dog under control, if of course they're near enough to hear me. As I said in the OP, I'm often met with "Oh it'll teach him a lesson!" Totally disregarding the risk that puts me at, never mind my dogs, or the fact that we're not there to entertain or educate other people's dogs! It's not my or my dogs responsibility to 'teach him a lesson' nor to entertain them! I said as much to a man a week or so ago, when his dog was trying to get to mine and I told him that they weren't friendly, he laughed and when the spaniel saw it off he replied with the 'teach him a lesson' line, I admit I snapped that I didn't want to be in the middle of a dog fight nor my dogs injured and he just walked off muttering something I didn't catch.

I do like the mange idea though, @HappiestSleeping do you get any fall out about not having the dog out etc etc from that? Though as long as they get the dog under control I'm not really bothered what they say tbh!

I get that stuff sometimes happens, I had a lead clip snap while the Spaniel had put up a bird, that was a fun day 🤦 she came back almost immediately, but I do understand that sometimes things happen, but usually those owners are apologetic and are trying to get the dog back, the ones I'm taking issue with are the ones that don't even notice or bother if they do.

When the spaniel has gone off after something when off lead (and I was pretty sure she'd come back reliably - I was wrong!) I have been frantic about the danger she could be in - how did that woman know I wouldn't steal her dog in that situation? Or hurt it? I never would but some would.

Anyway thank you again for your replies 😊

I have heard advice about throwing treats away from you to get them to turn around and I suspect that might work. I have always thought I'd try that if I was in that situation

Or alternatively having a spare slip lead that you swing around in front of you and your dog to put others off or (if safe to try) might be able to use to get another dog under control.

Mine is more likely to be the twat with the failed recall that accosts other dogs. I do usually keep him on a long line for that reason but occasionally I might get caught out if I have let him off thinking we are alone and someone emerges that I didn't see and he buggers off after them. In those scenarios I am always mortified and apologetic.

I would start carrying something, a walking stick? And immediately do what you are already doing, but using the stick as an extension of your arm, if things get hairy pick your little older one up.

Keep planting the stick in front of you and waving it at the other dogs.

@Maverickess I have only had to use it twice since learning the trick myself only quite recently.

In both instances, the other owner magically found the ability to retrieve their dog, and subsequently vanished very quickly.

I suspect any fallout would probably be second hand, insofar as someone saying "I heard your dog has...", but if I'm ever asked, I'd happily explain that it's a defence mechanism against nob owners.

Although there are tons of dogs and owners around my way who have no control over their dogs, I have only had a couple of bitey instances which were fortunately not too bad.

It’s so tough. I think you’re doing the right thing by trying to walk away. If you’re near a car park head towards that with their dog following, they’ll soon run across that field to get them 🤣

it’s sad but the most successful deterrent for the owners i have found is to be obviously filming them and their dog because no one wants to go viral on the internet.

with dogs that aren’t showing aggression, I’m trying to teach my dog to lay down and then I can body block that dog and even catch it and walk it back to the owner. It usually embarrasses them. But I agree I wouldn’t want to be doing that if the dog seemed aggressive. Thats where a stick or swinging a lead and a can of pet corrector (compressed air) is probably best to try and scare them off.

I wouldn’t throw treats for them as a distraction as they are more likely to think you’re great and follow / stick around for longer!

Its frustrating that’s there no real solution as you can’t control what others do. I’ve actually become fearful of other peoples dogs since getting my own because I never realised how oblivious people are to their own dogs aggression or rude behaviour. It’s a shame.

Sometimes people are considerate. Yesterday I clipped my (slightly) reactionary boy on a lead when I saw another dog coming down the path. Owners didn't do the same for their dog, so I said could you please grab your dog because mine can be a bit of an idiot sometimes. They said sure and immediately put a lead on theirs. I said thanks, they said no worries, everybody happy. Usually I find most people clip on if they see me clipping my boy on.
I know it's not always the case!

There is a man near us who walks his gorgeous Goldies while carrying a riding crop. He makes it very clear to the owners of any aggressive, off-leash dogs that he will use it next time to defend his dogs, as one had previously been badly hurt. He has admitted to me that he doesn’t think he ever would be able to wallop a dog, but would be more tempted (but not foolish enough to) whop the owner across the knuckles. *Also, he’s carried it for years and the closest he’s ever been to using it was to whack a tree near the dog to create a loud noise.

I hear you, we experience this very often and I’m sick and tired of it. So many owners who think it’s their god given right to have their untrained, out of control dogs off lead just because they’re ‘friendly’ (apparently).

I found doing some training with a reputable dog trainer helped to build up some confidence. She was with us for some scenarios and helped us to navigate them and gave us lots of advice.

Also agree with pp who suggest making a scene. Unfortunately too many dog owners are just inconsiderate - the more people who stand up to them, the better.

There needs to be some kind of dog public awareness campaign to educate owners that

1. Never allow your dog to approach an on-lead dog, recall it to your side
2. If your dog does not have immediate recall to your side, it should not be off lead in a public space

I think all you can do really is carry a slip lead.

It sounds like you're avoiding busy times which is good. Around my way there's off-lead parks, and then you've got owners coming through the middle of them on-lead. It's seriously testing an adolescent dog's recall to have an on-lead dog walked through the middle of their off-lead play. (I know you're not doing that but it happens often around my way and it's frustrating for everyone involved)

Thank you all for your replies, it's just so annoying isn't it.
I had one yesterday again, the third time her dog approached and I stood in front of mine and said "No!" And pointed away back toward the owner. It went and she then put it on the lead.

I'm not sure a slip lead would work, it's just bringing the other dog even closer and compounding the situation, though I did say to DD yesterday that if the dog came again she could hold our two and I'd walk the dog back to its owner - not sure it's a good idea on my own though.

Thank you everyone and Merry Christmas 🎄