Another off lead one

[ismu]

Just back from a walk where my dog was set upon by two off lead dogs running ahead of their owners. Fortunately they only seem to have ripped his rain coat and grabbed his harness.
Of course they have NEVER done that before and no they don't need to go back on a lead. Even though one was a breed which "is known for its pugnacity".

"My dog is bred to sniff and hunt, yours is bred to fight, somewhere back in time. Please respect that and don't give your dog opportunities to reinforce negative behaviours".

That's what I should have said to the two posh dog owners but of course I just went home and gave mine extra treats.

What has posh got to do with anything?

Unless you address the owners instead of going home then they will continue to slow their dogs to bother other dogs.

@Amarige well if I'd said they weren't posh, rough or whatever people might have made assumptions about their dogs.
As it was would you challenge a couple of 6ft entitled men on a country path? I did and they were incredibly arrogant.

I speak to anyone and everyone! Especially if their dogs annoyed my dogs.

People of any social class, any age, any sex and any ethnic group can be terribly irresponsible owners.

I’d be very interested to know exactly what happened, simply because two off lead dogs, ‘bred to fight’ could easily over power and kill/seriously maim a dog bred to ‘sniff and hunt.’ Yes it’s scary when they make those noises and a coat was ripped, but if a dog ‘bred to fight’ wanted to cause catastrophic damage, it absolutely could have. Let alone two.

Sounds like they displayed slightly dominant behaviours - not ideal but not a catastrophe. Is your dog castrated?

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone no, my dog's not castrated and none of my dogs have ever been. It's not a problem. My dog was on a lead and under control. The problem is the entitlement of owners, and they refused to put their dog back on lead even though it was spoiling to get back to mine. It is also a problem that people have bull breed dogs and don't restrain them adequately- even if this incident is minor it's building in reinforcement to very strong instincts.

Actually, it is a problem. Uncastrated dogs are far more likely to be attacked by other male dogs - simply because they are uncastrated. That's a very key bit of information that you left out tbh.

Either way, a bull breed could have done serious damage. It didn't. The two didn't. So it's a complete non-issue.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone none of my dogs have ever been castrated.
If people can't stop their dogs attacking other uncastrated dogs that's not my problem. My dog is under control and doesn't snarl and bite other dogs. The most he will do is bark for attention!
Just put them on a damn lead if they can't be controlled.
The reason it didn't go further is because two six foot tall men dragged their dogs off mine.
I don't think that's a non issue and if my dog hadn't been wearing a coat over a tactical harness he'd be in the vets with puncture wounds right now- there's a bite imprint on the inside his coat.

Sorry to hear this happened to you and your dog @ismu. I agree with you, two off lead dogs grabbing and ripping your dog's raincoat, grabbing and leaving teeth marks in your dog's harness is completely unacceptable. I'd be livid if that had happened to my dog. These types of incidents can cause fear behaviours in dogs. I also think it's a sign of aggression, and would be concerned to see the dogs responsible running free off lead and unmuzzled in public. It sounds like you didn't feel safe to challenge two big men with agressive dogs in quiet area when uour dog had already been set upon. You just wanted to get away. I completely understand that. You have right to prioritise your safety and that of your dog. I also understand your frustration that these men are unchallenged for their dog's bad behaviour. For what its worth I think you did the right thing and what most people would do. I'm sorry that you and your dog had this experience. I hope you are both OK now.

I can't believe you're being blamed for this

Your dog was on the lead and under control - whether he's castrated or not is totally irrelevant!

I wasn’t blaming OP but merely pointing out that uncastrated dogs are more likely to be attacked and, actually, it was a pretty crucial piece of information. I’ve seen even the most placid dogs turn on uncastrated dogs - for no reason other than them being uncastrated. But, either way, OPs dog is fine. So it was a non-issue and she definitely didn’t have to bring class into it

Rubbish. Her ON LEAD AND UNDER CONTROL dog was attacked by two OFF LEAD AND NOT UNDER CONTROL dogs. Does her dog have to be in vets ripped to bits before this is an ‘issue’ ?
I’m so sick to death of people making excuses.

Not really a non-issue. Dogs should be under control at ALL times, including around intact dogs. These dogs weren't.

I have a staffy, always on lead. I was walking home, just off the High Street, and two off lead spaniels appeared from nowhere, knocked me over and launched themselves at my dog.

I still had hold of my dog despite being on the ground. No sign of the other dogs' owner. I heard one spaniel yelp and it ran off, followed by the other one. I can only assume my dog bit it. And I won't apologise for that.

My dog is a rescue, I've only had her a couple of months. She has a lot of issues and is dog reactive but is doing so well with training (apart from separation anxiety). Luckily, this incident hasn't seemed to set her back.

Who has off lead dogs in a town centre ffs??

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone it's not a non-issue in the slightest. She should be able to walk her dog on the lead without worrying that a bunch of out of control dogs are going to attack him.

If a dog can't be trusted around entire males then they shouldn't be off the lead - it's not the person with the under control, leashed dog who is the problem here.

FWIW I agree that class is irrelevant but saying to OP that her unneutered dog is the problem is bang out of order.

Exactly @CellophaneFlower - and what about in the case of dogs who are too young to be neutered, or who are entire for medical reasons? Should their owners just have to suck up their dogs being attacked?

It's nonsense - if your dog can't be trusted around entire males then that's a you issue - don't make it someone else's problem by just letting them run loose to do whatever they fancy!

Agree it is not a non issue.

The oh "your dog is entire" is just victim blaming. If your dog can not deal with entire males keep them on a lead.

OP sorry you had to deal with this if you do have a dog warden maybe worth letting them know. The dogs may have been reported already and this will help add to the info.

@OldTinHat Just a wave hello from another owner who has just adopted a rescue dog who needs help with being dog reactive and separation anxiety. So rewarding to help a dog come to terms with the world.

Hooray for all the people who rescue dogs and put the effort and love into training them that their original owners didn't.

OP - those men should have their dogs under control - doesn't matter if they're posh as the king or a common as me.

I'm glad you got some more sensible replies @ismu. I must admit my flabber was gasted at some of the posts.
Just wanted to say that while you shouldn't have to do this, if castrating your dog does make him safer, it might be something to consider. Pros and cons to both of course as well as some unknowns. You just don't want to be relying on people pulling their dogs off yours because some won't. And while out of control dogs should at the very least be on a lead, there's plenty of idiot dog owners out there who won't do that. While they shouldn't be your problem, sadly they are. Big decision and lots of ifs and possible downsides but might be worth thinking about if it would help keep him safer - I'm not saying it would btw, I don't know.

In Scandinavia where it is illegal to neuter dogs unless on documented medical grounds there are not hundreds of dogs attacking each other.
Equally I have been told by the owner of a poorly mannered, poorly controlled off lead dog that kept annoying my well manner, well controlled dog that it was because mine was castrated.
People will use all kinds of excuses to fail to acknowledge that their dog is poorly controlled and ill mannered.
The law says dogs should be under control at all times.

Uncastrated, on lead, tactical harness, country path. Sorry, but I think there is far more to this story than OP is letting on. The average dog does not need a tactical harness OR to be on a lead in the countryside - the only exception really is bad behaved, reactive or working (guide etc) dogs.

Clearly I am in the minority - but I cannot help but think OP is being slightly less than honest.

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone your comments are totally unnecessary - there are loads of reasons for dogs to be on lead and harness in the countryside.

At the end of the day, OP's dog was on the lead and was attacked by two dogs who were off the lead and out of sight of their owners - only one person was breaking the law here and it wasn't the OP.

Normally I agree with much of what you say but I think you're way off the mark here and your comments are just uncalled for.

@coffeesaveslives maybe I am completely wrong - but I cannot help but think that someone who brings class - rather nastily and unnecessary - into a thread like this, likely isn't as innocent as they perhaps act!

I agree the class comments are unnecessary but that doesn't mean that the OP was in the wrong here.

Her dog was on a lead and under control when it was attacked by two off-lead dogs - the comments about class or the type of harness are irrelevant.

At the very least @ismu report the incident to your local dog warden as it could be that other people have had issues with the same dogs and if they get enough evidence they do act on it .Hope your dog is ok

@Killingoffmyflowersonebyone sorry but you’re talking rot.

My dog is on a harness, on the lead in the country side. The reason? He loves to chase dears and rabbits.

He is not aggressive with other dogs. But he’s a rescue and I’m trying to work so hard on recall that when I’m working on him looking at me and focusing on me it’s really, really annoying when off lead dogs interrupt us.