A bit shaken by this encounter

[Parkwoes]

Ddog (age 5, smallish cockerpoo, female neutered) went through a random phase of resource guarding after we moved house in the autumn/winter. Due to this we don’t bring her ball any more unless we go to large open space at off peak times and lead her if another dog comes into view. She never approaches them, but does that ‘lunge and bark’ thing if they approach her when the ball is in her mouth. Thankfully this seemed to help and the last few months have been fine.

Today we took her to the fields quite early with my toddler and my other child. As we went through a gate, another couple with a dog approached. The dog looked to be some kind of staff cross - slightly bigger jaw and much bigger than Ddog. He ran up to us then got down on his haunches and was intently staring at the kids. I was a bit unnerved by this and so where I would usually lead Ddog or take her ball, I picked up my toddler as I thought the other dog might jump at him. The owners saw me looking a bit wary and shouted ‘don’t worry he’s friendly’ and just as this happened he went towards Ddog who did her ‘lunge and snarl/bark’ thing. It only lasted a couple of seconds and I didn’t clearly see it as I was holding DS.

The owners seemed shocked and I said ‘sorry she’s very defensive when she has her ball’ or something like that. They walked off and I could see them checking their dog over (who seemed fine and ran off).

I’m kicking myself for not putting Ddog on the lead and instead picking up DS, I get quite anxious at ‘encounters’ like this and now I’m paranoidly checking Facebook, convinced they will post about it!

We’ve agreed not to take the ball at all from now on (Ddog also has 3 professional walks a week with other dogs so gets plenty of exercise), and I know it’s a bit pathetic but can somebody say something reassuring?

Hopeful bump

Your instinct was to protect your kid. Honestly just try and forget about it. They shouldn't have let their dog approach you tbh.

What reassurance are you looking for if you are scared of dogs (staffy types) just walk your dog without the children or have her on a lead if you are not confident letting her play off lead don't and if she is aggressive with a ball don't let her have it. I am sure nobody is going to post on FB about a grouchy cockapoo, the other dog was probably wanting to play if it was down on its haunches and not wanting to go for the children..

I do agree the owners shouldn't have let their dog approach you.

I spiral a bit after these things, like what if they report Ddog to the police? What if we now have a reputation as irresponsible dog owners? And so on. I do know this sounds pathetic! Thank you for the reassurance.

I’m actually not scared of staffs, if it had trotted over happily I would’ve let the kids stroke it, it was the way in which it got down on its haunches and slowly crept towards us while staring at the kids that made me panic a bit. It wasn’t snarling or anything but it was hard to tell what it was going to do next. So the fact it was a bigger breed didn’t help.

She’s fine off the lead without the ball - like I said she goes with a professional walker in a group several times a week and loves her pals. She’s also very gentle with the kids and with strangers, she loves people.

I would doubt they’d report- their dog approached, saying that I’d agree don’t walk the dog with your child or always have on a lead. Try to forget about it though x

You did the right thing re. picking up your kid, in terms of instinct (although tbh it wouldn't have really achieved anything if the dog had attacked and we're always told not to pick up children or dogs around aggressive dogs as it makes it a more exciting target).

But if your dog was off the lead, it's not surprising their dog came up - most people assume that an off-lead dog is friendly. Not necessarily right (I don't let mine approach until I've confirmed the other owner is happy), but it's a very common perception: off-lead dog, friendly and on-lead dog, not friendly.

If your dog gets funny around other dogs if she has a ball in her mouth, I'm not sure why you would put your dog into that sort of situation - just walk her without the ball for your own peace of mind. Much safer for you, and for her.

They likely won't report your dog to the police, but they'll probably eye-roll if they see you in the future.

TBH I would be wary of any strange dog staring at my young children and would have picked them up. I might also have shouted the owners to please recall their dog. Too many people have been bitten by so called friendly dogs.

I also pick up my dogs if I am concerned about another dog bothering them. Not necessarily by being aggressive, but playing too rough or keep sticking their nose where it isn't wanted. My middle dog asks to be picked up when she's overwhelmed by a situation.

I doubt it will be posted on FB, as it's a bit of a non event. One off lead dog told another off lead dog to stay away from its ball.

Having said that, since you know your dog is snappy when it has a ball I wouldn't take a ball with you on walks. Save it for playing in the garden. Or for walks when you don't have the children with you, so you can fully concentrate on managing the dog's behaviour.

I have never let my dog (dogs over the years) approach a dog with a ball as I would expect that dog to want to resource guard it and things to get snappy.

Honestly it just sounds like a fairly standard dog tiff when one has something important and is quite reasonably warning another dog off, so I wouldn’t worry about it. My dog has been on the receiving end a few times in her life, I’ve always considered it her own fault for being a bit rude!

These kind of little snappy interactions aren’t unusual, it’s just dog communication. She told him to back off, he got the message, no harm done.

IMO it's just one of those things. Nobody got hurt and you've learnt not to take the ball out anymore. Mine also isn't allowed balls in public for the same reason.