YasandCrystal
Well-Known Member
Please don't shoot me down, but helpful advice gratefully received on this........
He is a feisty dog (2.5 yrs old)- I had him castrated at around 7 months. At a year old I took him to dog training/agility classes and he was hard to distract and keep focussed and always a handful if he didn't like the look of another dog.
I have 3 other dogs at home, 1 elderly Patterdale bitch (rough coated and no trouble at all - completely different temperament), 1 older and larger breed bitch who will put him in his place and a Sckipperkee male (also neutered) with whom there is rivalry and the infrequent nasty spat. He is excluded from the daily horses visits as I cannot trust him not to swing off their tails, so he is limited to freedom at home in the garden and walks on a lead (extender
I can hear you all now!) with me.
Right so the incident that has led me to ask.......I took him out for a walk to a local park and along the river this afternoon. He had 40 mins of great fun sniffing and running about around the pond, fascinated by the ducks and along the riverbank. Then we went into the 'formal park' where dogs should be kept on leads. Anyway I was walking the path and I see ahead of me a very large ridgeback pup bounding about, I stop hold my dog close and call to the owner 'I know your dog may want to play BUT he doesn't'. My dog was on 2 legs straining at his harness. The owner says nothing and makes no speed or attempt to grab or call his pup at all, until it's right up in my dog's face and my dog bites and latches onto it's lip. A few seconds of squealing - owner then sparks into life to retrieve his pup and my dog lets go. I say sorry. And then some random jogger woman shouts at me 'that dog should be muzzled' - I retort that 'actually my dog is on a frickin lead! and pup is out of control!' she says - that doesn't stop it biting.
Anyway - I don't want my dog biting anyone's dog actually whatever the circumstance, but in this heat I actually would consider muzzling cruel. Should my dog be muzzled if I don't let him off the lead? What happens if he was muzzled and a loose dog attacks him as he would be unable to defend himself?
May I just add that as the rough coated bitch was such an easy dog we never realised a smooth coat Patterdale would be such a pain. Is there any easy painless way of making him 'social' with other male dogs? He is such a thug and you can just see him posteuring on the lead when he sees another dog. He was supposed to be my hubby's replacement (for the rough coated) van dog - he's a farrier - but that is not going to happen as you can guess. Also we are NOT soft with him and he may seem regretful after the event. I know I am not the first and unlikely the last to ask for advice with a Patterdale - they should come with a warning maybe 'hunting home required!'.
Sorry for the long story............cool lemonade with ice and a slice for you all!!
He is a feisty dog (2.5 yrs old)- I had him castrated at around 7 months. At a year old I took him to dog training/agility classes and he was hard to distract and keep focussed and always a handful if he didn't like the look of another dog.
I have 3 other dogs at home, 1 elderly Patterdale bitch (rough coated and no trouble at all - completely different temperament), 1 older and larger breed bitch who will put him in his place and a Sckipperkee male (also neutered) with whom there is rivalry and the infrequent nasty spat. He is excluded from the daily horses visits as I cannot trust him not to swing off their tails, so he is limited to freedom at home in the garden and walks on a lead (extender
I can hear you all now!) with me.Right so the incident that has led me to ask.......I took him out for a walk to a local park and along the river this afternoon. He had 40 mins of great fun sniffing and running about around the pond, fascinated by the ducks and along the riverbank. Then we went into the 'formal park' where dogs should be kept on leads. Anyway I was walking the path and I see ahead of me a very large ridgeback pup bounding about, I stop hold my dog close and call to the owner 'I know your dog may want to play BUT he doesn't'. My dog was on 2 legs straining at his harness. The owner says nothing and makes no speed or attempt to grab or call his pup at all, until it's right up in my dog's face and my dog bites and latches onto it's lip. A few seconds of squealing - owner then sparks into life to retrieve his pup and my dog lets go. I say sorry. And then some random jogger woman shouts at me 'that dog should be muzzled' - I retort that 'actually my dog is on a frickin lead! and pup is out of control!' she says - that doesn't stop it biting.
Anyway - I don't want my dog biting anyone's dog actually whatever the circumstance, but in this heat I actually would consider muzzling cruel. Should my dog be muzzled if I don't let him off the lead? What happens if he was muzzled and a loose dog attacks him as he would be unable to defend himself?
May I just add that as the rough coated bitch was such an easy dog we never realised a smooth coat Patterdale would be such a pain. Is there any easy painless way of making him 'social' with other male dogs? He is such a thug and you can just see him posteuring on the lead when he sees another dog. He was supposed to be my hubby's replacement (for the rough coated) van dog - he's a farrier - but that is not going to happen as you can guess. Also we are NOT soft with him and he may seem regretful after the event. I know I am not the first and unlikely the last to ask for advice with a Patterdale - they should come with a warning maybe 'hunting home required!'.
Sorry for the long story............cool lemonade with ice and a slice for you all!!
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