'Dogs like to say hello, if your dog doesn't sort it out or don't take it out'

[SDMabel]

So i recently had an 'interesting' discussion with a Gentleman , I have a Labrador who isn't interested in the slightest in other dogs, we have a jack russel she lives with - plays happily with her and also will socialise with my parents dogs quite happily. But on walks, has zero interest in going up to other dogs, being sniffed, playing etc.

She's not what i would class as aggressive in the slightest, but she can be reactive if persistently pestered, so when another dog approaches i pop her on a lead. She doesn't pull towards other dogs, its like they aren't there for her. I could leave her off lead to walk to heel, but by placing her on the lead I hope it signals to others that they should do the same.

So, said wonderful gentleman watches me place Labrador on the lead, makes zero attempt to call back his intact , overly friendly dog who runs up and shoves his nose right up her backside, shes tucked her tail right up and is eyeballing me, his dog has hooked his paws round her hips and trying to mount. I said shes not friendly and to please call his dog back , he attempts this but dog has zero re-call. I tried to place myself between my dog and his but his then proceeds to jump up all over me ( Visla so not small) scratching my arms in the process.
Labrador finally has enough, turns round and snaps at his dog pinning it to the floor . ( Doesn't actually make contact with teeth, just noise)

Gentleman then comes to collect his dog, states all dogs like to say hello, its what dogs do and that if mine doesn't i should 'sort it out ?!' or not take her out in public.

I was pretty dumbfounded at the time and didn't form any words to answer him back before he stropped off.

I'm not really sure what there is to sort out... I used to carry a shooting stick when walking to use to create distance between us and other dogs if required. This time i didnt have my toddler with me, but usually have him on my back in a carrier so i dont really want to put myself in the position of having a dog jumping all over me.

 

[meleeka]

He needs reporting to the dog warden if there is one. How utterly irresponsible. Imagine if you were walking a large dog, with a toddler in tow. That could have ended very differently because of his stupidity and he can’t like his dog very much if he’s so unbothered by its safety. It’s always people with rude dogs that have that attitude. I wonder if they’d feel the same if it was their dog being frightened on a daily basis.

 

[Jenko109]

What an ass hole.

 

[On the Hoof]

What an ass hole.

Couldnt put it better myself

 

[Ratface]

You could always try walking with a boat hook - 5-6 ft of solid wood with a curved/pointed metal piece on the end, to repel boarders. Excellent as a walking aid. It can be used single-handed with the handle wedged into the armpit to discourage rude animals, human or canine.

 

[CorvusCorax]

See also: 'I can't train my dog for shit/can't be arsed having my arms pulled out on a lead/I have no concern for the welfare of my dog or anyone else's/I am a very lazy person'

Bet he lets it shit everywhere as well.

 

[Widgeon]

I agree to some extent - I really dislike seeing cringing, fearful dogs out in busy public spaces with their yellow "I am a rescue" lead on (because that makes it ok doesn't it! Why do people do this?) - but the situation you describe is ridiculous. At the end of the day his dog was completely out of control, which is always unacceptable. To be honest, I think I would probably have given the Vizla a kick up the backside. I'm not surprised you were dumbfounded - stupid man. You can't reason with people that daft. Ratface's suggestion of taking a "walking aid" out on your strolls seems like an entirely sensible one!

 

[Clodagh]

To be honest, I think I would probably have given the Vizla a kick up the backside. I'm not surprised you were dumbfounded - stupid man.

As it would probably have been impossible to give the man a kick up the bum I’d have gone for the dog too. I’m more reactive than my dogs

 

[SDMabel]

He needs reporting to the dog warden if there is one. How utterly irresponsible. Imagine if you were walking a large dog, with a toddler in tow. That could have ended very differently because of his stupidity and he can’t like his dog very much if he’s so unbothered by its safety. It’s always people with rude dogs that have that attitude. I wonder if they’d feel the same if it was their dog being frightened on a daily basis.

It will be interesting to see if i bump into him again, this was walking on our green lane that extends past the farm so my daily walking route- haven't met him before ! I think it's that worry if my little boy was toddling about on the ground too, he would have been fully wiped out by the dog bounding about. There are so many people frightened of dogs , it's just common sense to pop them on a lead ( or so i thought !)

What an ass hole.

Having had time to stew on it, this is my conclusion ... hence the post really it's doing circles in my head !!

You could always try walking with a boat hook - 5-6 ft of solid wood with a curved/pointed metal piece on the end, to repel boarders. Excellent as a walking aid. It can be used single-handed with the handle wedged into the armpit to discourage rude animals, human or canine.

Like it ! I did use to walk her with a shooting stick, pointed at one end. A lot of the time you don't actually need to make contact with the dog with it, just tap the ground in front or stretch it outwards to get dog to back off. Although pointy end might have been useful for badly trained human.

See also: 'I can't train my dog for shit/can't be arsed having my arms pulled out on a lead/I have no concern for the welfare of my dog or anyone else's/I am a very lazy person'

Bet he lets it shit everywhere as well.

I don't doubt it, or picks the poo up then hangs the bag from a tree ?

I agree to some extent - I really dislike seeing cringing, fearful dogs out in busy public spaces with their yellow "I am a rescue" lead on (because that makes it ok doesn't it! Why do people do this?) - but the situation you describe is ridiculous. At the end of the day his dog was completely out of control, which is always unacceptable. To be honest, I think I would probably have given the Vizla a kick up the backside. I'm not surprised you were dumbfounded - stupid man. You can't reason with people that daft. Ratface's suggestion of taking a "walking aid" out on your strolls seems like an entirely sensible one!

Oh definitely that's no fun for anyone , especially the poor dogs.
I went home and rang a friend for a rant and she suggested maybe a muzzle for our labrador , but she isn't aggressive and I don't feel I should be the one to make changes. When something as simple as putting their dogs on a lead and basic training will stop the problem. To be honest this route is from our farm and loops round a green lane, we normally don't see anyone so it's not like im taking her to a dog park either then complaining....

As it would probably have been impossible to give the man a kick up the bum I’d have gone for the dog too. I’m more reactive than my dogs

I'm normally a small angry person, but I think i was so surprised by the stupidity my own brain faltered

 

[AmyMay]

You have no need to muzzle your dog, because of someone’s inability to train their dog. She did nothing wrong.

As for forming ‘words’. You just need to remember one well known phrase - ‘p!$$ off’

 

[Jenko109]

I would absolutely not be putting a muzzle on your lab.

 

[MurphysMinder]

My boot would have connected with the dog I'm afraid. Rude dogs tend to have rude owners, or is it the other way round.

 

[SDMabel]

You have no need to muzzle your dog, because of someone’s inabil to train their dog. She did nothing wrong.

As for forming ‘words’. You just need to remember one well known phrase - ‘p!$$ off’

Oh i certainly will not be muzzling her, she's a typical lab and loves to carry sticks, tennis balls etc on walks. Poor thing would be beside herself if she couldn't do that !!

My boot would have connected with the dog I'm afraid. Rude dogs tend to have rude owners, or is it the other way round.

Yes they certainly both were lacking in basic manners !!

 

[Btomkins]

My dog is the difficult one that would bound up to other dogs and bounce all over them and the owner with no manners given half a chance. Friendly, but no brains or recall and she’s big.

I therefore keep her on the lead and don’t allow her to do this, ever, simple! We are plugging away at her training but she’s just this way inclined, so that’s for me to deal with and sort, not for others to put up with.

Bloke is an idiot and would have gotten a mouthful from me. Taking some sort of walking stick out sounds like a great idea, hope you don’t bump into them again.

 

[CorvusCorax]

My young dog will go straight for another strange/rude dog's face now because of so many bad experiences. I will not muzzle her as it's not my problem if someone's dog gets close enough to her for her teeth to connect with them, it's theirs. She'll typically be between my legs or beside me on leash with me blocking her and I always shout at people to call their dogs if I can see one even thinking about barrelling over. So I've done all the mitigation, after that, it's up to them. They are the ones who care so little about their dogs that they expose them to harm.



She's a fun, happy little dog, she just doesn't want interactions with rude strangers.

 

[MurphysMinder]

My young dog will go straight for another strange/rude dog's face now because of so many bad experiences. I will not muzzle her as it's not my problem if someone's dog gets close enough to her for her teeth to connect with them, it's theirs. She'll typically be between my legs or beside me on leash with me blocking her and I always shout at people to call their dogs if I can see one even thinking about barrelling over. So I've done all the mitigation, after that, it's up to them. They are the ones who care so little about their dogs that they expose them to harm.



She's a fun, happy little dog, she just doesn't want interactions with rude strangers.

So far Zenya gets a little over excited sometimes when she sees another dog but I am usually able to get her to focus on me. I am dreading her having a bad experience with another dog invading her space, though it is probably inevitable. Then of course if she becomes reactive it will be her fault as a nasty GSD !

 

[CorvusCorax]

So far Zenya gets a little over excited sometimes when she sees another dog but I am usually able to get her to focus on me. I am dreading her having a bad experience with another dog invading her space, though it is probably inevitable. Then of course if she becomes reactive it will be her fault as a nasty GSD !

She's fine working/training when paired with another dog and has passed all her temperament/impartiality tests so far, at ID checks and presentations where there are loads of dogs. It's just around where I live/out on walks, which tells us something......

 

[Escapade]

The only thing to "sort out" is his ignorance to the possibility of his "friendly" dog being the direct cause of another's "not friendly"
That is up to himself, though

 

[ponyparty]

My young dog will go straight for another strange/rude dog's face now because of so many bad experiences. I will not muzzle her as it's not my problem if someone's dog gets close enough to her for her teeth to connect with them, it's theirs. She'll typically be between my legs or beside me on leash with me blocking her and I always shout at people to call their dogs if I can see one even thinking about barrelling over. So I've done all the mitigation, after that, it's up to them. They are the ones who care so little about their dogs that they expose them to harm.



She's a fun, happy little dog, she just doesn't want interactions with rude strangers.

Same with my boy. And then because he’s Black and Tan and resembles a small dobermann (to the untrained eye) I get “ooh, is he vicious?”. Like he’s the bad guy.

GAHHHH, people

 

[meleeka]

So far Zenya gets a little over excited sometimes when she sees another dog but I am usually able to get her to focus on me. I am dreading her having a bad experience with another dog invading her space, though it is probably inevitable. Then of course if she becomes reactive it will be her fault as a nasty GSD !

I do find people are generally more sensible with their out of control dogs when it’s a GSD on a lead. Mine is the same, just excitable, so she stays on a lead when in public. I’ve only had one dog be so stupid that it jumped on her. She thought it was a great game luckily, but the owner was terrified. He has kept his dog on a long line ever since.

 

[Esmae]

Glad that you are not inclined to muzzle your dog. She is allowed to defend herself after all. As far as pillockhead is concerned, had I been on the receiving end of that little performance, he would have had his fortune told to him very loudly in my very best Anglo Saxon! Ignorant pig! Where do folk get off? I did have to do this in the village I live in with a neighbour and his dog after a similar outburst. Unsurprisingly, like most bullies, he slunk off very quickly and the dog was always on a lead after that. He never spoke with me again after that, but he did learn how to behave. Can't abide a bully, never could. Hope you are okay op. Not something that you should have to put up with.

 

[Birker2020]

TW*T

 

[SDMabel]

My dog is the difficult one that would bound up to other dogs and bounce all over them and the owner with no manners given half a chance. Friendly, but no brains or recall and she’s big.

I therefore keep her on the lead and don’t allow her to do this, ever, simple! We are plugging away at her training but she’s just this way inclined, so that’s for me to deal with and sort, not for others to put up with.

Bloke is an idiot and would have gotten a mouthful from me. Taking some sort of walking stick out sounds like a great idea, hope you don’t bump into them again.

And that's the big difference here you are a responsible dog owner , if only everyone was like yourself !

Dogs are dogs, mines a grumpy anti-social cowbag, others are the life of the party. It's just down to use as owners to make sure neither upsets one another

 

[blackcob]

Any mention of 'he's only being friendly/just wants to say hi' or the 'well you shouldn't take your dog out if you have a problem' is a helpful marker that you are dealing with an unreasonable twat. It's a defense mechanism employed by those who can not or will not train or even more simply employ a lead on their unsocialised, oversexed and overindulged shitbag dogs. They cannot be reasoned with and often have no idea that their dog's behaviour is a problem, or are under the mistaken belief that their dog has some sort of right to roam and express itself however it likes, without consequence.

People like that ruined my small dog - they think it's hilarious when he reacts because he's small and bristly - and give me the fear when I'm out with a baby dog whose temperament I would very much like to preserve.

 

[SDMabel]

So far Zenya gets a little over excited sometimes when she sees another dog but I am usually able to get her to focus on me. I am dreading her having a bad experience with another dog invading her space, though it is probably inevitable. Then of course if she becomes reactive it will be her fault as a nasty GSD !

It's really interesting isn't it that people instantly stereotype on breeds... So because Molly is a Labrador , everyone assumes she must be friendly, when in reality she's a bit like me and not a fan of others.

Glad that you are not inclined to muzzle your dog. She is allowed to defend herself after all. As far as pillockhead is concerned, had I been on the receiving end of that little performance, he would have had his fortune told to him very loudly in my very best Anglo Saxon! Ignorant pig! Where do folk get off? I did have to do this in the village I live in with a neighbour and his dog after a similar outburst. Unsurprisingly, like most bullies, he slunk off very quickly and the dog was always on a lead after that. He never spoke with me again after that, but he did learn how to behave. Can't abide a bully, never could. Hope you are okay op. Not something that you should have to put up with.

I wouldn't dream of it, I'm fine more annoyed than anything as I've had time to think about it all. Good for you , these people definitely need telling !!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You need to change the narrative, rather than saying 'my dog isn't friendly' try ' your dog is rude'. Let the idiot justify his and his dog's behaviour, if he can.

 

[AmyMay]

It's really interesting isn't it that people instantly stereotype on breeds... So because Molly is a Labrador , everyone assumes she must be friendly, when in reality she's a bit like me and not a fan of others.

Well, yes. I mean obviously it’s wrong to assume, but people do. Certain breeds do have certain traits. And there are most definitely breeds I’m more relaxed around, and those I give a very wide birth to.

 

[cauda equina]

Any mention of 'he's only being friendly/just wants to say hi' or the 'well you shouldn't take your dog out if you have a problem' is a helpful marker that you are dealing with an unreasonable twat. It's a defense mechanism employed by those who can not or will not train or even more simply employ a lead on their unsocialised, oversexed and overindulged shitbag dogs. They cannot be reasoned with and often have no idea that their dog's behaviour is a problem, or are under the mistaken belief that their dog has some sort of right to roam and express itself however it likes, without consequence.

People like that ruined my small dog - they think it's hilarious when he reacts because he's small and bristly - and give me the fear when I'm out with a baby dog whose temperament I would very much like to preserve.

When men allow their dogs to behave like this under the banner of 'just being friendly' I always wonder what their own behaviour is like around people, particularly women
If they think it's ok for their dogs to behave in such a rude, in your face manner it's probably what they do themselves

 

[ArklePig]

I was just about to say it's always men isn't it, I've never had a female dog walker be aggressive or rude to me (an idiot yes, but not rude).

I brought Fodhla to the park this morning where a very young husky tried to pester her before I got between them. The owner ran up, grabbed him and said 'jeez I'm so embarrassed sorry about that' and put his lead on.

Dogs will not always do what we want or have trained them to do but it's how you deal with it/the other dog owner. He sounds like a rude entitled stupid arse and I hope for the dog's sake he cops on and gets some control before it actually bothers a dog who will have a stronger reaction than yours.

 

[EventingMum]

The words previous posters have used to describe this man are accurate. The dog wasn't even just trying to say hello, he tried to mount OP dog. Would it be acceptable to condone a teenage boy grabbing a girl in a sexual manner? OP I would report, the fact you got scratched and the possible consequences had you had your toddler with you show this is an accident waiting to happen.