Frustrating.

AShetlandBitMeOnce

AShetlandBitMeOnce

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Can't help but despair when someone at work describes their new-ish 2yo rescue dog having fun playing in the park, and is completely outraged that another dog snapped and bit him.. I ask how the dog was playing - by running up to sniff their face, jump on top of them and rear up over them, chasing them and running in front of them (oh and his tail is naturally stiff and upright - that's just because he's a lab)..

Now, hold my hands up, I am no expert! But apparently this isn't a textbook display of attempted dominance by a badly socialised dog, but 'just a game' - how dare I suggest otherwise! :rolleyes:

Rant over, promise!
 
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Ok. So tell your colleague to imagine some complete stranger running up to them in the park, sniffing their face, try and jump up for a piggy back, push and jostle them, and then follow them around and try to trip them up.

First, they would tell the stranger to eff off. Then they would probably punch them.

And that's exactly what the other dog did. And it's entirely the lab owner's fault for allowing it to happen.
 
I have a neighbour like this. Just because their dog wouldn’t be aggressive they think it’s ok for them to act that way. They firmly believe that people not letting their dogs run riot is why there are so many unsocialised dogs with problems these days. I’ve given up trying to reason with them.
 
My dogs have zero tolerance for impolite approaches. The bigger GSD x Rottie has been in a fair number of fights over years despite always being on lead. Other dogs just make a beeline for her and while she would never start a fight, she certainly knows how to finish one. That's made me more confident in telling other owners, but also other dogs, STOP! ... My terrier WOULD be a scrapper if given half a chance but thankfully we were able to teach him impulse control sufficiently that he can be off lead and under control. If I see a leaded dog, he is always put on lead because you just never know and I'm not sure he could resist a bouncing barking scrapper!
 
paisley said:
Don't worry. Its because he's a rescue! This explanation for any behvaiour you like is good for at least another 8 or 9 years or so :p
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The following is a reason not an excuse for people who say their dog is a rescue when apologising for behaviour (there are plenty of badly behaved ill trained dogs that people have had from a pup - who apologises for them and what is their excuse/reason?).

When people adopt a pre owned dog, in addition to training a reasonable level of obedience, they also often have to contend with the failures of the previous owners and try to extinguish well practised, previously rewarded, unwanted behaviours - this doesn't happen overnight. I prefer to have some training and attention in place before allowing off leash but for many of us adopting a deliquent, or previously f**cked up dog, is a steep learning curve.

I have just adopted my 10th pre loved, discarded dog. In addition to these 10, years ago, I previously bought puppy so I know what a difference that makes.

Slightly off topic. Genetics and breed traits aside, when starting with a puppy you have a blank slate to train and mould. Why then are the rescue centres are full of dogs that puppy buyers have screwed up?
 
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Unfortunately there are people who just let their dog do whatever it wants/make no attempt to fix behaviour 'because he's a rescue'. And I know people who have two dogs that they claim are rescues, when I know for a fact, they were bought and paid for from a non-terrible breeder. It can be used, sadly, as an excuse for poor training/to illicit sympathy or to used as currency :(
I did actually point this out to these people (er, didn't you get them from Joe Bloggs?!) and was told 'well, we consider them rescued'.

As is common in these threads, I don't think anyone minds genuine balls-ups, we've all had them and I think most of us would have the decency to be mortified/hugely apologetic, it's the people that can't see beyond the end of their own nose and think that everything is just fine, who are the problem.
 
skinnydipper said:
The following is a reason not an excuse for people who say their dog is a rescue when apologising for behaviour (there are plenty of badly behaved ill trained dogs that people have had from a pup - who apologises for them and what is their excuse/reason?).

When people adopt a pre owned dog, in addition to training a reasonable level of obedience, they also often have to contend with the failures of the previous owners and try to extinguish well practised, previously rewarded, unwanted behaviours - this doesn't happen overnight. I prefer to have some training and attention in place before allowing off leash but for many of us adopting a deliquent, or previously f**cked up dog, is a steep learning curve.

I have just adopted my 10th pre loved, discarded dog. In addition to these 10, years ago, I previously bought puppy so I know what a difference that makes.

Slightly off topic. Genetics and breed traits aside, when starting with a puppy you have a blank slate to train and mould. Why then are the rescue centres are full of dogs that puppy buyers have screwed up?
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I have genuine admiration for the responsible dedicated people who rehome such dogs, and it can be very obvious when you meet the dogs that the owners are making huge efforts for re-education. I've got all the time in the world for them, and have been more than happy to go on walks with them if that helps. But there are more than a few that use the rescue card to not bother, and thats their choice.
 
I’m sure you’ll all be astonished to hear that I have zero tolerance for a badly behaved rescue, in the same way as I have zero tolerance for a badly behaved dog which has been owned from a puppy 😛

Clearly when you take on a new rescue there is a period of adjustment and re-training, that’s a given. But it is your responsibility as the new owner NOT to put your dog into situations where poor behaviour can show itself in an uncontrolled way.

IMO you will need to expose the rescue dog to some ‘stimuli’ (e.g. small fluffies for a greyhound off the track) in a controlled and safe manner so you can work with the dog to reward good behaviour etc etc. But that doesn’t mean allowing your dog off the lead (muzzled or not) to ‘play’ with the small fluffies as the greyhound would like 😄
 
Last week I had to transport a friends dog to the vet (emergency appointment). Whilst in the waiting room, we had seen the vet and were waiting for her to talk to the referral centre, a lady walks in with her spaniel on the end of s flexi. She seems to think it is acceptable for her dog to dive up to Rufus and try to jump on him. I politely asked her to pull her dog back as Rufus wasn’t well and in a lot of pain. She gave me a really sour look. Surely you don’t let your dog dive out whilst in the vets when there are poorly animals there. 😡
 
CorvusCorax said:
Unfortunately there are people who just let their dog do whatever it wants/make no attempt to fix behaviour 'because he's a rescue'. And I know people who have two dogs that they claim are rescues, when I know for a fact, they were bought and paid for from a non-terrible breeder. It can be used, sadly, as an excuse for poor training/to illicit sympathy or to used as currency :(
I did actually point this out to these people (er, didn't you get them from Joe Bloggs?!) and was told 'well, we consider them rescued'.

As is common in these threads, I don't think anyone minds genuine balls-ups, we've all had them and I think most of us would have the decency to be mortified/hugely apologetic, it's the people that can't see beyond the end of their own nose and think that everything is just fine, who are the problem.
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I need to practise grovelling apologies because I feel sure this one is going to embarrass me when I eventually allow her off lead ;)
 
I walk a medium sized dog for a lady who has a daughter who is unwell and he couldn't care less about other dogs, has brilliant recall and loves to be off the lead - so that is what we do when it is appropriate.

Interestingly he ignored the little dog who ran circles around him, barking and growling for probably a good 25 meters away from it's owners who had no control whatsoever ( I guess because it was just excited/playful energy rather than challenging/disrespectful behaviour?); yet any dog who shows the above rude behaviour will get a bark/snap (although never makes real contact) and basically tell them to F off. Rightly or wrongly, I have absolutely no issue with allowing him to do this, it is one way for a dog, and hopefully owners, to learn that it is not acceptable behaviour. He is never out of reach of me if there are lots of other dogs around, so it would only happen if another dog approaches him.

Re: the dog I mentioned in my OP - I will send the video onto them in an email and see if it makes any difference. I am on good terms with them so they shouldn't take it too badly, but I can't imagine they will listen - they never do with anything else!
 
satinbaze said:
Last week I had to transport a friends dog to the vet (emergency appointment). Whilst in the waiting room, we had seen the vet and were waiting for her to talk to the referral centre, a lady walks in with her spaniel on the end of s flexi. She seems to think it is acceptable for her dog to dive up to Rufus and try to jump on him. I politely asked her to pull her dog back as Rufus wasn’t well and in a lot of pain. She gave me a really sour look. Surely you don’t let your dog dive out whilst in the vets when there are poorly animals there. 😡
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..... and why would she want her dog to potentially pick up infection from other dogs in the waiting room. Aside from routine vaccination dogs are generally at the vets because they are unwell in some way.
 
satinbaze said:
Last week I had to transport a friends dog to the vet (emergency appointment). Whilst in the waiting room, we had seen the vet and were waiting for her to talk to the referral centre, a lady walks in with her spaniel on the end of s flexi. She seems to think it is acceptable for her dog to dive up to Rufus and try to jump on him. I politely asked her to pull her dog back as Rufus wasn’t well and in a lot of pain. She gave me a really sour look. Surely you don’t let your dog dive out whilst in the vets when there are poorly animals there. 😡
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I’d never let my dog even sniff another at the vets. I always think what if they have something contagious?!
 
When I worked in day practices I saw gobs of dogs on flexi-leads attached to harnesses. The owners had no control. I'm glad I'm now working graveyard in the ER of a specialty hospital.
 
satinbaze said:
Last week I had to transport a friends dog to the vet (emergency appointment). Whilst in the waiting room, we had seen the vet and were waiting for her to talk to the referral centre, a lady walks in with her spaniel on the end of s flexi. She seems to think it is acceptable for her dog to dive up to Rufus and try to jump on him. I politely asked her to pull her dog back as Rufus wasn’t well and in a lot of pain. She gave me a really sour look. Surely you don’t let your dog dive out whilst in the vets when there are poorly animals there. 😡
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This happened to me last week when Peril was due a post op check for her punctured foot. Very lovely but clearly very itchy, red and sore white Spaniel comes out of the consulting room on flexi lead, owner approaches reception desk to pay, dog flexes up to Peril, I gently push dog away but it leans into me and gets too close for comfort, I push it away again but can only achieve an arms length of distance, Peril has stitches in foot and is sore so will not welcome the attention but is too good natured to tell dog to fog off, receptionist asks owner if vet has discovered what is causing the dogs itchiness, owner loud whispers "I'm so embarrassed, she's absolutely riddled with fleas". I cough loudly and ask her if she wouldn't mind reeling in her dog (complete with fleas). Really!! Peril checked with fine tooth comb for fleas on return home! What is wrong with people?
 
Shady said:
I particularly like the vets where none of the dogs are on leads and none of the cats are in boxes.
They are a ' unique experience':eek:
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I had a woman do this with an enormous ragdoll cat once, insistent that he would stay quietly in her arms until their appointment. That might have been the case, were it not for the three rampant golden retrievers (owner far too posh to use a lead, raaaaaah, they're gundogs don'tcherknow) that I knew were about to swarm out of the consulting room, jump all over the furniture, piss on every surface and probably eat the sodding cat

I am no longer client facing. :p
 
blackcob said:
I had a woman do this with an enormous ragdoll cat once, insistent that he would stay quietly in her arms until their appointment. That might have been the case, were it not for the three rampant golden retrievers (owner far too posh to use a lead, raaaaaah, they're gundogs don'tcherknow) that I knew were about to swarm out of the consulting room, jump all over the furniture, piss on every surface and probably eat the sodding cat

I am no longer client facing. :p
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LOLOLOL!
Although I have to say my dobie x, in Australia, loathes the vet to the very core of his being, ever since they stuck a thermometer in without so much as a by your leave! He ALWAYS used to pee on his way back out to the car, and it was a proper protest leg cock.
 
Thankfully, ours have only been to the vets for routine stuff, so I always book the latest appt, and it’s usually pretty quiet when we get there. Both dogs are kept on short leads though and we sit out of the way.

When we’re out walking, Bo is off lead as much as possible as he’s lead reactive. We are going lead walks once a week, and he’s a lot better. If I see other dogs that are on lead, or get put on lead, I always call him over and pop his lead on unless told not to worry. He is also put on the lead is we see horses. Luna is always on lead as her prey drive is so high, and likewise, if I see someone else go to put the lead on, I tell them not to worry unless they want to. Our morning walk is usually at about 5.30, and I rarely see anyone else, in the evenings, it depends on the weather as to how busy the forest is 🤣
 
Bear will tell off a dog that comes up in an invasive manner. I am not happy that he does this and if I say his name, he will not do anything, but I was even unhapppier with the owner who said 'OH, it's OK,he'll teach my dog a lesson'. It's not my dog's job to bloody well teach your dog to stop approaching unknown dogs, it's yours, you idiot!
 
Frequently experiencing a veterinary waiting room will not inspire your faith in humanity as a species or in the existence of common sense. It's a miracle there aren't more fights and eaten/lost cats to be honest. And yes both of those things have been known to occur. Given how few people actual can control their dogs with or without a leash and how many cat owners think it's a good idea to carry a cat rather then use a carrier it's actual less common then you'd think....but that's usually down to the reception staff interventions and their uncanny ability to sense trouble. If you're you have look you will discover a sign on almost every vets waiting room wall saying dogs are to be a leash under control and all cats in carriers. Purely to cover for the eventual tragic event that's waiting to happen when clients decide they know best and chose not to follow said rule....it happens. And it's generally seen as the vet practices fault when it occurs.
 
Clodagh said:
LOLOLOL!
Although I have to say my dobie x, in Australia, loathes the vet to the very core of his being, ever since they stuck a thermometer in without so much as a by your leave! He ALWAYS used to pee on his way back out to the car, and it was a proper protest leg cock.
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A very similar experience, at 6 months of age, put our Rotter off vets forever - she is sure they are all depraved!
 
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