Fuming!

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Can just see the headlines.

Toddler Licked By Labrador. Parents Distressed Over Soggy Child.

This made me laugh out loud

I always put my dogs on the lead when I meet others - it is very intimidating for any dog to be greeted by 3 enthusiastic and very friendly greyhound bitches, who mean absolutely no harm and would never hurt another dog, but simply want to say hello then move on My greyhound dog is another matter, he is always muzzled and usually stays on the lead if I know there are other dog walkers around as he is not comfortable with other dogs that are not greyhounds - after 5 1/2 years on the track he is a bit institutionalised

 

[Arizahn]

Whilst I agree with those posters who say that dogs are generally better when off lead, I totally sympathise with the OP here. She like me has GSDs, and I think owners of this and other larger breeds always have to err on the side of caution, otherwise the slightest incident would have our dogs tarred as "dangerous". My dogs are always on lead in areas where I am likely to meet other dogs, and on many occasions we have had other dogs rushing up, some no doubt are being friendly, but often their whole body posture is anything but, and sometimes they are downright aggressive. I carry a pet corrector spray, and have used it a couple of times.
SnowonSnow, in the incident you describe I would have been furious. I rent a field adjoining my own with a footpath through it, I take my dogs in there off lead but do always have a rope lead in my pocket and keep an eye open for other people and dogs. However in my own fields the dogs run free and I am not always totally supervising them (e.g. mucking out the field shelter). if someone came in there with their dogs (which is unlikely as it is pretty well fenced) they would have left fairly quickly I suspect before I got chance to say anything.

I am always happy to meet large off lead dogs. They tend to have far better manners than the tiny handbag types, and are less inclined to random nastiness. Sorry you have to worry about breed discrimination.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I've also had to worry about breed discrimination!

My last two males have not been particularly social, for varying reasons, but it's up to me to control things. My older dog was more stressed out by other dogs so I had to step up and let him know he did not have to worry. I never let it get to the stage where he felt he had to defend himself.

My young dog is just a bit of a raker. He was very well socialised. He is OK with most dogs but if they are rude he will have a go back so I keep him on a lead where there are going to be lots of dogs so as not to let a situation happen that does not need to happen. I never want to be 'the girl with the fierce Alsatian' because that is all people will see, no matter who or what started things.

He often gets harangued by a pack of three bichons which come charging up to him barking and once they even hung off his back legs while he looked on bemused. I met them a while ago and got so annoyed I said to his owner 'that wouldn't be funny if it was the other way around'.
I met them again on Boxing Day and the owner said 'it's OK, they'll just walk on' - well, no, one of them came after him barking.

He's been attacked while biking with me several times, last week a pack of lurchers and collies came running towards us barking, I just took a deep breath and cycled through them without stopping and he didn't bat an eyelid.

I used to get very stressed out about things and rant on here sometimes but as mentioned, that never helps, quite the opposite! Now I just try and keep moving and keep businesslike, the more we fuss I think the worse it makes them.

 

[NellRosk]

I hope it's not bad training and down to me, my dog was extremely well socialised as a pup but whenever she is on the lead she gets very defensive and is actually a lot more likely to attack a dog. So I much prefer to have her off the lead when out on a walk (if I'm off the road obviously). She has NEVER gone for a dog when able to run about in her own free space. We tried to adopt a rescue dog but wasn't allowed because Ruby went for it when I was putting her lead on. Bloody dog

 

[MagicMelon]

This is why we no longer take my other halfs folks dog out on nice walks, he goes for walks in his forest so it's fine - but we did enjoy taking him to the beach etc. for a while until too many people left their dogs off leads, because he hated other dogs rushing up to him and would be aggressive if he felt the need (only to other dogs), he was socialised as a puppy but he's always been an anxious sort of dog. So we kept him on a lead at all times, but sadly we can't stop other peoples dogs rushing over even when we shout to the owners. People forget that not all dogs are friendly with others, I actually find it pretty rude that people leave their dogs off lead, I don't fancy strange dogs running up to me either! My own dog is kept on a lead when we're out even though she's the friendliest dog.

 

[Spook]

Can just see the headlines.

Toddler Licked By Labrador. Parents Distressed Over Soggy Child.

But it was not the toddler......the dog had knocked the toddler down before pretty much getting in over the pushchair with the younger child in it, a baby. And it was a big Labrador dog.

I hear that there is to be a consultation here in Scotland regarding dogs and their control in public places...... it is recognised that there is a growing problem.

 

[SadKen]

Confused.

The Akita was a friendly and social dog.

Your dog was not and you increased your dog's stress level with your reaction.

Ptolemy speaks sense.

I'd have to disagree here (and to the two earlier posts along the same lines). I have 2 GSDs. Big lad is not 'unfriendly' but is uncomfortable at other dogs in his space. Little one is very friendly and bouncy, and remained so during the whole event. I had both in a sit with me standing at their backs, so the leads were both loose. This is our standard routine for when we meet other dogs. I only lost my rag when the other owner didn't make any effort to recover her dog, at which point mine had already reacted.

I've treated both the same way from day one. I think big lad being unhappy at having others in his space is a personality thing. He's fine if he can walk (even a short distance) with every other dog I've introduced him to (belonging to friends), he's very playful off lead although he is clearly a bit unsure at first.

The problem is, that in this case I don't know the other dog and I don't know the other owner. I can't rely on a recommendation of friendliness from someone I don't know, and I won't trust the word of a woman swigging cider who has no recall. You wouldn't allow your kids to play with the local weirdo because his mum says he's OK! I could risk it, but why should I? My dogs aren't working dogs doing a job - they are part of my family.

I've always put my two on lead to pass anyone - dog, human, unaccompanied human... they are so big that they are intimidating, especially to small children and mums of small children! I sometimes make an exception for lone males when I'm on my own, when my two will go to heel as an escort.

I don't want to be 'girl with out of control GSD'. I want people to think mine are good, well behaved dogs who give a good impression of the breed. I'd be mortified if they were approaching people or dogs without my permission, and I don't think the same courtesy is too much to ask.

Thanks to those who shared their experiences (made me feel better!) and those who gave views on a suitable deterrent, that was definitely food for thought.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

I have mixed feelings on this as I have had two dogs that weren't very sociable and to be honest were a pain to walk anywhere where we may encounter other dogs so walked in out of the way places to ensure we met as few dogs as possible and usually managed our daily walks without encountering any other dogs. When we lost them due to old age and had our spaniels we decided that we would not let that happen again and socialized them with other dogs as much as possible. We are now able to walk anywhere with the two dogs loose at all times, their recall is excellent and always walk to heel when asked to do so. If another dog approaches them aggressively they are told to ignore and so far, the oldest is 9, we have not encountered any problems. So as I said in two minds about this as obviously the owners of the Akita should have had much more control over their dog but OP your dog needs to be more socialised if you intend walking it where there are other dogs.

 

[CorvusCorax]

SK, hope I am not teaching granny to suck eggs but I always try to keep moving forwards with dogs, especially 'looky' dogs like GSDs, rather than making them sit and possibly creating a Mexican stand-off.
When you are moving along briskly, dogs have less chance to eyeball each other and a situation is much less likely to be created - as mentioned in my bike post, if I had sat, made my dog sit, there would have been a bunfight, for sure. I just kept going and nothing happened. Same as with a spooky horse, forwards! And it tends to make me calmer as well. If I sit tight and wait for something to happen, it usually will!
Also, if they are sat and you are *behind* them as opposed to beside or in front, you are putting them in the forward position therefore they may feel more insecure/in the position where they feel the need to protect themselves or you. My last dog, I had to stand in front of, so he did not feel so exposed or at risk.

 

[dogatemysalad]

SK, hope I am not teaching granny to suck eggs but I always try to keep moving forwards with dogs, especially 'looky' dogs like GSDs, rather than making them sit and possibly creating a Mexican stand-off.
When you are moving along briskly, dogs have less chance to eyeball each other and a situation is much less likely to be created - as mentioned in my bike post, if I had sat, made my dog sit, there would have been a bunfight, for sure. I just kept going and nothing happened. Same as with a spooky horse, forwards! And it tends to make me calmer as well. If I sit tight and wait for something to happen, it usually will!
Also, if they are sat and you are *behind* them as opposed to beside or in front, you are putting them in the forward position therefore they may feel more insecure/in the position where they feel the need to protect themselves or you. My last dog, I had to stand in front of, so he did not feel so exposed or at risk.

Spot on, CC.

 

[Ptolemy]

I'd have to disagree here (and to the two earlier posts along the same lines). I have 2 GSDs. Big lad is not 'unfriendly' but is uncomfortable at other dogs in his space. Little one is very friendly and bouncy, and remained so during the whole event. I had both in a sit with me standing at their backs, so the leads were both loose. This is our standard routine for when we meet other dogs. I only lost my rag when the other owner didn't make any effort to recover her dog, at which point mine had already reacted.

The problem is, by the time the other dog got to your space, the situation had already been created, whether you realise it or not. Your dogs were already primed to defend their space because firstly, you had created a 'space', and secondly, you were tense and anticipating trouble.

As CaveCanem said, had you just relaxed and walked on then your dog's reaction (or lack thereof) would probably have been a whole lot different. Your dogs will draw their mood from you, the 'pack leader'.

As for the comparison between random dogs and "some local weirdo", I really don't know what to say to that.

 

[SadKen]

SK, hope I am not teaching granny to suck eggs but I always try to keep moving forwards with dogs, especially 'looky' dogs like GSDs, rather than making them sit and possibly creating a Mexican stand-off.
When you are moving along briskly, dogs have less chance to eyeball each other and a situation is much less likely to be created - as mentioned in my bike post, if I had sat, made my dog sit, there would have been a bunfight, for sure. I just kept going and nothing happened. Same as with a spooky horse, forwards! And it tends to make me calmer as well. If I sit tight and wait for something to happen, it usually will!
Also, if they are sat and you are *behind* them as opposed to beside or in front, you are putting them in the forward position therefore they may feel more insecure/in the position where they feel the need to protect themselves or you. My last dog, I had to stand in front of, so he did not feel so exposed or at risk.

Makes sense CC, thanks - I will try this next time. I've just always put them in a sit to wait, but admittedly that started with our old GSD who wasn't remotely bothered by other dogs. I did it with him as due to bad experiences a lot of people in our village were frightened of GSDs and it showed he was under control. I used to run with big lad - maybe I'll start doing that again as I'm not stopping once I'm going!

 

[Jola]

I have 2 very friendly dogs with an ok recall (they come back unless there is something more interesting lol!)
However they are very friendly and mostly ignore other dogs unless that dog wants to play. The worst situation we come across is a shouty owner telling me to put them on the lead - the shouting makes my dogs think there is something more interesting going on and they will go on over!!