Got told off by dog walker today

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Janah

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Was walking my dog on a lead back from the village on a country lane which traffic although sparse tends to hustle along.

saw a lady walking two dogs towards me, both dogs off lead. I called to her that my dog was not good with other dogs. Her dogs started across the lane and in front of her, I repeated my dog not good with other dogs and asked my dog to sit to get her full attention.

The lady proceeded to tell me that if her dog got bitten it would be there own fault!!

The dogs did back off though she didn't intervene, and I proceeded on my way only to have her call after me that I should have let them meet and my dog would never learn to mingle and I was wrong.

She doesn't know anything about my dog and the fact I have another at home so my dog does haven canine companionship, she is also very good with our cats and chickens.
Also any dog could feel threatened if couldn't get away when on a lead and no way did I want a vet bill if the worst happened.

Could have mentioned her dogs off the lead on a road was not clever but kept my mouth shut and walked on.

Sorry about odd words, on iPad
 
You were absolutely right in what you did - she was a muppet. I frequently meet similar muppets when I am walking my dogs, I do wonder about the intelligence of people who let their small ratty terriers run up to my muzzled, on-a-lead big greyhound who is making it absolutely clear that he would like said terrier for his tea thank you.....

Or there are the other kind, who when I said 'my dogs are not dog friendly' reply to me 'oh dont worry, it is his fault if he gets bitten' - well, like you OP, I dont want a vets bill so I am not going to let that happen! When I said that very firmly to the last owner who tried it she looked most affronted :p
 
Yep this makes me particularly wild too; I know that my terrier is protective over his bitch and that he'd slice up anything that came near her, AND also be protecting me as "pack leader", so WHY stooopid people let their precious pooches run up to mine, when I've got them on a lead and have given a verbal warning, beggars belief TBH.

Friend has an idea; she tells people "don't let your dogs come up to mine like that, coz mine have got something infectious"........ works a treat apparently.
 
Drives me nuts that people let their off leash dogs race up to other dogs. . A few months ago I was walking my Alaskan Malamute in a dog walking area local to me, on his leash, when I saw a woman with a small pointer type dog, off leash. She allowed her dog to race up to mine - Korben stopped, stood stock still, straightened his tail and lifted his head. Her dog ran over, had a sniff and growled at Korben who was still stood stock still clearly unsure of the other dogs intentions. She then walked up to me and seemed very pleased giving her doggy lots of praise - I was a little confused at which point she told me that her dog had been neutered a few weeks ago as he had aggression issues with other dogs and that she had basically allowed him to run up to my dog as a test to see if he would be aggressive :O I very politely advised her that I didn't appreciate my dog being used as a test subject for a dog with know aggression issues - she had no idea how my dog was going to react and she was lucky that hes not a typical Malamute or her dog may not have been so fortunate. I also suggested that perhaps a better way of controlling her aggressive animal was to keep it on a leash. She seemed rather indignant and couldn't see what I was making a fuss over - idiot of a woman!!
 
I am pleased none of you think I did anything wrong. If I want to get my dog more socialised I would do it in a controlled manner with a proper trainer though we are happy as we are and she thinks she is guarding me. The other thing is if my dog had gone for the other dogs they could become aggressive as in I will get my sixpenneth in first next time.

By the way she is a Labrador.
 
I have two greyhounds and one is very aggressive if another dog runs up to her. I think it's a case of bite before you get bitten with her. After having hassle numerous times with different dog owners, I telephoned the dog warden. I was very surprised to find out that I would be responsible if my dog bit theirs as mine should be muzzled. I think it is grossly unfair that my dog should have to wear a muzzle just because other dog owners don't prevent their dogs from running up to mine!
 
There's always one...! I was looking after a friend's dog for the day a few months ago and took him to the local heath - he roams further than my dog, so we were being cautious about having them off the lead, and popped them back on if we were in any doubt. We saw an older couple, followed very closely by a woman with two dogs whilst we had our pair on the lead, and in the confined space of the path decided to keep hold of the boys, as they are both bouncy spaniels and I could see them knocking these walkers flat (needless to say, they made no effort to recall their dogs and stop them coming over to ours...) The woman proceeded to lecture us about how 'we should always let them off the lead, then they'll choose to come back to you'. Yeeees... after my lad has flattened a little old lady with his bouncing and my mate's dog has had a few dozen phessies for his tea, I'm sure they would - assuming they didn't get lost or end up under a car, or shot, or in a snare (as that part of the heath borders onto a private shooting estate they may well have had snares out etc), I'm sure they would 'choose' to come back... probably...

Couldn't even be bothered to argue, just smiled, nodded and kept going until we found somewhere safe and suitable for the boys to have a run. :rolleyes:
 
Yes, this running up thing gets my goat big time. My GSD big lad was 12 weeks when he was savaged by BIL's cairn terrier. He was scared of other dogs after that. I tried to socialise him in a controlled environment where he'd be safe, only to have a stupid b**** allow her black lab to pelt flat out up to him from a full field away, no attempt to call back, and then proceed to chase my lad in circles round me. He was 16 weeks at that point. He broke my finger when I tried to catch hold of him (he was on lead), he even released his anal glands he was so scared. She sauntered over without a word, not even a quick walk. It ruined everything for my big lad. He doesn't bite other dogs although he does take up an aggressive posture if they are right in his space. However, he will NOT turn his back on them under any circumstances, so no recall (although he will sit). To this day I'm furious that I didn't whack that dog with a big stick - and maybe the stupid woman as well - and no, I won't take that back! So no OP I think you were absolutely right and she's an idiot.

As an aside, I saw in my vets the other day a promotion for a yellow ribbon - the yellow ribbon says 'please don't approach my dog'. This could be for a number of reasons as per their noticeboard - in training, contagious, dog-aggressive - I think this is a good idea and probably should get some promotion.
 
Interestingly my dog has only actually fought with one other and that being a full sister but a different litter who had come back to her breeder while her owners were on holiday. I used to walk out with the breeder and their dogs. No damage done but lots of blood from bleeding gums, from both dogs, more noise than anything. It was hate on sight, I have no idea why.

I have only known her to upend other dogs other than the one incident. Caught me out when she was very young, apologised profusely at the time, I was mortified and made sure never happened again. I don't let my girls off lead if other dogs are about, I err on the side of caution.

I really don't expect loose dogs with owner in attendance, to approach on a road!!!

I will get a yellow ribbon, the girls will love 'dressing up'.

Sadken that sounds awful.
 
What an idiot! The only thing worse than unsolicited, wrong advice about dogs is unsolicited, wrong advice about parenting.

Next time tell her that you hope she has really good public liability insurance.
 
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