Grrr - dogs on leads and being in no way subtle...

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bex1984

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GRRRRR!!! Why do other dog owners just not understand that not every dog wants to be approached by their dog when on a lead?!

Took Stan for a nice walk this evening, walked along the river and due to lots of ducks he was on lead. Other person approaches, walking large dog on flexi lead. On noting that she didn't seem to be reeling large dog in, I went off the path, as far away as possible, called stan to heel, and distracted him with a ball (thanks to you lot for reminder of this tactic on my other post BTW - situation today would have been a lot worse without it). Next thing I know, large dog is wrapping itself and bloofy flexi lead around me and Stan, while owner grins like a gormless idiot.

Clearly, walking away, calling my dog to heel and very obviously distracting him was not enough of a subtle hint to keep large dog away. Never mind the fact that I am also 7 months preggers and don't really want a flexi lead wrapped around me. Had i not had the ball, Stan would have made a scene and I would have been tangled up in the middle of it.

I was remarkably calm and just shook my head in disbelief and got out of the way before I threw a wobbly (pregnant woman wobbly = serious wobbly). I was also trying to stay calm for Stan's sake.

Grrrr. Next time I shall jump up and down squealing and shouting "don't come near me, he's vicious, vicious I tell you!".
 
My MIL is very successful at keeping strange dogs and their even stranger owners away by yelling profanities. Not the way I deal with things, but if your interested in going down that route I recommend the book Rogers Profanisauras Rex, it has some delightful suggestions for name-calling.;):D
 
I have an 8year old rottie bitch that had a poor start in life and as a results is an asbo with other dogs. I cant take her to parks or fields anymore as so many idiots allow there dogs to come over without any consideration. When i say excuse me can you get your dog away i normally get the reply "Oh my dogs ok", well yeah but my dog isnt!!! I stick to pavement/road walking now! xx
 
Did you ask the dog owner to keep their dog away? I am trying to socialise my reactive-on-lead dog and where i walk her near I live I have to walk her on the lead really as she likes to chase small furries amdcan cover a lot of ground in a short time and there's just too many roads. So, as a result she's on the lead. We meet a fair few other dog walkers and i will ask them if she can say "hello" (she can make a scene, barking and pulling tobe near the the other dog). I am trying to improve her way of approaching dogs and greeting them by asking other people's permission - it's common courtesy.

We have an older dog who can be a misery with other dogs and we do let people know of their dog comes over. However,I always (rightly or wrongly) assume if their dog is off the lead, it's not going to cause trouble and, if mine does have a pop at it then it would submit.

maybe I am wrong? I think though in your situation the owner had the dog on the lead so had the opportunity to control it. I do think sometimes though there has to be understanding on both sides. Just because someone has a friendly dog and may not be a dpg 'expert' as such doesn't automatically make them an idiot. They just may not know or expect that another dog could be aggressive or reactive as maybe they've neverhad a dog like that.

I do think sometimes, the benefit of doubt and maybe a little polite education is better than getting stroppy, upset or cursing at others.
 
I have a 14yr old collie bitch. She's always warned other dogs that she IS the top dog, by snapping and making a god awful yelp to go with it.

I always make a point of putting her on the lead when I see other dogs coming and I make sure she's on a short lead at my heal.

I hate having my poor old girl harassed by over excitable dogs who can't be controlled.
And why do people always look shocked?! "My dog is fine" "My dog isn't, she's old, deaf and a bit blind. She may snap if she feels threatened" yet they STILL let their dog come at mine!!!
The amount of times I've had to place myself between an over friendly dog and my girl.
 
twiglet84 said:
I cant take her to parks or fields anymore as so many idiots allow there dogs to come over without any consideration. When i say excuse me can you get your dog away i normally get the reply "Oh my dogs ok", well yeah but my dog isnt!!! I stick to pavement/road walking now! xx
Click to expand...

I'm the same with Zak: I tend to tell people if I see their loose dog. I'd rather he didn't attack the dog!
 
I have to keep one of our lurchers on the lead (he was a stray & is fear aggressive), I always tell people with loose dogs that he's not good with other dogs if they are making a beeline for him but the huffs and looks I get are unbelievable - when I said this to a couple yesterday with 2 setters heading straight over to him they made such a big deal about it I ended up saying 'well I'm very sorry but he does have to be walked, I can't just keep him in my garden!!!'. Makes me so cross, am only trying to protect their dogs, people should have more sense and more manners in my opinion! :)
 
Unfortunately the owners of dogs are often idiots....... a pity but they are. Or blinded to their mutts misdemeaners.
 
I must be just lucky where I live then as I have not met any numpties and most people understand dogs are dogs and some are not as friendly as others but yet not 100% of the time can someone get their dog back to them immediately. I do think that sometimes a littel bit of understanding from all sides would make for much more pleasnat dog walking and maybe if people took a little time to explain to others why their dog reacts in such a way could be helpful.

i am pretty sure some people round me think mine's the 'asbo dog' as she does the big "I am" act as she's nervous but i generally explain to them she is not aggressive, just scared and that's her way of coping and so far most people I've met have been understanding and we've stopped and had a chat and they've got to know her a bit.
 
Mines friendly & obedient but he always get told to 'leave' any other dogs, on or off lead until I've spoken to the owners & found out if theirs is friendly.
 
I have to say I always feel awful with nanook. He's awesome with other dogs but so boisterous and if they approach before I notice he will try to play or chase their dog (not in a nasty way) and I feel like a numpty trying to extract him from the play. If I spot the other dog first he's put on a lead obviously but sometimes I don't see them coming up round the corner etc. It happened today with the OH and a black lab. Keeping him away from other dogs makes meeting dogs worse as its even more exciting. So I never really get annoyed at other friendly dogs as I know how it feels to have an unruly one!
 
That has to be my least favorite phrase ever... "It is okay, my dog is friendly". The worst case of this I've experienced is when my old Lab, who has since left us, was on his lead crossing a park and a younger man and his dog came through. His dog was off its lead, and came barrelling toward us. Bailey watched him but didn't make any more toward it, and then came the '"he's friendly" about two seconds before it latched onto the back of Bailey's neck! Cid barks at bigger dogs, so I too am fond of the ball distraction. Cid will do anything to play with his tennis ball, even leave other dogs alone! Loki on the other hand is another of the "I want to play chase" dogs off lead, so when we take him to run free I make sure to put him back on his as soon as I see another dog come in. Some people get mad if their dog is also roaming and playing, and my dogs dare to try and play too. I find it easier to just keep them on leads until the other owners give the word that playtime is fine! I never let mine bother other dogs on leads because it drives me bonkers when others do it to mine.
 
I know where you're coming from, although I completely understand that it doesn't sink in with people that your dog may be on lead for a reason, but if you are quite obviously trying to avoid the approaching dog (which is sounds like you did), it's not rocket science - something is up and you should probably reel your dog in however "friendly"!!!

I've had this problem, alot, in the past. I changed my walking route though and people are brilliant with clipping their dogs on lead if they see me putting a lead on mine. I've been mega impressed I have to say :D
 
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