Irresponsible Owners

[P3LH]

Regretfully I was one today! Picking burrs from elderly rough collies fluffy trousers and youngest’s lead slipped out of my hand - he took himself off tearing around after a standard poodle, barking his head off and being bratty! Apologised profusely but felt awful! I don’t know how others, for whom this is every day, have such brass necks! It ruined my walk!

 

[fiwen30]

Is this the thread which is also for terrible dog adverts? Have quite lost track.

’Cavacockerpoochon’, for 1.2k each. Cavalier/bichon frise / cocker/poodle, apparently. Incredibly expensive mutts.

 

[splashgirl45]

i had one tonight, women came up behind me with a springer on lead and one off lead, my little terriers were both off lead in front of me. the off lead springer galloped past me and jumped on my youngest terrier, he was growling and had his hackles up, my dog started yelping in fear and i kicked the dog away while i put mine on leads. during this the women said nothing, didnt call her dog off even though mine was yelping, all she said was, he only wants to play!!!! i dont know how i didnt swear at her, i just walked away. i can read dog body language and he wasnt playing, my terrier plays with other larger dogs quite happily and she knew he wasnt playing...

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Is this the thread which is also for terrible dog adverts? Have quite lost track.

’Cavacockerpoochon’, for 1.2k each. Cavalier/bichon frise / cocker/poodle, apparently. Incredibly expensive mutts.

Blimey. Pricey pups indeed!

Unrelated but I recently saw someone refer to their 'double doodle' - what is that? A something doodle and another something doodle, where the something is the same, or different? Confused.

Today I thought, am I being oversensitive? Does it really matter if dogs run up to Ivy? Maybe it doesn't, maybe it does and I'm just having a wobble about it. Inspired by fending off a terrier who ran straight at us with 'big' body language/energy, and instead of stopping as most do when I say no it ran circles around us and would not quit trying to get to Ivy. The owner bloke muttered something under his breath as he walked past, no idea what, and I just thought to all the people around at the time I looked like a mad woman repeatedly calling out no to this dog while going round in circles with the owner not doing anything to even attempt recall. Maybe I should have just tried to walk on but then it would have got to Ivy head on. Not enjoying walks these last couple of days.

 

[MagicMelon]

Is this the thread which is also for terrible dog adverts? Have quite lost track.

’Cavacockerpoochon’, for 1.2k each. Cavalier/bichon frise / cocker/poodle, apparently. Incredibly expensive mutts.

Strange as people dont get so arsey about cross breeds when its a horse? Would you pay far less for a equally good cross breed horse? Probably not! I have a labradoodle and she is the most perfect family dog I could have ever imagined. Worth her weight in gold and Id have happily paid double for her. Couldnt care less that shes not a pure bred and I find it bizarre some people can be so snobby about it. Horse-wise I also only have cross breeds currently in my field!

 

[fiwen30]

Strange as people dont get so arsey about cross breeds when its a horse? Would you pay far less for a equally good cross breed horse? Probably not! I have a labradoodle and she is the most perfect family dog I could have ever imagined. Worth her weight in gold and Id have happily paid double for her. Couldnt care less that shes not a pure bred and I find it bizarre some people can be so snobby about it. Horse-wise I also only have cross breeds currently in my field!

As the owner of a most impractical (accidental!) cross breed dog, who comes from a part of the country where he was likely either sold for £50 or traded for a case of beer, I’m hardly a pure-breed snob! What I do get arsey about though, is when people get away with charging extortionate amounts of money for a thoroughly mongrel pup - especially when the only credentials the parentage have to show for themselves is a working reproductive system. It’s absolutely criminal, and shouldn’t be encouraged.

 

[P3LH]

Controversially here I’m sure but…I generally have an issue with the price of most dogs in recent years whether pedigree or crossbreed! (Have had both, and non recognised breeds too)

 

[scats]

Older man who walks through our farm on the footpath has recently got a young Rottie. It’s a gorgeous dog, but he has absolutely no control over it and it near on pulled him over last night trying to get our yard cat. It’s a beautiful dog, but when you go to say hello to it it leaps up at you and instantly mouths your hand. He said that everyone is frightened of it but it’s just being friendly. I have no doubt that it doesn’t mean any harm to people it meets and genuinely is just playing, but it will harm someone one day, intentionally or not. Or it’s going to pull the owner over and injure him.

 

[cauda equina]

Older man who walks through our farm on the footpath has recently got a young Rottie. It’s a gorgeous dog, but he has absolutely no control over it and it near on pulled him over last night trying to get our yard cat. It’s a beautiful dog, but when you go to say hello to it it leaps up at you and instantly mouths your hand. He said that everyone is frightened of it but it’s just being friendly. I have no doubt that it doesn’t mean any harm to people it meets and genuinely is just playing, but it will harm someone one day, intentionally or not. Or it’s going to pull the owner over and injure him.

'Just being friendly' is such an over-used excuse
I wonder if owners actually believe that that's what's happening, or are too lazy or lacking tools to fix the problem

 

[maya2008]

One of our local dog walkers has an equally disobedient dog and child. You can hear the parent coming from a mile off as both are constantly being yelled at, to no apparent effect!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

We very carefully avoided a huge mastiff yesterday. The owner, a big bloke, was having trouble controlling it. I was quite concerned about it as the guy was clearly having an issue with it. He’d brought it to the football training which is not ideal, making the dog hang round doing nothing. There was a cockerpoo puppy which at least was being walked round the pitch. We let Mitch say hello, he was zooming on a longline, playbowing to it. All it wanted to do was jump on him, tho, which I won’t allow, it’s ill-mannered.

I’m another who thinks the price of random crossbreeds is outrageous. Why would I want to pay a couple of grand for a poo cross with zero health tests and which has been produced purely because the current trend leans towards cutesy crosses? They dont seem to have a purpose other than being cute, on trend and allegedly ’hypoallergenic’. I was delighted to hear that a colleague has a Wheaten terrier puppy, non-shedding and not a poo cross!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Training dogs to hang around and relax and not have to have entertainment on tap is actually a good idea IMO. I do a lot of hanging around sporting events.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Training dogs to hang around and relax and not have to have entertainment on tap is actually a good idea IMO. I do a lot of hanging around sporting events.

We do a lot of that but we usually do the sitting about after exercise and have a 'picnic rug' for them to sit on, if it's a planned interval. They do have to learn to sit quietly if we just stop for a chat with someone we pass on a walk, whether they have had their exercise, or not.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I can't bring a picnic rug to competitions or do too much exercise before a full routine, the dog just has to wait and be a good dog

 

[Clodagh]

I can't bring a picnic rug to competitions or do too much exercise before a full routine, the dog just has to wait and be a good dog

Rather the same as shooting. They have to just get out of car. Walk to heel. Sit. While adrenalised to the eyeballs. But they do learn how to do that through training first.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Training dogs to hang around and relax and not have to have entertainment on tap is actually a good idea IMO. I do a lot of hanging around sporting events.

Didn’t look like he’s done much with the dog at all! Asking a dog to hang round is all very well, but personally i’d start by exercising mine first. He came in, kept it on the lead, thank god and just hauled it round with him. It was very barky.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Went for a chill training session with the pups earlier (Goose is starting to cock, god knows where he learnt that!) We were asking them to do a sit/stay then putting balls in the rough for them to find. Lots of distractions, including puppy pandemic group, notably a retriever with a Happy Birthday bandana who spotted the pointer bitch, ignored his owner to go and hump her. We didn’t interact with the group. They probably think we’re horrible antisocial owners but we have our own pack and don’t need to socialise beyond a polite sit to say hello in passing.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Didn’t look like he’s done much with the dog at all! Asking a dog to hang round is all very well, but personally i’d start by exercising mine first. He came in, kept it on the lead, thank god and just hauled it round with him. It was very barky.

We've all got to start somewhere. That's the sort of owner I might engage in chat and see if I can offer or if they want any advice rather than rush straight to judgement.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Round my way, you’re more likely to be given a mouthful. There was no way I was going near what looked like a barely under control dog 5 times the size of my skinny little pup and I’ll judge away, but wouldn’t tell the owner! Pretty sure we all judge, I read enough of it on here, this thread is all about judging! We are allowed to vent/judge on here.

 

[CorvusCorax]

True, but it sometimes has the effect of mellowing me out a bit
I drive to sports pitches rather than walk as that's more representative of what would happen 'in real life' so I would be able to pop the dog away and have a chat. I appreciate I am speaking in hypothetical situations here.
I have been told to butt out before now but my training has made me tough to correction, lolz.

 

[[153312]]

Our old bitches used to get dragged about all over the place, on leads not loose though, mostly to car shows.... The current ones are too sometimes now, but muzzled as well as harness and lead (except the baby who doesn't need the muzzle).
They barked and pulled a bit at first, then they just get used to the format of stuff and amble along next to us. (Though it's been a while since we've had anything but bitches so you do get to know when they're about to cock their leg and move them pronto when there's millions of pounds worth of classic cars about ??).

It is stressful when loose dogs run up though, and I hate how people think 'oh he's just being friendly/just wants to play' is somehow an excuse for letting their animal cause havoc.... Although this thread is making me think maybe I haven't encountered any real arses yet after all!

 

[Karran]

My turn to be a bad owner. Our morning park is a small straight path that opens to a walk around a couple of football pitches. Lollipop shaped so lots of vantage points to keep out of trouble.
Or so I thought letting Mrs Collie off as a GSD appeared. Off she sailed into battle as all GSD's are devilspawn in her eyes and need eliminating...

Owner was more understanding than I would have been when I apologised and had the feral fool under some semblance of control

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My turn to be a bad owner. Our morning park is a small straight path that opens to a walk around a couple of football pitches. Lollipop shaped so lots of vantage points to keep out of trouble.
Or so I thought letting Mrs Collie off as a GSD appeared. Off she sailed into battle as all GSD's are devilspawn in her eyes and need eliminating...

Owner was more understanding than I would have been when I apologised and had the feral fool under some semblance of control

I think the apology is key! None of us has a perfect dog, none of us is the perfect owner but recognising when you have made a mistake and inconvenienced/upset someone else and their dog goes a long way to making amends, ime. The irresponsible owners are the ones who never acknowledge that they could/should have done something differently.

 

[Moobli]

Strange as people dont get so arsey about cross breeds when its a horse? Would you pay far less for a equally good cross breed horse? Probably not! I have a labradoodle and she is the most perfect family dog I could have ever imagined. Worth her weight in gold and Id have happily paid double for her. Couldnt care less that shes not a pure bred and I find it bizarre some people can be so snobby about it. Horse-wise I also only have cross breeds currently in my field!

I don't really understand the often derogatory comments regarding crossbreeds either - whether they be cockerpoo, labradoodle, whatever. A dog, like anything else, is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. The so called designer crossbreeds have shot up in popularity and seem to make very good pet dogs for active families. If a breeder is conscientious in health testing before breeding, rearing their pups correctly and selling to appropriate homes then I can't get too upset about the fact they cost as much as a pedigree dog.

 

[Moobli]

I think the apology is key! None of us has a perfect dog, none of us is the perfect owner but recognising when you have made a mistake and inconvenienced/upset someone else and their dog goes a long way to making amends, ime. The irresponsible owners are the ones who never acknowledge that they could/should have done something differently.

Definitely this! Nobody (or their dog) is perfect and we all have lapses of control, accidents happen etc and as long as a sincere apology is forthcoming then most people will forgive and forget.

 

[Karran]

I do always feel very responsible though, having a neurotic toad in Mrs Spaniel, who acts as if the world is ending at the slightest confrontation, human or canine.
I realise how it can affect other dogs and they might not know that GSD's are big triggers for Mrs Collie, but I do, so I end up consumed with guilt that I should have been more aware of my surroundings before letting her off lead and that its my fault for letting the situation happen!
She does look very scary with teeth and hackles raised when she goes into full on gobsh1te! mode. I still recall days where I've sat on her to stop her hurting people, so when she does go into idiot mode I tend to fear the worst!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I do always feel very responsible though, having a neurotic toad in Mrs Spaniel, who acts as if the world is ending at the slightest confrontation, human or canine.
I realise how it can affect other dogs and they might not know that GSD's are big triggers for Mrs Collie, but I do, so I end up consumed with guilt that I should have been more aware of my surroundings before letting her off lead and that its my fault for letting the situation happen!
She does look very scary with teeth and hackles raised when she goes into full on gobsh1te! mode. I still recall days where I've sat on her to stop her hurting people, so when she does go into idiot mode I tend to fear the worst!

This may be an unsavoury opinion and please don't take it as any judgement on your dog ownership skills or similar, but from your post it doesn't sound like either of your dogs are candidates for off lead walking in any circumstances - unless in a fenced dog walking field on your own or similar. You cannot micromanage your surroundings and if you have had to sit on your dog to stop her hurting people, what happens if the person you don't see that's just walked around the bush near you is a toddler..

 

[Odyssey]

Is this the thread which is also for terrible dog adverts? Have quite lost track.

’Cavacockerpoochon’, for 1.2k each. Cavalier/bichon frise / cocker/poodle, apparently. Incredibly expensive mutts.

I can see them selling quickly, an ideal choice for those who can't choose between most of the popular smaller breeds/crosses. ?

 

[Karran]

This may be an unsavoury opinion and please don't take it as any judgement on your dog ownership skills or similar, but from your post it doesn't sound like either of your dogs are candidates for off lead walking in any circumstances - unless in a fenced dog walking field on your own or similar. You cannot micromanage your surroundings and if you have had to sit on your dog to stop her hurting people, what happens if the person you don't see that's just walked around the bush near you is a toddler..

Hmm. Maybe. I can totally see why you'd think that, perhaps a bit of mild hyperbole on my part!

Mrs Spaniel is completely dog neutral, she wants to be left alone to sniff, occasionally fetch a ball and mind her own business. She is very much a dog-introvert, polite Hello and then moves on to do her own thing. She doesn't have it in her to tell a dog off politely or otherwise when the pushy ones come over to her and often finds herself in situations I have to step in and tell the other dog to leave her alone. She isn't a chaser, a scavenger or a fighter and has reasonable obedience. She just wants to be left alone to do Spaniel things and so she is fine off lead. A dog that is too pushy about being friends makes her genuinely uncomfortable and she will go out of her way to avoid said dog if she spots them. She has Dog Friends to a degree, that we walk with although she doesn't play with them. It's a quick, "how are you? Can't stop, I'm super busy." type arrangement and she's happy with that. She does her flyball and agility and helps at the stables and is absolutely fine interacting with other dogs as they are all in work mode, other dogs have come to stay with us and she is happy with them in her house/car but will take herself upstairs out the way if she feels like too much energy is going on with being sociable. At nearly 8, this won't change.

Mrs Collie was a completely different kettle of fish and yes, for the first few months I had her, she was not allowed off lead at all. Not in enclosed safe spaces or my local parks and she was muzzled. I have worked really hard with her over nearly three years and she is actually at the point where I can have her off lead working, either doing retrieves or her heelwork/obedience work while Park Run goes on around us. She was aggressive and I was told to have her PTS by my first attempt at taking her to training classes and that she wouldn't be offlead safely ever by a behavorist. I don't have small children in my life. The youngest that she associates with are 9, have been around dogs all their lives and are respectful to her. But I also take appropriate precautions, never leaving her alone with them etc. She has been handled by them around novelty dog shows and have a go activities and at high arousal situations like flyball and agility and if they were strong enough to hold her I would have no problem at all with them running her in the activity - but again, its monitored. I know her. I know them and I have worked incredibly hard, and shed many tears to make her this way. She goes to weekly obedience classes, has done the odd KC obedience comp and trains agility and flyball and can be walked on a normal collar and lead combo now in high arousal situations. I dont let anyone, even my adult friends who have probably forgotten more than I know about dogs handle her when she is in trigger mode which is thankfully less and less and more and more manageable as she ages.

As for meeting people in the park she will remove herself from the situation if toddlers or strange children make a beeline for her and now retreats between my legs in "middle" to be safe. I've taught her this as a safe space, so she's out of harms way and I can take her by the collar and stop any child. Lunging with teeth was a first resort but now she has learnt appropriate behaviours and will do them first.

She has a thing about GSD's as there is a large one in the local park where we happened to be this morning, who's owner is very much in the category of "irresponsible owner" I have seen it first-hand launch itself at other dogs. The owner boots it, it moves on and will have a pop at the next unwary dog to go near it and I've reported it to the Police (not having a Dog warden in the area.) The dog has launched itself at Mrs Collie on several occasions and left her with the idea that all GSD's are out to get her, so defence is the best tactic in her eyes. In the winter months, I am limited by park closure times and work hours as to where I can walk and so we occasionally clash.

I probably do micromanage her and worry about her more than what I need to now, I think, because I don't want anyone hurt by her, even though its been over 18 months since the day where I had to sit on her but I keep working, learning what I can and training her and 97% of our walks are incident free because she can now be trusted - as is reasonably possible - to behave like a proper member of society and when I know she can't, she goes back on her lead. I didn't have the experience or knowledge of a truly reactive dog when I adopted her and I will hold my hands up and say that I probably made things worse before I managed to make things better with her and things ARE better and will continue to get better.

 

[YorksG]

Took our two and the pup we dog sit for down into the local wood late morning. The path down runs alongside fields, which people use as dog walking area, although they may get a bit of a shock in the coming weeks when the cattle are turned out! Saw one of the "professional dog walkers" with about half a dozen varied sized dogs running wild, in the field. We sat ours down to let her get out of the way, we had just set off to follow at a distance, when a greyhound came bombing out of the field, after the walker. She appeared to be oblivious of the fact that she was one down. Then there was the golden who also got very left behind at the gate into the wood.
Having made sure of which way she was going, we went in another direction. Five minutes later a spaniel came up the path towards us, absolutely screaming, either chasing wildlife, or being chased by another dog, we called ours back and got hold of them. She turned and went another way, but was no where near the did she was "walking".
We think she's the same person who lost the doodle that we ended up finding the owner of late last year.
I am sure that the owners believe that they are doing the responsible thing by employing this woman, but she's a disaster waiting to happen! She was also on the phone most of the time that we could see her.