Irresponsible Owners

Errin Paddywack

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I allow mine to bark when someone comes to the door. They have to walk past the front room window so can see the dogs. I would rather they were a bit wary of the fact I have dogs, makes me feel a bit safer. Dogs don't have access to the front garden so no-one has to run the gauntlet of barking dogs. They don't have a clue how to bite so no-one would be at any risk from them anyway.
 

Pippity

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Mine bark madly when anyone comes to the door, that’s fine by me. If they have access to the yard and a courier comes through the gate they are intimidating but the person is quite safe. I can’t imagine having a dog that would bite like that and being casual about its containment

The thing is, would you enjoy being intimidated while doing your job? Constantly wondering whether this barking dog is safe or if this is the one that will attack you if it gets loose? It's stressful.
 

Clodagh

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The thing is, would you enjoy being intimidated while doing your job? Constantly wondering whether this barking dog is safe or if this is the one that will attack you if it gets loose? It's stressful.
Oh yes, but they don’t have access to the yard unless we are in it with them, and the postie delivers to a mailbox. If we are expecting a delivery they aren’t out there. I meant I wouldn’t want to stop them barking.
But if there was a perfect storm of mistakes and a determined courier opened the gate and bashed his way to the door (unlikely) he still wouldn’t get bitten.
 

CorvusCorax

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My lawn was being cut this morning, two were in kennels and one was in crate in kitchen. Gardener did come in for a cuppa but there was no direct contact/dog wasn't bothered. He apparently slept through my friend calling over to price some work in the house the other week. But still, I'd rather not put anyone in an uncomfortable position.

The two postwomen live really close and they know they are safe, I assured them from day one that the dogs are secure. I agree that they should be able to do their jobs without second guessing other people's dog management skills and risking life altering injuries which would impact their ability to work and earn.

One courier did walk right around my back and leave an M&S gift pack in the doorway right beside the black dog's kennel, which I found surprising/brave.
 

SaddlePsych'D

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Not really irresponsible as it turned out the owner probably needed muzzling more than the dog in the end but just had a man have a go at me for dodging his dog. I absolutely own my bias against large bully looking dogs. I've met some lovely staffies but larger bully types I am wary of. That said, I give pretty much every dog we pass space because you have no way to know which are reactive, aggressive or whatever. So we dodged this dog as it came over and the guy had a pop about how he wouldn't have it off lead if it wasn't okay. I tried to point out that some people do let their not okay dogs off lead and not to take it personally as I have literally no way of knowing which is which. He just continued having a go and going on about it not being fair on his dog (who had already moved on). Really unpleasant.

Also if someone is genuinely scared of your dog having a go at them isn't really going to help! I try to give all people space where I can but sometimes you see people who are worried about dogs, Ivy doesn't know or care so why should I do anything except keep her out of the way?

Then we passed a genuinely scary something (no idea what mix/breed, some kind of shepherd in there maybe) being walked on a big chain. Thank feck I spotted it quick as we came round the corner and dived straight to the other side of the road. No doubt in my mind it would have gone for us. Grim.
 

Cinnamontoast

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I've had a similar experience with an idiot with a large Bully type, I avoid them too. I crossed over and he started gobbing off saying "my dog is fine why are you assuming it's not?" I just yelled back saying I'm not interested in your dog I'm giving MINE the space he needs so bog off!!!

I think saying that your dog needs space is better than justifying in any other way. I tell people that Bear can be grumpy, my OH normally takes him off if I’m talking to other dog owners with the little ones. He’s a little defensive of the others, but relaxes the second he’s told.

I got bored of trying to avoid the bouncy untrained types with Zak. I found if I told the owners he wasn’t friendly, I got an interrogation about why I had an aggressive dog out in public.
 

AmyMay

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Ok, so thoughts on this.

Last weekend friends witnessed a 6 month old staffy launch an unprovoked and stained attack on a small terrier. It took 15 minutes for the dog to be released from the puppy’s grip.

The puppy will now be castrated and muzzled.

What would the collective do (if anything) with the puppy.

(For info, nice ‘ordinary’ couple own him).
 

GSD Woman

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Sometimes I hate people. Years ago I was walking in a park known for people walking their dogs off lead. My dogs were fine there. I was talking to some other owners while the dogs were having a bit of play when I saw an owner walking their dog on lead. I called mine over and told the other owners to do the same. One woman had the nerve to tell me that the owner of on lead dog should control their dog since it was on lead. My head about blew off. I informed her that technically we were the ones violating the leash laws. Her male companion had made sure their dog was by his side.

My dogs had such a good reputation there. On Tuesdays during the summer there were bike races. I always had my dogs "pack up" when the bikes went by. One day some men were setting up for the races and one man pointed out my dogs. Another man told him not to worry that these were good, under control dogs. It did my heart good.

When I'm walking my dogs I always try and give other people room. My breed has a bad reputation and I don't want to add to it. I'm sure the other GSD owners here agree.
 

KittenInTheTree

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I'd expect it to be kept on a lead and muzzled when out in public until it had learned how to behave. I wouldn't write it off at that age - most puppies go through a stage of being horrible as they hit puberty. My opinion may be biased though, as I've had to pry one too many "harmless" small breed dogs off my long-suffering collie's face and/or neck. These days, I tend to presume the worst of them.
 

Moobli

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Ok, so thoughts on this.

Last weekend friends witnessed a 6 month old staffy launch an unprovoked and stained attack on a small terrier. It took 15 minutes for the dog to be released from the puppy’s grip.

The puppy will now be castrated and muzzled.

What would the collective do (if anything) with the puppy.

(For info, nice ‘ordinary’ couple own him).

I’m always slightly bemused that bull breeds genetics aren’t taken into consideration in the same way as herding, pointing, guarding breeds. I personally wouldn’t have a Staffie or any other bull breed or type but if I did find myself with one then it wouldn’t be encouraged to mix freely with strange dogs, in fact quite the opposite. I don’t think that particular puppy should be put to sleep for the unprovoked attack on the terrier but it should be on a lead in future and the owners need to do some serious research into the breed and it’s management and training.
 

Cinnamontoast

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Ok, so thoughts on this.

Last weekend friends witnessed a 6 month old staffy launch an unprovoked and stained attack on a small terrier. It took 15 minutes for the dog to be released from the puppy’s grip.

The puppy will now be castrated and muzzled.

What would the collective do (if anything) with the puppy.

(For info, nice ‘ordinary’ couple own him).

I don’t think castration will change the behaviour, it just removes their brave pants, which may lead to them becoming fear aggressive. Muzzling is going to be essential but may also lead to poor behaviour if the puppy becomes frustrated. I can’t imagine a dog that young being so aggressive. I wonder if there’s something wrong with it mentally/neurologically. I’d want a scan done, I think, although that would be extremely expensive. Did the owners meet the mum?
 

Rokele55

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I offended a Staffie owner the other day. At the beach with loads of dogs playing, m y terrier running about in and out of the sea with the children, some dogs said hello and most not, no issues a all. Lovely! Back in the car park and lead on, met a staffii e so I moved my dog well away and told mine not to get near that one. They were rather offended and a bit shirty. I did explain about the amount of people I had met who shouted to keep away as their staffie was very agressive but it didn't seem to help
 

Pearlsasinger

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I don’t know anything of his background @Cinnamontoast. The aggressive behaviour in such a young dog shocked me.


Tbh if the terrier escaped virtually unscathed after 15 minutes, I can only think that the Staffy didn't mean it. The owner however should take responsibility and keep it on a lead when out in public, muzzled if they can't control it on the lead.

I simply do not understand those owners who want their dogs to play with others that they see out and about but don't know. My dogs are not there to provide a playmate for theirs, if they don't know someone with a dog to play with theirs, then get a second, or make some other arrangement!
 
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Cinnamontoast

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I simply do not understand those owners who want their dogs to play with others that they see out and about but don't know. My dogs are not there to provide a playmate for theirs, if they don't know someone with a dog to play with theirs, then get a second, or make some other arrangement!

I would agree with you if we still had Zak, but with the little ones, we really want them to be good with other dogs. I kept them away from most of the Covid puppy pack in the park, because they have no discipline or training or aim. Since we’ve been back in the woods, tho, it’s normal to come across other off lead nice dogs and to stop to chat. Today, we met a springer bitch who wanted to play, a collie, same, 2 cockers (separately) and 2 samoyeds.

I’m enjoying being able to be social and not be terrified if another dog appears. My primary aim isn’t to socialise, me or them, it’s to exercise the dogs, but the park no longer cuts it, they need to be able to properly run/explore. The social aspect is a lovely bonus for all of us. (We are normally extremely anti-social!)
 

Pearlsasinger

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I would agree with you if we still had Zak, but with the little ones, we really want them to be good with other dogs. I kept them away from most of the Covid puppy pack in the park, because they have no discipline or training or aim. Since we’ve been back in the woods, tho, it’s normal to come across other off lead nice dogs and to stop to chat. Today, we met a springer bitch who wanted to play, a collie, same, 2 cockers (separately) and 2 samoyeds.

I’m enjoying being able to be social and not be terrified if another dog appears. My primary aim isn’t to socialise, me or them, it’s to exercise the dogs, but the park no longer cuts it, they need to be able to properly run/explore. The social aspect is a lovely bonus for all of us. (We are normally extremely anti-social!)


Our local wood is the place to avoid most irresponsible owners and their dogs, almost everybody that we bump into, calls their dogs to them, so that we can all pass without incident. Sometimes we stand and chat but the dogs sit down and wait patiently. The exception is the 'professional' dog walker who just let's about 8 dogs run allover the place.
The shorter walk is too near to traffic to risk ours playing with other dogs whose recall could be dodgy. That seems to be where we meet more owners who think our dogs should entertain theirs.
 

Annette4

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Ok, so thoughts on this.

Last weekend friends witnessed a 6 month old staffy launch an unprovoked and stained attack on a small terrier. It took 15 minutes for the dog to be released from the puppy’s grip.

The puppy will now be castrated and muzzled.

What would the collective do (if anything) with the puppy.

(For info, nice ‘ordinary’ couple own him).

We did PTS our own dog after a unprovoked, sustained attack on our other dog who was asleep.....post mortem revealed a large brain tumour. They tried to get us to surrender to a rescue but I am forever grateful we made the right choice and I would do it again.
 

Cinnamontoast

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Our local wood is the place to avoid most irresponsible owners and their dogs, almost everybody that we bump into, calls their dogs to them, so that we can all pass without incident. Sometimes we stand and chat but the dogs sit down and wait patiently. The exception is the 'professional' dog walker who just let's about 8 dogs run allover the place.
The shorter walk is too near to traffic to risk ours playing with other dogs whose recall could be dodgy. That seems to be where we meet more owners who think our dogs should entertain theirs.

Seems to be unspoken code in these woods (absolutely vast) that dogs are off lead and friendly. We started going nearly 20 years ago with Jake and Brig! There are routes you can take to mostly avoid others and the big circle of the periphery allows horses. I've avoided that bit so far, no idea what the little ones would make of horses, they didn't meet Beau when I took them to the yard. He hated dogs.
 

SaddlePsych'D

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ARRRGGHHH!!!
(Thank you for doing the right thing and not caving to emotional manipulation!)

Absolutely!

I am not sure what the solution is for the owners of the dog in question but to me that sounds quite extreme behaviour. I would not think badly of someone to have a dog humanely euthanized instead of passing it on.
 

GSD Woman

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We did PTS our own dog after a unprovoked, sustained attack on our other dog who was asleep.....post mortem revealed a large brain tumour. They tried to get us to surrender to a rescue but I am forever grateful we made the right choice and I would do it again.

Thank you for doing the right thing. I hate it when rescues pass on dogs that are known biters of humans and/or animals.

There was a case in the last year of two that centered on a dog that was a known biter and was moved from shelter to shelter, moving the dog through several states. At one time the dog was sent to a board and train for retraining and was declared fixed. It ended up in Virginia Beach, VA, USA. It killed the elderly woman who adopted it. There were so many red flags it makes me want to bang my head. That dog should have been put down after the first bite.

My niece has the same denial going on.
 

Smitty

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Hmm. Waiting at a bus stop. Dog on lead comes up and sniffs me. I say please get it away, middle aged owner says its OK, its friendly, I say I'm scared of dogs. A bit of a grumble and off they go. No apology.

This is NOT good. According to someone I met whilst away a couple of weeks ago and bemoaning the number of poo bags in a beauty spot, dogs are banned in one city in Australia. I think a lot of people with dogs feel entitled.
 
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