Irresponsible Owners

[Moobli]

It’s difficult to properly assess what the owners of the Staffie pup should do without having seen what happened. Dogs bite for all sorts of reasons. If the terrier was entirely unharmed after what sounds like quite a prolonged “attack” then it doesn’t sound like there was serious intent. It’s a wake up call to the owners for sure, but pts seems extreme in this case imo.

The collie pup I’ve rehomed from a FB page was thought by his previous owner and their dog trainer to be aggressive. He’d bitten both of them and the owner’s mother. Put to sleep for aggression had been mentioned. If that had happened it would have been an absolute travesty. The poor pup was just entirely misunderstood and in the wrong environment with people who meant well but didn’t have a clue about his genetics, the likely inherent behaviours and what to expect from a frustrated hard wired working dog. So while I do understand there’s not always a solution for a dog that’s bitten, I don’t agree with putting to sleep any dog who’s bitten a person or other dog no matter the circumstances.

Edited : typos!

 

[Tiddlypom]

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!

This.

It's the fur baby brigade whose eyes light up when they see the JRT and coo to their spoilt mutt(s) 'Ooo, look, here's a little friend for you to play with'.

Nope.

So while I do understand there’s not always a solution for a dog that’s bitten, I don’t agree with putting to sleep any dog who’s bitten a person or other dog no matter the circumstances

Collies are different, though, mostly they need to work and they get frustrated in pet homes. Well done on taking that collie pup on, but he needs to work, and you can give him that outlet.

What job could a dog aggressive staffie do? I'd never trust it again.

 

[CorvusCorax]

My dogs are not there to act as playmates/entertainment/climbing frames for other peoples', nor do I expect them to exercise or entertain themselves/each other, that's my job. Vocation. Whatever

 

[skinnydipper]

It’s difficult to properly assess what the owners of the Staffie pup should do without having seen what happened. Dogs bite for all sorts of reasons. If the terrier was entirely unharmed after what sounds like quite a prolonged “attack” then it doesn’t sound like there was serious intent. It’s a wake up call to the owners for sure, but pts seems extreme in this case imo.

^This^

A dog can inflict massive damage in seconds.

Yet this incident is alleged to have lasted for 15 mins and not so much as a puncture.

ETA. Also I would not neuter. Why would anyone think his balls are a problem?

 

[AmyMay]

^This^

A dog can inflict massive damage in seconds.

Yet this incident is alleged to have lasted for 15 mins and not so much as a puncture.

ETA. Also I would not neuter. Why would anyone think his balls are a problem?

Relitavely unscathed. Not unscathed.

 

[skinnydipper]

Relitavely unscathed. Not unscathed.

Before doing anything hasty I would suggest the owners ask their vet for referral to Kendal Shepherd, veterinary behaviourist.

https://www.kendalshepherd.com/

 

[splashgirl45]

He is too young to neuter and who knows what the JR said to him. At his age I would think he could be made into a better citizen by a competent owner , personally the bull breeds do not appeal to me but PTS seems a bit harsh

 

[GSD Woman]

So while I do understand there’s not always a solution for a dog that’s bitten, I don’t agree with putting to sleep any dog who’s bitten a person or other dog no matter the circumstances.[

Moobli, I believe that we generally agree on dog matters. On this I totally disagree. Having recently gone through a dog attack myself I say with my whole background that yes, that was stupid on both myself and my niece, but that dog needs to be put down. They were incredibly lucky that the dog bit a family who isn't going to sue. I could have won everything.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

I am so very tired of little barky bitey dogs. Had yet another one kick off at my collie this morning. Thankfully, it was on lead, but the owner was determined to try and convince me that it didn't usually act that way towards other dogs. Apparently, it was only because "He's on the lead!" - erm, so do you mean my dog who's politely walking beside me on his lead and avoiding making any eye contact, or yours who's straining at the end of its lead and growling at us? Because I don't feel at all convinced that letting yours off would improve things, and mine is happy as he is, thanks.

I want to go and live somewhere with no other humans.

 

[Moobli]

Moobli, I believe that we generally agree on dog matters. On this I totally disagree. Having recently gone through a dog attack myself I say with my whole background that yes, that was stupid on both myself and my niece, but that dog needs to be put down. They were incredibly lucky that the dog bit a family who isn't going to sue. I could have won everything.

And having been through what you have recently I may well feel the same. I hope you’re on the mend.

 

[maisie06]

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.

There are dog free zones on our local beaches in the summer (actually perfect as dogs get the nicer beaches east and west of the horrible touristy bit in the middle!) but I have lost count of the number of owners who just ignore the regs and continue to walk wherever they like...

 

[GSD Woman]

There are dog free zones on our local beaches in the summer (actually perfect as dogs get the nicer beaches east and west of the horrible touristy bit in the middle!) but I have lost count of the number of owners who just ignore the regs and continue to walk wherever they like...

The beaches near here don't allow dogs at all during the tourist season. I can't blame them. Too many people feel as though they don't need to clean up. I've offered bags to a few of them. Some are amazed since they grew up in the country and no one cleaned up. So I just point out that now they're in a public park.

Where I walk the dogs some people actually let their dogs poop on the paths and don't bother to stick and flick or just pick up. Argh.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

There are dog free zones on our local beaches in the summer (actually perfect as dogs get the nicer beaches east and west of the horrible touristy bit in the middle!) but I have lost count of the number of owners who just ignore the regs and continue to walk wherever they like...

I wish stuff like this was better enforced. By who I dont know tbh but still. We used to walk Ivy in a space supposed to be on lead only seasonally for the ground nesting birds, and now in a local greenspace covered in signs saying keep your dog on a lead in theory should be a nice place to go but nope.

 

[GSD Woman]

I wish stuff like this was better enforced. By who I dont know tbh but still. We used to walk Ivy in a space supposed to be on lead only seasonally for the ground nesting birds, and now in a local greenspace covered in signs saying keep your dog on a lead in theory should be a nice place to go but nope.

I haven't walked at the one park in eons but when it was getting ready to open the closed roads for the Azalea Garden season the animal wardens would hang around and ticket the owners of off lead dogs.

 

[SilverLinings]

I wish stuff like this was better enforced. By who I dont know tbh but still. We used to walk Ivy in a space supposed to be on lead only seasonally for the ground nesting birds, and now in a local greenspace covered in signs saying keep your dog on a lead in theory should be a nice place to go but nope.

A few years ago I found a lovely spot to walk the dogs on the edge of local moorland. During spring and summer dogs needed to be kept on the lead because of ground nesting birds (including a couple of endangered breeds), and to stop people becoming 'blind' to the signs they were only put out during the months leads were required. After a few trips I stopped walking there as I found it ridiculously stressful to watch almost every other walker set their dogs free, and a large proportion of them then chase any bird they saw. There were so many other places in the area where you could walk off-lead; I really don't understand this selfish and stupid behaviour.

I heard recently that the landowner (one of the utilities companies) has been in talks with the RSPB about banning all dogs from the area, and possibly blocking it to walkers too and turning it into some kind of protected nature area. It is such a shame to loose a lovely place to walk, but I can't see another option if so many people find it impossible to keep their dogs on a lead when told.

 

[fiwen30]

Posted on fb ‘Dog was in accident and can no longer walk, does anyone have a buggy so I can still take them on a walk?’. Post doesn’t specify the extent of ‘can’t walk’. I hope it’s temporary rehab, but know it’s just as likely to be not…

 

[SilverLinings]

Posted on fb ‘Dog was in accident and can no longer walk, does anyone have a buggy so I can still take them on a walk?’. Post doesn’t specify the extent of ‘can’t walk’. I hope it’s temporary rehab, but know it’s just as likely to be not…

I really hope it's been seen by a vet, saying it 'can no longer walk' rather implies it might be permanent and I can't imagine a vet leaving an animal in that condition

 

[maisie06]

Not an irresponsible dog owner this morning but an irresponsible parent...walking slightly later this morning back from the beach walk we enjoy and come around the corner and a mum with 3 loose brats around 4-6 years old, they see the dogs and run towards them arms outstreched screaming, springer crapped himself and shot behind my legs, cocker stood up tail erect, Im in what is a narrow alleyway between buildings, so I say don't touch the dogs VERY firmly in a pony club instructor tone, Mum is not impressed and said I had no right to be out in public if my dogs are vicious - well, Ermmmm I lost it, and told her in no uncertain terms that her parenting was the issue, I don't want to be put in a situation and I have every right to walk my dogs in peace without being pounced on by out of control children, I didn't let her get a word in at all, bloody silly woman who's kids will grow up to be self entitled brats with no respect.

 

[fiwen30]

It’s a holiday in NI today, and the amount of found and lost dogs is astonishing - 3 different staff types found loose in our town alone.

We got accosted by 1 of them on our way home, partner was carrying a full shopping bag in 1 hand and had the lead in the other, and I had my hands full eating ice cream. Group of men stood on the corner, with a loose staff around their feet, and it came dashing across the road at my dog. My lad didn’t hear it coming, but as soon as he saw it he was NOT pleased - snapping and growling at it, without making contact, very much ‘get away from me’ noises. The staff seemed more overly excited and rude than aggressive, but of course that can easily change when over stimulated.

Partner panicked and kept tripping over them both, and I downed my ice cream and told him to keep our dog forwards and moving, while I body blocked and shouted at the staff. It wasn’t put off that easily, so I grabbed it by the collar and dragged it squirming back to the blokes, shouting at them to come and get the damn thing. It wasn’t even their dog! Just none of them had the common sense to secure it in any way.

It’s the second time in as many months that we’ve been badgered by loose dogs, in a busy enough residential area. The first one was a collie, I was by myself and managed to drive it off. But both times my dog has growled and snapped, and I feel awful that he feels he has to defend himself. In hindsight, I also know I shouldn’t have put my hands on the staff. It gives me the fear knowing how badly that couldve gone. Or if the staff had been dog aggressive, my boy wouldn’t have stood a chance - he talks big, but he’s also senior and arthritic.

Everyone walked away shaken but in 1 piece, which is the most important thing.

Just still not quite sure what the ideal type of reaction and response should be, in a situation like those?

 

[GSD Woman]

fiwen30, if you can keep your head and be quick about it on an intact male twist the testicles and then get the h3ll out of there. If your dog is attacked grab the attacking dog by the hind legs. If you carry an extra slip lead you can try and use that. I had to do that once. The dog (pit bull) was lovely and friendly until I went to remove my good leather leash. The dog got to keep it. if nothing else, make yourself as large as you can. Spread out your arms and use a low growly voice. It may or may not work.
Good Luck

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Happenings are very rare around here re irresponsible dog owners, but yesterday was just a bit annoying.

Walking up a path where it branches off in 3 different directions and there's a bench in the middle. Two older men are there with their 3 small dogs. My Lab notices them, and one is coming toward us. It doesn't respond to it's name being called and approaches us. Then a JRT comes running over too. We do know the JRT (but he wasn't with his owner, I'm assuming one of these men were walking him with their dog for whatever reason).

Lab is now super excited because two loose dogs are on her and they're small dogs. Small dogs are very interesting to her. So I can't quite get her to ignore them and she's just sort of bouncing around with them at our feet. We keep walking and eventually they wander off.

But what if my Lab was not friendly? Those two little dogs could've been torn apart or attacked. My Lab was on her leash (as she should be when you see another dog) and they didn't know her. I also didn't enjoy being pestered by the small dogs.

I also know the owner of the JRT (well, he's owned by an older couple), and the woman would've been quite annoyed that her dog was allowed to run up to another. She's very strict with him, especially about passing other dogs and behaving/not taking notice. I haven't told her because I don't want to stir the pot.

Fortunately my Lab is rather friendly and curious, but she has growled and taken offense in the past. Idk why people think it's ok to let their dogs ambush someone.

 

[KittenInTheTree]

fiwen30, if you can keep your head and be quick about it on an intact male twist the testicles and then get the h3ll out of there. If your dog is attacked grab the attacking dog by the hind legs. If you carry an extra slip lead you can try and use that. I had to do that once. The dog (pit bull) was lovely and friendly until I went to remove my good leather leash. The dog got to keep it. if nothing else, make yourself as large as you can. Spread out your arms and use a low growly voice. It may or may not work.
Good Luck

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GRAB RANDOM DOGS BY THE TESTICLES! To do so, you would be placing your face and neck on a level with the animal's mouth whilst groping around, and dogs are much faster than humans.

 

[StableMum]

Pottering with my old lad on lead outside our field gate (no through road in front of Church leading to footpath) the other evening, while OH and daughter were sorting the horses we got rushed at by three whippets off lead and owners way off round the corner with no idea what they were up to. It's not the first time and I've asked the man who owns them before not to do it because we ride, and lead out horses from the field to the stable along there and horses could be spooked and his dogs risk being kicked. Anyway handed OH my dog to have a word, the bloke was a bit contrite said he didn't normally let them off now BUT his wife just stood there and laughed in my face. Her attitude was appalling she was speaking down to me as if I was an idiot for asking. Anyway she didn't bargain for my response because she got both barrels. Where my dog is concerned I don't hold back.

 

[skinnydipper]

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO GRAB RANDOM DOGS BY THE TESTICLES! To do so, you would be placing your face and neck on a level with the animal's mouth whilst groping around, and dogs are much faster than humans.

Yeah, I was thinking 'best of luck with that one'.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Saw this beauty on a Fb page today. "is such a pain on and off the lead with other dogs and lone men walking. But we just let him off the lead and let him be told off by other dogs! He’s so aggressive on the lead otherwise! " Myself and another member from on here were the only ones who told this owner that this is not the way to go. It is a small breed and they can have a bit of attitude and need firm training, but the idea is for the owner to train the dog not other peoples dogs! I suspect they think I'm a miserable sod now.

 

[skinnydipper]

Saw this beauty on a Fb page today. "is such a pain on and off the lead with other dogs and lone men walking. But we just let him off the lead and let him be told off by other dogs! He’s so aggressive on the lead otherwise! " Myself and another member from on here were the only ones who told this owner that this is not the way to go. It is a small breed and they can have a bit of attitude and need firm training, but the idea is for the owner to train the dog not other peoples dogs! I suspect they think I'm a miserable sod now.

Why they would want to risk their own dog being bitten is beyond me. Clearly some numpty owner who has never seen the damage that one dog can do to another in the blink of an eye.

Aside from they should not be expecting other people's dogs to train theirs, they are being really very unfair to the other dog who, for a variety of reasons, may not want another dog in its face.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Unfortunately my female has decided to deal with strange dogs rushing up to her by going straight for their faces. She's on a leash beside me so if someone else's dog is so out of control that they end up in her space, that's their problem.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I was browsing 'borrow my dog' this evening and one of the adverts was someone who is looking for a family with children to come out with them and their dog, they want to socialise it with kids and make sure he is alright.. He's an 11 month old, 45kg, entire male Antolian Shepherd they have just rescued from Macedonia. Erm.. no thank you. I wouldn't be risking my childs face to find what trauma your dog is still holding.

I also scrolled past an American account on Tik Tok, he has a staffy and lets her off lead and jokes about how she has no recall at all and is extremely reactive. Apparently if a dog approaches her then it's that dogs fault and their owners problem. He lost her the other day and found her 12 miles away waiting for him at his home. I blocked the account as it was winding me up. The mind boggles at such idiocy.

 

[AmyMay]

Saw this beauty on a Fb page today. "is such a pain on and off the lead with other dogs and lone men walking. But we just let him off the lead and let him be told off by other dogs! He’s so aggressive on the lead otherwise! " Myself and another member from on here were the only ones who told this owner that this is not the way to go. It is a small breed and they can have a bit of attitude and need firm training, but the idea is for the owner to train the dog not other peoples dogs! I suspect they think I'm a miserable sod now.

If we did that with Jack it would be carnage!

We’re on holiday at the moment. Lots of dogs, but all is good. No issues at all - except for Cane Corso that charged us on the beach yesterday. I was beyond horrified.

 

[Caol Ila]

Dog poop baggies hanging on trees. Why???

Why would you go through the trouble of bagging it, then leave it? Are you expecting magic poop fairies? I guess some people don't want to carry it around, so they leave it on a tree, thinking they will collect it, then forget about it. But it still makes no sense because I see poop baggies attached to trees less than 10 meters from a bin.