Irresponsible Owners

[Errin Paddywack]

I am blind to my far right and downwards on half that side. Many times when I have explained to people that their loose dogs or extended leads are a big threat to me if they let their dog run to my feet, I've been told "walk somewhere else then".

They would be getting a very strong reply if that was me.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I met a Dogue de Bordeaux and Frenchie last week (Goose was scared of the Frenchie who was smaller than him) Saw the owner again today whilst out with Bear (he told off the DdB) and she said an old guy with a walking stick smacked the DdB over her back and told her to get her effing dog away from him. I don’t think she was doing anything, certainly doesn’t jump up. The owner was very calm, don’t think I would have been!

I walked past him, Bear totally focused on the ball in my hand. His grand daughter was in the fenced off play park, why didn’t he go there if he was bothered. People are strange.

 

[ycbm]

They would be getting a very strong reply if that was me.

I ask them where I can walk where there are no dogs and they tell me to **** off.
.

 

[BSL2]

Forgive me, I may rant on a bit. I am so sick of numpty dog owners who have no control. I have two chihuahuas. One is not good with other dogs. I use yellow leads with "nervous dog" printed on them. I politely ask people with dogs off leads to recall, as mine are nervous. "Oh mines friendly" is the usual reply. I want to say, "Well mine aren't, so sod off". I try to stay polite, but I have had a row with a woman who accused me of being the reason my dog reacted when her springer came bounding over and I picked them up. " No love, it's because of people like you, who don't have a clue on how to control their dogs". All I want is to quietly walk my dogs and be left alone. I've taken to going out really early to avoid people and im fortunate enough to let them come up the field with me when I do horses. There's a paddock they can be separate in.

 

[AmyMay]

I try to stay polite

I’m never polite any more ?

 

[skinnydipper]

Feel free to rant, BSL2.

I was talking to someone the other day who told me that all dogs should be off lead. He said it was the on lead dogs not being allowed to socialise that caused the problem. I told him 'socialisation' was overrated and listed a number of reasons why a dog might be on a lead and not appreciate another dog in its face.

You have to hand it to them though, that degree of stupidity must take some practise

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I’m never polite any more ?

My OH is very keen for me to remain polite in public. He doesn’t want me in trouble, apparently swearing at people is a public order offence but I see red if someone allows their dog to go for mine or annoy them. I think it will take me quite some time to get over the whole keep Zak (and other dogs!) safe.

Goose is very submissive with other dogs, Mitch is more into people. Recall is pretty amazing with Mitch, still working on Goose, but I want it solid for any situation.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm not sure where I am on the politeness scale, I try to be polite. I do think having a dog is doing my assertiveness skills a lot of good!

I've noticed actually some pretty good experiences with other owners lately, both out with Ivy and with share horse (where we hack is a dog walking hotspot and there's usually some kind of incident, annoying but usually minor at least). I hope it lasts! I did get a bit worried about a dog walker with a large group of off lead dogs today but Ivy didn't care and they had pretty good recall. A couple of the dogs bounded toward us and got an "Ah Ah!" from me which I'm not sure the other person appreciated but it interrupted the dogs enough for them to then recall so I'd call that a win all round.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My OH is very keen for me to remain polite in public. He doesn’t want me in trouble, apparently swearing at people is a public order offence but I see red if someone allows their dog to go for mine or annoy them. I think it will take me quite some time to get over the whole keep Zak (and other dogs!) safe.

Goose is very submissive with other dogs, Mitch is more into people. Recall is pretty amazing with Mitch, still working on Goose, but I want it solid for any situation.

It's all in the tone! No need to swear at the idiots, they get what you think of them anyway

 

[Clodagh]

It's all in the tone! No need to swear at the idiots, they get what you think of them anyway

Although I saw the choc lab today, my leg still has a cut on it. But he was on a lead! She was being towed but progress none the less. I’d have sworn if it had come at me again.

 

[Escapade]

Feel free to rant, BSL2.

I was talking to someone the other day who told me that all dogs should be off lead. He said it was the on lead dogs not being allowed to socialise that caused the problem. I told him 'socialisation' was overrated and listed a number of reasons why a dog might be on a lead and not appreciate another dog in its face.

You have to hand it to them though, that degree of stupidity must take some practise

It’s beyond belief.
Walking in the field behind my estate a few days ago and I had a man shout abuse at me from a distance… for having mine on lead! His two ran up to me teeth bared and growling, they won’t do anything of course ? well I got his reg no. as he was leaving and they’re the same dogs that killed a resident’s cat last month!

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Even when you try your best to be responsible, idiot owners still somehow manage to spoil things.

We have a now 2yo Christmas reject puppy who grew too big. He has a reasonable prey drive so isn't able to be safely walked off-lead at the moment. As a result we hire a secure field a few times each week to let him have a proper run around. Went to our most local one last night and as it was damp I took a walk around the field with him. We were at the opposite end of the field to the gate when he suddenly shot off in the direction we'd come from. It turned out someone had turned up, somehow missed my car in the loading bay and had just decided to wander in.

My 32kg boy was chasing this tiny little froo-froo dog (attached to an extended lead) round and round one of its owners while the other tried to pick it up. Meanwhile the woman is screaming at me to control my dog and I'm running over as fast as a busted knee will allow.

I actually can't control him hen, that's why I hired this bloody field in the first place.

Turned out they'd read the hire times on the email wrong, but never would admit to whether or not they saw me in the field before entering. Its on a slope so its certainly possible I was hidden from view but surely to God the car being in the loading dock was a bit of a giveaway. Our lad didn't actually make any sort of move to attack the smaller dog but it's quite scary to think how badly that could have gone.

 

[fiwen30]

Even when you try your best to be responsible, idiot owners still somehow manage to spoil things.

We have a now 2yo Christmas reject puppy who grew too big. He has a reasonable prey drive so isn't able to be safely walked off-lead at the moment. As a result we hire a secure field a few times each week to let him have a proper run around. Went to our most local one last night and as it was damp I took a walk around the field with him. We were at the opposite end of the field to the gate when he suddenly shot off in the direction we'd come from. It turned out someone had turned up, somehow missed my car in the loading bay and had just decided to wander in.

My 32kg boy was chasing this tiny little froo-froo dog (attached to an extended lead) round and round one of its owners while the other tried to pick it up. Meanwhile the woman is screaming at me to control my dog and I'm running over as fast as a busted knee will allow.

I actually can't control him hen, that's why I hired this bloody field in the first place.

Turned out they'd read the hire times on the email wrong, but never would admit to whether or not they saw me in the field before entering. Its on a slope so its certainly possible I was hidden from view but surely to God the car being in the loading dock was a bit of a giveaway. Our lad didn't actually make any sort of move to attack the smaller dog but it's quite scary to think how badly that could have gone.

Gosh, that is a scary thought.

If the field doesn’t have clear line of sight, then perhaps there should be some sort of sign you put up when it’s in use, or a coded entry of some kind? A friend of mine rents out time in a field to run her greyhound, and there’s no way the hound wouldn’t have caught that little dog.

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Gosh, that is a scary thought.

If the field doesn’t have clear line of sight, then perhaps there should be some sort of sign you put up when it’s in use, or a coded entry of some kind? A friend of mine rents out time in a field to run her greyhound, and there’s no way the hound wouldn’t have caught that little dog.

There is a code you have to put in to get in but once you're in there you can't lock it again from the inside if that makes sense.

There's another slide bar lock that you use to close the gate behind you.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

There is a code you have to put in to get in but once you're in there you can't lock it again from the inside if that makes sense.

There's another slide bar lock that you use to close the gate behind you.

Yes, I think a "this space has been hired and is in use, do not enter" sign may help. Even if you bring your own, if that's alright. Would be clear notice directly at the gate. Maybe that might help?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If there was a car already there, the other dog's owners are simply idiots. A sign would be equally invisible to them.
We have taken our dogs to a secure field which has a hidden area. We have always checked that the field is empty before letting our Rottweiler loose in the field, as it is known to be used by people on foot.

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Yes, I think a "this space has been hired and is in use, do not enter" sign may help. Even if you bring your own, if that's alright. Would be clear notice directly at the gate. Maybe that might help?

Nah, I'm not going to be going to the hassle of making a sign to take for when I use the field at the time I've hired it. The terms and conditions of using it are clearly set out on the website you book it on and we've never had a problem before now. It's not like you turn up when you feel like it and use it if it's empty, you have to book a slot on a website and pay in advance.

There were two owners there, if they'd had two brain cells to rub together one of them could have wandered in to check it out first if they thought someone was in (which should have been obvious given my car was in the loading bay and they had to have opened two gates to get in). It's not a humongous field so walking a couple of meters into it would have been enough to confirm whether someone else was there.

 

[AmyMay]

Just feed it back to the fields owner that a sign would be useful @CrunchieBoi

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Just feed it back to the fields owner that a sign would be useful @CrunchieBoi

I emailed the providers so will see what they say. The ability to lock it from the inside would be more useful which is what I said in my email.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Ok, sorry for making the suggestion. I suppose it isn't necessarily and possibly would not work anyway. The lock from inside might be more useful. I didn't think before I posted and people around here know how to read and respect signs.

 

[CrunchieBoi]

Ok, sorry for making the suggestion. I suppose it isn't necessarily and possibly would not work anyway. The lock from inside might be more useful. I didn't think before I posted and people around here know how to read and respect signs.

My post probably came across as totally snippy so apologies for that. The other owners were utterly in the wrong and it feels a bit defeatist to pander to their stupidity.

Originally they tried to say that they had come at the correct time but when we both checked emails they admitted they should have been in the half hour slot before us.

Hopefully the ability to lock the field from the inside is something the providers consider.

 

[Nasicus]

My post probably came across as totally snippy so apologies for that. The other owners were utterly in the wrong and it feels a bit defeatist to pander to their stupidity.
Originally they tried to say that they had come at the correct time but when we both checked emails they admitted they should have been in the half hour slot before us.
Hopefully the ability to lock the field from the inside is something the providers consider.

Our local one has a 'occupied' slider on the gate, which seems to help. Not always mind, had some moron wander in before my slot was up.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My post probably came across as totally snippy so apologies for that. The other owners were utterly in the wrong and it feels a bit defeatist to pander to their stupidity.

Originally they tried to say that they had come at the correct time but when we both checked emails they admitted they should have been in the half hour slot before us.

Hopefully the ability to lock the field from the inside is something the providers consider.

Ah, no worries. I am possibly a bit too sensitive at the moment anyway ? with all of life's struggles and the feeling of WW3 looming ?

Anyway, I hate pandering to stupidity and feel as though I shouldn't have to, but sometimes I do it in order to get myself just a moments peace. It's a bit soul destroying at times and I cannot believe some people. I'm fortunate that people around here are fairly sensible, if not strict, when it comes to their dogs.

Hopefully an inner lock can be installed and that'll be the end of it. I don't know why some people are just so blasé.

 

[Annette4]

That's my worst nightmare CB, although I pull into the field we use most often so they would be hard pressed to say they didn't see my giant truck in the gateway ?

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Hopefully a simple catch or slide bolt could be installed at the secure field and problem solved. Good to report it/feed it back. The one we take Ivy to can be bolted from the inside and you bring the key in with you so it can't be unlocked from the outside when in use. I'd be livid if someone just came wandering in with their dog (at least come in without the dog first to check if you really must!) and although Ivy (greyhound) hasn't shown any tendency to chase or interest in small dogs I would be highly uncomfortable with testing her out in that way. The example(s?) on here of greyhounds chasing/attacking small dogs remind me why we need to be careful, it's just not worth the risk. Last time we were there a pheasant made a pheasanty noise a field over and her reaction was so quick, she'd already clocked it and teleported to the other side of the field by the time it had really registered with me so we certainly have work to do on the recall!

A further owner annoyed by my "Ah Ah!/No!" intervention today (with an "I said No!" this time because their red setter didn't want to listen the first couple of times). I need to get over people not liking this and doubting myself. I get probably people aren't going to like their dog being 'told off' by a stranger but there's a good reason I do it. In fairness they did try to put their dog on a lead but it ran away each time they stepped towards it, and at least they didn't wheel out the classic "it's okay..."

 

[AmyMay]

I need to get over people not liking this and doubting myself. I get probably people aren't going to like their dog being 'told off' by a stranger but there's a good reason I do it

I absolutely wouldn’t worry about it.

 

[CorvusCorax]

We actually had a really good day today and I was able to stop her boiling over every time we met a dog. She didn't even lose her shit at any spaniels. It's taken us so long to get here, people like Spangletwat don't realise the damage they can cause.
(Weirdly in training she doesn't give a crap, it's dogs who she perceives are on 'her manor').

I did laugh this evening, there was an elderly cocker who came bowling up to her father and was SO HAPPY about it, head up arse and in face etc and squealing with happiness and the oul fella was like 'meh, whatever'.
Years ago that would have been an 'airs above the ground' type reaction ?

 

[Karran]

Here's one for this morning.
Enter park and see Staffy X on way out. I keep Mrs Collie on the lead, move off of the path. It's too close to engage distraction mode so i'm trying damage limitation, she starts lunging, screaming and spinning at Staffy.
The woman actually tries to bring her dog closer to mine.
'Oh let them make friends, she'll get over it then.'

She did not like my reply! ??‍

 

[CorvusCorax]

At the weekend I was returning from a short walk and saw a a golden retriever puppy running around in a field of donkeys. Then in the car park, an older one came over to mine and started sticking it's head up his ass. I had to grab mine in the collar as he wanted to climb on it to assert his MANLY MANNESS.
Luckily I had a stick in my pocket so I heeled him back to the car.
Remaining two dogs in my car are going biccies.
So it transpires the owner is parked right beside me, she doesn't have a leash on her and she is trying to get two loose dogs into the back of a small car boot and as soon as one gets in, the other jumps out.
So I then have to wait for the circus to conclude before I can go near my own vehicle/put my dog away.
But hey it's goldies, so 'cute' rather than the cops being called if my dogs had been allowed to behave that way....

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I feel your pain, CC, we are trying to teach the pup not to bark at dogs we pass on our walks. She is doing well but we had a hiccup yesterday.
A very few minutes into our walk yesterday (2x adult Labs and 1 x 8 month Lab pup), all on leads on a quiet residential road without pavements, we saw a blonde woman in her 40s with some sort of poodle-x wearing a pink fleece but no lead.
We first spotted the woman standing by a neighbours field gate, weren't sure if she had a dog or not. She walked on and we saw the dog, so don't know whether, she 'forgot' to pick up after it, or she was waiting for it to come out of the field.
Then it chased a cat across the road. We sat ours down to allow her to pass but the dog came across the road towards us. I asked her if she was going to get hold of it. She was extremely rude, told us to mind our own business, 'he didn't get it it' (the cat) and that she walks through this village every day. Not sure of the relevance, or veracity of this, as we also walk up there every day at pretty much the same time and certainly didn't recognise her/the dog.
She doesn't care (her words) that there is a local bye-law that says that all dogs should be on a lead on the highway. We miss the Rottweiler even more at times like this