Local dog agressive dogs muzzled but off lead

galaxy

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is this allowed?

I was walking Harley in my local area today, but not a part I usually go in. I was with my sis in law, her Lab Alfie and her 3 small children. Alfi just bumbles along sniffing and I was playing ball with Harley with my niece. When I play ball with him he is purely focused on the ball. I clocked coming around the corner of this pond 2 sandy coloured lurcher type dogs off the lead and the went running up to harley who was just picking up his ball. The owner called out "they're coming to join in". I don't have a problem with that, I'm happy for harley to meet other dogs. I did think they approached quite fast (unpolite dog language) but when they got there they just started to sniff each other and Alfie bumbled over to say hello. It was this point I noticed they were muzzled (the dogs were sandy coloured and they had basket muzzles on of the same colourm so very camoflaged). Next thing I know they have leapt on Harley really going for him, he's screaming and running back to me with his tail between his legs with their front paws on his back and they making growling attacking noises. The bloke then yells "it's ok, they're muzzled". they got off him when he got back to me, so only lasted 5 secs.

I turned around to the bloke and gave him a piece of my mind. I told him that I didn't care that he thought that muzzling was enough, his dogs just attacked my dog (who is a VERY sensitive Pointer) for no reason at all. If his dogs are not friendly they should be on a lead and he should NOT just let them approach other dogs and go for them!!



Am I right? If dogs are clearly agressive (and these definitly are!) surely they should be on a lead = under control and not just muzzled and given a free rein. I REALLY want to call the dog warden, he's always patrolling our area, and get him to have a stern word. In my mind the more people that report someone, a bigger case will be made against him and getting him to control his dogs.

5 mins later I met some people with some dogs which harley said hello to (phew! he's so sensitive I've had problems in the past if a dog's had a go where he's scared of new dogs after) and I warned the owners about the lurchers at the pond and they told me they knew all about them. They walk there all the time and the guy has only just muzzled the 2nd dog.... so they are obviously a problem.
 
Were they muzzled because they are dog aggressive, or is it that they chase and kill small furries? I only ask because I met a similar dog once out walking with Henry, and was quite worried about it - but actually the dog was fine, the muzzle was to protect bunnies. I just wonder, since you say that Harley is sensitive, whether he may have overreacted? I do not want to offend you by saying this, I'm just wondering if it might be a possibility?

If they are aggressive then a basket muzzle is insufficient IMO. I think DDA exemption dogs are not allowed this kind of muzzle - they must have the mesh type that vets use sometimes. They are also not allowed off lead in public at all.
 
Half of me is thinking it is totally unacceptable, half of me is thinking, well, at least they WERE wearing muzzles. But no harm in having a word with the dog warden if they were body-slamming, it is rude and you could make the point, if they do it to the wrong dog, THEY will get eaten and won't be able to defend themselves?

I have to agree with Spudlet, some dogs do get a bit drama-queen-ish :p and we humans do tend to make a bigger deal and add more stress to situations which most dogs brush off and get over relatively quickly, not criticising you, it's a natural reaction to be scared/shocked/angry but our dogs *do* pick up on it x
 
No, it's ok. I'm not taking offence. I'd say Harley is sensitive in that if a dog goes for him if effects him afterwards (i then have to go out of my way to find friendly dogs to build his confidence again). But he doesn't mind rude dogs approaching too fast, or rough play AT ALL! :) Harley is careful when HE approaches a dog. He is careful and slow. He was taught manners at a young age, but also he has had 3/4 dogs go for him (ALL in my local area, hence I hardly walk there anymore) so he is cautious about other dogs.

They were going for him properly. The noises they were making and their body language. My sis in law has had dogs all her life and worked in a kennels and she was shocked by it and agreed with my reaction.

when I saw them sniffing and noticed the muzzled, I didn't panic because I thought they were muzzled because they were sighthounds.... until they went for him. Then when the guy made the comment "don't worry they are muzzled" it sounded like he wasn't worried about it because he had muzzled them. Certainly when I spoke to the other dog people further on they were not surprised and said they were a problem and it had happened before.
 
oh and when I called his dogs agressive he did not defend them and try and say they were only playing! He knows what they are for sure
 
Well that's different then - yeah, I'd say that really he ought to have them on leads, or at the very least on long lines ready to reel them in when other dogs appear.
 
What an absolute plonker that guy is one day they are going to do that to the wrong dog and he is going to have 2 dead dogs on his hands. Bet he will complain then.

I hope your dog got over his fright.
 
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