Other owners ?

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

They drive me nuts. There’s a group of lockdown puppy owners who stand and socialise in the middle of the field at the park. They do nothing with their dogs. When we had Zak, we carefully avoided them. With Bear, we don’t really worry, he’s completely dog neutral despite years of being with Zak. However, there’s a 2 year old cross that has never learned (been taught) a solid recall and gets in everyone else’s face. Then there’s the ‘puppy’ (looks about a year old) retriever that was determined to make friends yesterday. ‘Oh why won’t you come?’ Because you haven’t taught a solid recall, maybe? Or worse, the pathetic calling of the dog’s name-no instruction-from afar. I’ve sent the dog away, funny how it responds to a firm command. ?‍??‍

We still train/do retrieves/searches to keep Bear entertained. We use the cover on 2 sides of the park, houses and tennis courts make up the other 2. I am frequently having to recall Bear so others can retrieve their dogs. Worse, the bloke who told me his dog needed Bear to tell him off to stop being a pain. How is this my dog’s job?!

Someone please tell me why people imagine their dog should be born trained or be allowed to harass other owners!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

[Inappropriate quoted content removed]

That’s shocking. ? It was a constant when we did big woods walks, recalling ours so other owners could catch theirs. I would quietly report idiot cane corso owner. I avoid the park where the Akita x that bit mine goes. If an owner can’t recall, the dog should not be off lead. A big dog like that could do a lot of damage trying to hump yours. I’d be furious and wouldn’t hold back, but the owner sounds well dodgy.

 

[AmyMay]

[Inappropriate quoted content removed]

That’s absolutely appalling!

I’m very lucky with my interactions with other dogs. Don’t really have much problem tbh. But I have gone from being polite, to just being downright rude (if it’s required). I’m often walking four at a time, often off lead where safe (but always under close control), and people are often surprised to learn that only two are ever mine, as they all listen to me. My key commands are quickly learned, and they all respond well to them. I am sympathetic to puppy owners, and depending on what dogs I’m walking don’t always discourage interaction if it happens.

Most of us want well socialised dogs, and that can only happen if controlled socialisation is allowed to happen. During the winter months on the beach it’s nothing to have 8 or 9 dogs happily playing, hanging out, together on the beach.

What I can’t abide is most holiday makers attitudes though, and for many their total lack of control over their dogs - and I actively avoid the tourist hot spots during peak holiday season.

I only walk one dog where I actively avoid most other dogs, as he’s not terribly reliable.

But, generally, I’m very lucky where I live. And am happy for a bit of give and take. I enjoy a chat, just as much as my dogs do.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That’s absolutely appalling!

I’m very lucky with my interactions with other dogs. Don’t really have much problem tbh. But I have gone from being polite, to just being downright rude (if it’s required). I’m often walking four at a time, often off lead where safe (but always under close control), and people are often surprised to learn that only two are ever mine, as they all listen to me. My key commands are quickly learned, and they all respond well to them. I am sympathetic to puppy owners, and depending on what dogs I’m walking don’t always discourage interaction if it happens.

Most of us want well socialised dogs, and that can only happen if controlled socialisation is allowed to happen. During the winter months on the beach it’s nothing to have 8 or 9 dogs happily playing, hanging out, together on the beach.

What I can’t abide is most holiday makers attitudes though, and for many their total lack of control over their dogs - and I actively avoid the tourist hot spots during peak holiday season.

I only walk one dog where I actively avoid most other dogs, as he’s not terribly reliable.

But, generally, I’m very lucky where I live. And am happy for a bit of give and take. I enjoy a chat, just as much as my dogs do.

Actually imo well socialised dogs will simply ignore other dogs unless they are specifically walking with them. I certainly don't want mine being approached by random dogs whose health and behaviour, I know nothing about.

 

[WWO]

I no longer walk in the parks round here. One of mine hates men as he was abused as a pup so I keep them on the lead, the other is really friendly off lead but on lead hates other dogs getting in his space and because they are small dogs all other owners ignore me saying, please give me space. Bloody idiots! If I had big dogs I'm sure they would back off quicker. One couple near me has a really un friendly saluki he has no control of at all. And nearly drags him over on the lead.

 

[some show]

I've got a 39kg greyhound, on the lead, wearing a muzzle - amazing how many people allow (or can't stop) their small terrier/doodle types to run right at us while I'm obviously trying to stand to one side. He was totally unsocialised when I got him and I spent months and months doing positive reinforcement, hiding in driveways, walking the long way round to avoid difficult situations etc! He's really good now (five years on) except with dogs bombing straight towards him from a distance (with calls of "He's friendly!"), which I think is fair enough really.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I've got a 39kg greyhound, on the lead, wearing a muzzle - amazing how many people allow (or can't stop) their small terrier/doodle types to run right at us while I'm obviously trying to stand to one side. He was totally unsocialised when I got him and I spent months and months doing positive reinforcement, hiding in driveways, walking the long way round to avoid difficult situations etc! He's really good now (five years on) except with dogs bombing straight towards him from a distance (with calls of "He's friendly!"), which I think is fair enough really.

I‘m with you on that, the whole ‘He’s friendly’ as their untrained dog who they are unable to recall comes bombing at mine! This was Zak’s big hate and of course it was always my fault when he defended himself and how dare I have him off lead even tho I was on the other side of the park and had him on the lead under close control. He would never go over to other dogs, he didn’t like them, but if they jumped on him, then I don’t think he was to blame if he got peed off and told them off.

I love having a chat with other dog owners, but not when it’s because they’re having to haul their dog away because it’s untrained/has zero recall.

 

[some show]

I‘m with you on that, the whole ‘He’s friendly’ as their untrained dog who they are unable to recall comes bombing at mine! This was Zak’s big hate and of course it was always my fault when he defended himself and how dare I have him off lead even tho I was on the other side of the park and had him on the lead under close control. He would never go over to other dogs, he didn’t like them, but if they jumped on him, then I don’t think he was to blame if he got peed off and told them off.

I love having a chat with other dog owners, but not when it’s because they’re having to haul their dog away because it’s untrained/has zero recall.

I so agree with you! You see them haring towards you and your heart sinks! And the people who just shrug and say 'well mine needs telling off anyway' are just as bad, really. Not our dogs' job to correct yours, and it certainly doesn't help our dogs' reactivity to have to do it!

 

[Moobli]

I agree with pearlsasinger about socialisation and prefer not to have my dogs interacting with strange dogs. From a young age I try hard to make people and their dogs, traffic, horse riders, livestock etc etc just an unimportant part of the environment for my dogs. Not relevant to them. It’s hard though when the “don’t worry he’s friendly” brigade allow their dogs to run over regularly. I now avoid other people and their dogs as much as practicable and will actively change direction if I see them in the horizon.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I agree with pearlsasinger about socialisation and prefer not to have my dogs interacting with strange dogs. From a young age I try hard to make people and their dogs, traffic, horse riders, livestock etc etc just an unimportant part of the environment for my dogs. Not relevant to them. It’s hard though when the “don’t worry he’s friendly” brigade allow their dogs to run over regularly. I now avoid other people and their dogs as much as practicable and will actively change direction if I see them in the horizon.

We have multiple dogs, who also get the opportunity to interact with other dogs within the extended family, they certainly don't need to 'play' with strange dogs while out walking. However in the right circumstances, I am pleased that, because they do interact with several other dogs, they are able to play sociably with other dogs that they have just been introduced to.

 

[Mary3050]

Don’t get me started on this they are driving me mad . One our spaniels has been know to swallow small balls whole . A few months into lockdown a women with a young pair of jack Russell pups (maybe 5 months old) come with little kong balls into the dog off lead area in the park . I said hey can you not throw the little balls while I grab my spaniel as he swallows them . She throws the ball and goes my dogs don’t do that . Spaniel beats the jack Russell to the ball (he’s got an insane toy drive) . Before I could even say drop he’s swallowed it . The women just stood saying he’s ate my poor baby’s ball . I turned around and went your poor dogs my dogs now gonna have to have surgery again . The vets have no advised I muzzle him in public places as he can’t keep having the op done.

The our older spaniel had just one his cruciate ligaments done in his back legs. We had only been walking him to the end of the road and back for weeks . Then vet said 20 walk we live directly on the park so we avoided peak times or so we thought. We hadn’t even done 2 minutes when a less than year old sheepdog come running up to us off lead . Owner could not get it to come back . Kept saying it’s friendly . It jumped on our spaniels back end . Our spaniel fell and yelped over it kept jumping on him even when he was on the floor bitting his legs . So I had to grab the sheepdog by the scuff not something I usually don’t . The owner went mad saying I was strangling her dog . Our spaniel couldn’t get up . I had to ring my neighbour to carry him home . Cost £3500 at the vets both his ligaments where turn as the web in the original one .

Lockdown pups have cost me a fortune . Then this doesn’t include or the other time . I have been knocked over by a large mastiff , my little dogs has been pinned down by a few large pups. My spaniels have been nipped by small dogs . Walking is becoming a high mare . I tend to go early or late to avoid peak times . Gald it’s not just me become an old grouch

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Don’t get me started on this they are driving me mad . One our spaniels has been know to swallow small balls whole . A few months into lockdown a women with a young pair of jack Russell pups (maybe 5 months old) come with little kong balls into the dog off lead area in the park . I said hey can you not throw the little balls while I grab my spaniel as he swallows them . She throws the ball and goes my dogs don’t do that . Spaniel beats the jack Russell to the ball (he’s got an insane toy drive) . Before I could even say drop he’s swallowed it . The women just stood saying he’s ate my poor baby’s ball . I turned around and went your poor dogs my dogs now gonna have to have surgery again . The vets have no advised I muzzle him in public places as he can’t keep having the op done.

The our older spaniel had just one his cruciate ligaments done in his back legs. We had only been walking him to the end of the road and back for weeks . Then vet said 20 walk we live directly on the park so we avoided peak times or so we thought. We hadn’t even done 2 minutes when a less than year old sheepdog come running up to us off lead . Owner could not get it to come back . Kept saying it’s friendly . It jumped on our spaniels back end . Our spaniel fell and yelped over it kept jumping on him even when he was on the floor bitting his legs . So I had to grab the sheepdog by the scuff not something I usually don’t . The owner went mad saying I was strangling her dog . Our spaniel couldn’t get up . I had to ring my neighbour to carry him home . Cost £3500 at the vets both his ligaments where turn as the web in the original one .

Lockdown pups have cost me a fortune . Then this doesn’t include or the other time . I have been knocked over by a large mastiff , my little dogs has been pinned down by a few large pups. My spaniels have been nipped by small dogs . Walking is becoming a high mare . I tend to go early or late to avoid peak times . Gald it’s not just me become an old grouch

I hope you find her and give her the bill. We had the same with one of our spaniels, a huge show type lab jumped on him and the owner blamed us-for having an on lead dog! He was a proper bully this dog, regularly went for mine but we were in the woods so difficult to see. I went ballistic at her and told her I’d be speaking to the dog warden after she told me to walk elsewhere! We’d used those woods from day one with that dog. She got a trainer involved after that who basically taught her to stuff treats down the dog to distract him. He grew fat and anytime she saw us, she’d grab him.

A Black and Tan cocker, nearly as big as Bear, who is, IMO, hugely oversized for a springer, appeared out of nowhere today. It kept poking him-we were walking out of the park. Bear got fed up and chased it but stopped as soon as we told him. It scarpered, but if we’d had Zak, it would have been a different story.

 

[MissTyc]

"I'm sorry but he's not friendly; he's RUDE." is a common grumpy snap of mine when ridiculously rude dogs with no communicative abilities try to engage my reactive terrier or my shy puppy in completely inappropriate ways. I don't mind an appropriately socialised dog wandering over to us, because that sort of dog takes one look at my terrier's face and heads off the other way. That's what social skills actually look like. Wanting to bounce on EVERYONE is a social deficit, not a skill. Worse, so many of these so-called "friendly" dogs are well up for a scrap when my terrier tells them what he thinks of them - because in reality they are entitled bullies that cannot handle a telling off. When I still had my Rottie x GSD I wasn't half as nervous out walking as she would flatten any rude dog without hurting them. My current dogs, however, are only little but and I worry they could get into real trouble even while under control or on lead. I too avoid parks, but then just last week a "friendly" large dog came bounding across the road to my pavement. Bounced on us, wouldn't take no for an answer, put me in an awful situation where honestly I would kicked it if I thought it would make it go away. My puppy was screaming and wet herself she was so scared and this dog smashed into me hard as I tried to body block. But apparently it's "friendly".

 

[maisie06]

If I have to walk where there's lots of other dogs I wear steel toe caps. We have lots of Bully breeds around here and there's one or two that are very nasty and allowed to run amok off lead, one has already mauled several other dogs and will be getting a bloody boot if it comes near mine...

For the silly people with the "he's friendly" type of annoying doodle thing I just yell, Mine's not so get your bleddy dog please. And the idiots with flexi leads who make a bee line for us and then try to shove a young pup in my dogs face....I'm just extremely rude to them now!

 

[MissTyc]

And the idiots with flexi leads who make a bee line for us and then try to shove a young pup in my dogs face....I'm just extremely rude to them now!

OMG this!!! I feel quite guilty at the number of puppies my reactive terrier has flipped at and terrified .... but I did tell the owners not to keep coming closer. One lady said "I thought adult dogs tolerate puppies?" ... I explained that many do not and some can be very nasty towards puppies. And also now her puppy would probably be reactive like mine as he looked quite terrified at being forced to approach in the first place and then all his fears were confirmed when my dog lunged and pinned him, so good luck, goodbye and enjoy. - this was on the street, btw, not in a park! She actually crossed the road to get closer to me. I actually thought there must be some kind of emergency that she desperately needed help with such was the purpose of her approach.

 

[Clodagh]

That’s absolutely appalling!

I’m very lucky with my interactions with other dogs. Don’t really have much problem tbh. But I have gone from being polite, to just being downright rude (if it’s required). I’m often walking four at a time, often off lead where safe (but always under close control), and people are often surprised to learn that only two are ever mine, as they all listen to me. My key commands are quickly learned, and they all respond well to them. I am sympathetic to puppy owners, and depending on what dogs I’m walking don’t always discourage interaction if it happens.

Most of us want well socialised dogs, and that can only happen if controlled socialisation is allowed to happen. During the winter months on the beach it’s nothing to have 8 or 9 dogs happily playing, hanging out, together on the beach.
But, generally, I’m very lucky where I live. And am happy for a bit of give and take. I enjoy a chat, just as much as my dogs do.

I’m with you, apart from Pen ours are fine so she does get slipped on a lead if we see a dog approaching. I think living so rurally helps as we only seem to meet nice dogs. Next doors two collies run loose all day and one of them is a bit iffy but stops when you tell her by name to get back in.
The last two off lead dogs we have met (apart from collies running with Gators) ours have had zoomie play with.

 

[TheresaW]

Bo is so much happier off lead, and has good recall. If I see other dogs on lead when out and about, I put his slip lead on as a matter of course. I took him out on his own with me yesterday. First 2 dogs we saw, on lead, so he went on lead. We stood to one side and I warned the owners he may kick off; sorry. Got a don’t worry, one of these will too. All fine, went on our way. Next saw two doodle types coming towards us. Both off lead and they turned off the way I was going. Slowed myself down, but obviously they were slower as we kind of caught up. Bo stayed close, then both doodles came running at him. They were friendly enough, but were sniffing him all over and he just stood there looking a bit put out, whilst the owners tried to call them back to no avail. I called him to my side and other two eventually went back to their owners.

 

[Clodagh]

Bo is so much happier off lead, and has good recall. If I see other dogs on lead when out and about, I put his slip lead on as a matter of course. I took him out on his own with me yesterday. First 2 dogs we saw, on lead, so he went on lead. We stood to one side and I warned the owners he may kick off; sorry. Got a don’t worry, one of these will too. All fine, went on our way. Next saw two doodle types coming towards us. Both off lead and they turned off the way I was going. Slowed myself down, but obviously they were slower as we kind of caught up. Bo stayed close, then both doodles came running at him. They were friendly enough, but were sniffing him all over and he just stood there looking a bit put out, whilst the owners tried to call them back to no avail. I called him to my side and other two eventually went back to their owners.

Rude sniffing Pen does not tolerate, poor old Bo.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

Our neighbours dog has turned into a complete nightmare! Recently has started running up into our garden and barking. I tell them to get dog under control, "it is"! He doesn't even carry a lead.

 

[Nasicus]

Our neighbours dog has turned into a complete nightmare! Recently has started running up into our garden and barking. I tell them to get dog under control, "it is"! He doesn't even carry a lead.

Our streets drug dealer lets his two huge dogs accompany him down to his deals, multiple time a day. Large Blue Staffy and huge Mastiff cross. No control, no manners, no leads. Multiple times a day they run riot all over the cul-de-sac, pissing on peoples gardens, running up to homes gates, running up to people, winding everyone elses dogs up something chronic. Same two dogs that Pup and I had our incident with, so whenever she see's them she starts scream barking, and gets upset whenever she hears druggies voice. And then once I've got her settled again, he comes on back up. Multiple times a day. Sometimes multiple times an hour. All day, even in to the night. And he's never quiet about it, so even with having the lower half of the windows fogged and the windows shut, she still hears him effing and jeffing at his dogs as they run amok.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

OMG this!!! I feel quite guilty at the number of puppies my reactive terrier has flipped at and terrified .... but I did tell the owners not to keep coming closer. One lady said "I thought adult dogs tolerate puppies?" ... I explained that many do not and some can be very nasty towards puppies. And also now her puppy would probably be reactive like mine as he looked quite terrified at being forced to approach in the first place and then all his fears were confirmed when my dog lunged and pinned him, so good luck, goodbye and enjoy. - this was on the street, btw, not in a park! She actually crossed the road to get closer to me. I actually thought there must be some kind of emergency that she desperately needed help with such was the purpose of her approach.

The kind of owner I really hate. I had one cross the road to get to me as I was picking up poo from on lead Zak. Utter pita. It would not have ended well had I not told him to keep at a distance.

 

[Ratface]

Re the drug dealer and his ?dangerous dogs. Would a word to the police/dog warden be any good?

 

[Mary3050]

I hope you find her and give her the bill. We had the same with one of our spaniels, a huge show type lab jumped on him and the owner blamed us-for having an on lead dog! He was a proper bully this dog, regularly went for mine but we were in the woods so difficult to see. I went ballistic at her and told her I’d be speaking to the dog warden after she told me to walk elsewhere! We’d used those woods from day one with that dog. She got a trainer involved after that who basically taught her to stuff treats down the dog to distract him. He grew fat and anytime she saw us, she’d grab him.

A Black and Tan cocker, nearly as big as Bear, who is, IMO, hugely oversized for a springer, appeared out of nowhere today. It kept poking him-we were walking out of the park. Bear got fed up and chased it but stopped as soon as we told him. It scarpered, but if we’d had Zak, it would have been a different story.

My step dad carried that ball around that had been removed from our dogs stomach for weeks on walks in a bag . He saw her went here’s your precious ball . Then showed her the bill and the dogs scars . He was pretty pissed off . Told her that she is lucky he made it through the op because of her idiotic behaviour . She walked off in tears and we haven’t seen her at the park since ?

They think they own everything and you owe them everything

 

[Mary3050]

If I have to walk where there's lots of other dogs I wear steel toe caps. We have lots of Bully breeds around here and there's one or two that are very nasty and allowed to run amok off lead, one has already mauled several other dogs and will be getting a bloody boot if it comes near mine...

For the silly people with the "he's friendly" type of annoying doodle thing I just yell, Mine's not so get your bleddy dog please. And the idiots with flexi leads who make a bee line for us and then try to shove a young pup in my dogs face....I'm just extremely rude to them now!

hum now I am not saying I have started to use my spaniel being muzzled as a deterrent but … I haven’t been correcting people who don’t know us on that assumption ?. Comes in handy when our little dog is being harassed by a young dog doodle on flex lead “that’s only wanting to playing “ looked more aggressive play . Jumping on her back, biting face , legs and ears etc . After trying to get it off her for a while owner just stood there . I just went get you dog now or I am tacking his muzzle off and he will sort it out . They unpinned there dog off my little one after it nipped her in the process . She ran off shouting I am reporting your dangerous dog . I went go on then think they will deme yours the danger . Little did she know that MR springer is soft as muck but worked wonders . She kept it on a lead every time she saw us ? . Not my proudest moment but whoops .

 

[fankino04]

Sadly I was THAT dog walker a few weeks ago ? I was talking sister in law's dog out with a client's, they are both great off lead and have fab recall but sil dog is a bit eager to make friends, clients dog ignores everyone and everything. Whenever we saw another dog I called Ozzy back held his collar as we walked past and then let him go and catch cupik up, worked perfectly until the last dog that for some inexplicable reason he swiftly turned back to as he HAD to say hi, I was mortified, thankfully other dog didn't have any issues, owner was fine and I quickly retrieved Ozzy with much apologies ?‍

 

[Clodagh]

We are very rural now and many people have free range dogs. Out walking recently and the farmer came out and said she had seen me walking before, if I was going past her house and her dogs came out after mine I was to shout stop at them, and their names, and it would work as one was DA otherwise. Well it really does, although mine are a bit thrown by it.

 

[Mary3050]

Sadly I was THAT dog walker a few weeks ago ? I was talking sister in law's dog out with a client's, they are both great off lead and have fab recall but sil dog is a bit eager to make friends, clients dog ignores everyone and everything. Whenever we saw another dog I called Ozzy back held his collar as we walked past and then let him go and catch cupik up, worked perfectly until the last dog that for some inexplicable reason he swiftly turned back to as he HAD to say hi, I was mortified, thankfully other dog didn't have any issues, owner was fine and I quickly retrieved Ozzy with much apologies ?‍

I think we all know our dogs don’t always do as they are told . They are dogs after all . It’s the repeat offenders that get me and those who don’t care .

 

[fankino04]

QUOTE="Mary3050, post: 14762435, member: 138345"]I think we all know our dogs don’t always do as they are told . They are dogs after all . It’s the repeat offenders that get me and those who don’t care .[/QUOTE]
Or the ones that blame you if you have a nervous dog and want them to keep theirs away from yours even though it was people like them letting their bullying dogs race up to yours that made him a nervous dog to begin with ?

 

[LaurenBay]

I was walking with my friend around our local park a few weeks ago. My Dog is super friendly but most of the time on lead as his recall isn't 100%. Friends Dog's recall is super but she doesn't like strange dogs approaching. We were walking and chatting, minding our own when a Dog approached them (both of ours on lead) Dog completely ignoring his owner. This happened 3 more times during our walk, same owner and same Dog! friend said perhaps she could keep hers on a lead going forwards and her response was "oh but he is too friendly to be kept on a lead"

 

[fankino04]

The other day I met a guy with an on lead lab, he moved the lab off the path, sat him down and started to give him treats, I called the dog I was walking back to my side and gave him a bit more space as he was obviously working on training his. As we went past his dog lunged forward and started barking, he apologized and said it was just frustration at not being allowed to play with the other dog and that he is super friendly. What a breath of fresh air to meet someone working on their dogs impulse control.