should these dogs have muzzles on?

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Lucy_Nottingham

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I am a bit stuck at the minute.
Occasionally we walk the dogs in the morning round the park at the back of our house, sometimes we do heel work.

If we go to the park occasionally this lady comes round with 2 greyhounds on leads.

Beau (being beau!) will say hello to most dogs. He is getting miles better at coming away before he gets to them if I call him (he will come straight away once he has said hello!!! stupid mutt!
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however, these greyhounds are not friendly. The lady does not let them off the leads, but if any of our three dogs get anywhere near them they lunge on the leads at the dogs. If beau even gets close they really lunge and obviously two greyhounds are quite strong and sometimes I am like argh, not sure she will hold them!
as I say beau will turn for me, but he always goes to see so obv they set off.

They are not on short leads, and the teeth are bared........ should they be muzzled even though they are on leads?! just in case either a) beau didnt turn (which I accept would be him being naughty) or b) someone with a worse behaved dog that wouldnt turn (its funny thinking someone has a worse behaved dog!
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just wondering as when they do it, it really puts my back up, but I dont know if I have the right to say anything or not.......... not that i would unless something did happen obv......
 
Without wishing to offend you, I would say that perhaps the greyhounds should be muzzled but I would more focus on stopping your dogs going up and annoying other dogs? As a greyhound owner, who always has them on a lead, it drives me nuts when people let their dogs wander up to mine and annoy them
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My two also will lunge at other dogs when they are hassled whilst on the lead (although definitely not with teeth bared!) but they are just being curious/friendly in return - they can appear very intimidating to other dogs when they both do it however, and they managed to frighten my farrier's poor little spaniel/lurcher cross today
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I personally think yes, but others may disagree. If my dog had shown tendencies like that I would. You never know what could happen, what if she did let go?
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I know what you mean about having to say hello first. My retrievers are the same, everyones a new friend target
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Elle
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No I know I am working on beau returning away from dogs. He has always been incredibly dog orientated, but he is learning that when I say come away he comes! (9/10 we get it!)

I am not offended fret not!
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If they were play lunging sort of with him I wouldnt mind, but its not!! and thats where my problem lies!
I dont mind dogs telling him off if he is being irritating! but when he is just runnign past them, not even to them, they lunge! (which to me is not ok!?)
 
That is a good point Splotchy, didn't think of that (glad your on the ball
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That sense of confinement almost from the lead can make dogs act that way, a few where I walk are like that on leads but then perfectly fine off lead. I suppose its one of those occasions where maybe it is best to recall and put your own dog on a lead when you see another dog on a lead just in case, good recall practice too
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Elle
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Unfortunately greyhounds are sighthounds with (in some cases) a very strong prey/chasing instinct - hence when something fluffy runs past them (like Beau) then their instinct is to chase. So they lunge after him - it is just their instinct, bred into them over generations, and depending on how strong their instinct is there is not a right lot their owner can do to stop them
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I have found this over the past 20 years of sighthound ownership btw, beating them, shouting at them, telling them off does not have any effect if (like Islay for example) they are totally 100% fixated on murdering the cat they can see
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I suppose it is down to experiences and expectations, the behaviour that you have described does not surprise or concern me in the least because I own that breed of dog. If there was any chance that the dogs might break free and capture whatever they were lunging at, then of course they should be muzzled.

I am currently debating whether to muzzle my two on the yard, as there is a dumb-ass cat which thinks that all dogs are friendly, and one day it is going to find out the hard way that they are not if I am not 100% vigilant all the time
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Nope.....if she has them on a lead and does not let them off she is responsible in my eyes the dogs approaching or the owner(sorry
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) are in the wrong, she is being responsible keeping the dogs restrained the people who's dogs run up to hers maybe also need to be on a lead
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I personally don't think so.

If a loose dog comes up to my dogs they don't like it and will growl/snap if they don't back off. I keep them on a short lead and if I see someone with a loose dog I keep as far away as possible and call out for them to keep their dog away.
They don't seek to snap at others so it's the other owners fault IMO.
 
No she shouldn't muzzle the dog.

She has the dog on the lead, she is being responsible.

As an owner of an ex ASBO dog i know when i am out and i see dogs on the lead i put my dogs on their leads out of respect because i know how hard it can be for the owner to control their ASBO dog.
It is the most annoying thing to be trying to control your dog and having some other owners dog come running up to you.

You see dogs on the lead you either trust that your dog is not interested and will stay away or you put them on the lead until past the dogs.
So really i actually think you are in the wrong.
 
Nope. Your dog shouldn't be approaching someone elses unless it is off the lead and you have permitted your dog to.
Your dogs are in the wrong as these dogs are on the lead. If I was the other owner I would be irritated!
I would say yours should be on the lead until recall is 100%, which obviously is a pain to train into them but as the owner of several 100% recall dogs, not impossible!
 
One of my lurcher's does much the same - he is nervous on the lead when other dogs approach and feels trapped so he barks and shows his teeth as a warning, other dog will also join in thinking the barking is a big game and bounces about all excitedly (unfortunately it also looks aggressive to most people). nervous dog if let off will run (he's learnt he's faster than most dogs!) and other dog will try to play by madly running about sending anything in her way flying - usually owners!!! I don't muzzle them on the lead. friendly one is muzzled off lead around smaller animals as she goes for anything that runs!
 
Its ok, I wasnt looking for people to go YES SILLY COW SHOULD HAVE THEM SHOT! or anything was just wondering what opinions are!
unfortuantly its a small park, so we normally do a couple of laps.
The spaniels recall is 100%, and beau is (as I say) about 99% its just new dogs are his 1% distraction, but its almost perfect now (and as I said in OP I am working on it being 100 as I know thats what he needs to be!)

The woman doesnt necessarily help though as she generally walks hers really quite close to us, and doesnt make a point of saying "my dogs dont like others" or asking about staying on the other side of the park, as if we do, she just follows, and its a bit like ARGH! but there we go
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just one of those problems with a small park!

Splotchy, ye I realise that about them being sighthounds! its a good job they are such attractive dogs isnt it!
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Thank you for your opinons, I was just unsure as to whether being on the lead was enough for dogs that obviously dont like other dogs, being walked in a dog park?! (as in a park 99% used for people walking dogs, including old people with their little dodderers which would be great greyhound snacks! MWAHAHAHAHA!
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Sorry wasn't having a go just wanted to express my experiences.

If it's a small park i can see why it's a bit annoying for you to try and avoid them.

I don't tend to go to parks because it's just a nightmare to have a dog lunging about and nothing we have tried training wise has helped Dom, he wasn't socialised for the first year of his life and he takes a long time to trust other dogs (he's a rescue). We can't let either of them off lead in parks so it's pointless going there, they both get walked off lead 99% of the time as Bes lives to run (and sleep) so we've mostly avoided the problem.
 
I'm sorry but I don't see why this woman is at fault. You can't expect her to keep away from your loose dog, or warn you about your loose dog approaching hers.

I appreciate you are training him, but I think you are at fault when your dog does not recall and winds up hers.
 
he doesnt wind them up, he has tried to say hello once, which was how I found out they were unfriendly!

but I am not saying she is at fault, just that its a bit annoying when we have to alter our well behaved, nice dogs walks for her with her unfriendly dogs. But also get that we all have to get on with what life throws at us!

and beau does recall!! and does not wind hers up as i say, to say hello he runs up then flops to the floor, but he doesnt do that 9/10 now as I say, and he doesnt with these dogs any more but they still try to get to him! which is what bugs me, but so long as they dont latch on its not a problem.
I was just asking what would be said if they did manage to (either beau getting too close, or her letting go or losing grip of their leads)

please dont have a go as I am not saying i am going to take any action against her, just wanted to know what peoples opinions would be with it!
 
pmsl-your well behaved dog is the problem here and I think you're failing to see it!
If your dog was on the lead or had good enough recall to stay to heel whilst walking past these dogs you wouldn't have to alter your walks more than to skirt round each other...
If they latch on it's your fault for not having yours on a lead...
 
Haven't read through all of the posts but whilst I was out walking with CC, her dog Bodo and my dog tikka , We sat quietly and had something to eat, Next thing we spotted this beagle come bouncing towards tikka .

Tikka was on a lead, other dog was not, Several times CC called to the owners to call their dog off, I in the meantime was dealing with holding tikka , Under no circumstances would I think about putting a muzzle on her, At the end of the day I was the one being responsible and having her on a lead , whereas the silly lady continued to let her dog come bouncing up to meet tikka , who does not take too kindly to other dogs (working on that ) I really do think you should have your dog on a lead though
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If anything ....for the safety of your dog . God forbid if either dog was to get hurt
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By the way .... I was raging that the other lady had her dog off the lead and thought it was ok for her dog to confront tikka .

Really not a good idea
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Sorry Lucy, I have to agree with the majority and say they shouldn't be muzzled , they were on lead so the owner was being responsible. I walk with a friend who had a very dog aggressive Shepherd, he has improved 100% and very rarely reacts even when dogs come up to him, but it is so infuriating when people let their dogs run up and say "they are only being friendly". Yes they probably are but he does not like his space being invaded
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I do sympathise with the park issue though, I went to visit my daughter at uni last weekend and took Evie. We went for a walk in the local park, Evie is great with other dogs at training but has never met other dogs running free, so when we saw other people with dogs I called her back and put her on lead. I was not impressed with one person who threw her collies ball on a rope right in front of us, had Evie not been on lead I suspect she might have got to it first, as it was I just had a rather stretched arm
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^ What they all said, sorry
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you are asking for opinions, that is mine.

Agree with Col, that was so out of order of those women, they were called three or four times and as they walked past one muttered' sorry'.
Your dog may be friendly, others may not and if dog gets injured, then what?
 
As I say no need to apologise (so long as you are nice about it!
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I just wanted opinions, and to be honest beau has now learnt those 2 greyhounds are not dogs to try to say hello to, so in actual fact its quite good for me to use it to teach him to turn, as he doesnt go up to them now!

Thank you for your opinions, especially those that were given in a nicer manner!
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CC I do always apologise if beau does cause a problem, not mutter it!
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He is, as I say getting so much better, but its almost impossible to go on a walk somewhere where there are not nice dogs. These are the only dogs in the area that come to that park which are unpleasant!! all the others just play with each other and its great!
 
Good - while I think it is brilliant that dogs can interact with one another, it is healthy, it is good for them and that restricting play can lead to other problems - no one knows that more than I do - the dog should wait to be allowed to play with other dogs and be told that it is OK, not just tank off when they feel like it, possibly up to more unfriendly dogs (not saying this is what Beau does).

That is why I think it is important to teach a word like 'go on then' or 'free!' to let a dog know that it is OK to bomb off and have fun.
You can introduce this during training, as it is a helpful tool and breaks up the monotony for young dogs being asked to do the same thing over and over and over again.
So, say, do five sits and then 'free!' throw a ball, have fun. Walk to heel for 30 paces, then 'free'.
So the dog is working for a fun reward.

As you know I did have a hard time with my dog and it really didn't help when I was trying to train him, people's off lead dogs would come and thrust their nose up his backside while I held on for grim death, despite calling out for people not to let their dogs approach.
He is so much better now, but it was frustrating and I am sure some of those who posted have experienced something similar, hence the tone of some replies
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He does now normally wait for a "go on then" which is his release term but occasionally it is just a brain goes out his bum moment!
I understand that it will annoy people, which is why we are trying so hard to get him to turn on cue, which (as I said) he is getting so much better at, almost perfect!

I was just a bit miffed at the tone of some peoples replies as I was not bad mouthing the lady I was just asking opinions on whether I was right or wrong in thinking they should be muzzled, I wasnt intending on being opened up for some people to rant at me.......

you, as you say, have had issues, but your comment was nice, explaining and constructive, not just aggressive about it! which I find nice to read through so thank you!
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I will still be working on beaus come away work!
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he will even leave the beloved spaniels now!
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(if you could imagine two doggy magnets, thats what its like!!!!)
 
Lucy, the tone of some of the replies on here put my back up and it isn't even my thread!

Most people here are understanding about what it is like to be in the process of overcoming an issue with their animals, but one or two need to remember what is was like to have a dog in training I think, and stop polishing their halos.

I'm working on Henry with just the same thing, we should have a support group. Possibly with t-shirts saying - 'Sorry, I know he's a hooligan but I'm working on it!'
 
Oops, hope I wasn't too harsh
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I actually commented to my daughter that in some ways dogs brought up with parks etc to exercise in had an advantage as they learn from a young age to interact with other dogs, but I suppose the down side is that they do expect all dogs to want to play and that is sadly not the case.
 
No chick, as I said most people on here know what it's like to have a dog that you're training or that has an issue of some kind no matter what it is.
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I do also find it annoying when Henry is on a lead and people let their dogs come charging over, but I don't get annoyed if I can see they are trying to get the dog away, and I'll always accept an apology. Not that henry is agressive, he just yanks my arm off trying to play!
 
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please dont have a go as I am not saying i am going to take any action against her, just wanted to know what peoples opinions would be with it!

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I am sorry if you think I was having a go, that was not my intention. You did ask though and in my opinion no, these dogs should not be muzzled, your dog should be under your control and this means being able to accommodate other people who are minding their own business and walking their dogs in the dog park.

I do understand about training, but when my dogs fail to recall, I apologise, I don't think someone else's animals should be better behaved.

I also agree that dogs should be allowed to socialise, but by keeping hers on the lead this woman was indicating that she did not want them to socialise, so the fact that yours only wanted to say hello is irrelevant. Many dogs might respond this way to a strange dog invading their space while they are on the lead.
 
I can see both sides.

This woman has her dogs on a lead becuase they obviously appear unfriendley. She is therefore, being responsible.

However, I have a young puppy, an english pointer and if he doesn't get atleast an hour and a half walk a day OFF THE LEAD, he's impossible at home. It's unreasonable to suggest he should be walked on a lead, it's just completely unrealistic imo, so when we're on walks and he bounds up to other dogs being friendley I DO expect other dog owners to be acceptant of the fact that he is a puppy, with a big bounding personality.

Therefore if it was me in this situation, I'd simply walk my dogs somewhere else
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Why is it unreasonable to expect a dog to be walked on the lead? If his recall isn't there yet, I wouldn't walk mine off lead, it is too big a risk to take, not just with dogs, but with traffic, livestock etc. Also, 90 minutes - what age is he? You're letting him in for bother structurally if you over-exercise from a young age. You can tire a dog out mentally with training and games as much as by walking and running.

If a dog had a go at yours for bounding up to him (as my dog would have done, not so long ago), would you would blame the on-lead dog?
For my dog, he needs to know that his interaction with any animal or person is on my terms, not his. He doesn't decide who he runs up to, I do.

Not trying to be arsey, just trying to understand
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