What can i do about dog owners having disobedient dogs loose?

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EquestrianFairy

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*sigh* this is really starting to get me down..

I have two collies, one nervous of everyhing and everyone and one just dislikes other dogs.
They are walked in halti-muzzles which means i have complete control (which i prefer as they are not small collies) They are also not off a lead in public, only in controlled private areas such as my grandfathers fields etc.

So.. there is my idea of doing everything i can to keep my dogs safe, controlled and enabling them to still be able to enjoy the same things as other dogs- such as strolls in the park etc.

Now- what exactly am i to do about the people who do not have dogs on a lead, whos dogs run over to my dogs barking or try to sniff my dogs whilst im every so anxiously shouting (nicely, in a strained/worried way) to the owner 'they are not friendly, please call your dog away'. What else do i then do when the said disobedient dog ignores the owners calls and wades even closer towards me as i start to walk away- dragging my two with me whilst they are start to get exceptionally upset that the dog is now following them.

Can someone give me some advice?

Ive been to a behaviorist who told me to walk away- this does not work if the other dog isnt coming to call from its owner, my dogs are muzzled, they cannot do any physical damage but emotionally this causes them immense upset as they dont want a strange dog coming near them either.

Ive even tried walking them at 10pm at night, i must attract disobedient dogs and owners.

HELP!!
 
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A) Try not to be anxious...this will just transmit down the lead to your dog. Be confident and matter of fact. Try to think to yourself 'it's just another dog' and keep walking

B) Contact your dog warden, particularly in the case of repeat offenders

C) You could throw caution to the wind and let everyone sort it out between themselves but there are of course risks involved

D) You could find someone with friendly dogs to walk with so your dogs are not getting the constant message that other dogs are stressful and they always have the option to remove themselves or be removed, which in turn heightens the fear and mistrust.
I know it is hard but having a 'it's us against the world' attitude doesn't always help the dog. Like us, sometimes they have to face their fears and do things anyway.

I have decided the next time I get mobbed by a pack of angry Bichons (they do nowt to my dog but I know of other walkers who are really angry about them) that I am going to ask my dog for a particularly energetic bout of 'speaking' on command and see if that rattles the owners into action. At the moment they just laugh.
 
I know where you're coming from. I have a rescue who was completely unsocialised as a youngster. Consequently is very nervous of people/dogs. I now have to keep her on a lead because she has been chased a few times by disobedient boisterous dogs. She has started snapping at dogs that come and harass her now, and all the owners say is it will do their dog good to be told off!! I don't want my poor dog to be put in that position!
At dog training they suggested taking an automatic umbrella out walking and putting it up to shield my dog. Haven't tried it yet though.
 
Feel your pain :o

There is actually, in reality, bugger all you can do, other than walk in open areas where you can see dogs in the distance, and make sure you don't go anywhere near them. I know this isn't always possible depending on what your area is like.

There are a number of things you could try - I have known people to carry water bottles/sprays with them and spray incoming loose dogs. Some have used small umbrellas which they whisked open as a sort of shield around their dogs. I've used my voice and a point of the finger before and it has worked when a dog is creeping up behind me - but I try not to do that really as the dog you're working with just thinks it's at them :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
 
I also have a dog who was attacked by a larger dog which was loose once and as a result is frightened of large dogs that she doesn't know.
The amount of times people let their dogs bound up to her even though I tell them she's nervous :(
Realistically there's not much you can do.
I just try and avoid places where I know people will have them off leads etc :(
 
Life story!! I always get "my dogs friendly, its fine" while mine is going ballistic on the lead!

Went to a trainer the other day and she said you could just keep the other dog away with your leg until the owner gets it back or if you trust your dog to sit and stay, leave them and take the other dog back to the owner! when she first said this I was like bloody hell im not doing that but it actually makes sense

If all else fails shout louder at them :)
 
Are both your dogs obedient? Are they likely to actually attack another dog or not? The reason I ask is, if they are more nervous than anything else then this may be being increased by having them on the lead. I had never really come across this behaviour with dogs we have had previously but the rescue I got in Dec (aged 9 mths) had evidently not been socialised properly or at all and was very reactive to other dogs on the lead.

She has improved no end when on the lead but I have to stay very calm and firm and just walk on if a loose dog comes up to her. However, she is fine off lead - yes she may have the odd bark at a dog she feels threatened by by will just get herself out of the way. On a lead she can not do this so she goes in all guns blazing with other dogs and makes herself seem as scary and noisy as possible.

If your dogs are obedient and not going to fly in for an attack, could you try maybe having them off the lead and calling them to you if another dog approaches and walking away - ie don't get in between your dogs and the strange dogs (yours may feel the need to protect you then)? if course, if you have an outwardly aggressive dog then this might not work but may be better for your more nervy one? Make them realise dogs are not a threat and you are not worried so they don't need to be.

It may be good to start as suggested above and walk with someone else and their dogs, get your dogs used to other dogs being with them. I don't think necessarily trying to protect yours and shield them from other dogs will work and could just increase their anxiety.

I have to say, if i do meet a person walking with their dog on a lead i do try and get mine back to me but I have to be very tactful with her as, if she senses I am nervous at all she doesn't always come back and will get a bit defensive in her stance. I don't want to be one of these people labelled as having a 'disobedient' dog but occasionally depending on where you're walking, you can't always see others approaching and react before your dog's already met them!
 
Also, totally feel your pain! I have a rescue staffordshire bull terrier that came in as a completely un-socialized cruelty case and also take on foster dogs with various problems; off lead dogs with no manners or re-call are the bane of my life!! I'm currently trying to find a field to rent so that they can have some off-lead time to burn their energy, but I also walk mine at unpopular times on lead in unpopular places, they're muzzled if I have to take her anywhere busier. There are always going to be irresponsible owners unfortunately and unless they are dangerously out of control the dog wardens won't do an awful lot about it, but you can manage it yourself! Best wishes, I know how it is!
 
I can only talk about my area but I find the most disobedient dogs (which means the lazy dog owners) are the ones that walk their dogs in a park. Those that go out into the countryside I find to have much more obedient dogs. I find park walking dog owners just go there, let there dog off the lead and expect it to exercise itself and do not care about anyone or dog else there!

So I'd suggest do what I do, walk the local pavements and go into the countryside, but avoid local parks like the plague!
 
You can get aerosols with compressed air in them which make a hissing sound if activated. There's nothing harmful in them to animals or humans, just compressed air. Sorry can't remember what they're called but they're in a red tube and you should be able to get them at pet shops or on-line.

I've got an aggressive dog next door which in the past has pitched into my two, and always have it in my pocket just in case. It does its job in that it's something unexpected which an aggressive dog doesn't expect and might be very useful in your situation in discouraging other dogs from coming near you/yours?
 
You can use hiss aerosols but you can also use a body spray - the most horrid smelly ones the better - as it is a perfectly normal thing to have in your pocket. Just don't spray it in the loose dog's face.
There is a move to have a yellow ribbon on the lead for dogs that don't want to play but the numpties wouldn't know what it means.
Raddle paste on a walking stick can stop repeat offenders.
 
When out walking I generally always have my dog (cocker) off the lead. Have done this ever since she was a puppy and she is now well socialised, very obedient and never bothers with other dogs that we meet. When she went through a delinquent stage as a puppy I started having her on the lead more but found that she was beginning to get snappy with other dogs that were off their leads and coming up to say hello and occasionally this would end up in a fight with me in the middle trying to separate them. Off the lead I think she feels more in control when other dogs come and bother her. She is mildly tolerant and then just turns round and tells them to bugger off if they keep annoying.

Sorry to say this but I'm a great believer that having dogs off the lead from a young age (in the right environment) makes them much more socialised and well balanced in the longer term. Unfortunately this means that for people who do have to keep their dogs on leads due to behavioural issues that occasionally you will have to put up with my dog coming over to say hello. Important to add I think that I live in the countryside so all my walking is out in wide open spaces, fields, beaches etc so not in dog-congested areas such as parks.
 
Thanks for all the replies:

My big collie is outwardly fear aggressive, he will attack first out of fear to protect me/himself. (Me according to the behaviourist!)
- the other collie is snappy but he's never fully attacked and I have introduced him to strange dogs I know, such as my nan's bull dog. I know she isn't aggressive back and this cements in my brain so that there is no fear coming from me.

My big collie has also met her- he loved her. She oozes a calmness that only a bulldog can I think :D

I wouldn't be comfortable letting either off a lead- tbh, I would be very stressed and worried which I know, I know, makes it worse but these are my babies and I just try to protect them from anyone needing to call the warden on me for a dangerous dog. I've had threats before when one bit a dog and it scares the bejesus out of me.

The area I live in, if was seen spraying or shouting at another persons dog I think I would be hung, drawn and quartered!
 
On a serious note, I might just have to succumb to the fact we cannot walk in the normal dog areas such as parks etc and stick to the forestry and fields.
 
I never walk in parks my dogs friendly- too friendly a 1yo lab who is being tested by testosterone! In fields i can see any dogs from far enough to get on lead if need to or leave off if no the dog but rarely meet others even tho walk at normal times. Once testosterone settles down he will be back to lovely controllable dog- here's hoping!
 
Drives me nuts, yes it's a incredibly clever idea to let your tiny toy dog to run up to a large greyhound and more or less bite his ankles and bark at him. Luckily he's not a "normal" chase everything type so they are not gone in one gulp he just stands there waiting to be rescued :p
 
Just relax about it.

Let your dogs enjoy their walks - without being on the lead all the time. And don't be anxious.

Not every dog you come across is on the attack. And if you're that worried, do as the behaviorist says - just walk away.
 
amymay said:
Just relax about it.

Let your dogs enjoy their walks - without being on the lead all the time. And don't be anxious.

Not every dog you come across is on the attack. And if you're that worried, do as the behaviorist says - just walk away.
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It's not that simple if you have a reactive dog though - they are likely to react if a dog bounds up to them in a friendly way.

OP, I have a similar problem and the worst place is the local dog park. If I see a loose dog approach I shout firmly and loudly to the owner "can you call your dog back please, mine is not friendly" Most people comply pretty quickly but if they don't I sometimes have to quickly let my dog off his lead and their dog is just going to get a gobby terrier in its face...not ideal BUT mine is all mouth and no trousers and never actually bites/attacks, I don't think I'd do this if he did.

Sorry, not much help but you're not alone...
 
emmah1979 said:
Sorry to say this but I'm a great believer that having dogs off the lead from a young age (in the right environment) makes them much more socialised and well balanced in the longer term. Unfortunately this means that for people who do have to keep their dogs on leads due to behavioural issues that occasionally you will have to put up with my dog coming over to say hello.
Click to expand...

My dog was off lead from 12 weeks old, played with all breeds and sizes of dogs everyday on and off the lead at the local park and at the yard, went to burghley on xc day and had a great time meeting hundreds of dogs, went to puppy parties, training classes and agility training.

And then he was attacked, shaken and bitten by a large dog and has been fearful ever since. Nothing to do with a lack of socialisation.
 
I do have an obedient dog, until he finds something more interesting, then its more of a 'Fenton, FENTON' remake :o

I do manage to get him back to me if another dog is on a lead though, although most dogs I meet are all off lead. I don't take mine to the park, couldn't care how much he likes it, its not enjoyable for me in the slightest! I won't let him off in the park, as I'm worried about him bowling a kid over, or stealing people's picnics :rolleyes:
 
Stencilface said:
I do have an obedient dog, until he finds something more interesting, then its more of a 'Fenton, FENTON' remake :o
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:D He is never going to live that down!!

My dog is not interested in other dogs unless to round them up and is rarely on a lead. I will call him back if I see another dog on a lead and people round here do the same.
 
As the owner of a dog aggressive dog, I have to agree with amymay and say take a chill pill woman! They are dogs - they will not vanish into thin air at the sight of another dog, nor will they die of fear if another dog comes up for a sniff. IMO you are doing the worst possible thing at the moment by not letting your dogs socialise and get used to other dogs. If you had a small child who was afraid of going to school would you turn them for home each day at the first wimper or would you look at it logically and think the more they go, the easier it will eventually be?
 
FreddiesGal, that was what I was trying to get at in point D....I used to be the anxious bunny with a dog the size of a donkey lunging and screeching (see posts by me, two or three years ago, ad nauseum) but the thing that solved it was just me calming down. If a dog came along, sniff sniff, if no reaction, excellent, shout an apology and keep walking if he was being arsey - it was me turning everything into a three act play that made things worse. Also the body blocking - me standing in front of him and taking the lead and saying 'it's OK, I'll handle this' really helped.

He looks appalling and he makes horrible noises but he has never actually bitten another dog, he is just posturing and trying to make the other dog go away and leave him alone - once he realises the other dog might not go away, is not reacting to his theatrics and actually, isn't doing him any harm, he calms down.

As others, great if you have a dog from a pup and socialize it well and nothing bad ever happens but some dogs don't have that sort of start and some of them do not bounce back from setbacks.
 
Sounds like you have done well CC - well done :) I literally have blinkers on when out walking. Mine is on a lead and we do not stop/turn around/back off for any dog. If an owner has an un obedient dog that he can't control, that is their problem. There is a group of "regulars" where I walk, they have about 7 dogs between them and they ALL come bounding up to us. I check my dog and walk straight through them and he is 100x better for me taking that approach.
 
What about this yellow ribbon campaign that's doing the rounds, where a bright yellow ribbon is attached to the dogs leash as a visible warning to approaching dog owners that you don't want other dogs to approach your dog (for whatever reason, aggressive, injury, timid, being rehabilitaed, in training etc), the point is other people don't know why your dog is on a leash and should respect that.
I have one that is fear aggressive, but like other people have said, mines is on the leash, if they want to risk their dog getting bitten, that's up to them (I do shout that's she's not friendly), at the same time if they are at least making an attempt to get the dog under control I don't have an issue with it (it could be one of mine next time that's ignoring me).
She's much better off leash where she can get away from another dog.
As other people have said, if you can walk them with dogs that you know they won't react to that helps as well, the fear aggressive one will now walk with other dogs no problem, we still have a bit of a hissy fit at the start, but she's told to shut up and deal with it and the rest of the walk goes without a problem (we walk with a ridgeback that used to try and wind her up for a reaction, they're the best of friends now and is actually one of the few dogs she will play with)
I also walk a friends dog who is a complete prick on the leash and becomes aggressive on leash, but great off leash, but again I try my hardest not to let him approach another dog that's on leash, because I don't know why it's on leash.
Can't access the FB link from the work computer, but there are posters that can be printed off, possibly help educate people on the reasons that you may not want their dog to approach.
 
I feel so guilty, my 9 month old puppy does have a habit of charging up to other dogs, he is getting better (his recall without other dogs around is perfect) so I need to be around other dogs to train him to come back, he has now learnt the ‘wait’ command but there are times when excitement (and Border Terrier deafness) get the better of him. If given signals by the other dog though he will drop into submission. If we are out walking and he is pestering a dog that isn’t happy with him, he does go on the lead. So far everyone I’ve spoken to has been understanding because he is so young. I would feel terrible though if he upset another dog :(
 
If my dog is off a lead and he spots another dog he will make a bee-line for them to attack them (in his mindset it's to get them before they 'get' him)

It's not easy to find dogs to walk him with because people don't want to risk him biting them, we once went to a behaviourist class where the intention was for him learn to accept strange dogs- after the 4th time and the 4th bite in we were asked not to come back.

He has never drawn blood but he is a big boy and it makes the attack almost look worse than it is. He sort of grabs them by the scruff and pushes them on the floor but the physicality of it looks much worse than it actually is.

-however, to a stranger seeing this happen to their dog, as you can imagine, it doesn't go down well and many many arguements have ensued in the past.
 
So he's aggressive.

Keep him muzzled and on the lead. And as your behaviorist says, just walk away from other dogs when confronted.
 
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