Why cant people keep dogs under control.

[angrybird1]

Just had words with a lady on my walk. My dog is extremely friendly. Over friendly with people in fact. Friendly with other dogs. Slightly submissive and can get worried by rough play. allways on her on lead when other dogs or walkers appear. Both to stop her approaching people who may not like dogs and as you don't know what other dogs are like. This morning she's been jumped on by a large dog who s owner was several hundred yards away and made no attempt to recall. He was friendly but very boisterous. My girl was very worried by him. I said to his owner when she eventually caught up that she should have put him on lead. She said she didn't have to and it was my dog that was the problem!
Had my dog been aggressive it could have been nasty. Why are people such idiots!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Two ladies jogging passed me the other day (they were going the other way and made no attempt to allow social distancing) but their friendly dog was off the lead and they made no attempt to stop it jumping up at me and leaving muddy paw prints all over my clothes. They didn't even look round or apologise. It's a good thing I wasn't a small child or someone worried by dogs.

 

[Annette4]

I understand accidents happen and have no issue when people apologise, I've had to myself before. It's the entitlement and ignorance that drives me nuts. All 3 of mine would have gone for it and no doubt come off worse.

 

[MagicMelon]

I honestly despair at the vast majority of dog owners who seem they have a right to let their dogs off lead to just go wherever they fancy just because their dog is "friendly". I hate when people call out its fine as their dog is friendly as it comes rushing over to my dog (on lead because her recall out isnt good enough and although very friendly, she was attacked by another dog while on lead so she IS defensive if another dog rushes up into her face. Same when Im out with my kids, including 2yo son - Im not trusting YOU a complete stranger that YOUR dog isnt going to snap or just knock my son over. If your dog is off lead then it should be straight back on lead or at least a very good heal, when passing ANYONE else. I got chucked off one of my horses once as I saw walkers approaching but didnt know they had a dog until it rushed out of the undergrowth right beside us spooking my horse. So unecessary and so rude.

 

[Clodagh]

Drives me insane. There is a woman in a nearby village who now has the entire footpath network to herself and her two ridgebacks and Doberman as they leap on every human and dog they meet. They are friendly too. Luckily it’s not where I normally walk.

 

[MissTyc]

I have serious dog walking anxiety. I had quite an antisocial GSD x Rottie; posted about her here a few times after awful walks. The amount of times people would let their dog run across entire fields to "play/be friendly" and then scream at me 10 minutes later when they finally caught up huffing and puffing but by then their dog was pinned under mine (or in earlier years when she had to wear a muzzle still, they would tell me I shouldn't walk her near other dogs - I WASN'T! I literally turned the other way when I caught sight of them in the distance when they dog came barrelling over across 10 acres of land. Wtf?!) ....

 

[angrybird1]

It's just so annoying. My dog is a real softee who absolutely loves people but not everyone loves dogs. I've had other dogs who would most defiantly have reacted badly to being jumped on by a large dog. Who's to blame then! My dog was safely on a lead but had she snapped at this dog it would be a different story. It's made me really ?

 

[Misty 2020]

My auntie is a farmer and the amount of dogs that have killed the sheep is massive . The owners don’t care they end up getting a alpha to chase the dogs out of the field .

 

[BBP]

Mine got set upon by a french bulldog this morning, mine was happily trotting along on his lead when it rocketed over and started on him. So he fought back. Owner finally gets to me flapping ‘oh it’s Barry, he always does this, he doesn’t do anything nasty, he just makes lots of noise’. Well sodding Barry bulldog is the 6th bloody dog in the last month that has charged in to start on my on lead dog and it’s starting to affect his lovely friendly/neutral temperament, he now starts to stiffen up when others come near.

 

[Clodagh]

Next time Barry the Bulldog comes huffing over give it a serious kick up the arse, that'll focus it's mind, and possibly it's owners. I seriously have no qualms about kicking other peoples dogs, me in wellies or trainers is not going to do any serious damage and I'm not having mine attacked.

We had a very positive meet this morning, OH & I were on a long narrow footpath and Ffee was a fair way ahead when a woman and her spaniel came jogging up behind us. I slipped a lead on Pen and blew the stop whistle for F. We squeezed into the hedge and lady and spanner jogged on by, 100% neutrality. (we did say hello!). Ffee just sat and watched them go past.

 

[SAujla]

I had something similar this morning but not as bad as some stories above, I had my pup off lead as the park was empty but as soon as I saw people I put her back on the lead, she was happily sniffing away when a bulldog who I could see from a distance came over and the owner didn't even break stride. My pup was not happy she was trying to escape with her tail right between her legs, I looked at the guy and said can you take yours away please and the guy slowly came over and just said to his dog "leave her she doesn't want to play" and gave me no apology or recognition of any kind, his dog then wouldn't move and he literally dragged it away with its stomach rubbing against the grass. Its definitely a lot worse on weekends for me

 

[BallyJ]

I have 1 of each - a friendly lab and a not so friendly terrier, i used to hold the terrier back and allow the lab to sniff as the distraction, but i've grown tired of my quite shy lab having to put up with rude over boisterous dogs that people can't call back or atleast look like they're making some attempt so i leave the terrier to it, shes always on a lead and only ever barks/shows heckles. People tend to attempt to get their dogs back then, funny that isn't it!!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

This is why I now walk Zak on a longline round the streets and over the nearby green rather than the park. He’s not the problem, won’t approach other dogs but can’t tolerate them being in his face/running over.

I fear it’s only going to get worse with all these people who’ve got impulse buy lockdown puppies. Some-obviously not all-clueless owners who won’t/don’t know how to train their dog.

I have to say, before we got Zak, we had dog neutral dogs, Jake was attacked, but was resilient enough not to change into a defensive dog. If we saw other dogs, we didn’t worry. Now, we’re ultra paranoid, check for other dogs before sending Zak for retrieves, he only goes to the park when the OH is with me.

 

[blackcob]

I vented here a while ago about how my small dog got splatted by an off-lead dog despite being on a footpath in a residential area and next to a busy road; if they're not even going to put their dog on a lead to walk through town there's no hope of them doing it anywhere else. I'm afraid I've adopted a bit of a shrieking fishwife approach; it's taken a few years to grow the balls to do it but I will ask, shout and then kick in that order.

 

[angrybird1]

The owner was a long way back. She didn't make any attempt to call th e dog. Yes he was friendly but rude and bouncy. This is a bridleway too so quite likely to meet horses.
I was polite and said you really should put your dog on a lead. She said I don't need to. It's your dog that's the problem!!

my dog was on a lead on her back because she was worried by the other dog.

 

[SOS]

I think it’s rude to let off lead dogs run up to people regardless of whether they have a child/their own dog. You just don’t know someone’s history and not everyone wants Rover bouncing all over them. I had a spaniel recently run up to me on a footpath, no attempt by the owner to call it back, it then was jumping almost face height at me and barking. Friendly and wanted attention but if I didn’t know/like dogs very intimidating. I completely ignored the dog and kept walking. The owner then said ‘Oh she’s friendly... do you not like dogs?’, I laughed and said I spend all day helping and fixing people’s pets and love animals but lots of people find them intimidating so I won’t encourage her. Her reply was ‘Those people shouldn’t be in the countryside then!’... the ignorance!

 

[conkers]

I was polite and said you really should put your dog on a lead. She said I don't need to. It's your dog that's the problem!!

Its amazing how their dog is never the problem but your on lead, under control dog is.

My dog is old and has arthritis and does not need any thing running at her. I too have adopted the approach of having strong words with the owner and kicking the dog if required. My aim is to be that person that people avoid.

 

[AmyMay]

Well with Lockdown eased, and lifted on Monday, the morons are returning.

Just had a quiet word with a lady who is not local about her dogs running up to mine on the beach. Friendly dogs (rather large), her meekly calling them from 200 yards away.

‘They’re having fun’ she said.
‘Put yours on a lead if you don’t like it’ she said ??‍
‘Why is your collie pinning mine to the floor?’ She said.

Today she learn’t that not all welcome others in to their space....

 

[SAujla]

Well with Lockdown eased, and lifted on Monday, the morons are returning.

Just had a quiet word with a lady who is not local about her dogs running up to mine on the beach. Friendly dogs (rather large), her meekly calling them from 200 yards away.

‘They’re having fun’ she said.
‘Put yours on a lead if you don’t like it’ she said ??‍
‘Why is your collie pinning mine to the floor?’ She said.

Today she learn’t that not all welcome others in to their space....

What difference would it make to put yours on a lead if another dog is the one running towards you, if anything it would make it worse as your dog would feel the lack of a viable exit means it must put up a real fight instead of just the pinning to the floor?

 

[AmyMay]

Exactly....

As I said, the morons are back ?

 

[Karran]

In a pickle with Miss Collie lately. I've spent all of lockdown working her in a quiet park getting used to joggers and cyclists and not chasing them. I'm now upping the anti by taking her to a bigger, busier Park where she will encounter them a lot more along with kids on roller blades, scooters etc.
So she's on a bright purple long line while we work on getting used to the newer environment and even wearing a hi-viz coat asking not to approach her. She can cope with dogs saying hi now but again busier environments still send her into a tizzy but she's ready for this step up.
I am getting so pissed off with people allowing their out of control dogs to bumble over at a million miles an hour triggering her and causing a bloody tangle in the line. If I spot them before she does I can get her focused on me and do some heelwork etc as we move away but if I'm concentrating on her I don't always notice until its too late and even had a lab puppy following us trying to pounce and eat her tail at one point this week!
If this had been at Xmas she probably would have really hurt the little pup but although she was worried, she stuck with me.
I told the last person who came ambling up to us on his phone while she was lunging and growling that she had ringworm. ?‍
I'm a bit stuck as this park is perfect in terms of what I need it for - busy but not manic, hilly so when I can let her off lead I can bumble her up and down hills and a lot more activity for her to learn to block out to focus on me but the idiot owners are ruining it!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I forgot to rant about dog walkers on phones, you’ve reminded me, Karran, thank you! Completely ignoring their dogs, not noticing that their dog has done a poo (yeah, right!), having to have this pointed out, failing to notice that their dog has run to ours and we”re desperately putting on a lead and walking away really fast. OMG, there should be a rule about this, drives me crazy. Can’t you spare your dog half an hour of your undivided attention?!

 

[IngramsRoughDiamond]

Have you read my post from Monday? My mum's tiny Yorkie X mini poodle was attacked and Picked Up by a nasty off the lead German Shepard, the owner stood 500 meters away sqreeching but not helping at all! I got details and took a picture of the f*cking thing and I have reported it. I'm going to persue my complaint and make sure something is done.

 

[Smitty]

Have you read my post from Monday? My mum's tiny Yorkie X mini poodle was attacked and Picked Up by a nasty off the lead German Shepard, the owner stood 500 meters away sqreeching but not helping at all! I got details and took a picture of the f*cking thing and I have reported it. I'm going to persue my complaint and make sure something is done.

Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear this and I am hoping the little dog is on the mend. What a truly horrific thing to happen to a much loved friend and companion and I very much hope the DW catches up with the owner. We'll done for the photos and determination for a positive outcome.

As the owner of a friendly, confident, outgoing terrier, who stands approx 12-13" and weighs under 9kg, I am never unduly concerned if he is approached by a small dog and he will often have a bit of a run around with them but due to an incident last summer involving a boisterous staffie and its equally obnoxious mate who roughed my on lead dog up whilst their owners sat on a stone in the distance chatting away and watching the proceedings with absolutely no attempt to recall the dogs, (after I shouted a lot at her, and was told to stop shouting? she eventually ambled over and restrained the bloody animals) I now carry a walking stick which I happily use.

The one day I forgot it I was walking in some woods and the only person I saw in the two hours I was out was a young chap with his young dog, I expect a Great Dane Cross of some sort. It was huge! They were behind me but overtook me, or at least the bloke did, while the bloody dog proceeded to jump all over us whilst the owner carried on walking assuming I suppose the dog would follow. It didn't but was jumping up at me as well (not very far, I'm 5'3" at best and old, and skinny) and almost sent me flying. By this time owner had stopped walking, was calling etc but to no avail. Meanwhile, Jones and I were getting quite anxious and in an attempt to stop it diving on Jones again I tried to grab its collar but at that instant it decided to depart in its owner's direction! I would love to say that he apologised profusely, but he didn't.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I really wish there were some law about training a dog once you undertake ownership. I’m bloody sick of untrained dogs.

 

[Clodagh]

I really wish there were some law about training a dog once you undertake ownership. I’m bloody sick of untrained dogs.

You're a teacher and know that people can't train their children, why are they likely to be any better with their dogs? We had the best walk today and didn't see a soul!

 

[BBP]

You're a teacher and know that people can't train their children, why are they likely to be any better with their dogs? We had the best walk today and didn't see a soul!

Same, just did a 10k walk somewhere new and didn’t see a single other human or dog. Bliss. Dog on a long line the whole way as I know he’s not 100% reliable in all situations yet, and only picked up the phone to check the OS map and to take the odd photo. I love dog walking as it’s quality time with my dog away from the rest of the world, I find it bizarre when people spend the whole thing staring at their phone. I’m going to avoid the country park type places where I can now and stick to the more remote fields and forests.

 

[Flicker]

Argh my personal bug bear this! I take my friend’s beautifully behaved, super well trained collie out running while she walks her other, elderly dog. We go to this really nice park, where most people are great. Yesterday though, there was this woman with a mixed breed dog, off lead, walking towards us. My friend’s dog never leaves my side. Her dog crouches, puts its hackles up, and comes running towards us, growling and snarling. Owner, who is walking with a stick, clearly disabled in some way, is calling, calling, calling this bloody dog. Her dog takes no notice and makes a beeline for my friend’s dog, who immediately moves behind me and sits. So now, I am in the middle of two dogs, and the owner is 100 yards away, and not covering that distance very fast. Fortunately, her dog is just growling, snarling and circling and my friend’s dog is locked on to me and my commands. If her dog attackEd, I don’t know what I would have done.
So, FINALLY this woman catches up and fumbles about with the lead, eventually catching the dog and putting a lead on.
’Your dog should be on a lead,’ I say, ‘it is dengerously out of control’.
She says, ‘She is not out of control.’
’She is. You called her 17 times and she didn’t respond. That is not a dog that is under control.’
’It‘s only around other dogs she is like this.’ was the reply.
Jesus, really? I did point out that the fact that she is aware that her dog behaves in this way around other dogs, yet she chooses to still let it off lead in a place where there are other dogs, means she would likely be liable if something happens.
I despair sometimes....

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

You're a teacher and know that people can't train their children, why are they likely to be any better with their dogs? We had the best walk today and didn't see a soul!

We were fortunate to have the whole massive park to ourselves today. I think our dogs are broken, tho, all these posts I see re ball retrieval, where people say how bad the sudden stopping and turning is. Mine scoop up the ball in passing, no stopping, continue on and do these massive looped returns. I think it was Zak‘s pee taking that made them do this, he’s always done the big loop thing so he can be independent and have a look round. Monkey!

 

[Quigleyandme]

In my part of rural Ireland training, socialising or even exercising dogs is not a thing and larger breeds are favoured for security but they’re not secured on the premises. I get nervous when large dogs run up to me on the public road barking and snarling so I carry my hunting whip. I haven’t used it yet but it makes me feel less vulnerable.