A plea and reminder to parents of dogs

ali-t

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Isn't this the important part. If you have a dog that can't cope with other dogs coming over to sniff them, shouldn't they be wearing a muzzle? How is an off lead dog that does a perfectly ordinary thing like approach another dog in an unaggressive manner be considered 'out of control'?

Don't dogs need a run around? This wasn't by the side of a busy road, presumably, or near sheep. What's wrong with taking your dog off the lead?

The main ways a dog can show with its emotions using its face involve the mouth and if the muzzle, snout and lips are covered with a muzzle the other dogs have less chance of being able to read the body language.

Neither of my dogs like being approached by dogs they don't know but I wouldn't consider muzzling them. They are under my control by being on leads. the dangerous dogs act, IIRC, considers the off lead dog to be the one out of control as the dog on the lead is attached to the owner and ergo under more control.

As one of the other posters mentioned, instant recall is a must if you are going to have your dog off lead. The out of control dog is the one that is bouncing about off lead while the owner ineffectively shouts or whistles on their dog in the distance while being totally ignored by their dog.

ali-t

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Does your aggressive dog have a muzzle on when you walk her?

What if you happen to be walking past a small child (whose parents aren't right next to them, because it's a safe area to play) and she mistakes the playing for a threat and attacks her?

What if it's a puppy being trained that approaches?

What if it decides to just go for someone in the street?

Is your dog ever around children?

Dog aggressive is not the same as people aggressive and the poster you quoted clearly stated that her dog is dog aggressive. A dog aggressive dog is not necessarily a risk to people.

hoogervaaner

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Does your aggressive dog have a muzzle on when you walk her?

What if you happen to be walking past a small child (whose parents aren't right next to them, because it's a safe area to play) and she mistakes the playing for a threat and attacks her?

What if it's a puppy being trained that approaches?

What if it decides to just go for someone in the street?

Is your dog ever around children?

Honestly, my concern is not with the dog on a lead whose owner is well aware that it is 'iffy' with other dogs so takes responsibility for the control of his/her dog. My concern is with the owners of the assertive snappy animals running loose with no recall that 'are only playing' right up until they do bite someone!

I mean really, given the level of responsibilty shown by the posters whose dogs are walked on leads do you honestly imagine for one moment that they would allow their animals to be put in a position where they were a danger to people?!

If you can't see the difference between a dog that is uncomfortable around other dogs and one that is a danger to people then I suggest you read up a bit before making such inflamatory statements!

EmptyPockets

hoogervaaner wrote: »

Honestly, my concern is not with the dog on a lead whose owner is well aware that it is 'iffy' with other dogs so takes responsibility for the control of his/her dog. My concern is with the owners of the assertive snappy animals running loose with no recall that 'are only playing' right up until they do bite someone!

I mean really, given the level of responsibilty shown by the posters whose dogs are walked on leads do you honestly imagine for one moment that they would allow their animals to be put in a position where they were a danger to people?!

If you can't see the difference between a dog that is uncomfortable around other dogs and one that is a danger to people then I suggest you read up a bit before making such inflamatory statements!

gettingready

Good to know it is not just me with an alergy to "ooooooo he/she just wants to play" type having their dogs runing up to mine while mine is on a lead.

Zara is a big girl, 38kg of a dog. She is good off the lead, minds her own business with a ball of some sort in her mouth BUT really does not like dogs RUNNING up to her - on or off the lead.If they come up to her nicely it is fine...

She has never bitten a dog, she will chase them while guarding her ball and could have bitten if she wanted to on few occassions as she was close enough but never did.

She went through a stage when I used to take her on a lead only and I lost count of having various argumets with people who thought it was ok for their dog (off lead) to run up to mine while they were quite far away so in case of any problem it would have to be ME who would have to deal with it. Despite MY dog being on a lead....

And small dogs runing up to Zara and trying to bite her legs.... grrrrr "He/she only wants to play".... grrrrrr

I am quite lucky as where I live there is a lot of space for dogs to run off lead safely - went out with her today and met nobody for an hour - no human no sog

Also, people tend to know each other (and the dogs) and we either avoid some or look forwad to meeting and walking together - depends on how the dogs get on...

gettingready

Gingham_Ribbon wrote: »

Does your aggressive dog have a muzzle on when you walk her?

What if you happen to be walking past a small child (whose parents aren't right next to them, because it's a safe area to play) and she mistakes the playing for a threat and attacks her?

What if it's a puppy being trained that approaches?

What if it decides to just go for someone in the street?

Is your dog ever around children?

The dog is dog agressive not people agressive.

Small children should never be allowed to walk far away from their parents - it is the parents' resposibility to have their own child within reach and under control.

How can dog "mistake playing for a threat"? Any child coming up to my dog without asking is a threat and my dog has every right to feel threatened - it is a living creature not a toy for anyone/everyone to come up/run up to her and threat her as a toy.

Children should be taught not to approach dogs they do not know - as a dog owner I am not reposnsible for other people's children and can not be expected to guess if they are going to poke my dog in the eye with a stick/kick it or similar. Children out of control of their own parents are another pet hate of mine....If my dog is on a lead it is for a reason - keep away, simple.

Puppies should always be on a lead - long training lead.

What planet are you from really?

Tottaly confusing dog agression with whatever else.. throwing kids into it etc etc... sorry, total nonsense your post.

gettingready

Oh and horses....

Zara is ok around horses as used to take her to stables wen my daughter had some lesons - near where I live we have stables and horses often are seen on Wanstead Flats, Zara just ignores them.

BUT I have seen (several times) small dogs running up and yapping /trying to nip horses' legs while a rider was on a horse, on one ocassion the poor girl fell off as the horse bolted and run into the road (another risk - RTA for the horse, thanks God cars managed to stop that time) while the owner of the little dogs (there was 2 of them) was running trying to catch them.....

I am sure "they just wanted to play"... sigh

hoogervaaner

I've just enjoyed a lovely single malt so please don't get me started on out of control dogs and the danger they pose to riders. If I am lucky enough to have a child who rides, they'll be put up on a Welsh pony who's lived on the hills, they are well used to dealing with dogs snapping round their fetlocks. The cracking little pony I used to ride out would even whip round to defend the other ponies I was out with

shegirl

I have to say,you've all made dog walking seem like a nightmare!

Dogs here all run off lead on the fields...they play like dogs! There are a few who don't but they are big dogs and usually taken elsewhere.

My pup,even when an adult will be on lead purely because he is a scent hound.I don't want people to avoid him.I do not want other dogs to have their owners calling them away assuming he may be a danger!!!With any luck a long lead may let these people realise there's nothing wrong with him.

I'm sorry to say it,but if your dog is dog aggressive and nervous why don't you walk it somewhere where it isn't going to have other dogs showing interest so others can let their dogs do what dogs do?Sure they can recall and should do,but not everyone will assume that a dog may be a danger because it's on a lead and why blame everyone else?

That's my thoughts on the matter anyway.I don't care if you disagree to be honest.

gettingready

Very selfish of you to have the single malt all to yourself


Well, I am going to have a woo woo (archers/vodka/cranberry juice/slice of lime) - my excuse: daughter with her BF gone to Poland for Xmas (already), nice to have the place to myself just me 4 cats and a dog at home and lovely snow outside....



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