Dogs on lead, dogs off lead - rant

Person_one

lostinrates wrote: »

I agree, we need to be very considerate to other members of our own species....of animal.

I recognise our society is a society shaped, ruled and subject to the will of only one species...a species that has created many of the animals we now see, and most (all?) of the problems with them but the fact is we are all ''only' animals.

Not to mention the fact that lots of archaeologists/evolutionary biologists etc. believe that dogs have been a valuable part of our society for many thousands of years and that we might not even have evolved to be top of the pile were it not for the advantages we gained by having dogs on our team!

Dogs and humans have lived alongside each other in a symbiotic relationship since a long time before there were leads and muzzles and clicker training. Dog owners in general are doing everything they can to ensure their dogs behave appropriately according to society's current rules, but the relationship doesn't deserve to be dismissed.

lostinrates

Person_one wrote: »

Not to mention the fact that lots of archaeologists/evolutionary biologists etc. believe that dogs have been a valuable part of our society for many thousands of years and that we might not even have evolved to be top of the pile were it not for the advantages we gained by having dogs on our team!

Dogs and humans have lived alongside each other in a symbiotic relationship since a long time before there were leads and muzzles and clicker training. Dog owners in general are doing everything they can to ensure their dogs behave appropriately according to society's current rules, but the relationship doesn't deserve to be dismissed.

Yep. Even theories of domestication have evolved, (animal lead theory) suggesting some have trained us very successfully. lol. Lots of behaviourists/trainers se owners well trained by a mutt. Supernanny seems to find the same from children from that tv show

ali-t

dazb75 wrote: »

What really annoys me these days is owners of pups not properly socialising their dogs. This is one sure way to create an aggressive dog!


Fear may eventually lead to aggression and that will be your doing.

"He doesn't like other dogs" ... The truth is that when he was young, he probably never got the chance to meet and play with other dogs. If your dog is aggressive towards other dogs for any reason, use a muzzle.

Socialisation of a pup is essential if you want a calm and happy adult dog.

I think your post is very blinkered and not representative of dogs in general.

I find it staggering that you think that socialisation will solve all problems. My oldest dog was the most sociable animal ever until she was 2. We didn't have a car and walked everywhere so she met countless dogs/people/cats/wheelchairs/babies etc This was fine and she was the perfect dog until she hit adulthood where things changed significantly. She now has a go at any dog that comes near her and would fight to the bitter end.

My other dog was perfect pup until he hit the horrible teens at 8 months. Despite lots of socialisation and multiple weekly training sessions he stayed an absolute terror (typical devil dog) until he hit 2. Now he has reached maturity, all the investment is paying off and he is turning into a fairly well adjusted animal but it has taken hard work and perseverence.

You don't know from a distance if a dog is going through the terrible teens, is due in season, is recovering from an op or any of the other things that make a dog behave differently.

When I tell owners that mine are not particularly friendly so they should watch out it is because I know that the big guarding breed boy will be ok unless the older one decides to kick off. If she kicks off he will join it.

Socialisation is all good and well and absolutely vital to helping dogs become well adjusted but there is more to it than that, particularly if you let your dog run up to someone with multiple dogs, the dynamics change significantly.

gemmalouanna

CFC wrote: »

Then the big dog is not under control if it is jumping up. It is an owner's responsibility to control their dog, and if someone owns a small dog and chooses to control it by picking it up, that is their choice.

!

Yes their choice to pick it up but they often make things worse for the little dogs who become very nervous.

We seem to have a lot of younger girls walking smaller dogs round here who seem to pick up their dogs when anyone else approaches with another dog - how are they ever going to get chance to socialise?

My dog has jumped up because she would be happliy playing/sniffing with one of these off the lead small dogs only for the small dog to be picked up by the owner (I have been told they don't want their dog to get dirty! Or play too rough) - of course if I then call her she comes but she did jump up, how am I supposed to predict the dog being lifted up? An instance where it is the owner making a situation into something it doesnt need to be.

I am not talking about on the lead dogs here - my dogs has no interest in them as she knows they aren't ready to play so just walks past.

gemmalouanna

catkins wrote: »

Children seem to not have to be obedient but dogs do!

I don't get why children are allowed on a beach all day and dogs either not at all or only a very short time. Ok probably due to owners not clearing up after their dogs but the number of dirty nappies I have seen on a beach along with food wrappers, empty cans, bottles etc is unbelievable and I don't think it was dogs causing that mess.

I like your first point

As for the second - very true! The litter ands nappies is a disgrace - give me dog poo any day at least that will rot away! Hehe

gemmalouanna

dazb75 wrote: »

Another bug-bear, is those that will lift up their pup as soon as my dog approaches. I wouldn't let her approach if I thought she was a danger to the pup. Those people really don't understand that they are, in reality, reinforcing the impression that other dogs are to be feared. Even those who yank the lead and pull the pup away, are doing the same thing.

You have said what I tried to say but in a much better way

catkins

lazer wrote: »

This is a major part of my complaint with a number of dog owners - dogs and children are not comparable. A child is a member of our society, a human being.
Whereas, a dog, at the end of the day, is still only an animal.

As for beach times, Cornwall council, have obviously decided (correctly imo), that the beach is for people and families, however i do agree that 7am is too early, 9 would be more appropriate.
Could you not just walk your dog elsewhere?

My dog is part of my family - something I think most if not all true animal lovers would say. As such I think he should be allowed on beaches - not necessarily all day but more of the day than before 7am and after 7pm.

Luckily where I live I can take him to numerous large parks, forests, woods, dog friendly beaches or just street walk him. On holiday in Cornwall there were no pavements, no parks nearby and as my dog loves the beach and the sea I wanted him to be able to go on them. Almost all the beaches had complete dog bans which I feel is far too strict especially on large stretches of beach which could be divided.

Northumberland is very dog friendly and literally all their beaches have parts which dogs can go on and you do not need to clamber over very large rocks and risk breaking a limb in order to get to them.

Cornwall seems to have become very dog unfriendly. The caravan site I stayed on said a few years ago about 80% of the people staying had dogs. Now because of the Councils' attitude they are losing custom. I certainly will not be going back in a hurry and I spoke to other dog owners there who also say they will not be going back.

Maybe Cornwall can manage with families and no dog owners but once the recession finally ends I imagine people will be going abroad again and they will suffer.

ka7e

I have a dog that was well-socialised but has become increasing wary of a lot of other dogs after being chased by a greyhound, brought down by a whippet (both used for lamping by a local "character") and generally rough-housed by a large group (pack) of dogs walked by 2 dog-walkers.

When a large dog comes bounding over to her, her usual reaction is to return to me as though asking to be put back on the lead - but 10% of the time she will bolt for the park exit. Luckily she hasn't been chased outside the gates, but it's my greatest fear. She doesn't understand puppies because they rush at her trying to be friendly and she gets snappy as they don't appreciate boundries. She is not a nasty dog, but her fight-or-flight responses have been heightened by her interaction with dogs with less manners .

I'm dreading the next 6 weeks. People seem to think it's a good idea to send their kids out to walk their dogs during the summer holidays. Our local park will be full of 8 year-olds being dragged around by dogs on leads or kids wildly chasing their off-lead dogs!

nikiwitch

i have a dog aggressive staff, who is never let off the lead, when I give her a run she is on a 30 m long line wearing a muzzle early in the morning or late at night. i will always avoid off lead dogs, as she has been attacked several times, hence her aggression, if an off lead comes towards her I will ask the owner to recall if they come to close, if they say theyre dog is ok, i just say sorry mines not, and it usually does the trick,

lostinrates

Tropez wrote: »

I have four sighthounds.

The sad truth is, I decided long ago that it wasn't worth trusting other dog owners to ensure their dogs are well socialised and behaved. Therefore, my dogs have two walking areas - a private, member's only park where all dogs have to be on a lead, and a private field owned by a friend of mine (the joys of living near the countryside) where I can let them run off lead.

We did this for a long time, luckily having access to private land. I used to walk my own and a friends dogs in private and secure fields: the only safe option when walking 11 dogs, even if excellent dogs.

But now I just have two, and honestly, they have been delighted with the more social walks, meeting new chums and having more social interaction. They are also incredibly enthusiastic by new places, new walks. I find a shorter walk in a new place exhausts them more than a longer, faster time out in the field next to the house

Its one of the nicest things about having moved near more dog friendly places...because they are so enthusiastic about it.

Also, atm, we're going to the vets every three days for dressing changes, and I feel really sorry for the gorgeous but dog aggressive staffies. There is one of those once a week where we go in, and I can see she is adorable to people, but the other dogs really tense up when she comes in and she's tense in the waiting room too. I think its made me more sympathetic to the people walking dogs like her.