Fairweather Dog Walkers

con1888

Our local park was heaving today again with dogs, it's usually empty, I was quite happy as it gave us a chance to practice recall with distractions ( using a long line training lead) he's still rubbish at it , wants to go play with the other dogs but doesn't get the chance to cos he won't recall properly.. ah well work in progress.

I do love a sunny walk, here he is today

Shepherd1

Person_one wrote: »

So they don't 'set about' other dogs? Or do they? Its not clear.

If they do, muzzles. Its the only responsible thing to do if you have a dog that you know will attack if approached. Yes, in a perfect world they wouldn't be approached but it isn't a perfect world and there are no perfect dogs or owners!

This attitude really bugs me, if you cannot control your dogs DO NOT let them off lead. Why should a dog who is nervous of other dogs running up to it be muzzled? The owners of the ones running up to other dogs should be responsible and keep them on leads.

Person_one

Shepherd1 wrote: »

This attitude really bugs me, if you cannot control your dogs DO NOT let them off lead. Why should a dog who is nervous of other dogs running up to it be muzzled? The owners of the ones running up to other dogs should be responsible and keep them on leads.

My dogs have great recall, but I'm not arrogant enough to think they won't let me down at some point in their lives.

I'm also not callous enough to think its acceptable for dogs to get 'set about' and hurt because their owners aren't great.

If your dog will bite, put a muzzle on it.

Shepherd1

Person_one wrote: »

My dogs have great recall, but I'm not arrogant enough to think they won't let me down at some point in their lives.

I'm also not callous enough to think its acceptable for dogs to get 'set about' and hurt because their owners aren't great.

If your dog will bite, put a muzzle on it.

Why should a dog on a lead have to put up with loose dogs in their space, and if it's close enough to get bitten then it is in their space.

It is bad manners on your part if your dogs cannot be controlled, put them on leads so other dogs can enjoy their walk without being annoyed by your out of control dogs.

Person_one

Shepherd1 wrote: »

Why should a dog on a lead have to put up with loose dogs in their space, and if it's close enough to get bitten then it is in their space.

It is bad manners on your part if your dogs cannot be controlled, put them on leads so other dogs can enjoy their walk without being annoyed by your out of control dogs.

This isn't about my dogs, my dogs are fine thank you.

Dogs on lead shouldn't have to put up with being bothered, but unless you know a way to magically make every dog and every owner perfect, it's a possibility that the owners of aggressive dogs need to be prepared for.

That means a muzzle, is that so terrible? Would you really be ok with it if a friendly innocent dog was killed or injured for the crime of having an irresponsible owner, or for not recalling one time out of 1000?

Shepherd1

What I am not ok with is a nervous dog having to be muzzled on every walk because of the actions of others. Do you really think it helps a nervous dog to be unable to defend itself?

The nervous dog on a lead is doing no wrong, it is idiots not having control and not knowing where they're dogs are that are the problem.

lostinrates

Shepherd1 wrote: »

What I am not ok with is a nervous dog having to be muzzled on every walk because of the actions of others. Do you really think it helps a nervous dog to be unable to defend itself?

The nervous dog on a lead is doing no wrong, it is idiots not having control and not knowing where they're dogs are that are the problem.

If its not fair on your dog to be muzzled why is not ok for a socialised dog to be off lead.

I agree a dog shouldn't get in your dogs space, but on walks and in open spaces will be dogs of all age and experience. Some times dogs, like us, fail to be absolutely perfect. Just like when our horses go out, I wouldn't have let them out were they not road safe but they sometimes have a blip. No one should suffer from those blips.


Have you never, for example, bumped into some one accidentally? Or been knocked into someone? Or even chatted some one up and been given a knock back.

Would it be fair if after a misjudgment of space, or intention, you were knocked out rather than asked to step back?

Shepherd1

lostinrates wrote: »

If its not fair on your dog to be muzzled why is not ok for a socialised dog to be off lead.

I agree a dog shouldn't get in your dogs space, but on walks and in open spaces will be dogs of all age and experience. Some times dogs, like us, fail to be absolutely perfect. Just like when our horses go out, I wouldn't have let them out were they not road safe but they sometimes have a blip. No one should suffer from those blips.


Have you never, for example, bumped into some one accidentally? Or been knocked into someone? Or even chatted some one up and been given a knock back.

Would it be fair if after a misjudgment of space, or intention, you were knocked out rather than asked to step back?

My dog is not a problem and neither is my horse thanks. I do however have a friend who fosters dogs with problems and helps to rehabilitate them.

I have no problem with social dogs being off lead if their owners have control, I do have a problem with owners thinking their dogs can do no wrong even when bothering a nervous dog that has had a pretty bad start in life. Putting a muzzle on a nervous dog makes the dog more nervous as it is unable to defend itself.

Selfish people make it 100 times more difficult to rehabilitate dogs as they are only concerned with themselves and the fact their out of control dogs can have off lead time. You have no idea what the nervous dog has been through in its life maybe have a little bit of compassion and control your own dogs.

Out of interest if out of control dogs where annoying your horse and the horse kicked out, would that mean the horse never hacks again?

lostinrates

Shepherd1 wrote: »

My dog is not a problem and neither is my horse thanks. I do however have a friend who fosters dogs with problems and helps to rehabilitate them.

I have no problem with social dogs being off lead if their owners have control, I do have a problem with owners thinking their dogs can do no wrong even when bothering a nervous dog that has had a pretty bad start in life. Putting a muzzle on a nervous dog makes the dog more nervous as it is unable to defend itself.
"]would you describe this as 'right' or 'wrong' your dogs reaction?
Selfish people make it 100 times more difficult to rehabilitate dogs as they are only concerned with themselves and the fact their out of control dogs can have off lead time.

is it not fairly selfish to risk other dogs ( albeit ones not behaving desirably when you feel they might be at risk from a dogs action under ones control? You have no idea what the nervous dog has been through in its life maybe have a little bit of compassion and control your own dogs.but in deciding not to muzzle a dog which, one knows Is likely to inflict damage in a situation one cannot control one is potentially creating another nervous dog (adding to problems of either poor socialisation or ......just a one off !!!! up

Out of interest if out of control dogs where annoying your horse and the horse kicked out, would that mean the horse never hacks again?

my horses are acclimatised to dogs barking as part of their training, obviously over the years been chased by excited dogs. You what you can. Trying to control your horse (knowing its not your horses fault for reacting, but that never the less, you must rectify the situation). I have only once been in the situation where I feared the dog in pursuit might bite. Others have just been over excited. Bring things done to a halt have resolved those, With the biter we kept turning so the horse could kick but not at the dog. It was not a nice experience and we went home and did what I thought was sensible precautionary measures, desensitisation to dogs not our own in a controlled circumstance, just in case ( old near neighbours not terribly ho sparse tolerant dogs up and down a fence line with neighbours cooperation) Horse, thank fully horse was fine after that. I've never been in a situation where I had a dog not able to be off the lead, but if I had a dog who I was in doubt of , on or off lead, I'd muzzle and have socialisation as a key aim.

MisterBaxter

I walk ours twice a day every day for an hour each time, he is reluctant on the dark mornings when I have to get him up at 5am for his walk before I leave for work; he's not a fan of the rain either and when the weather is warm and sunny he would much rather lie around and snooze in the garden. He knows that if he behaves stubbornly for my wife he can get away without having a walk so I end up dragging him out.

To be honest I sometimes think I get more I out of the walks thank he does, since having a dog I have never felt fitter.