Respect for other dog walkers.

Person_one

I actually think it would be a great idea if there was a leaflet produced with a basic guide to the etiquette and general rules of dog walking. Rescues and breeders could give the leaflet out to every new owner and there'd be far fewer miscommunications/confrontations etc.

I do think that most people don't mean any harm, they just aren't aware/thinking.

zaksmum

gettingready wrote: »

Did not see the original post so no idea what happened?

While out with Zara today I had a dog run up to her (Zara was on a lead) from farrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr away - I was shouting to the owner to call her dog and owner shouting back to me "she won't come when I call".

I lost the count of times when I feel like strangling the owner...

R the "put a muzzle on your dog" comment above from someone - guess what?

I for example will NOT put a muzzle on my dog when she is with me and on a lead - as much as I am in control of my dog and stop her from remote possibility of hurting other dogs by keeping her on a lead with dogs around.. I will NOT put her in danger of being attacked by an off lead dog and not being able to defend herslef if a dog was to attack her.

I am in charge of and responsible for MY dog - not for every dog.

I also refuse to muzzle my dogs for this reason - I won't have them unable to defend themselves if they come under attack from an out-of-control dog.

My dogs won't start any fights but with some of the dogs around here, weapon dogs used by idiots to make themselves look hard, I'm going to make very sure they can defend themselves if need be.

krlyr

I think muzzling your dog isn't a black and white decision. I have trained both of my reactive dogs to wear muzzles, and will use muzzles dependant on the situation.

Even though mine are fear reactive and actually fine with other dogs they know, sometimes having a muzzle has its benefits.

It tends to get people to avoid us, for a start, meaning no fights happen in the first place. Or if a dog is approaching, my dog wearing a muzzle backs up my "My dog isn't good with others" statement, that many don't seem to believe if your dog is in a public place (because we obviously need to hide away and never walk our reactive dogs!).

I think the size and strength difference can make a situation escalate. My dogs are big - if they were to retaliate to a smaller dog attacking them, they could certainly do more damage. Yes, it would be in defence, but it may not be proportionate (thankfully neither of mine have shown any signs of wanting to bite when off-lead dogs have run over - just freaked out with a lot of barking and whining)

It also shifts the 'blame' in a situation - I own breeds highly prone to prejudice (GSD and Rottie x) and have heard many cases of the on-lead dog being blamed because of its breed. I was actually in a situation myself the other week, walking back from the field with my Rottie x when an off-lead terrier appeared with no owner in sight. I popped the muzzle on my dog, as I could see the terrier would have been no threat physically, but as we were cornered and unable to get past (the dog would walk closer as we tried to manouvre around it, and was undistracted by me throwing treats) it meant that I could stand there and wait (thankfully my dog being unreactive to the dog at the distance we were at) for the owner knowing my dog couldn't harm the dog in self-defence if it did rush over. It'd be all I'd need for the owner to appear just as my dog was biting back, given that there'd be no witnesses to see what had actually happened.

Also there are situations where I may have less control, e.g. my dogs are on a longline and a loose dog might appear in the same area. I may use a muzzle as a precaution - I can then call my dog back and put them on a short lead if another dog appears, and can remove the muzzle if the dog shows no signs of running over.

I think muzzles are a great tool, and although I previously said I would never muzzle my fear reactive GSD because it'd been proven (to my misfortune, as he was very stressed with it) he would rather wimp out than retaliate, I have now come to find them a great help in some situations. I'll often clip the muzzle to my walking belt just to have it to hand in case I do need to make use of it. Introduced properly, the dogs don't care about muzzles - some muzzles/certain toys even allow the dog to continue to play fetch with a muzzle on!

Katiehound

Something similar also happened to me... my 2 on leads beside me and great young lab comes bouncing over. (yes, I know he wants to play) At that time I had Billy B......growling, jumping snarling and I shouted please get your dog away. Lab comes right up behind mine, my 2 are beside themselves, twisting round and round. His flipping dog doesn't even have a collar or a disc (illegal). What do I get ? a mouthful of abuse, when he's in the wrong.. and "If I see your dog again I'll deal with him" shouted at me. I hasten this not from a yob but a much older man who should know better who is never going to have his dog with a collar and a disc!
I couldn't cope with the hassle or even the thought of going there again. Won't even now I have my new calm boy.

Oh, incidentally I did muzzle Billy when he was off the lead but not relevant here, I had no intention of letting either off.

meames_2

Person_one wrote: »

I actually think it would be a great idea if there was a leaflet produced with a basic guide to the etiquette and general rules of dog walking. Rescues and breeders could give the leaflet out to every new owner and there'd be far fewer miscommunications/confrontations etc.

I do think that most people don't mean any harm, they just aren't aware/thinking.

Perhaps we should start a campaign ;-)

SeduLOUs

I have started carrying an extra leash on walks with me so that if I am approached by a dog off-lead that won't be recalled I at least have half a chance of getting it under control myself.

If it was particularly aggressive I'd try and leash it and let my own run off. Mine isn't reactive but quite fearful, and in scenarios in the past he has backed away from anything that growls at him, but everyone can only take so much...

elsien

I'm one of the owners who has a dog who just wants to play, has no doggy manners and basically steam rollers every dog who comes near him. (Apart from boxers who give as good as they get and love to wrestle, and the irish wolfhound that's just too big to have her head jumped on.) He just doesn't seem to understand the warning signs from other dogs. He's sort of the doggy equivalent of the "I really really love you, I do" drunk - non - aggressive but who just won't go away.


For that reason Gitdog is always on a lead - a short lead until I can assess the situation, and I always tell people that he's training and although friendly is still a work in progress. What does annoy me then is the number of owners who let their (generally smaller) off lead dogs run up to him, then get cross as the dog gets trampled in his exuberance. They were warned, he's on a lead, theirs isn't, what else do they want me to do?


And I know it's one of the perils of owning a breed that has the "dangerous dog" image, but I also get annoyed by the number of dogs with appalling manners who get away with it because they're small and cute, whereas if mine did the same I'd get no end of strife. Jumping up at people etc is not acceptable whatever the size or breed of dog. So teach your own blasted dog some manners before having a go at mine.
Rant over.

Person_one

Elsien, us small dog owners hate stereotypes just as much as you bull breed owners, remember.

chris_n_tj

Ollie is never let off lead when we are out. Not because of other dogs, because he would leg it and we wouldnt have a cat in hell chance of finding him. I have lost count the number of owners saying oh its ok they are fine, they are not fine if they are not under control.

We are lucky though, if a dog bounds up to us not under control we just grab our mutt up and out of the way. Saying that if we happen to be walking Ollie and Dexter (Daughters mutt) its a bit harder.
Both are as soft as a brush but many owners think its their right of passage to let their dogs maul ours.

Another thing that P$$$es me off is Children just walking up to and going headlong into our mutts face. Please teach kids its unsafe to do that to any dog. We are lucky ours have been brought up with a baby so know whats coming, many other dogs dont.

I am also against muzzles, a dog on a lead should be enough. If another dog attacks then the leaded dog should be able to defend itself. If muzzled it wouldnt stand a chance. x

elsien

chris_n_tj wrote: »

Another thing that P$$$es me off is Children just walking up to and going headlong into our mutts face. Please teach kids its unsafe to do that to any dog. We are lucky ours have been brought up with a baby so know whats coming, many other dogs dont.
x

I've been trying to teach the neighbour's kids how to behave sensibly around dogs. They're all scared of dogs, especially mine, and tend to run around like loons squealing and flapping when they see him. Or the one kid comes over all macho gets close and makes threatening gestures and faces. Neither of which are particularly helpful.
I got Gitdog to lie down while I explained that if they're calm and sensible, dogs will be calm and sensible. If they squeal and run some dogs will think it's a game and want to join in. They said ok, calmed down, watched Gitdog being sensible, told me he was a good dog, then started squealing and running around like loons.
This may take some time.:rotfl: