Unfit Dog Owners

Di-Dough

Yesterday I took my mum's dog (a westie) for a walk at the local beauty spot. He was off the lead and is a very friendly little dog. There was a man walking towards us with his dog (black and white collie) also off the lead. The other dog lay down on the grass and my mum's dog toddled up to him to say "hello"..... he did not even get that close when the other dog jumped up and went for him and seemed to get hold of him by his back..... I was screaming and running towards them .... my mum's dog was making this high pitched "screaming" noise and the other dog ran off. The dog's owner (man in his 70's) did not shout at his dog or anything whilst this was going on and said "its alright he is only telling him to go away"..... I was so angry:mad:. If you are a dog owner and you KNOW this is what your dog does when another dog goes near it why do they insist on letting their dogs off the lead when other dogs are about.....

Although my mum's dog does not seem to be hurt (there was no blood and the other dog seemed not to have bit him) he was covered in mud and seemed to be in shock for a while after it happened ..... very quite and tail between his legs etc..

Sorry to rant ..... just had to say something about the injustice of it all ... I know dogs will be dogs and all that but really its the owner's attitude that really got me going

Di

System

It works both ways. Why did you allow your dog to approach another when you had no idea how they would react?

airhostess

Hi there,

the exact same thing happened to my bichon frise before, with a collie. My dog was scared at first but then they started playing together, and they were fine.

Is your westie white? My bichon frise is white (they only come in white!!) and collies are known to do this lying down thing, before pouncing, it's like a kind of stalking. I am wondering, maybe collies initially see the other dogs as sheep, as they are small and white?? Collies are working dogs and have these instincts. He probably didn't mean your dog any harm and they would have been fine together if your dog hadn't been so scared off by the other's behaviour.

Little_Chicken

I agree - if your dog can't be trusted then it shouldn't be off its lead. Poor ickle westie.....

Di-Dough

!!!!!! wrote: »

It works both ways. Why did you allow your dog to approach another when you had no idea how they would react?

I assumed that the dog was off the lead because it was was capable of playing/getting along with other dogs ..... did not expect it to start attacking mine ..... my whole point is that yes I know dogs will be dogs but it was the OWNER'S attitude that really annoyed me ..... he knew what his dog was like yet did not shout, run over or apologise ...... if it was the other way round and my dog was the one doing the attacking he would not be off the lead and if by chance he did try to bit another dog I would be VERY apologetic

Di

Di-Dough

Little_Chicken wrote: »

I agree - if your dog can't be trusted then it shouldn't be off its lead. Poor ickle westie.....

It got worse when he got home ..... he had to have a bath to wash the mud off to see if he was bleeding or hurt:eek:

Di

Di-Dough

airhostess wrote: »

Hi there,

the exact same thing happened to my bichon frise before, with a collie. My dog was scared at first but then they started playing together, and they were fine.

Is your westie white? My bichon frise is white (they only come in white!!) and collies are known to do this lying down thing, before pouncing, it's like a kind of stalking. I am wondering, maybe collies initially see the other dogs as sheep, as they are small and white?? Collies are working dogs and have these instincts. He probably didn't mean your dog any harm and they would have been fine together if your dog hadn't been so scared off by the other's behaviour.

Hi - yes he is white (or dirty white before his bath:rotfl: ) I didn't realise collies did this or might have called him to come back ..... This dog was actually quite nasty and pushed my dog to the ground and it looked like he was trying to bite his back .... and the squealing from my dog (and me ....) could not have helped the situation

Di

Oldernotwiser

But it doesn't sound as if the collie did attack him, although you and your Westie both thought that he did. Sounds like a breakdown of both canine and human communications to me.

suki1964

And this is money saving how?

Perhaps the money savers arms?

Di-Dough

suki1964 wrote: »

And this is money saving how?

Perhaps the money savers arms?

I didn't have to pay the vets fees :rotfl:

Di

lil_me

I have 2 dogs, one who is great off the lead he loves to play with other dogs, one who now she's old is agressive towards other dogs sometimes, she's kept on the lead when there are other dogs about regardless. The most annoying thing for me is when others have their dogs off the lead and they come wandering over 'to say hello' then the owners moan when she goes for them.....no brainer, ask anyone walking in the same area if their dog are ok with others before considering letting them off lead. If their recall isn't good enough for you to be able to shout them back when they go towards another dog don't let them off lead where other dogs are. Even with my older girls agression and the youngest one being overkeen to play they will both recall perfectly even if another dog comes into the area therefore I feel confident enough to allow them offlead in the areas we walk (at specifically chosen times to ensure they get offlead for at least part of the walk) but then can recall if someone 'fancies a change' and comes into the area when we are there.