Close Encounters

[Josie]

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I've just returned from a walk with Dennis and Darcy - the GR that was involved in the dog fight last year and who has now left me with a lovely tooth shaped scar on my wrist as a reminder.

Learning the hard way on how Darcy behaves I have no trust with him off his lead unless we are somewhere I know not many dogs will be walked.

So today we went to the woods. You can go a whole walk without bumping into anyone - it's perfect! All was going well until the very end when I spotted a black lab approaching round the corner. I placed Darcy on the lead as a precaution until I could established whether the dog was male/female (he only has issues with other entire males) but I then noticed the two other labs also.

I have seen these dogs before and I know instantly that one is a full male. This male is not shy and retiring either. His body language says it all as he approaches full of confidence and bravado. * This really makes me angry. The owners can see I have mine on a lead and just allow their three dogs to approach us*

Darcy starts growling instantly which makes me very nervous so I tell them 'this is an entire male and he will not hesitate in attacking yours' whilst walking past extremely quickly and Darcy being on a short lead. It's scary because I know how quickly and how strong Darcy can be in that mode.

She then in the heat of it tries to take Dennis with her thinking he is hers!

NONE of them were wearing collars either and I didn't see any dog leads.

Who thinks it's acceptable to go out in public with no collars or leads available?? then to allow them to approach?

sorry rant over!

Phew.

 

[JudyN]

So out of control in a public place then?

Just a thought - should Darcy wear a muzzle, at least when you're walking him? If he's on lead and you unexpectedly bump into an entire dog, could he bite you/redirect onto you in the fracas? Or if he's off lead and attacks another dog (whose owner might try to intervene)?

I'm not saying he should, just that you might want to consider it if you haven't already.

 

[Mad Murphy]

Sadly stupid is not illegal ... nor is it illegal for the stupid ones to own dogs.

We have two people in our street who think this sort of behaviour is ok. One told me she didnt have to obey any laws she didnt want to !!!!..

 

[Josie]

Hi @JudyN - yes I have thought about it.

It’s tricky because he’s not mine and his owners adore him and think he’s an angel!

He is manageable because I’m cautious of where we walk and usually know the different dogs. It’s mainly other people that are the problem!

 

[JudyN]

his owners adore him and think he’s an angel!

Hey, I adore Jasper and think he's an angel (most of the time) but he still wears a muzzle! You have the toothmarks to show that he's not always an angel. And a bite's still a bite, even if it was caused by another entire dog suddenly coming round the corner and sizing him up

 

[Janer]

U.K law, dog collars and tags should be on all dogs outside the home, anyone caught with their dogs not wearing them are liable to be fined up to £5,000, maybe drop that into the conversation next time. Hope you are ok xxx

 

[Flobo]

I do feel for you, as you know I walk an entire male that behaves the same as Darcy and like you I adjust my walks accordingly, in the busy park I use(if the closed in space we play in is occupied) I have him on the lead, unfortunately their are many people that still shout over 'my dog is fine' when their dog and his balls are fast approaching and you know your dog has noticed, and you've already asked them to please call their dog back! It is infuriating Or they have ear phones in, or are jogging or on their phones so they don't even notice a potential problem arising.. generally these days I just practise avoidance of any dog I don't recognise just in case, and if we have to have a lead walk to be safe then so be it, to me I weigh up the fact I walk this dog 3 times a week, the rest of the time he has off lead walks in the less dog populated area he lives.( I walk him from the owners place of work in town), he still loves his walks with me and we are safe

 

[Josie]

U.K law, dog collars and tags should be on all dogs outside the home, anyone caught with their dogs not wearing them are liable to be fined up to £5,000, maybe drop that into the conversation next time. Hope you are ok xxx

I will next time for sure!

All good thank you probably more nervous that I need to be knowing what happened before.

 

[Josie]

I do feel for you, as you know I walk an entire male that behaves the same as Darcy and like you I adjust my walks accordingly, in the busy park I use(if the closed in space we play in is occupied) I have him on the lead, unfortunately their are many people that still shout over 'my dog is fine' when their dog and his balls are fast approaching and you know your dog has noticed, and you've already asked them to please call their dog back! It is infuriating Or they have ear phones in, or are jogging or on their phones so they don't even notice a potential problem arising.. generally these days I just practise avoidance of any dog I don't recognise just in case, and if we have to have a lead walk to be safe then so be it, to me I weigh up the fact I walk this dog 3 times a week, the rest of the time he has off lead walks in the less dog populated area he lives.( I walk him from the owners place of work in town), he still loves his walks with me and we are safe

Yes I do the same. I keep him on the lead unless we’re somewhere remote and do the avoidance thing!

I think the problem is that there are so many more dogs around now with owners that have no clue about ownership etiquette. I think there should be classes for this!

 

[Biker John]

A little rant from me, I have long thought that people should need a dog licence. That is people should be required to attend training classes before they are allowed to own a dog. OK it wont cure all problems but it might increase the proportions of dogs that are well kept.

 

[JudyN]

I think how to interact with dogs should be taught compulsarily at school... with information sheets for the children to take home and share with their parents.

 

[Buddy1]

unfortunately their are many people that still shout over 'my dog is fine' when their dog and his balls are fast approaching

That does sound familiar. It always amazes me how many owners allow their dogs to race up to onlead dogs (or off lead dogs for that matter).
Dogs bounding towards us are often accompanied with the shout “Don’t worry they’re friendly!”.
I find many of these dogs fit into one of two categories. Usually they are young, highly excitable and just too 'full on': bounding and jumping all over my dog.
The second demonstrate their ‘friendliness’ to my dog by prancing around him in an assertive manner and growling, while their owners are oblivious as they are way over on the other side of the field.
I do think that many owners are just not aware of the possible implications of letting their dogs race up to other dogs. In their mind they have a ‘friendly dog’ and assume that every other dog will be / should be happy to meet it (and every other human too).
My real bugbear is with owners who think it is acceptable to allow their ‘friendly’ dogs to run and jump up at young children, but I won’t get started on that one

 

[JudyN]

Then there's the owners of entire males who say 'Don't worry, he's very submissive.' Great, my dog's not daft, they're the ones he's going to have a go at because he knows he can.

Or 'It's best to let them sort it out for themselves.' Now, I can go along with this nowadays if J is telling a cheeky upstart young lad of similar size that he won't tolerate him bouncing all over, or even a JRT who is convinced he's twice the size of J, with an attitude to match... But NOT with your timid little fluffy dog who can't help that he reeks of testosterone even though he wouln't dare say boo to a goose.

 

[Flobo]

I think how to interact with dogs should be taught compulsarily at school... with information sheets for the children to take home and share with their parents.

Just a quick one as rugby about to ko! But yes I think this would be a great idea, when Jake was younger and my daughter at reception I really wanted to bring him in to school to meet with young children and educate them on basic dog/people interactions, but the school wasn't keen for various reasons.. But still a great idea I think. Got to go!!!

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

This must be so frustrating!
There was a dog that came running over when my auntie visited us with her new rescue German Shepherd who was nervous with other dogs, this labradoodle came running over and was really friendly and playful but too much for him, the owner was a cross the field calling and calling people don't think about other dogs, they just think that if theirs are friendly then that's it.
I agree with @JudyN, muzzle him, even if you have to do it without the owner knowing, best safe than sorry!

 

[Flobo]

I know this is totally thread unrelated but that 2nd half of eng/scot game was epic! Just had to share and am rubbish at finding or making a thread that is relevant,sorry...but what a game to end the 6 nations on!!

 

[JudyN]

I know this is totally thread unrelated but that 2nd half of eng/scot game was epic! Just had to share and am rubbish at finding or making a thread that is relevant,sorry...but what a game to end the 6 nations on!!

I actually started watching it for the last couple of minutes (OH was glued to it), but what a couple of minutes they were!

 

[Jack-Russell-Lover]

...I absolutely hate football, rugby whatever it is haha!
It's ridiculous! My last customer today asked if I'd be off to catch the game...I was like err hell no, I have better things to do than watching a bunch of idiots being paid a ridiculous amount of money just for kicking or chucking a ball around. Winge over.

 

[Nanny71]

...I absolutely hate football, rugby whatever it is haha!
It's ridiculous! My last customer today asked if I'd be off to catch the game...I was like err hell no, I have better things to do than watching a bunch of idiots being paid a ridiculous amount of money just for kicking or chucking a ball around. Winge over.

Rugby on afternoon and evening and then football after that. This town is crazy about the game. Well it was invented here!!!!!!

 

[Josie]

I always get kicked out of the lounge when match of the day is on!!