Inconsiderate Owners

[robandkay]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Some horrible experiences - thinking I might dig out my walking stick to be prepared! How is Macy now? Healed in body and spirit I hope?

Thanks for asking about Macy. The bite on her leg has healed over, though I think will leave a small scar, - she still has the teeth marks on her lower leg, but I am hoping they will disappear with time. She is fine with other whippets, greys etc. but understandably, is very anxious now when off lead dogs come racing towards her.

A few days after 'the incident' we met a man in the woods with his two loose German Shepherds (Macy was on the lead). They made a bee-line for her so I shouted over politely asking if he would mind calling them back as she'd been bitten a few days earlier and wasn't happy with dogs running at her. His response was - 'Well go and walk somewhere else then!' I guess for every 'Mr. Selfish' there are lots of considerate owners out there who go out of their way to behave with courtesy, but it only takes one bad incident for your dog to remember it.

I've taken to carrying a large stick with me now, and if it makes folk keep a wide berth then so much the better! The main problem - in common with many of the other posts on here - seems to be people with two or more (often large) dogs who can't control them either on or off lead and just take the 'easy' option of turning a blind eye and letting them do as they please.

Good luck everyone, - wishing you and all your dogs safe and peaceful walking!

 

[lkbemanuel]

Sorry Tiggergould! )

Glad to hear Macy is doing well robandkay - she looks a stunner in the photo there. As for the man with the "Well walk somewhere else" comment - words fail :angry:

 

[speedypete]

like you i am amazed at some socalled dog owners that have no control over their dogs my dog trainer/friend instilled into me that if your dog cannot drop immediately to a down position when told - regardless of other distractions ie dogs cats etc then it should not be off its lead at all to me the first two commands they should know are down & recall

 

[eingana]

I really dislike being approached by dogs when their owners aren't paying attention, whether Molly is with me or not. Molly was not socialised as a puppy (due to divot owners who broke her legs, starved her and shut her in a flat by herself) and as a result she finds socialising a very anxious and scary experience. She doesn't want other dogs near her, or near me (as a guarding breed she sees them as a threat to me) and because of this we call her back to us as soon as other dogs are in our visible range.

One would think that someone with a bloody great German Shepherd calling the dog back to them and putting her on a lead would be a sign to other owners that the dog is not comfortable, or even not safe, with their dogs approaching, but no. I call over and ask them to call their dogs back because Molly is scared of other dogs and they usually reply that their dog is soft and friendly. My usual response is that since my dog is on a lead then I won't be responsible for the vet bills when Molly shreds their dog, since theirs is off a lead and some distance from them. That usually focuses the mind nicely and they get all offended and come to fetch their dogs.

I find this really sad. Why do I have to threaten them with their dog being harmed (which is extremely unlikely) for them to come and fetch their dogs? Why can they not see that invading another dog's space is often unwelcome and is seen by the other dog as rude? A few manners is all it would take.

I'm sorry to hear about so many people who have had their dogs attacked by off-lead dogs and sincerely hope that they have all healed both physically and emotionally.

 

[Strix]

I too despair of what some people think is acceptable dog behaviour, and how badly they understand their dog's own body language, so I'll also share this

I've found that uncontrolled dogs bounding towards us tends to put Brude on alert for an incident, so already the situation is becoming something best avoided. All he's doing is stiffening up in anticipation waiting to see what happens (he has a spinal injury btw, so he has an aversion to his back being pawed), but I know he is then sending the wrong signals to approaching dogs

I always make him sit now if approached by a loose dog. In that position, he knows I'm in charge and am calling the shots, the approaching dog has no idea what's going on and hangs back to suss out the situation, and the majority of owners collect their dog or call theirs back - all without incident

on the rare occasion we're met by an obnoxiously rude dog, I've already got MY dog where he knows he's under command, and I'm more than happy to issue instructions to other people's dogs, and have been known to put loose dogs on a lead. The knack is to stay cool calm and collected. If you're indignant, you lose - the situation will just escalate

A better tip than carrying a big stick is to practice the phrase 'HE'S GOT KENNEL COUGH!'. It's funny how many people suddenly demonstrate that they CAN control a dog if they think a vet bill might be involved

 

[lurcherman]

do u really think the owners would know what kennel cough is? they prop say ere have this cough sweet lol some owners havnt got a clue the dog is just a dog to them.