dog walking curtesy

[happy_face]

I own a Staff which is a lovely dog and when I walk him he's alright with most other breeds. He really wants to play and gets on well with bitches but not always other dogs. So when I see other dog owners approaching with their dogs I'll put my dog on the lead. But 8 times out of 10 the other owners doesn't do it. Then their dog runs up to mine and often mine will growl and start snapping after the other dog. If anything serious was to happen I don't think I'm to blame as I had my dog restrained and they didn't, although it was my dog doing the biting

When I'm out walking and someone else has their dog on the lead I will always put mine on the lead too. But why are there so many people who don't respect this common curtesy ? Or am I just talking utter crap here, expecting too much of my fellow dog lovers ?

[FP]

Rinkytink. 

Not a barrage of abuse, but:  :o)

My dogs are very well socialised.  I have kept dogs successfully for a long time (rescued dogs) and my husband has actually been a dog handler.  However, if a dog is on a lead and another dog approaches and starts annoying her then she gets agitated, especially when the dogs run around her barking and generally being a nuisance.   Therefore, she is cautious of all dogs approaching her when she is on the lead, even the nice ones.   Most owners don't call their dogs back when this happens.    Most dogs aren't as well trained as yours. 

I would never let my dogs run up to young children, even though they would not harm a child.  I respect the fact that some people do not like dogs and would be petrified if a dog approached their child.  (I had the other problem with my son - from an early age he thought it quite acceptable to throw his arms around any dog he encountered - not always a good thing!)

Rinky if you were walking along with your dog on a lead and a dog started to annoy him/her by continually running around in circles, barking and showing signs of aggressiveness, would you not find this annoying!

You sound like a very good dog owner.

Best wishes.

[rinkytink]

 

Okay - points taken from all sides. I understand that there are dogs out there who not always appreciate a hello from a stranger !

Knowing that my dog will not attack another dog, and that he will return when called, means that I will allow him to introduce himself at all times. If this is a problem with the other owner then he will always be called back immediately.

I just feel that preventing a dog doing things that are only natural to them will end up causing more problems in the long run. There are times when what is natural for the dog is not acceptable in the human world, or dangerous for the dog. That is when it is up to the owner to step in.

[FP]

Rinky, I understand completely what you are saying because I understand dogs and generally love being with them.  Whilst there are people that do not feel like we do, we have to sometimes adapt.

Basically though, I agree with you.

[woofgang]

I met a chap yesterday who has huskies. He told me (and it isn't the first time that I have been told this) that it is not generally a good idea to let them run free because while they are generally good at learning things, the recall isn't one of them. Before you husky owners all yell, this is what he said, I have known 2 other people who have owned huskies and say the same thing. The chap yesterday said that he has given up going to a well known walking spot around here because his older dog has been attacked twice by out of control off lead dogs...both times smaller than his dog. He said that his dog is used to being on a lead (long flexi type) and isn't worried by other dogs running up to say hello but understandably being attacked does try his patience.

But that wasn't why I started to post. rinkytink, by the time you have decided that the owner has their dog on the lead for a reason and your dog has run over and sniffed, or tried to play and been bitten for his pains, which is what happened twice to our first dog (see my first post) the damage will have been done You are right, this is normal behaviour..so is retaliating with a snap or a bite if the attention is unwelcome!

Like you I let my dog off lead as soon as he was out of vaccinations. We have always worked hard to train and socialise all our dogs, but the fact remains that out there there are nervous dogs, rescue dogs and dogs with sore tails who will snap when they are sniffed and it is up to us all to take care of our dogs. I love to see my current girl run with her friends and have always been happy to allow my dogs to enjoy themselves being social BUT safely!