Just because my dog wants to be left alone by other dogs, does not mean she should be banished from walking – under control and on a lead – in a wide open public place.
Just because your dog does not bite, him rushing head on into my dog is not “just being friendly”, especially when he is accompanied by three of his pals.
Just because I try to protect my dog – and all the progress we have made in building her confidence and tolerance - by chasing off your dogs when you choose not to recall them, does not mean that I am the problem owner.
I am really pleased that you have “sociable, friendly” dogs. Mine came to me unable to cope with another dog the length of a football pitch away. Now she can be in the same space as other dogs as long as she is not expected to interact. I am proud of her and the progress she has made. She is still learning, bit by bit, that other dogs are not things of terror. Sadly I don’t think that was the lesson she learned from your “friendly” dogs today.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I had exactly this problem just today with Kez. Coming to the end of a lovely walk in the fields, quite a few dogs about but Kez happy to focus on me and ignore them all passing them. Was very happy, when a black lab appeared and came straight towards us. Came right up, too much for Kez and she reacted with lots of barking. Owner paying no attention, even when I was shouting ‘go on’ to the dog it wouldnt move. So frustrating, people dont get it.
Sorry to hear that April. Some people just don’t think. Others are embarrassed, I suspect, because they know their dogs are not under control. In our case, Mirri was on lead, and obvious injured (she has a big bandage on her leg). We stepped 20 ft off the path to let this group go past (it is a huge open space) and all four dogs came straight at her. Owner didn’t attempt to recall them and then told us that we shouldn’t walk her there if she didn’t like other dogs! Grrrrgrh!
Wow, all of you guys’ stories would be so frustrating. I’m that person with the friendly dog off-leash… sorry. BUT I don’t let Gwynn approach other dogs when they’re on-leash, even if the owners say that the dog is friendly. I get him on-leash before approaching (if approaching is an option), so that the dogs are on equal footing when they meet. He’s friendly as can be, but meeting a dog that’s on-leash when he’s got freedom… he lacks the doggy ettiquette to make that work out well. Which is why I worked hard so that he’ll sit right away when I tell him to and he’s 10 feet away from another dog and 15 ft away from me. Don’t doubt that your dogs have every right to be in parks, whether they’re dog-friendly or not… the person with their dog off-leash is responsible for keeping their dogs under control.
Hi Lexy – you sound like just the kind of person I love to meet! Someone who is considerate of other people and has a well-trained dog. Don’t get me wrong – I love it when dogs are happy to meet and can do so – and I have one lad who is off-lead most of the time and quite happy to meet other off-lead dogs politely. But like you I don’t let him approach an on-lead dog – and if I messed up and he did – I certainly wouldn’t blame the person with the dog on a lead.
Incidentally, I don’t mind meeting off-lead dogs with my on-lead girl either – if they are under control and not in her face. It give us a good training opportunity!
Thanks so much for your comments.
This excellent website definitely has all the info I wanted concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
{ 3 trackbacks }