View Full Version : Dog Walking Etiquette
the charlatans
01-Nov-07, 23:45
Advice please.
Whilst out walking my small, friendly, obedient dog i happened upon someone else walking their massive, unmuzzled, straining on its leash dog. I called my dog to heel but was told to put him on a lead or their dog would attack my dog as it doesn't like little dogs.
I did but as i also had a toddler in a pram i felt quite uncomfortable that they were in charge of a dog that they told me was dangerous but was unmuzzled.
Were they in the right to tell me their dog was dangerous or should it be muzzled and under better control?
When out with my dog who wouldn't hurt a fly, I always put it on the leash when approaching other dogs...............because some dogs don't take kindly to other dogs invading their space....and if mine had gone in about to sniff at the leashed dog, as she would have, and got hurt, it would have been my fault because she wasn't on a leash....and I'd have had no comeback because the other dog was.
After all, the other person wasn't to know your dog wouldn't go near the leashed dog.
Wouldn't you rather be warned charlatan? The dog was leashed and under control and the owner was kind enough to warn you incase your friendly wee dog went too close.
One of my greyhounds is a bit volatile, but usually with bigger dogs.
He is terrified and if a strange dog continues to sniff around him he gets edgy and has in the past snapped.
My policy tends to be to warn other owners of this.
Most folk don't have a problem and kindly call their dog away from him.
evelyn
the charlatans
02-Nov-07, 00:21
well yes at first i was happy enough to be warned - this is a big big dog. but i was meeting them every day and its more the way they phrase it. 'my dog will kill your dog' that made me wonder.
my dog was used to meeting other dogs and is mostly submissive and goes into pack etiquette but they won't give them a chance to sniff and let them be 'dogs'.
is it bullying? cos if i owned a massive dog that didn't like little dogs and i had him out and about i would muzzle it.
I wouldn't say it was bullying. It may be that the owner has been involved in an incident that he/she doesn't want to repeat, and so would rather not let the dogs have a sniff at each other. He/she could have been more careful with his/her choice of words though.
Its obvious that you don't feel comfortable, so if I were you I would change my route or walking time.
evelyn
the charlatans
02-Nov-07, 00:57
never thought of that evelyn.
ta for the advice. i think you are right, its their choice of words that wind me up, they aren't very friendly. i thought all doggy people were friendly but i'm wrong.:(
the dog is a bonny beast but a beast none the less and i think a wee change of timing/route is coming on.
cheers
If the dog approaching is off lead and looks non threatening in its body language I leave mine off lead. If however I see the other owner leashing their dog I leash mine as A) their dog may be ill and B) not friendly C) fear aggressive
If I see a dog approaching off lead that looks aggressive I call mine keep them to heel off lead and go off in another direction until it has passed. this is because if a dog does attack mine they stand a better chance if they are off lead as they can run for it.. and if they are on lead and an agressive dog comes at them it can cause a scrap as mine get anxious as they cant escape.
not all dogs are well socialsed and rude dogs that run up and try and sniff my dogs bums without my dogs permission get told off by them.. however off lead my lot are that fast.. heads down senting they arent interested at all in other dogs and I just keep walking say hello to the other owner and carry on.
most dogs cant keep up with them and lose interest very quickly.
I've had to do the same myself because one owner thought it was ok to let his boisterous large dogs mount my old arthritic male dog. When I asked him to please control his dogs becuse my auld fella wasn't amused and was ready to snap, I was told that if my dog can't socialise I shouldn't have him out.
Despite my arguement that being mounted by two gay retrievers hardly constitutes socialising, the guy couldn't see my point and refused to call the dogs off.
A change of route meant that I never had to meet up with that unreasonable prat again.
As you say charlatan, most doggy folk are friendly, reasonable and responsible, but you always get the odd one....
evelyn
As someone else said I think it was just badly phrased. And maybe a bit of 'my dogs bigger than yours' bravado !!
However I do think it is good manners to leash your dog ( not you personally Charlatans, owners in general) if you are coming towards someone with their dog on a lead. My dog is friendly but is always on her lead as recall is not her strong point. I have lost count of the amount of times she has been accosted, mounted and had her bum sniffed, which she hates, by loose dogs. Then she will have a warning growl and if they dont back off she will have a snap. Then I am the one getting dirty looks and tutted at but my dog has been under control :roll:
I fell out with a couple when their big muddy dog bounded over and covered me and Cara with gutters, she growled and I told it to get off. They looked down their noses at me and didn't even apologise. [evil]
porshiepoo
02-Nov-07, 18:26
Always keep your dogs leashed in public places, for your own dogs safety and for your own peace of mind. It's really not worth the hassle.
It never ceases to amaze me when people are quite happy for their dogs to coming running up to mine (who are leashed) without any attempt at recalling them.
To warn someone that your dog will bite or attack, even if it's just to another dog, is admitting that your dog is a danger. If this dog had attacked the little dog the owner wouldn't have had a leg to stand on.
i agree, my year old dogs are not agressive- just nosey and playfull, but if i see any other dog near by i always leash them wheater or not the other dog is on a leash. i think it is just sensible. i will usually then ask if it would be ok to let the dogs meet (if the owner and dog looks friendly) just to socialise my dogs.
At least they can meet on equal terms (both leashed) and nose to nose !!
I have three dogs and they were all fine and sociable with other dogs, but i always keep them on the lead if i see someone approaching.
But in the last year my youngest dog has been attacked twice,first time, by 2 dogs where the owner just stood and watched (mine were on the lead and the others were not) i had to split them up and the young one got shook so severely they flung her out of her collar.
And the second time, mine again were on leads and another dog, not on the lead...came in behind them and started biting at their legs, not answering to their owners, again it seemed to home in on the the youngest and again she was bitten and high tailed it off terrified.
This has resulted in her fear and now nervous aggression to other dogs, as soon as she sees anoyther dog she is anxious , noisy.
If i see someone with their dog off the lead, i usually stand still and hope that the other owners notice and put theirs on the lead...but it doesn't always happen!!
dancingtaz13
04-Nov-07, 23:32
I find that very annoying how some owners don't really bother with their unleashed dogs when other dogs are about.... the amount of times i've been out with my dog (who is always on a lead) and my toddler in her pram - dogs off the lead come over to mine sniffing his backside and pestering him, which despite being perfectly well socialised, he still doesn't like it. The other dog doesn't listen to their owners 4th/5th recall and i'm standing trying to get my dogs attention back while controlling the pram. They see your struggling but keep walking!! :mad:
And these are the people who will always shout loudest if your dog was to bite back and defend itself :mad:
Lolabelle
05-Nov-07, 08:55
I have neighbours whose small dog charges out at my two, who are on a lead, and struts around them growling. The owners call him, but never keep their dogs locked up. Their dogs are always out roaming the streets, pooing and peeing over everyone elses front yards. I mentioned this to the owners and they just laughed and said that all dogs like to go and mess at other peoples places. I said I had quite enough poo to pick up with my own dogs and how would they like it if my two did their poos at the front of their house?
They got the message, but still don't lock the dogs up. Some days I feel like letting my two "eat" their dog!
But of course I don't. [evil]
(mind you, my dogs are such sooks that they wouldn't eat him anyway!)
This week i couldnt win!!!!! Harry is only 3 months castrated, so while on a lead he can be a bit rrrr when another dog approaches him, but perfectly fine of the lead, and while out on a lead walk last week, a fella and his puppy (off lead) came walking towards me and off course the puppy came running up to harry, and before i got a chance harry was all rrr and rolled the puppy a bit....much to the disgust of the owner, puppy was fine, but the owner you could tell, looked at me like i had a dangerous dog:mad: Then yesterday harry was off lead on the beach running around with all the other dogs, i go to the top of the steep steps with my toddler, to put her in the buggy, see a lady walk towards me with a teany dog, i think if i put harry on the lead, it will be a nightmare to juggle him, and toddler, so harry goes to the teany dog a wee bit of rr, but knew he would be far less all rrr (which he was) to be told sternly by the lady "its better if they are sometimes both on the lead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so i have experienced both end of the "on lead off lead saga" and trusted my judgement and got bollocked both times:lol:
I have a white german shepherd who is pretty big, also a rescue we have had for 3 months. She is the softest thing ever, but is a bit wary of other dogs. she is 6 years old so obviously we have a lot of work to do in the form of socialising, and would NEVER take her out without a lead. But my point is. The amount of small dogs who bark at her aggressively has amazed me, but because they are small people think it is cute, but when she barks back you can see the look on peoples faces like, OMG that alsation shoudn't be let out coz it barks etc. Just winds me up....... the things that little dogs can get away with, and peoples perceptions of 'evil dogs' ie Alsations and the like mean they have no chance. Sorry think I have rambled a bit but hope you get the gist.
The only dog my boxer ever really tried to eat was my dads small dog!!! it yaps at every dog big or small and I met him whilst out walking one day, mine was on the lead and his wee thing decided to have a go at mine who really was so good but after a while she obviously thought enough was enough and had a go. My dad wasn't too impressed but as I said to him "keep it under control then"
Bakerbhoy
05-Nov-07, 22:51
Have a GSD and as a pup she was chased by 2 black labs, since then she has always been a bit wary of other dogs and if they get to close she does growl and bark but through fear not aggression. She is always on the lead when we meet other dogs but the amount of people that see me put her on her lead but still continue to allow theirs to roam freely is unbelievable. It really gets me riled when I get the looks and tuts about her growling at uncontrolled dogs so have said it to owners only to get more glaring and tutting.
It's nice to hear that i'm not the only one with the same problem.
My dog must come across as being very aggressive, but as in the above post it is only nervousness. And because she is a Staffy, i get the dirty looks and tutts when she growls and whines.
It's nice to hear that i'm not the only one with the same problem.
My dog must come across as being very aggressive, but as in the above post it is only nervousness. And because she is a Staffy, i get the dirty looks and tutts when she growls and whines.
Sounds as though we have all been there (and got the t-shirt !!) :roll:
I intended to comment on this subject when the thread was live, but I hope my story will be enlightening to some and a warning to others.
Until March of this year, We had a German Shepherd cross. Right up to the day before she died at the age of 14, we walked her off the lead. She looked the part but was completely harmless. I was often angered by people scooping up their little dogs as we approached and once a woman walking a spaniel, screamed at me to get the dog on a lead, that really made me angry.
Some five months ago, we adopted two ex-racing greyhounds. Wary that they would be attracted to small fury things, we kept them muzzled on walks, My wife wanted to keep it that way, but I knew better and soon we were walking the dogs without muzzles.
Now came the crunch, every time a small ‘harmless’ dog approached off the lead, we were wary of what ours may do if they got too close. The woman who had screamed at me some months before ’laughed’ as her small hairy spaniel romped around my two ,off its lead. I wanted to scream at her!
Anyway things calmed down and this morning whilst walking our dogs on a lead, a Scottie (also on a lead) came too close and one of mine went for its throat and swung it around like a wet rag. As it happened the scottie was thankfully shaken (literally) but not hurt as a result our greyhounds will always be muzzled in future.
Now I ask you to think long and hard about totally trusting your dog or letting it off the lead ,as I sit here waiting for the door bell to ring, either with a vets bill or a visit from the local constabulary.
Thanks for sharing that bananas and I am sorry to hear you have had such a tough lesson but at the end of the day an animal is just that an animal, they do not think like us no matter how much you humanize them. All these people with "dangerous dogs" that should be muzzled in public but are not are all an accident waiting to happen. Up here you see all types out walking and it is incredibly rare that I see any muzzled at all.
the charlatans
05-Dec-07, 21:53
An update on this topic. I've changed my time and don't meet this massive big dog and its owner so i'm more than happy. Except once. And when i saw them coming in put my dog on his lead straight away and even managed some smalltalk so things have improved for me. My faith was restored a bit.
However i still would like to see it on a muzzle, like Unicorn says, its an animal at the end of the day. Its not because its a big dog but because the owners say it doesn't like small dogs and would go for him and if thats the case i think they should have a muzzle. I'm not against big dogs at all, I've seen a little Jack Russell on a muzzle and if my dog was fiesty then i'd have one on him too. As it is he's quite friendly but backs down if his advances are not welcomed - thankfully. We all have to take responsibility for our animals at the end of the day Bananas.
I have a choc labrador he is one year old and quite big. He is the biggest softest lump i know and generally he is okay off the lead. The only problems i encounter are when he sees other dogs he gets very excited, wont answer me, wants to play with them but the other dogs dont want to play and they end up fighting! eeeugh I also think other dog owners feel quite threatened by him as he is so big and bounds up to their dogs i am sometimes met with quite harsh remarks.
yes we have this with harry, he can just go bounding up to someone or a dog on the beach and stop at the last minute, and actually makes noises...we know he aint gonna do anything...but because hes a big black lab he looks threatening!!!!
I sould point out, if a dog is a danger to other dogs it should be muzzled. However, owners who yank their dogs back, or pick up smaller dogs in fear, whenever they see another dog approaching, are conveying the message to their dog that this is a threat. the dog then becomes nervous and subsequently aggressive. Dogs should be allowed to sniff other dogs, starting as puppies to teach them to socialise. I try to leash my dog when I see another dog approaching (providing I can catch him) not because he is a threat, but I'm trying to teach him manners. and most dog owners are nice understanding people who will let the dogs sniff eachother and say hello, before we pass on. then there is no bother. But I will not even mention the behaviour of some!
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