*****this is being posted on behalf of work colleague*******

Why do some people who don't want their dogs to socialize with other dogs and keep them on the lead still insist on walking them in areas where there will obviously be other dogs off lead and then get annoyed / angry when another dog comes up to say hello?

Some of these dogs are kept on lead because of aggression / medical reasons etc which I totally understand and respect, but why walk them in the Wooded area of Greave Park?

I have a 2 year Lab that loves going up and saying hello to other dogs (and in my experience 99% of well socialized dogs do this) and I'm tired of getting shouted at by owners who have their dog on a lead because they are stupid enough to walk their dogs in this area. Walk them by the side of the Road if you don't want them mixing with other dogs.

The other day my Lab went up a Yorkshire Terrier on lead held by a middle aged woman The Yorkshire Terrier was brilliant and sniffed my dog in the usual fashion. However the woman then struck my dog with her umbrella. I yelled and when I asked her why she did this it was because she didn't want her dog learning any bad habits?? She then ranted that dogs shouldn't be let off lead in parks (remember I was in the wooded area of Greaves Park - not the playing area for kids or the pond areas) because it spoils her walk.

Unfortunately this is not an isolated incident.

Hang on a minute- why are we stupid for keeping our dogs on a lead when we're in an area that there may be other dogs?

Wouldn't I be more stupid to let her off the lead and let her start having a go at another dog?

Do you have any suggestions for where people who have dogs who aren't comfortable around other dogs are supposed to walk them? I can honestly say that I have yet to find a park, field or walk where I can guarantee not meeting another dog- does that mean that we're meant to keep her indoors without exercise or stimulation for the benefit of those who like to let their dog roam willy nilly?

I resent being called stupid because YOU like the idea of allowing your dog to run up to other dogs without checking that this is OK with the dog and the owner before allowing it.

Before you get on your high horse, please read my original post in full. My question was:

"Why do some people who don't want their dogs to socialize with other dogs and keep them on the lead still insist on walking them in areas where there will obviously be other dogs off lead and then get annoyed / angry when another dog comes up to say hello?"

So my question is not that you are keeping your dog on a lead, my question is why are you getting annoyed when its 99% likely by going into a park you are going to encounter other dogs.

I don't have a problem with you walking your dog in an area where there are other dogs, just don't cry like a baby when another dog comes up simply to say hello. Dog are social animals and even with the best training in the world, they are at times going to go up to another dog to say hello.

If you have an agressive dog (which wouldn't suprise me by the hostile way you have replied to my post) I respect the fact you keep your dog on the lead and I understand y ou need to walk in park areas. But accept the fact there will be dogs coming up to yours (even if its by accident) and don't get yourself in such a state. Dogs pick up on human emotions so its highly likely because you are getting so tense around other dogs your own pet is picking up on this.

Also I walk in Greave parks every day and the majority of dogs are off lead. So if I didn't want to encounter other dogs on a walk, I wouldn't go to this park, especially the wooded area.

This sort of behaviour angers me too. As you say, well adjusted/well socialised dogs behave like "normal" dogs ie. they greet others of their kind in a friendly manner. Popular dog walking areas are not the place to take aggressive or unsocialised dogs. There are dog behavoiur experts around who can help owners tackle these problems without putting other dogs at risk and their own dogs under stress. Unfortunately, the minority try to shove the blame for their own dog's problems onto folk who have friendly dogs. Many believe that because their dog is on a lead, they have solved their problem. They haven't. The problem needs to be tackled correctly and the dog retrained. I know that some rescue dogs can come with problems, but they must be cured, not brushed under the carpet by blaming someone else. Last year also in Graves Park, I met a woman with a German Shepherd which was off lead but muzzled. It ran up to every dog aggressively and when mine was scared and ran it bounded after him and pinned him to the ground. The woman believed she was doing the right thing by muzzling her dog and that she had sorted the problem. People need to realise that with the current dog laws this sort of attitude has become an offence.

As far as I'm concerned everyone should have the control over their dog to call them away when requested (as I do to anyone whose dog comes close to Molly).

I have worked really hard with Molly to get her to the point where she can sit calmly just a few feet away from the path and let another dog pass her, but she doesn't want other dogs close to her unless she already knows them. She's not a dangerous dog, but because of her size and breed other dog owners get afraid for their dogs if she starts barking and getting agitated when the other dog enters her comfort zone.

There is an easy answer that stops her getting afraid of the other dog- don't allow other dogs to enter her space and everything is fine. I can then calmly reward her for being relaxed and for not reacting to the other dog and we can all go on with our walks with happy dogs.

In what way is that 'hostile'? I don't like being called stupid, just because my dog is on a lead when in the company of other dogs for a reason.

I fully appreciate that you have a problem if your dog isn't socialised and therefore uncomfortable around other dogs, which is why it is essential for everyone (and particularly your dog) that you get your problem sorted. When I got a rescue dog who was unreliable around others I found a farmer who was willing to let me exercise him on his fields, away from other dogs,while the problem was being sorted. It was not the answer to the problem - retraining the dog was, and he is now reliable with my other dogs and those he meets.

"but they must be cured, not brushed under the carpet"

And how do you propose socialising a dog without encounters with other dogs?

I walk my dogs on the lead and release them when appropriate.
People who walk their dogs off the lead and allow them to visit "socialise" with other dogs on the leads are purely anti social people with no consideration for others.
In fact i actually think the dogs should be removed from them - if they're off the lead WHY aren't they under control.

A dog doesn't have to be dangerous to be a problem. The bottom line is that any dog who doesn't show normal, friendly dog behavoiur towards others needs working on to correct the problem. Socialising needs to be done in a controlled situation which is why it needs doing under supervision of someone who knows what they are doing. Out walking in a public, popular dog walking area is a nightmare for all concerned. Is it fair to blame people whose dogs are friendly? Are they the ones with the problem? Is it fair to a dog who is uncomfortable among other dogs to put it repeatedly in that situation without professional advice? I think not.

This thread reminded me: I would just like to give a big "thumbs up" to all the people my husband, myself, and our foster dog Betty passed in Sandall Beat Wood a couple of weeks back who paused for a moment to put their dogs on leads as they passed.

Betty can't be allowed off lead for her own safety; she's a bit blind, and a little deaf, in addition to the fact she doesn't "belong" to us. She's also still learning to "heel" and "come."

Thank you to those who appreciate and respect all the possible reasons to monitor and control interactions with other dogs.

I have steam coming out of my ears!!!!

it is a legal requirement for a dog to be 'under control' - which quite clearly your dog isn't Karlos' work colleague!

No dog should be allowed to exercise off lead unless the owner has enough control over it to call it back to them when necessary, and when other dogs are about, it is necessary - until verbal permission is given from other owners

I have a beagle - a very sociable breed, renowned for their lack of response to training and determination to get their own way, unlike the labrador breed you've chosen to own, yet I have worked long and hard in training my dog to come when called and not approach another dog until I say he can. When he spots another dog he freezes, and looks at me to see if I'll give him the okay to go say hello

People like you make me sick. You don't deserve to own a dog if you think you can let it run wild. Any dog approached in the fashion you describe when it is on its lead is going to interpret the approach as a threat, so I'm not surprised you encounter aggressive dogs and aggressive owners. They shouldn't have to put up with you or your dog when they are out minding their own business!

I always put my dog back on the lead when passing others - especially owners with dogs on the lead.
Not everyone wants a boxer trying to play and lick little Fido to bits.
If an off lead dog is visiting other dogs whilst out walking then it's not adquately trained.

A dog doesn't have to be dangerous to be a problem. The bottom line is that any dog who doesn't show normal, friendly dog behavoiur towards others needs working on to correct the problem. Socialising needs to be done in a controlled situation which is why it needs doing under supervision of someone who knows what they are doing. Out walking in a public, popular dog walking area is a nightmare for all concerned. Is it fair to blame people whose dogs are friendly? Are they the ones with the problem? Is it fair to a dog who is uncomfortable among other dogs to put it repeatedly in that situation without professional advice? I think not.people who hold the opinion that their dog is 'friendly' often don't have the first clue about dog language, so don't see the aggressive dog language their dog exhibits, causing other dogs to respond with their teeth

get your dog under control

how would you feel if a stranger walked up and snogged you, then claimed they were just being friendly?

I'm not blaming anyone- my dog has an issue and that's that. The issue that I have is with someone calling me stupid for not wanting other people's dogs to run up to us when we're out.

What I'm saying is that it is totally reasonable to expect other dogs' owners to have enough control to call their dog away when requested (10 feet away is perfectly sufficient).

We can exercise Molly in a public park with other dogs present, if there's enough space for other dogs not to be running up to her. We're training her to just leave other dogs alone and she is fine with that (with the exception of the very few dogs that she knows well enough to be comfortable around). We originally tried socialising her before realising that she doesn't want to be around other dogs and gets very stressed when we try to make her get close to them.

I would never hit anyone else's dog like the OP says they have experienced but I do think that it is appropriate for everyone to be aware of each other's needs. I play my part by training Molly to sit calmly rather than going potty like she used to, but if you take your dog out then you need to be aware that there are likely to be other people who do not want your dog to run up to them, whether they've got another dog with them or not.

This thread reminded me: I would just like to give a big "thumbs up" to all the people my husband, myself, and our foster dog Betty passed in Sandall Beat Wood a couple of weeks back who paused for a moment to put their dogs on leads as they passed.this should really be normal, but sadly it isn't in places like Graves Park :(

allowing dogs to mingle willy nilly is a great way to spread disease too ;)

Another thing I needed to address. I'm not from here; I don't know what are the "popular dog-walking areas." As far as I can tell, dogs run wild everywhere in this country, so I haven't a clue where I *should* be going.

Another thing I needed to address. I'm not from here; I don't know what are the "popular dog-walking areas." As far as I can tell, dogs run wild everywhere in this country, so I haven't a clue where I *should* be going.Gloucestershire. In Gloucestershire, where there are a very large number of working dogs, you don't see many on leads (even if they are pets), but people expect them to be obedient and not go about harrassing other dogs :thumbsup:

this should really be normal, but sadly it isn't in places like Graves Park :(

allowing dogs to mingle willy nilly is a great way to spread disease too ;)

I had to eat some serious crow that day, as just a week or two before I had complained here on SF that no one ever secured their dogs in passing. ;-)

I had to eat some serious crow that day, as just a week or two before I had complained here on SF that no one ever secured their dogs in passing. ;-)I guess it's a case of trying different areas at different times *shrugs* :shakes:

I tell my dog to wait, then to sit to indicate to other owners that he is under control, then if they don't put their dog on a lead or call their's back, I either call him to me or let him play, according to the body language of the other dog

i have just had a problem that has got me very mad in the park i was walking my two dogs off the lead as they are brill with any dog. a lady was in the park with her two dogs OFF the lead the dogs all did the meet and greet thing and showed signs of playing nicely NO aggression or even over the top excitment just nice and calm, the l;ady then decided to shout at me to get one of my dogs on the lead as he is viscious ???? what made her think this!! as he was the one who was the most shy and he is actually frightened of my mates kitten!!! could it be he is a big dog ?? a mastiff type dog??? or that the woman just has steriotyped breeds and decicded he was one of the bad ones !!! it got me mad as he is possibly the softest dog i have ever met and belive me i see up to 100 different dogs a week due to my job !!....

i understand that sometimes a dog has to be kept on a lead and when i see a dog on a lead i will get them back and stop them from going to the dog ..i used to have a staffy that was awful with other dogs and could never let him off ,i wanted to muzzle him too but he was blind in one eye and every time i put a muzzle on him he would scratch like crazy and harm his good eye so was to worried to make him totally blind.i tried to get him socialised but often in older dogs it is something that is almost impossible to get out of them... on many occations i had dogs running up to him and i used to have to pick him up and ask the owner to get their dog..many times it resulted in me having to shout as they would just stand there shouting "lucky,come here" and not even attempiting to fetch the dog !!its not easy to hold a frantic staffy for a long time,ha ha...saying this i still walked him in parks etc as i wanted him to have a nice time out rather than just on a pavement

I don't know why we're going over this topic again anyway - tattybear already knows how we all feel about her wild 'friendly' labrador who in reality displays all kinds of aggressive/dominant behaviours which she refuses to recognise :rolleyes:

Are you really saying that those with a less than perfectly trained dog shouldn’t allow there dog of the lead in open fields or woodland :o I will bow to your points of view for parks and roads but not open spaces.

I feel all dogs should be on a lead in public places there are extendy leads to let your dog roam. I also feel there should be parts in parks separated for dogs bigger and more secure then the little poop areas there are a the minute then most problems would be solved. If you dog is not sociable and doesn’t want to interact with other dogs you don’t take it into the area separated simple as but I find both points of this argument true.

If you dog is not sociable and doesn’t want to interact with other dogs .

Then look in the mirror before slating other dog owners.

Then look in the mirror before slating other dog owners.

who am i slagging off????????

Amber has to be onlead in public cos she isn`t very nice to other dogs.
I always warn other dog walkers that she is aggressive towards other dogs.
Sometimes you will get some idiot that insists "its alright", "mines friendly", well its not alright, cos mine ain`t friendly.
I have worked hard with Amber to get over her dog aggression and was geting close to conquering it, till an incident with 2 off lead staffies and were back at square one.
I will always walk her where I know there are dogs or she`ll never be socialised, if some divvy decides they know best and don`t take any notice when I tell them she dosn`t like dogs then its them that are stupid not me.

who am i slagging off????????

Sorry I was just using your quote to make a point, its those with the antisocial dogs that have a problem not the other 99% which should apparently keep their dog on a lead just in case.

mr ben is always on lead. he is not sociable with other dogs. before anyone starts. he has been to classes etc but he just not good with other dogs. he is from a rescue centre & we dont know his back ground.
he did used to be let off his lead until something spooked him & he ran off. He ended up on the parkway.
now we use an extending lead so he still gets some freedom but he is under control.
what i dont like is when a dog comes running up & the owner is no-where insight.

So you feel it's alright to let your dog run up to another without first consulting the owner?

So you feel it's alright to let your dog run up to another without first consulting the owner?

Exactly!!!

Amber has to be onlead in public cos she isn`t very nice to other dogs.
I always warn other dog walkers that she is aggressive towards other dogs.
Sometimes you will get some idiot that insists "its alright", "mines friendly", well its not alright, cos mine ain`t friendly.
I have worked hard with Amber to get over her dog aggression and was geting close to conquering it, till an incident with 2 off lead staffies and were back at square one.
I will always walk her where I know there are dogs or she`ll never be socialised, if some divvy decides they know best and don`t take any notice when I tell them she dosn`t like dogs then its them that are stupid not me.

I often remark to others "mines friendly" however this is usually when they quickly run to catch theirs and put it on a lead. I have to keep telling my daughter - a dogs on a lead for a reason and it should be respected. What the reason is isn't our business.

So you feel it's alright to let your dog run up to another without first consulting the owner?

I live next to open countryside, I am out with my dog who is having a good run, he sees another dog in the next field and goes to investigate, please tell me how I should consult the other owner first.

In 99% of cases the dogs will have a sniff and a play, I will raise my hand to the other owner and they will probably wave back and then we continue on our separate ways, please tell me what’s wrong with that.

I live next to open countryside, I am out with my dog who is having a good run, he sees another dog in the next field and goes to investigate, please tell me how I should consult the other owner first.

In 99% of cases the dogs will have a sniff and a play, I will raise my hand to the other owner and they will probably wave back and then we continue on our separate ways, please tell me what’s wrong with that.

To start with it means your both as bad as one another for not having control of your dog. If dogs were under control or on leads all the other questions become irrelavant.

I run two lurchers and a boxer every morning on an open field(equivalent to 8 football pitches which used to be there) and lake - however i always get them back to me and ready to be on the lead when i see another dog on or off the lead.
Whats wrong with that?

I walk my dogs on the lead and release them when appropriate.
People who walk their dogs off the lead and allow them to visit "socialise" with other dogs on the leads are purely anti social people with no consideration for others.
In fact i actually think the dogs should be removed from them - if they're off the lead WHY aren't they under control.


I agree completely my dog is let off the lead when I can see no other dogs around. I keep my eyes open and if I spot another dog in the distance i call mine back and pop him on the lead until the coast is clear.

I hate it when dogs come bounding up to him followed by calls of don't worry well I'm sorry I do. My dog is fine when introduced in a proper way to other dogs but I don't feel that a strange dog deciding to come charging at him across the park/woods is the proper way.

I live next to open countryside, I am out with my dog who is having a good run, he sees another dog in the next field and goes to investigate, please tell me how I should consult the other owner first.

In 99% of cases the dogs will have a sniff and a play, I will raise my hand to the other owner and they will probably wave back and then we continue on our separate ways, please tell me what’s wrong with that.the whole point is that your dog shouldn't be shooting off anywhere on his own without your permission

if Brude spots another dog that far away (and we walk him on beaches where he can spot dogs half a mile off), he is obliged to walk with us until we're close enough to assess the situation

if you can't keep a dog under control, and have no intention of, consider the fact that it is people like you who have brought about the lack of tolerance of dogs that the rest of us encounter so damned often :mad:

if you can't keep a dog under control, and have no intention of, consider the fact that it is people like you who have brought about the lack of tolerance of dogs that the rest of us encounter so damned often :mad:

Thanks for that but consider the fact that if I saw the other dog first I would call mine to sit and wait while I put him on a lead but there is always that occasion when he is off before I get chance to control him.

I don’t live in an ideal world with a perfectly controlled dog but at least I know my dog is sociable and placid and fortunately most other dog owners don’t see a problem with their dog being sociable either. :suspect:

it's not about making accusations about other dogs not being friendly - it's about being able to stop your dog from running across roads and getting himself killed, bounding over to children with balls, going to investigate cows (with horns), or any number of other hazards which you should be able to protect him from

if your dog bounds over to a mastiff who takes exception, and your dog winds up dead, if the mastiff was on a lead, the law puts you at fault - and quite rightly so

I fully appreciate that you have a problem if your dog isn't socialised and therefore uncomfortable around other dogs........while the problem was being sorted. It was not the answer to the problem - retraining the dog was, and he is now reliable with my other dogs and those he meets.

Oh who did you use to help you retrain your dog?

I've been trying for months now, but to be honest he's still as bad as the first day we got him. I don't get too annoyed with other people letting their dogs run up to us anymore but I do ask them to call their dog away. I worry that he might hurt a little dog even though he is on lead and wears a muzzle and due to his aggressive response to them other dogs often decide to get the first bite in :lol: Then I'm back to square one with the training and stuck in the middle with a dog clamped to my dogs arse, that is when I do get annoyed.

My old dog was able to be walked without a lead but also was not allowed to go up to other dogs without permission, she was not bothered about other dogs and used to ignore them so they just used to leave her alone.

If a dog is off lead you must be able to recall nearly 100% under any circumstance, thats why dogs are on lead, the owners are being responsible. Mine can't recall if a dog comes into view :) so on the lead he stays.

it's not about making accusations about other dogs not being friendly - it's about being able to stop your dog from running across roads and getting himself killed, bounding over to children with balls, going to investigate cows (with horns), or any number of other hazards which you should be able to protect him from

if your dog bounds over to a mastiff who takes exception, and your dog winds up dead, if the mastiff was on a lead, the law puts you at fault - and quite rightly so

This is such a noteable point.

I will accept and understand that there may be some dogs that, regardless of how well they are trained, want to follow an instinct to check things out.

What I don't understand is, if you believe you have such a dog, why would you not take it out on a lead for its own protection?

because nobody can walk far enough to exert a dog properly ;)

as I mentioned before, beagles are renowned for being virtually impossible to train, but we've put the effort in

I live next to open countryside, I am out with my dog who is having a good run, he sees another dog in the next field and goes to investigate, please tell me how I should consult the other owner first.

In 99% of cases the dogs will have a sniff and a play, I will raise my hand to the other owner and they will probably wave back and then we continue on our separate ways, please tell me what’s wrong with that.

What's wrong with that is you don't have proper control over your dog.

I loose run both of mine and am sure to keep an eye on them while they're off and to keep an eye out for other dogs. If they spot one before I do and make a run for it a stern 'NO' and they stop and return. If on getting closer to the owner they are happy for them to run together they get the go ahead.

What happens if you let your dog idally bound of to another '100% friendly dog' and the dog takes a dislike to yours? You gonna be so flippant in your attitude to letting your dog roam up to other dogs without your say so.

Alot of the people who keep their dogs on leads do so because their dogs have been attacked or had bad experiences with dogs owned by people like you.

This is such a noteable point.

I will accept and understand that there may be some dogs that, regardless of how well they are trained, want to follow an instinct to check things out.

What I don't understand is, if you believe you have such a dog, why would you not take it out on a lead for its own protection?

Why does it have to be one or the other / black or white, that’s my point?

If there are other dogs or animals around I would have my dog on a lead but I think that in the right circumstances he should be allowed to run free, if this upsets 1% of owners that I meet then I am suddenly guilty of being a bad owner, strange. :huh:


Geerarffe


“dogs owned by people like you.”

Ya right I am a mad axmen and my dog is a man eater. :roll:

Why does it have to be one or the other / black or white, that’s my point?

If there are other dogs or animals around I would have my dog on a lead but I think that in the right circumstances he should be allowed to run free, if this upsets 1% of owners that I meet then I am suddenly guilty of being a bad owner, strange. :huh:now you're changing your stance on the subject :huh:

Why does it have to be one or the other / black or white, that’s my point?

If there are other dogs or animals around I would have my dog on a lead but I think that in the right circumstances he should be allowed to run free, if this upsets 1% of owners that I meet then I am suddenly guilty of being a bad owner, strange. :huh:

I don` think anyone has a problem with you letting your dog run round a field, just with him going up to other dogs(which may not be as doggy friendly as him)

It just seems to me that if you know you have a dog that is prone to "just being a dog" and may approach another dog without express permission from you, is not the responsible thing to keep that dog on a lead in areas where other dogs are likely to be present? Why would you put your dog in harms way, allowing it to run free?

if your dog spots a collie rounding up sheep and goes running off to say hello, the farmer has the legal right to shoot your dog

am I getting my point across yet?

The trouble here is that too many people have read so much literature and sensationalist stories in the media they have lost the connection with the real world.

Yes dog attacks do happen, but not has often as people imagine. I've been looking after dogs for just over 20 years and in all that time I have had 3 instances where the situation got a little aggressive.

So should I have kept my dogs on the lead for the last 20 years and stopped them from having all that fun?

Yes, some dog attacks do sadly lead to death, but some people die in car crashes so should we not drive cars any more?

Unfortunately sometimes bad things happen. Yes you can take precautions but I think too
many people think that by over protecting their dogs it means they must care more.

Also, I have read an article saying that by calling your dog back every time it approaches another dog is a bad thing as its restricting the natural socialising behaviour. By calling it back at the critical time the dog wants to greet another dog causes a negative interruption. The dog believes it’s been called back because of a hidden danger and over time this can create nervousness and even aggression.

People have posted it bad manners to let your dog simply approach another dog? This may be bad manners for a human but these are dogs, this is exactly what they do.

Oh course you shouldn’t let your dog approach another if it looks aggressive etc – that’s common sense, but to stop you dog before it says hello to every dog is blatantly causing a future problem.

if your dog spots a collie rounding up sheep and goes running off to say hello, the farmer has the legal right to shoot your dog

am I getting my point across yet?

But I wasn't talking about being in a farm, and if there are any shotguns in Greaves Park then we are all in trouble. What a silly example you have given.

What about, you shouldn't speed in your car because if you do this is Afghanistan you may get shot by a tank.

You are pulling random things to support your own arguement??

now you're changing your stance on the subject :huh:

Why am I, I just clarified a few points as they keep getting added as the thread goes along. I have never suggested a dog should have a fee run of the place except in “open space” ,I see you have added sheep to the scenario now, who is going to let there dog run free near sheep. :confused:

it isn't blatantly causing a future problem

most of this claptrap is written in america - the one country which has a worse dog aggression problem than we do

on the continent dogs are 'brought up' to ignore each other, as they are at dog shows in this country, and there is noticeably less of a problem there

having a dog on a lead isn't an issue, owners who don't have any control over their dogs IS

But I wasn't talking about being in a farm, and if there are any shotguns in Greaves Park then we are all in trouble. What a silly example you have given.

What about, you shouldn't speed in your car because if you do this is Afghanistan you may get shot by a tank.

You are pulling random things to support your own arguement??
I was answering Malky - read the whole thread :rolleyes:

Why am I, I just clarified a few points as they keep getting added as the thread goes along. I have never suggested a dog should have a fee run of the place except in “open space” ,I see you have added sheep to the scenario now, who is going to let there dog run free near sheep. :confused:
you said that it was okay for your dog to run off to the next field to investigate another dog :confused:

Oh course you shouldn’t let your dog approach another if it looks aggressive etc – that’s common sense, but to stop you dog before it says hello to every dog is blatantly causing a future problem.

So you can tell which of my 5 dogs will bite yours if it comes over ?
The correct way to socialise them is to control it and greet them with YOU as the introducer,after all you are the pack leader.
Dogs that introduce themselves are showing disrespect to the handler - so who's actually top dog.

Do you honestly think he would be running free if there was a farm animal in the surrounding fields :rolleyes: it was an interesting thread but its just getting silly now.:wave:

Why does it have to be one or the other / black or white, that’s my point?

If there are other dogs or animals around I would have my dog on a lead but I think that in the right circumstances he should be allowed to run free, if this upsets 1% of owners that I meet then I am suddenly guilty of being a bad owner, strange. :huh:


Geerarffe


“dogs owned by people like you.”

Ya right I am a mad axmen and my dog is a man eater. :roll:

No just ignorant and irresponsible.

Anybody got any tips on how to keep a staffy calm in the company of outher dogs and what the best technique for recall id love o work on this with my 3 thanks alot

you should consult a professional really leebois. A good class where all the dogs are under control is a good start :thumbsup:

I have steam coming out of my ears!!!!

it is a legal requirement for a dog to be 'under control' - which quite clearly your dog isn't Karlos' work colleague!

No dog should be allowed to exercise off lead unless the owner has enough control over it to call it back to them when necessary, and when other dogs are about, it is necessary - until verbal permission is given from other owners

I have a beagle - a very sociable breed, renowned for their lack of response to training and determination to get their own way, unlike the labrador breed you've chosen to own, yet I have worked long and hard in training my dog to come when called and not approach another dog until I say he can. When he spots another dog he freezes, and looks at me to see if I'll give him the okay to go say hello

People like you make me sick. You don't deserve to own a dog if you think you can let it run wild. Any dog approached in the fashion you describe when it is on its lead is going to interpret the approach as a threat, so I'm not surprised you encounter aggressive dogs and aggressive owners. They shouldn't have to put up with you or your dog when they are out minding their own business!

I couldn't agree more, I too resent being called stupid because I choose to walk my dog on a lead where there may be others off lead. At the moment our dog is restricted to lead excersise on the vets instructions because of an injury, why should we just walk her round the roads which is boring for both us and her?

I couldn't agree more, I too resent being called stupid because I choose to walk my dog on a lead where there may be others off lead. At the moment our dog is restricted to lead excersise on the vets instructions because of an injury, why should we just walk her round the roads which is boring for both us and her?that's what has given me my very strong opinion on the subject - I and my beagle LOVE Rotts, but when one comes bounding over all friendly whilst my beagle is recovering from life saving spinal surgery, we're not so enthusiastic about playing! If the rott concerned was under control we'd have been able to say hello in a civilised fashion (which is something else these people who think they have friendly dogs don't grasp - polite dog greetings!

What a great thred for a friday afternoon.

that's what has given me my very strong opinion on the subject - I and my beagle LOVE Rotts, but when one comes bounding over all friendly whilst my beagle is recovering from life saving spinal surgery, we're not so enthusiastic about playing! If the rott concerned was under control we'd have been able to say hello in a civilised fashion (which is something else these people who think they have friendly dogs don't grasp - polite dog greetings!

no dog has ever "bound" over to mine while I have walked him on lead on the pavement. If my dog was recover from "life saving spinal surgery" I think I would be responsible and stay away from parks.

My advise is to so a lot of street walking as 90% of people keep their dogs on leads, whereas in parks / fields 90% of dogs are off lead.

So you can tell which of my 5 dogs will bite yours if it comes over ?
The correct way to socialise them is to control it and greet them with YOU as the introducer,after all you are the pack leader.
Dogs that introduce themselves are showing disrespect to the handler - so who's actually top dog.


modern research has shown all this top dog / alpha dog is nonsense as it is based on research on wolves rather than domestic dogs whose socialisation skills are significantly different.

Also if you have a dog that is going to bite others and you know this I think you have a responisibilty to avoid other dogs.

no dog has ever "bound" over to mine while I have walked him on lead on the pavement. If my dog was recover from "life saving spinal surgery" I think I would be responsible and stay away from parks.

My advise is to so a lot of street walking as 90% of people keep their dogs on leads, whereas in parks / fields 90% of dogs are off lead.

or maybe people shouldnt be so selfish and control their dogs off lead instead of spoiling it for people whose dogs dont for whatever reason come off lead

modern research has shown all this top dog / alpha dog is nonsense as it is based on research on wolves rather than domestic dogs whose socialisation skills are significantly different.

Also if you have a dog that is going to bite others and you know this I think you have a responisibilty to avoid other dogs.

Nope i have the right not to be harassed by idiots who can't control their dogs.

I have a dog that has not bit anyone but which is the most agressive of the 5 and is the one likely to snarl and snap,she is the top "dog" and lets the others know it. Yet she's no more than 6 inches floor to shoulder.
If you believe alpha dog is nonsense then fine - i certainly am forming the opinion that you have very little responsibility or knowledge on the subject, but that could be just my opinion.

no dog has ever "bound" over to mine while I have walked him on lead on the pavement. If my dog was recover from "life saving spinal surgery" I think I would be responsible and stay away from parks.

My advise is to so a lot of street walking as 90% of people keep their dogs on leads, whereas in parks / fields 90% of dogs are off lead.'responsible' is not walking a dog on hard surfaces when he drags his feet as he walks

as I've already stated - in law, it is YOU who is liable if your off-lead dog is out of control, as the police have already informed you Danielle

so if a dog is off the lead and goes to say hello to another dog they are out of control, or is it only out of control if the other dog owner in the area does not give permission!!!

Im a bit confussed by what you mean by out of control.

so if a dog is off the lead and goes to say hello to another dog they are out of control, or is it only out of control if the other dog owner in the area does not give permission!!!

Im a bit confussed by what you mean by out of control.


If a dog wanders/runs/bounces over to another dog then it isn't under control.IMHO

This is something that really annoys me!!! I think if a dog is been walked on a lead other dog owners shoud respect that and put their dog on a lead to pass it. My dogs really friendly and loves to play and hes mostly off the lead because hes well behaved but if i see somebody walking towards me with a dog on a lead i will always put him on too. You dont know why the dog is on a lead, it could be ill, scared of other dogs or nasty so why would the owner want someone elses dog running up and jumping round it!! My mums dog can be funny with other dogs because shes been attacked twice out walking. so now when we see another dog she has to go on the lead because if it runs up to her she thinks its attacking and tries to get in first. The amount of times people have just let their dogs run up to her and then when shes started to growl and bark the owners decided to come and get the dog back. Shes on the lead for a reason!! Shes fine off lead when theres no dogs around and she loves playing with dogs she knows so why should we have to walk on the road!!! My dog and my mums other dog are fine so it would be unfair to them not to take them somewhere they can have a run.

Im a bit confussed by what you mean by out of control.out of control is a dog who is not either restrained by use of a lead, or willing to obey commands (or for that matter given any commands to obey)

I don't put Brude on a lead when we see other dogs, until I assess he's approaching his threshold of self control and is likely to break his 'wait. sit.' command. For the most part we can maintain a sit whilst another dog passes us on a footpath

we've never achieved a reliable 'leave' and a walk past without a lead, I have to make him 'sit' very close to be reliable. If the other dog rushes up to him, he'll 'stay' for a few seconds, but we're working on that - still pretty good going considering his breed

because nobody can walk far enough to exert a dog properly ;)

as I mentioned before, beagles are renowned for being virtually impossible to train, but we've put the effort in

I'm surprised you haven't pulled your bestest trick out of the hat yet-screaming "kennel cough!!!!" if another dog comes too near yours.:hihi:

I've tried it once whilst walking my auntie's dog who is a bit nervous of other dogs; it works!

:thumbsup:

I didn't want to sound like a stuck record LM, and this thread didn't seem a relevant place to make that suggestion, the thrust of the argument being from the other perspective (I did mention the spread of disease a couple of pages ago though ;) )

i might be goin slighty off topic here but reading this thread just made me shake my head!!! i dont agree with any1 calling people stupid or irrisponsible for having an opinion on an OPEN forum!!! i agree dogs should be under control but there not machines, my lab is generally very obedient but there is the odd time when i ask him back it takes a few attempts til he listens!!

i think the point im trying to make is we all read this pet section cause we love our pets why cant we share our advice n opinions without it turning into an argument, i myself am getting sick of giving my opinion n some1 either reading it wrong n having a go at me (u know who u r!!!) or not knowing the facts about my amimals background n accusing me of having a "designer dog" ( u also know who u r!!)!!! theres more to life im sure of it!!!

ill wait for my roasting!!!!

I assume that you're taking issue with the OP calling other dog walkers 'stupid' j118nne?

unfortunately, when the OP kicks off in such a fashion, the tone is set for the rest of the thread :shakes:

I think for the most part the word 'irresponsible' has been applied to an action rather than being used as an insult ;)

lol i cant remember who said what by time i got to page 4!!! i just remember the words!! :D

i just dont think its nice when u start a topic wanting opinions and insult people then people comment and insult back, it just causes arguments and its not nice to read, like i said we all come on here to talk about our pets and we do all have opinions right or wrong ;)

I assume that you're taking issue with the OP calling other dog walkers 'stupid' j118nne?

unfortunately, when the OP kicks off in such a fashion, the tone is set for the rest of the thread :shakes:

I think for the most part the word 'irresponsible' has been applied to an action rather than being used as an insult ;)

def agree with u about how a topic is started!!

If your dog won't come back when you call it, or you're too idle to keep a proper watch on it when it's running around, then keep it on a lead!

One of my dog was bitten (slightly) by an off-lead dog whose owner was at the far side of the park and so busy nattering that he wasn't watching what his dog was doing. He heard the row I was making and had to call his dog a good few times before it took any notice. I don't know why his damned dog attacked mine, but other dog walkers told me it could be aggressive to some dogs, but not others.

Mine was on a lead because he's too damn stupid to come back when I call him - he's very friendly and socialised, and meets his chums in the park most evenings. Luckily, he wasn't too upset by being attacked, because he's so good natured.

My other dog goes off lead in the woods and the park, but if I keep a proper eye on her and, if I see somebody with a dog on a lead I call her back and either put her on the lead or hold onto her harness until the other dog walker has gone past or stopped for a natter and for the dogs to get to know each other.

And the danger with off-lead dogs isn't just to other dogs - it's to people as well. There are plenty of people who don't like/are scared of dogs, especially little children. If a dog approaches a small child, who panics and starts waving its arms and making a fuss, along with its mother, the dog could well take that as aggression and attack.

To be fair Karlos, YOU should be in control when your dog is off the lead. Yes - well socialised dogs can meet and greet nicely but others can't.
Before your dog goes running upto another dog, it should be given the go ahead by YOU - it should look to YOU before it goes upto anyone.

This won't happen 100% of the time because dogs have a mind of their own but if you're not sure that you can control your dog, then when you see a dog on a lead, the polite thing to do is leash your dog as you walk past.

Okay, so how about me?
I have a dog that came to me dog aggressive. He stays on the lead when we're out and about around other dogs but my other dog is fine and goes offlead.
So, because I'm disabled and can often only do one walk instead of walking the two dogs separately, does that mean I should walk both my dogs along the roadside where my well mannered, well socialised dog can't keep up her socialisation with other dogs?

I have no problem when dogs come upto my dog and the owner tries to call them and they ignore them or the owner comes to get them but when owners make no attempt to control their dog around my dog (who is on a lead for a reason and feels uncomfortable with other dogs due to a lack of socialisation before I got him and now not being able to see so well) it does upset me.

I've made the effort to keep my dog under control so its upto other owners to control their's.

For the record, my offlead dog isn't allowed upto onlead dogs and if she is in a mood where I don't think she'll listen, she goes onlead if I see an onlead dog. I'm more than happy for her to approach offlead dogs but will usually judge this by the way the dog looks and call to the owner to be sure.

We have experienced both sides of this discussion.

Our old lass, would be off the lead and potter about very contented, and was interested in other dogs, but would never bother them, in fact she was very wary. However as she got older, we couldn't let her roam free as we couldn't get her back to us (deafness, stubborness...the jury is still out on that). Twice she was attacked (many, many times she wasn't).

Now we have a pooch in a different realm. He wants to be play with every dog he sees. What do we do? He is on a lead whilst we walk him in areas where other dogs are, and are teaching him that he can play, but when told to.

Every person on this forum are so for the same reason, we love our animals and want them to have the best lives they can have.

Going back to the original post, I would be upset if someone responded like that lady did to our dog, however I do understand the worry due to the old lass we had.

i have sevarl dogs and walk some on and some off lead, usually 3 on and 2 off at the same time. the ones on lead are calm well behaved dogs but have to be muzzled, they are ex racers or ex working lurchers that given the chance would eat a small furry. i have control over these at all times. the other 2 are lovely girls, playful and very friendly well socialised and will meet any dog in a nice way. if another dog is aggressive to them they run. if i see someone coming towards me with dogs onlead i make get my off leaders attentions with treats making them walk by focused on me, if another dog is off lead i assess body language and if they seem friendly i allow mine to meet. my one my girls can be very vocal playing and can come across fiesty but shes actual just very playful but i am aware how this can scare some owners so try to keep her away if they have dogs on lead.
We walk in woods as a rule, a place that generally people only walk if they intend on walking far like myself so usually only come across off lead dogs. just because i have 3 that need to stay on lead i dont think i shouldnt walk there. my dogs have to see other dogs and it does them good to see dogs running around and learning not to chase. Not all dogs off lead are nice natured and its the owners responsibility to keep a check on their dogs all the time. annax

I am split down the middle of this debate like md1sxc and can see and have experienced both sides.

I have 2 older dogs one that is quite protective and does not like other dogs near her pack, she will be quite vocal and chase them off (without biting) if she gets the chance, even though she is an old lady now, if I allowed her to do this she would now come off the worse for it, so as soon as a dog is seen on or offlead she goes onto hers.

The other older dog is a lurcher, he likes some dogs and not others, and also has the chase instinct so unless they are largish, friendly and confident dogs he is also put straight onlead if a dog is approaching.

The two youngsters well that's a different story, they just love all dogs and expect them to like them also, which funnily enough they do seem to, or at least they tolerate them well (apart from the greyhound that tossed Pea all over the park the other day :rolleyes: but I do take that as joint responsibility as both were offlead, and Pea's running triggered his chase instinct....also it wasn't me walking them!).
The youngsters are allowed to approach most dogs so long as the dogs are offlead and look friendly, in fact they do often do the unthinkable and take off to meet them anyway, but they are pups at a year old and not perfect...they are work in progress, you might say well they should not be offlead then, but in my area if I could not let them run in the park then there is nowhere else, there is no dog free zone, and they need exercise.

I would not allow my dogs to harass onlead dogs, and the times that they have run up I have quickly got them back and onlead untill the dogs have passed, the pups are getting much better with recall now when thy see other dogs and tend to just go up and run in a circle round them then come back rather than any fussy greeting, which usually results in a play situation or a slightly confused looking dog :hihi:

I have to say though that I really do hate dogs approaching my onlead dogs, I don't mind so much the fact that they come up to say hello as I do think that dogs will be dogs.
What annoys me lots is the terrible manners of some owners that will not get their dogs away even though they can see that there is likely to be a fight and they have been politely asked to remove them, it really does not cut any ice that their dog is friendly when mine obviously are not, and I do not enjoy being pulled about while trying to fend off someone else's dog, which often responds in an aggressive way to my dogs aggressive response to them.

What it comes down too as in all walks of life, is that manners cost nothing, nor does thoughtfulness,and reasonableness, if we all practiced those things the world....and dog walks would be much nicer!

This post has really peed me off. Josh is walked on a lead because he is dog aggressive. He was properly socialised when young and has had loads of training, he now walks past dogs with no problems unless the dog comes directly up to him, then he will have a go. I do warn people with dogs off the lead that he is dog aggressive and would expect them to get thier dogs and put them on a lead. Mutual respect and all that.
I avoid walking him at busy times, but where the hell do people expect us to walk our dogs if not if areas where dogs like to be walked like woodland etc. To me I am acting responsibly by keeping him on a lead.
Everyone should have control of their dog be it aggressive or non aggressive and sometimes supposedly non aggressive dogs approach other dogs with subtle signals that indicate they do not really want to play, but of course their owners dont see these signals because they are a quarter of a mile away blissfully unaware of the havoc their dogs are causing.
I would love to be able to let Josh off but its not a perfect world with perfect dogs, just are there are very few perfect people except perhaps those with well adjusted dogs:rant:

I'm just pleased all the owners I encounter in Parson Cross park and Longley park ALL seem to keep their dogs on leads or at least put their dogs back on their leads when I approach with Philly.

As far as I'm concerned you should have control of your dog at all times, period. There should be no debate on the matter IMO.

Philly is always kept on her lead, simply because she is so excitable that I cannot guarantee that she wont do something stupid like bound up to another dog in an inapropriate manner and get bitten for her troubles, or shoot across the road to investigate a moggie and be hit by a car.

If your dogs off the lead and you cant recall it when it see's another dog, it is NOT under control and shouldnt be let off the lead unless you can say for certain that there are no other dogs in the area.

My dog is on the lead 99.9% of the time. He is a yorkie, less than a foot tall and weighs 5 or 6lb. I feel I am keeping him safe by having him on a lead. There has been times when I have had to pick him up because he has been getting trampled on, by no doubt what the owners see as a friendly dog.

my opinion on the first post in this topic is 'are you joking?'

NO dog should be off the lead in a public area as no one can guarantee the safety of other people/children with ANY dog. My dog is always on the lead because she has shown aggresion towards other dogs and i dont want to take the risk, i do take her to the park with my 2 year old daughter and keep her on the lead. IMO you're the ireesponsible one for having your dog off the lead in areas where other dogs will be. And it really gets my back up when other people's dogs come up to my dog and my child, with no idea of the dogs previous history or how they will react to my dog/child. You may trust your dog but others may not and people should show some respect and understand this.

My concern is its not just other dogs vs dogs to be weary about there's also dogs vs kids, i dont care how long you've had your dog or how much you trust your dog, you can't guarantee how a dog will react to any situation, therefore get it on a lead and stop bitching about the responsible owners who keep their dogs on a lead!!!!!

my lab sits and waits when another dog is present where as my stafy mastif cros dosent, but a few years ago a woman had a shephard running up to my dog growling and barking ect and she shouted at me tellin g me to get my dog on the lead, yes mine wasent on lead but she was sat at my side till i let her go she is very very good, who is right in this situation?yes mine wasent on lead but she was sat with her mum doing as she was told but i got gobbed at by an irresponible owner. i think if ur dog has social issues then please keep the thing on a lead and even if it hasent please keep it on a lead when crossing another on a lead that is responsible dog ownership

the law requires that a dog be under control mummysaz - which your's clearly was :thumbsup:

our rosie lurcher is fear aggressive, we socialized her as a youngster but she is naturally jumpy and her signals tend to create aggressive reactions in other dogs. Off lead she will run in total panic if an unknown dog approaches, on the lead she will bark and growl . We have worked for years on this issue, to the point where other dogs can approach as long as its slow and easy. We walk her on the lead at quiet times and go out of our way to find walks where we are unlikely to see other dogs but sometimes inevitably we do meet off lead dogs and we have had several unpleasant incidents. People let their dogs off naturally but they do not have sufficient control to recall them, i think this is where the friction occurs. We have another dog, a colliex who loves to say hello, but when i see anothet dog i call her to heel until i know it's safe for her to approach. I'm sure she doesn't think 'oh this is a negative situation'. She just does as she's told by the pack leader 'me'.

Another idiot in the park this afternoon when I had Zeb out.

I was standing having a natter with a couple of other dog walkers, when a beautiful, black, half-grown labrador came bouncing up to us. The others knew him, and said he was friendly, but the owner was basically a pillock. We could hear the owner calling him from the other side of the park, but the dog was taking absolutely no notice.

Zeb was alright being sniffed at, but when the lab started licking his bum and then his .... erm, important little place ..... he didn't like it and turned and snarled and snapped at the lab. I was trying to get hold of the lab's collar and pull him away, I finally managed to distract him and make him leave Zeb alone.

What was the owner doing while all this was going on? Still calling his dog and walking away from it! He made absolutely no effort to come over and get his dog, obviously because it was "friendly". If Zeb had got really upset and turned round and bitten the lab, it would no doubt have been my fault for having a vicious dog. :loopy:

Another point to note on this, is that not all "dog friendly off leaders" are 100% reliable. Any dog can suddenly take a dislike to any other dog if they are giving off the wrong signals. Inexperienced dog owners are unlikely to pick up this body language between dogs, hence fights break out and owners are heard to say "I cant believe it, it is so unlike him, he has never done that before":roll:

All mine are dog friendly but I put them on a lead if I see other on lead dogs in the area. Gem (now at the bridge ),was not dog friendly, so I did only let her off on isolated walks or with dogs she knew. I went to parks in the pouring rain when I knew there wouldnt be many folks around. :hihi:

i always walk my dogs on the lead, i dont go to the park much now as i have had many a bad experience with other dogs in the park, in my opinon dogs that dont come back on recall shouldnt be let off , even if there friendly some older dogs dont like dogs jumping alover them, for people that let there dogs run wherever in public places and wander up to any dog are asking for trouble have these people witnessed a dog been seriously injured or nearly killed i have by other dog its not a nice sight i can tell you, i am afraid nowdays its not safe does it take this to happen to peoples dogs for them to realise that dogs are usually on the lead for a good reason whether it be aggressive,nervous, recovering from surgery etc and people with dogs on leads arent going to stop walking there dogs in parks now or never even if they have problems of anysort, i seldom go to the park because of freerunning dogs with no control there the problem not ours on leads my dogs are under control, people that let there dogs greet any dog regardless are very naive and sadly it will take a bad experience at the expense of there dog for them to realise not all dogs are friendly......

Another point to note on this, is that not all "dog friendly off leaders" are 100% reliable. Any dog can suddenly take a dislike to any other dog if they are giving off the wrong signals. Inexperienced dog owners are unlikely to pick up this body language between dogs, hence fights break out and owners are heard to say "I cant believe it, it is so unlike him, he has never done that before":roll:



This is part of Molly's issue- she (being a GSD and being poorly socialised before we got her) is a barky creature and she warns other dogs off before they get to her. I have no idea what she says to the other dogs, but she says something and they get offended and suddenly both are getting annoyed and stroppy with each other.

It would be so much simpler if people could stop their dog from heading in at full tilt- she has a number of doggy friends and can be really very calm with other dogs acting calmly around her, but when they're heading towards her at a great rate of knots and she is too poorly socialised to interpret their intention towards her from their body language then it's quite natural for things to go wrong, isn't it?

BTW- we also go out at unpopular times of day and in the rain to get the best chance of unhassled exercise. One day we'll all happen to be at the same place at the same time, won't that be fun?

Another idiot in the park this afternoon when I had Zeb out.

I was standing having a natter with a couple of other dog walkers, when a beautiful, black, half-grown labrador came bouncing up to us. The others knew him, and said he was friendly, but the owner was basically a pillock. We could hear the owner calling him from the other side of the park, but the dog was taking absolutely no notice.

Zeb was alright being sniffed at, but when the lab started licking his bum and then his .... erm, important little place ..... he didn't like it and turned and snarled and snapped at the lab. I was trying to get hold of the lab's collar and pull him away, I finally managed to distract him and make him leave Zeb alone.

What was the owner doing while all this was going on? Still calling his dog and walking away from it! He made absolutely no effort to come over and get his dog, obviously because it was "friendly". If Zeb had got really upset and turned round and bitten the lab, it would no doubt have been my fault for having a vicious dog. :loopy:

i dont understand how some peoples mind works, without goin off topic i had a similar situation when i was out on my horse on a bridle path which is at the side of a field where a bloke was walking his dog, his dog followed us all the way down barking while he walked in the other direction!!! he only decided to run after his dog when he realised there was a road at the bottom n it was clear the dog would have followed us on to the road. sorry if ive gone off topic slightly but still relates to dogs on leads hehe :D

i dont understand how some peoples mind works, without goin off topic i had a similar situation when i was out on my horse on a bridle path which is at the side of a field where a bloke was walking his dog, his dog followed us all the way down barking while he walked in the other direction!!! he only decided to run after his dog when he realised there was a road at the bottom n it was clear the dog would have followed us on to the road. sorry if ive gone off topic slightly but still relates to dogs on leads hehe :D

ur right it relates becouse if your horse had got spooked by the dog and the horse kicked him in head which cud kill it, then who wud have got blame?u and ur horse no doubt, even though its not your fault makes ya sick

ur right it relates becouse if your horse had got spooked by the dog and the horse kicked him in head which cud kill it, then who wud have got blame?u and ur horse no doubt, even though its not your fault makes ya sick

true!!!! that just jogged my memory of another incident only a couple of weeks ago when when a lovely black lab type come up barking at my horse and i asked the 2 women stood talking to get control of there dog it kept running back to them then running to me, my horse is good with dogs and put his head down to sniff the dog and it snapped at his face..... so i lost it slightly and shouted at them to finish there conversation when they had got control of the dog as i didnt fancy the idea of been p***** off with up the common or for my horse to kick the dog!!! :loopy:

I have to admit that if Brude runs off, the best policy is to head in the opposite direction

He IS a pack hound, being a beagle, so if you go traipsing after him he assumes he's leading the pack today and you can forget being in control. Head in the opposite direction and he's pre-prgrammed to come with you when he realises he's getting left behind

how self rightous some of these posts are...
i guess dog ownership is a bit like car driving everyone's right and other people are idiots....

me - i walk our neighbours dog off the lead when its safe to do so.. when it looks a bit dodge I call her back for a few mins...
she likes to say hello to other dogs and other dogs like to say hello to her, quite often she'll play other times she'll sniff and walk on...

guess i'm lucky cos no one has ever shouted at me for not keeping her on the lead..
also lucky cos "our" dog is well behaved. On sunday we passed a gsd at forge dam, his owners pulled his lead in quite tight and got him off the path, i called our dog back and we passed by.. we smiled at each other and went in our seperate ways.. no worries, no problems.
Now I'm not going to sit here and point fingers and call them a bad owner but equally they have no right to scowl at me (they didn't) cos I choose to walk a dog off lead in. Sorry I think people should just calm down a little.
now let the hysterical responses flood in :)

This makes my blood boil:rant: A couple of dogs (unneutered labs) have tried to mount my old dog and have made him yelp. Sorry but this is totally unacceptable and they should be able to shout their dogs back. I have rescue greyhounds and also foster them. These dogs havent been socialised when they race apart from around other greyounds so some can be small dog or other breed unfriendly. The ones I know are not to be trusted are kept onlead and muzzled. It amazes me that people still allow their small yappy dogs to come running up shouting "Its okay he's friendly"
Erm mine are muzzled so obviously there is a reason for this:suspect:
If people let their dogs offlead then they should have sufficient recall to respect dogs onlead and call them back. Its just good manners in my opinion. How the hell you are supposed to socialise a dog if you cant walk it in parks etc is beyond me. Parks are there for everyone to use, not just people with offlead "friendly" out of control dogs. If everyone used just a little bit of common sense then there wouldnt be a problem.

Sue

Sue

how self rightous some of these posts are...
i guess dog ownership is a bit like car driving everyone's right and other people are idiots....

me - i walk our neighbours dog off the lead when its safe to do so.. when it looks a bit dodge I call her back for a few mins...
she likes to say hello to other dogs and other dogs like to say hello to her, quite often she'll play other times she'll sniff and walk on...

guess i'm lucky cos no one has ever shouted at me for not keeping her on the lead..
also lucky cos "our" dog is well behaved. On sunday we passed a gsd at forge dam, his owners pulled his lead in quite tight and got him off the path, i called our dog back and we passed by.. we smiled at each other and went in our seperate ways.. no worries, no problems.
Now I'm not going to sit here and point fingers and call them a bad owner but equally they have no right to scowl at me (they didn't) cos I choose to walk a dog off lead in. Sorry I think people should just calm down a little.
now let the hysterical responses flood in :)

Why on earth should anybody shout at you for having an off-lead dog which you obviously have under control?

My problem is with idiots whose off-lead dogs are not under control and which come up and bother other dogs, whether on or off the lead.

I heard a dreadful story in the park today. A older man was walking his very friendly and well-socialised old dog, when an off-lead boxer came up and starting attacking his dog. He tried to push the boxer away with his foot (he was not kicking it, just trying to push it away). The boxer's owner, in his 30s came over, said "Don't <deleted> kick my dog", and punched the old bloke in the face.

The police have, of course, been informed. One of the other walkers I was with said it sounded like a boxer which had attacked her 15-year dog a few months back. She managed to fend it off with her stick and gave the owner a mouthful.

Now, that's the sort of off-lead dog (and moronic owner) that most sensible dog owners are complaining about.

Gees what a heated debate!
I have a 4 1/2 month old lab puppy and have NEVER let her off the lead yet. I hope that at some point I can but she's so fussy she wants to play with everyone and everything. All these people who are saying thier dogs are friendly-that's great but do you have no sense to wonder what the other dogs on or off leads are like??

This makes my blood boil:rant: A couple of dogs (unneutered labs) have tried to mount my old dog and have made him yelp. Sorry but this is totally unacceptable and they should be able to shout their dogs back. I have rescue greyhounds and also foster them. These dogs havent been socialised when they race apart from around other greyounds so some can be small dog or other breed unfriendly. The ones I know are not to be trusted are kept onlead and muzzled. It amazes me that people still allow their small yappy dogs to come running up shouting "Its okay he's friendly"
Erm mine are muzzled so obviously there is a reason for this:suspect:
If people let their dogs offlead then they should have sufficient recall to respect dogs onlead and call them back. Its just good manners in my opinion. How the hell you are supposed to socialise a dog if you cant walk it in parks etc is beyond me. Parks are there for everyone to use, not just people with offlead "friendly" out of control dogs. If everyone used just a little bit of common sense then there wouldnt be a problem.

Sue

Sue

We are just about to take on our first dog, as it happens it is a greyhound. Last weekend I spend a few hours with people who have kept ex racing hounds for some time. One hound seems so placid around other greyhounds, and in general... then we started walking towards a small dog and the change in this one particular hound was amazing, the hound was muzzled and on a short lead, but he wanted to go after the small dog, boy did he want to go after the small dog! He was on edge for quite a while after this event. Anyone who wasn't prepared, or not particularly bothered would probably had an incident to deal with. I was amazed that such a placid dog could change so suddenly.

Our hound will walk on lead with a muzzle until we are very sure of her temperament, we already know from the kennels that she is not cat friendly.

Why on earth should anybody shout at you for having an off-lead dog which you obviously have under control?

My problem is with idiots whose off-lead dogs are not under control and which come up and bother other dogs, whether on or off the lead.

I heard a dreadful story in the park today. A older man was walking his very friendly and well-socialised old dog, when an off-lead boxer came up and starting attacking his dog. He tried to push the boxer away with his foot (he was not kicking it, just trying to push it away). The boxer's owner, in his 30s came over, said "Don't <deleted> kick my dog", and punched the old bloke in the face.

The police have, of course, been informed. One of the other walkers I was with said it sounded like a boxer which had attacked her 15-year dog a few months back. She managed to fend it off with her stick and gave the owner a mouthful.

Now, that's the sort of off-lead dog (and moronic owner) that most sensible dog owners are complaining about.

thats awful!!!!!! the poor old man i hope he wasnt seriously hurt, sounds like it could be a regular thing for this boxer so i hope his owner meets his match when he starts throwing his fists about when hes in the wrong!!!:mad:

Grinderbloke - I think we have got to a stage where we've forgotten to respect dogs for the functions they were bred for. Okay, so labs and spaniels are just retrievers, but sight hounds are for the most parts bred to catch and kill small furry things which run fast - they just do

I work really hard with Brude as far as general obedience is concerned, but I'm know I'm not going to get off first base trying to stop him sniffing - no matter how impolite any visitor may find it (he goes on a lead when non-dog people enter the house, but even dog owners aren't prepared for the serious scent gathering which is required upon entering beagle territory)

Grinderbloke - I think we have got to a stage where we've forgotten to respect dogs for the functions they were bred for. Okay, so labs and spaniels are just retrievers, but sight hounds are for the most parts bred to catch and kill small furry things which run fast - they just do

I work really hard with Brude as far as general obedience is concerned, but I'm know I'm not going to get off first base trying to stop him sniffing - no matter how impolite any visitor may find it (he goes on a lead when non-dog people enter the house, but even dog owners aren't prepared for the serious scent gathering which is required upon entering beagle territory)

Strix I believe we (Mrs Grinder and I) have prepared ourselves as best we can before inviting a 45 MPH killer into our home, OK so our hound may sleep for 20 hours a day, but when out walking she will instinctively spot and want to chase, and indeed catch, rabbits, squirrels and unfortunate local cats. I am under no false impression that she is a cute, cuddly furry, but in her working life she was a well trained assassin!

I plan to work hard to make sure she knows her place and make her retirement a long and enjoyable one, but she is retired.

Sorry GrinderBloke - I meant the owners of the small yappy things ;)

half of them would drag their yappy untrained scraps of fluff across the road if they spot a rottweiler - for their dog's (supposed) safety - but wouldn't give a second thought to letting it trigger all the killing instincts of a greyhound!

Sorry GrinderBloke - I meant the owners of the small yappy things ;)

half of them would drag their yappy untrained scraps of fluff across the road if they spot a rottweiler - for their dog's (supposed) safety - but wouldn't give a second thought to letting it trigger all the killing instincts of a greyhound!


Now, now hey I'm a big dog person too but I think you may have upset some people with that comment!:P

Conversely, I saw a woman with a little dog the other day. Zach wandered up to it, eager to play, and she picked it up by the collar, practically strangling it in the process.

Poor thing. I think some people shouldn't have pets.

As for leads. Zach is learning to come when he's called, but he still gets over friendly and wants to play with other dogs. It's my top priority to keep him absolutely under control. If I can't do that I freely accept it's lead all the time when other dogs are about.

Now, now hey I'm a big dog person too but I think you may have upset some people with that comment!:PI was writing from the sighthound's perspective ;)

My dog, Jack, used to be really good at recall and very well behaved, but after his 3 week absence from home last year (remember that?) he has very selective hearing and now sees recall as a game and just wants to run past me, bounce all around me and chase after anyone walking past.

I'm really careful now about where I let him off the lead and quickly get him back on again if another dog or person is in site as I don't trust him to behave.

If things go wrong, I just have to tell the person who he's galloping towards that he's ok and just wants to play - but it's embarrassing.

I went through all the dog recall training with him when he was small, but it has all gone out of the window and I'm having to start again with him. Having that 3 weeks of freedom has given him a bad habit. Any hints or tips appreciated!

HI classic we had this with our lad after only a week staying with a friend while we went on holiday.
She had allowed him to go further off lead than i ever would and had not made him work. I imagine he also did anything he wanted within their house and demanded attention. It took me a good couple of months to get him back to where he was and i am not convinced now that he as attentive as he once was.

I realised on his first walk back with me that things had changed. He didn't listen he was really pushy with me and he had hardly any recall. I was devastated as i can imagine you are and intially thought i had lost my boy.

So in response to his I made him work for everything, he had to earn every treat, earn his time off lead and work throughout his walk and he quickly learnt that if he didn't recall when asked he wouldn't get his treat or reward and would end up back on lead (i never shouted at him for not recalling or grabbed at him as i didn't want to reinforce the behaviour). Also when he made a mistake and didn't come straight back he would not get rewarded on recall but i would send him away again and call him back straight away again so i could then praise him for that recall and reinforce how coming back straight away brings a good reward. Does that make sense.

I am lucky as Albert is a collie lurcher X so he is fairly clever although bloody stupid at the same time :)

At home he had to work for everything i found him very bolshy with not getting of the sofa and demanding attention, so he was banned from the sofa. He had to be told to get on and was given his spot to lie on the floor. I corrected every bit of behaviour that i did not like and generally ignored him unless i called him over for a fuss and a love, it was all on our terms not his.

I started using far more training than i ever had done in a bid to command his attention we started using a close and wait during walks, a sit and down stay and i would do this during our walks.

I am lucky he is very food motivated so i always have treats even now over a year on. Now he works me :D by demanding me to work him, he recalls independantly and asks for me to make him do something so i can reward him. You can see he enjoys it and wants to earn that reward, food or verbal praise. He is still wilful though and if i stop this for even a week he starts to slip again and will wait that bit longer before coming back or go that bit further away from me.

That is a bit of a long post sorry lol but it just reminded me of everything, hope it helps :)

Interesting and partly useful. Jack is an angel in the house and back to how he was - in fact he became the same old dog straight away upon return. It's just outside.
He's not motivated by food, he can take it or leave it. To him, being mischievous and having his own way has proved to be more important than a treat.

Therefore when he's out and off his lead, even if I use enthusiastic calling, try walking or running away from him or using a distraction such as a stick - if his mindset is to do his own thing, no amount of calling or trickery will get him back. I just have to be careful and selective as to when to let him off the lead.

While I respect owners choice to walk their dogs and let them off the lead, I choose not to, I have a staffie who just loves to amble on the lead, you wouldn't believe the amount of people that let their dogs charge at us from one side of the park to the other screaming " don't worry he/she only wants to play"! My dog dosn't know that.

I think a responsible dog owner should keep their dog on a lead, I can see the headlines, 4 stone staff allowed to run free in public park!.oh the outcry from the run free brigade, my boy is a softie- but you don't know that, as he steams up to you, and more so because of the stereotype of the breed.

Yet its been other dogs coming over sniffing my dogs backend, that has made him less than happy.

Even a dog with good recall, can often go deaf if there is something more interesting in the park.

I know my dogs is under control, he is safe, sadly other owners who think its their divine right to let their dogs run wild cause us more problems on walks than anything else, so we stopped going to Graves.

mr ben will still be walked on his lead. he sits down when anyone walks passed him & lays down when another dog goes by. why shoud he not be walked in public park or where other dogs are just because certain owners cant keep their dogs under control.

when a dog is walked on its lead in public place you are in contol & can pck up after it. so it doesnt leave poo everywhere

If a dog is on a lead all the time, how does it get the chance to really exercise itself, chase sticks and have a good run?

I'm not saying to do this in a public place. I'm fortunate that I have some deserted woodland near where I live where he can do this. I would keep him on a lead if we were in a park where there are other dogs and children.

I think it's good for the dog's wellbeing and health to allow him or her to have a good run and some freedom from time to time.

even if dogs are on leads they can still be a danger to other dogs on leads take for example the sheffield show last year, my border collie was walking to heel on his lead minding his own business when two massive mastiffs on a conjorned lead pulled their 5ft nothing, size zero female owner to her knees and dragged her about a 100 metres across the park (where kids were playing and milling around) to attack my dog, sorry to say I was kicking out at these dogs and pulling mine away, it took the owner and a big lass to get these brutes under control. The owner retreated back to the food van and sat on a plastic chair I moved away (she was effing n geffing and accused me of having no control over my dog????) I carried on walking away reasuring my dog as he was shacking and was alerted to another attack by a group of bystanders shouting ''RUN'', as the dogs again pulled this woman outta the chair and dragged her towards my dog they again went for throat and back end areas, two men had to pull them off my dog, who had no chance but I again attacked her dogs with my feet. My dog was not hurt but shook up by the attack, I reported to the police as this was at a family event. A search of the park was made but seems she had left. I have never walked my dog in Norfolk Park since.

My dog was for a while after unsure around other dogs n growled n showed signs of unfriendly behaviour, so I kept him on the lead when walking. He is fine now nearly a year later. But again I use my judgement whether to call back to tether him, he always comes when called and sits ready for his lead to be put on.

These two dogs should not have been tethered on the same lead, neither should the woman be left with these two dogs as she had no control over them, they pulled her to the ground twice and dragged her a fair distance, what if this had been a kid not my dog???? The dogs were very aggressive and savage in their attack. Very upsetting for on lookers some kids started crying and the adults where all shouting at her to get the dogs outta the park. She should not have brought the dogs to such an event - not a very educated dog owner.

I find it annoying when ppl let there dogs run wild and think its ok to let there dog come up to mine, for all they know my dog is nasty and thats why its on a lead , so why would you allow your dog to go up to another dog that could hurt it?? Also what if while you are letting your dog say "hello" to everyone elses dog it sniffs a dog that is ill, like gastric? parvo? kennel cough? etc.... for your own dogs safety and health dont let it go up to other dogs

I find it annoying when ppl let there dogs run wild and think its ok to let there dog come up to mine, for all they know my dog is nasty and thats why its on a lead , so why would you allow your dog to go up to another dog that could hurt it?? Also what if while you are letting your dog say "hello" to everyone elses dog it sniffs a dog that is ill, like gastric? parvo? kennel cough? etc.... for your own dogs safety and health dont let it go up to other dogs

I understand and think i agree. Its a good angle to look at from a owners point of view. Everyone I know when discussing it says 'I let mine off cos it can be trusted' but perhaps they could look at it from the point of view as to what would happen to their lovely dog if something bad did happen. Could they forgive theirselves when they lost their animal when the situation could have been avoided.

Ive had rotties for the last 10-12 yrs, only one of them has been bad with other dogs but at the end of the day there big dogs and could seriously hurt another dog, but you'd be suprised how many ppl let there dogs come running up to mine??? once in a woodland area i had mine on a lead (the nasty one) and a women let her jack russel come up to mine , Id already told her that mine was nasty but she said " oh its ok mines friendly" ?? in the end I had to wrestle my dog to the floor and lay on him until she went past, as she slowly walked past I had a right go at her! ppl like that shouldnt be allowed dogs, I f i was as irresponsible as her my dog would have killed hers and the next day the crap sheffield star would have a front page story of rotty savaging little cute dog!, As i said my dogs have always been big but i still wouldnt let them go up to dogs i dont know, If its nasty my dog is still going to get hurt despite how big he is

Just another little rant from me aswell lol , when you go to the vets , ppl who insist on stroking all the animals in there??? every animal there or atleast 90% of them are sick , so whatever they have you could give your animal, I once saw a poor dog all scabby and no fur and this crazy woman stroking it then went back to her own dog and fussed that???? crazy!! ok rant done lol

Ive had rotties for the last 10-12 yrs, only one of them has been bad with other dogs but at the end of the day there big dogs and could seriously hurt another dog, but you'd be suprised how many ppl let there dogs come running up to mine??? once in a woodland area i had mine on a lead (the nasty one) and a women let her jack russel come up to mine , Id already told her that mine was nasty but she said " oh its ok mines friendly" ?? in the end I had to wrestle my dog to the floor and lay on him until she went past, as she slowly walked past I had a right go at her! ppl like that shouldnt be allowed dogs, I f i was as irresponsible as her my dog would have killed hers and the next day the crap sheffield star would have a front page story of rotty savaging little cute dog!, As i said my dogs have always been big but i still wouldnt let them go up to dogs i dont know, If its nasty my dog is still going to get hurt despite how big he is


I know, alot of people think the size of dogs means they are more likely to be vicious. The people who are like this have very little understand of dogs and show their ignorance.

lol bluevan - that is really odd! To be honest, the thought of passing on what they had never crossed my mind because I wouldn't go up and fuss a potentially sick animal in case it was in pain and bit me!

When I worked in the vets I'd fuss animals that came in but lets face it, you wash your hands in between don't you. I have also fussed other animals if I've been in with a small furry like a hamster and a dog has come over but again - you're unlikely to pass anything on and I wash my hands in between.

It's a good point - I take it this is something you have experienced recently?

Lotti, My dog is 9yrs and diabetic so im at the vets once a month and I sit and watch them all the time stroking each others pets lol, then they stroke little pups that havent had injections yet, its just a "pet hate" of mine, the staff doing it is different cos like you said they wash there hands all the time

Lotti, My dog is 9yrs and diabetic so im at the vets once a month and I sit and watch them all the time stroking each others pets lol, then they stroke little pups that havent had injections yet, its just a "pet hate" of mine, the staff doing it is different cos like you said they wash there hands all the time


I suppose it shows that humans can be untrained just like animals. :hihi: But just like when i say maybe its better to keep dogs on leads, its the same as having them close to you and on lead in the vets, at least you as the owner are being responsible and anything that happens is not down to you. Its down to the other person and you and your dog should therefore not be liable.

[QUOTE=WatchingU

Now as I seem to be lowering myself to your level I will stay on topic now. As Bluevan has some good points.[/QUOTE]
Sorry watchingU I peaked to early lol Im all done, clean outta good points lol

Sorry watchingU I peaked to early lol Im all done, clean outta good points lol

You disappoint me :hihi: No really though. Im glad I riased this thread, your points were good :) and on lead/off lead discussions are always the same, I just tried to put a different slant on it by thinking keeping it on lead protects our dogs.

Sorry watchingU I peaked to early lol Im all done, clean outta good points lol

This came to light in response to another thread, think its in the sheffield discussions group. About a staffie attack on a childs forehead. As its in the media we can say which parts are accurate and which parts are hyped up. But I think the staffy was pts. I dont know whether it was a random attack and had never shown signs of aggression before. But if it had been on a lead then it would still be alive. Such a shame. Im sure someone else has responded but if its not on topic i aint replying to youn 'uns on here.

You disappoint me :hihi: No really though. Im glad I riased this thread, your points were good :) and on lead/off lead discussions are always the same, I just tried to put a different slant on it by thinking keeping it on lead protects our dogs.

I agree all dogs should be kept on a lead, the one we had that was bad with other dogs my bf used to take him for walks off lead at 3am so as to not bump into anyone with a dog, he works nights and was up anyway, all 3 of the rotties ive had have been well trained and not needed a lead but for THERE safety we have kept them on lead, Also ppl react differently to big dogs especially rotties and ya cant be 100% certain on how your dog is going to react to ppl every time, I class myself as a responsible owner who takes great care in insuring my dogs safety and everyone elses!

This came to light in response to another thread, think its in the sheffield discussions group. About a staffie attack on a childs forehead. As its in the media we can say which parts are accurate and which parts are hyped up. But I think the staffy was pts. I dont know whether it was a random attack and had never shown signs of aggression before. But if it had been on a lead then it would still be alive. Such a shame. Im sure someone else has responded but if its not on topic i aint replying to youn 'uns on here.

Exactly!!! now because the owners thought it was fine to let the dog off lead, a child is hurt and the dog will be put to sleep! Idiots

I agree all dogs should be kept on a lead, the one we had that was bad with other dogs my bf used to take him for walks off lead at 3am so as to not bump into anyone with a dog, he works nights and was up anyway, all 3 of the rotties ive had have been well trained and not needed a lead but for THERE safety we have kept them on lead, Also ppl react differently to big dogs especially rotties and ya cant be 100% certain on how your dog is going to react to ppl every time, I class myself as a responsible owner who takes great care in insuring my dogs safety and everyone elses!

I dont think I have been a responsible owner as I have always let mine off lead. But reading an article where someone said:-

'my dog is a family dog, used to kids of all ages, comes on holidays with us and everything and is always great with other dogs. But for some reason it went for a child and I didnt notice the signs as it was 7 and was never aggressive, and as it had made a mess of a little boys arm I was made to have it put to sleep'

has made me think, what if my dog did this. All i had to do was keep it on lead to avoid it happening and i didnt, so now my whole family have lost a pet we loved so much because of me being irresponsible.
So from now on I think I will keep mine on lead.

Mines 9, 10 in march , which is old really for a rotty, hes diabetic and his hearing is going to, I love him to bits , but our little boy is 31 months old, I couldnt think of anything worse than the pet i love biting the child I love, So even tho Zeus is as soft as a brush with the little un and always has been they are NEVER left alone together because ya just dont know, my son weighs 14kg the dogs weighs 54kg!! what chance would the child have?? or me getting the dog off? not much, treat your pets with respect, love them but never forget they are at the end of the day an animal with little understanding

After removing 18 off topic argumentative posts, it would seem that this thread was dragged back up just for the sake of arguing....please keep to the topic, and do this without pulling other members to bits or the thread will be closed!

treat your pets with respect, love them but never forget they are at the end of the day an animal with little understanding

exactly, if only everyone thought this

I can see the arguments from both sides tbh. However, that said, I have a Great Dane (Sophie) and a toy Yorkshire Terrier (Sooty) and I do let them run off lead on the field - but - it is a big open field and I can clearly see who is on it. If other owners and dogs (on lead) are a way down I will let mine off but they don't bother going over (can't be bothered to walk all that way LOL). If I am on a field where there is a path and I can't really see then I won't let them off - for the simple reason that (mine are both OK with other dogs btw) if a big dog like Sophie came bounding over to Sooty I would not like it - whether it was friendly or not and I always bear this in mind with Sophie. If the person does not know her then the majority of the time they would cr*p themselves because of her size - and if I was them I wouldn't blame them. I always put mine on lead (or hold them) if I pass someone who's dogs are on leads - I think it is just courtesy - and this way a lot of dog fights could be avoided. I wouldn't want Sophie (irrelevant of size) or Sooty bounding up to an on lead dog and getting bitten - as it would clearly be my fault - this is common sense. Equally, I would not want another off lead dog coming up to mine - as I have had a problem in the past where Sooty was fussing a dog that had come over (owner was all gormless smiles)and then it went to turn on him - so Sophie piled in - as she is going to do when her mate is in danger - then when this wiped the smile off the owners face - I was wrong!! Unbelievable!! (Sophie did no damage by the way - the dog took off). :huh:

I have two german shephards I feel i should be able to walk my dogs where i want.
i have one german shephard cross rotty who is as soft as a brush and is as well trained as a dog can be. As soon as we are in an "area" i feel is safe to do so she is let of the lead. She will not go upto another dog on or off a lead without looking at me 1st. if a dog comes close to her she will sit down and let in come to her before she will "play" if i call her back she comes back straight away and if i see another dog on a lead and the owner seems unsure i will clip her back onto the lead as i walk passed. i feel this is the right way to have your dog off the lead and undercontrol and any1 thinks different i would like to hear their views. I have another dog full german shephard who has alot of problems and can be aggressive to other dogs if they invade his space. i would NEVER let him off the lead in any areas as i feel he is not 100% under my control. he is full trained (according to trainers) but he is a very nervous dog and it will come out as aggresion and will not go for any dog unless they confront him first. I have him under full control on a lead but it winds me up when dog owners let there dogs run up to other dogs that are on leads as i always think they are on leads for a reason!
I was once in rother valley and i man had two rotty's who were both as well tained as my lady and they had a brill time and kept away from my other man untill he got used to them and he eventuall thad a little play on his lead. but a lady with a little yappy thing came running up under no control and tried jumpin gover my man abviously he freaked out and started barking and trying to get away before he gavce a growl the lady went mad at me?!? i think people just dont think.........

sorry rant over but it drives me mad

I wish everybody was as sensible as you Chrissy! :shakes:

people with mops on leads are the biggest culprits of starting fights with bigger dogs - and they always do the complaining whilst you're wrestling your big on-lead dog and trying to make sure the mop doesn't sink it's teeth into the jugular!

not bad for someone who doesnt post on here anymore :hihi: So i was right. :hihi: :roll:

Most dogs I meet are well trained, but like I said its better to protect your dog and look at it from this angle. A one off attack on a child could end up with officials making you put the dog down. Such a shame we dont have dog parks like they do in america.

not bad for someone who doesnt post on here anymore :hihi: So i was right. :hihi: :roll: were you addressing somebody in particular?

btw - the american dog parks... presumably you know little about them beyond the fact that they exist?

an international dog trainer is somewhat scathing of these places, as people dump their dogs in them all day and go to work, resulting in large packs of dogs developing instinctive pack behaviour - and aggression to those who are not part of that pack

I'd prefer that we DON'T have 'dog parks' in this country thank you - and I'd rather not be restricted to DRIVING my dog to a specific park to walk him legally. That scenario would only result in less dogs being walked responsibly

were you addressing somebody in particular?

btw - the american dog parks... presumably you know little about them beyond the fact that they exist?

an international dog trainer is somewhat scathing of these places, as people dump their dogs in them all day and go to work, resulting in large packs of dogs developing instinctive pack behaviour - and aggression to those who are not part of that pack

I'd prefer that we DON'T have 'dog parks' in this country thank you - and I'd rather not be restricted to DRIVING my dog to a specific park to walk him legally. That scenario would only result in less dogs being walked responsibly


Yes I was, and that person knows.

And yes I do know more about the parks. I was not referring to a doggy day care centre. I was referring to a park. I have been to america and been to loads. People do not leave their dogs all day, these you may be referring to are called amongst americans 'doggy day centres' and I wouldnt take my dog to one of these either. Doggy parks are specifica areas for people to take their dogs. Where children dont go to play. Many would prefer it, many wouldnt. But thanks for thanking me.

Yes I was, and that person knows.kindly use the pm system for personal messages - though being unpleasant via
pm isn't permitted either

I still don't approve of segregated parks - for whatever reason

A divided society is an intolerant, uptight, indignant one...

... and how are you supposed to walk your dog if you have children? Social services don't look kindly on people leaving small children at home alone whilst you walk your dog :suspect:

kindly use the pm system for personal messages - though being unpleasant via
pm isn't permitted either

I still don't approve of segregated parks - for whatever reason

A divided society is an intolerant, uptight, indignant one...

... and how are you supposed to walk your dog if you have children? Social services don't look kindly on people leaving small children at home alone whilst you walk your dog :suspect:


Your quite right it isnt. But nothing i have said is aggressive. So im fine on that score thank you very much.

Err....on a lead perhaps? who said anything about leaving a child at home alone? :rolleyes: I certainly wouldnt.

so will I be walking this on lead dog and small child in a dog park or non-dog park?

I don't think I fancy walking my child in one of these parks designated for intensive dog population where off lead dogs learn undesirable behaviour from other uncontrolled dogs

so will I be walking this on lead dog and small child in a dog park or non-dog park?

I don't think I fancy walking my child in one of these parks designated for intensive dog population where off lead dogs learn undesirable behaviour from other uncontrolled dogs

Well that would be up to you wouldnt it where you walk your dog and small child if you have one.

However my personal feelings are we should have some dog parks at least. Then people would at least have an option.

that's the point - it wouldn't

dog parks are the thin end of the wedge

introducing specific dog parks is just the opening move in banning dogs from other public spaces, and how would objection to such a move be tabled or taken? I'll tell you - it'd be easier to campaign for time served child molesters to take up teaching jobs than to stand against banning dogs from EVERYWHERE except odd designated parks

that's the point - it wouldn't

dog parks are the thin end of the wedge

introducing specific dog parks is just the opening move in banning dogs from other public spaces, and how would objection to such a move be tabled or taken? I'll tell you - it'd be easier to campaign for time served child molesters to take up teaching jobs than to stand against banning dogs from EVERYWHERE except odd designated parks


Well I have my opinion, like it or lump it as the saying goes. And for your information as you obviously arent aware, there are dog parks in america, but they arent banned from every other park aswel. Its a choice, which actually works great. As i have spent time there I know.

perhaps you should pay some attention to what SOME counties in this country are already proposing?

eg, (presumably to strangle dog walking businesses and prevent hunting all in one go) making it illegal to 'enter land' with more than x number of dogs (I think the number was 4 or 6 but cannot recall specifically)

legislation IS being examined by dog haters, so we really shouldn't let them get of first base, and CERTAINLY shouldn't be supporting them!

perhaps you should pay some attention to what SOME counties in this country are already proposing?

eg, (presumably to strangle dog walking businesses and prevent hunting all in one go) making it illegal to 'enter land' with more than x number of dogs (I think the number was 4 or 6 but cannot recall specifically)

legislation IS being examined by dog haters, so we really shouldn't let them get of first base, and CERTAINLY shouldn't be supporting them!

Perhaps you should pay some attention to other peoples opinions strix and not come across like you think your opinion is correct. :roll: I think dog parks are a good idea, and so do others, but I appreciate other people o not like the idea. If you dont like it fine, but dont start telling me what I SHOULD and shouldnt be doing thank you very much! :rant:

I will if it impacts upon me ;)

I will if it impacts upon me ;)

No you wont start telling me what I SHOULD do im afraid :rant:. Nor will you to anyone else for that matter. Its highly offensive. If you cant have an open discussion without reverting from an opinion to telling someone what they should and shouldnt be doing then you shouldnt post at all.

After removing 18 off topic argumentative posts, it would seem that this thread was dragged back up just for the sake of arguing....please keep to the topic, and do this without pulling other members to bits or the thread will be closed!

Following a previous warning, thread is now closed.