RallyValley Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. It makes me sad if you are a "professional" dog walker. If your 'friendly' dog ran up to the wrong dog it could end up attacked - I have witnessed this happen and have had a near miss with one of my own dogs and she (RIP) was an old bitch that would have happily put puncture marks in approaching dogs. Having your dog off leash in on leash areas is illegal and being in an off leash area is not a free for all, there is such a thing as manners. If I thought an approaching dog has threatening body language I would lift my dog (one is around 14kg and the other 20ishkgs so no little dogs), let you know very clearly to get your dog away and if necessary use my foot to defend us. If I get bit in the process I WILL go to the ranger and get the dog declared dangerous. I would much rather I was bitten by a dog then one of my dogs was, especially when one already has social issues. If your dog is jumping up on strangers who are obviously frightened you are definitely in the wrong and unbelievably rude. I only see one ignorant owner in your post and that is you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 (edited) Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. Does the owner of the dog you walk know you are allowing it off lead to do it's own thing? Your post shows how ignorant you are in so many things. In Vic my greyhounds are not allowed off lead, according to you they are automatically bad. I hope your insurance is up to date. Edited December 5, 2011 by Rebanne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 None of my dogs are aggressive, all have excellent recall and all get walked ON lead ALL the time, because that is the law where I live. Two of them however, like some space and don't like strange dogs approaching, they feel vulnerable and one of them will bite, and bite hard, if a strange dog insists on pushing in to meet her. She is neither aggressive or dangerous, as far as she and I are concerned, it's self defence. She never asks for the attention and gives out very clear signals that it's not at all welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted December 5, 2011 Share Posted December 5, 2011 Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. We (my dogs and I) don't view your dog as "very social", we view it as a rude, untrained and extremely annoying interruption to our walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malamum Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. My dog weighs 50kg and I couldn't pick him up if my life depended on it. So I'm pretty sure my picking him up is not what is causing the issue. The issue is I am obeying the law by walking my dog on lead and under my control where as the person who thinks their dog is Paris Hilton and lets it invade my dog's personal space is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuffles Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. this is the very attitude this post is talking about. The owner of the dog on lead never causes the problem, the owner of the dog that is allowed to approach is the problem. I have never had a DA dog but will do whatever I have to, to protect my dogs from any approaching off lead dog. After having several dogs attacked over the years I no longer wait to find out if an approaching dog is friendly or not. In my experience none have ever been friendly so I now take no chances. If mine are off lead, they get put back on as soon as I see other dogs. I decide which dogs my dogs get to meet and have no desire to have any unknown dog approach them ever. If you cannot prevent your dog approaching others it shouldn't be off lead. :thumbsup: I will do ANYTHING in my power to protect my dog. I have picked my dog up before to avoid a conflict (she is 18kg, not exactly small). It was either that or physically hurt the other dog. I used to scoff at people who picked up their dogs when another approached, but after my girl was attacked MULTIPLE times while she was under perfect control and the other dogs were not, I do not take any chances anymore. Neither of my dogs are aggressive at all, but dogs getting in another dog's face, especially one on lead, is asking for trouble. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wherezaball Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Its funny, but as a dog walker I have witnessed almost the opposite effect. I have a very social dog, and he is learning when to stay away from dogs on leads (ie they are there because they are aggressive not because they have bad recall). However I find many dog ignorant people picking their dog up, over protecting them and causing dogs to jump up to see, and then them yelling at other owners when in fact they have caused the issue. of course the same applies to dog people ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weasels Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) IMO my dogs are friendly, since I believe part of that term means recognising when a dog doesn't want to be approached and leaving it alone. I figure we act as a team - I watch the humans for signs they don't want to be approached, and they read the dogs for the equivalent signals. I think the problem is many people's standard for 'friendly' is just 'doesn't start fights', when unwanted encroaching on another dog's space is in fact not a friendly gesture. Edited December 6, 2011 by Weasels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I agree Weasels. My boy is friendly - and he doesn't run up to greet all dogs. In fact, part of his friendliness is being able to read dogs and steer clear of those not interested. Of course, I've got my recall as a back up if he approaches a dog without permission. People seem to think that a dog pulling to say hello to each and every dog is a "friendly" one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Who cares why people don't want their dogs approached, as far as I am concerned I do the choosing, not some random walking down the street. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmolo Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 That is a great poster. Despite being friendly- my dogs do not appreciate rude dogs making a beeline for them, and neither do i! I also think that once you own a small dog- you gain an appreciation for why owners of small dogs are cautious, if you did not have one before. There is no margin of error with a small dog. My 22kg ACD was nearly killed by 2 dogs- if that had been my 6kg JRT he would have been dead in a few seconds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ncarter Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 great article. Thanks for posting. I find it amazing how people are so anthropomorphistic in their attitude towards dog socialisation. Ive seen plenty of those swf's being walked on those retractable leads and the owners want their dog to say hello to everydog they meet. Also had a guy come up to me with a newf who was play-bowing towards my toy dog and the guy was rather disappointed that we didnt want to play. Its been in my experience that people go to dog parks to socialise with each other, let their dogs blow off excess energy. They dont go there to train their dog and they just expect every dog to get along with each other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hortfurball Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 That article just summed up the last 12 or so years of my life. It's been years since I've just headed out of the door, dog on leash, instead I have driven to onleash only parks because so many people just let their dogs wander outside their house (but they call it 'staying on their property'). When I am at those parks I expect people to obey the law and keep their dogs onleash. I hate with a vengeance seeing a dog approaching off leash, 'friendly' or not. I am delighted to see an owner call and leash their dog when they see us approach and will thank them for doing so if they come within earshot. We passed a couple of people last weekend who kept their dogs onleash. I was keeping an eye on the second dog because it was of a size and type that I knew Ella might not like to be approached by. The first dog lunged and barked at her and she completely ignored it, which was fantastic and I was very proud of her. The owner apologised profusely and said their dog didn't normally do that, so I replied, "That's ok, I understand, it's usually her." Not strictly true at that distance, but that's what she does when dogs get in her face. I had a classic MDIS encounter once where I called out "Please control your dog" twice as the dog made a beeline for us, and the owner yelled the classic, "It's ok, s/he's friendly." He finally got it when I yelled back "Mine's NOT!" This is highly unfair on Ella, because she's not 'the bad dog' but I had to make her out to be to get this guy to act responsibly in an ONLEASH area. Respect the law and we'll all be a lot happier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fox Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Who cares why people don't want their dogs approached, as far as I am concerned I do the choosing, not some random walking down the street. Yep. Just as annoying are those people who feel it's okay to stick their hands in your dogs face because he/she 'looks friendly' and so must want attention. And I see nothing wrong with picking a pup or smaller dog up when a 'friendly' dog approaches. Provided you're not running around with fluffy above your head squealing what's the problem? Edited December 6, 2011 by SecretKei Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 My two DINOS are friendly dogs.....they are lovely dogs with great temperaments, but they don't like being approached by strange dogs (or people, in Shae's case) when they're on leash. Just because they like their space and prefer to be left alone when we're on a walk, or when they're leashed for whatever reason, doesn't make them bad, aggressive, nasty dogs. Because they aren't. They just don't want to say hello to other dogs ALL the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 My two DINOS are friendly dogs.....they are lovely dogs with great temperaments, but they don't like being approached by strange dogs (or people, in Shae's case) when they're on leash. Just because they like their space and prefer to be left alone when we're on a walk, or when they're leashed for whatever reason, doesn't make them bad, aggressive, nasty dogs. Because they aren't. They just don't want to say hello to other dogs ALL the time. You just described Kenzie to a tee! She actually loves other dogs, BUT she needs the time and space to get to know them first. I think there are so many more DINOS out there, it's just a shame their owners don't know it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) deleted double post! Edited December 6, 2011 by Pretty Miss Emma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 I'm getting to be a grumpy old fart. But I remember a day when dogs worked things out for themselves. Puppies got disciplined by older dogs for too much bouncing up to their elders. They learned respect. Some elders were too vicious, or didn't get socialized enough when young, and had to be kept in back yards or on leash. There are zillions of places where dogs can be walked on lead. If your dog is intolerant of stupidity, walk it somewhere where 'stupids' are required to be on lead. The law is an ass, and legislators can't write in this kind of subtleties. But they're worth having. Can't dog parks be preserved as a place where puppies can play, make mistakes, get growled at and occasionally get an ear torn, and people be a bit forgiving of differences in temperament and the need to learn by trial and error? GRUMP GRUMP GRUMP GRUMP!!!! (no smileys) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 The trouble is with the "stupids" is that even though they're required to have their dog on lead, they often don't. I used to live alongside a very busy highway and it never ceased to amaze me the amount of stupids who walked their dogs off lead with heavy traffic thundering past only metres away, with just a narrow strip of grass between their dog and certain death. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wherezaball Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) The trouble is with the "stupids" is that they really are STUPID!!! Edited December 6, 2011 by wherezaball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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