Walkies etiquette

[weez74]

My sister and I have had a disagreement about putting dogs on a lead - we were out with Rosie on a walk and came across a springer spaniel off the lead with his family. By the time we'd got up to him, he was back on the lead - I hadn't noticed as I had all the kids with me and I was trying to control them. As soon as I noticed, I asked if the dog was okay with other dogs and when the man said no, I threw Rosie's ball the other side of the dog so she'd run off and we could just walk past.

My sister thinks I should have put Rosie on the lead straight away. My point was that if his dog had been on the lead when we first saw them, I would have, but as it was, he really should have shouted to me to tell me that his dog wasn't good with other dogs. Otherwise, I'd be putting Rosie on the lead every five minutes and she'd never get a good run around. Also, I think that dogs are more likely to be 'bad' with other dogs when they are on the lead, whereas off lead, they generally just give each other a good sniff or if they're feeling grumpy a little bark and a growl and then the other dog (usually Rosie) runs off.

What do you guys do? Do you re-lead every time you see another dog?

[wellerfeller]

No I don't. If I had a dog aggresssive dog I would be in training with it until it could happily go off lead or it wouldn't be off lead at all. I think its just too dangerous to have a dog like that off lead at all, as you never know who or what may come around the corner. I have has an awful experience of an owner not being able to grab their aggressive dog before he ripped in to our greyhound, the owners explanation.....oh sorry I normally grab hin if I see people coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an idiot.
I also find that some dogs tend to be aggressive on lead and just fine off lead.
So I think you were right, dogs need to socialise too:)

[MillieDog]

No! I wouldn't put a lead on each time I saw another dog. We'd get nowhere on our walk.

You know your dog and trust her to be a good friendly dog I presume. And you know when she meets other dogs she will just be friendly and play. So carry on.

When I come across a dog on a lead, I will ask as you did, if their dog is ok with other dogs. If they say no. Then I will take action, either walk away or lead if she looks like she'll be too friendly and get in danger.

Even on leads they can get into trouble. Millie was on her lead once as we were walking by a road and another dog also on a lead was pulling their owner so it could greet Millie. With that it snapped at Millie and nipped her on the nose :( I asked if the dog was ok with other dogs, he said No! I was thinking, well why didn't you stop your dog and say something sooner. He then continued to explain about this dog, but had such a bad stammer that I thought poor bloke, no wonder you couldn't warn me you can't get the words out in time.

On occasions when I have Millie on a lead ie walking her away from the dreaded dead rabbit scenario, and I meet another dog & owner I immediately explain when she's on a lead. I don't want them thinking she's an aggressive dog.

[Sezra]

I must admit, if it is a dog I don't know I always put Daisy back on the lead. After hearing so many stories about people being shouted out I decided it was a habit I would get into. It is not always possible though, if Daisy is the other side of the field I will call her but whether she comes back or not is sometimes an issue! I can't do it everytime. I am lucky here and we do tend to see the same dogs out and about and most people are lovely! :D When I arrive at our field I always have a quick scan around to see who is there and whether they are on the lead or not. I think it is good training for her aswell. It would be nice not to worry though! :rolleyes:

[colpa110]

Good question.. I was wondering what the ''done'' thing was too!!
Interesting to read what others think...

[caradunne]

Most people here do not have their dogs on leads unless they are actually in the village shopping. I only put the lead on Izzy if we are approaching a road, as I can't trust her with cars yet. If a dog aggresses at Izzy she usually screams and runs back to me, then I put h on the lead until the other dog is gone. I think generally dogs behave better with each other if they are off lead.

[michaelwatson54]

I find this one of the most grey area's of being a responsible dog owner:confused: I do like to have my dogs under control at all times and with that in mind the most important thing you can teach your dog is the 'Recall':) If you have the recall perfected you can be more relaxed when out walking:cool: However, situations like you described Louise, I think you controlled it the best way you could. I take it nothing happened between your dogs or between you and the other dog owner?
My actions in these situations usually go like this, I recall my dogs take control and then wait for a reaction from other dog owners or their dogs and based on this I either place on the lead or permit further freedom....if in any doubt air on the side of caution:) Enjoy your walks:cool:

[Sezra]

I find this one of the most grey area's of being a responsible dog owner:confused: I do like to have my dogs under control at all times and with that in mind the most important thing you can teach your dog is the 'Recall':) If you have the recall perfected you can be more relaxed when out walking:cool: However, situations like you described Louise, I think you controlled it the best way you could. I take it nothing happened between your dogs or between you and the other dog owner?
My actions in these situations usually go like this, I recall my dogs take control and then wait for a reaction from other dog owners or their dogs and based on this I either place on the lead or permit further freedom....if in any doubt air on the side of caution:) Enjoy your walks:cool:

That is what I try and do! :) Thank goodness Daisy is getting really good with recall even if there is another dog but I am half expecting it to all go pear shaped when she gets to that rebellious teenage stage! :rolleyes:

[Laney]

I keep Rocky quite close, otherwise recall would be impossible. I do put him back on the lead if we see another dog, but only because he would otherwise, run up and jump all over said dog and I don't know if that dog is ok with such "in your face" behaviour. Rocky needs to learn how to greet a little more calmly before I can let him off lead around other dogs. Obviously, once he has greeted the dog on lead, I will ask if their dog is ok with an excitable pup, and if yes, then he comes off his lead to play :)

[ali-s.j.]

I walk mine off lead most of the time (in the woods, or at the beach). I think it is the responsibility of the owners of dogs who are aggressive to take control of their dogs. I rarely see anyone putting their dog on a lead "just in case"

[michaelwatson54]

I walk mine off lead most of the time (in the woods, or at the beach). I think it is the responsibility of the owners of dogs who are aggressive to take control of their dogs. I rarely see anyone putting their dog on a lead "just in case"

I agree with what you say Ali however, not all dog owners are responsible one's and you need to be sure that you can be in control;) and I must say walking on the beach right now sound fantastic:D

[Dylansmum]

I have pretty perfect recall with Dylan and he will also walk at heel if I demand it. My view is that if another dog is aggressive then they should be muzzled. If I sense a problem in an approaching dog, then I will call Dylan to heel and also put the lead on if I am particularly worried, just to be absolutely sure, but I do feel that it is the owner of an aggressive dog who should be controlling his dog, rather than me. When Dylan was attacked as a puppy, the other dog was on a lead and simply grabbed him as we walked past, so that's why I believe that a muzzle should be used, and if I had an aggressive dog I would rather relax and know that he was muzzled, than worry about controlling him. I do find now that Dylan gives some dogs a very wide birth - he seems to sense which ones are dodgy!

[Laura(L)Izzie]

Izzie loves to play, so even though she is generally good when she is called, if there is a dog to play with she will generally ignore us :/ Although where I live everyone seems to put their dogs on their lead if they are aggressive, I agree that it should be the owners responsibility & that if they could be of danger to any other dogs then they should be muzzled (for their own dogs sake as well-dogs can be put down for attacking others if it's bad), so a muzzle benefits everyone for unfriendly dogs, my boyfriend once almost had an insident when he took Izzie for a walk as a small pup, a big dog (lurcher I think) was help by a rope by his owner (irresponsible already), wasn't good with other dogs so luke has izzie on her lead and walked past, got a decet distance away and the man shouts 'he's got free!' So Luke is thinking what do I do (he was running to Izzie), he ended up having to pull the lead up and catch Izzie in his arms to protect her, apparently it must have choked her a bit but all she did was lick him (kisses for saving her I reckon), so they should always be muzzled!!

[wellerfeller]

This is what happened to our greyhound when he was attacked by a german shepherd (dog aggressive) The owner normally grabs him when he sees a dog coming!!!!! WELL HE DIDN'T SEE US!!
http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb387/wellerfeller/012.jpg

[Laura(L)Izzie]

It says the image has been removed or deleted, so I can't see the picture :|
But exactly, they should be muzzled for those moments when they don't notice or didn't see :(

[lady amanda]

poor dog!
if you have an aggressive dog...which is sad to begin with as dogs are generally this way because of upbringing... you need to understand your situation and take action to not bring harm to anyone or anything else.

[michaelwatson54]

This is what happened to our greyhound when he was attacked by a german shepherd (dog aggressive) The owner normally grabs him when he sees a dog coming!!!!! WELL HE DIDN'T SEE US!!
http://i1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb387/wellerfeller/012.jpg

Karen we have also been on the end of something similar our Boarder Terrier was lucky as he submitted but the dog then turned on Jeannette who ended up in hospital being stitched up:mad:
I'm afraid there are dog owners who are not in control of their dogs and if you think they will muzzle their dogs then sadly your mistaken:( I would rather recall and walk the other way and keep my dogs safe:)

[Laura(L)Izzie]

Just seen it, that is awful! :( There's no excuse for aggressive dogs, if dogs are bred properly from well tempered parents & brought up in the right way we wouldn't have to worry at all! :|

[wellerfeller]

Karen we have also been on the end of something similar our Boarder Terrier was lucky as he submitted but the dog then turned on Jeannette who ended up in hospital being stitched up:mad:
I'm afraid there are dog owners who are not in control of their dogs and if you think they will muzzle their dogs then sadly your mistaken:( I would rather recall and walk the other way and keep my dogs safe:)
Your poor wife, how frightening for her and you! My hubby was walking him with our 2 year old girl one sun morning and it really scared him as he just said it could so easily have been her it went for. There was no growling or circling or hackles up no anything, the dog just came around the corner and saw our dog and attacked before our dog even knew what was happening, Perry said he tried to run away but it just kept going for a better hold.
Poor Booby was ruined after that, he would leave the park and walk home if any dog larger than a terrier entered the park. Really knocked his confidence:(:(

[Sezra]

Oh Karen that is awful, your poor dog. :( and poor Jeannette! Such horrible experiences for you both. It is one of the things that has worried me about dog walking. :(

[Nadhak]

Karen - your poor greyhound - that must have been very traumatic for you all?
As for walking etiquette - well, Treacle wants to play with every dog she meets and once she is engaged in play recall goes out of the window! So, I pop her on a lead - check with the other dog's owner and let off if in a safe environment.
If other dog snarls at her, she is sensible and walks away!

[ali-s.j.]

We often walk with a friend who has a GSD/Rottie cross - huge and scary looking, soft as butter, most dogs would think twice .....

[strof51]

It's awful to read about dog attacks.
When I'm walking I react to other dog owners. I walk on bridle paths that are well used by other dog walkers, and we know most of the dogs. Some you have to put your dog back on the lead, none of them is aggressive but we do meet timid dogs, grumpy old dogs and dog owners that don't have their dogs under control. I feel it is safer for my two to be on the lead, they are both good at walking to heal but at times the urge to have a sniff at another dog can be too much for them, and some timid or grumpy dog can can be more dangerous than an openly aggressive dog as they my just bite out of fear. Most of the time they run free but I keep an eye out for these dogs or dogs I don't know.
Our favorite walk is on a beach and 99% of the dogs are there to play, a lot less stressfully.

[kendal]

if i see somone put their dog on lead i generaly put mine on lead. or call them in close.

the problem with throwing the ball is that fast movement provokes dogs and the springer could have whipped round after her.

so personaly i would prefer my dogs to pas at my side rather than running past a dodgy on lead dog. also if anything dog hapen it mean you have no right to blame the other owner or their dog because thay had their dog on a lead under controle, it is your dog that caused the problem.


did the guy seem botherd about you letting her run past, what was the dogs reaction.

[colpa110]

Karen, that's horrendous. As you know Betty was almost killed by a GSD
at 12 weeks. I'm quite nervous around big dogs now but don't want
Betty to take on my fear - it's a tricky balance. However Betty shows NO
signs of nervousness around ANY dog - she is fearless - and that's my worry too... OMG , I sound neourtic!

[weez74]

if i see somone put their dog on lead i generaly put mine on lead. or call them in close.

the problem with throwing the ball is that fast movement provokes dogs and the springer could have whipped round after her.

so personaly i would prefer my dogs to pas at my side rather than running past a dodgy on lead dog. also if anything dog hapen it mean you have no right to blame the other owner or their dog because thay had their dog on a lead under controle, it is your dog that caused the problem.


did the guy seem botherd about you letting her run past, what was the dogs reaction.

Hi Kendal. He had grabbed his dog and was almost wrestling her to the ground to get the lead back on her. I thought he was just playing with her and Rosie (who had gone up to say hello). To be absolutely honest, I didn't see any signs of aggression from the dog, which was another reason why I was confused. It's a good point about the ball. Normally I would put Rosie back on her lead if I thought the other dog was aggressive, but my attention was on my kids and it was the first thing I thought to do once I realised that the other owner didn't want Rosie near his dog.

It was all a bit of a weird situation to be honest. As he has been walking towards me, I had seen him, his dog, two other adults and two young kids. The dog was running around amongst them, happily. Then, by the time we got up there and I was distracted by my kids wanting to go and say hello to everyone, I realise that the other adults and the kids weren't actually with him and his dog, and that he was struggling to get the lead back on his dog and to get in between her and Rosie, who had gone running up to them both, wanting to play.

Odd. I don't normally walk the dog with the kids (my 2yr old is a pain to get to walk anywhere) thankfully.