Having read with interest over the last few days the posts on 'Dog has nipped a child' I went to puppy classes last night and this subject arose. One of the trainers also works for the police in victim support and told us two very scary stories:

The first involved an owner out walking her lab (on lead). Passer-by approached but the dog did not approach as it had been taught not to. The passer-by asked the owner if she could make friends as she's had a lab for years that had recently passed away. When the dog approached the woman he jumped up and knocked her over breaking both her hips. The dog has now been ordered to attend behavioural classes but this was 'after' they discussed him being destroyed!

The second was when a woman out walking her dog (on lead) was approached by another owner with dog running loose. The woman asked the other owner to not let their dog approach and to restrain it. The owner didn't. The woman asked again but the loose dog attacked her own dog and a fight began. The woman dropped dead from a heart attack and the other owner is now on a manslaughter charge.

Two very scary stories I think. Although he lab shouldn't have jumped up I don't feel it can be described as a 'dangerous dog', but oh how the second owner must be regretting not keeping the dog away. Extreme circumstances I know but a sobering thought for everyone.

I get annoyed at some people when they make a point of coming up to your dog or encouranging their dog to come up saying oh my dog is freindly but how do they know yours is or wants to be friendly with the dog/person,another example is we have our dogs running free in in our grounds with a big sign on the gate saying caution dogs running free do not enter ! I was upstairs the other day and heard such a commotion I came down and someone I know had come to collect something came through the gate backed his car in and got out of the car and my dogs were running free the road is busy and Ned my german wire had knocked him flying,I said as politely as I could that the sign was clear enough and maybe he should have knocked before entering even my husband checks the dogs are in the house before attempting to drive his car in.
:(

I agree mattie.
I know that it is nice for people to make friends with a dog, but I find it rather annoying when mothers with a load of young (untrained)kids around her encourage the kids to come up and stroke the dog. The mothers very rarely tell the kids how to make a safe approach so you have a load of kids with outstrecthed hands coming up to the dog and, basically frightening the life out of it. It must be very daunting for them. Then, of course, if the dog backs away or looks remotely defensive, the mother gets all "oh, come on children, the doggy isnt very friendly" !!!!! . For goodness sakes, how unfair is that! It is very annoying to have the dog always catching the blame!

What really annoys me is when my dogs are on leads and others owners whos dogs are not say "it's alright my dog is OK". We often have a group at a time and that forms a pack and that is why they are on leads when out in public places.

when my dode was a year old a little kid ran up behind us and jumped on her back throwing its arms around her neck lucky for me Xzina just looked but the parents thought it was so funny that their brat liked the big "doggie".

My dog was on a lead walking at heel she is good with kids but no dog is 100% especially when being jumped on.

It wasnt until afterwards when i recovered from the shock that i thought of the what ifs.

Personally I think the fault lies with a society that always need to look for someone to blame & thinks that by suing some one, the problem has been solved! :(

Don't get me started on people who let there dogs roam in the parks and have very little control over them. Oh yes the dog may eventually come back to their calling but not before they have made my dogs go nuts! The only reason I don't do it is that people would be scared stiff if my akita came running up to say hello, even though she is the friendliest dog I have known. The lab is the manic one!