I have two labradors aged 2 1/2 years.  They are exercised regularly and mix well with most dogs we come into contact with.  Both have been to training classes and have done really well.  There is one major problem - when they see another dog or dogs all the training goes out of the window.  They want to run and play with the other dogs.    Recently we have bumped into other dog owners with their dogs on the lead.  On two occasions I have not noticed other dog owners approaching with their dogs, so haven't had time to get mine on the leads.  I  tried to stop them jumping and sniffing at the other dogs but trying to grab two excitable dogs is more or less impossible.  The dogs on the leads did most of the growling and biting but because mine were off their leads I was accused of having the vicious dogs.  I don't think any of the dogs were  vicious but I understand dogs on leads and other off the leads don't always get on.  I have apologised and made sure no harm or damage had been done to the other dogs or even mine but the male owners have got very rude and threatening.  If I owned two vicious dogs then I wouldn't let them off at all.  Other walkers have assured me I own to great softies and to ignore these people - I am now no edge and don't enjoy walking the dogs, I am always looking over my shoulder.  Does anyone else have this problem and if so what do you do?

It is YOUR responsibility to keep YOUR dogs under control and NOT to interfere with others.  Everyone has a right to walk undisturbed and unmolested by other people, children and dogs.

If the positions were reversed how would you feel?

The dogs on the lead are restrained for a purpose:

the owners would like to extend the same good manners to others they would expect from others
the owners only want their dogs to interact with others on the owners terms
the owners may have convalescing/invalid dogs
the owners may have rescue dogs they are rehabilitating
the owners may have dogs that are anti social and are kept on a lead to prevent injnury to yours

It matters little why others choose to have theirs on leads and "he only wants to play" is the bane of a lot of dog walkers lives when a) it is generally used as an excuse for bad manners or poor control and b) when they are trying their best to keep their dogs out of trouble etc.

You say your dogs have done really well in training classes well that is all fine and dandy but until and unless they "do really well" outside they are obviously not adequately trained as it "goes out the window", ergo they are not "trained". 

Suppose the dogs they wanted to play with were on the other side of a busy road?

I am sure many other people do not enjoy walking their dogs as much either if they are going to be bothered by two out of control dogs...............

obviously occasionally the odd slip up happens but when it is a daily occurrence it can get more than a little wearing to some of us.........

Gulp :(

sorry, I know this may appear a bit OTT but it really gets my goat

NO NO I agree but you just scared me a bit LOL :)

I am going to agree with tohme for once here. It makes me livid when people allow their dogs offlead and they have NO control of them!

If you cant control your dogs keep them on a lead.  People like you give dog owners a bad name.

Guest
keep your dogs on a lead as much for their own safety as for anything else.How do you know when they go bounding up to another dog that its friendly?? It would be your fault if they got hurt...not the fault of the owner of the other dog who was on a lead.
You are being irresponsible and ignorant towards other people and their animals.
Archer

Only yesterday I rescued my neighbours whippet and stopped her running into the road. She was in the field, on lead, but was being pestered by a young, out of control, lab. She slipped her collar and charged for home - I saw this from my window and caught her as she ran past my front door. She is 8 and has terminal cancer :( The owners of the pup made no attempt to stop their lab from approaching this obviously, ill dog :(

Daisy

....and would you believe some people (& even dog owners) are actually scared of other dogs bounding towards them & will do anything to protect themselves?

shame though - I do love to see lots of dogs playing together - when I lived in Essex I used to walk my lot in the local country park and a whole big group of us would let our dogs off to have a good run around and game together. Sometimes there would be around 15 dogs of all different breeds,shapes and sizes - it was fantastic for socializing youngsters and we rarely had any problems. My belgians just LOVED the border collies because they were so fast ( like them) and we had a couple of big bouncy young labs, loads of Staffy's ( it was Essex after all !), bassets, standard poodles, Bichons, GSD's and Heinz 57 varieties ! I think it is so sad to see owners shooing other dogs away although I can understand that it can be annoying if your dog does not get on with others.

Yvonne

My dogs like running around with groups of other dogs too and this is fine but it is on MY terms, with all the other owners consent and with dogs that are well socialised and trained.

Guest, if you walk your dogs then walk them ON their leads. Its fine to let them have a bit of a free run on fields only if their recall is good, but never walk them without leads PLEASE. I have two dogs and I for one and scared stiff and very annoyed when I see dogs off lead. I dont care how much the owners say their dogs are friendly, I'm scared for myself and my dogs and I know my bc x would retalliate or even kick off first, even though she would be on her lead.

I think the best thing Guest, may be if you set up some training situations with your dogs. Best to train them separately though to start or it will be much more difficult. If necessary you can take them both out together, but tie one up where you can keep an eye on it.

The reason they are fine at training butnot outside may be just because they have never really been trained outside as you woud want. I would practise recall away from other dogs, but start when your labs have nearly finished playing and are "ready" to come back, as that way you will be successful. Reward them with treats that they really love and lots of praise heaped on them.

Also get them used to a release word and maybe Sit before they are let off the lead.....try to get them into the habit of checking in with you before they go racing off. It will take some time but you should then be in a position to have them off lead but to also assess oncoming owners and dogs and to have yours under control if necessary :)

Hth a bit, why not join the forum if you feel you need some more advice? :)

Lindsay
X

I agree with Lindsay. I would take them out one at a time and use a very long training lead tasty treats and practise your recall over and over again whwn you do feel confident to take them both out , have a friend with you

walk your dogs on the lead guest at all times.untill you teach the recall at all times any way.