Hello!!

I've had another disappointing walk, every morning I go to the field hoping that there arent any other dogs there so Ronnie and rosie can go off the lead but alas again there were and they were all off lead so again we were all dissappointed.
I would love to be able to walk them both off the lead in the park but if they see another dog they want to go and play and not everyone appreciates the fact (especially seeing as they are Staffys)
They will come back when called but only once they have said hello to their " new friend".
Its really disappointing because they are very dog friendly and would love to play but I have to keep them on a leash.

Do you think I should directly approach the other dog owners and see if they mind my dog being off the lead?
Rather than having our own walk spoilt.

I must add the only reason they are kept on a lead is that they are very playful and I wouldnt like them to run up to another dog as some people hate this.

Hope this makes sense?? :)

if i was out & you approached me with your staffys on the lead & asked me if it was ok if they all had a play ,id be thrilled to say yes! if two staffies i didnt know charged up to my dogs (after my bad experinces :( ) even if they were friendly!!!! id probaley have a heart attack & youd have to stop your walk & talk me to casulty.

then the next day if id see you & i knew your dogs were fine id be happy for them to come over by themselves.

i met some really nice friendly lovely staffs at crufts, :) trying to get over my fear!!!!!!

I'd have no problem with you approaching me. Plus my boys love a pal or two to play with. :D

Anne

I very rarely meet anyone on our walks, but on the rare occasions that I do, there have been a few who have asked if its ok for their dogs to be let off lead for a play, and have always resulted in good playtimes.  I have found that the people who ask, actually know their dogs and have found that these are the best playtimes. I must admit I never walk my dogs on lead, all but one is 100% on recall now, and if another dog is running off lead, the owner tends to call him as seeing my 5 pack they are the wary one.  I usually tend to shout over, if there dog is ok to be off lead just leave him off, they can then make the decision. Ramble over

Blondiflops, there is no harm in asking, but remember, if someone says no, it may not be because they are wary of Staffies, it may be just that they know their own dog may not be a suitable playmate. So dont be disheartened.

Kay

Thanks everyone, I think Im becoming slightly paranoid about the whole Staffy complex thing. They are such friendly dogs and when I see everyone else in the park having a chat and letting there dogs play I feel abit left out. People tend to keep a distance so I try and walk right past them so that can see that my dogs are nice although alot of people tend to walk in the other direction :(

I'll give it a try tomorrow morning and see how I get on!!!

Thanks! :)

wish you lived near me! we could help each other!!!!! :)

I would be more then happy to say yes :)

Saying that I like staffies, walkd past their ring on thursday and half of them jumped up for some fuss.

One at ringcraft, once his behaved and stood while I've gone over him and his moved I always encourage him to play and give me kisses, owner doesn't seem to mind....yup smudge is very viscous.... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm exactly the same with my 2 staffies.
Raffie loves any other dog and would happily bound up to them and play for hours.
Hollie is fine with every other dog except for other Staffies Obviously she is fine with Raff and Barney (next doors staff) but she's awful with strange staffies, even puppies. No idea why.
So I always have her on a lead unless I'm 100% certain there are no other staffs about.

My staff is fine unless he gets jumped on by other dogs or being sniffed too much by them. If I see another dog with a ball in his mouth, especailly another staff, I put mine on the lead as I know that they are very protective of toys. I think the problem is that he is my partners dog and he only got him a couple of years ago and I don't think he had much interaction with other dogs so he is a little wary of them. The dogs he knows are fine but as he is getting older, he doesn't want to run off and play with them, he would rather sit by their owners ankles and get attention.

Hi Blondiflops - I think you're being very responsible and considerate in not assuming that all dog owners would be happy with the situation you describe.
My two are always walked on the lead because they're small and one of them has a fear of loose dogs especially those that are larger than himself.  So the image of a couple of unknown dogs running towards mine would be a nightmare situation for all of us.

So I think you'd be doing the absolute right thing to ask the people you see whether they mind your dogs playing with theirs.  I'm sure the majority would have no problem with it at all :)

As a fellow Staff owner I understand your reticence, yours is like mine just wants to play and run around.
Do ask the other owners I'm sure they will be fine. We let Giorgia off the lead all the time even around other dogs and she goes up to them to play , she doesnt jump on them though . We make sure that we are right up with her even if we have to sprint to get there and we
say to the owner she just wants to play is that ok?. They can see that for themselves from the wobbling of her bum and the frantic wagging of the tail and we havent havent had one yet who has been 'funny' or demanded that we put Giorgia on the lead.

I'll have to give it a go tomorrow morning! HAve to get over the old shyness and ask if I can play hee hee!

Ronnie and Rose will love it if they can play with all the other dogs!!

I'll let you know how I get on tomorrow :)

blondiflops, I tend to get more worried when I see dog on a lead as I wonder why it is on a lead + keep my dog away unless the owner says its ok for them to play - so maybe other owners think there is something to fear becuase you do not let them off.  Until I had 100% recall (well maybe 90%!) I used to put my staff on her lead when I saw a dog I did not know and one woman in the park told me she used to put hers on the lead when she saw me doing it because she thought there was a problem with my dog.  anyway the moral of this story is talk to people and they will probably be really glad to let your dogs play as there is nothing more joyous than watching dogs play together and have a great time.

Ask the worst they can say is no and at best you have new friends and your dogs will have lots of play.
Mary

Blindflops what area are you in? 

Great idea about asking people I wish more people would do this.

I  live in Sidcup in Kent.

I know my dogs woldnt be agressive but its better to be safe than sorry eh! Rosie ran up to a lab a few months ago and got a bite on the nose so it made me realise that I have to be more respoinsible when walking them.

Oh God I wish there were more people like you about!!!

It drives me mad when other dogs, regardless of breed, come charging in and cause chaos. I think it is a great idea to ask first, it'll get you off to a good start with the owners and then they will be able to play in the future. It will also do great things for the reputation of staffs and their owners, which, let's face it, isn't exactly positive at the moment. {There are a few who spoil it. }

Good luck, let us know how it goes.

Claire :-)

Well I did it!!!

There were a couple in the park with a Rotty and a GSD, I went over and said

" Good Morning do you mind if I let my dogs off the lead they are very firendly and would love to have a play with your's if you think its ok"

The lady was really nice and said it was nice of me for asking,she was alittle nervous of Staffys though so we let them all have a sniff on the lead and then let them all play together!! Seeing Rosie who is the size of a large guinea pig chasing around this huge Rotty was hilarious!

We let them play for a few minutes and then we carried on our walk!!
Im so pleased!
Thanks everyone for your advice Im so pleased that it worked out!! Hoorah!!!I'll have to start introducing myself to all the 6am dog walkers now!

Good for you! And hopefully it will have the additional benefit of you making some nice new friends :D

brilliant! i think youll do alot of good in promoting the staffys as a friendly breed! :)
now all i need is the same to happen to me a few times here!!!!

Blondiflops where are you ? :)

Im here Im here!!!

I live in Sidcup in Kent, Is there anyone near me??

Im actually going up North on Saturday to meet a another Champ dogger we're off to a Show Staffie show on Sunday!

I love having doggy friends more than me doggies!!! :D

thats miles away from me but I will be at the dog show you mentioned so come and say hello (Sarah is going isnt she) :)

You can meet my crazy two ;)

Oh do you know Sarah?? She's lovely I'm staying with her.

I'll look forward to meeting you and your babies!!!

Oh Im evening MORE excited now!!!!! :D :D :D

Lel,

Don't want to worry you but just be careful *out there* ............. I've been giving it a lot of thought and I don't think "Blondiflops" is her REAL name :rolleyes:

This board's spooky    

Teri :P

ps.  Can you be sure she REALLY knows Sarah?????  aaaah, see, can't be too careful ;)

Oh sorry thats my weekend alias!!!

Im Lisa! :D

"Weekends" only? - The plot thickens  :D

Te - no, not telling you my name ..... they'll come looking for me :P

Oh you!! Iam staying with Sarah, Im sure she will be here this afternoon to back me up!!!

Thats if she is a sarah.....we've never actually spoken in the *Real World*

:)

Only Joking Sarah don't make me sleep in the crate!

lol :D :D

Im not a weirdo !! Honest!!!! :D

We only have your word  for it .......

signed, annon :D

Teri you sense of humour is good for the board I think ;-)

Hi Blue,

I think it comes with owning (or rather being ownbed by ;) ) Belgians!  Either that or it's psychosis .....

Teri :P

yesterday morning my Husband was out with Giorgia and she had already played with a fifteen yr old lurcher called Pip who came bounding over to her (not the the other way around) with his owner about 10 mins behind and then a two year old terrier, when a woman came up with her dog and asked if Giorgia was ok. By this she meant nasty or not!  My Husband was really offended because she made a point of coming up to him when the area they were in was big enough for both of the dogs to run off the lead and never see each other if she was that concerned. He politely told her that she loves dogs and is very gentle. To be honest you can tell that just by looking at her body language because the minute she sees another dog the tail and bum go up in the air and wag so hard I sometimes think it will fall off.
Then the woman just walked off with her dog and kept her distance. Dont see the point in that myself, just wound my Husband up for the sake of it

I can understand this type of prejudice, I used to get it with my boxer, especially from the dog trainer. It used to really sadden me that people would judge before meeting him.

I can understand your husband being annoyed.

The thing with my dogs is that I could take them to the other side of the park but if they see another dog they will run the WHOLE! park to get to see them...which is a pain!
So I have to go and see the dogs first and then once they have all had a sniff my two will lose interest!

I remember having to do that with Bradley, but boy did it cure my saggy bottom.

I can't say its done mine much good!!! Its still as jelly like as ever and growing from strength to strength

Fat bottom girls!! well thats me!