I'm not one for posting topics about people annoying me or doing something stupid but I've just got to get this off my chest ....... I've just come back from the local park having made some attempt to do some recall training on a 25 foot line. All's going terribly well, until my dog sees another dog. Fine, you might say, not to be unexpected in a local park ..... however, this dog is allowed to saunter over to mine, (who by which time is in a frenzy of excitement),  which causes me to practically be pulled off my feet in the process. I'm sorry, but when someone is CLEARLY trying to train their dog on a 25 foot line, wouldn't it be just common sense not to allow their dog to come over and cause chaos. The dog wasn't even called away or anything - not once. I was SO angry, it was all I could do not to swear at them.  Then, after explaining that my dog's recall has recently gone down the pan and I'm TRYING to do my best, he promptly tells me, "oh our last dog did that (escaped out of park onto nearby golf course) and didn't come back for hours, I'm thinking "well why didn't you do your best by her and sort her recall out just as I'm trying to with my dog" .  I am just so incensed with the whole thing. This person is so darn casual about it all (while I'm absolutely fuming inside) and thinks he's done absolutely nothing wrong.  
Is it me, or is a proportion of the worlds population absolutely thick as ....

There, I've finished.  Isn't Champdogs good therapy  :rolleyes:

pfffttt some people Like you I had to retrain the recall and Ive managed to train my pharaoh to recall brilliantly but he still has issues with strange dogs so I duly call him back put him on the lead and then they just let their dogs come over and then they say ooooh its ok hes friendly, and...well....i give up :D

Clair

It's a difficult one though isn't it?  He was totally in the wrong as you were obviously training your dog.  HOwever what is the etiquette if you're out with your dog and see another dog approaching?  Surely we can't be putting the dog on the lead every time?  I like my dog to socialise, I think it's good for her and hope that if someone knew their dog was aggressive they would have them on a lead.  Poj comes most of the time when I call her, but not always and usually not straight away if there's another dog involved so should I have her on the lead all the time just in case? I genuinely don't know what the etiquette is - what does everyone else think?

I think that the general rule is that dogs should not be allowed to go over to other dogs, unless you know the owner and that they don't mind. If your dog is not reliable enough to be sure, then he/she should be put on the lead. My younger dog does NOT like dogs jumping over her and will 'tell them off'. Although it can be good for a puppy to learn it's manners from an older dog, it may not be what every owner wants :(

Daisy

In addition to the above, a 'telling off' from a dog much larger and more aggressive than yours can be dangerous, your dog could be injured or really traumatised.  Not all dogs have good bite inhibition and this could prove really costly ;)

Also, not all dogs like to play with other dogs :) I, also, do not appreciate enthusiastic, dirty, puppies jumping up at me either :)

Daisy

Going to cause some upset here but I really don't think it's very feasible (and practical) to call your dog to you and put the lead on him/her and then ask the other person if they're dog is 'friendly' whenever you see an approaching dog. Walks with your dog are meant to be fun and enjoyable. If I put Peps on a lead everytime another dog approached, I (and he probably) would be a nervous wreck! The whole point of a walk with your dog (IMO) is that Peps can interact with other dogs and play and have fun and generally let off steam. There are so many dogs where I walk that it would be nigh impossible. I think it's a personal call though and how you feel your own dog is. If I see another dog on a lead then yes, I would call Pepper and put him on a lead, or walk in another direction just incase the other dog was a bit aggressive and prone to attack. Otherwise I let Pepper get on with it and run up to the dog and see them introduce themselves and play. I always keep an eye on them though, just in case.

Don't worry, chillipepper, you're not alone.

Thanks Jeangenie, I thought I'd get my head bitten off so was ducking!!

It's probably only you and me, so we'd best stayed ducked! ;) :D

I'll join you in the duck pond, I pretty much run along the same lines :)

I agree with you aswell chilipepper. Walks should be fun and carefree,not a tactical mission where the opposition gets gunned down if they get in your territory :p ;)

room for an armless one in the duckpond? ;)

*budges over to make room* :)

room for another one in the pond? warning, brings GR adolescent with her :-D

*shifts over*

I'd join you in the pond but I'd be bringing a Newfie and she'd probably try to 'rescue' the rest of you so I'll just lurk by the edge in quiet solidarity :)

Maybe we should just move to one of those empty reservoirs - lots of room there :p

I find it interesting that in the City centre the dogs belonging to the homeless are the most chilled out canines I qahve ever met.

Nope same, here.  My breed are not renowned for their instant response to commands, but having been well socialised and being well mannered in canine terms this doesn't cause a problem.

Im not saying everyone should put their dogs on a lead when another approaches but when someone is trying to train their dogs or has obviously put their dog on the lead upon approach its common sense to call your dog back and not let it start annoying the other person/dog.

"I think that the general rule is that dogs should not be allowed to go over to other dogs"

whose rule is that then ? - sorry but a park is a public place where you are bound to meet other dogs off lead, why not do your training in  a less public place ?.

Yvonne

Frustratingly, part of training a good recall has to be done in a public place like a park - it's the only way you can really proof against all the distractions the dog is going to have to recall from.  It's easier if you have doggy friends that can be walked around as you ask (i.e. take away the unpredictable strange dog problem) but that often isn't an option.

I don't let my own dogs approach strange dogs - they go straight on the lead unless I know there's enough distance between us and the other dog that they'll just walk by - but I always give them a treat, and ask the other owner if their dog is friendly.

Well no appologies from me :P
Sorry to break up the Mutual appreciation society... but the on Topic request is not unreasonable. Lets not put any more stress on the poor Mods pockets (the amount of padlocks they've been having to carry around recently ;) ) By having the same arguement thats been rehashed alot lately. ;)
*stiffles a yawn* :D :P

Different subject but owners can be ignorant in all aspects of dog walking. one day a dog stole my dogs ball and i had to stand for 20 mins whilst the owner tried to get the ball back- however, he wasnt that bothered and  kept playing football with  the kids whilst his dog ran in circles with my ball. in the end one of the kids got a tasty bone from the car and managed to get my ball back and the man didnt even apologise! oh yes, i felt like saying, i enjoy spending 20 mins standing around whilst your dog plays with my ball! i learnt my lesson and when i see that dog the ball gets put away! he was not only ignorant but had no controll over his dog whatsover.

The issue I had here was that my dog was on a long line, clearly being trained. In the far corner of the park away from both entrances. This person, who could clearly see me from the moment he entered the park, took the decision to walk towards me before his dog approached and NOT call his dog when it was clearly causing problems. 

By the way, I'm not usually one for biting heads off ..... being a bit disappointed in people, yes, but biting heads off, no.

It is disappointing when you set out to do something and things get in the way of achieving it but dogs and humans are not perfect :) and things like this happen.  Rather than get upset about it I would be inclined to take a break, let you and your dog enjoy a little social interaction and knuckle down when they move on.  Better for the blood pressure ;) If you don't attempt a recall when it is impossible your progress should not be too interrupted. I've always bumbled on in this fashion and achieved a reasonable success and if I can anyone can :)  If it's competition standard you are aiming for, as others suggested you are probably best sticking to private areas to practice.

I would love to let my dog go over to others but in reality too many owners are fearful of a large dog and assume that his approach/attempts to play are going to be unpleasant, and if he has a bark then god help us!!! I find it easier to not bother and take a different path. If I see a nice big playful dog then I let them meet. It works for me.I have found I  have to be able to adapt to the conditions around me. Quite ofton people let their dog come over to mine and i struggle to hold on to him as he thinks its playtime, so i normally let him go and play, then the other dog changes its mind, runs back to owner, pursued by mine, all end up at owners feet, and they look at me as if i am the criminal?  hey, i have  a thick skin now

This has all been said before. Dogs are not programable and if your in apark, you will meet and that's it. If you do not want, then the garden or somewhere more private is where you should be after all it's a public amenity and if no-one is hurt or causing criminal damage, you have no more rights than your brother.

There are different views and there is no right or wrong, just different.  My dog does not approach other dogs usually and if she looks interested in another dog I can call her away by changing direction.  However, if a dog runs up to her she does not like it and once they are recalled she will chase and nip. If the dog is still a distance away I will put my dog on the lead but sometimes the other dog will have reached a point where my dog will focus on it rather than me.  So, if you are happy for your dog to be chased and nipped by my dog then I am happy for your dog to approach mine.

There was always great benifits in having ex-racing Greyhounds.....try nipping that!

OK, let's just call it a day with this one ...... I came back angry last night and thought I'd feel better after expressing my frustration with some kindred spirits. Obviously I was in the wrong and have resurrected a topic that is rather old news.

Champdogs is great in so many ways, but I must admit that I have noticed lately that a lot of new posts are seen as an opportunity to criticise and threads become more and more contentious. Can't we all stay just a bit more positive and appreciate sometimes all people want to do is let of a bit of steam and that's all.  Opinion's are fine, and we all have our own, but obviously this is all been said before.

Don't feel 'got at' :), it isn't personally aimed at you loanerwhelk.  Some people feel strongly that their dogs should be allowed to mix freely and others that they should wait to be invited.  I would like my 12 month dog to be allowed to mix freely but I will always put him back on lead if I feel the situation warrants it, ie if he is being a nuisance or someone else has their dog on lead.  Just courtesy really, trying to put yourself in the other person's place.  Some people don't have a clue but I think it was Isabel who suggested you might have been better to just let the dogs meet and greet, chat to the other owner for a short while and then continue training when he and his dog had moved away.  In a public area like a park, I think you are going to have to expect training interruptions like this. :)

When we were rehabbing Sheba, I've lost count of the number of dogs that had a nip because they invaded her space.

All dog walkers and dogs will not fall into the 'friendly group' for an endless amount of reasons. 

But personally I think it's rude to let one's dog interrupt another owners and dog's training time whether it's in a public place or not. 

You know, when i was a kid (YAWN lol) dogs and people went to parks etc and all the dogs gambolled together, i well remember this. never any worry of a kid being bitten, coz there were usually lots of us, and the dogs came from families anyway. Young and old, made no difference. The dog would come back after a couple of calls, and a sniff, not drop dead obediant, but they always came back....eventually lol, same as the kids....see this round here too, a lot of people walk their dogs on a huge stretch of common land, its a bit of a social gathering, and does puppies/young dogs no end of good to be with all sizes and sorts (peds and mongs) If a bit of grumbling goes on, its soon sorted by a firm 'pack it in' and the dogs are off lead. Guess its just a lucky place! Shame that a lot of people have, because of the media and 'bad press' become afraid to let their dogs off to do what comes natural without being afraid that a fight may take place, dogs dont seem to learn to play these days.

You and I grew up in more relaxed days, calmstorm, when people were more tolerant and didn't demand perfection.

we have in place nowadays so many silly little unwritten rules, which actually creates worse behaviour in dogs & people- we didnt have these rules 10 years ago. i went to the czech rep. and dogs there are left off lead in the parks whilst their owners are near- and they get on great and are obediant, its what uk used to be like.

rules create problems- common sense gets ignored!

That's so very true. Travel to mainland Europe, where they're (generally) less paranoid about dogs - whether it's because of hygeine or safety fears - and you see more happy, relaxed dogs and owners than here.

My sister lives in Greece and whenever she goes out with her dog on a lead, all her Greek friends let him off as they just don't like to see dogs on leads! :)

Sorry to butt in but I walk my dog in public places and get very cross when people have their dog off lead and let them just come up to us. Yes they are public places but surely I have every right to walk my dog without others dogs coming up to us.

The people often say 'it's ok they love other dogs' well what if mine doesn't? if my dog then nipped their dog what would they say then? as it happens my dog wouldn't nip another (AFAIK) but she is quite small and is not keen on bigger dogs running up to her.

I walk her on a lead and let her off in the park but only if there are no other dogs.

Remember 'public places' are just that - public. Everyone has equal rights. There's no such thing as 'personal space' in public places. Your personal space is your own property; the rest is shared.

Yes -  but why aren't our dogs entitled to the same 'space' that you or I would expect when in public - we don't expect people to come up that close. What you are suggesting is that a dog is fair game to all, if walking in a public space ?? So if my dog doesn't like other dogs bouncing all over her, I should keep her at home ?

Daisy

>we don't expect people to come up that close.

You've never travelled on a bus or the underground in rush hour, then? No such thing as 'personal space'.

:D :D

I thought that we were talking about parks - 'open spaces'

I'm getting very puzzled and slightly upset here :( New owners of young dogs are frequently told on here that, if their dog's recall isn't reliable, they should keep it on the lead until it is reliable - why ???? Because they are now being told that it is OK to let your dog run wherever it likes BECAUSE it's a public space. I have always taken the attitude not to let my dogs be a nuisance to others - if they are, it's my fault. Why should I bother in future ????

Daisy - now wondering what responsibilty means :(

No, we're talking about public places - they may well be open spaces, but they're shared space not personal space.

New owners of dogs are frequently advised on here to let their dog off the lead in a secure place as soon as possible, preferably the very first walk after they've completed their jabs. Very young puppies want to stay close to safety (their owner) so getting good recall isn't difficult; it's older, bolder pups who want to explore and go deaf.

I'm not sure if it is the same people though, Daisy :)  I certainly have my puppies off their leads as soon as they are out and about and just deal with things as they occur.  I'm sure once or twice during their teenage they don't do exactly as I wished ;) but they have never come to a sticky end nor have I ever had a dog that would do any harm to another by virtue of it's nature or size.

> I'm not sure if it is the same people though, Daisy

That's the whole problem, Isabel :) Advise on here isn't consistent :( I don't like puppies (particularly lab puppies :D ) charging over to me, nearly knocking me over and jumping up, covering me in mud. I would not let my dogs do it. Unfortunately, I feel guilty if a dog jumps all over mine and she tells it off - perhaps I shouldn't in future and should tell the owner that it is a public space and their dog has no rights there :( I don't think so - I shall stick to being considerate I think :(

I've had a long, tiring day visiting my mother - got home just in time to see the Beckhams air display virtually over my garden. Tara wouldn't go into the garden o do a wee because of the noise overhead. Now I'm going to bed before I get even more annoyed :D

Daisy

Daisy

Only a one man web site could ever be consistant ;)