There is a couple who live near us who have a great dane and a spaniel.  Both are very well behaved - much better than mine are.

My question is that the other night the great dane got free from the woman and came over to my two dogs - now I have an akita and a lab both bitches and neither have had their op (the great dane is male)  - The GD was very interested in my akita, although my lab was going mental (she gets over protective - hence why I do not let either off the lead if there is a chance of any other dogs being around)  Both my akita and the GD were making very cautious warning growls - now fortunately nothing happened but the lady's comment was "Sorry I had to let go of the lead as I cannot hold him when he pulls"  - so basically saying when the dog gets his head he's off.

Now nothing has happened and as I have said the two dogs are lovely (and I am only concerned because if my akita felt cornered I wouldn't like to say what the damage could have been) and this is the second time that I have had to come between them.

So what do you all think as my view is that you shouldn't be walking a dog that you cannot control and hold onto (but I am not sure if I am being overly righteous :))

Might be worth suggesting a head collar for the Dane so making it much easier for the lady to control him.  Point out that he could get into trouble one day when he pulls free, end up causing an accident or upsetting an unfriendly dog etc, all ending in repercussions for her.

Anyone who does not have physical control over a dog - ideally through training and physical strength when all else fails - should not be taking the dog out.

I'd advise you to suggest the owner invests in a head collar for the Dane.  Personally I like the Dogmatic and it was initially designed with Dobes and Danes in mind to assist owners' control but there are several threads on here with various recommendations on alternative makes.

It was fortunate that your girl didn't "kick off" at this unruly behaviour from the other dog as it could well have ended in a bloody battle that was not of your own making and could have caused you to be injured too :(

HTH, Teri :)
  

difficult one......... I guess, if you know that your dog is strong, then you should use a suitable head collar or harness. At the end of the day, if your dog is not good enough to be let off the lead and at least leave when told, you should use something you know you have complete control with.

I have large dogs (rotts) they stay on 8m extendable leads, esp when we may see other dogs. If we do, it's easier for me to walk another way than to try control all of them!! However, when we go to shows, or to places where there are other dogs, children, cars etc, I use a halti. I don't like them, but I realise that they enable me to keep hold of my dog in a potentially difficult situation.

6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

GD owner should have more control.........but what control do you have if your dog "kicks off" when another dog approaches?

i've never actually seen the point of owning a dog that you can't physically manage to keep under some sort of control on a lead - still remember the teeny weeny woman whose newfie used to literally drag her around the village hall during training. however, i also tend to think some of these "slipped the lead" incidents are down to "can't be bovvered" be that about training or using a headcollar that makes it possible to hold onto a large dog safely.

My Akita has never "kicked off" at another dog and I do have control over her!  But I am not going to force my dogs to back off when they are on the lead when a dog not on the lead is confronting them as this is more than likely going to cause problems.

I can easily control my dogs physically.

jwilson most dogs do not like their space invaded when on leads, just as we feel uncomfortable crowded on a tube or lift where there is no escape.

As for the GD, if you cannot control it, don't own it!

I agree you are correct and a fight resorting because of this would be the woman's fault. I've seen a couple of people dragged over by assertive young labs, so a GD would have had them flying. To be honest most larger dogs can pull an owner over if they wished, so although a true statement probably not a fair one as there would be no big or stocky dogs around. Until they are well trained and mature, good secure walking equipment is needed and perhaps two walkers instead of one to help with any potential get away's.

I'd walk my horses out on a piece of string round their necks before I tried walking Willis on a collar and lead The horses have more manners LOL

If I walk round the houses where there are cats I use the headcollar as I cant hold him otherwise. if im in the park or the woods I can see other dogs and have time to call him back if need be so he doesnt wear it. Its still a nuisance if other dogs tear over to him when im trying to hold him on the lead, I wanted a big dog and now I'm paying the price!!
I accept that anything my dogs does off lead is my responsibility.

ive walked my bruce (lab) on a halti since he was about 6 months old mainly because he is so big that if there is something he wants he will drag me to get to it, to give you an idea on bruces size on his last weigh in he weighed 41 kilos! but he is not over weight he is just solid :) when i walk all four dogs they are walked on haltis due to the total weight of my dogs over 100 kilo! i dont want to take any chances :)

tanya

If the lady cannot hold onto her dog then she shouldn't be walking it, or like have already been said use a different training collar... One day her dog will have a pull and the other dog may not be as tollerant and a tragic out come could have been prevented :( Just because her dog is friendly doesn't mean the other is, or maybe just that day it may not like the dog it approaches and just never know.

I used a halti on Taz 158-162 pounds it worked wonders, needless to say with age he got slower and prefered to walk just beside us. He loved kids and other animals and would pull just to have a play but most people were scared of him :( just a big huge teddy bear :) Funny as he got older you could not put a leash onto his collar because he would not walk you had to have the halti on :D

Our male Weimaraner is a very big boy and solid muscle.  He walks to heel perfectly even off a lead, but I still use a headcollar on him.  I know that if he did decide to take off there would be no way I could hold on to him.  He has never shown any intention of behaving badly on the lead, but with large dogs I would say better safe than sorry - talk to your neighbour and perhaps say how worried you would be if it was your dog and you were near a road when you had to let go of the lead -  she may well end up with a dead dog on her hands (sorry to be brutal!).