On my daily walk this morning I met a lady with a dog who for some reason when it sees my dog runs straight for it and barks at him, showing its teeth. It will run around us in ever decreasing circles.  This has happened several times in the past. I try to avoid them at all costs but today unfortunately we chose the same time to walk.  My dog is dog aggressive and he is at all times on a lead and does not instigate any aggression unless unless a dog makes a run at him.

Anyway, this time the dog came running at us and doing its usual thing. My dog is 14years old now and in poor health, he cannot turn round to see this dog when it is behind him and he fell to the ground. I usually keep my calm but I think the hot weather got to me and I shouted at her that if she cannot call her dog back she should keep it on lead until she can.
She replied, he isn't agressive hes just playing!
I told her that my dog is on lead and doesnt want to play!
She said her dog wont bite, I replied that my dog would and hers would retaliate, or run, and to never underestimated the biting ablity of a dog under stress.
She repied why dont I muzzel my dog!
I said hers was off lead, not under control and I am supposed to muzzel my dog who was just enjoying his walk!!!

This is a shortened version of the  converstation. I am still so angry about the inability of some people to understand all dogs dont want to play!  And its those that don't who in her opinion have no right to walk out in public in case they meet a dog who "just wants to play."  Hers definately did not want to play with mine, it was teasing him, and goading him, as he knew mine could not retaliate as he was on lead.
Sorry for this rant, I feel a little calmer now

I understand where you're coming from.  My dog generally doesn't like other dogs.  She does have off-lead runs when other dogs are not around and if we see one she will not actively seek the other dog and I will put her on the lead because other dogs will seek interaction with her.

At the weekend though we decided to walk around our municipal lakes and so we put her on a lead and an off-lead smooth collie went for her for no reason whatsoever.  So pees me off because all the praise that's lavished on her for not reacting to other dogs gets put back no end.  She actually didn't react to the collie but I don't know how it might have affected her for next time, negatively, I expect.

Sound awful but I would take out a stick with you to defend your dog, it would soon make the owner think twice, you are doing nothing wrong.  One of mine cant read other dogs body language too well and can be a sod to get back if its a bitch so I put him on a lead when I see other dogs that I dont know, he has been attacked so many times on lead I have lost count.  If im wearing my wellies the attacking dog will get a good kick but usually im out running and shorts and trainers dont give enough protection (although the last time he was attacked I had no choice but to kick the dog in the head with my trainers because it wouldnt let go of him :(  ) because of this my other dog is petrified of walking in some places and will give other dogs such a wide berth he ends up climbing through bushes to get away from them incase they bite him, which is sad because he is such a playful fun dog. 

And no I dont live in a city, I live in a little village and this all occurs on countryside footpaths the main culprits being out of control labradors :(

Sound awful but I would take out a stick with you to defend your dog

We have a walking stick we takewith us, well I say walking stick, its more like a big branch reserved for certain purposes if needed!

> Sound awful but I would take out a stick with you to defend your dog, it would soon make the owner think twice, you are doing nothing wrong.

That doesn't sound awfull atall.

My old dog is over 14yrs, he's deaf, going blind and a bit dodery on his legs, I would not hesitate to physically defend the poor old thing, (or my young dog for that matter).

OP, you are not in the wrong atall. It is so frustrating how stupid, irresponsible, IDIOTS think they have the right to allow thier dogs free access to pester other dogs - it makes my blood boil...GRRRRRR....

I would take something to protect him as well.

And I speak as someone who has those annoying dogs - yesterday Soli took it upon herself to charge aggressively at a JRT while offlead, hackles, teeth, the lot.  I know she will never touch another dog (it's all fear and she is too scared of physical contact to try - if they retaliate she runs away) but they don't know that.  Unfortunately not only did she do that, but my other 3 thought it looked fun and ran over as well.  The poor JRT was scared witless and got snappy (fair enough), I apologised profusely but the owner was (weirdly) ok about it and walked off.

If she had got out a huge stick and whacked Soli damn hard with it (or used a dog alarm or one of those spray-stop things) I would have been quite happy about it - even with the work I've put in to her, sometimes I think she could benefit from having a major consequence from a source other than myself for her behaviour.

I would like to point out at this stage that I did not see the other dog - it was coming round a corner and Soli had gone a little ahead (on a straight path) - she could see it before me.  Usually all dogs go on a lead whenever I see another dog because I know they don't recall well from them (and I walk them in open areas so I can see all round - this happened in the one spot you can't :-().  All dogs are now on-lead for every walk and I have just ordered a recall DVD!

Unfortunately a lot of owners are just unaware - there is one near me with a staff mix youngster who lets it run up to any and every dog.  I've had a few close calls when I first had Soli with that blummin dog, and he really doesn't seem to care.  Personally I was mortified yesterday - but it did remind me not to get complacent about Soli's behaviour (she has been very good lately with other dogs).

My sympathies are with you. I have had this problem when I owned an aggressive dog.

Quite aside from that your dog is elderly and it is rude for a younger dog to behave in this way.

You might ask this person how she would like it if at 80 and unsteady on her feet she was goaded and challenged by a young stranger who kept dancing round her, making faces and taunting her in a loud, shouty voice?

I really think some people are so ignorant of dog behaviour or too lazy to think it through.

Recently I had a young and very rumbunctious entire male Staffy, hackles and tail up, run at top speed towards me and my dog. I immediately put my dog on the lead. he's not aggressive but boys will be boys and both dogs were young entire males. I hoped that by putting mine on lead the other person would call their dog away, but no. In the end I had to shoo the Staffy off. It's owner said  "he's okay, he's only 8 months". I tried to explain that this was the exact age that her dog might find himself disciplined by an older male for being too in your face and it would be better if she could teach her dog to be more controlled in the way it approached other dogs.. I added that we didn't want the dogs to get into challenging each other and could she call hers away? Well, the reply was "no, I can't be expected to control my puppy and stop it running up to other dogs". I tried to explain that she couldn't always know if the other dog was dog friendly and that a dog on a lead is often a major signal to keep other dogs away, for whatever reason. The woman was intractable.

I'm afraid that I got rather cross, so you are not the only one.

I do believe that aside from ignorance a further problem is the sort of owner that knows their dog is likely to come off best in a dust up and so they just don't bother to try to control it.

At 14 years old I bet you are pleased he is still wanting his walks. My old boy did not want to by that age, he was happiest in the garden.
Some people need a thump?

I do believe that aside from ignorance a further problem is the sort of owner that knows their dog is likely to come off best in a dust up and so they just don't bother to try to control it. And they are the scariest ones...

Bilbobaggins,

I wish he would be happy in the garden, but he keeps on pestering untill he goes out for his walk. Its only a short one now, but it is the hi-light of his day. 

Some of you have suggested a stick. I have always  avoided doing this as I am unsure as to how I would stand legally if I were to have to use it to defend him by hitting a dog, (or the owner, sorry I couldn't help saying that after the way I felt this morning). But, seriously, would I be in the wrong if the worst comes to the worst and I was to use it on a dog?

Would you actually be able to use it ?

Our fellah (BC),suddenly got really frail. We would lift him into our car and drive some where. He would take about 20 steps then sit, 20 steps then sit until we got to a spot. We would just sit for half an hour, then the same back to the car.We had not done this for about a month - six weeks he had not wanted to. One day he asked to go out ( we did not know that at the time it was his last), we went to his favourite place it took us about 15 mins to walk a couple of hundred yards, (after our run he always sat or played for a few minutes in this place while I did my stretches). So many people would come by and fuss him.
I miss that boy so much..He was almost 17 when he was PTS health,just frayed around the edges.

if you are protecting your dog I dont see a problem with it.

I know Caesaer Milans methods are controversial, however I was walking a 6month old sweetheart of a rescue puppy who was under medication and we came across 2 recently acquired terrers from rescue one which was trying to fly at the pup. I got in between them quickly, went TOWARDS said terrier with a TSSSSSSST (?) sound, and a calm and very assertive manner, taking charge of the situation really. Keeping my eye on him, and what angle he was going to fly towards pup, I blocked him with my arm out and a TSSSSSST!!! It worked!!! He backed off each time.....he was watching ME!!

The owner then said that MY pup will have to get used to it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I said No! Your dog needs to learn not to attack others and you should be taking control as i just did.

It worked, honestly it really worked!!I made my self big, I was assertive, I was calm and I blocked him, by stepping towards him with action and sound.

Sticks can be really badly used. Try my method. I was shocked at the speed it worked too! I have also used it to block a SharPei male that was trying to mount my Rott all the time....it worked then too!

   

It works on the process that most dogs that attack as a first instinct are bullies. You make yourself bigger and more agressive and move into the attack which means they take a step back and reanylise the stuation, you cease to be a victim.
On a different note when we were in Antartica fur seals are agressive and you rush forward clapping your hands and shouting, if that doesn't work run!!!

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I think I may carry a stick, just so that the owner knows I mean buisness next time I see her.  But I will also try the other advice given, will let you know if it works for me. Thanks again.

It is maddening. There is a lady with three BC's that walks in the woods near me and she appears to have no control over them at all. The other day one of them raced over to us and stood aggressively barking at us. Every time we tried to move it barked even more. I had my 6 yr old with me too. The owner didn't say a word of apology to me and just kept saying "Come on you!" to her dog. No proper recall at all. I'd be mortified if my dog behaved like that.

Report her to the Dog Warden. Find the reg of her car and report her....that is irresponsible dog ownership, and she needs to be taken to task on it.

I would have gone mental. Can you imagine if my Rott behaved like that?? I'd be in court quicker than Torvill and Dean on ice!!

I had an identical problem with my GSD - my solution was to carry a can of compressed air (you can get them at Pets at home for about £5).  No damage done, and no worries from a legal standpoint, but certainly keeps the other dog at bay.

My dogs have been ruined by attacks by aggressive dogs.  Maisie, especially was such an innocent - loving every dog she saw, but now sheknows better.  Unfortunately she has now become snappy with bigger dogs if their owners allow them to run up to us (never biting, just snapping as if to say, "get out of my space").  She never used to be like this.  It's a shame.  |I remember her taking up with a large Brittany Spaniel dog (male) a couple of years ago and they ran together every day, having fun.  However, she's still ok with other Jack Russells.   I never take her to 'doggy parks' now, but to open fields where I have more control over who she sees.  They get to socialise with my friend's dog every week (she walks them while I'm at work).  Yesterday, an unruly staffy* went by pulling on his lead.  Maisie was off hers and she stayed behind my heel, with her head down, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible - she was terrified but still as good as gold.  Billy, on the other hand tries to bark the other dog off so I have to keep him on the lead.  this is what happens to dogs when useless owners with no sense of responsibility allow their dogs to attack yours - if your dog doesn't end up getting killed which is what happened to someone I was talking to a few months ago. 

*  I am not slagging off staffies.  I love them, as I do all dogs, especially terriers.  I would have a staffie if I thought that I was cut out for it, but I'm not.  They are tough little dogs who require an experienced caring owner to bring out the best in them.  Unfortunately, people see them as some sort of status symbol and that is especially true of the area in which we live.  either that, or they end up with stupid, ineffectual people who don't know how to train them. 

Hi i have a jack russell terrier who has been attacked twice during the last 7yrs by irresponsible owners,my poor little dog is now terrified of the large breeds and barks at them when we are out walking. It is such a shame that some owners have no control over there dogs and let them off the leads without proper supervision.

Yes it is a real shame, my girl is the same but is really good with dogs she knows she has allsorts of breeds as friends, she hates dogs charging up to her if she is on the lead, after being attacked several times. I keep them socialising with their friends and they play lovely or just sniff about they are very good with our current foster dog.

What really annoys me is that people, after their big dogs run up to my dog (totally out of their owners control) and Maisie snaps, show their disapproval of my dog!  I always ask people if it is alright for Maisie to go up to their (small dog) and she never goes to the other dog until I tell her it is OK. 

> What really annoys me is that people, after their big dogs run up to my dog (totally out of their owners control) and Maisie snaps, show their disapproval of my dog!

That is something I would never, never do - on the occasions when Soli has done the 'I'm a big scary dog honest guv' thing, I am always apologetic and make sure the other dog (and owner) is okay - I wouldn't dream of doing anything else!

Another thing I would never do is ever have let her off if I thought for a second she would actually attack another dog - but I know she won't as she is just too scared to touch (or be touched) in any way by a dog she doesn't know.  As it is she's still on lead and will be for a while I think!

I've had a lady not too long ago with a golden who came charging over from the other end of the park and i mean some distance with no attempts to recall, my girl on the lead getting defensive as this dog is at full pelt towards us, by then my girl is barking her head off at this dog, owner casually strolling over!! when she finally managed to catch up with her dog, she said "he will usually go away if a dog barks at him" exactly what i am trying to stop my dog doing by helping her over come her fear!! some people :(

my dog is the same as yours she used to be great with other dogs until she was attacked as a pup then she started with fear aggression if anything came near her she would snap and warn them off, after that i took her training with rotties bull mastiffs and gsd and she seemed to get over this and would ignore other dogs if they did not bother her. but two weeks ago i was taking her to the local shop when she was attacked by a rather aggressive staffy which the owner could not control after i dragged it  off her he just walked away not even bothered if i had been hurt or my dog katy. anyway after two complaints to the police they are looking into it

I do hope your girl will be ok, good on you for reporting it :)

>I got in between them quickly, went TOWARDS said terrier with a TSSSSSSST (?) sound, and a calm and very assertive manner, taking charge of the situation really.

I give them the stare, lol, muster up energy, approach them using my body language assertively and very rarely do we get a dog coming for us, usually stop half way, lie down or go back but it's no good if one runs up full pelt and decends on us before we see him/her.  I got growled at once, he got a Pssssstttt and he ran off.  So yes it does work but I do think it requires no conscious or unconscious fear of dogs, especially if their body language is threatening.

I have a 13 year old GSD, he's slowed down and showing his age physically now.  Sticks can cause more problems than they solve IMO.

I give them the stare,

I have one of those for the owner too !

>I give them the stare,

>I have one of those for the owner too !

Lol, :-D No no, can't get sidetracked or lose concentration, deal with the owner later. :-D

i am just letting people know sometimes the police do listen to what you have to say they are going to look into the attack on katy they are sending  our local police team from wigan to take a statement and are going to visit him at his house will let people know the outcome when i know anything

I think some dogs are as stupid as thier owners after all like attracts like . and I am a dog lover but its true .

My dogs I have three, play happily together I have trained them to watch me, they dont bother with other dogs at all and it really annoys me when other peoples dogs come flying over to join in thier game my girls dont even look at them , thier owners carry on walking oblivious that thier dogs are annoying someone , I always shout 'can you call your dog' they usually come out with some stupid comment ' he wont bother them' well I dont care I want your dog <gone> now!

The reason why my girls dont bother with other dogs is plain and simple we play with them we are more important than all the other dogs/people in the park .
There is a group of people who meet in my local park every morning around 6-10 of them all with thier own dogs these people annoy me so much  we try to avoid them like the plague but they have a route so you come accross them wherever you go LOL , thier dogs run up and pinch my dogs balls thier owners to engrossed in conversation to notice ,I asked one person once whose dog is that ? as it had once again taken the ball from my girl , he said 'oh you wont get that back' and laughed then they all carried on talking so I saw my backside and shouted 'get that ball off that dog ' looking at me as if I was the one in the wrong and probably thinking god its only a ball ...but its my ball not thiers same bloke grabbed dog and took ball off it by this time I was fuming ....this happens everyday with this crowd of mainly retired people looking for a natter not really interested in what thier dogs are upto.They consist of  labs ,a few springers , corgi's, weimmeraner, dally ,no staffies .

If a dog was firing at me or my dogs showing aggression or actually attacking my dogs I am afraid a quick tap under the jaw with my foot would send it packing. I would then  report them to the police then consider following them down the road in my car ....on no sorry thats illegal !!!!! thinking out loud again

goldernlady you have hit the nail on the head there.
my three newfs are picked on for standing out of the way of other dog walkers!
The other day my oh and i were walking all three ( on lead ) when a large group of people and dogs came round the corner so we stepped off the path to make room for them to pass and a couple of the smaller dogs ( sorry dont know the breed) came right up them them showing there teeth and growling so i tightened my hand around the lead to stop my boy from defeneing himself.
( Useally he just stands tall and barks back.)
But in the mean time the two little dogs were being called back by there owners to no ettect i might add and as they passed one made a comment about us walking three newfs and taking up to much of the pavement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am sorry to say but my reply cant to printed here!!!!!!!
It just makes me so mad that people assume a large dog is going to attack there baby just because it barked back?

You could always come out on your walks with me! lol  (If I remember correctly, you too live in Witham?)
People with dogs avoid me like the plague, (I have Staffords) then your lovely oldie would be left alone!  :-)

Take a water pistol. It's very effective at dissuading dogs from visiting but doesn't harm them. It will let you protect your dog without harming a stupid puppy or angering a nutball who takes exception to you hitting their dog. It's hard for someone to get too upset about your dog getting some water in its face. :)

That's an excellent idea Lori!  I use the parrots spray bottle in the house for the dogs when they're getting too OTT, but never thought about a water pistol for walks.  Is it possible to get a small one that doesn't leak though??

You could use an empty large"Jif"lemon filled with water-they have a cap & shouldn't leak

I haven't needed one myself as my dogs are fine with any dog approaching and are young and fit. If it's a randy youngster I just clip my lead on them and walk them back to their owner. I'm saving it for when my dogs are old and wobbly. You'll have to test some models for me. :)

Brill.  Jif bottle will be small enough to fit in the pocket too!

I have one fear aggressive Belgian who was attacked as a pup.  He's a lot better than he was but needs his personal space, the rest are fine but unfortunately there are a lot of useless dog owners round here who don't use leads and of course their dogs make a beeline for him!!

Jif bottle it is then! I do think a child's squirt gun might be a little more fun. You could make shooting noises, pchh, pchhh ;-) :-D

My Grandson(he was 3 at this time) and I were walking in the woods by mine. I had a DDB, on the lead. A guy with a young staff was walking towards us. The staff was off the lead,behaving as puppies do.( he was probably about 9 months old) so I called to the man as the staffy was running at 100 miles an hour towards us, could he please put his dog on the lead. No response so I called again. By now the staff was at us. It went straight up to my grandson who was walking by the side of me holding my hand and jumped on him. Again as untrained puppies do. I grabbed my Grandson and more or less throw him to the back of me. As my DDB flew at the staff. Please remember that my dog is on a lead still. He man ran over grabbed his dog it had a harness on and then said I should keep my dog under control. All this happened within seconds. He then just walked off whilst I was left shaking and cuddling my Grandson. I came home and phone a dog behavourist as I thought I had a dangerous dog. I relaid the story and she pointed out that my dog was behaving correctly as she had read the situation and thought the staff was coming for my grandson(which it was) so had tried to put itself in the line of the staff. Even now I wont take my Grandson out for walks with the dogs as the picture of what could have happened to him had it not been a puppy scares me witless.  These type of people make it unbarable for responsible owners. But they cant see that there is anything wrong. It makes my blood boil.

Just wanted to share this with you.

I now have a hiss spray. A can of compressed air especially designed for pet control. I got so fed up of two of my girls being targeted by a local boxer dog and border collie and may I add one of the owners saying in a loud voice stay away from those nasty dogs (after her off lead boxer had bitten my on lead TT on two separate occasions), that we went for a quick fix.

It makes the noise Caesar does but much louder and every dog I have used it near has backed off.  If I see a dog running at mine I shout to the owner call it back, but usually it doesn't happen, a quick squirt of compressed air between my dogs and the on comer works a treat. I always explain afterwards that I haven't hurt their dog and would they like to purchase said aerosol for control of their wayward pet. They either glare at me or sometimes ask advice :-)

Can you imagine the looks I'd get LOL!!

Especially if you get one of these. LOL Of course you'll need one of these outfits! ROFLMSO

ROFPMSL!!  Me dressed like that with that gun and 5 dogs!!  OMG, we'd stop traffic (or cause a major accident!!).  Good one Lori!  I take it if I buy the outfit, you'll get one too??!!

Just to let you know I have purchased a can of the hiss spray from pets at home.  I haven't had to use it as a deterant against a dog coming for him yet and hope I don't, but I did use it as a training aid on him.

He spotted a dog running loose just ahead of him and started to get het up.  I did the usual 'watch me' but this had no effect as it takes sometime for him to get over an incident and we have to go back to square one each time and build up his confidence.

However, I then gave a gentle press on the nozzle of the hiss spray and the effect was immediate. He stopped his noise, looked sheepishly at me, calmed down straight away and we continued with our walk. He didnt even turn round to see if the other dog was coming after him.  So full marks for the spray!

You're on BB. Dog walking divas the pair of us. :-D

Hi everyone,i've had all of the same problems that you all have with aggressive dogs attacking my goldies and i've been punched for trying to protect my 18yr old from a staffie,so i wouldnt recommend that to anyone.All i've done is find a place[nature reserve]that insist all dogs kept on a lead,bought a retractable lead so that they have a bit of freeway and now enjoy hassel free walks,so much worth the short drive to be sure my dogs are not hurt and actually  restore faith in humans again as most other people walk there for the same reason.If your dogs need to run buy trainers and run with them!.

Brothers and sisters i bid you beware of giving your heart to a dog to tear.

Jenny, I'm so sorry to hear that yuo were punched I hope you reported it at the time. No-one should be assaulted by a bully :-( .

I tried using a retractable lead for one of my dogs when she was a puppy (this was 18 years ago.) I lost count of the number of times I was pulled over, or had the retractable lead pulled out of my hand because she was just too strong.I now have 4 of this breed and there is no way that I could hold them back if they decided to take off after a rabbit, or something else for that matter. A water pistol, or a jif lemon, is an easier way to stop your dogs from being attacked. After all, no matter where you go you are likely to meet someone with a dog. Whose to say the dog won't attack?

Hi,Lindylou,thanks for replying,no,i didnt report him because of the threats he made towards me and my family,he was very intimidating.Yes,i've also had my arm wrenched quite a few times,but at least i can,if poss,drag my dogs out of harms way if need be,young goldies are extremly friendly and dont seem to pick up on unfriendly vibes.Having said that i havn't had any problems with other dogs since i've been going to the nature reserve,they just seem a different type of owner,and it is the owners,not the dogs,so i,ll stick to driving there each day  and avoiding known danger area's,anything for a peaceful life!.I,d like to add that we,ve now moved from the other area as it spoilt dog walking for me,i never felt safe and was constantly looking over my shoulder,thats why i,d like people to just think of the consequences before they take action,most people would be ok but in my instance they werent!

Have a nice day until someone spoils it!

It is very sad.  Dog walking used to be a pleasurable activity.  Now, it is a game of cat and mouse - people dodging and diving, changing directions, panicing at the first sight of another dog or person.  Not to mention the rudeness of some dog walkers.  I politely say 'hello' or 'good morning' if I happen to walk past someone on route and have often been ignored.

Owners that cannot control their dogs are the bain of every responsible dog owners life.  If I had a pound for every time someone bellowed "It's ok - he is friendly!", as their dog attempts to bite/growl at/harass my dog, I would be very rich indeed.