My daughter was in the park the other day on her rollerblades, when a german shephard (on lead) lunged at her, the man had to use all his strength to hold the dog(should add that I was not there). I do know who this dog is ( I thought it was only aggressive to other dogs). The dog is only walked in the park which is used a lot by children.My daughter is not spooked by dogs but said it was very aggressive towards her.  Should I speak to these people, do not know them to talk to. Do feel concerned about children in the park,although the dog is always on lead.

If you were to approach the owner do you think he would take advice well?  If not then I would go to the police.  At the end of the day, the man DID have his dog on the lead, so, he is being responsible, however he should not be walking it near children if he knows it to be aggressive. 

You have to think how you would feel if something awful did happen and you did nothing.

Of course a human whizzing past on wheels could easily startle a fear aggressive dog, and many react this way to a frightening stimulus.

If I were the owner I would certainly not walk the dog close to the kids.

Of course a human whizzing past on wheels could easily startle a fear aggressive dog, and many react this way to a frightening stimulus.

Yes my thoughts too, I would guess it was the skates, just as bicycles and joggers affect some dogs too. I doubt the dog was being aggressive to the child just the movement and noise. The owner at least kept hold of the dog. The dog to me sounds under socialised. I wonder if it is an adolescent, not quite knowing how to interact and is easily frightened?

Very unsettling though, not taking away how frightened your daughter must have been, the dog needs some training, maybe even a behaviourist, for that reason it may be worth approaching the owner to say how frightened your child was and is the dog under a behaviourist and being socialised properly, you can ask in a nice way if for no other reason than gathering information, and then you can decide if it was a one off which has frightened the owner into taking better precautions and doing something about it, or if the dog warden needs calling in.

But to be honest if the dog is on lead, there is probably little to do, it just needs the owner to be a bit more sensible in where walking the dog.

TBH Christine, my rott would have done the same although my control of him would have looked effortless due to him having his headcollar on! ;)  I wouldn't appreciate anyone having a go at me in the park because their child whizzed past my on lead dog in a public park.  The park is for everyone to use and I am sure the man gets hacked off at children and other dogs coming near him.  Just out of interest how do you know the man had to use all his strength if you weren't there?

I know my dog would be a bit spooked if someone came up quickly behind or in front of us, whether that is on a bike, rollerblades or a motor bike.  Not all dogs are bombproof and I feel that he is being responsible by having the dog on a lead and attempting to socialise/condition the dog to different things.  TBH if I didn't think I could hold my dog back I would have concerns about going to parks at busy times but each to their own views and methods.

I doubt if the police would be interested. Why not ring the local dog warden and ask them to keep an eye out for this dog when they are patrolling, they could have a friendly word with him if they saw anything amiss.

I would be inclined to ask around if anyone else saw the incident.  My children, love them to bits I must say, do not always see things for how they actually are.  Could this dog have been reacting to another dog maybe behind your daughter but she may have felt it was towards her? Sometimes, things are not always how they are described.  If someone else, maybe a adult did see this happen and it was how your daughter describes, I would be inclined to drop a note thro the door explaining that you intend to contact the police over their dogs behaviour and requesting it is walked away from where children play.  Unfortunatley, the police dont seem to be that interested these days with this sort of thing but the owner of the dog need not know that.

I think I'd try getting to know the people and the GSD - you may be able to help them as well.   I'd also try talking to your daughter and explain that dogs can be scared of things and then lash out - just to help her understand and keep herself safe as she grows up.

> I know my dog would be a bit spooked if someone came up quickly behind or in front of us, whether that is on a bike, rollerblades or a motor bike.

I heard of an incident where someone was standing talking to a friend, with dog on the lead, on a narrow pavement when two kids on bikes came whizzing past from behind, cycling on the pavement, just a foot or so away, scaring the dog which lunged & ripped the hem of one of the kids' jeans... Owner was hauled into the cop shop under the DDA section 3!

> I heard of an incident where someone was standing talking to a friend, with dog on the lead, on a narrow pavement when two kids on bikes came whizzing past from behind, cycling on the pavement, just a foot or so away, scaring the dog which lunged & ripped the hem of one of the kids' jeans... Owner was hauled into the cop shop under the DDA section 3!

  How unfair!

>  How unfair!

Very scary for the owner - was read a caution etc...recommended to get legal brief before making statement! Even though it was dropped - only due to lack of witnesses - dog & owner now have black mark against them and owner feels scared to take dog out now.

Needs thought and consideration by the human too. Could give me a fright, someone appearing from nowhere, wizzing past. We have the problem of quad bikes in our park. I want everyone to be able to enjoy the open green space. Not all dogs are bomb proof, however much we try to train.

Thanks for your thoughts. I will look out for owners and have a quiet word.  Spoke to one mum who saw the incident, (who ranted about the dog etc), then again she does not have dogs. Having 3 myself (1 being fearful), I can understand how situations arise.  However, if it had been done to that mother I hate to think.  Just surprised that  they are putting the dog in that situation.  Have seen them getting dragged down the street before. thanks again.

> I will look out for owners and have a quiet word.

A polite, friendly, helpfull word :) Also a word to your daughter - those of us with dogs, should have dog-savvy children.

Running, shouting, arm wafting, general 'stupid' behaviour, being on wheels etc. are all things my boys are taught to NOT do around other poeples dogs. Even an apparently 'bomb-proof' dog can get spooked, so it's better to play it safe. Children are much more stimulating for dogs than adutls arew anyway, put them on wheels and it can bring out excitement, prey-drive, defensive behaviour in dogs.

My boys know that they can zoom around on thier bikes/skateboars etc around Buster (great training for him :) ), but I would hit the roof if I found out they had wizzed past somebody elses dog, - they should know how to keep themselfs safe. If they can't understand basics of keeping themselfs safe, they would not be allowed to play outside without me.

Think you are missing the point here. A 13 year old girl who is very "dog savvy", was standing still as the dog passed her,(she was not whizzing past the dog), it about turned and lunged at her . I have found out today the dog has bitten twice already. I hope they have seeked help as this could have an extremely bad outcome for somebody.  One person was told they were looking after the dog for the day the other man was given a cheque (that is concerning)!  The neighbours dont speak to them anymore as the dog managed to jump the fence when they were in the garden one day and the gentleman held it off with a chair!  I have no desire to report them to the police, I really just wanted input on how to approach them, as people immediately feel they are under attack and it is somehow a reflection on them which a lot of the time it is neither.  Should have made that clearer in my posting that she was stationery at the time, my apologies. 

> was standing still as the dog passed her

That is completely different.

> I have found out today the dog has bitten twice already

I would report the owner to your local dog warden. The owner needs to be aware of how irresponsible it is to take a dog out (that obviously has problems with people) without having it muzzled. That isn't an 'accident' waiting to happen, it's a serious bite waiting to happen :(

Your last post puts a completely different spin on things Christine, most of us were just giving this dog the benefit of the doubt with what you gave us in your first post as a dog just not being controlled properly which happens a lot and most of us are forgiving about.

But this is different, the dog has bitten twice.   And lunged at your daughter whilst stood still. Forget my previous post, phone the dog warden NOW!  Before something serious happens not that the two previous bites weren't. No pussy footing around this dog is out of control and dangerous.

Totally agree with Carrington - this is a completely different scenario from a dog triggered by movement, you need to do something now before something serious happens.

Spoke to the dog warden.  She has been out to the owners before (approx 6 months ago), who promised they would muzzle the dog when out, she is going back out to them.  I know I have done the right thing, more so after getting the other information today (makes me feel ill though).  Thanks x