Argument

apache · 05-03-2023 2:15pm #1

Just wanted to post this to see if I am in the wrong and what people think. I just had a heated argument with another dog owner and I'm still fuming. So my dog was off the lead and so was his. My dog when she gets to an open field just loves running and chasing birds. She dosen't really bother with other dogs. His came full on with mine bothering her and trying to mount her and she started snapping and snarling. This went on for a bit. After he hadn't got the common sense to get his dog I told him to have control over his dog which ignited things. It did kinda escalate into a heated exchange of words.

If my dog bothered people or other dogs I wouldn't let her off the lead.

What are other dog owners opinions on this?

Graces7 · 05-03-2023 2:21pm

Just my take... Yes you have good control of your dog, but if you are where there are or very likely to be less amenable dogs then really you need to have yours on a lead as you cannot rely on the behaviour of other dogs... and in such a situation surely your dog needs to be on a lead for her protection and your peace .

apache · 05-03-2023 2:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316349#Comment_120316349

But she didn't cause the issue. She was minding her own business. You should see her run. She's so happy to be off lead and is always under my control. I'm probably making a mountain out of a molehill?

Irish_wolf · 05-03-2023 2:36pm

My dog is great off the lead. Very much under control and listens to commands. But if there's kids running about or uncontrolled dogs around she goes on the lead. It's not her fault it's just a precaution and it's as much for protecting myself as well as her. Once the situation has passed you can let her back off. There are some really **** dog owners out there having yours on a lead puts you on a much better footing legally if anything happens.

apache · 05-03-2023 2:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316383#Comment_120316383

Yeah I hear what you are saying. There's just some **** dog owners who have no control and don't see a problem.

anewme · 05-03-2023 3:33pm

Is it a public area Op?

if it is, then your dog should be on the lead as well.

Nothing worse than an off lead dog approaching an on lead dog. Your dog might be friendly, but theirs might not be.

apache · 05-03-2023 3:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316553#Comment_120316553

It's never really an issue for me. She dosen't greet other dogs. She's just happy running and sniffing around.

anewme · 05-03-2023 4:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316611#Comment_120316611

But it could be an issue for others if there’s an off lead dog running around.

Also, some people are afraid of off lead dogs.

I had an off lead dog run at my fella and nearly got killed crossing the road. He was not going to attack him or anything but owner got a fright because dog ignored recall once he saw my fella. Dogs are unpredictable like that.

Jim_Hodge · 05-03-2023 4:12pm

I'm not sure where you live but in my county there are by-laws prohibiting dogs being off leash in any public area. No matter how well controlled you think your dog is there can be other less controlled dogs about or people fearful of dogs. If an uncontrolled dog approached yours then call your dog to you and put it in a leash and move on. You just experienced the downside to letting dogs loose in a public area,

apache · 05-03-2023 4:28pm

Very few people have their

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120316672#Comment_120316672

I did do that but the other dog was very insistant and kept following. He should have had his dog on a lead because he had no recall.

He couldn't care less.

Faith · 05-03-2023 5:52pm

Off lead is a contentious discussion and it’s very hard to have a “right” answer. Of course, we should all aim to have our dogs under control at all times, but if it’s an area where it’s generally accepted to have dogs off lead, all you can do really is guide your dog away from troublesome dogs. Sometimes that means just cutting the walk short and leaving.

I think it would be rare that confronting another dog owner leads to a good outcome. I have a golden retriever puppy who thinks every creature in this world is a potential best friend. She can run up to dogs, people, horses, llamas (!) and start trying to play. We control this as best as possible but if we were in an area with a lot of other off-lead dogs, and one dog owner started having a go at us, I’d get quite defensive. Even if they were totally correct, my embarrassment would probably make me act out angrily, and in my head I’d be thinking “that plonker, why bring your dog here if you know she doesn’t like other dogs?”.

Essentially, I don’t think it matters who was right or wrong. Either both dogs should have been on the lead or both are allowed off lead. You can’t control another dog’s training (and even the best dogs can forget all their training during adolescent or in a very stimulating moment). In future, I’d probably politely ask the other dog owner to put their dog on the lead while you leave with your dog, and there’d be no aggro.

apache · 05-03-2023 7:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120317086#Comment_120317086

Thanks for that. I think this is very sensible. I think I got angry too quick and agree didn't approach in the right way. Both of us were at fault.

dmcdona · 05-03-2023 7:56pm

Had a dog just like yours - best dog ever. She was smart and had no interest in other dogs, adults, kids - ever. Just me, the birds, sticks, balls and water (she swam like a fish) :-)

She never needed to be on the lead - would come back the second she was called. Such a smart, well behaved dog who loved being out and about.

I do get that other people fear dogs - I'd even be very wary myself. The only time I ever even saw her snarl was when some other dog would have its nose halfway up her a**.

I would almost certainly have reacted like you - I'd defend that dog to the hilt and get pretty annoyed with another dog owner. whose dog was acting the maggot and "out of control". But like you, I'd also probably regret it later. If you see that person again, maybe apologise - they might be feeling the same way too? I think you'll feel better for it too in fairness...

Holly got to 18.5 years old and had to let her go. Cried more for that dog than I did when my mam and dad passed away. And I miss her more than any human that was ever in my life. Jeez - even feeling emotional now and she went to doggy heaven over 4 years ago!

AndrewJRenko · 06-03-2023 7:53am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058286946/argument

Could you control her to stop chasing birds please? That’s a fairly scary experience for the other animals.

apache · 06-03-2023 8:26am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120319349#Comment_120319349

Ah stop will ya. Birds in the sky flying not even noticing? She's a gun dog.

IceT · 06-03-2023 10:29pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058286946/argument

From what you have said it sounds more like your approach that caused the issue (although I'm getting that from your phrasing more than anything else). Your dog has full right to be off lead, chasing birds etc and as long as you can recall and control her your doing nothing wrong. By the sounds of it, the other owner did not have as good control as yourself, also possibly was either completely distracted or ignoring the issue. Regardless none of it good.

The argument might not have been avoidable but we'd have to have been there.

Regardless, its perfectly natural for dogs to snarl or snap at each other as its the way they communicate when their other warning signs are being ignored, especially when another dog is not socially educated (dog socialisation I mean), and trying to mount her is an aggressive behaviour from the other dog. If you were filming you'd most likely be able to show your dog display body language to say stop it, like a specific stance or towering, raised hackles, lip licking and so on.

To be clear, it's not good. Ideally your dog would have just ignored the other dog or came to you rather than snapping but that's a tough ask from what I can see based on what you have said. In saying that, know that your dog chose to warn rather than attack, that's a great sign on her behalf.

My advice is next time you see another dog arriving, recall yours until you can see their behaviour, if they are too aggressive or clearly not properly socialised, as you are right there you can body block, distract or even correct the other dog until you can get their owner over to control their dog.

Dog socialisation is hard at the best of times, we can't expect everyone to understand it, or I'd be out of a job 🤣 and especially with covid, so many dogs are have seen so few other dogs and a combination of nerves, excitement and not knowing how to behave will lead to issues.

Jequ0n · 06-03-2023 11:24pm

If your dog isn’t neutered you get him back when he starts annoying other dogs because it’s bound to cause strife. I can’t see how the OP is at fault here.

They need to get off the lead and be free, but if they cause trouble they need to be leashed at that moment. It’s really not rocket science.

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