[Closed] Inability to control dogs

"Hello Mr(s) Complete Stranger, can I have your name and address so I can report your dog as being dangerous?"

"No."

"Erm..."

I had this myself a few yeas back after being bitten (just a nip but...) when I tried to get a phone number off the coller I was approched in a way that I felt threatened physical attack. The owner then thought better and ran off. Ultimatly it was clear they wouldn't give a name so I didn't give chase as I had no desire to get into a fight.

I reported the incident with a good description but got a 'what do you expect' type response.

The law is pretty irrelevent until someone is seriously hurt.

Feel really sorry for the OP, we have dogs but would have no problem booting someone else's if it was going for my daughter.

Is it the OP's "responsibility" to ensure that their kids are aware of how to act around dogs? Of course not. Doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad idea just in case something goes wrong though.

This is a sensible approach.

One of our terriers will occasionally growl/bark at children, for this reason he is kept on a short lead when out on walks where he may come into contact with kids. Quite often though they'll run up to him and get in his face, trying to to stroke him (he's small, looks cute), parents should be responsible for telling kids that this isn't cool - luckily worst they'll get from Cedric is his breath.

- hit it with a cricket bat hoping you don't miss?

Who are all these people walking around with cricket bats? "Just popping out to the shops, love. Have you seen my bat anywhere?"

Okay, quick test for you - aggressive looking dog comes running over.
What is the response you would have taught them?

- Lay dead on the ground?
- run away in a zig zag pattern?
- hit it with a cricket bat hoping you don't miss?

You realise that teaching kids about dogs isn't my solution for what to do with dangerous or unruly dogs don't you? The solution is that legal sanction or whatever is taken against those who don't control their dogs, and in no way is it a persons responsibility to have to learn to deal with them, but it is a good idea to learn to deal with them, don't you agree? I grew up with dogs and since 8 or 9 years old I would stand firm and raise my voice if necessary. It is about teaching kids that they are in charge of dogs, and giving them that confidence which the dogs can detect.
I used to ride a motorcycle and learned very quickly that to expect other road users to obey the law in order to keep me safe was an utter delusion, so I learned to give way when I didn't have to etc etc, better to be alive and dealing with the action of those in the wrong, than to be correct and run over.

parents should be responsible for telling kids that this isn't cool

It's essentially the same problem in reverse, isn't it. Probably with the same self-righteous entitled attitude from the parents as the dog owners.

Both those incidents as described fall under the Dangerous Dogs Act - prosecution for the owners and possible destruction of the dog.

Shame it isn't the other way round.

But the dogs never do get destroyed, do they? People will bend over backwards to save dogs which in my opinion should be destroyed. The bottom line is, there are just too many of them and they are too easy to obtain.

OP, hope your son is ok.

It would be self defence to give either dog a good kick, IMO. Violent, bitey dogs should be put down and owners fined, or more.

I say that as a dog owner, if ours ever bit someone unprovoked he would be straight to the vet.

People will bend over backwards to save dogs which in my opinion should be destroyed

. Violent, bitey dogs should be put down and owners fined, or more.

Last one for me was a Westie chasing me and trying to bite my foot as I pedalled along. Thankfully most of the time it's this sort of incident rather than properly nasty. And most (if not all) of these sorts of incidents would be solved by keeping dogs on leads all the time while in public. Something that few dog owner that I know of would agree to TBH

I don't want to see dogs destroyed or people fined, just proper advice about controlling your dog would be a start

It is about teaching kids that they are in charge of dogs, and giving them that confidence which the dogs can detect.

You are assuming that will always work (it doesn't). What do you teach them to do when that doesn't work?

- Lay dead on the ground?
- run away in a zig zag pattern?
- hit it with a cricket bat hoping you don't miss?

I don't want to see dogs destroyed or people fined, just proper advice about controlling your dog would be a start

Is there not lots of proper advice about controlling your dog already?

The problem here is that you're wanting to advise the kind of person who isn't going to listen to your advice thanks very much because they already know how to look after a dog.

Thanks for all the positive/supportive comments. I have calmed down a touch.

Interesting that many of the responses are more confrontational that I was. My initial instinct was to protect my lad and calm him down, and get away. I confess I hadn't even thought about calling the police or reporting the owners until it cropped up here. Sadly, not sure it would do any good with the already stretched resources, but I take the point that doing so might at least allow for a log of incidents to be taken.

We are going to try and introduce him to some "friendly" dogs in due course, but obviously in a managed and controlled way - not immediately though.

As to the cricket bat point, I do play and we do have a plastic beach cricket set, but I shall add one of my old wooden bats to the set and keep it to hand...

My dog doesn't attack children (fortunately) but I've given him a kick myself when he's being a **** with other dogs.

Are muzzles really uncomfortable for dogs? Compulsory when out of the house might be a start

anagallis_arvensis - Member
Some right internet hard men on here!!
LOL

Care to explain?

Nope you might beat me up!!

Lots of people are morons, lots of people own dogs.
I had one dog owner get all angry with me when my lurcher sorted out his over excited spaniel that was jumping up at my 6 year old boy! He said he would kick my dog if it attacked his again (she told off the other dog she didnt actually hurt it). Some people are plain stupid.

My dog doesn't attack children (fortunately) but I've given him a kick myself when he's being a **** with other dogs.

Without wanting to look like one of the aformentioned internet hard man you not the knob end who threatenned me with a fire extinguisher from his car after I told him if he kicked the dog again I was going to kick him are you?

I really feel for your young boy OP.
Most dog owners these days don't seem to train their dogs in any way. The owners treat their dog as though it is a child or something to show off.
If you try and explain that you are scared of dogs (which I am), I usually get the typical retorts of, "my little Fido wouldn't harm a flea", or "he/she is just being friendly". I don't want to be licked or jumped up to, thanks.
I really believe that a dog licence should be brought back in to force.
Comments about the child of the OP behaving in a certain way around dogs are ludicrous 🙄

We have a maniac dog that is prone to jumping up at people and generally getting very worked up and as a result I keep her on the lead at all times now. I'm even "strongly" considering a muzzle just in case.

She's only small but still big enough to be intimidating and could harm if she bit.

It's marred dog owning for me now. We had a great hound before her that I could let off the lead without any real fear or concern that he would cause an incident and I guess we thought she would become compliant with the same amount of effort he took....... WRONG

And now TBH I just want rid. The wife wanted the dog and said she would put the effort in but it never happened and I don't have the time to spend training it so it's a ****ing burden to me now.

Don't get me wrong, I believe we offered it a good home and are responsible enough owners but she is going to need a lot of work to get compliant and may not ever be the bimbling old softee that the other dog was.

In general she's just no fun, but that's the risk when you get a rescue dog I guess

I remember being really frightened of dogs as a kid. We didn't have one (still don't, never had) and all my experiences with dogs were negative. Barking, snarling, jumping at you, nipping. Now I don't get any bother. I honestly can't recall when the change came. I never have to be outwardly aggressive to a dog but they tend to back off when I walk towards them and I'm happy with that. I'm not sure if it's because I'm big and don't look like a push over so they don't start, or because of my size I have little fear of dogs so don't look intimidated (so they in return are intimidated of me) or because at 6 foot something a barking snarling dog does not look as much of a threat as when you are less than 3 foot tall and virtually eye to eye with them. Or a bit of all the above. I did do a dog section in a survival course whilst in the forces (escape and invasion and being dug up by one, putting an arm guard on and try to run away from one, advice and tackling one coming at you) and whilst I don't remember any of it maybe its subconsciously changed my attitude to them.

I'm no dog fan and also no apologist for poorly behaved dogs and rubbish owners who should not be accepted but in terms of helping your own child out making them more confident around dogs does seem to make them less frightening to come across and also make the dog less aggressive in the situation.

Just one point I would like to add - one of my daughters used to be very afraid of dogs when she was younger but we slowly introduced her to dogs (family and friends that have them) and she grew to love them – when she was six we got our own dog (which she wanted) and now she has gone the other way completely - not afraid to go up to pretty much any dog she sees (which isn't necessarily a good thing I know).

Without wanting to look like one of the aformentioned internet hard man you not the knob end who threatenned me with a fire extinguisher from his car after I told him if he kicked the dog again I was going to kick him are you?

Yeah that was me.

I don't want to be licked or jumped up to, thanks.

And it amazes me how many people don't get this. "Aw, he's only playing." Yes, but I don't want to, and my human personal space trumps your hound's desire to see what I taste like. If I came over there and licked your face would you dismiss that as only playing?

I like dogs. I like most animals, in fact. But I like being left the **** alone too.

Yeah that was me.

😆
You really shit bricks when I failed to back down and looked quite funny fumbling in your car boot to get the extinguisher.
I guess all people who kick dogs (unless being attacked) are cowards at heart.

£1000 p/a dog license to be carried at all times.

Feel sorry for your boy Jakester, I would have done exactly the same as you- calm him down and try de-escalate the situation.

I've walked ped Labs that were trained gundogs. They'd walk at heel all day long if so instructed. But I wasn't 'family', so with me they went (singly) on a lead. Dog would be sat waiting for me by the lead hanging on a hook.

[i]It would seem you are not a dog person, body language could be causing them to react to you in a way you don't want.[/i]

But what if I'm riding along on a bike when the dog takes a dislike to me, from behind?

Agree completely with you OP - really hope your boy's ok!

I don't have dogs myself but was brought up in a family where we always had big dogs (parents had a Rottweiler when I was a baby) so have always been pretty confident around them myself. Last week however, I had my first experience where a dog really spooked me - in the local park with my 10-month-old son, crawling around the grass in the middle of a playing field. It's a popular park with dog walkers, and plenty of them have their dogs off the lead, so naturally I was watching him like a hawk.
I sh*t you not, I took my eyes off my son for 2 seconds and when I looked back a staffie/cross-breed type dog was charging at him! Fortunately he was facing the other way so didn't see the dog and get scared and I was able to scoop him up, but the damn dog can't have been more than a foot and a half away when I got him off the ground.
The dog then proceeded to jump at him/us, nipping at my arms. I shouted and pushed the dog away with my foot (wearing flip-flops at the time I wasn't really in the position to go booting away) at an animal with fairly big jaws and teeth.
Anyway, the owner sauntered over and was able to get a lead back on the thing, saying "sorry mate, if it's on the ground he'll go for it"
"So, you thought it was a good idea to bring him to a public park where kids ply and let him run around uncontrolled?"
"ah yeah normally he's ok"

At which point he buggered off, telling his dog in a jovial manner "well, that was a bit naughty, wasn't it? You can't go charging at children, people get a bit upset" [i]as if I'm the one in the wrong[/i]
I'm left standing there, thinking to myself "Am I going mental? Is this how society is now, where that sort of behaviour is acceptable?" The dog might well have just been coming in to play, but if you know your dog goes for things on the ground which are smaller than it, why on earth would you bring it to a public park and let it off the lead?!?!

I think the whole attitude is symptomatic of society as a whole. Maybe it's getting worse or I'm just noticing it more, but people just don't seem to give a damn about one another any more - as long as they're ok they can just carry on doing whatever they like, without the slightest regard for anyone else. I can't imagine acting like that, and can't even begin to comprehend why people think it's ok...

Whatever the case, my boy's fine (he didn't even know anything had happened - as far as he's concerned he just got picked up for a cuddle with dad) and perhaps something has changed in that dog walker, as when I saw him in the park again this weekend the dog was on a lead. If that is the case then that's good, but sadly he's just one of many round where I live who feel it's acceptable to let their out of control animals do whatever the hell they want.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
Nope you might beat me up!!

😀

Just out of interest, do either of you tend to get violent with strangers in other situations or is it something specific to dogs?
🙂

And exactly what Bunnyhop said.

Im always chill xd.

Straight off the bat I will fully admit to not reading the entire thread, so forgive me if I go over old ground.

As a [s]dog[/s] terrier owner I can tell you that controlling the git at times is not easy, he is mostly responsive but there are times he loses the plot a bit, (he has never bitten anything but did manage to pin a cat down once or twice(in my garden)) they are...

1, people picking up their dog/child to protect them, it sends him nuts, he will stand on his back legs yapping like terriers do.

2, dogs that run up to his face (as apposed to his arse) he just doesn't like it & will yap/bark & lunge at the other dog (without biting)

So although he is mostly well behaved there are circumstances in which he can become unresponsive to recall.

The main point I wish to make without provocation is that I see more & more parents & dog owners that are (over?) protective of their kids/mutts which makes them nervous of dogs which in turn leads to the dogs to be cautious of them, dogs have pretty high levels of sense & this can make them aggressive/protective.

Just saying like 😳

Edit to say I wrote that before I saw pinetree's post.

1, people picking up their dog/child to protect them, it sends him nuts, he will stand on his back legs yapping like terriers do.

So genuine question - as the owner of a dog that you know behaves like that, how would you feel if the person who picked up the child kicked him in the aforementioned nuts? And follow up questions - how many times do you think he would have to be kicked in the nuts before his learnt behaviour was to cross his legs and walk the other way? Also, as he licked the swollen gonads later that evening would you blame the kicker for over reacting, yourself for putting dog and kicker in that position by not having him under control or the dog for being a tool?

(he has never bitten anything but did manage to pin a cat down once or twice(in my garden

When a terrier-type thing ran into my garden and grabbed my cat, I had to jump on it and punch it in the head repeatedly to get it to let go. Not a fun experience.

I live by a beach that is open to dogs in the winter but not the summer. Someone wrote to the paper saying: "Why should I pay council tax when I can only use the beach in the winter?"
Dog owner mindset for you right there!

I hope i don't have to deal with this sort of situation with my son as i am not sure if he got bitten i would react as calmly.

Unfortunately some people are just a shites but they do seem to be the minority

people picking up their dog/child to protect them, it sends him nuts, he will stand on his back legs yapping like terriers do.
So genuine question - as the owner of a dog that you know behaves like that, how would you feel if the person who picked up the child kicked him in the aforementioned nuts? And follow up questions - how many times do you think he would have to be kicked in the nuts before his learnt behaviour was to cross his legs and walk the other way? Also, as he licked the swollen gonads later that evening would you blame the kicker for over reacting, yourself for putting dog and kicker in that position by not having him under control or the dog for being a tool?

TBH I was just about to delete my post as I have just read page three & I don't like where this is going, but as you have asked a question I guess I will just have to bite the bullet & reply rather than just retreat.

Personally I would kick my dog in the balls for you, the trouble is I would probably get done for animal cruelty, such is the world we live in, a bit like disciplining kids, you just can't do it for fear of being reported.
When I was a kid I wouldn't argue with a teacher or a policeman for fear of getting a clip around the ear (or worse) but now there is no fear just a sense of superiority that says you can't touch me.

Ho hum.

Edit to say I am ever watchful of whats around me when out with the mutt so I do try my best not to put my dog & myself in the sort of situation we are talking about here, but only today a dog came running at my dog from 200 yards away so you can't always predict what's about to happen.

I hope i don't have to deal with this sort of situation with my son as i am not sure if he got bitten i would react as calmly.

I wouldnt worry too much, despite what the bed wetters on here write its very unlikely to happen. My 6 year old comes walking the dog most days so see's lots of other dogs. We've had a number of numpty owners with unruly dogs but he's never even looked like actually getting bitten.

Those of you saying dogs never get destroyed... they do.

We had new neighbours move in a couple of years back. They had a mangy, mental dog that didn't take the move well. Every time they left the house it would bark constantly until they returned. As I work from home a lot, this was driving me up the wall. I had the ban hammer waved at me for only half-jokingly starting a thread on here about the best way to kill it.

One evening, clearly picking up on my latent hatred for it (and most dogs, to be fair) it came legging out of the house while I was cleaning my bike after a ride, and properly sank its teeth into my thigh.The ****ing thing promptly got hoofed into the middle of next week, then the neighbour comes out and says that he doesn't understand it as thats the second time he's done that in as many days. The previous day he'd launched a similarly unprovoked attack on a bloke just walking in the park

Dead by the following day.

Did you bake it in a pie binners? 😯

I'm quite fed up of the amount of dogs everywhere. Pretty much all grass park areas are not open to kids to play or adults to hang out because there are dog eggs hidden everywhere. My wee boy often has to hide behind me because someone's dog is right in his face - under control or not, if someone's teenage kid ran up to other little kids, sniffed their faces and ran around them inches from their face they'd get a bloody lesson in return.

I won't start on my thoughts on treating dogs as family...

I missed a trick there.

Dead by the following day.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
over excited muddy mutts jumping up

this is a problem as well though

It is but its not on the same level as being bitten and keeping the two as separate problems helps to maintain perspective.

i don't think it's a different problem, both stem from an inability of people to properly train and control their dogs, so same core issue, imo.

i don't think it's a different problem

Really, I know which I'd rather have Fido do.

i'd rather fido did neither.

It is but its not on the same level as being bitten and keeping the two as separate problems helps to maintain perspective.

They aren't separate problems, they're differing severities of the same problem.

[img] [/img]

Shit entitled dog owners being shit and entitled.

Body language should never be an issue as a dog owner should never put you in the position where it would matter.

Personally, I've no problem hoofing a dog, and have done so in the past when one has knocked my lad off his bike (aged 5).[1]

And I agree with the sense of entitlement dog owners seem to possess over parks. My local park has a dedicated wheeled sports track, funded by the local cycling club. Despite the massive park surrounding it, it seems to be a favourite for dog owners to walk their dogs on. And then you get abuse for daring to ride your bike around it. And daring to be a runner in a park? $deity forbid! Although it is fun seeing how far you can make a dog run away from it's slave.

The classic though, was overheard from a couple of mutt owners whilst training with the running club a couple of weeks ago... "It's rubbish, we can't walk up there, the cycling club are using it for training". FFS, they paid for it!

[1] Yes, all bed-wetting keyboard hero. Don't give a monkeys. Dog comes near my kids in an aggressive manner, it gets aggression back. Same as if it was a person.

They aren't separate problems, they're differing severities of the same problem.

I dont agree, if you have a dog that may bite someone taking that risk is reckless if your dog may jump up at someone the risk is merely careless. If someones dog bit me I'd be rightly ver very angry and would be contacing the police, if their dog jumped up at me I'd think they were bellends, maybe tell them that and then get on with my life.

Personally, I've no problem hoofing a dog, and have done so in the past when one has knocked my lad off his bike (aged 5

[img] [/img]

TBH I'd be too busy checking my son was ok to look like a tough guy

I dont agree,

That's fine, it's ok to be wrong. (-:

if you have a dog that may bite someone taking that risk is reckless if your dog may jump up at someone the risk is merely careless.

So... careless vs reckless, the difference is severity, which is what I just said. Cf. careless driving vs reckless driving, you're still driving badly.

You have to love at good dog thread - especially as we haven't had a religion one for a while.

Some real heroes emerging.....who you going call?!?!

I haven't read the whole thread but I think the whole thing could have been resolved by punching every one and everything thing in the face.

who you going call?!?!

[img] [/img]

Skim read since commenting on first page. If you can't control your dog, keep it on a lead. What do I win?

I love dogs and up until recently have pretty much always had one. I am, however, under no illusion that they are people. Training and consistency is needed and I honestly don't think a lot of people actually realise this. They buy a dog based on looks rather than breed suitability.

Used to watch the young couple who lived across from me walking their Rottweiler. Beautiful dog, but it just dragged them down the street each night and didn't listen to a word they said. I had more control over it than they did. If it had turned they would have been utterly ****ed. My last dog was a Newfoundland and she was awesome. Smart, soft and cuddly. Still trained her to walk to heal, sit, stay etc. If she was scared or wasn't controlled I dread to think what a dog of her size could have done, albeit in slow motion.

I would not hesitate to yell at or, if pushed, physically hurt a dog if it was attacking my son. I wouldn't take any pleasure from doing so, but protecting my child would be paramount. I'd rather be beaten by an angry dog owner than my kid be scarred if it came to it.

Owners who can't control their dogs should be stripped naked, covered in meat juice and have one of those packs of feral chihuahuas set on them.

I think it's about time we all just accept the dogs are in charge now and any unaccompanied humans should be banned from public spaces, especially the ones that don't have a cute face and doe eyes.

Priorities init, humans can get teh ****, cute animals #mrfwibblewibblesoooocute, ugly ones meh.

I'll vote for the Kennel Club running tings get dem tories oooutt like.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
I dont agree, if you have a dog that may bite someone

funkmasterp - Member
Rottweiler. Beautiful dog, but it just dragged them down the street each night and didn't listen to a word they said. I had more control over it than they did. [b]If it had turned they would have been utterly ****[/b]

Not everyone has the super powers you seems to have, to know if a strange
aggressive dog, that's just appeared out of nowhere is going to attack them, so on that basis, aggression should be met with appropriate aggression. Especially if a child is at risk. tbh I don't even know why this is debated, dogs aren't people.

1, people picking up their dog/child to protect them, it sends him nuts, he will stand on his back legs yapping like terriers do.

2, dogs that run up to his face (as apposed to his arse) he just doesn't like it & will yap/bark & lunge at the other dog (without biting)

I read your post and was waiting for the point at which you said 'so I keep my dog on a lead when in public because it is too unpredictable' but alas it never came. I'm not sure how exactly you expect the other dog owners to explain to their dogs, who BTW do not speak English, that it is only safe to approach another dog when it is facing away from you!! Dont be so utterly sodding ridiculous!

As a dog owner whose behaviour I take very seriously, she's 38kgs, I'm getting more and more annoyed with other dog owners too. I will more often than not cross the road if I judge from a distance that the dog is gonna be a PITA. Only yesterday a small terrier was off lead at the bottom of it's driveway with the owner not two metres away from it, I thought nah I'm not doing that dont be stupid, so before the dog had even seen us I crossed to the opposite side of the road. Cue the dog spotting us, barking and yapping and ran straight across the road towards us (lucky for the owner that there wasn't a car at the time) with the owner doing a feeble 'oi get back here' at which point I shouted aggressively at the dog, fully ready to kick it in its stomach if it proceeded on towards us and made an effort to bite. Luckily the shout was enough to make it back off and guess what, no apology or recognition at all from the owner. My dog would bark at the dog but only after she has been bitten or attacked and I'm sick to the back teeth of her getting attacked, she already has two bald spots on her back where a GSD bit her.

Unfortunately being a mostly walking alone female my chance to actually shout at people whose behaviour with their dogs is completely wrong is few and far between. I'd rather seethe on a forum than get smacked in the face! I get really annoyed when peoples dogs are barking and snarling and snapping and the owner doesn't even say a word to them errrrrr hello how about you try correcting your dogs behaviour and telling it a firm NO so it understands what is right and wrong!!!

Dogs are a wonderful thing and it would be a shame if your son was scared of dogs so I hope you find some well behaved dogs that he can spend time with. Dogs are common place and everywhere and life will be really difficult for him if he's not confident or happy enough round dogs. However, I would also counter act this with please can parents teach their children to not walk straight at a dog without asking if its okay first. My dog is taught to walk to my left side and to ignore everything when she's in that 'on lead' situation. Yes she'll say hello and be lovely as pie but that's not how I've taught her to behave and not all dogs want every random person who passes to poke and prod them. Equally I'd be pretty annoyed if some random person walked up to me in the street and randomly hugged me or stroked my shoulder, I have a personal bubble you know!

I love dogs and up until recently have pretty much always had one. I am, however, under no illusion that they are people. Training and consistency is needed and I honestly don't think a lot of people actually realise this. They buy a dog based on looks rather than breed suitability.

Pretty much where I'm coming from TBH.

Friends in the US have just bought a Husky puppy. FB is awash with cute photos. I'm fairly sure it's only going to end one way. (Also, it's cute as hell, but its colouring unfortunately makes it look like one murderous bastard. I've told them this. <g>)

+1 everything GolfChick just said. Perfect somethingion.

If you cant keep your pet under reasonable control, it should be leashed, or muzzled. That applies to the ones on two legs, or two wheels too 😉

but its colouring unfortunately makes it look like one murderous bastard

hahaha 😆 I can picture exactly what you mean! Some scary dogs out there!

Cf. careless driving vs reckless driving, you're still driving badly.

Whilst one warrents a shrug and an expletive maybe the other warrents full on internet hard man action

Both merit prosecution, n'est-ce pas?

They should just ban the blooming things(possible exceptions for Police /rescue dogs and sheepdogs, guide dogs etc). Get every dog in the country neutered, stop imports and the problem would be over in around 15 years. The parks and streets would be cleaner and there'd be a lot less whinging every November too.

Both merit prosecution, n'est-ce pas?

[i]What if a dog jumps up at you with muddy paws? [/i]

Is it reflecting some aspect of its owner's character, consideration for others perhaps?

Edit to say I wrote that before I saw pinetree's post.

No dramas. Please don't think I'm an over-protective parent though - arguably I'm the farthest thing from it, and generally have no problem with dogs irrespective of size. However when I see an unknown staffie-type (big head, wide jaws) dog running at speed towards my young child I think I'm justified in being a bit concerned.

Point is, as you sound like a responsible dog owner who knows the flaws and behavioural tendencies of your dog, if you knew your dog acted aggressively in certain situations, surely you'd try to keep it out of those situations if possible, right?

This would be my solution as well.

scotroutes - Member
They should just ban the blooming things(possible exceptions for Police /rescue dogs and sheepdogs, guide dogs etc). Get every dog in the country neutered, stop imports and the problem would be over in around 15 years. The parks and streets would be cleaner and there'd be a lot less whinging every November too.

Right, I have no idea what I'm getting myself into but(t)

I read your post and was waiting for the point at which you said 'so I keep my dog on a lead when in public because it is too unpredictable' but alas it never came.

As a dog owner whose behaviour I take very seriously, she's 38kgs, I'm getting more and more annoyed with other dog owners too. I will more often than not cross the road if I judge from a distance that the dog is gonna be a PITA. Only yesterday a small terrier was off lead at the bottom of it's driveway with the owner not two metres away from it, I thought nah I'm not doing that dont be stupid, so before the dog had even seen us I crossed to the opposite side of the road. Cue the dog spotting us, barking and yapping and ran straight across the road towards us (lucky for the owner that there wasn't a car at the time) with the owner doing a feeble 'oi get back here' at which point I shouted aggressively at the dog, fully ready to kick it in its stomach if it proceeded on towards us and made an effort to bite. Luckily the shout was enough to make it back off and guess what, no apology or recognition at all from the owner. My dog would bark at the dog but only after she has been bitten or attacked and I'm sick to the back teeth of her getting attacked, she already has two bald spots on her back where a GSD bit her.

Unfortunately being a mostly walking alone female my chance to actually shout at people whose behaviour with their dogs is completely wrong is few and far between. I'd rather seethe on a forum than get smacked in the face! I get really annoyed when peoples dogs are barking and snarling and snapping and the owner doesn't even say a word to them errrrrr hello how about you try correcting your dogs behaviour and telling it a firm NO so it understands what is right and wrong!!!

Dogs are a wonderful thing and it would be a shame if your son was scared of dogs so I hope you find some well behaved dogs that he can spend time with. Dogs are common place and everywhere and life will be really difficult for him if he's not confident or happy enough round dogs. However, I would also counter act this with please can parents teach their children to not walk straight at a dog without asking if its okay first. My dog is taught to walk to my left side and to ignore everything when she's in that 'on lead' situation. Yes she'll say hello and be lovely as pie but that's not how I've taught her to behave and not all dogs want every random person who passes to poke and prod them. Equally I'd be pretty annoyed if some random person walked up to me in the street and randomly hugged me or stroked my shoulder, I have a personal bubble you know!

OK, have I not already said I try to avoid situations?

I'm not sure how exactly you expect the other dog owners to explain to their dogs, who BTW do not speak English, that it is only safe to approach another dog when it is facing away from you!! Dont be so utterly sodding ridiculous

Dogs, & if you knew them I'm sure you would agree generally great each other by sniffing arses, the angle of approach is not the question here.

However, I would also counter act this with please can parents teach their children to not walk straight at a dog without asking if its okay first. My dog is taught to walk to my left side and to ignore everything when she's in that 'on lead' situation. Yes she'll say hello and be lovely as pie but that's not how I've taught her to behave and not all dogs want every random person who passes to poke and prod them.

That sounds like you need to keep control of a 38kg dog in a situation it doesn't want to be controlled in, I hope you're strong.

pinetree
Please don't think I'm an over-protective parent though - arguably I'm the farthest thing from it, and generally have no problem with dogs irrespective of size. However when I see an unknown staffie-type (big head, wide jaws) dog running at speed towards my young child I think I'm justified in being a bit concerned.

Point is, as you sound like a responsible dog owner who knows the flaws and behavioural tendencies of your dog, if you knew your dog acted aggressively in certain situations, surely you'd try to keep it out of those situations if possible, right?

As said, I do, but my dog is not vicious, it's not even aggressive as terriers go, but he doe's have little dog syndrome of which I can't cure him.

Cheers.

After near on 40 years of running I have a number of scars on my legs, and thrown away several pairs of torn tracksters, tights etc., all due to uncontrolled dogs.
Apologies are in the minority. Their behaviour is usually 'justified' by:
He/she is only playing.
He/she is young.
He/she is a bit excitable.
Why didn't you stop running?
Last week I had a Staffie, off the leash, run across the road and jump up at me at waist height. A half hearted call from the owner. I stopped, and when the dog came back towards me again I fended it off with my foot, not kicking out. Of course the lunkhead then shouts at me - no need to kick the dog.
When I pointed out that he should have the dog under control I got a mouthful.
I don't blame the dogs, it's the increasingly common half wits who are too stupid or lazy to train their pets, and take responsibility for their behaviour.

anagallis_arvensis - Member
I wouldnt worry too much, despite what the bed wetters on here write its very unlikely to happen. My 6 year old comes walking the dog most days so see's lots of other dogs. We've had a number of numpty owners with unruly dogs but he's never even looked like actually getting bitten.

So unlikely it happened twice in one day. Of course, you're super cool, so it won't happen to you.

I made the mistake of checking back here just before bed, and read that. Now I'm pretty much as cross as I was yesterday.

Bed wetter, am I? Probably my fault for allowing my son out in public at all, isn't it? I mean, what was I thinking, wanting a nice family holiday on a public beach? Next time I'll know I should leave it just to the dog owners.

Just to be clear - my son didn't approach either dog, wasn't playing with a ball or anything else which might excite them, and he didn't have a raw steak tied round his neck.

One minute he's playing on his own, the next he's terrified because a dog has come running in from nowhere and attacked him.

It's not because of his body language, it's not because he encouraged it, it's not because we were on a beach that was only for dogs and not humans. It's because the idiot owners cannot control their animals. Plain and simple.

What if a dog jumps up at you with muddy paws?

Then it's an out of control dog. That's the point. Are you arguing that this behaviour is acceptable?

Dog #1 bounds over and takes a lump out of my leg.
Dog #2 bounds over and slathers my suit in mud whilst I'm on my way to a job interview.

The severity of the outcome is different, but the root problem is the same, it's an uncontrolled animal with an indifferent owner. Should I be happy to be covered in mud because I'm lucky enough not to have been savaged?

Out of control dog and owner out of order.

My OH got bit on the toe last week. Owner was asked to apologise!

Then it's an out of control dog. That's the point. Are you arguing that this behaviour is acceptable?

No, do you have trouble reading?

The severity of the outcome is different, but the root problem is the same

Yes the root of the problem is the same a stupid dog owner. The behaviours being displayed by the dogs are very very different

So unlikely it happened twice in one day.

That comment was made regarding dogs attacking with intent to harm, which is not common. The incidents you describe sound more like unruly dogs owned by bellends, had the dogs had intent to do harm the sad fact is they would have inflicted it.

A dog nipping at a small child obviously has done some harm of the psychological kind. Regardless of what the root of the issues is the owner has an obligation to control the dog. If they don't or can't then they shouldn't have a dog.

Dog ownership is unfortunately not taken as seriously as it should be. Hence why shelters are always full. I wish there was a simple solution, but unfortunately there isn't. Mainly because people in general are lazy bastards and can't be bothered putting the effort in.

Many dog owners think it's ok for their dog to run at people and jump up because it's just playing.

This is NOT ok. Bite or not...it's annoying, intimidating, dirty and all round out of order. I'll go along with the 'ban dogs from the world' plan.

We went to stay with friends when my oldest son was about 4 years old.
The people we stayed with had a very excitable spaniel puppy and it terrorised my lad, causing him to cry and run which the puppy thought was a great game.
This went on for the first day or two, with the friends feeling terrible and resorting to locking the dog away.

Half an hour of training the kid to stand his ground soon sorted the problem, and it's a skill that has stayed with him.
We walk our own dog on the beach most evenings. There's a fairly small section of the beach where dogs are allowed during summer months, and it's a popular spot so the density of animals can be quite high (as can the density of irresponsible owners)

At 7 years old my boy can now confidently and cheerfully deal with any sized hound he encounters (as can his younger brother)

It's not within your power to equip every dog with a responsible owner, but it IS possible to equip your child with the skills he needs to stay safe in that environment.
I'm not victim blaming, cos it sounds like you had a particularly awful experience, but for us it's just another valuable life skill

I've not read all the posts but would like to echo the ones that have suggested you familiarise your kid with some friendly dogs again, and fairly soon. A similar thing must have happened to me when I was younger because I spent a lot of my childhood scared of dogs. It's not a good thing at all and I'm sure it could have been avoided if I'd socialised with some friendly dogs.