Please call your dog

I was walking my dogs yesterday both off lead on land owned by the army, anyone can walk here, my dogs, a border terrier and cocker spaniel are not interested in other dogs at all, or indeed people, they like each other, out of the blue hurtled one of the biggest rotti I have ever seen, tail upright on high alert, made a beeline for my spaniel nearly knocking her over, she responded by lying down whimpering, owner moving slowly towards us saying it's alright "jaeger" ??? is friendly, ah but I am not, call your dog off please I yell, my dogs do not want a play date, his reply, your dogs need to go to socialising classes or have them on a lead!! I was nearly speechless, but not quite, his dog approached us, we were minding our own business, he had no control over his dog, no recall at all, I can't write what I next said, but this dog owner and many others like him give us respectful dog owners a very bad name. I gave as good as I got, but inside I was shaking like a leaf, walking my dogs is not as pleasurable as it was.

That's the point Nls isn't it. Its owners like that who are contributing to this great rift between those of us who are responsible dog owners and those who don't know about dogs. I had a "professional" dog walker whose 7 off lead dogs raced up to my on lead dogs shouting at me that if I couldn't let my dogs off lead, they shouldn't be on the park. The shouting was aggressive and accompanied by foul language. I told him his dogs were the problem not mine, that he'd absolutely no control and was a menace every time he appeared with several assorted dogs.
As for the proliferation of dog walkers, its because people are less likely to leave their dogs alone for several hours when they're out at work. They are supposed to be insured etc but having several dogs bouncing around in the van, then off lead in public spaces would surely invalidate their insurance. I volunteer for a specific breed rescue. Our fosters are all insured but we are clear that if off lead and involved in a scrap/incident, the insurance is invalid. I wonder if the people paying £10 an hour realise the risks they're taking. Also, it isn't helping their dogs to behave calmly.

I have to say we can't group ALL dog walkers as a bad bunch the same as not all dog owners are bad, not all dogs are badly trained not all people who don't have dogs hate them.

It is the minority of all those groups.

I know of a dog walker who walks up to 5 , in an appropriate place, is insured, transports the dogs in a specially modified van where they all have their own cage, its air-conditioned etc. She doesn't just walk the dogs in her care, every walk is a training session.

Every dog is taught 'the rules' or they are not clients.

I have personally seen here drop every dog into a down position form 20 metres whilst others walk by. I wish that I had the control she has , and I work hard with my one dog to make sure in times of need he knows to listen and do as I ask.

So , whilst I know there are bad apples out there- don't forget the good ones.

As always, the minority give a bad name to the majority - but that doesn't excuse those who think the victims of the minority are wimps or making it up. They should imagine themselves surrounded by giant "friendly" spiders, or with "furry cuddly" bats flying round their heads, or whatever turns their guts to jelly, to get an idea of what it feels like, even when you are not particularly afraid of dogs, just overwhelmed by their exuberance and sheer physicality.

But can’t you see that if you have negative experiences re dogs, as you’re lying on the floor with your ankle broken, you trousers ripped you are hardly likely to say. ‘Oh bad luck, most dog owners would have controlled their dog better than that? Or if you’ve sat in casualty with your dd after she’s been bitten with NO PROVOCATION at all and had to be admitted overnight?

And those of you who keep dogs will inevitably be more confident around dogs- as are riders around horses or farmers around cows

It is odd when thinking of this love/hate relationship, especially when you understand that canines have been our longest most loyal companions since before homo sapien. Canines and homo erectus shared living accommodation and hunting trips.

You would have thought that we as a species would have pretty much come to terms with such a long term companion.

Perhaps we can all start saying how much we hate cats next, then move on to another species. How about the vagaries of the rabbit?

mary did the dog break your ankle and rip your trousers

If it's of any use there was a round robin on FB yesterday advising on how children should approach strange dogs when they want to pet them. It included the instructions on how to avoid dogs approaching them. Stand still and quiet, look away and fold your arms across your chest. I've tried it with over-exuberant dogs and it does usually work. (Although a dog lover I don't want or enjoy other peoples dogs jumping up me and ruining good clothes).

None of what you say ww makes up for the simply awful cavalier dog owners that some of us experience REGULARLY.

Not keen on rabbits, Whitewave - they are too ungainly to pick up and carry around, they scrabble about in your arms, have sharp claws and they poop camouflaged little raisin-sized pellets all over the carpet that get trodden in.

I've been attacked by more cats than I have dogs.

Oh don’t be ridiculous ww or is being injured and having clothes ruined as a result of a badly behaved dog amusing? And your dd’s face and head being bitten - was that funny? This thread has opened my eyes

I've been bitten to the bone by a gerbil. But that was my own fault, I picked it up clumsily and it was scared.

A friend used to have a house rabbit. A little lop eared thing which sat in front of the fire. He had a dog cage in the kitchen under the table with a box in it for a bedroom and a litter tray. He always returned there for his toilet. A bit like having an undemanding cat. I thought he was rather boring.

House rabbits have form for chewing through electric cables too. Dangerous beasts, rabbits.

Only once have I been bitten by a dog. I went to look at a pony for a friend. The owner's dogs were loose in the field and one rushed to the gate barking. I stood still and waited for the owner to join me. She called out all the usual stuff about it being friendly etc., and then, 'I wouldn't have expected you to be scared of dogs.'

I should have gone with my instincts and ignored the taunt but I didn't and as soon as I entered the field it had me by the back of my leg. Ripped my jeans and left a nasty bite on my calf.

Needless to say the pony was not inspected and I never set foot there again.

Thankfully, we still had a local military hospital in those days with an excellent A&E so I was soon sorted!

mary you need to calm down a bit. No one is taking anything away from your unpleasant experiences of dogs, and I do sympathise how frightened you must have been. but being so very cross at us isn’t going to solve what is clearly a problem to your particular part of the country. It certainly isn’t an issue in my bit.
personally I find humans far more scary.

You havent told us what happened about your ankle and clothing. How on earth did the dog owner react. I assume the police were involved?

The only time I have ever seen a dog bite a child, the owner had the dog destroyed

P.s. I adore rabbits, as a child I holidayed with an aunt whose neighbour had a huge buck rabbit in the back garden - no fences in those days. He was vicious and would actually bite.

I was cross at the way you dog lovers dismissed our fears and concerns - and you did, don’t deny that. Yes the dog who bit my daughter was destroyed the next day - well that’s all right then - at least he didn’t kill her. All I am really saying is keep your dogs on leads where other people are around and if your dog needs a good run, find somewhere they can do that without spoiling things for people - you know humans who have the right to walk along pavements, , paths in their local parks, sit on a bench without being slobbered in,sniffed, jumped on, knocked over or injured. All dogs should be chipped, insured and licensed. The money from the licence should go a well staffed dog warden service who patrol streets and parks rounding up any dogs not on leads. Not being on a lead in such places should lead to immediate destruction.

I don't think Maryliza needs to calm down . I think dog lovers believe that dogs are not animals but fur babies, that dogs don't smell ,that the houses with dogs in don't smell,that dog owners clean up after their dogs,that their right to have a large dog penned into a small house /flat is their right because they need to have someone adoring them or they need to control something .
If you don't own a dog then you know ( not believe) that dogs smell, their owners smell and their houses smell etc etc.
Dog owners who are responsible on line here may well be perfection personified but sadly the majority are not.
I'm a dog lover btw which is why I don't own one.

My house, my dogs and I, do not smell. Fact.

Whew! I am saddened to hear all the injuries that people have suffered at the hands (or rather teeth) of dogs; but heartened to know that I am not alone in my wish to see dogs under proper control.

I am aware of how dogs can be valued companions to those who like them, and have no problem with that.

I am simply asking that the people who own these animals should stop them interfering with others - even in ways that the owners see as cute and harmless.

I think that is the crux of the problem - dog owners (however irresponsible they are) can see that their dog biting someone is a bad thing; but some dog owners (even responsible ones) think that licking, jumping up etc are cute (he's being friendly) and assume that others see it that way. I think it is clear that many people don't.

It cannot be said that dogs do not smell - they have a doggy smell, which is what attracts other dogs. There would be something wrong with them if they did not smell of dog.

Just treat people around you with good manners and assume that they do not want doggy attention unless they state otherwise. I know that many dog owners on here do exactly that. How to alter the minds of those who simply do not care? Legal changes that make it illegal to have dogs off the lead in public places? - the dog lobby would be up in arms about the violation of a dog's "right" to run free.

I can see that if you own a dog you want to be responsible and do your best by it, which probably includes giving it chances to run free; but I believe that the rights of humans come first. I will now be barraged with posts telling me that dogs are far preferable to humans!! . Let me just say, I do not agree.

My dog is preferable to some of the posters on here that’s for sure Luckygirl - he’s got better manners for one thing !

I too have suffered from biting gerbils Elegran ... now they can be vicious !!

One thing I can state categorically Stansgran , I do not smell, my house does not smell (and I ask often ) and Sam only smells on a day he’s been swimming. Once bathed after that and sprayed he smells like baby powder !!