Please call your dog

Some of the "pro-dog" posts on the thread are from people who just don't understand how anyone can find it intimidating when a dog bounces around and puts its paws up on their shoulders. They are not like the "hard" types who project their own aggression through their dog and are not fit to own a dog ( any more than they would be fit to own an automatic repeating machine gun or a domestic carving knife.) However, what they are projecting is the mindset that regards someone who is afraid of dogs as a bit of a wimp.

Elegran.......

Of course the owner is the key, that is not in dispute.
As I have already said there are people who should NOT be allowed to keep dogs.

You are aware that animals are not sentient beings, aren't you?

I bred from my spaniel with the intention of keeping one of the puppies. Sadly she only had one, and then died when the puppy was just a few weeks old. It was the most difficult dog I've ever had, and I was told that only puppies do have issues because they have no idea of pecking orders etc. Not sure if this is true but someone who bred large mastiff type dogs said that only puppies from breeds like that could be quite dangerous.

The Daily Mail article does make one good point. Puppies need to learn to socialise by 6 weeks, this means it is down to the breeder. If you buy your dog from a puppy farm it will have had no socialisation at all. You then have an uphill battle.

We are buying a puppy at the moment and the breeder sends videos of the puppies learning different things. They are in the house so already learning to socialise with all their visitors.

We walk our dog (only one at the moment ) away from the village in forestry walks where there is only one parking space so we know there is no-one else there. Any visitors to the house are asked at the gate if they are happy with dogs and if not the dogs are shut away. A lot of this is because I do not like other people's dogs, as someone else mentioned, so I understand. Dogs are too unpredictable and should not be allowed to run free where there are people.

Yes, and it is neither with the dog nor with the passerby who has been targeted by the dog.

I wonder whether the same logic ("It's your own fault for being scared . ." ) would also be applied to someone who is being threatened by a mugger - "They can sense that you are too frightened to defend yourself, so it is your own fault that they are aggressive . . ."

I think Gemmag has illustrated perfectly where the problem lies.....

Gemmag The silliest remarks on the thread are the ones that tell people who are afraid of dogs that the dogs are picking up on their body language and being threatening BECAUSE they sense that they are afraid.

FFS - If you are scared shitless by an aggressive dog, then whatever the reason for its aggression your body is going to react with the usual symptoms - sweat, adrenaline, and sheer bloody fear. The dog is very well aware of them. None of these are under conscious control without a long intensive course from an expert instructor.

So who should have the course of instruction? If it were a human bully there would be no question - teach him that it is not acceptable to attack someone who is afraid of you. Ther same applies to a dog, which is a creature that can learn what its owner decides to teach him and what that owner insists on.

The owner is the key. If the master is contemptuous of someone who is afraid, what hope does the dog have of learning anything else?

None of this advice would have helped me as I had to walk through a gate with a crouching growling dog waiting for me at the other side, and no owner in sight. As I approached the gate, it went for me. I don't know what I could have done.

NanKate.

Are they going camping in the wild somewhere and are you sure it didn’t say bear and not dog!. Some unbelievably silly remarks on this thread about dogs.

Thank you Bear Grylls - what about the dogs just being on leads? - problem solved.

Today we bought our DS for Xmas the Bear Grylls’ book ‘How to stay alive’. We thought it would be useful when he takes our two DGSs camping and walking.

Lo and behold on pages 379 to 383 there is a chapter on ‘is the dog dangerous’. Maybe it would be worth looking at it in your local bookstore.

In short

‘If A dog is showing signs of aggression.....

Don’t look it in the eye - it will take that as a challenge.
Don’t smile - it could interpret that as you baring your teeth.
Stand sideways to it so that you present less of a threat.
Gradually back away.
Make no sudden movements as you get yourself out of the dog’s line of sight’

Hope that helps.

n&g guilty of getting working dogs and not working them, but in our defence we went to training classes with them for several years. We give them long walks, hence the need for them to be off lead.

www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5088241/Scientifically-proven-six-week-puppy-training-regime.html

Here we go folks, the answer to all our dog training dilemmas.

You're right you 'shouldn't have' to learn about dog behaviour Kezia but wouldn't YOU benefit from doing so?

Then you would understand when you should be cautious and when a dogs behaviour is not as threatening as you perceive it.

This issue of poorly trained dogs is down to a number of issues in my opinion and to be fair its about the people not the dogs.

1. Too many people breeding their pets to make money . They are not using good stock, not taking into account issues i.e breeding from dogs with excellent temperament etc.

2. Too many people not buying the right dog for them. Choosing a dog for fashion or looks and not understanding the nature of the breed. Buying working dogs and not working them etc

3. People purchasing dogs and not training them. And I mean more than sit and give me a paw. Going to classes, learning about the breed and your dog in particular. learning how to control your dog for its own benefit and for those around it.

None of these things will ever change unless it starts at the grass roots in my opinion. Every little should require a licence. Every pup sold should require a licence. Training should be obligatory .

It'll never happen ...but its good to dream

When walking our dogs I am always on red alert when I see anyone approaching, as I know that not everyone likes dogs. I have a sister who is absolutely petrified so I do understand. If we are in any doubt, they go back on the lead.
For their own well-being though, they do need to run off lead. If there was a dedicated dog park available, I would use it but they are an unknown thing in our area.

We're lucky that our dogs never have to leave the farm other than to go to the vet or kennels where they are well behaved and sociable (thank goodness)

Although I like to think of myself as a dog lover I'm not in the slightest bit interested in other people's dogs - if that makes sense.

"Shouldn't have to" - indeed!!!!

I am intrigued by this thread which has shown very clearly that dogs are a problem to many; it is a message that needs to get out there so that those owners who wish to be considerate can see the level of this concern. It is not about being "hysterical", as anya suggested on her doggy thread; it is about having the right to walk in peace and safety.

This has provoked quite a discussion between me and a couple of friends, both of whom are dog owners. It gave me the courage to remind them both that much as I seem relaxed around their dogs I'm actually quite frightened. They both said I should learn about dog behaviour and then I'd be less anxious. My response? I shouldn't have to! For seven months of the year our local beach is dog friendly and I love walking there. It's a long stretch of sand and, at low tide, it's possible to walk for a couple of miles or more. Yesterday there were more dogs than people. I like watching them but I'm always wary when they seem to gather into ever larger groups.

No! I mistakenly took that approach with a persistent seagull last week, tossing a bit of my sandwich away from me to get rid of him. Before I knew it, every seagull on the beach was marching determinedly towards me!
Imagine if that happened in the park with lots of dogs

Thank you Eglantine for starting this thread. My DH suggested recently that I had hypnosis to try and overcome my fear of dogs which has increased with age.

I walk every day and am super alert to looking for dogs. I take a walking cane and would be prepared to hit a dog on the nose if he came for me, then have a heart attack ?

I too tell the owner 'I am really frightened of dogs please take it away' this latest response was 'my dog can pick up on your body language' I know that all I want us for them to take their bloomin dogs away.

I find standing still and not giving them eye contact helps.

Someone I know keeps dog biscuits in his pocket and throws them to the dog. I'm not sure I fancy that method in case they come back for more.

Maybe the answer to the dog problem is for us to dress up in giant cat costumes and chase away any dog that comes too close

There's a cat called 'Ginger' who lives in the next village and sits by the side of the road watching the world go by. Supposedly he 'comes with the house' as, whenever the house sells he just stays where he is. Sometimes he'll disappear for a while but then come back again and resume his position both by the side of the road and in the house. However, I have been told never to stroke him as he will go for me.

Cats are good at training everyone. I saw a very apt little sign once - 'cats don't have owners; they have staff.'