Apologies for a long post! Went out at 5:30 this morning to our usual walking place, which is a long winding hedgerow through the rural countryside, and is a public footpath. On these windy footpaths my lab keeps within 5m of me as I don't like him ranging out of site, but as it's quite overgrown and winding, sometimes he goes out of site for a moment or two. Today we came to a sharp bend in the path and he went ahead of me. I heard a woman suddenly hysterically yelling, mostly incoherent but something about a dog. I was quite shocked at this sudden yelling, which was out of sight, and immediately called him back. To his credit, he came back straight away. I went to grab him to clip his lead on when she starts hysterically screaming again about keeping dogs on lead, which caused him to run straight back to her. She's still around the corner out of sight at this point. More screaming from her as I'm rushing up to grab him, and to my surprise she's there with a dog on lead (the dog was very calmly wagging his tail as if nothing was happening - not aggressive or lead reactive in any way that I could see), and my dog too was wagging his tail but being fairly calm despite the situation. I took my lab back with me to a spot where the path forked off into a dead end and waited to give her plenty of clearance to pass. Well as she comes round the bend, she starts yelling at me that dogs should be on lead and demanding an apology. After all of her yelling I lost my temper at this point and started yelling back to her, saying if she didn't want to meet dogs off lead she shouldn't come to places where she's going to see dogs off lead. To which she screamed all dogs should be on lead, and I yelled back that there are no lead laws in the UK. She looked shocked by that, so I looked it up when I got back: From the gov.uk site: It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it: injures someone makes someone worried that it might injure them I think making someone worried is subjective.. My dog is clearly not going to attack anyone, he's a silly soppy puppy. I would assume this means a dog that is snarling or barking at you aggressively. But she was so hysterical she probably saw him and in her mind turned him into the Hound of Baskerville. But regardless, he IS a very excitable, large 11 month old puppy, and he does get excited when he sees other dogs and will run up to them. All this was all out of sight so I can't say for sure how he was behaving but I know for 100% he wasn't attacking, as he's a sweet boy and doesn't have a mean bone in his body. However, I can't rely on him not to run up to other dogs at this point in his training and maturity. If I see dogs coming, or other people, I always put him on lead, but there are instances (like this morning) where I'm blindsided. I'm not really sure what I should do. I could use a long line but I'm worried that it could get easily tangled in shrubs and brambles on these foot paths, and be a major nuisance. I don't want to stop walking on foot paths as the off lead time is good for my boy and we use it to practise him staying in close range, off lead heel, waits, hand touches, and so on. I could call him back and put him on lead every time we can't see far ahead, but that would be pretty constant. I really am at a loss what I should do. I know I need to do more work with him being calm around other dogs, which I'll be doing once we move and I can commit to a long training course (we're planning on moving within the month). But it's a long road until he's a calm boy. Also I know I didn't help matters by losing my cool and yelling back at her The thing is I've seen this woman before, walking on the street, and when she saw us (on lead), she actually walked through a bunch of weeds to avoid us. He hadn't even seen her and was acting calm, and we've never had any bad run-ins at this point, so it seems it's also on-lead dogs that she has a problem with.
I have exactly the same problem in our park. I no longer go there at 9am as it's full of people who are afraid of dogs power walking around. Mollie is bouncy, lively and puppyish and she loves to run around -but she doesn't jump up or in any way bother the people. One woman screamed and jumped back, causing her to fall. Her companion said 'that dog should be under control'. She was under control! Her recall is 100% and she never jumps on people. I can't ignore them as there are so many, they go around and around the park in twos - so I keep meeting them and their stares of disapproval. Luckily it's only at school drop off time they are there so I can still use the park at other times. I would put him on lead to pass her but otherwise totally ignore her. Silly people - grrrrrrrrrrr! .
Heavens above,she might have a calm dog displaying appropriate body language at the moment but she won't for long if she's reacting like that herself! Her dog will pick up on that and wonder what on earth is about to confront them! Not defending her ,but it sounds like she's had a previous bad experience that has really rattled her....Beau sounds like a super star coming straight back in amongst all the tension x
Gosh! What a terribly stressful situation for your. Understandably you would be upset after that. The good thing is that Beau sounds quite unperturbed by the mad woman's antics, which do sound rather odd and most certainly an acute reaction. When humans react in such an extreme way, I usually chalk it up too some traumatic experience they have had, with a dog, or without. It is interesting that she was out so early, and her dog was on a lead. A couple of clues there maybe? I know it's extremely difficult, in these situations remaining calm and sympathetic is the best way forward. Once in a while we will come up against these rather stressful situations, try not to worry about them too much, luckily they are very rare!
I think it may well be that she has had a bad experience in the past, especially when you consider she was walking her dog very early when presumably it was quiet. I certainly do not want to defend her behaviour which certainly sounds unacceptable but my 2 yr old lab was attacked six months ago by three dogs. She now has to be walked with a "I need space" flash on her lead and my nightmare is the sight of an excited young dog bounding towards us with no owner in sight as I then have to try and control the situation. I fully understand how hard it is to train a reliable recall in a young excitable lab so please don't think I'm having a go and again her behaviour does sound both extreme and unnecessary.
@SilverFalcon I feel very sorry for you, a nasty experience which must have left you feeling shaken. IF the woman is frightened of dogs, then when she saw you she could have explained her extreme behaviour. I must confess that, like you, I would have reacted angrily as well, perhaps not the best thing to do, she could be accused of frightening you!
I'd say the woman was yelling out of fright more than anything....who knows what her history is or what has happened with her dog. After having had both my dogs attacked (the first one almost killed) I too feel hugely stressed when a strange dog runs up to us. I don't yell, but I feel angry about it. As to what you should do....I'd just make sure your dog is always in your sight, and I'd put him on lead as soon as you see another dog on lead. If you see a person (no dog) get him close to you. Otherwise I'd keep walking him off lead. Try not too feel bad about what's happened though. It was just a case of bad timing. You didn't do anything irresponsible.
Yep, I agree. About 15 years ago I was attacked by a staffie when I was jogging. It came running out of a yard and went for my leg – not terribly severely, but badly enough for stitches and a permanent scar – and pinned me behind a gate for about half an hour. I was a lifelong dog lover, brought up with dogs and used to walking a pack of 7 or more at a time. But after being bitten I was genuinely frightened of strange dogs. Rationally I knew that a dog barrelling up to me was probably friendly but my physiological reaction was terror all the same. It took me quite a few years to get back to normal around strange dogs, even after what was a pretty minor dog attack. So I can totally understand why you were taken aback by such an extreme reaction, but I suspect the woman you met was genuinely frightened - and is probably now absolutely mortified herself!
Thank you all for your thoughtful responses, I really appreciate it. I agree she must have had a frightful experience to cause her to go into hysterics, although I don't know what, as (in the midst of my yelling) I had asked her why she was acting this way, and all she said was "your dog is the problem, mine is much bigger and might pull me over". Well her dog was the same size as my lab, and was the picture of calm, honestly I wish my dog was like that So I don't know. The funny thing is I come out this early too, to try to avoid people! And lo and behold, I meet possibly the worst person I could have, probably also out early trying to avoid people...definitely a case of bad timing. I told her though (well yelled if I'm honest) that if she doesn't want to run into me again, don't come out at this time because I'll be here. Honestly I really do get stroppy when I'm angry She called me rude and then did a rude gesture at me. Feel embarrassed about my lack of control and also a bit shell shocked about this happening again. She lives in my neighbourhood, I see her walking by my house pretty much every day She walks her dog on a big thick metal chain, and I've seen her doing harsh lead jerks with him if he goes for a sniff, even though he walks beautifully on a loose lead. Not that it matters but he looks to be a big bull dog/staffy mix, and really unflappably calm.
Unfortunately you cannot always 100% see your dog if you are in the woods or in lanes that are bendy unless they are on lead. You know your boy and I'm sure if you had any concern about him you wouldn't have him off lead. It sounds like she completely overreacted (for whatever reason) and I think I would of reacted the same way you did. It is frustrating when you go to an off lead area and there are dogs on lead and they kick up a fuss because yours is off......why go to an off lead area???m Hope you and Beau enjoy the rest of your day.
I would just remain silent and look away when you come across her next time. Resist the temptation to respond in any way. Even if she makes the first move (or, er, gesture..). Otherwise it's just gonna escalate, and who knows where to. We're not in the zone of rationality here. Give her nothing to react to - absolutely nothing.
Thanks Naya Somehow that put things into perspective and yes, we should enjoy the rest of our day and not brood too much over this.
But what is an off lead and what is an on lead area? Honestly im amazed at where some people walk dogs off lead and give me a hard time for having a dog on a lead. I was walking down a residential street with Jura on Saturday and a jack Russel on the opposite side shot across straight in front of a car to get to her. The women then blamed me for not crossing to allow the dogs to speak! Obviously there are always going to be times when those of us dealing with reactive dogs have to cope with dogs running up to them but I for one try and walk at quiet times, in quiet areas but will still walk in woodland and expect people to recall their dog away from a dog with clearly wearing a I Need Space flash.
Good and sound advice. If I see her coming I'll give her plenty of berth to pass, even if that means backtracking a long way until I find somewhere suitable.
Well that woman is being completely unreasonable, certainly not your fault and she's putting her dog, and others, in serious danger. I do see people walking their dogs off lead on the street which is something I'd never do. In terms of what is off lead and what is on lead, urban areas or anywhere there is potential traffic, I'd consider the realm of on-lead with off-lead being an odd exception, but anywhere rural you're going to find 99% of dogs being off lead. In those environments, I'd think the norm would be to expect to run into dogs off lead more than the reverse. I too expect people to recall their dog away from dogs (and people), with or without a flash on. And in my case, I did immediately recall my lab away, but then her yelling had him racing back to her before I could clip his lead on, at which point I immediately collected him. I think a lot of this could have been avoided if she hadn't decided to continue yelling at me even after I'd called him and he was returning back to me, and then of course, if I'd ignored her instead of yelling back
I would never say an off lead area was on a residential street, that was ridiculous of the woman to blame you for not crossing the road to say hello. Near me, there are a few large fields, with a stream running through. It has one path through the middle but I don't walk near it. This is 99% of the time used for an off lead area (the other 1% is for people using it as a short cut and the odd few on lead dogs). Across the road there is a similar set up, but has paths running through and is used for on lead dogs. It also has a lot of paths that loop through the woods etc. If I ever see a dog with a flashing light, or is on lead or has a yellow or red lead/collar, I recall Harley immediately as you don't know the reason for the dog being on lead (reactive, injured etc). It's about being reasonable and respecting other dog walkers. I walk at times I know there won't be a lot of people about as I like to spend time with Harley, not everyone else's dogs.
I had someone shout at me yesterday that my sweet, wriggling puppy should be on a lead... In the forest, where we went to practice off-lead walking without getting in anyone's way. You just can't win sometimes. Clock it up to experience - and as bad as it made you feel, remember that for you that was just one bad walk. Pretty much all of her walks must be dreadful, if she got that upset about a young, friendly Labrador coming to greet her...
Yes it is about being considerate and respecting all other dog walkers, but no area is an "off lead area". This is a phrase I hear all the time and I'm told I should not be walking in so many areas poor Jura would never leave the garden if I listened. Unless we are talking a US style dog park, no area is off lead. I'm sure everybody using this forum is extremely considerate and understanding to those dog walkers trying to help their dogs overcome an attack, and @SilverFalcon i apologise for going off on a tangent! Rant over I promise!
In the U.K. all areas are off lead areas unless it's a road or private land. I always put mine on if the other dog is on lead or they don't have a dog, otherwise they are off.
