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Some people!!

2K views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  Trina 
#1 ·
Some people shouldnt have dogs!! :(

I have just got back from taking the dogs for their evening walk and am amazed by this lady that I met, so because I am cross I figured i would share the story with all you!!

I let the dogs out of the car as normal, we park right by the field so they are near no roads and because they know exactly where they are they just run onto the grass - Charlie is glued to my side because I have his ball in the ball thrower and Izzie is being Izzie and charging around in circles thrilled that she is out for her run.........anyway, as always I throw the ball for the dogs for a couple of mins then let them have a sniff and so on and so forth.

Over the other side of the field is a lady who is literally being taken for a walk by her chocolate lab - he is pulling her all over the place and I could hear him crying - maybe because he wanted to come over and see my guys, or just because he didnt want to be on a lead........ :(

Anyway, as we get closer and are about to pass, my dogs are totally ignoring hers because they are focused on their ball when I hear her say to the dog 'Dont go near those dogs they are totally out of control....! :twisted:

Maybe I should have ignored her, but me being me asked what she meant by that - she replied 'well look at them running around like lunatics, they are not walking, they are charging and terrorising people and other dogs..... (At this point we had been walking for about 15 mins and they had not run up to any other dogs and at least 5 people on bikes had gone passed and they too were ignored....)

At this point I saw red, and asked her why her dog was on its lead, that it obviously wanted to play - she replied, I dont have time to allow him to play and if I let him off his lead he runs away to run around with other dogs. I asked if she was banning him from running for medical reasons, she replied no and that if she wanted a dog who played with others she would not have got a labrador....who (and get this!!) are not sociable dogs...... 8O :? :x

My dogs at this time are sat quietly by my side staring at the ball and occasionaly looking at this poor lab of hers dying to play with them....

I asked her again why she thought my dogs were out of control and she explained again that they were running around and not walking - I replied that this was their evening walk and play, they are in a large field so of course they want to play and I know I have control over them if needs be.

So, she asked me to prove the control I had - so I put the ball in the thrower and threw it - both of them ran after it Charlie caught it and they both came running back to me, Charlie dropped the ball and they both sat looking at me all proud. So I looked at her and asked her if they were two out of control dogs. She didnt reply. :roll:

She started to witter on again about how dogs should not be allowed to play etc etc etc etc, so I simply said that I thought she was cruel to her dog that he was desperate to greet my 2 and have a run around - she said I was the cruel one allowing mine to run around - at this point I just walked away......

How can she think that allowing a dog not to play or be sociable is right??

Rant over....sorry if that story was boring, just some people fascinate me.......
 
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#2 ·
Hi,

Hmmm sounds like people i meet when i'm on walks!! 8O

I can see both sides though.........i tend not to let Bailey off a lead but keep him on an extending one. I do this for two reasons

1. Bailey doesn't recall very well (actually that's me putting lightly)

2. The amount of times i have had people having a rant at me because Bailey has charged over to their dog for a sniff!!

He is big and can move when HE wants too but doesn't have a bad bone in his body ..........i think the locals here are very judgemental........now the 'andrex puppy' look has gone they have nothing pleasant to say!! :twisted:

I'll bring Bailey to your field for a play with your two :wink:
 
#5 ·
My dogs have always been allowed to socialise with others, however they have also known when to stop or when not to greet another dog if I say not too - I also know that their recall is very good because its something that we have trained them both to do.

I dont have a problem with people not letting their dogs off lead - its personal choice, however I do have a problem with people telling me my dogs are out of control just because they are friendly and like to run around!
 
#6 ·
I let Ben off the lead to have have a play and swim sometimes in the sea. He greets dogs that are off their leads and has a play but if i see a dog coming towards me on a lead then i put him on a lead too.

Sometimes there is a reason for them being on a lead (i'm not says this is the case with this woman) but I know when ben had his op on his leg and was not allowed to play or jump around it was very annoying when people just let their dogs run all over the place. He got so excited that we had to go back to the car and go home.

Shame that the dog was not allowed to play and have a bit of freedom, must be a boring life... :(
 
#7 ·
Hi Charliebrewer
How frustrating for you.
Sounds a bit like she couldn't believe it possible to have an offlead dog under control. Technically speaking she's right in that, legally, a dog is only considered under control when on a lead - but that
I think not allowing a dog to socialise and learn social skills is unfair to the dog and will cause more problems.

I don't like out of control dogs running up - it is not fair on the other dog - you don't know whether they are nervous, aggressive, recuperating etc. but it sounds like you've got the balance right. Maybe she was scared to let them play incase she lost control - she probably doesn't realise that if she lets him play, the novelty of other dogs lessens and her dog would be more relaxed around them.

As an aside, I was talking to a behaviourist a few months ago who said that over a quarter of the dogs he sees because of dog on dog behaviour problems (fear/agression), the cause has been overboisterous play / being bowled over by a labrador when young. Although we love them, our naturally exuberant and boisterous labrador is not always as popular amongst other dog owners and their dogs - and we do need to consider others too.

regards
Jenny :)
 
#8 ·
Hi charliebrewer


I believe that there are too many dogs that are not allowed to get and enjoyment in life in the form a free playtime of the lead, which I am a great believer in. I live in a small village and the amount of people that dont even walk thier dogs on a lead is so frustrating, i feel like going up to them and taking the dogs away from them.

My dogs get free runs every day and i dont care what the non dog lovers think or care . They want to think of how much joy and pleasure that they bring to so many people and children..


I think this is all it boils down too, is anon dog person having a grump, all I can say is, go and get a life and let some people enjoy their lives.
What we have of them, anyway. lol :)
 
#9 ·
vogue usually has off lead walks but if shes outside with me while im working or reading I put her on a 30ft tether because I can't concentrate on my book/work if im constantly checking on her, and the campus used to be a civic park but public are allowed through and if its sunny people are always playing ultimate or football however while shes off lead we do lots of recall to check shes listening a spot of off lead healwork and then a mad run around. While shes on her teather she gets her buster cube (now she understands it works on grass) so we're both happy!

Anna
 
#10 ·
Well, another 'out of control' lab here too!
I can fully understand if people put dogs on leads when approaching other dogs, people or small children, or if they are dogs who maybe dont respond well etc.
But my leo loves out in the open away from it all. It's his time!! :)
 
#11 ·
I'm careful with Molly only to let her off the lead where I can see that there isn't too many distractions, if i see someone else with a dog I tend to recall her and make her stay, or if I need to carry on I will put her on the retractable,
It's purely because I can't guarantee that she will recall, she will "most" of the time, but has been known to go a bit nuts when playing with another dog! and ignore you for a while..

She was very well behaved the other day as a runner went past us while she was off the lead, and she responded to a quick, "here" command and trotted past the runner without a second glance..

Now if only I can stop her jumping up...grrr
 
#12 ·
I love being able to take Penny somewhere where I can let her off her lead. Unfortunately she suffers, very badly, from selective deafness. If something attracts her attention I can yell and scream until I'm blue in the face and it makes no difference she will not come back. I really envy you CharlieBrewer and others like you who have the confidence to let their dogs off the lead no matter what distractions are around.

Penny walks well on her lead now and I quite often take her out on her extending lead so she can have a little bit of freedom. We take her to training classes also but recall is still and I fear always will be her great weakness.

Can't understand the other woman accusing your dogs of being out of control. They sound absolutely terrific. Could she have been jealous (just like me) that your guys can be trusted off lead? Just a thought. However I know some people are so precious about their pets. When Penny's jumping about all excited wanting to play they look at me as if I'm mad. I love meeting people who like their dogs to have a play. If they're good at coming back I can risk letting Penny off to have a play with them, because she'll follow them.

Any tips abouts increasing the reliability of Penny's recall would be greatly appreciated.

Regards
Trina
 
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