An Open Letter To Other Dog Owners

[Brandiandwe]

Dear Other Dog Owner,

 

I'm writing this in the hope of making both of our walks more pleasant by raising a few minor points with you regarding our dogs' behaviour.

 

We both leash walk our dogs at the same time in the same area. We both want all parties to go home safe. With this in mind, please keep your dog on the leash at all times in leashed areas. When I walk my dogs there, I expect to be able to walk without the danger of an unleashed and unknown dog rushing up to my dogs.

 

If your dog is off leash and rushes at my dogs and is snarling or growling, please do not get upset if I put my dogs behind me and kick at your dog, shout at your dog, shout at you, or otherwise stop your dog. Believe me, your small puppy can hurt my hounds, both of whom are muzzled, and I don't want to deal with the vet bills. (NB I won't do this with genuinely vicious dogs, only those who are all bluff).

 

If your dog is on the leash, but rushes at my dogs barking and yapping, please do not be surprised if my dogs respond in kind. Of course, the difference is that my dogs will also be growling, tend to be bigger than your dog, and there are two of them. This means your dog is likely to get a fright. If he doesn't back down, my two will attempt to bowl him over, and stand over him, growling and 'nosing' him until he submits and/ or backs off. I do understand that seeing your dog like this is upsetting, and believe me, I try to avoid it occurring. This avoidance would be greatly helped if, at the start of the confrontation, you stopped your dog from rushing at mine. The phrase 'Don't worry! He just wants to make friends!' sung out happily while making no attempt to stop your dog's behaviour is NOT a get out of jail free card. It only confirms to me that you can't see that as far as my hounds are concerned, your dog is being incredibly rude at best, aggressive at worst.

 

Poor socialisation and training on the part of your dog does not constitute aggression and viciousness on the part of mine. I know this because I can walk my dogs with and allow my dogs off leash with other dogs who have been appropriately socialised. It is ONLY the dogs who rush at them barking that we have problems with.

 

Finally, if we do meet and your dog does react inappropriately, and mine begin to respond, when I say 'Could you just wait there for me for a sec?' it is because I'm shortening my dogs leashes, beginning to try to redirect their attention towards me, and move them out of your way so we can all go on our way. What I need you to do is to stay where you are and not come any closer. I know my dogs - you are on the edge of their comfort zone there. What I don't want you to do is to walk closer. With your barking lunging dog. Doing this just causes an escalation, because my dogs now think that I'm under threat of attack. They will try to defend me. So stand still, let me sort my dogs out and we can all have a nice walk.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

A stressed out hound owner who is tired of other dogs - can you tell it was a bad morning?

[XTRAWLD]

I have one of these days every once in a while and it is never fun.

 

Maybe we should print out copies of what you wrote, carry them around and pass to those people that we see on our walks? Deal?

[Brandiandwe]

Deal! It's just SO frustrating!!!!

[Guest Tequila]

THIS (below) is what drives me crazy!

 

"The phrase 'Don't worry! He just wants to make friends!' sung out happily while making no attempt to stop your dog's behaviour is NOT a get out of jail free card. It only confirms to me that you can't see that as far as my hounds are concerned, your dog is being incredibly rude at best, aggressive at worst."

[Guest ShanYu]

I hear you! I often get this "If your dog was off leash too there would be no problem". Really??

[Guest NJgrey]

Also have one of these days every now and then. It's a ticking time-bomb for the charter members of the Off-Leash Society by me. There are 4 bad news dogs in my development: one unruly Rottie, 2 very large and dog aggressive Am Staff's, one big Doberman. It's only a matter of time before someone's off-leash dog runs up to one of these guys "just wanting to play" and gets its head bitten off. Then there will be a big uproar over it, and lots of noise about BSL laws. All because some idiots don't do what they're supposed to do to keep their family members safe.

 

Additionally, there is a 4 lane undivided highway 50 yards from where these dogs run off-leash. I've been living there for 8 years and had 3 incidents where I almost hit some idiot's dog flying towards the road. Like I said, only a matter of time.

[LaFlaca]

Gawd! That sounds like every walk we take. One difference is that I have a baton that I made from a sawed off broom stick and I will not hesitate to use it if I have to. I would love to hand your letter out but the off-leashers in my neighborhood wouldn't understand all the big words. One guy, whose two Pomeranians have a death wish and charge me and Wendy every time, asked me why I don't let my Greyhound off leash. I told him that in this county, leashes are the law and that if she did run, I'd never be able to catch her. Blank stare in response. Absolutely brilliant.

[jaym1]

every damn day that i go for a walk around here i have to run a never-ending gauntlet of unleashed dogs. hey, guess what? STOP YELLING YOUR DOGS NAME LIKE HE'S GOING TO LISTEN TO YOU AND RUSH BACK TO YOUR SIDE! he's a dog, and now he's sprinting toward me and my greyhound, barking and yapping with his big drooly tongue wagging out. hey thanks, we're on our peaceful morning walk and now your huge, stupid, unleashed, and disobedient dog is literally jumping all over my greyhound, who is now getting ready to bite him. oh? he never does this when you're inside your house? how shocking, then, then when you let him run around like a wild animal OUTSIDE in the middle of a city green space, where there are no walls or doors, running up to other dogs willy-nilly, he won't obey your recall. I hope you feel guilty when your dog runs out into the street and gets hit by a passing car, because that is what is going to happen.

 

also, when people let their dogs do this, and their unleashed dogs insist on following me and my dog as we walk farther and farther from the dogs owner, i refuse to stop or walk back. the dog can follow us to the end of the earth, as far as i'm concerned -- not my problem. if the owner really cared, they'd have the thing leashed to begin with.

 

/end rant.

[christinepi]

I hear you all and have had a handful encounters like the ones described, but I also have to put a word in for the owners (where I live) that are responsible and either keep their dogs on leash (the majority) or will leash them w/o asking, as soon as they spot me from far away, or, what also happens (it's not perfect, but close), will ask me from far away whether they SHOULD leash their dog for me (well, of course they should, it's an on leash area, but at the very least they have the courtesy and the wherewithal to ask). So I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised. Beaches (on leash law in effect) I don't go to, because dogs are always off leash there (especially dog walker groups), but to some extent, I can understand why people would do that. And I personally don't care about walking in sand anyways, so it's not a big loss.

Edited January 19, 2012 by christinepi

[jaym1]

I hear you all and have had a handful encounters like the ones described, but I also have to put a word in for the owners where I live that are responsible and either keep their dogs on leash (the majority) or will leash them w/o asking, as soon as they spot me from far away, or, what also happens (it's not perfect, but close), will ask me from far away whether they SHOULD leash their dog for me (well, of course they should, it's an on leash area, but at the very least they have the courtesy and the wherewithal to ask). So I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised. Beaches (on leash law in effect) I don't go to, because dogs are always off leash there (especially dog walker groups), but to some extent, I can understand why people would do that. And I don't feel I HAVE to walk on the beach.

 

there are definitely some areas that, due to geography and layout, kind of soften this problem. where i live, in jamaica plain mass, which is a part of boston, there is one long green strip that runs right through. its a lovely place with bike paths and trees, and is perfect for walking a dog. unfortunately during the morning and evenings, all these dog owners bring their dogs and let them run free. the green space is relatively narrow, so this means its literally impossible to walk a leashed dog through without having to pass through the wall of unleashed dogs. it really ticks me off. three days after i brought my greyhound home he was forced to bite -- actually bite -- one of two giant dogs who had run over and absolutely pounced on him. they were just playing, but it freaked my dog out. the owner, luckily, realized she was in the wrong and apologized. but still. . .

Edited January 19, 2012 by jaym1

[sarabz]

Oh, wow, I was about to post something similar. Here's the email I sent to my building's manager tonight -

 

 

 

Good evening xxx-

 

I wanted to express my concern over an incident with an unleashed dog. There is a woman with a brown "teacup" poodle who allows it to be off-leash with regularity in the building lobby and courtyard,. Normally I don't care to report things like this, but the dog is not under the owner's control and there was a problem tonight. After walking my dog this evening, I entered the lobby (at approximately 645 pm) and the poodle ran over and jumped on my dog. I believe it was with playful intentions, but this is not the first time the poodle has done this to my dog. My dog is a retired racing greyhound who so far has not shown any aggression to small breeds, but the potential for harm certainly exists with any dog jumping onto another. Also considering that my greyhound raced for several years, chasing a small, fluffy toy that looks remarkably like a teacup poodle, I am always on the lookout for problem situations with small dogs.

 

I know there is a leash rule for the building and a reminder was sent out only a few weeks ago. I have no problem with small dogs in general, but do have a problem with dogs that are not in control of their owner, especially when there is the potential for harm.

 

Please advise on what we can do to address this.

 

Best,

Sara

 

 

I kid you not - we're in the middle of NYC and this woman allows her teacup poodle to run around the building lobby and courtyard off leash. The dog inevitably runs up to other dogs while the owner calls uselessly after her and picks her up with an "oh, she just wants to play". Well, lady, what if my dog doesn't understand that or doesn't want to play and defends herself?

[Guest k85trb]

I feel your pain, I too really hate it when people say "(s)he's friendly" People don't seem to realize that just because they believe their dog will always act friendly doesn't mean he or she always will.

[Jerilyn]

As as recent member of the Attacked While Walking by an Offleash Dog Club, I wish every dog owner would follow those suggestions.

[Guest june]

also, when people let their dogs do this, and their unleashed dogs insist on following me and my dog as we walk farther and farther from the dogs owner, i refuse to stop or walk back. the dog can follow us to the end of the earth, as far as i'm concerned -- not my problem. if the owner really cared, they'd have the thing leashed to begin with.

 

/end rant.

 

Once had someone yell at me to stop so they could catch their dog. I yelled back that if their dog were on a leash they wouldn't have to catch it. And I kept on walking.

[Guest Tequila]

Great letter, Sara.

[Guest jbbuzby]

I so feel your pain. I now carry pepper spray with me everywhere for such occasions.

 

No one seems to understand that even if MY dog tolerates rude behavior, other owners with grumpy aggressive dogs have just as much right to walk their dogs, so if their "friendly" dog is free to rudely approach said dogs, it will not be the aggressive leashed dog's fault if it even literally bit the other dog's head off.

[Guest GreyFan09]

Awesome letter and responses / comments. Like most everyone here, I also deal with this all the time. If I had a dollar for every time some moron says "don't worry, my dog is friendly and just want's to play" as it's charging up to my dog who is freaking out... Love the idea of making copies of the letter and handing them out on walks!

Edited January 19, 2012 by GreyFan09

[Feisty49]

::knocking on wood:: I've never run into this problem in the small town in which I live and where I do most of our walking. We don't see many dogs, but when we do, they are all on a leash. There have been a couple of owners who have not gone short-leash when approaching Annie Bella and me, allowing their dog to get too close without introductions (not as bad as no leash but intimidating nonetheless), but they have responded appropriately when I tell them the dogs need to be supervised closely to see if they get along.

 

The biggest problem I have is with Annie Bella (always on a leash) because she loves other dogs and always wants to romp and sniff and get up close and personal with every dog she meets. Long before we're close to another dog, she's on a very short leash and unable to approach before introductions are made slowly.

[FiveRoooooers]

Permission to print and post at the state park where we (used to) walk? Excellent letter and from the posts, you aren't alone. It's so frustrating. We had two separate incidents within five minutes of each other on a path in our local state park where, on the signboard at the entrance it says "All Dogs Must Be On A Leash." Sheesh, if only the dogs could read. "Don't worry, he's friendly." Well, you don't know that MINE is, do you. One of the best was the owner of the loose dog who was totally taken aback when I asked "What is going to happen here?" I got a blank stare and had to say "Your dog is off-lead." She stated that "Everyone who walks on this path lets their dogs off-leash." Really?? I said "Well, they're not supposed to." All she could say was "Well ...." I can appreciate that your dog is beautiful and looks so pretty running and s/he loves it soooo much, but s/he has to be on a leash. The worry not about "what if" but "when if" has pretty much eliminated our walks at the state park. Now we just do the half-mile or so down our road and even then I carry a riding crop because of the um, enthusiastic, dogs who are walking their humans.

[Guest abarnet1]

This letter needs to mandatory reading for all dog owners. I will not hesitate to hurt someone else dog before they hurt mine.............I have the same problem, when I go for walks in my neighborhood. I guess I need to print copies and put them on owners doors that do not keep there dogs under control. The sad part is in my neighborhood the dogs that are loose also have fenced yards and they are not being used. I am learning that have a leash law does not good unless it can be enforced.

[racindog]

You know there is yet even another aspect of the "He only wants to play" crap. Even so I don't want other peoples trashy parasite infested and possibly disease ridden loose rogue dogs coming into any contact with my greyhounds at all. I spend an obscene amount of money kepping my hounds healthy and safe and in tip top shape and I can honestly say my greyhounds are cleaner than most peoples kids. I don't want them exposed to the mange and fleas and disease etc. common on dogs that run loose. The dogs running loose usually have had little to no vet care(shots, wormings etc.) or any other care either for that matter because their owners don't care about them- or they wouldn't be running loose in the first place.

[Brandiandwe]

Permission to print this out, hand it out, whatever. I had a better day today - we only met one small white fluffy thing (dogs met nose to nose around a corner, and both backed off immediately) and a wild rabbit, which sent Paige into a spin. Brandi didn't even notice it....

 

It's the notion that just because your dog is friendly, my dog might not be. So why should my dog be branded aggressive when your dog is inappropriate? The disease thing is a whole other issue. I need some short, snappy phrases to use. Or to carry this letter around, maybe folded into a paper aaeroplane so it can be tossed to other owners from a safe distance?

[mychip1]

That is how our walks have been....including an attack on JJ that ended with punctures. Now, he is completely aggitated and looks ferocious when he sees other dogs...though if they charge up to him, he gets quiet and stands there in a panic. Of course there were the young labs who came over to play and paniced Dustin who slipped his collar and took off......I can't even begin to describe that feeling watching my boy run-off. So now, Dustin has to wear a harness and martingale...not because he needs it, but because I never know what's lurking.

 

I am particularly irritated by people who carry the leash in their hands. One neighbor uses a flexileash with her dog....OK, fine....but then why do you feel the need to take the leash off the dog??? Wasn't that the point of the flexi? Or the other neighbor who uses a flexi and just lets her dog come bombing over to my two (and sometimes three) boys? I guess that is better than the ones with no leash at all.

 

A friend at work just had his small dog attacked by an Akita who jumped out of a car window, launched at his little dog, and picked it up in her jaws and shook him.

 

Unbelievable. Walking ones dog should be a pleasure - but I always feel like it's more of an obstacle course.....

Edited January 19, 2012 by mychip1

[Brandiandwe]

 

 

The biggest problem I have is with Annie Bella (always on a leash) because she loves other dogs and always wants to romp and sniff and get up close and personal with every dog she meets. Long before we're close to another dog, she's on a very short leash and unable to approach before introductions are made slowly.

 

So, horror, you're one of the owners we're talking about????? I bet you've also used the phrase 'Don't worry - she's friendly!' as well, haven't you?

 

I think my girls are also friendly. Certainly with dogs who respond appropriately we have no problems. Unfortunately, most dogs don't fit into this category. Some owners are great, and they do leash up, control their dogs and everyone is happy. Most are not, either because of ignorance or a lack of attention. I mean, seriously, my two girls are muzzled (stupid law). But if you see a muzzled dog, do you assume that it's safe to allow your dog to approach or do you assume that that dog is bad news. Frankly, I wish more people assumed that the love bugs were dangerous. We might have safer and happier walks.

[jaym1]

rage