Advice on how to deal with issue on dog walk.
Discussion
Trying to keep it simple few weeks ago during a walk we encountered two women walking two dogs just after rounding a bend. No warning. All dogs on a lead.
Our one year old Golden just wants to go up and say hello, give a play bow and see if there's any chance of a game of chase.
Anyway one of these dogs, some sort of mastiff thing starts snarling and pulling like crazy to get to us. Ours backs off a bit but isn't exactly helpful in getting away. He's a bit slow in reading doggy "just gtf away" language. Too friendly for his own good.
Anyway I'm gradually getting him further away, this woman is at full stretch almost screaming I can't hold him I can't hold him. Gradually get outside this mastiff's threshold distance, and he calms down a bit. We go another way and from a distance our dog sits down watching the show and still probably hoping he gets the chance to say hello. They clear off on their original route and we go another way to the one intended.
Fast forward a few weeks and we see the same group from a distance. We're just sat down minding our own business taking the sun, but "in the way" of the route this lot want to take.
So I try to make a move to get out of the way but himself has decided his bum is very comfy thanks and wants to stay put. It's a habit he has and currently working on it as he can be a pain. Anyway these woman stop and start shouting you'll have to drag him out of the way. I flatly refuse to drag him. To which the woman shouts it's not my dog and can't hold him. I still refuse to drag him and say they should take a slight deviation. It's a flat open field with multiple paths across it.
Anyway they refuse and continue on their walk, coming closer. Ours is sat on his bum calm and just looking at this mastiff bouncing around and growling at him. Ours just behaving himself and under control until they're past at which point he decides to now move on his walk. Thanks mate! Timing.
So ideally I'd have much preferred if our hooligan would move the instant he is told to and in chosen direction. No doubt the usual lot will say it's all my fault for being arsey and demanding these women are in control of their charges.
Since then whenever seen from a distance managed to keep him moving in the desired direction to keep other side of field, but it's clear from their actions that these two intend to take a certain route and will not deviate from that route in the slightest, others have to get out of their way.
Suggestions welcome as the situation is likely to reoccur. Treats as an incentive to get him to move quickly don't work btw. The reward of saying hi and sniffing is clearly much too strong. Obviously we continue to work on leash reactivity.
So help welcome.
Our one year old Golden just wants to go up and say hello, give a play bow and see if there's any chance of a game of chase.
Anyway one of these dogs, some sort of mastiff thing starts snarling and pulling like crazy to get to us. Ours backs off a bit but isn't exactly helpful in getting away. He's a bit slow in reading doggy "just gtf away" language. Too friendly for his own good.
Anyway I'm gradually getting him further away, this woman is at full stretch almost screaming I can't hold him I can't hold him. Gradually get outside this mastiff's threshold distance, and he calms down a bit. We go another way and from a distance our dog sits down watching the show and still probably hoping he gets the chance to say hello. They clear off on their original route and we go another way to the one intended.
Fast forward a few weeks and we see the same group from a distance. We're just sat down minding our own business taking the sun, but "in the way" of the route this lot want to take.
So I try to make a move to get out of the way but himself has decided his bum is very comfy thanks and wants to stay put. It's a habit he has and currently working on it as he can be a pain. Anyway these woman stop and start shouting you'll have to drag him out of the way. I flatly refuse to drag him. To which the woman shouts it's not my dog and can't hold him. I still refuse to drag him and say they should take a slight deviation. It's a flat open field with multiple paths across it.
Anyway they refuse and continue on their walk, coming closer. Ours is sat on his bum calm and just looking at this mastiff bouncing around and growling at him. Ours just behaving himself and under control until they're past at which point he decides to now move on his walk. Thanks mate! Timing.
So ideally I'd have much preferred if our hooligan would move the instant he is told to and in chosen direction. No doubt the usual lot will say it's all my fault for being arsey and demanding these women are in control of their charges.
Since then whenever seen from a distance managed to keep him moving in the desired direction to keep other side of field, but it's clear from their actions that these two intend to take a certain route and will not deviate from that route in the slightest, others have to get out of their way.
Suggestions welcome as the situation is likely to reoccur. Treats as an incentive to get him to move quickly don't work btw. The reward of saying hi and sniffing is clearly much too strong. Obviously we continue to work on leash reactivity.
So help welcome.
Jasandjules said:
Your dog is off lead.
Nope ON lead all the time.Repeat ON lead.
Just to be clear we don't go near this dog. We actively try to avoid it. This other dog walker doesn't wish to deviate even 10 yards from their route and appears to expect everyone to get out of their way. Not just us btw.
Accept we have an issue when matey sticks his arse down and refuses to move but working on that.
Sometimes wonder why bother with PH when people don't read posts properly. Thanks to all those so far who have read it properly and input.
Very reasonable points condor.
No muzzle on the mastiff. We see them at very irregular times and days. Thankfully days and weeks go by with no sight then they're back. See below.
The field is bounded on two sides by river /water but there are numerous access points including a couple of bridges to cross. Whilst there are some metalled paths there are a good few that are rough mown paths through longer grass and quite a few simply trodden by use. The whole field is open access so you can walk where you want, though admit some won't wish to walk in the longer meadow grass.
They always take the same route and enter /leave by the same opening and use the same paths without deviation. Been a couple of times where they are there already and we just go about face and head in a completely different direction. But it's a bit rich if you're sat by the river watching boats / wildlife etc and they deliberately don't avoid contact for the sake of walking twenty yards.
As for finding out the owner and having a word, completely without hard evidence admittedly, but their demeanour and direction of travel suggests they may be of, errr, the caravan dwelling persuasion. Hence the
No muzzle on the mastiff. We see them at very irregular times and days. Thankfully days and weeks go by with no sight then they're back. See below.
The field is bounded on two sides by river /water but there are numerous access points including a couple of bridges to cross. Whilst there are some metalled paths there are a good few that are rough mown paths through longer grass and quite a few simply trodden by use. The whole field is open access so you can walk where you want, though admit some won't wish to walk in the longer meadow grass.
They always take the same route and enter /leave by the same opening and use the same paths without deviation. Been a couple of times where they are there already and we just go about face and head in a completely different direction. But it's a bit rich if you're sat by the river watching boats / wildlife etc and they deliberately don't avoid contact for the sake of walking twenty yards.
As for finding out the owner and having a word, completely without hard evidence admittedly, but their demeanour and direction of travel suggests they may be of, errr, the caravan dwelling persuasion. Hence the
moorx said:
Jasandjules said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
OP Sounds very long winded, if it was me, knowing the previous I would get my dog out the way and stand in front of it. Quick kick up the arse gets most dogs moving , rights/wrongs/ins/outs wont matter if your dog gets attacks because you couldn't get it out the way.
You think kicking what could be a 10 stone mastiff is a good idea? What do you think could be an outcome? Not a pro dog trainer are we?!!?
The opinions on this remind me of those on the "What's going on with dog walkers these days??" thread
Our dog is only let off his lead in particular circumstances. 1) If he is with known and trusted playmates, when they run around like loons, rough and tumble and generally mess about until they need a breather. If another unknown dog appears in the distance, on or off lead, then he is recalled and put on his lead. Even if it's a playmate in the distance and that dog is on his lead then he stays on as maybe that dog has been injured or some other good reason. 2) Also particular places eg forest and common where it's quiet and we can keep tabs, recall early when at a distance etc.
Even when walking on lead if we meet strangers on footpath, say, we shorten lead, which isn't an extendable - hate those damn things, close control and steer him to one side and wait. If the others want to come up and say hello then that's fine, he's always up for a fuss and a tickle behind his ears, WE know he's friendly, but THEY don't and it's only polite and being considerate as we have no way of knowing their reaction to dogs. Plus of course it reinforces his behaviour knowledge that this is the way to act and we don't bother strangers on the street.
He gets an opportunity to run about off lead almost every day, it's a very rare day when he doesn't get at least half an hour free off lead as part of a couple of hours out and about.
To me that's responsible dog walking, assisted admittedly by ready access to suitable areas with only a modicum of effort.
Interestingly saw this dog being walked by the owner today. From a distance admittedly and too far to even contemplate a word but two things immediately apparent.
1. He has complete control of that dog on the lead. It's not the same dog as when walked by this woman.
2. He actively appears to be taking note of others and making effort to avoid contact keeping clear separation by adjusting route.
So it's a case as usual of it being the humans at fault.
1. He has complete control of that dog on the lead. It's not the same dog as when walked by this woman.
2. He actively appears to be taking note of others and making effort to avoid contact keeping clear separation by adjusting route.
So it's a case as usual of it being the humans at fault.
Thought might be worthwhile updating the thread.
Firstly my suspicions about the owners being of the caravan dwelling persuasion were correct. Furthermore some other owners that live much nearer the caravan site and their dogs are regular playmates of ours know the family reputation. So all those decent souls who recommended the decent approach of having a word, thanks but not going to happen.
Secondly having seen the dog close up now it's a bitza, lot of Rottie in it but not pure bred, certainly a big bugger.
Finally having had a face to face encounter around a blind corner.
Both these dogs are aggressive, one more than the other, ours stands his ground keeping between me and them but obeys command to move away. The way this chap keeps them under control is order of the boot. Literally boot and knee, applied vigorously, very vigorously. Kicking and kneeing them into submission basically.
Firstly my suspicions about the owners being of the caravan dwelling persuasion were correct. Furthermore some other owners that live much nearer the caravan site and their dogs are regular playmates of ours know the family reputation. So all those decent souls who recommended the decent approach of having a word, thanks but not going to happen.
Secondly having seen the dog close up now it's a bitza, lot of Rottie in it but not pure bred, certainly a big bugger.
Finally having had a face to face encounter around a blind corner.
Both these dogs are aggressive, one more than the other, ours stands his ground keeping between me and them but obeys command to move away. The way this chap keeps them under control is order of the boot. Literally boot and knee, applied vigorously, very vigorously. Kicking and kneeing them into submission basically. Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff