When to leash...

Loraseal

Loraseal

Location
The Hague, The Netherlands
Since Hunter's castration I have noticed that he is slightly more reactive (I am on purpose not saying aggressive) with fluffy black /white dogs. Basically anything that looks like his arch nemesis. Also bigger dogs. I let him off leash during our walk on the path next to the canal. I saw an unknown fluffy white/black dog. I called him back but nothing and his body language was not good. So I quickly put him back on his leash and got out the sea jerkey cube which got his attention. He ignored the dog but the owner told me off saying that putting him on the lead shows angst and it is a bad thing to do and he wil associate it with my fear. Her comment sowed doubt in my mind. I know this may sound stupid but I did do the correct thing? Just a bit down with his joint issues so my thoughts are a little blah. Hunter loves a little off lead sniff and his walking is so much better these past few days.
 
Selina27

Selina27

Location
Herefordshire, UK
Loraseal said:
Just a bit down with his joint issues
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Oh Lorraine, I'm sad for you with this :'(

I'm not qualified to give advice , but I would say you know your dog best and managing him for the benefit of all is what you have to do.

It astonishes me how complete strangers feel it's quite ok to give other dog owners unasked for advice.

I don't think your question sounds stupid at all.
 
HAH

HAH

Moderator
Location
Devon, UK
You absolutely did the right thing @Loraseal - you were managing Hunter’s space and interactions because you know him and love him, and you understand his triggers. The other person does not know Hunter and is talking codswallop. They’re also making huge assumptions about leads being associated with negative reactions - you giving Hunter sea jerky reinforces positive associations if anything, and again they know absolutely nothing about either of you so should keep their prejudices to themselves.
I’m really sorry you’re feeling down - it’s entirely understandable. But you’re doing your very best for Hunter and if you ever need reassurance then do come here. You know him best and have excellent instincts xxx
 
Anne123

Anne123

Location
Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Yes, from what I read you did the right thing! I do the same with Finn as he has always been reactive towards certain dogs. I must say on the beach there often is no problem as he can run away if he scared, always keeping an eye on us, so he doesn’t go far away and the other dog looses interest in him. When he is aggressive towards another dog he dislikes the dog as we humans also have our sympathy or not with others…In the woods when he is allowed off lead and we see a certain dog approach we put him on leash and wait until the other dog has passed. We often ask the owner to put her/his dog on leash as our dog is reactive… sometimes we get the same reaction as you did. We just let them speak for themselves and move on. At first I was inclined to apologize for Finn, now I don’t do this anymore. Finn is Finn and his reaction is his and we know this….! So keep going as you did, you are doing great with a lot of love for Hunter!
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
I have occasionally had similar comments from total strangers when I have chosen to put GGJ on lead in circumstances where I have judged it to be for the best. I do my best to stay calm and ignore them. None of my dog walking friends, many of whom are experienced with dogs have ever questioned why I am doing this, they all know about Joy's attack and understand my reasoning. People who don't know you, your dog or your joint history really shouldn't be passing judgement. You know what works best for you both, so stick with it for as long as it continues to work and try not to let these people upset you. xx
 
Naya

Naya

Moderator
Location
Bristol, UK
I do exactly the same as Harley doesn’t like all dogs and can be a bit reactive - she will growl, hackles up and if they don’t heed this will bark, bare her teeth and as a last resort chase them away or pin them down. She hasn’t done this for a long time as I now can see the difference in her body language and put her on lead and reward her with a treat. She will the. 99% of the time walk away with no reaction. If I leave it until she barks she will react even if I get the lead on. At the end of the day, we know our dogs and I would prefer to intervene before anything happens. That woman doesn’t know Hunter so shouldn’t comment. You know your dog better than anyone.
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
It's all about firstly the emotional state of your dog, who you know really well, the emotional state of the other dog... you probably didn't know. Then you add a bit of context plus the environment. Hunter being a little reactive ( normal for him, joint pain and negative bias of anything "nemesis" like ). In addition, you have the towpath which does limit passing space, making it slightly trickier to manage. Considering all that, you did exactly the right thing in managing the situation perfectly.

Would you do anything different the next time? That is a good reflective question to think about, after we have given ourselves a pat of the back for all the good things and wonderful sniffs that Hunter enjoyed on his walk :inlove:
 
Loraseal

Loraseal

Location
The Hague, The Netherlands
Beanwood said:
Would you do anything different the next time?
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Very good question and I would not change my actions. We also use "disco" when the off leash is over and wiggle our bums together so on lead is a fun thing. I think I am known as the little crazy English lady with the chocolate labrador! I just like his walks to be fun!
Thank you everyone for the wise words. X
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
I'm late to the party but (of course 😂) must put my two cents in as this is a topic near and dear to my heart. Brogan was very reactive on lead when he was young and Carbon was the same when I got him. Agree with everyone that you know your own dog best and must manage the situation you are in given your own emotions, the environment, your dog, etc. I think it's also a good idea that you question what you did, because that's how you learn. I did things with Carbon that I didn't do with Brogan, not only because they were different dogs, but because Brogan gifted me with a lot of learning about why/when he would react to other dogs.

My go-to with Brogan if I wasn't sure of another dog (this was after he became a chilled out dude) was to tell him "leave it" (i.e. you can't greet that dog) and continue to walk, changing paths if I wasn't sure about the other dog or person. I have to say that with a Rottweiler, most people get out of your path anyway 😉 and I didn't have people lecturing me on how I should let him off lead.

Carbon was/is an entirely different story! I have gotten told off numerous times for not letting him off lead. Why do people think Labradors are 100% behavioural perfection and have 100% reliable recall? It's so bizarre. Having said that, if we meet up with a 'dodgy' dog, Carbon is best off lead. While on lead can get messy, Carbon is a master at managing macho dogs off lead (due to his time as one of the smaller dogs at the shelter in a big yard with 80 other dogs?). It goes against what I want to do, which is pull on lead and keep going, but if we really can't get out of the situation - like the other dog being off lead and running up to Carbon - the best plan of attack is to just let him off the lead and reward him handsomely when he comes back to me after managing the greeting in his own way.

And let me tell you, that would have been a flippin' disaster had I tried it with Brogan when he was young. 😳

So yeah...it's all context and what dog you have in front of you. And geez, I do really wish people would lay off telling other people to let their dogs off lead. I've been told off in five languages about it and it's quite old at this point! 🤪
 
Granca

Granca

Emily_Babbelhund said:
So yeah...it's all context and what dog you have in front of you.
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Exactly - and so much better when other dog owners just keep clear and give you space.

For whatever reason yesterday Wispa was in “Don’t worry, mum, I’ll see them off” mode. I could see someone with a small dog approaching to the right ahead when we were walking along a narrow section of path, so I called out to ask her if she would mind waiting with her dog while I went ahead over a little bridge to a more open area where I could give Wispa space and turn her away from the other dog. Fortunately the person agreed and all was well. It’s so much easier when other people are prepared to be helpful. Tuppence is always oblivious to other dogs as she’s too busy sniffing!
 
Granca

Granca

Well, it takes all sorts… After that helpful encounter, I’ve had the opposite! I was walking both dogs on their leads, with Wispa in calm-ish mode instead of ‘I’ll see them off’, but because I could see a chap approaching with a dog pulling him along on a long lead I steered them both off the path onto a patch of grass so that he could walk past at a distance. What does he do? He stops and asks whether my dogs are alright, so I reply that one can be rather nervous so could he please walk on. He says, “Oh, she’s jealous then, mine’s like that too.” I didn’t call him an idiot, well, not out loud anyway.
 
Candy

Candy

Biscuit Tin Guardian
Location
West Yorkshire, UK
Granca said:
Well, it takes all sorts… After that helpful encounter, I’ve had the opposite! I was walking both dogs on their leads, with Wispa in calm-ish mode instead of ‘I’ll see them off’, but because I could see a chap approaching with a dog pulling him along on a long lead I steered them both off the path onto a patch of grass so that he could walk past at a distance. What does he do? He stops and asks whether my dogs are alright, so I reply that one can be rather nervous so could he please walk on. He says, “Oh, she’s jealous then, mine’s like that too.” I didn’t call him an idiot, well, not out loud anyway.
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Some people eh?!
 
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