Don't worry... she will teach my dog a lesson!

[Beanwood]

Yes, I had THAT sort of walk yesterday. It got me thinking. I very, very rarely lose my temper, and certainly the amount of times this has happened in public, throughout my whole life I can probably count on one hand. The thing is, when I have lost it, I feel pretty s@@t after, that evening, and likely still brooding about it the following day. I don't like to get angry, it is not a normal or healthy state of mind. Luckily it takes a lot to wind me up before I eventually blow. LIkewise our dogs. Bramble, in particular is sweet, lovely girl. Quiet and calm. Well she got the brunt of it yesterday, over and over again, by the same rude dog.

We were happily minding our own business, in the top and usually very quiet fields of our local nature reserves. Bramble and Benson were focussed on me, walk, we were in tune, playing the odd game, sniffing and just enjoying each others company. A lovely bimble. Then here she comes, my heart sinks as at a rate of knots a young female rhodesian ridgeback come barreling in. I noted her tense face, stiff body and her focussed expression on Bramble. She wants to play, but she is over aroused and a bit punchy for my liking. I call my dogs, but it is difficult for them to get away. Eventually it all settles. Then again....and again... and again even in a different field. By this time Bramble is shouting at her...a high pitched irritated bark, she tries to run the other dog off. At this point I manage to grab the owners attention, and suggest we try different paths, as it's not pleasant having my dog bark at his young bitch. His reply. "Don't worry, she needs to taught a lesson....."

"Don't worry...she will teach my dog a lesson".... what does that even mean??? I suggest politely that in order to do that, HE needs to upset my dog...do you want ME to yell at you? I ask...??

I smiled and walked semi- calmly away. I was not happy though. Upset that now I needed to give Bramble a calm couple of days, watch carefully when she meets up with other dogs, not that I think anything is going to happen, but to help her feel better, and not s@@t and irritable with people like I do when I lose it. It did make me think though, how easy it is to create a dog with reactivity. Bahhh!!!!!

 

[Charlie]

It did make me think though, how easy it is to create a dog with reactivity. Bahhh!!!!!

I agree and how bloody unhelpful it is if you have a reactive dog. Misinformed owners or plain ignorant either way not good. Hope you're okay Kate and Bramble. xx

 

[Cupcase]

Very easy to create a dog with reactivity. I don't know why but in all the years I have had dogs, I have never met as many people who really do believe that, your dog can teach their dog manners. Hopefully Bramble will be like most dogs and continue to be her sweet lovely self and not be affected by this confrontation.

I had words with a woman that let her Cocker spaniel pup off lead, to allow it to run up to an old German Shepherd who was lying down waiting patiently while her owner and I talked. When I pulled her up on doing such a reckless thing, she said that's how puppys learn, if the GSD had bitten her, it will teach her not to do that again. I tried to explain that her pup could have been badly injured by the gsd. More words were exchanged, cesar was brought into this tirade and she stomped off telling me to report her to the rspca.
I would never have spoken out before Cupar as like Cupar, I need a few days to calm down and stop regurgitating the words spoken. Unfortunately I have a reactive dog and to keep him safe I must avoid every other dog and their owners, be they reasonable with well behaved dogs or not and shout loud enough for the numpties to hear me, tell them, to call their dogs and get them on a lead because my dog does NOT want to play.

 

[Beanwood]

ope you're okay Kate and Bramble. xx

Oh Bramble is absolutely fine, and so am I , thank you for asking It was just an observation really, not a rant as such. When it comes to the general public, and their dogs, I have such low expectations, and and pretty good at spotting the dogs that I am a bit leery of. I was relieved however that I wasn't out with Otter, I had just popped her home and grabbed Benson and Bramble. Mostly I have good experiences out on walks. For example just 30 minutes before I was out with Otter, and we met two lovely and well mannered black labradors. They were happy for Otter to say a quick hello, before I stood feeding her treats as they passed. The owner was quiet and gentle with them, with was great for wee Pothead.

I have never met as many people who really do believe that, your dog can teach their dog manners.

I know, and find this very frustrating!

 

[Shaz82]

Uggh! I really hate those sorts of confrontations, they stay with you for days and make you feel rotten.

If your dog had torn a piece out of theirs, would they still be saying they needed to learn a lesson? I don't think so.

 

[SwampDonkey]

We get it a lot round here a lot of ill-mannered people who let their dogs he behave badly. You sort learn to avoid the ones you know. It frustrating I most just walk away but sometimes I just go mental at people.

 

[Aitch]

I only ever lose my temper with other dog owners these days. I can cope with stupid people in other situations but when it involves my dogs I am more than happy to give someone a damn good dressing down. I will try to be polite at first but if the other dog owner persists in being a moron then I have a very short fuse. My dogs look to me to protect them and support them so I just will not allow someone else to upset them!

 

[FayRose]

When it comes to the general public, and their dogs, I have such low expectations,

That is a very sad observation on dog owners these days. With all the education available you'd like to think this is a thing of the past but sadly it seems not.
Perhaps all these calls for expensive dog licences to be re-instated is correct.

 

[snowbunny]

Ugh, I feel you. We had something not too dissimilar with Squidge at the doggy beach on Sunday, with a large male dog that kept trying to hump her, and was very growly, chasing her. It was quite clear that she wasn't having the best time. The dog also kept pestering Ginny, who was very scared of him; she just ran away with her tail tucked right under. The owners said "Oh, they need to put him in his place". No. My sweet, sweet girls do not need to be put in the position where they feel they need to do that. I dread to think how far Squidge would have to be pushed before she reacted; I've never seen the slightest hint of escalation from her, other than looking uncomfortable and resorting to "fool around" behaviours.
In fact, I crouched down to give Ginny a save space under me, and the dog pushed me over! Not a hint of an apology, either. Sigh, people can be very disappointing.

 

[Naya]

Sorry you had a crap walk and needed to loose it a bit to get the owner of the other dog to listen. Unfortunately over the summer months it’s happened to us a lot . Some people dont realise the damage they could do to theirs and our dogs.

 

[Peartree]

Sorry you had a crap walk Kate. These days my boys are fairly bombproof and can cope with most things and I don’t have to worry too much about the shenanigans of the general public but since having the puppy I’ve realised just how stupid they can be. I’m quite protective of her as I don’t want her to change the lovely bold, but considered, state of mind she currently has, because of some unthinking behaviour of other dog owners.

The other day I was out with a friend and her two bitches and my pup. A man saw us coming and got his phone out of his pocket to make a call. We were amazed as his Labrador then made a beeline for us and got right up in the face of my little girl and growled loudly!! He wouldn’t get off the phone to call his dog and I was holding the dog by the collar off Pickle. When he did respond, his reply was that his dog wasn’t causing any trouble and that we should just calm down. So bloody patronising! My friend said that she was just on the cusp of letting him have a total earful but we took a deep breath and walked quickly away.

I do have lots and lots of lovely interaction with other dog walkers which makes the bad one or two stand out. And like Beanwood I do struggle to let it all go and spend the next day or so thinking how I could have handled it better.

 

[Cath]

I remember when my dog Charlie (border terrier) was having a poo and this dog came running up and jumped on him. I shouted at the man, who said he only playing. I said to him how would you like it if you were on the toilet and a bloke jump on you. He got hold of his dog and walk away, no sorry or anything.

 

[MellowYellow]

It’s the worst. I find it very freaky when a dog is intimidating or bothering mine; ever since Poppy was so badly bitten by the three Ridgebacks I feel myself tensing when there is an interaction I am not completely happy with. Luckily we know most people around where we live, and most dogs are well-mannered and friendly. Sorry you had such a crap interaction Kate.

 

[SwampDonkey]

The strangest varient I ever had of the the self policing dog force is a man telling his small child if she didn't behave my dog would bite her. I stopped told him not to use my dog who wouldn't bite her as s disaplinary tool and look after his daughter property. He looked embarrassed and it's ok I have a dog too....
Not with him at home. I mean what why?

 

[Joy]

@Beanwood That's very annoying behaviour (from the human more than the dog) and it sounds as if you kept cool in a difficult spot.