beach chick Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 this is such an interesting discussion, and I am enjoying that we can all bring different views to it. Rhapsody, would you REALLY want to muzzle your lovely dogs, who enjoy life so much in your yard, going out with the horses etc, just because some lowlife thinks a bull breed is a status symbol? or some other idiot thinks their small yappy dog cant do any harm because it's only little? I dont want my dog muzzled (although he did eat some sheep poo today - while on a lead in a field with sheep in, and I am not letting him kiss me for a while... bless him, actually I probably will! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Many serious injuries caused by dogs involving children each year happen within the owner's home or that of a family friend or relative. Compulsory muzzling in public would not prevent this. chuckymama, I couldnt agree more. afaik, most of the tragic media-reported cases of children killed by dogs either involve family members with no brains, or neighbours allowing their dogs to break down/get over fencing. I could be wrong of course (but work requires me to read the dog press extensively, and although dog-biased it's probably more neutral than the tabloids...) I also personally know of a registered. tattooed and neutered Pitbull Terrier who is currently awaiting euthanasia. It's owner chose to remove it's compulsory muzzle in order to set it on the dog of an innocent dog walker and her dog. I am afraid that imposing rules and regulations that impact on thousands of responsible dog owners will not prevent many of the dog related issues that we currently see. Two people were bitten in this Pitbull incident, a dog required extensive surgery and the Pitbull is going to die - so much for that bit of legislation that is truly hideous - owner not dog, deed not breed etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I cant see compulsory muzzling being policed in the UK, the polce are overworked and the RSPCA couldnt care less unless there is a chance of publicity I also dont know how sucessful it is in Scandanavia, I've been there numerous times, seen plenty of dogs but not a single muzzled one BC - if a dog isnt on a lead its not classed as in control, if your dog is loose but attacked by a dog on a lead you are classed as not having your dog under control and they are apparently blameless as theirs is 'in control '- training and good behaviour count for nothing, its naff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 you're right Redwing, that is naff. and also a good lesson for me to bear in mind. because we have a big garden with a path leading up onto the sea wall and then immediately onto the beach, there are numerous occasions when I dont bother bringing a lead, simply because I dont have to go anywhere near a road or any other manmade hazard, and Oz is so fixated on retrieving that he really takes no notice of other dogs at all. having said that, he loves people (in a nice waggy tail way rather than a jumping up way) and would probably not be able to resist investigating a picnic if someone left one invitingly open... so from now on I will take a lead with me, just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 *having said that, he loves people (in a nice waggy tail way rather than a jumping up way) . Mine too, he ran up to a dog and its owner wagging his tail and was attacked for his trouble I was livid but it was officially my fault as their dog was on a lead the owner admitted that the dog was nasty too! Its a crying shame when we cant let our dogs run free in an appropriate area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 i think dogs are very perceptive and if their owners are nasty then chances are the dog will be nasty. Nervous, jumpy dog owners make nervy dogs and so on. My dog is, of course, the sweetest most gorgeous dog in the world! I did meet some sort of staffy dog today as a matter of fact and it was such a lovely dog, so friendly but then so was the owner. Manners maketh the man, maketh the dog I'm afraid. I'd report the incident to the local dog warden if it were me. Hope you don't see them again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I have two terriers who were attacked by another dog at the age of 6 months - unharmed because I managed to lift them both over my head out of the way of the aggressor while my husband fended it off and admonished the owner. If my two hadn't been on the lead, they would have been dead. Had it been any of my previous dogs, they would have been off the lead ... and dead. That incident changed my mind about walking dogs off the lead in many areas. One of my dogs suffered no ill-effects after the attack but the other, my JRT, is mentally scarred and no amount of patient re-socialising has helped him. He would rather ignore other dogs, pretending he hasn't seen them, but as soon as one runs towards him, he panics and chooses attack as the best form of defence, so I'm on the other side of this debate. If a dog is off the lead, however friendly, the owner needs to be able to recall it without hesitation, otherwise it's not under control. I get equally frustrated by owners telling me not to worry because their dog is friendly while it's ignoring their calls and then they have a go at me because mine (on a short lead) is obviously not. I don't like the idea of all dogs being muzzled, nor dogs being on the lead at all times, but I do believe that if your dog is off the lead in a public place, it must be 100% trustworthy and obedient, for its own sake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 Scarletohara - I want your doggies too, as well as Fifi. How come you have such gorgeous pets? Emma.x I'm just lucky I have some blue millefleur frizzle pekin eggs under a broody due to hatch next week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I also would not want Cookie to be muzzled. She never goes up to strange dogs, she keeps her distance so I would hope she wouldn't need to. I have a friend with a Staff and he's a gorgeous dog who grew up playing with Cookie. He was brilliant until he turned 1 and now my poor friend has to be hyper vigilant as for some reason he just hates other male dogs. She constantly checks to see who is walking near and always puts him back on the lead. I don't know why he does it and its certainly not something that she or her family have done to him. Obviously this could apply to any breed of dog. A new dog in our local park has already bitten 2 dogs, he's come from a rescue centre and the owner lets him off the lead and he has attacked some dogs. I really do not understand why the owners do not leave him on the lead? He's just asking for trouble. One of the dogs that has been bitten is a rescue dog too and the owner knows that she cannot let him off the lead and he's always kept close by her on the lead. The dog that has done the biting is a spaniel x. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 ....I have a friend with a Staff and he's a gorgeous dog who grew up playing with Cookie. He was brilliant until he turned 1 and now my poor friend has to be hyper vigilant as for some reason he just hates other male dogs. sounds like he needs neutering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 You may remember two months ago I rehomed a shar pei male. We still have him and he is a lovely dog around people and our dog, however I learnt the other day, that he will not be allowed off of the lead ever!! Other dogs - all other dogs - see his wrinkly face and furrowed brow and seemingly mistake it for aggression. Every dog we have ever passed will bark aggressively at him. He then pulls towards them. The other day on a walk we hit the same scenario. We pass a little dog, dog barks aggressively at Winkle and he pulls towards him. In that second the lead dropped from my hand and Winkle was on this little dog. He got his mouth around little dog and picked him up. I had control of him again within seconds and dog was checked over and he was ok, but in that second I have never been so scared - and disappointed with myself for dropping the lead. It has taught me though that he will never be allowed off of the lead. I don't care how well trained he gets, I will never trust him fully. I now make him sit and wait on a teeny tiny short lead whilst other dogs pass - and still they bark at him. If a law was passed where all dogs should wear a muzzle, then I would happily oblige. I am even considering it now (local pet shop didn't have any large enough ones in stock). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 ....I have a friend with a Staff and he's a gorgeous dog who grew up playing with Cookie. He was brilliant until he turned 1 and now my poor friend has to be hyper vigilant as for some reason he just hates other male dogs. sounds like he needs neutering. He has been neutered Poet, in the hope that it would stop him. I've seen him when the 'mist' comes down (hasten to add when he's on the lead) often its somebody else's dog that has come bounding up to him and sets him off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 I've seen him when the 'mist' comes down (hasten to add when he's on the lead) often its somebody else's dog that has come bounding up to him and sets him off. That's precisely what happens with my JRT Seagazer. He is the cutest, friendliest, most playful dog you could imagine, but when he is triggered, the 'mist' completely changes everything about him - his expression, his eyes and his body language. I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted April 20, 2011 Share Posted April 20, 2011 (edited) I have just returned from a walk with my dogs, my Mum and her 6 month old yorkie. Lexie is completely house trained and has total recall - my Mum is 70 and this is her first dog, she has done brilliantly with her. At the end of our walk (quite late and the field deserted we called our dogs to put them on the lead, at that moment a woman came around the corner with a 10/11 yr old boy - Lexie went to say hello as puppies do. The boy starting clinging onto his mother who had a face like thunder. I immediately took hold of Lexie and put her on the lead - the mother then gave us a load of abuse that we were irresponsible dogs owners and her son was scared of dogs who jumped up (all our dogs now on leads) and shouldn't walk in the countryside park. My Mum (age 70 and allof 5 ft ) stood upto her and said 'perhaps this isn't the best place to walk then' to which the woman replied that she had had a dog for 8 years who never ever jumped up, my Mum said ' bully for you then', she then called my mum a nasty word in front of her son It is taking a while to stop Lexie from jumping up but she is a baby and is learning but not always on the first command. Worse was that the woman was relatively well spoken and certainly not the type you would expect to swear at an OAP Edited April 20, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 20, 2011 Author Share Posted April 20, 2011 ahhh scarlett, when we first had Oz - as a 10 mth old rescue - I had a similar experience. he adores kids, saw a roughly 11 year old (same age as my oldest was then) and bounced up to say hello. ok, he shouldnt have, but he was still learning and we were on the beach, so a public place etc etc. he was on his way back to me UNTIL the boy's mother, who was between me and Oz shouted "run darling run" at the boy - who did as he was told. Oz thought this was the most fantastic game, how lovely, a nice boy who wanted to play running games!! when I finally caught up with Oz, boy and mum, I apologised profusely and got a mouthful about how scared the boy was of dogs. well, fair enough, and I do understand, but what an idiot - how about teaching the boy to stand still, hands down, no eye contact etc? instead we all ran like crazy, Oz thought it was fantastic fun and the boy and his mum learned nothing apart from how to scare themselves more. good on your mum though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 well, poor Oz was sexually assaulted and mugged by a labradoodle today!! we successfully negotiated the people picnic-ing at the bottom of the steps onto the beach with no prob; made our way to the sea and were splashing along when this dog appears from a distance and at speed - tide was WAY out, so a good 300 yds. friendly dog - in fact, over-friendly. y'know, one quick hump would have been enough?! anyway, 6 or 7 goes later, poor Oz is flat on his back in the sand with his stick disappearing out to sea, and he is miserable because ALL he wants to do is swim and retrieve. eventually a teenage girl reaches us, and calls the dog, who does go to her - but she has no lead, he wont stay, continues bouncing at Oz and then pinches his stick, drops it so I get my foot on it, pick it up and we carry on - by this stage she gets the dog by the collar. we meet our friend with the 2 staffies, all 3 swim together, and we turn back. labradoodle by now realises Oz is a soft target and hares down again, this time followed by 4 teenagers - and, at a distance, mum. more attempted amorousness, more stick stealing. when the mum reaches us, she gets the stick and hands it to me, to which I say 'thank you' and we continue on our way - still followed by labradoodle. aaarrrgh! it does nark me - even tho this was a friendly dog, no aggression, it was still disrupting our experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Oh dear, poor Oz! I think he should write a book, it'd be a best seller! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Oh dear - as a Doodle owner (albeit a Golden one) I know they can be bouncy. We have a few labradoodles down at our park and they are very bouncy. Cookie is usually only bouncy and boxy with other doodles. Actually Beach Chick when we had our caravan we used to bump into a labradoodle on the sea wall and they used to have a lovely little dance together. It was a local doodle and man. It is very annoying though if the owner can't get control of the dog, especially if your dog isn't enjoying it. I always call Cookie off unless they say they want the dogs to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlo Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 I have only just joined the ranks of dog owners so have been following this thread with interest. We took Paddy for a walk this morning. We decided to see what he would be like off the lead. He was fine for 99% of the time. Then a spaniel and her owner came the other way. Whilst Paddy has been on the lead he has been very keen to go and say hello to other dogs - he has shown no aggression at all. He wasn't aggressive this time but wanted to play. I thought that they would play around for a moment or two and then go their separate ways. Paddy followed this dog and her owner and would not come back when called. I went to retrieve him and apologised profusely to the owner - who was fine. I think that I must book some obedience classes before I let him off the lead again! We will be getting him neutered once he has settled down so I hope that this may help too. On the same walk we passed a farm building - Paddy was back on the lead at this stage. We heard some ferocious barking and these two sort of white husky dogs appeared - snarling and barking. Paddy showed no interest in them at all but - before the owner called them off - one of them bit him on the nose and drew blood. OH screamed at them and the owner called them off but it was really scary. I had not intention of discussing anything with the owner at the time but I am planning on sending him a letter suggesting that, as his farm is so close to the public right of way - he may want to consider restraining his dogs so that they don't cause more injuries. I am also planning on sending a copy of the letter to the local dog warden. Quite an eventful walk really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Actually Beach Chick when we had our caravan we used to bump into a labradoodle on the sea wall and they used to have a lovely little dance together. It was a local doodle and man. I know them! Max, the doodle, right? they are lovely dogs, this one today was lovely too, I just wish they'd had a bit more control.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted April 22, 2011 Author Share Posted April 22, 2011 Paddy followed this dog and her owner and would not come back when called. I went to retrieve him and apologised profusely to the owner - who was fine. I think that I must book some obedience classes before I let him off the lead again! We will be getting him neutered once he has settled down so I hope that this may help too. you apologised, you have plans.... good owner! On the same walk we passed a farm building - Paddy was back on the lead at this stage. We heard some ferocious barking and these two sort of white husky dogs appeared - snarling and barking. Paddy showed no interest in them at all but - before the owner called them off - one of them bit him on the nose and drew blood. OH screamed at them and the owner called them off but it was really scary. I had not intention of discussing anything with the owner at the time but I am planning on sending him a letter suggesting that, as his farm is so close to the public right of way - he may want to consider restraining his dogs so that they don't cause more injuries. I am also planning on sending a copy of the letter to the local dog warden. Quite an eventful walk really! that sounds like a nightmare, is Paddy ok? def write to the owner and copy the dog warden. that is very scary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted April 22, 2011 Share Posted April 22, 2011 Actually Beach Chick when we had our caravan we used to bump into a labradoodle on the sea wall and they used to have a lovely little dance together. It was a local doodle and man. I know them! Max, the doodle, right? they are lovely dogs, this one today was lovely too, I just wish they'd had a bit more control....[/quote That's the one! Cookie always enjoyed meeting him. The man and my OH used to bump into each other quite early in the morning and have a chat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 My border Archie was attacked and bitten 2 weeks ago by a bulldog (possible x) he has had £100 worth of vet treatment for bites on his face and all around his neck. He has only just started wearing a collar for walks as it was so sore I was standing at the exit to our local country park with my other border on the lead, leaning down to put his lead on when this dog went for him. It was on a lead but the owners walked right past us and it attacked Archie who did his best to fend it off but not very successfully One of the owners kicked Archie repeatedly until I managed to grab him, they were shouting and swearing saying Archie had attached their dog because he wasn't on a lead Unfortunately they were pikeys so I didn't feel able to stand upto them or report them for fear of reprisals. I did take pictures of Archie's wounds with my phone but can't upload them but will put some on now they have nearly healed. Last week they were red and weeping, but thanks to hibiscrub and sudocreme they have healed really well The pink shiny bits are the bites - not great photos sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Oh I am sorry, poor Archie. I hope it doesn't affect him too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 oh poor Archie - and poor you. horrible people tend to have horrible dogs it seems to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
