It is natural to be protective over our loved ones, humans or animals.

But, if we do not like or want the reactions from others that we know CAN occur (whether appropriate or inappropriate) then it is up to US not to put our dogs in that position.

I feel like I am in a Vicky Pollard sketch here with you saying "yebbut, nobbut" etc.

Suppose the person did not have a dog?

Suppose they were a dog phobic?

Suppose they had learning difficulties?

WE, as dog owners ,have to EXPECT others to be hostile to our dogs and act accordingly.

Whether we LIKE it or not, is irrelevant. This is just the world we live in.

Honestly, both of you were in the wrong. He shouldn't have smacked your dog but equally, you could have prevented that by not putting your dog in this situation in the first place. If your dog's recall is poor enough/patchy enough that you sometimes have to go up and take him by his collar, he shouldn't be allowed off lead in a popular dog walking area when you're not giving him your full attention.

I can understand that your dog is a puppy and as such, accidents happen, It happens to all of us - even when we have older dogs who should know better But personally, as someone who has a dog who will not always recall in certain situations, I keep her on a longline and only let her off when I can give her my full attention & make sure she's not going to be a danger to herself or others.

You can still socialise your dog, you just need to be considerate of other people and only allow your dog to socialise when you've been given the go ahead by the other owner. It's in your pup's best interests anyway, as you want to make sure that his socialisation is all positive

the whole way through this thread i have stated that IT IS MY FAULT, i didn't have full control, all i wanted was a bit of reassurance that i over reacted......

I'm grown up at 63 now! That's why I post as I do. I am not heartless, I like people and I love dogs, especially MY dogs! It's what I would say comes from 40yrs ownership of dogs.

I don't give a damn what they say about 'not picking your dog up' if you feel it is threatened.

I own a little dog - I sometimes let her get on with it even if she does get a rebuke. I can guage the situation most times. There are other times when I will pick her up and ASK the other dog owner if their dog is OK. There are other times when I will pick her up and SCREAM at the other dog owner to get hold of their dog or get it under control or, most often trot out my bit about 'if you cannot control your dog or if it will not listen to you - you should KEEP IT ON A LEAD'.

I would like to add that I have owned dogs (including the one I own now) that I did not let off the lead for almost a year or more until I was confident that they would listen to me and obey me.

There was a time when I thought I would never, ever be able to let my cavvy off the lead until the magic day happened, when she was about 13 months old, that she actually came back to me when called while we were down on the beach. Previously to that, I would have been unable to collect my daughter from school if I'd waited for her to return to me when she was having so much fun!

Min pins are headstrong and quite brave and fearless. It took almost a year before I could let Bella off the lead. She is a model dog now (2 yrs old). I had the help and assistance of an exceptionally well trained Rottie when I first started letting her free. Rottie so well trained that she would return every time and my min pin so besotted with the huge Rottie that she would 'follow her anywhere'.

Now, when other dogs are misbehaving on our 'group walks' Bella attracts the admiration of them all when she comes over to 'get your lead on' or turns away from what they are all doing when I say 'this way'. A well trained dog is a joy to own and a joy to behold.

Your dog wasn't badly injured. It could even be that your dog won't be so keen to jump at people now. Just put it down to experience. You can only be responsible for what your own dog does, not what other people's dogs do nor for what THEY do in response to your dog.

But that's what you've received, surely? I don't think anyone has said any different, just that he shouldn't have hit your dog but that you're right, it was your fault and that your dog probably shouldn't have been put in this situation in the first place.

Think of it this way - this has already happened, Rocky is probably none the wiser and certainly not scarred so all you can do is chalk it up to experience and learn from your mistakes

With regards to little dogs and not picking them up, you and I and everyone on this forum know that it is not an ideal course of action unless the circumstances are dire but you can't assume that everyone else you meet knows that. An owner you don't know is no different from a dog you don't know - they're an unknown entity and as such, you need to act cautiously until you can get a better idea of the situation. Therefore you need to control things as best you can your end (e.g. putting Rocky on lead until you're given the go ahead, not letting him off lead if his recall is patchy) and hope the other owner does the same.

MooDog, as others have said it is understandable that you are upset because your dog received a whack, but in all honesty I can well see how it can happen in the heat of the moment.

A few days ago I was out walking with Jimmi who is always on a lead, and an offlead young dog came racing over and proceeded to bounce around him.........after a great deal of work Jimmi is now very good with most dogs but NOT those that jump on him. The dog raced away again to it's owner who was a little way away, then came hurtling back - this time it was long and low and growling. I shouted to the woman to call her dog, and she just smiled, by which time Jimmi was becoming aggressive, so I picked him up, discretion being the better part of valour and all that. Well this other wretched dog started jumping all over me and trying to bite Jimmi who was going bonkers in my arms (it did nothing for my bad back I can tell you ) In the end I lifted my knee as it made yet another launch and he hit it with his chest and then ran off back to the owner - who had made no effort to control her dog and offered absolutely no apology.

I am afraid that my view is that any dog kept on a lead, should be treated with caution and respect by other dog owners.........they could be on a lead because they are aggressive; are recovering from illness or surgery; are nervous, etc. etc. I felt great anger towards the woman, (not the dog, because it was not it's fault) and can imagine that the chap who was jumped on by your dog felt anger too - he was probably frightened of what could happen to his puppy.

Perhaps you should just look on it as a lesson learned, but I do hope that the whack on the ribs wasn't hard enough to hurt your dog.

Honestly, I really think this is "just one of those things". Everyone will have incidents during dog walks, it's just life. Sometimes it's your fault, sometimes it's their, usually it's a mixture of both. It's also totally human to automatically feel defensive, then on reflection realise how you also contributed. No harm was done, lessons were learned, just try and move on now. Stressing over it won't help

Another of sb's posts I agree with: re socialisation.
its not up to you how others socialise their dogs. I've even had someone see my dog in a down stay send her dogs to PLAY with him, after seedling if he bites (i got as far as "no BUT" before she SENT her dogs over to "go play!") thats a stay broken then! Then when she didn't like how he played - she said he was a live wire who needed neutered! THEN tells me that she didn't want one of HER DOGS TO BITE HIM

If she stopped for one minute to realise that he's not her dog and there might be a reason I had him lying down and that she had no right...

Then theres the one who approaches after I told loui to 'leave' her dog amd so she gets on about allowing my dog to socialise....after I told her, he can't when I have said 'leave' SENDS HER DOG TO SAY HELLO, which btw consisted of her dog snapping in his face to which he still did "leave" (good boy) might be good for HER dog but not mine!

IT IS NOT UP TO OTHERS WHEN HE SHOULD SOCIALISE

(btw the dog expert cleared off when she leaned too far over him, got as far as oh you sweet thing when he opened his mouth, barked and jumped at her face!

Nobody is perfect, neither are their dogs but just think in future before deciding how other ppls dogs should socialise!

Btw, think you missed all the bits where ppl said just put it down to experience.

Sorry about the predictive text errors