Are we creating a generation of unsocialable dogs & are owners making them worse?

Im kind of undecided & thought id kick a few thoughts about.

* Firstly about my dogs, i walk off lead 3 BCs, 2 boys & one bitch.When out walking together, NONE Are bothered with any other dog, they do not make a beeline or try to interact with other dogs & are happy to let other dogs join their little group, however the boys do run around having a jolly nice time, i dont call them back if im going past other dogs, UNLESS the owner clearly has a problem (ie has gathered the dog up or has pulled the dog to the side, inwhich case i will call them back & put them down or if the path is wide enough walk them past at heel)

*if a dog is just on a lead i dont call them back they arent going to bother the other dog they are just going to go past, im sick to death of calling them back (i HATE cardiff) its so busy, sports games, bikes everywhere, childern wobbling about,people with white trousers, all require me to call them back. So ive now decided if a dog is on a lead but looks quite calm then no im not calling them back, they arent going to interact with that dog at all & i think if the dog does have a problem it may benefit from having some balanced/good body language canines going by & ignoring them. Anyway this is what ive decided to do.

** yesterday.
Dog 1. Really smart B&T terrier being walked on a footpath(a busy dog walk more than suitable & therefore very popular for offlead dogs)for in the middle of a massive field, there was the mother & two kids.
The dog was ignoring my dogs as we were coming up & walking nicely, as soon as he did notice them, & i mean a interested look (not barking growling or anything) they picked him up & were comfoting him as he manages to walk all other three peoples arms, looking very smart & interested but now understandbly very growly.I just thought just leave him on the floor, hes on a lead, my dogs are no where near

Dog 2. Nice tri colour collie off lead, was going to come off the field up onto the path, saw mine on the path & went back to play ball on the field, ok i actually think this was alot better than the terrier & would be something id advise other people to do, however the owner could see that my dogs hadnt even bothered to go to hers, just seemed a shame really if she had abit of a dodgey dog that mine might have been a good oppotunity to get some socialization with another collie owner who would understand????

Dog 3. At this point my dogs were in the river as a lovely family, gran grrandad daughter & baby in pushchair & large on lead rottie. As my dogs were in the river i left them alone (been collies they just stand in the river watching me till i go past) , i spoke to the rottie & tickled his head, i could tell the owner almost fainted that i was treating her dog "normallY" kind of makes you wonder what normally happens?????

Dog 4, by this point im road walking ,all on leads & this guy with a older terrier is waiting by the bus stop. all my dogs are on the lead, this guy is literally running around the bus stop to get away from me, im not crossing the road just because he cant control one grumpy terrier. So instead of just relaxing with his dog on a short enough lead he has to make a huge palava pulling his dog around,running around ths bus shelter edges, its pathetic. the dog didnt bark or anything, just a mass over reaction.

**** so to conclude i think dogs1,2 &4 were vitctims of over reacation by their owners who have no doubt contributed to their dogs behaviour & dogs 1 & 4 behaviour will no doubt be heightened by yesterdays encounters, Dog 2 wont be ny worse but also wont be any better Dog 3 at least had a positive experince!!!!Watching three collies whilst having me tickle his head!

What has happened to dog savvy owners?

Discuss!!!!!

I think it's a bit of a vicious circle. The more people have bad experiences the more wary they and their dogs will be.

My 2 are fine with other dogs but as Cava is pretty big I tend to call them back if I see other dogs coming until I know that they and the owners are happy to inter act. Cava and Zymi meet a Great Dane in the woods and the owner is pleased that I'm happy to let my dogs play as most people worry about his size

We met a GWP the other day as we arrived for our walk and the owner asked if we minded if she let her dog off with mine. I had no problems and the boys were delighted to share their walk with a lady friend

I azm always happy to help if a dog is a bit unsure as my 2 are very sociable and don't get het up

As an owner who walks 4 on lead dogs who are not let off because I would have no control over them I can tell you from the other perspective.

I have no problem with off lead dogs that when they approach will not react in an aggressive way, we have had several nasty moments (which left one of mine traumatised and we are still getting over). I would be happy to have yours go by off lead if they were calm and non aggressive. Its the out of control dogs who aren't too friendly I object to.

Perhaps the bus stop gent had had a bad experience in the past?

My first Basenji was not very friendly to other dogs and I remember picking him up once from a dog that was tearing towards us, the dog owner was assuring me her dog was alright but she didn't consider that mine might not have been.

To be honest - we very rarely have this problem in Cornwall.

People tend to allow all dogs (maybe even the ones that shouldn't) to interact and mix.

I have always been areful with mine - they are all fine (with the possible exception of Tassle) but there are a lot and it can be intimidating for single dogs to meet them.
If I am just walking one or two I don't usually bother.

However - I have made a big point of calling the Lab puppies back - mainly becasue I don't want them to turn into thugs that body slam every dog they meet, once they have met a dog I allow them to sniff for a few seconds then call them away - they are being very good so far.

Its very hard for people who have had bad experiences (as the one with the attacker or the one having been attacked)
I would imagine 90% of the people you could talk to would have had some expericence directly or indirectly with an aggressive dog. Does make you nervous.

i do agree with you all.Ive had bad experinces myself.

Re the picking up, if my off lead dog is passing & your dog is on the lead & theres enough "room" ie wideish path dog on opposite side to your dog, i dont see that as any different to me walking past with them on the lead.

The bus stop man has clearly had bad experinces, he was just dealing with it (yesterday( imo , very very badly.

Clearly no one can know my dogs are going to ignore their dogs, maybe thats it??????? But If they can read any basic dog body language they should have a good idea????

Hi,

When Zane and Ellie are off lead in the park they will approach other dogs whether on leads or not, have a sniff then run off. If I see other owners pulling their dogs back whether because theyir dogs aren't OK with being approached or they're worried about Zane's size (get that a lot) then I call them back.

The only unpleasant experiences I've had that are memorable are those where the owners of small dogs scoop up their pooches and begin shouting and bawling at me to keep my big aggressive GSD away from their dogs. When tis has happened it's always long before Zane has approached them anyway. But it won't stop me taking my dogs to the park and letting them off.

I think all dogs have a right to be socialises. After all, they are sociable animals and if as owners we prevent them from ever doing that, even on a lead, then we're taking something away from their quality of life.

Laura xx

oh to add... my bad expeinces have mainly come from "overly friendly dogs" with no manners. Product imo of too many out of control puppy parties (another bug bear of mine!!!!)

Whats going on out there!!!!

yes! But I find it`s people who are new to dogs rather than those with bad experiences. We`ve all had bad experiences - with dogs, people, work, friends etc. and it shouldn`t turn us into phobics. And most dogfights are mainly noise thank goodness.
Like this morning - a family with a tiny young dog admired my dogs and stood smiling while Shamus (3 times his size) gently touched noses with their pup. Then walking down the road later a woman swept her toy poodle up into her arms as we passed. The first dog will grow up comfortable round dogs - the second won`t.
Like yours, my dogs are uninterested in other dogs - although Shamus will make an exception occasionally, which is why I watch him like a hawk and he is improving fast.

When I first got Jess at 20 months (she was a rescue) she HADN'T been socialised AT ALL and used to bowl every dog she met over. She wasn't a dog friendly dog AT ALL. However, I started going on organised GSD walks, and she has improved so much, that she even goes straight to the bum of the other dog (she NEVER did this when we first had her).

It has took us a year and a half to get her to this stage, and she has only been going off lead for about4 months, but I would not emphasise socialising dogs enough.

It has done Jess the world of good.

She has been attacked by three dogs since we have had her, but I'm the sort of owner (luckily in my opinion) that if she gets hurt, I will check that it isn't serious and I will just carry on. I'm not the sort of owner who picks the dog up (even though I have a GSD so it would be kinda hard lol) and coo's over it.

If I ever get a dog from a puppy, the thing that I am going to work on the most I think is to socialise it as much as possible and with all sorts of things.

I would love to come across people who don't mind a GSD going up to their dogs (to be fair, they are getting more often now) and as she is friendly now, I am more relaxed and I think she picks up on this.

However though, when on the lead, she is a TOTAL different dog. She barks and lunges, and I won't let her meet another dog when on her lead as I know she isn't half as nice. I will quite happily if the other owner agrees let her off (if we are in a park, not on the street) but to be fair, when the other owners see a barking lunging GSD, they tend to be very affraid (which to be fair, I can't really blame them as if I didn't know what Jess was like, I would probs be the same if faced with a dog like her)

But anyway, back to the topic lol, I think if owners relaxed more, their dogs would pick up on this and act accordingly.

I hate it when people pick their dogs up too - all it creates is aggression in the dog that's being picked up and tempts the other dog to jump up to see why the other dog is being picked up.

At the moment I walk Bryan off lead and Z (staffy) on lead. Both dogs are very friendly, although Bryan is quite vocal and growly (but not in an aggressive way, he just likes to get other dogs to chase him ).

I never put him on lead when we go past other dogs, even if the other dog is on a lead. I just don't see the point.

Z is very good with dogs on her lead (I've only had her 5 days so working on recall still) and I've introduced her to a lot of dogs. But with her being a staffy most people get their dogs back on the lead and drag them away even when I'm calling 'She's very friendly it's OK!'

People are just frightened to let their dogs be dogs most of the time and then wonder why they have problems.

Bryan has been bitten a few times, but I'm the same as Jesterjenn. I don't make a fuss and as he hasn't been injured badly I've just carried on as normal. Making a fuss just creates more tension and fear in the dog.
Another thing that bugs me is people who don't like their dogs to get dirty - ever!