Totally Lost My Cool on a Walk

Warning: Rant alert!

Ok, so my Mastiff is 5 months and a like a huge teddy. He's as soppy as hell, sits down and offers up a paw when he meets people (and dogs ). I'd consider myself a responsible owner, on our regular walk I let him off lead out on the beach (it's miles long and rarely has people on) or on the miles of nature reserve behind the beach but keep him on the lead near any roads or in areas where there's lots of people and/or dogs. He's in obedience classes and responds to basic commands (sit, down, give, stay) and recalls most of the time - the times he doesn't he'll chase after me if I walk away rather than let me out of his sight.

So last night we were out in the nature reserve which is several square miles in area and allows dogs off lead, there was nobody around and so he was off the lead. As we rounded a corner a couple were coming towards us with a young Spaniel on a lead. Beauford did his usual thing, trotted up to the Spaniel and plonked himself down in preparation for the good old paw shake. Then it all went pear shaped. The woman immediately yanked the Spaniel puppy away (which made it squeal ) and started swatting at Beauford like a fly and shooing him away. I was surprised by this reaction, he's a big dog but he's not bloody Cujo - so I walked up smiling and tried to put their mind at rest, telling them not to worry, he's a puppy too and he's not dangerous, he's just trying to 'meet' their dog. I got stared at like I'd just grown another head, the woman was continually yanking this Spaniel away on the lead (which was now screaming and falling over when yanked) whenever Beauford got near, whilst swatting at him and saying "why don't you put that horrible thing on a lead!"

Well naturally, call my dog a 'horrible thing' and the hackles rise...and I'm not talking about the dog's...

I told her, between clenched teeth, that I'd be grateful if she stopped swatting my dog right now and perhaps, rather than acting like a prima donna, she try socalising her puppy rather than yanking the bloody thing around like a sack of grain on a rope. The bloke then cut in and informed me 'people like me' were why 'people often don't like dogs' and that I gave 'responsible dog owners a bad name'.

All I can say is that what followed was a 'full and frank exchange of views' before I was called a bitch and told that
'a dog like that should be on a lead at all times'.

A dog like that? A dog like that?

Roof was hit in a big way and I won't repeat what I said, but it wasn't pretty.

Now perhaps it's me, but I can't see what the issue was with these people. Their puppy obviously wasn't socialised and they obviously weren't going to let it become socialised either. They saw Beauford and simply saw a big dog, appeared to think 'big=dangerous' and set out to treat me, and my dog, like arch criminals. The problem is that in situations like that, I'm not worried about my dog attacking... I'm more worried about me wrapping my boot round someone!

What would you do in that situation?

Probably exactly the same as you did!

I have no issue with people being scared of dogs etc, but what I don't like is when other dogs are jerked away and I or my dog is insulted.

Max isn't even that huge (I don't think) and I've had people drag their children and dogs away from us when he's been on a lead. He's a Boxer, and they're supposed to be known for their friendliness!

One regular dog walker near us famously asked me if I would change the times I walked Max, so that he could let his dog off lead without the "worry" of Max being around!! That opened a whole can of worms, let me tell you!

You can always try and reason with people, but unfortunately I think that if they have a mindset around certain breeds etc, they're unlikely to change.

I wouldn't even class a Mastiff as any kind of dog to be worried about!

The best thing you can do in future is take your puppy and smartly walk past them, and don't give people like that the time of day!

It sounds like they've done more damage to their poor puppy then your pup ever could
Becky

I would have probably reacted in a similar manner. We've met a few odd balls who have made it plain their dog is not going to socialise with any other dog EVER. I don't even waste my breath anymore but just call the dogs and keep walking.

Sounds a bit over the top to me from the other dog owner not you.If your dog had approached aggressively I could understandi think what they don't realise is it will probably be their dog that ends up aggressive through not being socialised.

Had a similar spat with a woman, whos dog was off lead at the time, I did'nt put inka and kain on because hers was off too, they did they're usual ran up to say hi tails wagging like mad, she went off on one swearing at me and telling me to get my dogs under control, I said your is off too whats the difference, she said the size look yours is huge, I said oh thats right the world would be a safer place if everyone had 10 inch dogs Eh now f...off.

Perhaps in years to come they will see the error in their ways when they have a nervous aggressive unsocialised dog.....

Just feel sorry for their poor spaniel.

ooooh i would have punched her lights out,ooop sorry family forum,i would have done the same as you and why do people get a dog if there not going to socialise it,i dont understand,they dont stay cute forever they need love,not yanked aroung like a sake of spuds,i agree with what you done

If I hear undeserved criticism of my lads, I just look the offender straight in the eye, tello him/her to **** off, and turn my back. Well, before the wheelchair, anyway . My dogs are NOT faultless, but what faults they have, I know. And I know the faults they don't have, too.

Snorri

I'd of reacted the same way as you. It's folk like them that give all resonsible dog owners a bad name