Chaser or Chasee !

Today I experienced a dog owner confrontation of a nature often written about here, so I thought I would seek your opinions.

With my three Boxers I was nearing the end of a glorious walk this morning deep in the snow filled woods. We had met and enjoyed interaction with many people and dogs in our usual sociable manner, until that is, we came across this elderly threesome with four dogs.

All was fine and normal until one of their dogs suddenly took off at high speed into the woods, quickly followed by my Yorkie who is always up for a good game of chase. I told Tillie to stay with me alongside Harry, because I don't want two of mine chasing a single dog.

As the two dogs are running the other dog starts squealing even though Yorkie is not touching it. I was just about to whistle him back when I was subjected to a torrent of abuse from the three people, accusing me of having out of control dogs and demanding I call him back.

Wrongly perhaps my retort was " call your own dog back if you want him back".
Further abuse followed with my dogs all being downgraded to hooligan status, despite the fact that they have never attacked another dog or even been involved in a fight.

Yorkie, bored with his non playing adversary returns calmly of his own volition whilst I try to put my case that two of my dogs have done nothing and Yorkie was simply doing what lots of dogs will do given the circumstances. I suggest that their dog was the cause of the problem, if it could be considered a problem.

" But our dog is frightened" they claim, "Hello !!!!! don't blame me and my dog, because yours is frightened, if it hadn't started running it wouldn't get chased" " if you've got a nervous dog, it's your problem, deal with it". They could of course have asked me nicely to recall Yorkie.

Onwards and four hundred yards back towards the car , I spied a chap approaching with a small dog running free. One short whistle saw my three turn in unison and return. The fella was amazed at their behaviour and enthused about how well behaved they were. I simply burst out laughing, recounting the story of the devil dogs that had just been painted further up the path.

Into the back of the car they jumped, sitting there whilst I disrobed. A youngish woman pulls up in a 4X4 and lets here manic JR and a lively Black Lab out, they proceed to the back of my car and torment my three who stay as requested, looking at the fun below them. Again I am given enthusiastic praise for the behaviour of my dogs.

I thanked the two admirers rather profusely, having been accused of canine chaos earlier, it is nice to have one's confidence boosted.

Have I monsters or very nice dogs.

I can see both sides. I think the real problem (as I think you are suggesting) is the manners (or lack of them) of the couple who had the frightened dog.

I've been in the reverse situation myself. Trying to socialise my very nervous rescue dog, I wouldn't put her on lead if I thought the oncoming dog was not likely to frighten her (usually based on size or how the dog approached). Stumpy would sometimes run away from other dogs, but in a circle around me.

Anyway, one day we saw a mini schnauzer coming. The dog seemed calm and due to his size, I didn't think Stumpy would see him as a threat so I didn't put her on lead.

The mistake I made was that rather than being in an open area where she would circle and head back for me, we were on an enclosed footpah footpath (with an opening to a road about 500 yards behind us).

The schnauzer approached Stumpy, she made a sudden movement backwards which excited the schnauzer and soon he was chasing her down the path. I knew that she would not turn to come back to me with the schnauzer right behind her so I didn't even call her but asked the guy if he could call his dog back, which he did (he thought they were just playing).

But I must admit, I had to stop myself screaming at him at first - even though I didn't think it was his fault, I was just full of panic.

When people are frightened about what might happen to their dog, their reactions aren't always logical/reasonable. Then again, some people are just downright rude and I don't know which these people were.

I would say it was their problem. If you have a dog (which I do) that isn't keen on some others then you put them on lead with the approach of dogs you don't know and if you are reliant on others to recall their dog because you can't recall yours you can't really blame others, imo!

I can see where you are coming from, but you can't always recall a frightened dog.

At the end of the day, Boxer boy wasn't to know that the dog would be frightened of his dog, and there was no need for the people to be abusive. It's not a dog issue, it's a stupid people issue.

BB, you are probably best to ignore people like this. You get used to nasty comments if you have big dogs, you just have to let them wash over you, or else it only ruins your nice walk.

I would accept a frightened dog but living where I do it is mainly people who just can't recall their dog Lots of times people have asked when the dogs have run off playing "will yours come back if you call?"

Totally agree though it's a stupid people issue and there was no need to be abusive.

Can't comment really coz mine have a dodgy recall. Having said that they don't pester other dogs so it's generally not a problem for me.

If I told you recall here was perfect you'd be right not to believe me I think I am just very careful about approaching dogs living where I do as it is highly populated with numpties that abuse you for their own dogs behaviour.