Clueless Owners - What Do I Say?

Firstly, i'm going to have a moan about silly owners who should never be allowed a dog. On the field today, we were all minding our own business, i'd thrown some treats in the grass for the dogs to find. I heard the gate bang, saw a woman coming through it then saw her young lab hurtling our way. I've come across this woman and her dog before so knew what was going to happen, plus factor in the treats and this meeting wasnt going to be a good one!

The lab charged up to Jed who, being a steady dog normally, told it off so it decided to go to Flynn which was a big mistake. He instantly whirled round on it, chased it off and actually nipped it's backside but it came back for more. The lady finally caught up and her words were "i'm sorry but my dog needs to learn some manners". She has obviously taken the approach of letting her dog run over to anybody it likes and then letting the other person and their dogs sort the problem out for her without putting in any control herself. I've had 2 other incidents this week also where i've had to get rid of dogs causing bother and the owners have just walked off.

Now, I understand dogs need to be socialised and need to learn what is not acceptable from other dogs but I sorely wish people wouldnt use my dogs without checking with me first. Flynn's reactions to the approach of other dogs is getting worse and I would prefer that he wasnt put into the situation of having to deal with unruly dogs in his face. Before people start mentioning muzzles and keeping him on lead I want to make it clear that Flynn never causes a problem unless a dog comes to him. He isnt interested in other dogs, he just wants to be left alone as a rule so kicks off if a dog comes charging over. If they approach in a steady manner is he ok.

Anyway, i'm not a very assertive person and never know what to say at the time, I just leave the situation seething inside and wishing i'd said this and that! I was going to get Flynn one of those collars which says "no dogs" but thats no use if other dog owners are at a distance. What can I say to these stupid owners without being too rude or pompous but gets the message across? I dont want to allow Flynn to behave in the way he does but what choice do I have when misbehaving off lead dogs come over? I've tried sitting my dogs down and putting them in a controlled situation hoping other owners get the message and control their own dogs but alas, we all know it doesnt work, same as with putting them on a lead.

So, now I feel I need to start using words to get my message across as it's becoming tiresome but what do I say? I know this is a very common problem and we all come across it almost daily so what kind of things do you lot say?

All I can recommend is shouting to the owner to grab their dog as yours can be a little grumpy. I doesn't always work, I've had owner yell back 'it's ok bob, frank or whatever just wants to play' but atleast if your guys do give a little hard your not in the wrong, they have had fair warning. It's really hard at times isn't it.

All of us have lost a dog at some time or another, even me!

I explain (eventually) why it may not be a good idea, however this only happens once.

The second time it happens I leave them in no doubt that I am going to report them for having a dog dangerously out of control to the Dog Warden and the police, I take their number down if possible and quite often, the details on their ID tag.


If it happens again, I am afraid the dogs get a whack. The sort of whack I give makes sure they never bother ME again.

The way I look at it is if a dog comes running over, disturbs my lot who have minded their own business and gets told off then I feel no remorse and hopefully the other dog has learned a lesson.

I dont mind with the collies as they will take a certain amount and then snap and they do it in a confident way without going over the top, I trust they can handle the situation correctly. However, Flynn has an element of fear reactivity and he tends to chase, bark and, just recently, nip the other dog. Most think it's a game and come back for another go! Like me, he's not very assertive and it's this I worry about as his reaction is a little bit OTT, I dont want it escalating otherwise I wouldnt particularly care.

I have started putting a red bandana on him when we attend training classes in the hope it acts as a noticable warning but it never does. If I wasnt concerned about Flynn's behaviour I would join the trend and simply walk off!

But yes, it is difficult to know what to do for the best and what to say and thats why I go places where we are virtually alone or have the space to avoid others!

Hmm...

I actually have no problem whatsoever if a bouncy dog charges over as long as it is friendly and the owner actively comes and gets their dog. Often we will let the dogs have a quick play and we will move on.

My problems comes, when like you say, the owner of the problem dog walks off in the opposite direction (or stands miles away in the distance shouting or blowing a whistle) and expects you to deal with it. When you are trying to have a peaceful walk and your dogs are being repeatedly humped, jumped on, and hounded while the owner couldn't give a sh*t...well. All I will say is thank God we don't run into these sort of owners often; most do take responsibility.

As for how to deal with it, have you tried putting Flynn on the lead and standing in front of him (blocking him from reacting to the other dog), while shouting over to the owner?

You see, my lot dont play generally. They say a quick hello and then lose interest. I met a guy on the park with a pup onlead who actually asked me if he could bring it over to say hello. I thought that was brilliant as he was doing exactly the right thing but my lot just told it off...I wonder if it's because they are older now and cant be bothered!

I have put Flynn on the lead but I find if I do that, or take his collar then it makes his reaction far worse. If there is an on lead dog approaching on the path and I sit my lot out of the way, Flynn will have a grumble and thats it. If I put him on lead or take a hold of his collar he will actually lunge as the dog goes past. I do tend to warn people that he isnt friendly when I get the chance. Having a Slovak you know they are powerful dogs and trying to block Flynn from reacting when he's determined is difficult!

I have no problem with people who show a little proactivity and fetch their dog or apologise but it's finding the right thing to say to the people who watch their dog run over and think it's perfectly ok for them to do that so they dont control it.

I think I will get one of those "No Dogs" collars just as an added precaution.

By lost a dog do you mean that one of yours has run off to another dog???
My lad is very typical for doing this, but we find that the solution is to see lots and lots of dogs every day and he doesn't care any more, but even when he does go to see another dog he just sniffs then wonders off. If another dog does this to mine I don't mind, it's just the OTT dogs which run up at a hundred miles an hour and are totally in his face.
It is something which the dogs handler should control, and I admit it is quite hard sometimes, but for the safety of other dogs if I know mine is in a funny mood then he goes on a harness and long line for a while to calm down.

By whack the dog what do you mean??? I can't imagine anyone hitting another persons dog! I mean for one thing if someone did it to mine then I would probably whack them back twice as hard. Some dogs - those will ill manners in the first place... may even try to bit if you were phyical will them. However if you have a lead handy and 'accidentally' 'tap' the OTT dog I suppose no one could say anything and the dog would hopefully not retaliate. I think if I did 'tap' another dog my lad would join in and take it a bit further... so I'm not going to test that one

Ohh one thing I do mention when the owner finally appears is the name and number of our dog trainer/behaviourist (who I assist)... They either act remotely interested or very offended. If they are offended I list the behaviours I have seen in the past 5 minutes which could become a big problem. Works a treat.

Mint! Might ask for a load of Denise's business cards, words might not be needed, just hand them one of those! I like that idea of yours though.

Even better... Never thought to hand out business cards. The thing is so far we haven't actually had anyone call... So might be a waste, but to see the faces would be pretty great

yip ..same here.

i dunno bout your way...but generally down here if the other owner sees u pop a lead on,its often a clue that u dont want your dogs to mix...then if the dog still comes over(whilst u telling the other owner to call the dog) its then their dog 'out of control'...under these circumstances if the owners dont take the hint...im afraid id let him off to 'tell the dog off'