Does it annoy you that people with large dogs don't keep them under control?

Question

I walk my Cavalier Becky on the field opposite my house with my 3 year old daughter and recently every time we go out there are dogs off the lead (boxers/Staffs and other strong dogs) that see Becky & race towards her. They either want to play or to hump her. She has only recently began to stop being really scared of dogs and now she is terrified again. These dogs (always different ) overpower her and either make her yelp or push her and roll her over. Yesterday a woman with 2 boxers who were harassing Becky shouted to me from a distance 'can you pick up your little girl and put your dog on a lead?'. I was amazed. How about her keeping her dogs on a lead if she knows she can't control them? Becky doesn't need a lead on because she never goes up to any dog or person. She tried to run home as she was petrified of the dogs. Today a staff was jumping up at my daughter who was crying because it scared her and the owners did nothing.My hubby told them off.How can these people just not care?

Answer 1

Hi babe yes it does annoy me and to be frank i will EXPLODE before too long , take the other day olly was on a lead he always is i cant trust him like you do Becky and this moron come walking towards us he had his dog on a lead but one of those expandable leads and he had it all the way off so he couldnt control his mutt , well he was on olly and i said can you bring your dog in please and his cow of a girlfriend said he wont hurt your dog but he was scaring the crap out of Olly she had an attitude and i felt like punching her , ifeel like i cant go anywhere and the moron said about dog parks , p i s s off we are not in yanky land we dont have dog parks , sorry for the rant , i am gonna start carrying a big stick for the mutts and the owners ,lol xx A few weeks ago we were on holiday , we went to the beach and i took olly off his lead , i thought he would be fine and he was , he knows to stay and he does it great but then these 2 dogs come up , they walked by while i held olly , i let him off his lead and he went off barking at them , little **** so they chased him and no amount of screamimg at him to stay would he listen to , he was getting nearer and nearer a busy road and i couldnt move , my legs were like jelly , i was pertrified and really thought he would be dead , this boy managed to get hold of him , i felt bad for days , it ruined the holiday because i couldnt think of nothing else , thats why i would never let him off the lead again ,xx

Answer 2

I don't think you should tar everyone with the same brush I think it comes down to whether you are a responsible dog owner and not just because if you have a large dog you don't bother to control it. I have 3 large breed dogs who are always kept on a lead and are very well behaved. I actually keep my dogs some distance from children just in case they have a fear of the breed.

I think the problem is many dog owners forget they are in charge of a wild animal which can be unpredictable and this is just ignorance on their part. All dogs regardless of whether they are aggressive or not should be kept on a lead and if you say Becky does not need a lead you are as irresponsible as the other owners, or is it 1 rule for you and another for everyone else. I am so sick of small breeds around me being left to run freely and my largest dog a bullmastiff has been attacked twice in 2 weeks both by small breeds also my german shepherd was attacked last night outside of my daughters nursery school when he was on the lead and he is so placid he will not retaliate. I shouted at the dogs owner 3 times to put his dog on a lead and he just laughed at me so I have called the police and the council as the next time my dog may be badly injured or a child could be attcked.

ALL DOGS SHOULD BE KEPT ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES unless they are in an enclosed garden.

Answer 3

Man tell me about it! If a dog cant be kept under control they shouldn't walk around places where there are other dogs! That is one of the many dog care responsibilities! Its like rule number 1, Respect that people have smaller dogs so put your dog on a lead and train your dog not to annoy the other dogs! Geese you would think people to just naturally do that! It makes you think. Those owners have no right to let their dogs harass other dogs. Especially when the owner wont do anything about it. It seems as if that there should be a law where you must keep large dogs under control or else go to 2 years in jail! I really know how ya feel. This person down the street has a great Dane. At least its on a lead but it stops and stares at you then jumps up at down tiring to chase all the way to the diner! People shouldn't do it!!!! It seems as if only the few CARING PEOPLE respect that you have a smaller dog.

Answer 4

Yeah it WELL annoys me. I have 2 big dogs and I keep them both undercontrol when off lead and if I think that maybe if I can't they get put on lead. Try taking a spray bottle of water with you when you go out I know thats a pain but so is unruley dogs if they come over to you your daughter or your dog spray them in the face and tell the owners you'll do it again if they don't control there dogs you never know, and after all it's only water it won't hurt them.You should not be made to feel itimidated when out walking your dog and the effects it will have on you dog isn't fair either i feel sorry for you that such rude people walk were you do

Answer 5

first of all can i just say PLEASE put Becky on a lead. A dog walking friend of mine never but his dog on a lead and one day got frightened and ran into the road and was killed ;-(. I would hate that to happen to Becky.

Secondly we have the same problem where i live (Devon). But as i now walk 4 at once people do seem to be able to control their dogs all of a sudden. I think they're intimidated by the sight of 4 dogs all walking to heel!!

Unfortunately i don't really think there is much for you to do. If it is possible, and i have kids to so i know its not sometimes, but maybe take Becky over the field just you and her. Then instead of picking her up as this could cause the big dogs to jump up and maybe bite you, use your body to shield her from the bully dogs. Don't kick other dogs but don't be afraid to use your legs as a barrier.

Its not usually the dogs fault though its the ignorant owners. I would NEVER allow any of my dogs to harass another dog but hey who the hell are we to wonder why??!!!!

Answer 6

I don't blame it all on size - i blame it all on the owner. I get seriously annoyed when ANY dog is off lead. Size does not matter.



Large dogs are potentially more dangerous, yes, but little yappy things that run after you can be just as bad - worse even because the owners think it's CUTE. I've seen way too many aggressive LITTLE dogs because the owners don't take them as seriously as say, an aggressive Chow.



It's even more annoying when you are working with a large aggressive dog yourself - i work with my aunt's German Shepherd, whom is dog aggressive. He's been getting better since i've been working with a few different trainers and he actually behaves and greets other dogs with me.



However i learned that most of his aggression is fear based aggression - because the dogs on his street aren't secured properly and i've had all sizes charge at us. He hasn't bitten any of them yet while i was with him (i chase the chargers away with an ultrasonic hand held that works miracles) but it does set him back - the little ones seem to be the worst for him because they can get right under him with no problems whatsoever.



People are stupid. I would look up your local leash laws to see if anyone is in violation. If they are and their dogs charge you or jump on you, then you have reason to report them. Maybe some sense will be knocked into them if they get a visit from the law.



PS - the dogs that charge me and my aunt's dog ... most of them charge right through the invisible fences, which is why i dislike them (the fences not the dogs.)

Answer 7

Yes it does annoy me to the point of saying something to the owner. It doesn't matter whether or not the dog is large or a wee thing like a rat on steroids - they can both cause catastrophic injuries to my dog should it all kick off.



I too have my hound on the Halti collar EVERY time we go out. Doesn't make any difference if he is behaving or not, he wears it regardless. I have to use a stick when I'm out, so I can only have one free hand on the lead to control him and the Halti has helped great guns.



I go through phases sometimes, when I think that ALL dogs should be kept on leads at ALL times when outside regardless of temperement - but that's usually only when we've been harrassed by some other buggers out of control pooch and the owners haven't been too bothered about recalling it.

Answer 8

Although you have a point with these stupid selfish people, I have walked my 2 Rottweilers down the main street in my town with my boyfriend, and there have been some pretty STUNNED people walking by that don't control their little dogs.



There was one occasion where the woman actually had her little dog on a leash and it was at the end of its 6 ft leash, jumping on my 2 dogs. My dogs are generally very good with dogs, however, that day I was AMAZED that my dog had not bitten the other dog.



My point is that little dogs/big dogs.. its same S***, different pile. People in general need to control their dogs.



Also, your dog should be on a leash anyways, trained or not. Dogs that run from other dogs are more prone to getting hurt. It would be like a dog chasing a cat.

Answer 9

Its not just large dogs, it's all dogs. Whether the dog is large or small, all owners should have their dogs under control. But the only thing is, I had the opposite problem.



I remember everytime I tried to walk my Chow Chow mix a few years ago, there would always be some lady with her small dog who could'nt keep it under control. One day while walking her, there was this little pomeranian that came up to both me and my dog barking madly. The lady just thought it was cute and adorable. She just told me " Oh, she's just adorable. She's just playing around". And trust me, my dog didn't want to play as she was 6 years old and had alot of problems. Particularly, with other dogs.



But the problem is, Large dogs 9 times out of 10 are going to get blamed for what a smaller dog caused. It's just because people think smaller dog's are "cute" and "adorable" and are going to be innocent everytime, they automatically blame a large dog. It's sad but true.



But it isn't just one category of dog, it's all of them. Everydog no matter how big or small should be under control.

Answer 10

I have 2 Rottweilers and I understand your plight totally, ALL dogs should be kept on a lead when in public, irrespective of size, and should be muzzled , if need be. I suggest you report it as you might not be so lucky next time. It is also important for you to keep your dog under control, for large breed owners, at all times as some people are afraid of dogs, big AND small...I agree with the lady above 100%.

Answer 11

I wonder the same thing about small dog owners who think it's cute to allow their little dogs off lead to do whatever they want. Especially the ones on retractable leashes when the owner is paying no attention to the dog and the dog goes 25 feet out to interfere with me and my leashed, trained and well behaved pit bull, sometimes even when he's in vest and working as my Service Dog.



I don't enjoy irresponsible owners of any dogs, large, medium or small who allow them to freely invade other people's space. They may think their dogs are cute and friendly but as soon as they are attacked by a fearful or not-so-dog-friendly dog they are usually quick to point the finger.



If I were you, I would yell to the owners of the offending dogs that your dog has Parvo or som dreadfully contagious disease and see how they react. Who cares if they look at you funny, these aren't exactly owners you are trying to impress.



I hate to blame the other dogs for their owners mistakes but you could carry a spray bottle of water mixed with a bit of nature's miracle, an air horn (which would likely scare your dog as well) or an air blast can or if you feel truly threatened, dog repellent or pepper spray (though I don't encourage using this unless you or your dog are seriously in danger).



All dog owners need to respect other people and their pets and the leash laws for everyone's safety.

Answer 12

I get annoyed too when people can't control any size dog! Whether small or large, if they can't be controlled or don't listen then keep them on a leash. There have been soo many times a small dog has run up to mine and started yapping. My dog doesn't care pay attention to the dogs but if she did then there would be problems. There are leash in my area and hardly anyone follows them. It's frustrating!

Answer 13

Um, it bothers me when anyone doesn't have control of their dog - doesn't matter the size. And all dogs (yes, yours included) should be on leads at ALL times, that woman was right to request you to do so. Doesn't matter if she always stays by your side, doesn't matter if she's super friendly, doesn't matter if she's "never run off before". There is a first time for everything and a having a dog off lead is just asking for it.



She was wrong, however, to ask you to pick your dog up because you had a right to be there. And I am sorry you are encountering people who won't control their dog.



People, in general, need to control their dog, whether it's a toy poodle or a Mastiff.

Answer 14

It annoys me when ANY owner of ANY size dog doesn't have it under control. My dogs are all large breeds and well trained.. kept on a leash in public and not allowed to harass anyone.

We have owners in our area that believe their small dogs have the right to do what they want to whatever/whomever they want. My young daughter's pony suffered serious injuries due to 4 JRT running loose when we where on a horseback ride. Thank goodness my daughter wasn't injured. My husband caught the dogs and called animal control. The owners of these dogs wanted to SUE us because the *trama* her dogs went through. GRRR...

I am pro ALL dogs of ALL sizes be trained an leased.

Answer 15

Scream and shout at them until they apologise! That behaviour is totally unacceptable with any sized dogs and they should be ashamed of themselves.



I'm pretty embarassed to say that if I was in your situation (with a child and dog with other dogs acting semi-aggressively) I'd be tempted to kick them away (not like, violently, more pushing them away then, so no actual force of impact is being applied to do damage), but yeah, if there was a risk of my dog or child being hurt, I wouldn't hesitate to do worse and I'm fairly certain that you'd be well within your legal rights to do so.



If all else fails, complain to the council or something.

Answer 16

I agree with Heidi, why do people have dogs then stick them in the garden to bark all day and night! Both my neighbours either side do this and it drives me up the wall!



I have a black Labrador and he is always on a lead, unless we take him on the forest walk but then he is a well mannered dog and does as he is told! But if I walk him through the streets or on the playing fields he is on his lead!

Answer 17

Little dogs can be just as unruly and intimidating. In fact my dalmatian got attacked by a JRT the other day and the owner couldn't control it or call it away.

My dog runs up to other dogs to play sometimes as he's still young, but if he sees they don't want to play then he comes back straight away.

Answer 18

As much as I feel for you and your daughter and dog and as a small dog owner myself, I only have to say that ALL DOGS should ALWAYS BE ON A LEASH when out of the house or yard that includes theirs and YOURS. I think it's more irresponsible of you to take your daughter into this situation knowing what happens. One of these days, your daughter is going to get really hurt or worse. So, to answer your question yes it does annoy me when ppl with large and small dogs don't keep them ON A LEASH because that's the only way to be sure they're under control.

Answer 19

i don't like any dog not under control. i've seen out of control on leash and off. i never let mine off leash anywhere except in a fenced area. i only ever had one dog that would stay with me and do everything i told her off leash. i think i was the only one in area that had one off leash so never had problems.

i have a papillon now and when we go out she wears a harness so if dogs look like they might be out of control i can pick her up fast and easily. so far that has worked for me.

for you i suggest not to go to field if other dogs there and leave as soon as they come. this protects your daughter and dog.

Answer 20

although it annoys me when ANY dog misbehaves or is off leash, i am more wary of and threatened by strange large dogs.

my mastiff pretty much ignores small dogs, and i am confident that he would be a very unlikely candidate to harm one. on the other hand, he tries to "befriend" large dogs, tail a-wagging and play-bowing. if a large dog that i did not know was off the lead and was hostile, the results could be anything but favorable.

Answer 21

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Answer 22

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Answer 23

You know what I can't stand....ANY dog off a leash that isn't under full control. Large, small, doesn't make a difference. I have the opposite problem from you. I keep my large dogs on leashes, always. I have little yappy dogs come running up to one of mine, who is not dog-friendly....and the owners think it's "cute." "She just wants to play!" Well...my dog doesn't want to play...so get your dog the hell away from mine before there is a blood bath.

Answer 24

It bothers me when anybody has any kind of dog who they can't control off leash. If your dog is on lead, call the police, report them for breaking the leash law. If your dog is off leash, and a large dog injures her, you can't even sue because of something called "Shared Negligence". I only take my dogs off lead on private property where it'd be perfectly legal for me to defend my dogs against any stray or dog off leash in any way I deemed necessary.

Answer 25

It annoys me when ANY dog owner can't keep their dogs under control. I have a 120 lb dog and a 110 lb. dog and always have them under my control. If they're acting bad on the lead for whatever reason, I put a head halti (not a muzzle, the halti) on them.



And every dog should be on lead when in public.

Answer 26

There is a woman and her daughter with a husky they walk and he's always really wild when he sees me and my rottie. We always step to the side and my rottie (who is only 5 months old) sits beside me and watches as the dog barks and tries to get at us. It annoys me and I hope that dog never gets loose.

Answer 27

my poodle luca is affraid to death by all dogs.

not just big ones, small ones. big ones, medium,.

all of them

they all jump on him bark at him growl, snap.





and i LOVE how owners find it cute when their dog (male and female) starts to hump my dog im like can u get your dog off mine? he dosent like dogs and im not doing this so you can bring your dog on him he is taking a walk.

also those people don't even ask if they can pet them or see them or anything!

little kidss like 5-6 come up to my mini poodle all the time and grab him, he is scared enough im like NO he dosent like all this attention especially with people he dosent know!



OHMYGOD!

i LOVE staffies but jumping on my 3 year old? NO WAY i would flip out and kick the dog ( sorry to people who will giv me a million thumbs down but idc) my daughter comes before some guys dog. dogs like them.. well any dog is unpredicatable.



i hear you i cannot stand when people dont control their dogs and if they see another dog their dog is welcome to do whatever to them!



also my friend trains seeing eye dogs and she tells them all the time not to touch the dog when he has his harness and seeing eye dog bandana on, but do they listen? no!

its bull crap those dogs espcially are there to work and help people not be surrounded by dogs and kids!

Answer 28

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Answer 29

It annoys me that people with little yappy dogs dont keep their dogs under control

Answer 30

Yes it annoys the hell out of me, my dog has been attacked twice over the past couple of months, luckly he was not badly injured.

It has got to the stage it makes me nervous going out for walks with him.

Answer 31

its the dogs i feel sorry for they get the bad name. the owners get the puppy because they think its cute but they forget that they grow up and dont get the right training.

Answer 32

Wow that's just crazy!! Lol YOU should keep her on a leash or pick her up??? She's not the one out of control, like you said!!

Oooo that would bug me so much!!!



I hate when people don't control their big bully dogs. It's inconsiderate and selfish.



I think they don't care. :(

Answer 33

doesn't annoy me cuz there in my opinion there are more ppl with small dogs that do not control them just because they think they are harmless.

Answer 34

Hmmmm

Answer 35

i find that annoying as well. i have 2 retrievers, one that is so annoying when she sees a cat

Answer 36

yes it does.

and it annoys me when they leave them out all day flippin barking

Answer 37

I agree with 'heidi'



It's worse when they spend all night barking though!

Answer 38

What really annoys me is people who bring their small kids to a dog park and then complain cuz their kid gets mauled. Dog parks are not for kids, dogs do not have to like kids to be in a DOG park. If your dog is off leash then you have nothing to complain about, there is a leash law for all dogs not just large so put yours on a leash and walk when the big guys aren't there and don't bring a kid. The people have the same right to be there you do so if you value your dog and kid walk elsewhere...

Answer 39

sometimes because it reallly anoys you sometime

and thats kind of not true

Answer 40

umm thats not true at all.