"It's ok, he's friendly"
 

While out walking my hound I often see other owners with their dogs off the lead,some people have the opinion that dogs should be kept on leads at all times in public places something i'm in two minds about however,I always have my dog under control and on the lead in public as it has a tendency to snap at other dogs.

Anyway,while i was out today i came across a fella who's dog (Labrador type) was off the lead and when it seen mine it came shooting over and proceeded to lift mine off its feet trying to sniff its backside.I (politely) shouted over to ask if he wouldn't mind putting his mutt on the lead while i passed " It's ok, he's friendly" was his reply.... words that may seem benign to some, but they constitute one of most rage-inducing phrases that i can hear after being respectful and polite and knowing my dog like i do.

I said "he might be but, mine can be a bit snappy with other dogs" with this the fella came bowling over and shouted "put a ....ing muzzle on it then" (i honestly thought it was going to come to fisticuffs) I refuse to muzzle my dog as i feel i can control it and have had a similar encounter to this were my dog got ragged about by two bull terriers while muzzled leaving me feeling helpless, in tears an with a hefty vets bill.
Anyhow,as he was coming over to me and saying "put a muzzle on it" my dog must of got sick of his dogs shenanigans and snapped at it (not a attack more go away and leave me alone).

As he got to me this fella was shouting abuse (that's when the red mist formed).
"listen" i said "it’s not just your dog that needs a lesson in manners, you do". "WHAT" he said "That’s right" i said "your dog isn't being friendly, he’s being an pain in the a..".
He put his mutt on the lead and said "whats wrong with my dog being off the lead if its friendly?" I told him It’s not just other people with dogs that might not want your mutt bowling upto them, there are people out there who fear other dogs and If they see your mutt off the lead, then it could cause them anxiety etc and folk who don’t want to be approached by dogs for whatever reason should not have to worry about your mutt running upto them.with this he called me a 'Richard' and walked off.

Surely i have the right to walk my dog without other dogs harassing me or my dog,or is he right and i was just being a "Richard"?

"It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Happens to me a lot as well, and I'd say it was him being the "Richard".

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I thought that too :D,Now that my dogs getting old it's patience is a little thinner and I don’t want risk her (or any other dog) getting injured.
When she was younger I have, when needed, told folk “my dog’s aggressive and bites,” which I know she isn't and won’t, but some people just can’t comprehend being responsible.The looks I got after saying that and the things folk said were horrible. I’m just looking out for the safety and well being of mine and other dogs, its called being responsible not being a "Richard" :)

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

It just shows that this was not a responsible dog owner.
Most dog owners would have their animal on a lead.......or if it had been running free would put the lead on when coming up to another person or another animal.
There are dog owners and then there are people who have a dog...there is a subtle difference between the two.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Yes, your right there M, I've calmed down now and had a herbal ciggie :smoky:

Perhaps with me knowing my dog can snap (when provoked) I should muzzle it,however after witnessing a two English bull terriers playing tug of war with her while she was muzzled, I refuse to do so.
With mine also being of a bull breed I know which would of been labelled the "devil dog" if it had turned into a dog fight.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

You'll always come across idiots, you just can't win with some people. You definitely did the right thing by informing him that your dog is a bit snappy, he was the total Richard, its becoming more of a pain than a pleasure taking your dog out sometimes these days.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I know exactly what you mean. If we see another dog coming towards us on a lead, we put Max on. He will only tolerate so much of another dog sniffind around his back end when he is on his lead.When we tell the other owners all we get off some is "it's ok he's friendly" Then when Max tells it off , it goes for him.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

It's comforting to know I'm not the only one who feels folk should have control over their dogs (friendly or otherwise).
From now on, i will use whatever force I can ('legally') muster to protect myself and my dog from harassment an if an out of control dog or its owner gets hurt as a consequence of my (defensive) actions so be it, I'm not sure if this is (socially) acceptable behaviour, but I'll cross that bridge if and when.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Well done fer not chinning the knob, summat i fear i may well have done.:eek:

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Get one of them "stout" sticks I mentioned in the Manchester Dogs Home thread to bolster up your robust defence AcctX ;)

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Let me just paraphrase what you're saying here. Someone has a friendly, good natured dog out for exercise, and you expect them to reign in their dog in because yours is the one with the attitude problem?

Just so you know - having a dog on a lead is not having it "under control". If your dog were to bite another dog then any claim would come under the Animals Act 1971 which allows for civil reparation when animals cause injuries or property damage. If your dog is classed as a banned breed then it's covered by criminal law, the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The Animals Act does not make any distinction whether the dog is restrained. It does (rather messily) accommodate temporary aberrations vs aggression that is in the animal's nature. You've already indicated on a public forum that your dog is aggressive towards others. If your dog bites someone else's dog, and they sue you for the vet's bill, you'll lose, even if your dog was on a lead and theirs wasn't. Reckon it's time for you to invest in that muzzle...

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Or put a bit of lead in it's ear. That'll work.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

The lead should be fastened to it`s collar then wrapped around your wrist, how will putting some of it in it`s ear help?.:p

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

It has to be put there using a Colt45 gpick :D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

That must be where I went wrong then D, leashed I tried.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Let me put it another way, My mother has had two hip replacement surgeries. And part of her rehab is walking.During this period she is slightly unstable and easily toppled.
The mere sight of a dog off the lead is enough to make her nervous. Obviously, She doesn't know the level of training any particular dog has had.
are you suggesting she is fully expected to have to avoid it?

I've been there and seen those 'perfectly' trained dogs. You know the ones,the ones that NEVER disobey :rolleyes:
I've seen them come pounding over to us sniffing sometimes even jumping up all be it with friendly excitement. Do you see this as acceptable,responsible dog ownership? (i don't).
My dog being on the lead sends out a clear sign to other folk in my community that i care for their limitations.

As mentioned, with my dog being in it's senior years it can't really take the excitement of a younger dog jumping at her or lifting her off her feet trying to sniff at her back end.
I have a taylor made muzzle but i won't use it for the reasoned previously mention and also she has a good recall when told.She's not of a banned breed and i'm confident she would pass any dangerous dogs test as regardless of law each case would be taken on its own merit subject to testing etc.

I guess what i'm trying to say is regardless of if you have a dog or not you shouldn't be expected to have others dogs invade your personal space against your wishes.

Now,had this incident happened say 10years ago i'd of left that fella with a broken jaw for his ill manners and abuse.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

:confused: She's not of a banned breed not sure why it missed not out, i clearly typed it :confused:

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Maybe you could borrow DtheP's Colt ... or my SIG P226 ... if there's any shooting gonna take place, I'd rather see the lead;) end up in some dip shiite human than in a dog.

Oh, and my dog isn't friendly .... she's old, deaf, don't see too good, and she's a terrier. She likes Lucy, a scruffy little mutt from up the street, Baby, my neighbour's Chihuahua ... and she will tolerate Jake, a Mastiff/Bernese cross who often comes gallumping into my yard from my FB's place. She's not bad with most humans, although I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw Jake. But she's my best friend, and I know how to take care of her ... and I love doing it. Friendly or not, there are no bad dogs ... or cats for that matter (even my Pookie isn't bad; she just has a touch of evil in here ... sound "familiar":D)

But taking care of animals, like good parenting, is something that some folks just don't get. But the upside, and I always consider positives if there are any, is that the dog mentioned in the opening post at least has a home, probably gets groceries into him regularly, and has a warm place to kip. Lotsa dogs ain't so lucky.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

If your mother's mobility and nervousness around dogs is likely to upset her, I wouldn't expect her to be anywhere near where she's likely to find dogs being walked, whether leashed or not.

(The dogs, not your mother.)

Surely she would need to be walking somewhere there's little chance of her slipping or tripping? Like anywhere other than a field or woodland?

Personally, I don't care if a dog is on its leash. I only felt the need to join in this thread because after an encounter with a trio of angry dogs which were supposedly "restrained", I've had need to read up on the law.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

What about a park Studio?
People out with dogs should have them under control and not allow them to approach others who may not want them coming near for whatever reason.
I have a dog that`s snappy also, and the reason she`s snappy is that she has been attacked in the past by these "friendly" dogs, what`s she to do when a strange dog comes running towards her after what has happened in the past, I always tell the person with the other dog and most of the time they say something like "ah well, it`ll serve him/her right", the more sensible ones put theirs on a lead.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

You still have dog licences over there don'tcha Eric and for cats too?

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Of course.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Should have em here
£100 a mutt

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Should be more to it than just handing over cash, you should have to take a test to show you are capable of looking after and training a dog, trouble is, there will then be more homeless dogs than there is now.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Switzerland has it right, you have to show you are a right and proper person and the dog is well balanced and controllable

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Not sure how they can do the second bit, at what age are the dogs tested for being controllable and is it the dogs fault if the keeper can`t control him/her. But better than what we have here, which is anyone can have a dog until you are banned by a court.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Who's going to keep check on them to see if they are not keeping a dog when they have been banned.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

If someone mistreats an animal the RSPCA prosecute and the court can ban them from keeping animals, I don`t know if anyone keeps a check on them after that, probably not is my guess.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Should have the same rules for those who want to become parents ... now, that would have a lot of positive benefits; not the least of which would be instant population control. There are just too many humans kicking around, taking up valuable space, and wasting planetary resources. Extend spay and neuter programs to take in humans ... ban certain breeds, starting with politicians. The options are limitless.

This thread isn't really about dogs; they are the innocent bystanders. It's about idiot humans ... in fact, many threads, past and present, maybe most of them, are about the dumb things that humans do. "The proper study of mankind is man." And it's a dirty, violent "book" if ever there was one; not too much "glory" in it, lotsa "jest" (of the sick kind), and a "riddle" we can start working on once we have solved the problem of dark matter.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Yes Eric but as Margaret Pilkington's signature says,
__________________
'Who will guard the guards themselves' Juvenal Satires

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Ah yes, Juvenal, the bitter satirist ... I prefer Horace, more sophisticated, urbane like what I am:D I don't really like the translation ... but, as I age, I find I have small Latin and less Greek. Ben Jonson is supposed to have said that. Funny, I don't remember that ... what stands out is: "The following boys ... etc.":D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

The RSPCA are pathetic

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I think shooting the owners a bit extreme....hmm.......,I prefre the up close and personal approach myself....

.....anyhow,with the death of the tax disc, I've printed a picture of the hound to replace it and wrote 'beware this dog bites'. :D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

"Sorry we can't do anything" is the response I usually get from them :rolleyes:

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I'm gonna' swap my Colt 45 for a Gatling Gun.

Dog that attacked Blackburn postmen must be muzzled (From Lancashire Telegraph)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqDCCTCYTNI

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I would guess gpick has probably never dealt wi em?

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

What makes you think that Cashman?

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

A lot of older folk walk the canal banks....they(canal banks) are much more user friendly these days....and walker friendly places attract dog walkers.
Some dog walkers are responsible and make sure that their hounds are on the leash, some let their animals run free, but leash them if they can see a walker,cyclist or other dogs.........some dog walkers don't bother.
You can walk in the local park and see dogs off the leash.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

The thing is those who have those status dogs would pay it without blinking an eye(maybe out of tax payers pockets).......but what about someone like my 87 year old mother who has a tiny little 15 year old chihuahua(for company and to spoil)...he is never out with a lead, he is usually exercised in the confines of my mum's substantial backyard.......and poses no risk to anyone.
£100 is a lot of money to her....but I know that she would do without stuff so that she could pay it.

As Eric says, it isn't the fault of the dogs, but the fault of irresponsible owners.......and yes, caring for an animal is like parenting. It takes the same kind of commitment,patience and time....some folks have precious little of any of those attributes.

And another question....what is the point of having something that is not policed?

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Come to think of it, hon, wasn't there some discussion a while back on here about "off-leash parks"? How's that going over there ... is there one in Hyndburn? There's one a couple of blocks from me ... can't go there any more 'cause my scruffy little munchkin is deaf, half blind, and getting a tad aggressive in her golden years ... and it is well used.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

That's not a gun; this is a gun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1MIGLHnpKk

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I don't know how they are going Eric, but I have been in the park and there are always dogs running free(with owners looking on).

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Yeah but I don't think those big tyres would do the grass in Mercer Park any good Eric and even I couldn't accept taking out Ada Gibson doing her Tai Chi as collatoral damage. No, a Gatling gun would be more target specific. ;)

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

You do not have to keep labouring the point...we get it!
You don't like dogs. You would do them harm if you had a gun...maybe they can read your mind.
Something that is 'tongue in cheek'...a bit of a joke is mentioned once and then left....you are (forgive me for this pun - well it is actually only half a pun) like a dog with a bone...can't leave it alone. SUMO!

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Cos of yer comment in post 28, I dont have yeh down as dumb, so unless yeh got a bias towards the RSPCA, that seems logical to me.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Shut Up and Move On you say, that ain't gonna happen Mrs P.
That said you pick up on a thread wander discussing the merits of different pieces of ordanance not a ship machine in sight.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

That`s probably the nicest thing you`ve ever said to me Cashman, thanks, you`ve made my day.:)
I think you may have misunderstood my post(#28), I was just pointing out they are all we have to stop people owning animals, but it doesn`t matter, just wondered what made you come to the conclusion I`d not had any dealings with them.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Of course it isn't going to happen........but I can ask!

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Thats probably cos i dont intentionally do nice.:D I just give me honest opinion, which dont sit very well wi some folk, If it turns out nice fair enough, if it dont, i wont lose any sleep.:D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Channel 4 @ 7:30 tonight Dog rustlers for the Vietnamese meat market.
I'm recording it.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Thank goodness I do not eat foreign food......or visit foreign places anymore.
I could gag thinking of eating dog/cat/rabbit.
In fact my father once put rabbit in front of us for tea...and I refused to eat it.
I went next door and told Mrs Heap that I had had no tea....she fed me (poached egg on toast...it was lovely)

Re: Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Now, now, just because you don't eat something doesn't make it wrong for others to eat it.
Freedom of choice etc.
The Chinese are proud to eat anything with legs, except the table.
Me? I'll eat rabbit anytime, how many times I've eaten dog or cat while working abroad?
I've no idea, but served with the right sauce...

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I didn't say it was wrong for anyone else to exercise their freedom of choice......just that it wasn't something that I would want to eat.
The rabbit my father was wanting us to eat had been a pet that I had fed with dandelion leaves and lettuce......and I could not bear to eat it.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Neigh Margaret one of the best meals I have ever had was Steak Canibale in Brussels.:D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Glad you enjoyed it, but not for me!

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

what about one of these for your dog ....

About | Space Dogs

that way the other dog walkers have a warning that your dog might not be 'friendly'

if you buy a dog coat ... im sure giftprint would print that on for you ...

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Instead of sticking a yellow coat on your dog turning it into a doggy hermit the owners might try socialising their dog with others. Even if their dog has had a bad experience it can be done slowly. Hiding your dog from others will not help it get over what issues it has

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I wonder if giftprint will print that on my hi-viz for work,it could also double up as my hound walking jacket :D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Nice idea in principle, but most dogs can't read ;)

The problem is with the owner, not the dog. They feel they are being judged by their dog's behaviour, so if it is barky and snappy, they keep it on the lead to avoid embarrassment. Then, because it is restricted, when another dog comes nearby it gets even worse because it has no escape if things go pear-shaped.

I've invited someone to let their snappy dog off the lead to have a run around with my boys. The front end was barking but the back end was wagging. He had a great time and went home absolutely knackered.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Some dog owners with little dogs pick them up when approached by other dogs, that will never socialise them.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I can understand that our late pooch had his shoulder ripped by one on owd bobs a few years ago.:eek: n he was very sociable wouldn't even go fer cats, just wanted to play wi everything.

"It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I know someone whos mum used to foster stray dogs, she had a little chihuahua type and was walking it when a Staffie grabbed it, shook it till it broke it's back then ripped its stomach out.

"It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Found observer report
http://www.accringtonobserver.co.uk/...d-tiny-1268811

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

That get shoulda been jailed.:mad:

"It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Absolutely, I've heard the story a few times, this is first time I've seen newspaper report (didn't know them at the time it happened)

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Looks can deceive ... She's not friendly ... as Yoda said, "Size matters not."

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

One of mine (the one in the avatar) will ask to be picked up if he feels the need, but I don't always do it. If he's been growled at or trodden on, it's all part of being a little dog so he can just suck it in.

There's a bloke at my end of Great Harwood who takes three staffies for a "walk" (he uses a mobility scooter) along the old railway. The dogs are rough but not aggressive, and my two seem to accept that. It's the scooter that scares them.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

We went for a walk with friends yesterday around Tockholes reservoirs. We had 2 Border Collies, 1 lurcher, 1 Golden Lab and 3 Springers. The dogs hadn't all met each other before and they all got on well together doing their own things. Two people walking the opposite way round had small dogs ( Yorkshire Terrier size) and their dogs didn't want to carry on with them they wanted to stop with the "gang" and play.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

In the 90's we ended up with a rather messed up Bearded Collie. My sister had this RichardHEAD living with her and they left, and left behind Buster.

We would visit my sister and this dirty, matted looking dog would be under or behind anything it could squash its body into/under. I swear hed squash into a gap that was 5 CM high(slight exaggeration but damn).. somehow. You would go near him and he would physically start shaking and if you touched him he might urinate. Really don't know what these gits did to him but they hurt him both physically and mentally. Vet told us that he had broken ribs at some point and they hadn't been seen to. Just left to fix themselves.

My dad who seen how bad he was brought him home and told the gits when they came to the house that they would have a fight on their hands if they want to take this dog away! At this point you would only have to say the word bath to make Buster urinate where he stood. Brushing his wonderful fur was an impossibility and mostly looked like he was a rasta dog.

I do have a picture somewhere, Il try and find it. On the picture you can see how on his fur, on the back of his legs is yellow. That was because he either was in too much pain in the past to lift his leg up to urinate and it just got to be habbit, or was tortured from such a young age that he never learned that cocking his leg was something that he needed to do.

My dads place in the living room, The chair near the window, next to the gas cupboard, always you would find buster there. You would hardly ever see him anywhere else in the house whilst my dad was home. When mum and dad went on holiday and I stayed home Buster would houl like crazy and I had to carry him into my room and close the door for him to stop. Eventually he got the idea and I left the door open for him. I would wake up with fur in my face, him sat on the pillows above my head.

Going back to subject a little. We could never let Buster off the lead. He would go after any dog and go straight for its neck. We knew this was totally out of character for the type of dog he was and left us wondering if he was made to fight other dogs(or was being trained that way) Few years down the line, he snapped out of it a little and was safe to let off the lead but always, ALWAYS had to keep a diligent eye.

So. Buster is long since passed. I don't recall the year. But the vet said he outlasted his sell by date by a few years. We like to think that after giving him the life he deserved he just didn't want to go on his way. He had a couple of strokes and then passed a few months down the line.

Damn. That was a long story. Oops, and I just been to work typing constantly for four hours! :D

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

A sad tale with a happy ending, it was nice to know Buster got the life he deserved in the end !

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I'm a sucker for a happy ending, at least when buster passed he took memories of love,warmth and fun with him.
Memories of you and your family who loved him and made him a member of their family, which is what every dog wants more than owt.Hopefully the time spent with Richardhead and before wouldn't of counted at all :)

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

Restless that is a very enlightening story......and it just goes to show that it isn't dogs that are the problem, it is people.
People who do unspeakable things to animals to gratify their own needs to have power over something.
I am glad that in the end he had somewhere comfortable and humans who loved him......that is all any dog wants...warmth, food and a human to love and be loved back.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

I think now that weve taken them outside of their natural habitat it is we (humans) that are responsible for their actions. You see these stories of dangerous dogs and the harm they have caused, but then when you look at the owners you can reflect on why the dogs may have done these things. Some of these dogs(cross) should never have been created naturally and is a product of human intervention. Possibly why they have such mood swings, perhaps a mimicking of their human masters.

Re: "It's ok, he's friendly"
 

There is a huge house near my mates in London. The extended family there is run by a grumpy old woman with a pack of irritable dogs that get left to run wild without a lead.

Her car isn't taxed or insured and doesn't even have a number plate, but the police do nothing....To the best of my knowledge, she has never worked a day in her whole life. Her bad-tempered husband is notorious for his racist comments....A shopkeeper blamed him for arranging the murder of his son's ex-wife and her boyfriend, but nothing has ever been proved. All their kids have broken marriages except the youngest, who most folk think is homosexual.
She has two grandsons who are meant to be in the Army but are always out partying in nightclubs. One of them just got married and I pray to God he settles down. The second is out of control,folk call them brothers but I'm not sure they have the same father.......







........ I hate him living near Buckingham Palace!