When NO just isn't enough

[Lauri & The Gang]

I'm catching up on posts and I'm finding more and more posts where we (dog owners) tell others to NOT do something - do NOT try to pet my dog, do NOT allow your dog to run up to mine, etc.

I am one of the most polite people in the world. I was raised to always say please and thank you, hold the door open for the next person (regardless of gender) and to never speak negatively to someone (unless truly warranted) and I maintain those behaviors ... except when stupid people do stupid things around my dogs.

For example, Mauser is dog aggressive/reactive. If I'm out walking him and someone is approaching us with their dog off leash I will yell to them to get their dog on leash NOW.

I YELL - Put Your Dog ONLEASH NOW! I don't speak in a normal tone of voice and it's not a suggestion - it's a COMMAND.

If they start with the "it's ok, my dog is friendly" or whatever - I don't bother with explaining that my dog isn't or anything like that.

I switch to my inner-guttergirl personality and I yell the following (using the F word) ...

Get Your BLEEPING dog on Leash Right the BLEEP NOW!!!

I use the F word because it's crass and nasty and bad and it gets people's attention like no other word!

I don't know these people. I don't care if they think I'm bad or whatever. I just want to be able to avoid having to put my dog to sleep because their unleashed dog ran up to 'say Hi' and mine mauled it.

I have a friend that takes pepper spray and an air horn with her when she walks her dog. She's been rushed several times by off-leash dogs while their owners lollygag behind saying "It's ok, Spot just wants to say Hi." only to have Spot attack her dogs.

Now she yells once then sprays if the owner doesn't call their dogs away from hers.

[APBTLove]

I'm getting to that point. I'm quiet and polite but I am so tired of it. People have zero respect these days for others.

[Lucy Dog]

Good post and I can see exactly where you're coming from. I can feel the aggravation from your post, so I'm guessing this has happened quite a few times to you.

Personally, I'd have no problem kicking an off leash dog rushing us with my boot while their owner watches. Most likely it's not the dogs fault it's put in that situation, but I'll do what I have to do to avoid a dog fight while my dogs on leash.

How many times do owners say, "oh he's friendly", and it's the complete opposite...?

[arycrest]

You gotta do whatever works best. I normally try to remail civil but will yell, curse, whatever it takes in order to avoid problems, especially at vets ... for some reason I have more problems in the vet's waiting room than any other place.

[TimberGSD2]

I do this now even if I don't have my dog. I run trails 3-4 days a week and while I have no problem with people who have control over their offleash dogs I really am tired of having to stop during my run, turn around and return someones offleash dog that has decided to run with me. Or the peoples dogs who come up aggressively to me while running. That in my opinion is absolutely unacceptable. Unfortunately that is why I stopped taking my dogs with me to certain trails to run.

[fuzzybunny]

I let my dogs run off leash in the field behind my apartment building. If I see another dog in the distance I will leash both of mine because I've heard the whole "my dog is friendly" when it's not song and dance. The majority of people will call their dogs back and leash them whenever they see me leash mine. Seeing an owner suddenly leash their two large Shepherds is usually a sign and most people take it as such but it always surprises me when you encounter that one person who doesn't. I had just that happen.

The owner allowed her two small dogs to run up to mine even though she saw me leash mine and had plenty of time to call hers back. Both her dogs were aggressive and started barking and attempting to bite. My girl whipped around me and pinned the little dog. I don't know if the little dog got bit or not but the owner said, "Sorry, sometimes they're like that. I should have leashed them." Ummm...yeah you should have. Especially when you admit they are sometimes aggressive. People never cease to amaze me.

I don't carry anything with me but if a dog acts aggressive towards my dogs I no longer have a problem slightly kicking them away. I don't me kicking them like a soccer ball, but rather more guiding them away with my leg. I rather take the bite then have my dogs getting into a messy situation.

[Kittilicious]

There are quite a few posts of owners doing everything they can do and problems still arise. We, as owners, can do everything in our power to protect ourselves, our dogs and others and we are still told that we are not in control of our dogs or that we should have done things differently. Well, hey - if people would grow a brain and listen when a dog owner says "no" then a lot of problems would be avoided completely.

[ShadowBandit]

When we got our first dog Shadow, we were walking her around the neighborhood and two dogs being DRAGGEd by teenagers came flying towards my dog. They weren't barking or growling so I figured they were friendly. So I called out "We're friendly too!" and let Shadow proceed towards the other dogs since she loves meeting new dogs. When they got close enough to touch these other dogs flipped out. The teenagers never said anything and I had to yank my dog away from being bit. My boyfriend makes fun of me when we walk past there house, going "We're friendly too!" but it makes me so mad that those teenagers didn't say a thing!

[cowboy17]

There are leash laws for a reason.
Unless the area I am in is completely secure, doggy stays on leash.

IF there is that instance where "It's ok, he just wats to say hi", I resort to the F-word immediately. No cordiallity here. I then proceed to lecture them on the reasons why there are leash laws.

Some people though just don't get it and never will.

[catbaloodryer]

I can see why your dog is dog aggressive, having broken 2 GS and a pitbull of this trait I have to say

Stop F yelling and maybe your dog will not be so aggressive. You expect your dog to be aggressive and he/she's just pleasing you.

Dogs react to the people and when they feel the tension they go for it, cuz some breed just like to rumble.

Know I'm gonna get flamed but like I said have broken 3 dogs of this trait