[selzer]

This is not going to be a popular response.

I think that people with dogs that have issues, should walk those dogs with one adult per dog. Having to control two dogs that were reacting to a dog on whatever type of lead is an accident waiting to happen.

I think you should walk your dogs separately until you feel confident that they are not going to react when they see another dog. It will be safer all around.

Flexi-leads are hazardous, true. People keep giving them to me for Christmas and such. I use them to keep doors open. Have you ever had a dog on a flexi go for something, and you grab the tape with your hand??? Ouch!

But what if that dog was loose? What if it came running toward your dogs? It is hard to take two reactive dogs and hold them both back while you deal with the loose one. And dogs that are agressing can actually transfer their aggression on whatever is available. Your dogs could have attacked each other or the friends dog.

It looks really cool when you see someone walking two large dogs down the street. Normally, one of those dogs is eight and the other four, and both have been in classes since they were four months old. They do not arrive from the shelter or the breeder ready to be walked in tandem, perfectly heeling and calm and collected around people and dogs. If you have a well-trained four year old and get a puppy, walking them together is ok, so long as you are training the puppy to walk nicely. You can raise them up to walk together, but it works a whole lot better when the one already knows the ropes and is stable.

 

[selzer]

I'm just shocked the owner didn't avoid you guys. If I was approaching three barking dogs with one in a headlock I would steer my dogs out of their reach and assume they weren't dog friendly,lol This guy sounds like moron.

I bring treats on walks and wave them from her nose to my face when I want a watch me outdoors with distraction, but I get what your saying- distractions take awhile. I was just trying to point out that any dog who's owner makes them walk into a situation where the dogs in front of them are going nuts they are going to flip too out of defense. Though I don't see a dog pulling their owner as dominant, but more untrained and just rude I would worry about the owner's ability to control the dog as well.

I am not shocked. People are crazy. Some of them really think that if a dog is not good with people and dogs, the owners should not have it out in public.

We have to protect our dogs. A goodly number of dogs biting humans happens during dog fights. The dog has no idea the owner just shoved it arm down there hoping for a collar. But if your dog connects, home owner's insurance will not care about extenuating circumstances.

Protect your dog. Walk them singly, it can save their lives.

 

[selzer]

Ok, the friends dog reacted. But I got mired down in the headlock and getting the one dog calmed down while the other was jacking him up making him hard to control.

 

[selzer]

It sounds like you have some very nice dogs, but do be careful. One off-lead dogs are not all off-lead dogs. And it would be very difficult if one or more of the dogs decided they wanted to get into a tussel.

I do not walk mine together. They are all females and well, if something were to happen, they could just use that excuse to go off on each other. If that happens getting them apart on my own would be fun.

 

[selzer]

I would like to know how one gets in front of your dog and stay there when another dog is fast approaching? We have had a couple incidents out walking and I can see where that might be very difficult if the other dog is unleashed and very aggressive although not so bad if the other dog and your own dog doesn't really want to get into a fight. If both do, good luck!

It would seem to be very difficult to do esp. If one has to do it for a few minutes as the dogs circle each other.

My friend had a pit bull attack her dog (pit off lead and her male GSD on leash) in a parking lot. There was absolutely nothing she could do as the pit was way too fast (and determined!) to block him from her dog. If the pit owner had not come rushing across the lot and physically grabbed his dog, it would have gotten very ugly very fast.

So far, I have been able to keep my dogs from eating any other dogs. Perhaps, luck played a part in that, and opportunity. With one dog, you can use one hand to hold him back behind your hip, while you shout or even kick the other dog. It circles, you circle. I know I could not do it with two dogs.