Keep your dogs on leashes >.<

[lunarae]

Please, if your dog can not be respectful of other dogs space keep them on leashes when you have them around unfamiliar dogs.

Today, ours was out on his lead by the porch which gives him perhaps a 5ft span away from the porch to explore at our apartment complex. He's a mini aussie and he is very insecure about other dogs (I've seen this dog run away from a mini yorkie and even a puppy before, his first response is always to run away rather then attack). I don't know why he is so insecure as I have taken him out as a pup and tried to socialize him as much as possible but he has always had this unease around other dogs. He doesn't get really violent as long as I'm around and he can be by me for security when dogs get close and personal and he feels he can run away. He will even warm up to them after a while and play, we have gone to the dog park with no problems. It's only when he is backed up in a corner with no way to get away that he finally lashes out.

As what happened with the golden retriever out off leash today that not only invaded his space but backed him up into a corner at the sliding glass door between it and the grill we have. By the time I heard the barking growling and got up to go see what was going on, I got to the door to see him there, and opened it as he was launching himself at the dog that pushed his boundaries to far.

The two dogs split up the moment I said something and the other lady finally called her dog back to her, neither seemed hurt but still. Our dog will stay with us when he's off leash and stay away from other dogs, but I STILL leash him because of how he reacts with other dogs. I understand dogs can be well behaved off leash, but if you have a dog that cannot respect other animals boundaries you need to keep them on a leash for their safety and the safety of other peoples animals. You don't know what issues or insecurities other animals may have.

~End rant

 

[cold blood]

Your dog is adorable.

I walk my dog off leash daily, both in the city, on trails in the woods or along Lake Michigan, but I don't allow her to run up on leased animals (actually, she knows better), its a recipe for disaster as the tension on the leash can only exacerbate any problems, especially if only one dog is leashed. Often the leashed dogs are in the socialization process, or just aren't good with other dogs, that kind of encounter doesn't help, not to mention fear can quickly turn anxiety into a fight.

To let your dog run up onto someone's porch and corner their leashed dog is inexcusable and irresponsible.

The area I walk has recently become more popular, so its something we (the pack) have been encountering a lot, all I have to say to mine is "stay back" and she does, others who's dogs are less reliable will leash or stop with the dog until they pass. Its just basic respect IMO. Dogs need to run, but dogs also need to listen first. Obedience leads to freedom.

Sounds like your dog needs some "buds" to help him out. Long term exposure to good dogs will go a long way. I personally wouldn't take him to a dog park, as most "dog park" dogs (by that I mean dogs who's only source of exercise is the dog park), don't tend to be as polite as dogs are frequently run up on by other dogs. Often dog parks, especially smaller ones, teach bad behavior and bad social skills, as running up on other dogs is the way of the dog park, but not the way a well socialized dog should approach. I think he just needs confidence with other pups, at least it sounds that way. And again, he's super cute, thanks for sharing the picture

 

[viper69]

Never heard of that breed before! Cute dog! Owners like that should be shot on site and removed from the gene pool.

 

[lunarae]

Your dog is adorable.

I walk my dog off leash daily, both in the city, on trails in the woods or along Lake Michigan, but I don't allow her to run up on leased animals (actually, she knows better), its a recipe for disaster as the tension on the leash can only exacerbate any problems, especially if only one dog is leashed. Often the leashed dogs are in the socialization process, or just aren't good with other dogs, that kind of encounter doesn't help, not to mention fear can quickly turn anxiety into a fight.

To let your dog run up onto someone's porch and corner their leashed dog is inexcusable and irresponsible.

The area I walk has recently become more popular, so its something we (the pack) have been encountering a lot, all I have to say to mine is "stay back" and she does, others who's dogs are less reliable will leash or stop with the dog until they pass. Its just basic respect IMO. Dogs need to run, but dogs also need to listen first. Obedience leads to freedom.

Sounds like your dog needs some "buds" to help him out. Long term exposure to good dogs will go a long way. I personally wouldn't take him to a dog park, as most "dog park" dogs (by that I mean dogs who's only source of exercise is the dog park), don't tend to be as polite as dogs are frequently run up on by other dogs. Often dog parks, especially smaller ones, teach bad behavior and bad social skills, as running up on other dogs is the way of the dog park, but not the way a well socialized dog should approach. I think he just needs confidence with other pups, at least it sounds that way. And again, he's super cute, thanks for sharing the picture

Thanks. His being cute and adorable is what makes me put up with some of his odd ball behavior XD. Like there is a laundry list of some of the most quirkiest things I have ever seen in a dog that he will do.

When he was a puppy we did puppy play time at a local place where he could socialize with other pups and he was still so insecure, did that weekly until he was to old for it, at the dog park he does ok, as long as he can run away or be by me and over the course of a little bit he realizes it's fine and then he'll start to play and run around with other dogs but it takes him time to get there and when a dog keeps pushing him without giving him that space to know he's not in danger he will growl and snarl at them to back off. I know people who have dogs off leash around here that are never a problem and I have no problem with that. It's the ones who's dogs will not listen and wont take warnings from other dogs and push those boundaries that lead to altercations that bother me. Oddly enough the only altercations he has ever been in, has been this instance today, and one other that happened like two weeks ago where it was the same thing, Their dog came up and cornered him on our porch. That instance as soon as I was out there he calmed down a bit, he still didn't like the dog close to him but he didn't try and bite while lady was trying to get her pup under control (Which the pup was just so busy sniffing around she didn't even seem to care about anything else and was all puppy like excited rather then any form of aggressive even after Dantes reaction. Looked like a pitbull mix, very sweet pup) they had run out of the car before she could get the lead on so that was more of an accident, she apologized a lot. And I wasn't that upset over it cause it happens. This case this lady comes by and visits here a lot and her dog is always off leash, usually he doesn't come over here but I normally don't have Dante out when I know there are dogs off leash around. Just to be double safe. She didn't try and lay any blame on us for what happened, she actually scolded her dog for his behavior but still. It just really got me riled up.

And I realize that he is more prone to that defensive behavior because this is HIS home contrary to the dog park and such. But still he has shared his space here at home with other dogs before, and once he knows a dog is safe even here out on his lead he doesn't have an issue. In fact there's a couple of pugs that a lady has she walks and has come and met him that he whines and whimpers and wants to play with when they come by. It's not like he can't get along, he just needs his time and space to do so. He's odd.

I mean honestly, this is a dog that is fully capable of jumping up on our bed, he has proven it by doing so once or twice but insists he can't. I have to pick his 45 pound butt up to put him on the bed. If I don't he begs until I do. And I can't just pick him up and put him up there. No, he has to put his fore paws up on it standing up and me lift him up onto the bed, AND I have to be on right side of him to do it. Cant be on his left side, Otherwise he will walk away or sit down or squirm and make it impossible to get him up there, but if I don't put him up there he whines and begs. THEN he will cuddle for 5-10 minutes before he jumps down anyways and sleeps on the floor for the rest of the night........That's just ONE of his goofy traits.

 

[lunarae]

Never heard of that breed before! Cute dog! Owners like that should be shot on site and removed from the gene pool.

Well it's a Miniture Australian Shepherd (Mini Aussie for short), or also known as the American Shepherd since there's controversy among the whole Australian Shepherd community over the Mini's, they don't like there being a 'Mini' and 'Toy' of the Australian Shepherd so in some communities they insist calling them American Shepherds.

 

[Hobo]

I too have huge problems with off leash visitors (in areas where animals must be on leash by law), and it seems to be particularly bad in my area. It is almost a daily occurrence.
Now my dog isn't perfect. He has over stimulation issues, and has the brains and balls of an adolescent, so he's on leash unless we're alone or with one of his dog friends (in a designated off leash area/time of course). Because, you know, it's not always about my dog, but about the people and other dogs who don't want to deal with his crap!

I don't even know how many times I've seen a dog barreling towards us with the ever familiar "Don't worry, he's friendlyyyyyyyy!" holler from the owner who always seems to be several hundred meters away.
I would say 6 times out of 10 they aren't, or are but want to immediately start something once they realize my dog is an idiot. The scary thing is that my dog is 50lbs, and a lot of these dogs are toy tier dogs. If my dog decided to be even a little bit aggressive, or even warning snap, there could been lot of damage done to such a small dog. Just today, we had a Chihuahua maltese mix type run up and immediately circle and nip at my dog's heels (the irony) while my dog just tried his best to smell and lick (her?) butt. No owner is sight. I picked the snarly thing up and finally had woman slowly (always, so slow) walk over and take the dog. My dog was already over the moon at this point, and got his muddy paw prints all over her pants (heh), and I get the disgusted look.

Anyway, the best advice I can give you is do right by your dog. If you have to turn around, go a different way, or be a complete jackass to make sure some random dog owner doesn't allow their dog make yours into a fear-aggressive one, do it. I understand that if he was cornered, then you couldn't have done anything, but I would try my best to make the experience as "nice" as I could for him by giving him treats, and whatnot.
I've yelled at my fair share of owners for their stupidity, loudly explained to them why they shouldn't let their dogs off leash around leashed dogs that might be aggressive and have passive-aggressively handed poo bags to people that don't pick up after themselves (another thing that makes me MAD). I've also had to throw treats, or a ball, and even an opened umbrella past a dog and make a "stealthy" escape while they were distracted. The result is some other owners walking the other way when they see us, and/or dogs getting leashed up, but I don't care; It's better they think of me as the crazy guy with a dog than the crazy guy with a dog that bit theirs. And, despite all these negative things with dogs coming up to us, my dog is still friendly (if very overexcited) towards other dogs who inevitably make it through, and I like to think I had a hand in that.

 

[lunarae]

I too have huge problems with off leash visitors (in areas where animals must be on leash by law), and it seems to be particularly bad in my area. It is almost a daily occurrence.
Now my dog isn't perfect. He has over stimulation issues, and has the brains and balls of an adolescent, so he's on leash unless we're alone or with one of his dog friends (in a designated off leash area/time of course). Because, you know, it's not always about my dog, but about the people and other dogs who don't want to deal with his crap!

I don't even know how many times I've seen a dog barreling towards us with the ever familiar "Don't worry, he's friendlyyyyyyyy!" holler from the owner who always seems to be several hundred meters away.
I would say 6 times out of 10 they aren't, or are but want to immediately start something once they realize my dog is an idiot. The scary thing is that my dog is 50lbs, and a lot of these dogs are toy tier dogs. If my dog decided to be even a little bit aggressive, or even warning snap, there could been lot of damage done to such a small dog. Just today, we had a Chihuahua maltese mix type run up and immediately circle and nip at my dog's heels (the irony) while my dog just tried his best to smell and lick (her?) butt. No owner is sight. I picked the snarly thing up and finally had woman slowly (always, so slow) walk over and take the dog. My dog was already over the moon at this point, and got his muddy paw prints all over her pants (heh), and I get the disgusted look.

Anyway, the best advice I can give you is do right by your dog. If you have to turn around, go a different way, or be a complete jackass to make sure some random dog owner doesn't allow their dog make yours into a fear-aggressive one, do it. I understand that if he was cornered, then you couldn't have done anything, but I would try my best to make the experience as "nice" as I could for him by giving him treats, and whatnot.
I've yelled at my fair share of owners for their stupidity, loudly explained to them why they shouldn't let their dogs off leash around leashed dogs that might be aggressive and have passive-aggressively handed poo bags to people that don't pick up after themselves (another thing that makes me MAD). I've also had to throw treats, or a ball, and even an opened umbrella past a dog and make a "stealthy" escape while they were distracted. The result is some other owners walking the other way when they see us, and/or dogs getting leashed up, but I don't care; It's better they think of me as the crazy guy with a dog than the crazy guy with a dog that bit theirs. And, despite all these negative things with dogs coming up to us, my dog is still friendly (if very overexcited) towards other dogs who inevitably make it through, and I like to think I had a hand in that.

Well once I got him inside he A) didn't get scolded for his behavior, usually when he starts his barking fits at strangers no where near him, he gets brought inside immediately and scolded with a time out. Him having to come in when he hasn't voiced his desire to come in tends to be a punishment in itself for him and B) he was given plenty of cuddles and comfort after the incident so he knew I wasn't upset with him over what happened, so there was no punishment at all and he got comforted and cuddles. His biggest issue was being cornered and I wasn't right there with him for him to let him know that he was actually safe. When he is insecure or something scares him, he will run to me, I am his protector. He can see something he doesn't like outside and he'll come lay down under my chair and just grumble about it. He's a very vocal dog. We got him at 8 weeks old and I've been the one to fill those mommy shoes. They are also not called 'velcro dogs' for nothing as he is a little obsessed with me. He takes a lot of ques from me, if I don't freak out over a situation or I say hello to a dog and show him that it's ok then he can warm up to them. But without me there he doesn't like his space being invaded at all and he will react nasty if his warning growls and barks aren't taken seriously by the offending dog and he has no escape. Dante is still able to make friends with other dogs thankfully, he just needs that guiding hand to show him that it's ok, he seems to take every dog individually though, No matter how much socializing I do with him, dogs he's met and played with he wont have issues with even if it's been weeks or months since he's seen them, but new dogs, always new dogs he doesn't know, it's the same thing until he gets to know them.

 

[Formerphobe]

In the US, there are leash laws just about everywhere.
In an increasing number of jurisdictions, it is illegal to leave a dog tethered outside unaccompanied for any period of time. It makes them sitting ducks for stray dogs, unleashed dogs, errant children, stupid adults, dog thieves, etc.

Leaving a reactive dig tied out alone is setting him up to fail. You want to set him up to succeed.

You "scold him with a time out for being reactive"? Dogs do not understand 'time out'. They are dogs, not four legged humans. You need to get with a professional dog trainer who can teach you how to help him deal with what he perceives to be stressful stimuli. Punishing him for his basic personality will only make him more reactive.
Good luck.

 

[The Snark]

In the US, there are leash laws just about everywhere.

There is a sound reason for this.

Speaking as a LEO for a moment. The dialogue is always the same. The dog does this and the dog did that and the dog can do the other and dogs go here and dog was there and dog dog dog dog dog.

JUST STOP WITH THE DOG NOISE! It is an animal. Let's substitute homo erectus for Siberian husky or golden retriever. Enters your property: trespassing. Enters the area immediate to your domicile: home invasion. General category: civil disobedience. Displays violent behavior: Assault, force fear. Physically attacks your person or your dog: aggravated assault. If the homo erectus is under the legal age or declared non compos mentis , the responsible adult is the criminal. A dog is considered non compos mentis in the eyes of the law, the owner responsible.

So think criminal acts. Not just obedience training, not just proper care and handling. Control your animal or your are a criminal. If an animal invades your private space, treat it exactly as you would a human committing a crime against your person or property. That is what the leash and other relevant laws are all about.

Now to drive the point home. You read about it periodically but explanations aren't always given. An officer draws his/her weapon and shoots a dog. HORRORS!
No. A dog biting or trying to bite is aggravated assault. Assault with a lethal weapon. We are fully justified to respond with deadly force if we see aggravated assault being committed.
No, it isn't 'just a dog fight' in the eyes of the law. So please get serious. Control your animal and consider calling a cop if a dog invades your space. It isn't just animal controls job. The LEOs are there to protect you and yours from assaults.

Another one people don't fully understand. If someone has a dog on a leash in a public place and the dog is snarling and displaying threatening behavior, that too is assault. Threat of force fear. You have the right to not be intimidated, compelled or constrained by a person or animal displaying that behavior.

 

[BorisTheSpider]

I agree . There is this idiot who insists on walking his dog around my neighborhood sans a leash . I intentionally avoid walking my dog around the time that I know this social misfit is going to be out . My dog is a rescue with some behavioral issues that make her difficult to handle at times . We are working on it and I must say we are making some very solid progress . But when I see this yo-yo and his little spazz running towards us I know there is going to be trouble . I have more then once tried to explain to him that their is a leash law and that local PD will issue him a ticket . He just smiles and says its good for the dog to feel the freedom . I wonder if his dog will be feeling all that freedom when my dog rips her face off . Alas , he his a douche-bag hipster and there is no point in trying to get him to see reason . I fear and know that it will be his dog that will pay for his arrogance . She is going to get run over or attacked and you just know this guy will blame the person who hits her or the dog that mauls her . People who can't properly care for an animal shouldn't be allowed to own one .

 

[lunarae]

Actually between his barking in the past and his barking now he has gotten better and rarely barks. And that has been because as soon as I hear him bark he is brought inside immediately.

As for leaving him on a lead he is supervised through the huge sliding glass door and the big window by the desk I sit at. Outside of the times I have to tend to the 3 year old we have which is for a few minutes. I never leave him out there when we are napping or sleeping or out of the house for exactly those reasons.

He is only a reactive dog when backed into a corner. He could have been off of the lead and the exact same thing would have happened because it wasn't the lead preventing him from having an escape it was the dog that cornered him. The fact remains the lady should have had her dog on a leash.

 

[louise f]

Ohhh what a cute dog you have <3 he is really sweet looking

 

[lunarae]

Ohhh what a cute dog you have <3 he is really sweet looking

He is a real love bug with just about anyone, those he doesn't warm to immediately he just needs to smell for a moment then he's all over them. It's something we are still working on as he just gets so excited when he sees/meets new people. Or people he's met and hasn't seen in a long time.

 

[louise f]

ohh man i miss my old dog now.

 

[lunarae]

ohh man i miss my old dog now.

Awww *huggles*

 

[The Snark]

And then there was my dog who would periodically take himself for a walk, kill and eat some neighborhood dog. Had mixed feelings about that.

 

[cold blood]

ohh man i miss my old dog now.

I miss all my past dogs....every day.

Dogs and the bonds created are the greatest gift in the world, but they are also virtually a guaranteed heartbreak at some point down the line.

 

[lunarae]

And then there was my dog who would periodically take himself for a walk, kill and eat some neighborhood dog. Had mixed feelings about that.

I could see that providing a level of conflict for oneself.

I miss all my past dogs....every day.

Dogs and the bonds created are the greatest gift in the world, but they are also virtually a guaranteed heartbreak at some point down the line.

I still cry over missing one of my past pups we had when I was a kid. They are wonderful, but that's how it is for all creatures we add to our families I believe.

 

[louise f]

I miss all my past dogs....every day.

Dogs and the bonds created are the greatest gift in the world, but they are also virtually a guaranteed heartbreak at some point down the line.

Yes it truely is.<3 i even still remember the lovely border collie my parents had. Me and my dad were heartbroken, and cried a lot when it died. It was the best dog ever. <3 RIP Zita <3 so yes my friend i know exactly what you mean <3

 

[The Snark]

Why is it we can become so attached to animals?