posted 02-01-2004 08:07 AM         

You just keep going to the beach and having a good time! it is a free country after all!

posted 02-01-2004 08:33 AM         

OK, I'm out walking my dog and all of a sudden I have a dog barreling toward my dog. I've got a couple of seconds to decide whether this dog is going to attack my dog, or be friends with my dog. I don't know which way it's going to go.

You may know that your dog is friendly, but I don't know.

I may also have the situation where my dog has been attacked a couple of times before. Therefore I may be a little oversensitive about the situation.

Change the scenario a bit. How would you react if a dog came running up to your two year old. You're going to be so protective you may miss all of the "friendly" posturing that the dog is putting out. You're just trying to keep your kid safe.

With all of the dog bite incidents that happen these days, you never KNOW what might trigger an incident.

posted 02-01-2004 08:51 AM         

I have 4 little dogs
Min Pin
Min Pin / J Russel
Chihuahua / J Russel and
a Tea-cup chihuahua

We live in Fernandina Beach, Florida (Amelia Island where fernandina is, is just 13m long x 2m across, very small uh) and most of the people is VERY nice...all the time.

However, we are 1 block away from the beach so we take our babies for a walk almost every day, they all wear leash until we get to the beach and then we let two of them just run without it (one that stills on the leash is the Min Pin, he was rescued and he will snip to strangers without notice, the chihuahua/j russel is just TOO hyper and does not obey while on the beach)

Well, last week my partner and i took a walk on the beach, with all four of our babies... the two without a leash saw a dog about 50 feet away... they start running to him, he is a 6month old GOlden Retriever, so my two start playing with that dog and the owner starts yelling at us!
TAKE THOSE F****** DOGS AWAY FROM MINE
IM CALLING THE POLICE!
MY DOG IS A PUPPY!
i told the lady, our dogs are puppies too.. (2yo, 2-1yo, and 5mo) they are just trying to play...
and the lady said... " I dont care, pull your damn dogs away from mine..."

i was just stoned.. (no litteraly, hehe) there was a lady yelling at us because her Golden Retriever was playing with our Chihuahua and with the Minpin/j Russel !!

It was really bad, i would understand if my dogs were barking or trying to attac her or her dog.. but they were playing, you know... sniffing around, chasing each other without leaving the area.

I just think that all people with a dog should understand that a dog is a dog (even if we call them babies) most of them tend to be friendly and try to play or know other dogs when they meet...

Anyways, we still walking our dogs on the beach... we have not seen that lady but twice, and she walks away from the beach every time she see we are comming...

posted 02-01-2004 10:00 AM         

I don't think it had anything to do with the dog you have.

I think it has to do with a person keeping their dog on a leash, for whatever reason, and another dog being allowed to come bounding over at it.

My first dog was attacked a few times on her leash so any dog comes near me now off a leash and my gaurds up.

I don't let mine walk off his leash when others are close by yet as he immediatly wants to go say hello to everyone and everything. I'll continue to keep him on his leash until he listens to me recalling him... for the very reason you've just received a mouthful.

posted 02-01-2004 11:52 AM         

Here is an article I would like those of you who would say "my dog is just saying hello" to read. It has a touch of humor, but the point is plain. It was written by a trainer I really respect.
http://www.flyingdogpress.com/sayhi.html

posted 02-01-2004 11:58 AM         

Sorry but just my opinion didnt mean to offend or upset anyone so please dont take it personally.

posted 02-01-2004 11:59 AM         

I do respect when people have their dog on leash - I make sure mine do not bother the leashed dog. It important to realize it may be leashed for a reason. One other thing you could do Kyles, if you see your dog approaching another off leash dog is yell ahead and ask "IS YOUR DOG FRIENDLY" and then say "MINE IS! LIKES TO PLAY." If their dog is not friendly or you sense the people are frightened by your dog, simply leash and find someone who is more willing to let the dogs play.

I think in most cases people that go to parks, beaches, trails where dogs are allowed (or areas specifically for off leash dogs) should expect there are going to be other dogs of all shapes and sizes there. I also agree with what Dogjudge said.

There needs to be a balance.

I wouldn't tolerate my dogs running at people and definitely would not be allowed off leash if they did that or nip at people. I make sure my dogs are well socialized with dogs and people and teach manners to say hi nicely to all.

posted 02-01-2004 04:20 PM         

I do understand all your points of view, even tho i dont share them.

You are allowed here to walk your dog without a leash in some parts of the island, so we do...

And as i said, i got FOUR (4) dogs, two of them are always on the leash... (even when the other two arent) and they are on a leash for a reasson, there is no reasson for the other two to stay on the leash, and i do not care what other people say... with all due respect, if you are walking your dog in a place you know walking dogs unleashed is allowed and you dont like it, that is your problem...

If some people find this ofensive, im sorry... but if im allowed to do that, IM GOING TO DO IT !!

And no, im not a white trash or whatever... the only thing is that you can not go to McDonalds play ground and kick all the kids on the butt, or start yelling at them because they are trying play with each-other...

And im sorry, but if you are walking on a off-leash desognated zone it is your problem is you dont like it, go somewhere else...

if i knew my to unleashed dogs were a treat to somebody else, they would be on a leash, even on a un-leashed zone...

posted 02-01-2004 06:08 PM         

Then when, their unleashed dog comes running up to my dog, who is on leash, it's some how my fault if something happens.

People. In a lot of cases you have people who are fightened of any dog. I've had my Rottweilers in the Chicago Xmas parade. All of the animals are under total control (leashes). You still have many people who are frightened.

Additonally, I've come across very few situations where unleashed dogs are under control of their owner.

I remember one time putting my Aussie back in my vehicle. As I was doing this, this woman's dog runs up to my dog. After the SIXTH time that she called her dog, it was rather apparent that her dog wasn't going back to her. At that point I grabbed her dog by the collar and lead her dog back to her. She got all upset with me for grabbing her dog. My response? "Madam, your dog didn't come after being called six times. He wasn't going to come when you called him the seventh time."

I've also seen the reverse. I was judging a tracking test when all of a sudden we came across four German Shepherds that were loose. At first we couldn't see the owner. She finally appeared. At that point, she told her dogs "down". They all dropped like rocks. The only noise that was louder was my jaw hitting the ground. I absolutely couldn't believe it. There was no way that I thought that would happen.

Honestly. Ask yourself. If your dog was off leash, would your dog respond to you FIRST time? Not second or third. First, without any hesitation. If not, do you really know how your dog is going to react to another dog? Don't decieve yourself.

I've put multiple advanced obedience titles on Rottweilers and other dogs. That being said, you still don't know how the other dog is going to react. If the other dog decides to snap at your dog, after it has run up to that dog, who's fault is it?

posted 02-01-2004 10:04 PM         

[This message has been edited by kyles101 (edited 02-01-2004).]

posted 02-01-2004 10:24 PM         

With that said, last week in Fresno, Ca. there was an incident where a large out of control lab killed a small poodle mix. It was very sad!! Alot of my family is from there, so that's how I heard about it. Oh! I forgot to mention it was in a dog park! The point!!! you can't be too careful! You may have the most well behaved pets in the world, but you have no idea about the next guy. (or gal) I can't imagine being this poor woman and seeing my loved one killed like that. I wonder if the attitude of "if you don't like it, tuff!) would still stand in this situation.

Like I've said before: there's a right way and a wrong to express yourself! just my opinion!

posted 02-02-2004 09:37 AM         

As for Kyles beach issue, I think if the person is there with 100s of other dogs, either onleash or off, and a knows its a dog beach, why is he getting upset. If he has a problem with a dog approaching his, he shouldnt be there to be put in that situation.

That is why I dont go to the dog park because I dont want to be put in that situation. I know there are dogs at the park that are kind of pains and wont leave Wylie alone and their owners are no-where to be found - or if they do see it, they just ignore it - like oh they are just playing, well Wylie just might say enough is enough and bite them and then I am at fault. So like I said, I dont put myself in that situation because I get upset with the dogs owners for letting them pick on my dog, but I put them in that situation so it is my fault.

I think some of the biggest culprits are the people whose dogs in neighborhoods run loose. It makes the person walking their dog feel unsafe, And like Carriesue said it puts her in an unsafe situation for the opposite reason when the off leash dog approaching her, but she would likely be blamed.

I was almost attacked by 2 dogs, a lab mix and an AKita, while I was walking Jake and Wylie. It was the most frightening thing I ever experienced. I knew the lab mix was vicious, had seen it attack before while people would walk by the house, luckily the owners were out front to stop it. I knew the AKita was pretty friendly because it had got of the year before and I out it back in (this was before they owned the lab mix). I had just left my house and made just to the house next door when the lab mix and akita came running at me. The lab mix was growling as he was running to me I was trying to the get to the house pulling Jake and WYlie but couldnt make up to our door. Our front yard was on a slope and I fell, so this dog is trying to bite my feet, because i am laying on my back, the akita is trying to get involved, I think he was doing it just because the lab mix is. Luckily Jake and WYlie were cowering behind me, but they were growling at the dogs. I am kicking the dog like crazy and literally screaming bloody murder for someone to help me thinking any minute I am a goner. but no such luck. Luckily I got a good kick in the mouth and the dog went running off howling because I hurt it enough to stop.
whew
honeybear

posted 02-02-2004 10:26 AM         

I think that the person was just overly protective, and shouldn't have been there if he/she felt that thier pet (leashed) was threatned.