don simon earlier;

Fantastic.

I agree with the 'don't let your dog run up at me' crowd. I walk our mutt – if I see another dog, he goes on the lead straight away – for a couple of reasons. I respect the other dog owner enough to ensure they are fully aware I have complete control of my dog as they have no knowledge of how my dog behaves. I mostly do it because I have no idea how their dog behaves. Usually, they think their dog running up at us is fine – no it isn't. I have no idea whether the dog is mental and they evidently have no control of the dog.
It always comes back to the people and not the dogs.

Hi Don Simon. A slap is a physical attack. Fact, no escaping it. I'm not twisting your words, read my comments. Although you are twisting mine, where do I mention murder?????!!!!
I agree unruly children are a pain in the a** although I would never slap / attack someone else's children, I would speak to the parents (admittedly that is often futile)
Also I wasn't having a go at dog's, I don't own one but many of my family and friends do. I found strange you seemed to be threatening to hospitalise people if they were to attack your dog yet you would slap a child for the same offence. If I misunderstood fair enough. And fair play to keeping your dog on a lead, irresposible owners don't help the general attitude towards dogs. I've never met a parent stupid enough to allow their child to play with a dangerous dog that is on a lead after being warned not to go near but hey we live in a strange world so I guess they exist. I guess based on your comments about children you are trolling or don't have any.

a slap is not a physical attack

I think you may need to do more research there.

Interesting insight into the psyche of a person who values dogs above people though.

Cancel that I just read the rest of the thread……..

I found strange you seemed to be threatening to hospitalise people if they were to attack your dog yet you would slap a child for the same offence.

It was a retaliation to Zulu Queen wanting to kick dogs, all I said was that if s/he wanted to kick my dog, then I wouldn't hesitate in kicking him/her. Also that if his/her children bothered my dog I wouldn't hesitate in giving them a slap. As you now know my dog is kept on a lead and as a resposible owner I try to keep my dog away from irresponsible parents and children. 😆

Surely things have got a bit extreme if you can't control a child by slapping them. Is this a result of parents abusing and battering children?

Nice pic wwaswas. 😆

Not a question of valuing an animal over a child, great insight into someone who can jump to conclusions though.

How bizarre

Please explain and also explain why you think you can call me a ****t, I have to admit that you're slowly convincing me that your point of view is the correct one. 😆
Also there was a bit of trolling going on. 😉

Love the tag, I understand that as reaching some kind of iconic status on STW and therefore a compliment, thanks.

Hi Don Simon. A slap is a physical attack

Hmmm, thats got me thinking?

Is slapping a dog an offence?

Seems to happen a lot round here when dogs don't obey their owners?

Surely things have got a bit extreme if you can't control a child by slapping them

You's a bit think innit!

@ Don Simon

I just think you're scary. You laugh to yourself a lot.

Also there was a bit of trolling going on.

Mystified by the concept of "trolling". So .. someone posts something that is characteristic of what would be said by a ****t, someone else says "you're a ****t", and person 1 says "haha! I was trolling 😉 "

And that's clever because …

On a forum, you are what you write, so if you write like a ****t, you are a ****t, even if you are a Nobel laureate in real life.

When I am walking the dog, I will let him run up to anyone he chooses, because I trust him. He does not bark, bite, jump up or do anything that is out of order. I have also refined over the years a load of suitably reassuring and humourous lines to put people at ease. If someone looks unconmfortable then I call him back and he always comes. He is not an extraordinary dog, he has just been trained well.

As for other peoples dogs, if they are on a lead, my dog will be instructed not to go near them. If their dog is off the lead, then they can sort out the pecking order amongst themselves, because it looks like they trust their dogs too.

Licencing dogs will make no difference. Banning dogs in unjust. Is it so hard for us to deal with each dog individually based on the evidence presented at the time? If you suspect a dog is dangerous, don't leave your kids with it, have a word with the owner, have a word with the dog, is this all so hard? I appreciate some of you are scared of dogs but some other people are scared of foreigners. No reason to start banning stuff is it.

I often despair of people. Never met a dog I didn't like though…

Someone has to because everyone's a bit serious on here today, innit!

You's a bit think innit!

Why?

my dog is kept on a lead

No wonder he is pissed off.

I agree with the 'don't let your dog run up at me' crowd. I walk our mutt – if I see another dog, he goes on the lead straight away – for a couple of reasons. I respect the other dog owner enough to ensure they are fully aware I have complete control of my dog as they have no knowledge of how my dog behaves. I mostly do it because I have no idea how their dog behaves. Usually, they think their dog running up at us is fine – no it isn't. I have no idea whether the dog is mental and they evidently have no control of the dog.
It always comes back to the people and not the dogs.

Funny how much disagreement there is even amongst dog owners. Although I keep the dogs on a lead near danger points (roads etc) and at playgrounds etc, the rest of the time they are free to run. They’re dogs which were bred to run, and they need to for their mental as well as physical health. I simply haven’t had any negative feedback; no-one’s kicked my dogs, interposed themselved between the dog and their child……nothing.

It helps that my two are trailhounds (look like a cross between a foxhound and a pointer), who are utterly non-aggressive, don’t bark, and are only medium-sized, so they’re simply not seen as a threat. Nor do I have a no.1 cut, tattoos or piercings…not judging people, but this sort of person coupled with a staffy x would make me wary.

Thing is, that’s the norm in my park (and the woods nearby). People control their dogs well, but the vast majority (certainly 90%+) of dogs are not on the lead, and no-one seems to have a problem with it. Kids want to stroke my two (they’re pretty cute), and the dogs like the attention. As a responsible owner (mine are chipped/neutered/insured/trained) I’m confident that there’ll not be an incident involving my dogs. If I had any doubt, I’d stick them on a lead – the last thing I’d ever want is for any harm to come to anyone, firstly because dog bites are nasty, and secondly because it would almost certainly lead to the dog concerned being destroyed.

Mystified by the concept of "trolling".

Saying something controversial to get a reaction from others, a wind up. I made a comment directed at one member who made a comment about kicking dogs and retaliated, others decided to join in and the fun began. Happy?

If someone has an opinion which differs from yours it doesn't make them a ****t, or the compliment can simply be reversed, and that doesn't achieve anything, does it?
Is that how they would behave in a face to face conversation?

On a forum you are a person, you are a personality and you have a history, you have have opinions and attitudes the same as real life. If you want to make a judgement on who I am after reading one thread, who am I to criticise? Some people do come here to hide behind a name and say things they wouldn't have the courage to say face to face, I don't have that issue.

Am I a CHAV or AWESOME? Make up your minds?

Saying something controversial to get a reaction from others, a wind up.

What's the point ?

If someone has an opinion which differs from yours it doesn't make them a ****t, or the compliment can simply be reversed, and that doesn't achieve anything, does it?
Is that how they would behave in a face to face conversation?

No, but I was TROLLING – you see how clever I am ?!

Yes, your very clever.

When I am walking the dog, I will let him run up to anyone he chooses, because I trust him.

Isn't it up to the person it's running up to to decide whether it's OK, not you? Surely it's common courtesy to keep your dog away from others if you don't know they want it there?

Isn't it up to the person it's running up to to decide whether it's OK, not you? Surely it's common courtesy to keep your dog away from others if you don't know they want it there?

Agreed and vice versa.

When I am walking the dog, I will let him run up to anyone he chooses, because I trust him.

However, I don't know that. I have come across dozens more people with untrained dogs off the lead than those with trained dogs off lead. Odds are not in your favour there.

medium-sized, so they’re simply not seen as a threat. Nor do I have a no.1 cut, tattoos or piercings…not judging people, but this sort of person coupled with a staffy x would make me wary.

My dog is medium-sized, but a rottie. I have short-cropped hair and am a sturdy 6'7" tall. I guess you'd see me as a threat then. Funnily enough, I see uncontrolled dogs I don't know as potential threats. What you see depends on where you are standing. If anything kicks off, it will be my well-trained dog who is as the instigator just for being a rottie – so I have to ensure we're golden.

Isn't it up to the person it's running up to to decide whether it's OK, not you? Surely it's common courtesy to keep your dog away from others if you don't know they want it there?

Agreed and vice versa.

Well sort of- IMO if people want to introduce an animal into a public place then all the responsibilities associated with it are on the owner, not everybody else.

Isn't it up to the person it's running up to to decide whether it's OK, not you?

I see, does that mean that I am not allowed to speak to anyone unless they explicitly advise me that I can?

I kind of work on the basis that if people are out and about in the countryside amongst the cows and the crows, are not running at full tilt away from the offending pooch and do not have any sort of signage explicitly stating that they are not to be disturbed in their rural idyll, that they are fair game. Never had a complaint so far. I have in fact had to leave pubs in the past because I cannot talk to my companion for the number of rude, interfering, frankly stupid people that wish to come up and compliment me on the well natured handsomeness of my dog.

This kind of remionds me of an occasion when I was at my local dog walkers haunt, on top of a hill with perhaps a dozen other dogs + owners.

There was one bloke and his wife zipped up so tight it hurt complaining about all of the smelly, evil, antisocial dogs that they had to deal with just to take a walk in the country. They were massively outnumbered and none of the dogs were doing any harm. It was very vocally agreed amongst the dog owners that the dogs were far from the most antisocial things in the park at that time.

But if my dog is on its lead and I don't want attention from you or your children, you also have a responsibility. Like most things there are two sides, two arguments and two opinions.

sorry to change the thread a bit but Torminalis I'm sure I know you – you lived in a teepee for a while and your dog is a friendly brown terrier? (sorry can't remember breed or his name)

kind of work on the basis that if people are out and about in the countryside amongst the cows and the crows, are not running at full tilt away from the offending pooch and do not have any sort of signage explicitly stating that they are not to be disturbed in their rural idyll, that they are fair game.

So you have to wait until I'm running from a loose dog running at me before you'll do anything about it? Startling arrogance there. I don't want a dog I don't know running at me – simple. Experience has shown me that more dogs off-leash are out of control. Why you should think I am inviting such behaviour is beyond me.

I don't want attention from you or your children

What attention from children do you get? you keep refering to it but I am not sure what you mean.

nacho – that is correct. Except that he is Ginger. (Silas – Irish Terrier)

Do you know me in person or just through the blog?

I see, does that mean that I am not allowed to speak to anyone unless they explicitly advise me that I can?

It's hardly the same thing though is is? A better comparison might be me buzzing someone with my bike rather than giving them a polite wide berth- is it for me or them to say whether it's OK with them?

Tootall, I did say "not judging people". I'm sure you're a lovely chap and your rottie would bounce around quite happily with my hounds.

The point is that there are people out there (and let's face it, we've all seen them) who really shouldn't have a dog, and keep them as a hard-man status symbol. These people tend not to have a poodle/spaniel/labrador, and IME have a strongly developed sense of being an alpha male with a matching alpha dog. As such, I'd give people like this (or even those who look a bit like this) a wide berth. I'm happy to believe that I'm wrong in almost all cases, but better safe than sorry.

You're clearly aware of this negative image as well, hence the fact that you obviously have to over-compensate in terms of control, just to ensure the finger of suspicion can never be pointed at you or your rottie.

surfer – Member

I don't want attention from you or your children

What attention from children do you get? you keep refering to it but I am not sure what you mean.

That when children see a dog, they want to play/stroke with it.

Irish Terrier

Dad had one of those, mad as a bucket of frogs but a good dog. I have a Lakeland terrier, also mad but smaller!

Startling arrogance there

Riiight. If you read my previous post I explained exactly how it works…

I will let him run up to anyone he chooses, because I trust him. He does not bark, bite, jump up or do anything that is out of order. I have also refined over the years a load of suitably reassuring and humourous lines to put people at ease. If someone looks unconmfortable then I call him back and he always comes.

To be honest, the dog takes very little interest in most other people beyond the doggy equivalent of an 'afternoon' and doff of the cap.

Would you complain if were to said hello as I strolled past you in the park? I agree this is not behaviour to be encouraged by all dog owners if their dogs are not very friendly but I have no qualms about it at all, and as I said, I have never had a complaint.

Torminalis – I know you in person, I have ridden with you and Silas, worked with you and socialised with you 🙂

It's hardly the same thing though is is?

Yeah, it is exactly the same thing, I think my dog is a lot more polite than many of the people I see when out walking. If he sees someone, he will not ignore them, he will approach to a not intimidating distance, see what the feedback is, if it is positive then he will say hello, if they appear fearful or negative he will withdraw (or be told to if needs be).

which is kind of exactly the same as I do nio the park. Nowt worse than ignorant bastards that blank you.

Torminalis – I know you in person, I have ridden with you and Silas, worked with you and socialised with you

That is so unfair making me look like the baddie in all of this. Who are you I demand? Nacho… hmnn…

oh, and can you tell these nay sayers what a cracking and charming dog and owner we are talking about here…

I think the way I look at this is, we all have a basic human right to go about our business unmolested.

Dog owners should be allowed to own dogs. Similarly, the dog-phobic should be allowed to live dog-free.

Cyclists should be allowed to ride along without fear of being jumped by dogs or having to ride through their droppings. Similarly, dog owners should be allowed to walk their dogs without bikes hooning past right next to them at something approaching the speed of sound.

Where does that leave us?

I think it comes down to control. If you're going to own an animal which by its nature interacts with the general public, it has to be under control. You might "know" it's friendly, but I don't. You might know it's not going to dart under my wheels, but I don't. You might think the sun shines out of its arse, but as a cyclist I'm all too intimately familiar with what actually comes out of there.

Likewise, I know I'm in control of the bike, but you don't. So I'll slow down, cover the brakes, make a noise if you haven't seen me, try not not make any erratic movements.

It's not hard. I'm riding towards you, call the dog to you. Or put it on a lead. Or give me some indication that things are ok, let me hear you say 'stay,' let me see a well-behaved dog. In return, I'll be a well-behaved cyclist. I'll slow right down, get off the path and give you plenty of room, give you a cheery 'good afternoon' or 'thank you' and a smile. But c'mon, meet me half way here; you control your dog, I'll control my bike, we'll both depart happy.

Instead, in my experience an owner's most common reaction to an approaching bike is either to ignore both the dog and me completely, or to wait until I'm just about to pass between them and then call the dog to them so that it darts across in front of me (which utterly bemuses me). Many owners are fine, of course, but they seem to be outnumbered by the apathetic.

It occurs to me that I could have replaced "dogs" or "cyclists" with "kids" in most of this post.

Kids like playing with animals. Depending on the temperament of the pet owner, this isn't always desireable. (That's not a typo, we've already heard from dog owners going "touch my dog and you'll get a slap" and "my dog plays with kids in the park, they both love it"). How do we reach a compromise here? Simple again, you're interacting with strangers. Being English, we find this difficult; we don't do it. You wouldn't normally walk up to a stranger in the street and go "hey, fancy playing foorball with us?" so why's it ok for a kid to approach a dog or a dog to approach a kid? Why's it ok for us to invade each other's space like that?

Well, it is, if the parent and owner establish this; we're back to control again. I'm not talking about written permission, it can be as simple as an exchanged smile to say 'my child is under control and safe to play with your dog' / 'my dog is under control and safe to play with your child'.

hey all, Silas is a great dog, surfer got it right and torminalis is a good guy, was always hospitable to me. I lost his mobile # so so haven't spokken to him for a long time. Torminalis – clue – I'm not devil dave and I live in Devon now!

NP!!! Ahhh, how are you?! 07515 331040. Anytime you like mate.

Well said Cougar.