Why?

Okay, so I understand the need for socialisation, absolutely! Though, personally, I don't feel that socialisation entails allowing your dog to run up to random dogs whilst you stand 10ft away observing.

This seems to be happening more and more at the moment - I quite obviously avoid people when out, I call Bug to me, put her on lead and take the completely opposite route to the one that the person/dog is on. Yet, despite these quite blatant displays that we don't want to interact, people still allow their dogs to run up. Or, in today's case, change their route to match ours constantly and when we still manage to avoid, just let their dog loose to run at us!

Is this a thing? Are people that keen to let their dogs to interact with others that they will actually follow people with other dogs, even when they clearly don't want to mix? Bug was a star today, she did her usual lying down but managed to have a gentle sniff, only barking once when the dog ran off. But she could have been an aggressive dog.. do people not care about the safety of their dogs? I just can't get my head around it.

To clarify, we're not in a dog park, we're in the middle of Dartmoor trying to avoid off lead dogs!

Well done Bug sounds like you were a star!
This is definitely a thing Rachel. I was always under the impression if a dog is on the lead then there is a reason - training, fearful etc so you don't approach. However since having Misty especially in the early days we would keep her on her normal lead and walk her around the park to get her used to it etc. Seems there would more times then not be a random dog running over. I had her in the park once and it was obvious we were training and suddenly this big wolf hound appeared, the owner was no where to be seen. My heart stopped but luckily he was a nice dog but it completely interrupted our training. The guy eventually came over and got his dog but insisted he was in the right as 'you shouldn't take your dog to the park if you don't want others running up'. This wasn't a specified dog park just a normal one.

Also it's funny sometimes people deliberately make a move to come to us because they love Staffs and want to meet her!

At least Bug handled it very well, you must be proud of her

I'm totally with you there Rachel and well done Bug on being such a good girl!  

Why some people think it's acceptable to still let their dog approach when your dog is clearly on a lead is beyond me! The majority of people I meet do offer the same respectful courtesy but you will still get the idiots.

I was "told" the other day that I was giving my dog the wrong signals as I held him back by his harness whilst a small dog was rapidly approaching off lead when I had already stopped, signalled and shouted he did not like dogs approaching him, especially small ones! Well yes maybe, but it's a damn sight better than him reacting which is most likely to and possibly hurting another dog and then who would get the blame?

Like you I go to places where dogs are few and far between and I can always see who is approaching well ahead and behind us. If I do take him to places where there are a lot of dogs I put a muzzle on him, but I prefer to go to the places where he can run free with his beloved ball

Running up to another dog is not polite in doggy language, people don't seem to know that, they think its eagerness to meet and greet but it is rude and is the reason the standing still dog has every right to tell the charging dog to sod of and be polite, My dogs are fine with other dogs but i do not allow another dog to approach, i don't care if it a puppy or fully grown Bernese mountain dog, its not happening until i know that dog and its owner. I carry a hiking stick, iv not touched a dog with it but i put it out about two foot in front of me (my dogs walk behind or beside me on leashes) and stop an on coming dog, stopping them seems takes away the charge and it slows them down for a sniff which is all that is needed to be social, a polite hello and good bye, no play needed, i honestly don't like play with strange dogs i don't know them enough to know their triggers and it creates excitement which i also don't like, i've taught my dogs to be neutral and calm, again unless i know the dog and its owner. In your situation i would of personally said something. One of the main reasons why i think it is so important for your dog not to be ahead of you, we are their guard and we need to guard them from approaching dogs and people, calmly of course not out of fear or anxiety but we should assess the situation first, other wise dogs tend to fill in the role, you can't do squat if they are in front and a dog charges them or hits into them, same as people and kids reaching out, they see me first and talk to me not my dogs, same with dogs they stop in front of me, before i allow them closer to my dogs.
It could of turned ugly if your dog wasn't so well behaved and then of course your dog would of had the blame.

ive fund this a LOT with dog owners ive now hd to put my palm in front of my face when theyre a far enough distance apart and told them to not approach . i find the ownes with the wee dogs this happens a lot thankfully eith mia she looks as to say whats that? i genuinely believe she thinks its a barking cat!! gets on my nerves as a lot of owners are responsible just the few that will spoill your outing.

Well done Bug for being a good girl, we get a lot of dogs running up to Katy & she hates it!! On our walk today we were on our way to the fields & met a old lady we see often with Beau. He is incredibly friendly but Katy just doesn't like him. If we see him & we are all off lead Katy will hide behind me & will only venture forward for a treat from her. We meet sometimes on route & Katy will raise hackles & bark at him. But today when we saw her, he was off lead on route home & although she saw us approaching she didn't put his lead on, so straight away he came towards Katy (on lead) needless to say she started barking & lunging towards him!! So it's even worse when they know your dog doesn't like theirs

I wonder how other owners would react if it was the other way around. It's simple manners to respect other dog owners and not allow this sort of thing... Anywhere. As for them taking the same route, well I'm sorry but I would have had to have said something.

I agree with a lot of Amelie's post, however, my Flo walks in front and often out of sight in the summer under bushes etc but, if she isn't comfortable with an interaction she will look to us and her Stix rather than get fixated. I have seen her play with other dogs but only ever in a situation where this is clearly the intention and she never runs up to another dog and if she even looked as though she might then she is called back, I think it's just good manners.

There is of course an element of training needed too, for the dogs and the owners !

After reading about your experiences I'm realising how lucky we are on the walks where we live.

Una can be nervous around strange dogs so we tend to keep our distance and she goes on the long lead. The majority of owners we meet spot this and keep their dog under control or put on the leash. On a couple of occasions when their dog has been very relaxed and happy to meet they've aided with an introduction and playtime - which is great as it gets Una experience outside of our doggy training classes.

I was having a jog a few nights ago (ok who am i kidding i was meandering up the town in jogging pants) and i felt this really hard thump on my legs, and i could not for life of me figure it out, so carried on walking only to feel it again. I actually shouted out...thought i was being killed lol turned out it was a little black spaniel puppy that got my lovely joggers covered in dog * and mud and slober. Owner was just laughing. I was NOT impressed.

This problem really bugs me and is partly why Rio's progress is slow with dogs, he doesn't like dogs approaching him in his space, he'd rather suss them out and decide if it's ok to get closer.

He's doing so well now that in a field by us I have him off the lead if there's another dog on the other side of the field as I know he'll stay with us, if they get too close i instantly pop him on his lead but that's when they feel it's ok to approach and then we take a step backwards with Rio as he doesn't like it, then THEIR owner gets annoyed when Rio gets a little grumpy.

I have a genuine fear of it going wrong if a dog approached Rio and he felt threatened enough to nip/ draw blood. The idea of Rio getting into trouble and have the chance of being put down for being "aggressive" makes my world fall apart.

Can someone confirm that if my dog is on the lead, and their dog approaches but comes off worse, we're not in the wrong?

Sealpig wrote:
I have a genuine fear of it going wrong if a dog approached Rio and he felt threatened enough to nip/ draw blood. The idea of Rio getting into trouble and have the chance of being put down for being "aggressive" makes my world fall apart.

Can someone confirm that if my dog is on the lead, and their dog approaches but comes off worse, we're not in the wrong?

I feel exactly the same and would also appreciate advice regarding your question.

As I said before, I am no doubt giving all the wrong signals to my dog by grabbing his harness (whilst also on the lead) when a dog is fast approaching but I cannot run the risk of the dog getting too close by invading his space and him reacting, and possibly the other dog coming to harm.

Yes, I could muzzle him all the time when we are out , but he is not an outwardly aggressive dog and is ball obsessed. He has excellent recall and hardly leaves my side other than to fetch the ball when I throw it and I just love seeing him so happy

I believe I am a responsible dog owner who knows her own dog and am respectful and courteous to other dogs we meet, it's just some who do not respect boundaries and obvious signs/signals that ruin it for us