dinner time rant

why do people let there dogs off leads if they do not know recall!!!

I walk Buddy every lunchtime same route and I pass a green in front of houses that says on a sign no ball games and no dogs... but there is a house that opens its doors and lets it cairn terrier and pointer out on the green and stands at their gate throwing a ball - normally I walk round the other way but today I did not see them till too late .
So Buddy sits down as usual .. over comes the terrier so I say " he doesn't like dogs off the lead " so the woman slowly wanders across, by now the pointer is also jumping on Buddy and growling and the terrier is sniffing all over him - I am trying to keep Buddy calm and moving him away but get stuck against a wall

So what happens next - she gets their ball and bounces it on the floor saying " come on lets play ball" .... the pointer is now jumping up at me .. and the terrier really upsetting Buddy .. so I shout at her to control her dogs .. she still continues to try and get them to follow her with the ball- so I say put a lead on them or hold their collars please - she still by this time has not said a word to me at all or even acknowledged there is an issue

The dogs run off into someone's garden and I hear the guy laugh and say" they never do as they are told do they ! "she laughs and says sorry to him still nothing to me I wait ten minutes whilst she struggles to get them to follow her .. she finally gets then in her gateway - not once did she acknowledge me , apologise or hold her dogs by the collar so I could pass ......
as I walked past the man I said to Buddy you are ok little man , they should be on leads it isn't a park .. people should control their dogs .. he gave me the dirtiest look ever and muttered something about staffs always cause issues ....I bit my tongue I really did... and as I walked on she came back with the two dogs still off lead with her bloody ball ...

I bet her and the guy had a good old discussion over Staffs and her precious dogs...

sooo angry ... why cant people keep their dogs on long lines and not use a public area as a park....

Rant over

Sorry to hear about what happened. Sadly, it's typical irresponsible dog ownership mentality. I had a similar thing recently. Walking Bosley late c.10pm. Spotted a cat ahead - no issue. 200 yards further on, I hear Cat behind, so I turn and see it scampering away sharpish. Next thing I know, I've got 2 Dogs bounding towards us. Yep, you've guessed it - owner opened the door and off they go. They were all over Bosley in a friendly way but I started to panic thinking if they turn I'm going to have to kick them off him. Bosley has only been out of Shelter a few weeks, so I'm getting to know him. 2 mins passed and still no owner. Eventually he appeared and called the Dogs in. If it happens again, I'm having words.

Wow first off I must say Buddy did EXTREMELY well to not react to those dogs. I cant imagine how frustrating it must be for him to have dog jumping on him and some idiot women taunting him with a ball. Im surprised you weren't told 'Its ok they are friendly!'

I do hate this mentatality of Oh look some grass- Ill let my dogs off lead, they don't come back but oh well ha ha.

Im still not sure how this moron blokes comment of Staffs cause issues is even relevant- if anything had happened then the other dogs were off lead and ignored warnings- hardly the Staffs fault is it. Im sick of this breed getting blamed when they have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Can you imagine if your situation was reversed and Buddy ran up and jumped on other dogs who were on lead and you were specifically told the other dog doesn't like off lead dogs. I'm sure the other owner would have been screaming.

Misty is great on recall with no distractions but horrendous with dogs as she wants to greet them all this is why I have her on a long line in all parks as I don't want her to be this annoying dog who runs up when dogs are on lead. I wish more owners understood the pressure dogs are under when off lead dogs run up.

I do think Buddy did wonderful- Well done to both of you!!

Sounds like Bosley did brilliantly too!! What a little star he is!

Don't these people ever worry about their dogs running off and never coming back?

sad but all too familiar some folk shouldnt have dogs

Thankfully you both have good dogs, unfortunately some people shouldn't be allowed to keep dogs. Why oh why put your dog and everyone else at risk in an area where there are roads and people with other dogs on the street... it beggers belief doesn't it.