dog daze

[coaster]

I've had a bad day. Every morning I walk my dogs downtown to pick up a newspaper. One of my dogs (the springer spaniel) has a tendency to be protective of the others. With leashes in hand, I venture through a hospital parking lot which is the shortest route. For the second time in a month I have encountered three free-roaming dogs. As soon as I noticed these dogs I stopped and their owner stated that his dogs were friendly. I said that's great but one of mine is hostile towards other animals. I wish I could break his annoying hostility but it's in his nature. Well, the owner makes a half-hearted attempt to corral his pets and I wait. He can't control them and one wanders into harm's way. My animals are on leashes. the owner walks over to protect his dog and threatens to kick my dog if it attacks his. I am visibly stirred. I tell him that if he hurts my dog I'll retalite in kind to his face. I don't get agitated easily but I actually felt ready to strike. There was fire in our eyes yet it ended with harsh words. I pondered this incident throughout the walk. I take this pathway often. I am a peaceful man. Do you have
any suggestions?

 

[Stormystarr]

the next time you encounter him just smile and be sure to wave happily at him. that should piss him off

 

[forgetunome]

It's pretty hard to break a dog of those types of habits because if it's in their nature you're trying to break them. Maybe you can take him to a dog trainer the type that can train without being abusive.

But in reading your post I don't understand the other guys reaction because you warned him. I would think that would be sufficient. It's not your fault if he didn't take it seriously and steer his dogs in another direction.

Good luck hope someone can help!

 

[coaster]

Thanks stromy. You're right. I know where he lives and I almost went over after my walk, without the dogs, to apologize for some of the things I said.

 

[coaster]

forgetunome, that was the part I couldn't understand. The first encounter was with his wife or partner. She managed to put the animals under control.

 

[Stormystarr]

maybe his wife should train him to control the mutts

 

[coaster]

stormy, that's exactly what I was thinking. I think women have a sensitivity towards others sometimes lacking in man.

 

[MinkSoul]

got any leash laws where you live?
they were invented for people like your... um... aquaintance? It sounds like he can't keep his dogs out of harms way. I don't mean just your animals, what happens if one of his dogs were to dash out into traffic? Or they meet up with a Very short tempered also out and about? The selfishness and stupidity of some people boggles the mind sometimes.

 

[forgetunome]

I think stormystarr is right, either the wife train him to control the dogs or he shouldn't be allowed to walk them!

 

[Stormystarr]

LMAO

thats right, treat him like the little boy he is

 

[coaster]

my computer is stuck in quicksand MinkSoul. Yes there are leash laws. Remember it's early in the morning and the violation is visible between just the two of us. I thought of using a video camera or notifying animal control but that isn't considered a neighborly act. It's a small town, not much traffic and peaceful but boy this morning was unsettling.

 

[coaster]

stromy and forgetunome I agree that his behavior isn't appropriate but I want to handle it in a way that doesn't conflict with my integrity or dignity. I don't want to be manipulated into anger by his rude insensitive behavior.

 

[Laurel]

I'd take another route. No matter who's right or who's wrong (though it sounds to me like you're in the right), it would be a shame if either of you or your animals were injured (or worse) in a scuffle.

 

[Barbarossa]

Well it reminded me...

a guy is standing near the gate to a house leaning on the picket fence.

A postal carrier arrives, looks at the sign warning about attack dogs hanging on the gate.

He asks the man "Do your dogs really bite"?

The guy says " nope".

The postal carrier opens the gate, walking towards the door a couple of dogs round the corner and attack him, biting him several times.

He fights them off and leaps over the fence, blood pouring from his wounds.

He turns on the man standing there and shouts " I thought you told me your dogs don't bite"?

The guy says " I don't live here, these aren't my dogs".

 

[forgetunome]

Do they walk their dogs at the same time every day? Maybe you can pick another time so your paths don't cross? Laurel is right I too would hate to see your dogs suffer the consequences.

 

[MinkSoul]

I think i'm stuck in that same pit here in Arizona coaster.
Forget the leash law thing...it was a stupid idea anyway.

You may live iv a small town but hospitals have ambulances. The driver is thinking more about the call they are going on then about that dog that just ran out in front of.....

i used to do the ems thing and i'v seen what can happen.

Enough babbiling i don't know what you can do short of buying him a couple of leashes and showing him how to use them...sorry

 

[coaster]

forgetunome, It only occurs during the weekend. I've contemplated taking a different route but that's avoidance of the problem. I don't want to walk through that area and have all these bad feelings arise even when the dogs aren't there.

 

[Lajo]

Ok...speaking as an animal control officer with 11 yrs experience....I have found that a lot of owners will defend their dogs more diligently than they would their wife or children. This man put you on the defensive when he threatened your dogs and you did the same by threatening him. The simplest, and easiest solution is to have an alternate route. If you see this guy in the parking lot, it is not worth risking a possible confrontation. And as Laurel pointed out, it is most likely the result of an encounter will be one or more hurt dogs and quite likely, one of you being bitten. For dogs fighting will lash at the other dog and whatever else (including its owner). I take more bite reports from people who were bitten by breaking up a dog fight. And once a bite occurs, there will likely be even more ramifications.

Ok...I'll hop down from the soapbox.

 

[coaster]

MinkSoul, great name! It is in the back of an expansive parking lot that is guarded by eucalyptis and open space so I can understand why he feels safe letting his dogs roam. I think he is just insensitive and there isn't much I can do to change that. That will be up to that charming wife of his.

 

[coaster]

Lajo, you're probably right. There are alternative routes. This was one of my favorite though... It goes by the train station. Once an Amtrack scheduled stop was guarding our path and we walked through the car. You should have seen the expressions on the conductor and passenger's faces. I'll miss this shortcut.

 

[coaster]

Barbarosa, thanks for the laugh. As much as I want the freedom to walk the dogs where I please I suppose avoidance is the safest and most logical choice.

 

[coaster]

Laurel, thanks for the advice. You're right! In the large scheme of things why risk injury to the dogs. I don't subscribe to the newspaper for the sole purpose of reminding me to take them for a walk each morning. Why turn a good scenario into something hurtful. I'll change my route.

 

[April]

Talk to the wife. Maybe she can do something about this situation. After all, what do you have to lose? If you can both use this area, that's the best outcome. And she may not like that her husband lets the dogs off the leash. That's endangering them, and they're her babies, too. Not just his.