mydiamond Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 So I met an off-lead dog today. He was just trotting behind his owner like every little terrier does, and then he spotted Diamond and dashed towards us. I never like off-lead dogs. Especially the ones that are charging towards Diamond full speed. I tried to move away and just ignore it so that Dime won't make direct eye contact but I was too late. Dime is already so fixated he refused to move a moment later the terrier stopped to sniff Dime. The boys sniff each other and, luckily, decided that they're now friends. However, I held Dime's leash very short and I kept my distance close between the two dogs so that I can react quickly in case a fight broke out. I don't like head-on meetings like that. Especially when one of the dogs are off-leash, obviously too tense, too hyper & made too much direct eye contact. Worse yet they are both males. Today's event proved that I worried too much, but what do you think? Should I turn around and walk away instead? How do you guys handle off-lead dogs? I want Dime to make as many doggy friends as he can, but do you think such meetings has the tendency to go wrong very quickly? At one point I can see that the terrier is very tense when Dime is sniffing him and I just don't feel comfortable. Especially because I don't know what will happen and what can I do. So... Thoughts? Experiences? Suggestions? Thanks in advance xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Sometimes the dogs will pick up on YOUR anxiety about the impending meeting of dogs Which may make them worried and so by accident you cause them to kick off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazeediamonds Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 Sometimes the dogs will pick up on YOUR anxiety about the impending meeting of dogs Which may make them worried and so by accident you cause them to kick off. I totally agree with you Andy. Olivia in the short time Eskie has been allowed out into the big wide world he has encountered many dogs off lead. Fortunately no bad has ever come of it. I will be very honest with you now. The day a dog off lead attacks my dog I will kick it off and continue to kick it if it keeps coming back. If the owner has anything to say my reply will be keep your dog on a lead and then I or anyone else will not kick it. Obviously the dog has no social skills and should not be allowed off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*jax* Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 I walk Elka on the beach where dogs are allowed to go off lead. We come across off lead dogs on a daily basis and it is such a pain i dread it! Elka gets so excited and wants to go play with every dog we meet. She has been bitten, luckily only a warning bite that didn't break the skin. She has also had a lot of fun playing with friendly dogs when she is on the long lead. I always reel her in and keep her close until i establish whether a dog is friendly or not. I wouldn't keep her away from other dogs as socialisation is so important and often the reason some dogs are unfriendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 For me, an off-lead dog heading for Suka instantly ignites a panic. I know he's leash aggressive, so he would be snarling and pulling towards that dog, to 'put it in its place'. Cause my boy is dominant like that - he instantly assumes everything is his territory. So usually I would walk the other way, or turn down the nearest street. But it all depends on your dog and the other dog. I noticed Suka is set off when the other dog is 'posturing' (ie: standing on his toes, hackles up, etc.). When leashed dogs just walk past him, showing no interest (or showing submissive body language), then he usually doesn't bother with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted September 8, 2013 Report Share Posted September 8, 2013 to be fair you don't really get a lot of choice in whether you want them to meet or not, when an off lead dog comes running over. We try to go with the flow, if Ice is comfortable we'll let him get a little close and have a sniff or two and if he's not we just continue to quickly move on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Thanks as always, everyone. I do agree my anxiety can affect the meeting, but honestly I don't have a choice... some dogs are unpredictable. In fact that terrier is the first off-lead dog that didn't attack Dime. In the past I only come across off-lead dogs that snarl, growl and bite! Fortunately they're always either Chis or Poms, so no injury at all because their tiny muzzle can't even get through Dime's thick fur. Problem is: you can't really tell if a dog is a friend or foe from far away because they only start growling when they're already head-to-head with Diamond =\ ugh, why do people let a dog off-lead when they know it doesn't have a reliable recall? Wait, can you? Is there a way of telling if a dog is going to say hi or attack when it's dashing full speed towards us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazeediamonds Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Wait, can you? Is there a way of telling if a dog is going to say hi or attack when it's dashing full speed towards us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahp87 Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 My boys tend to make lots of noise and jump to any dog that's smaller than them. Bigger dogs aren't so much of a problem. The offlead dogs who run up to others are the ones that should be on leads in my opinion. No problem with socialising them but the owners need to be in control! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 There are certain body language cues to look for but in all honesty, if thry're running straight at you, you really won't get much time to look for them and most clues are usually only noticeable once they stop running and are therefore up close already! Solitary howl did a great on body language about a year ago now, very good read if I find it again later I'll try to link it here. But I must say that ice rarely wags his tail, not sure if that means he's rarely happy or just doesn't display that particular behaviour! Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mydiamond Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Wait, can you? Is there a way of telling if a dog is going to say hi or attack when it's dashing full speed towards us? Imo I would say if its running, bounding towards you and it's tail is wagging then it's a friend not sn enemy. If it's intention is to attack or be nasty I think it making its tail wag would be the last thing on my mind. Btw dog's on lead can be vicious too. When I had my beautiful akita we were walking along when a dog passing us the other way lunged for my dog. But that's another story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emma Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Yes I think it probably is a husky thing more so than other breeds. Ice Only wags his tail when one of his family members come home from work/school, or it's walkies time. Then he wags it so hard that his whole bottom shakes! It's awkward to assess his moods without a tail wag! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elyse Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Thank you. Yes I do notice that some on-lead dogs are also unfriendly one dog was looking playful and happy but when I come closer to let Dime have a sniff he immediately snarled *sigh* dogs! When will I ever be able to read their body language correctly?? Ah yeah Elyse's thread. I also think it's very informative and helpful, but I can't remember where it is either btw about the tail wag... do you think that's more of a husky thing? Dime rarely wags his tail too. Usually when he's happy or excited he curls it up instead of wagging it. the noise is what made me nervous sometimes. Some dogs' playful growl sounds very similar to a real one. If it's a husky I'd know they're just loud, but other dogs I don't know that much In that case, there are some key things to watch out for. I think I mentioned this in my Body Language thread, but anywho... You can tell a playful growl vs an aggressive growl, in my experience, by looking at their snout. Generally, the rule is: If the snout is wrinkly, like this that means it is an aggressive growl. However, if the snout if smooth, it is most likely a playful growl. A dog can either show teeth in aggression (see above) or play. The key difference is if the snout is smooth or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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