The AUDACITY of some dog owners!!
 

I was walking Teddy around my apartment complex instead of the lake like I usually do because the latter has too many distractions, and unfortunately our (well...my level lol) of training isn't to where he can walk pleasantly on leash with so many people, dogs, etc...anyways this man had two huge dogs on a leash (one was lying down and the other one was standing and pulling forward) and as I was getting closer to him and the dogs I asked if his dogs were friendly. He said that yes that they were, and so I kept walking their way. Teddy, who is incredibly social stopped dead on his tracks and lay on the ground and wouldn't budge. Usually, Teddy tries to pull ahead because he loves greeting all dogs, and people so I thought that this was pretty strange. I took a step closer and all of a sudden both of his huge dogs started jumping, barking and fighting EACH OTHER AGGRESSIVELY. I quickly started walking Teddy in the other direction, while the owner started yelling at me "sorry about that!" while SIMULTANEOUSLY SPANKING HIS DOG! I AM STILL ANGRY as I type this. If Teddy had not hesitated and ran up to them as he usually does (well try to because I never let Teddy get close to another dog unless I think it's okay, what I mean by pull ahead is that he makes the gesture to do so and keeps pulling...) I am quite sure that they would have pounced him! It's not as if he was surprised by their behavior, HE SPANKED THE DOG! Which clearly means, this is not the first time! What on earth was he thinking saying that it's alright for an 8lb dog to approach his 80lb aggressive dogs?! SERIOUSLY!?!?!:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

He may not have known they were going to do that and they may normally not be aggressive dogs.

I don't think spanking is a response an owner would give to a dog that is behaving out of the ordinary. His reaction was not one of shock.

Teddy must have sensed something with these dog's that is why he stopped. So, I say good boy Teddy.

The owner must have known it may happen as well, with the reaction he had at spanking them. Seemd they have done this before.

Glad all was Ok with you and Teddy.

OMgosh, that is so scary, it could have been a deadly situation. So sorry this happened to you both.

So glad, Teddi read those signs correctly. Your little guy was crouching to protect you both. Good job reading you dogs signs too!

Thank God Teddy is so smart or who knows what would have happened. Cudos to him for sensing a big problem looming.

I never trust large dogs around my babies....no matter what their owners say!!! It's just better to be safe then sorry!! I always pick up my girls as I pass any dogs...even little ones...sometimes they can be the most aggressive..:rolleyes:

Oh wow how scary, glad Teddy is ok :)

I do not think that he was trying to mislead you when he said, "He said that yes that they were" . I just got into a conversation about this tonight with my sister-in-law. For all he knew about his dogs, concerning your dog, was that it was OK to approach. I am sure he was not setting you up. Thank God that Teddy has a sixth sense that we as human do not. As for the "spanking" of his 80lb pooches, I just don't know. I mean, some of us here only probably weigh somewhat a little over.

I can only ask, what you would have done if you would have had them dogs who weighed 80lbs a piece or together for a combined total of 80lbs? I do know that I would have been upset with them and probably would not take them out again without a muzzle.

I am glad to hear that Teddy is alright.

I just think that as a dog owner, you are well aware of the temperament of your dogs, how they behave around other dogs etc. If he has even a small amount of doubt about how they are going to react (which in hindsight, he DID hesitate when I asked that question) then he should simply say no I don't think they're used to playing around other dogs. Also, they were barking and fighting each other...whether it was "play" or not, it was pretty clear that they are not gentle by any means. Teddy LOVES playing with big dogs, in fact at doggie day care and when I take him for walks at the lake he prefers approaching larger dogs, getting on his hind legs to reach their faces. I do not think it is a coincidence that Teddy hesitated, in the same way the dog owner hesitated in giving me the "okay." I've had people before tell me flat out "no, sorry my dog plays a little rough," or "my dog isn't well socialized with smaller dogs," etc...I've heard it all, because simply the owner KNOWS their dog. Personally, I think the owner just didn't want to admit that his dogs were not under his control. They were both wearing choke chains, and get corrected through "spanking" which is a clear indication that he does not have full control over his dogs.

Thank you everyone....I'm still thinking about it...those dogs were pulling so hard that if he would have lost control of their leashes, I don't know what would have happened...from now on I'm walking the extra half hour to the lake and try extra hard on working with Teddy on distractions. I haven't had any incidents there...

Please don't get me wrong by what I posted. You said nothing in your original post that he was "hesitant" That should have been a clear indication for you to go the other way. I am sorry if I came off the wrong way!

No I'm not offended at all! I'm just still angry. I didn't post it originally because something triggered my memory while typing...you are absolutely right that I should have ran the other way when he hesitated, I was just paying more attention to Teddy who suddenly started lying on the ground and I figured his hesitancy was incidental...I didn't relate the two until the dogs started fighting each other...then everything subconciously clicked and I started to walk the briskly towards my apartment. Thank you for caring!

I am glad that Teddy is OK(and you for that matter)

The lesson here for you is to never allow him to approach a strange dog. You never know what they are going to do. Many are unpredictable in behavior. I've seen dogs bite other dogs that have never bitten before. So...just my input.

Well, I'm glad I learned this lesson in the manner I did today, and not with horrific results otherwise. :(

Me, too. I'm so happy you are both ok.:)

I really appreciate both you and everyone else on here caring about Teddy and I. The support that the members of this community offer is incredible, and I don't think I could have made it as well as I have these first three months I've had Teddy without everyone...;)

It's our jobs to watch the other dogs, not listen to the owner...only because of people, situations like this...I personally think the local dog park/trail needs to be an exclusive club because of "some people and their dogs"...

I spanked Scoobers (well I say spanked...tapped his bottom in more of a pushing away motion) when he bit my toes the other night! Shocked the heck out of me that he nipped my toes and you should have seen the kids jump when they saw me use my hand instead of a time out...
I wonder what the OP meant by "spanked" my version of spanked or like really spanked as in hit? I'd have freaked out on them...after my dog was safely back in the house...

I agree, you just never know...neighbors Papilion is mean and so is one neighbor's Dachshund, while the other is super social friendly...next door NAID is the friendliest dog ever at 1oolbs and one of our best friends is an America Staff...depends on the individual dog in my experience...but size does matter...

Ah! We all learn from each other!:D

I am so glad Teddy's instincts were right and you went with them. Buster is friendly two and he loves big dogs. I learned early to be careful of what owners say. A neighbor was out of their house while we were walking by and their 3 small dogs were out and running around. I asked if he dogs were friendly and she assured me they were. I was careful when the approached Buster and their little chi came up all friendly and the out of the blue turned and bit at Buster's nose. I scooped him up while she apologized saying well she USUALLY is friendly. Some people want their dogs to be perceived as friendly even if they are not. It was a wake up call to me. I am so glad things turned out okay for you and Teddy. It is sad that those dogs were on choke chains to me that means he does not have them under control and hitting for a bad behavior only reinforces bad behavior with (the owners) bad behavior.

I think you reacted instinctively when you spanked him. The owner of these dogs did not. It was a delayed reaction, he yanked the chain so as to separate the two dogs and then proceeded to spank him. I think that your definition of spank might be different than mine. Like you said you only tapped your dog...this man had a lot more force in his swing--he was a big man and they were big dogs.

YES! That is exactly what I think the problem is. I don't think anybody wants to go around saying..."no, sorry my dogs aren't friendly at all," in fact I think that if Teddy wasn't friendly I'd probably be embarassed by it. But then again, I wouldn't shade the truth. I'm sorry your baby got bit on the nose :(

there are some dog owners
 

that are so stupid its not shocking I think they should have a test to qualify a person to own pets because some owners are dumber then a box of rocks.

As I'm sure many people know from my posts...I'm opinionated :rolleyes:...maybe you should mention something to them...about not using aggression for aggression.

I had to use a soft muzzle to deal with initial socialization of Scoobers, he had some pretty serious fear aggression when I first got him (he was adopted from a pound/rescue but was registered by microchip to a breeder who had hm a couple hundred dogs they had registered, had feces in his ears-vet said that a sure sign of a pup mill dog having been in a cage under other dogs-it's the only other way it gets in there unless someone packs it in manually...and he was scared of grass etc).

It was somewhat embarrassing to take him to the dog park etc (and the groomers after he bit out of fear) with it on...but the point is you have to train them, put in effort in whatever way it takes to socialize, in a safe way.

Some people gave me dirty looks for him wearing one like I was abusing him...I wondered about the one lady who came up to me aggressively commenting on his soft muzzle and yet she carried a spray bottle to shoot her dog in the face with water...when it didn't obey...

I did try a Herm Sprenger collar once but after the first try with it-I'll never forget how bad I felt, the way he looked at me, and the change it made in me to find non-aggressive ways to curb aggression.

I cannot begin to understand how difficult it must be to train an aggressive dog. Teddy's only issue is that he is stubborn (and smart) so I find it difficult to train him because he is constantly outsmarting me because, well, he's my first dog. I've seen muzzles on dogs and I've never really known how to react to them, mainly because I didn't know what they were used for...but quite frankly if I had an aggressive dog the last thing I'd do is hit them--putting aside whatever ethical concerns anyone might have...an 80lb dog is stronger than I am. Two 80lb dogs were definitely stronger than that person I spoke of in my earlier posts. That can easily turn out in tragedy when one day after the owner has tried supressing the barking/growling through physical force, in my opinion the dogs are just going to snap one day without warning...and then they're going to be put down...

I'm glad you and Teddy are okay. I have to say I think it's the saddest case when a dog is put down because of aggression. Because Many times it the owner's fault for non-proper training, abuse, fighting the dogs, etc. Makes
Me so sad. I always pick up Remy around any dog he is not familiar with, you just never know.

Thank you...and yes I agree it truly is sad when dogs are put down as a result of abusive owners.

I don't trust my two little dogs with anyone else's dogs at all. Our babies are just so darned small and could get hurt so easily its just not worth it to me! I am so glad Teddy had the kahonas to say 'no way jose'!! One smart pup!!!