Other dog owners and their opinions
We adopted a puppy back in October, and he is now coming up to a year old. He is part-beagle, and we are having to work a lot on his recall still. We walk him on the beach every morning. Yesterday, my husband was walking him, and decided to keep him on the lead as it was very hot (he has a tendency to over-exert himself), and also because the beach was packed with dogs, and he is easily distracted. On a quiet day, he will come back every time, but work is ongoing.
Another man and his dog approached my husband, and said that it was ok to let the 2 dogs off together. My husband politely declined and said that our dog is still a puppy, and his recall isn't perfect when there are a lot of dogs about. The man then apparently went into a rant about how we have trained him poorly, as he should come back every time. Apparently his breed and age are no excuse, and it is all our fault. He said 'poor training' about 4 times. My husband was very polite with him, but what I really would like your opinions on, is whether he was out of order approaching people out of the blue and commenting on their training techniques (husband had never met the man before, and we know most of the beach-walkers, and have never encountered this before).
Am I wrong being very upset about this, when we work with our dog every day on his recall? I would never go and lecture someone else on their treatment of their dog, unless it was harmful. As an aside, the vet has said he is one of the happiest and well-socialised dogs he has seen in months. We let him off the lead with dogs he knows.
Another man and his dog approached my husband, and said that it was ok to let the 2 dogs off together. My husband politely declined and said that our dog is still a puppy, and his recall isn't perfect when there are a lot of dogs about. The man then apparently went into a rant about how we have trained him poorly, as he should come back every time. Apparently his breed and age are no excuse, and it is all our fault. He said 'poor training' about 4 times. My husband was very polite with him, but what I really would like your opinions on, is whether he was out of order approaching people out of the blue and commenting on their training techniques (husband had never met the man before, and we know most of the beach-walkers, and have never encountered this before).
Am I wrong being very upset about this, when we work with our dog every day on his recall? I would never go and lecture someone else on their treatment of their dog, unless it was harmful. As an aside, the vet has said he is one of the happiest and well-socialised dogs he has seen in months. We let him off the lead with dogs he knows.
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Comments
The only thing I have ever said to other owners was can you put it on a lead please. What a strange man to come and start ranting.
My partners dad was looking after our dog yesterday and took him for a walk. He can be unpredictable around larger dogs so we avoid them. A man had his large dog off the lead and it went towards my dog, the owner shouted out "its ok hes friendly" and my partners dad replied back "i would call him back because i cant guarentee this one would be so friendly". The man called his dog back and all was fine.
I just cant stand the people that assume that because their dog is friendly, all others will be!
Our dog is unpredictable because he was a rescue and we dont know what he went through. He seems ok with small dogs but hates large dogs coming up to him off the lead.
Mine is exactly the same its embarrassing sometimes. He's quite big for a boy staff an he always tries it with big dogs like mastiffs. The only time I can get him to stop is when I have a tennis ball in my hand which steals his attention. Loves people and kids just not to keen on some dogs.
As for this guy, we have just been feeling a bit disheartened, as we have come so far with him. I'm glad it's not just me who would be annoyed.
The guy is a fool and best ignored.
I know a few people with Beagles and I gather they are very challenging to train as are most scent hounds, after all they were bred to follow a scent and when they get a good scent they go deaf, much like my greyhounds who are sighthounds and can go deaf too when they see prey.
Good luck with the training, you sound like a responsible owner unlike the idiot man.
The sort of person a muzzle is designed for I think ;-)
That man had no right to criticise you .Ignore and walk away if you prefer not to be rude.
Personally I think I may have been rude back.
I am now on my 4th dog who is 8 months old and still she is a handful and sometimes she makes me feel like a novice dog owner.We persevere with the dog training.
You were entirely in the right and made a responsible decision.
Sadly, there are just a few people like this about, think they know everything!
Had it once with a 'friend' of mine. My dog is nervous around unfamiliar dogs, but we thought we'd go for a quiet lead walk together, see if they get used to each other.
She let her dog off and insisted i do the same, despite my telling her that no that would be a very bad idea, there may be a scrap or my dog may bolt!
Cue a long lecture about how she'll never learn to get on with other dogs if I don't let her... at which point her dog ran up to mine and attacked her >:(
Oh I have and do get from time to time, one person said in quite a stern voice 'I hope your going to pick that up', to which I retorted 'how exactly do you propose I do that then!':p. That's why I always call loudly ' good GIRL', 'come here GIRL' when she's at a distance. Hopefully that plus the baby pink lead and collar is obvious:kitty:. Or maybe not, seeing as someone once came up to me, looked down at the dog by my side wearing a bright hot pink lead and collar, and asked in all straight faced seriousness 'is he a boy?':D
How stupid can they get? even with a muzzle he can frighten other dogs and if the dog turned on him his eyes are very precious, he's had major surgery on them and has an artificial lens in one. And I don't want to let him be aggressive towards other dogs.
I will never understand some people!