OK, as a dog owner I have something to say to other dog owners. If your dog comes up to mine to ‘play’ and I know my dog probably doesn’t want to play, then when I ask you to call your dog, your correct response is: “Sure. Here dog!”
If your dog starts humping mine then that’s an even bigger clue that “They’re only playing” and “Dogs do that” and “If my dog gets bitten by yours then that’s my dog’s problem” are all incorrect responses.
Our dogs are 14 now, nearly blind and arthritic. They’re fine with most dogs but aren’t always. If other dogs annoy them they may gang up on that dog and things can get a bit tense. I don’t want my dogs to end up injured, and actually I don’t want other dogs to end up injured either.
Rule of thumb: the correct response to “Please call your dog” is “Of course, Here dog!”
🐶
Miraz Jordan @toddgrotenhuis No actual harm done, except Sasha may have done too much running in chasing off the other dog (she's just started on arthritis meds and was very sprightly today). I’m peeved at the casual attitude of the other owners at the park though. No means No, even in the dog world. 🤨
Ana P Sobral Sorry about that!Maybe unrelated, but as a person who (unfortunately) has a real phobia of dogs since childhood, it drives me crazy that when I ask someone to call their dog when it comes running and jumping at me, they'll say "Oh, he's only playing! He's harmless!". Sure, but my heart is going to explode, so maybe you could just respect my fear and do what I ask?
Miraz Jordan @Portufraise Exactly! No-one needs to give a reason for asking someone else to control their animals (or children) and the folks in charge of the animals / children need to just respect that request. Sorry you have such a fear of dogs. That must be very hard with them being such popular pets.
Ana P Sobral Yes! I have a toddler, if he starts hitting another child, I won't say "Oh, it's just a child, he's just playing".I've tried overcoming this phobia but I get anxious just walking into a park and seeing dogs running in the distance 🤦🏼♀️ I even dreaded visiting my sister when she was married because they had a young dog who got too excited when he saw me and jumped around and on me. The ironic thing is that I find them cute, but can't get over the fear.
Miraz Jordan @Portufraise I have that kind of phobia about spiders. I can now be in proximity to a spider (but not relaxed) but don't voluntarily touch one. My partner, on the other hand, will pick up spiders to remove them for me. I’m the one who dealt with rats and mice though when the cats used to bring them in…
Jai Shukla @Portufraise omg! This is every weekend when I go running around our local lake. If I wanted to ”play” with a dog, I’d get my own thanks! 😁
Stephen completely with you on this! And as a dog owner too. I can’t ever quite get my head around how some owners take such personal offence if you ask them to call their dog off. Our old boy is half blind and I really don’t want him bitten. Or to bite another dog.
Stephen @Portufraise It drives me mad as well - and I really like dogs! But that doesn't mean I always want someone else's dog in my face. I think perhaps they are embarrassed that they don't really have that much control, so make the very poor excuse about their dog just being friendly.