Protocol Question When Running Into an Unleashed Dog

[Phoebe's Mom]

Four times in the last two days I have run into an unleashed dog with an owner trailing behind him and I never know what is the appropriate thing to do--do I stand still with Phoebe or do I continue along my merry way making no eye contact (my personal preference for a few reasons)? I have always thought that in moving along, I would give the owner the opportunity to focus on their dog and to limit the distraction so the dog with follow their command.  I must be doing somthing wrong though because three of the four people started to yell at me that I was walking away from the dog and not 'helping them."  I am frustrated because I do not want to seem unkind but my concern is one of safety for Phoebe first--I have no idea who these people are or how their dogs will react to Phoebe--and me second as I am not a fan of dogs I am unfamiliar with.  I was wondering if there is a prescribed way to handle this situation and how other doodle lovers handle themselves in similar situations. 

[Adina P]

Depending on how far away the dog is from me and my dog, how friendly it seems, and whatever else is going on I may do either.  I've walked away once only to decided to stop so the dog stops following me and running away from its owner.  But if the dog is far enough away and I think it won't follow I will keep walking.  Tough call.  I think about it a lot as there are frequent loose dogs near our house and in town. 

 

Once when Rosco was not yet done with his series of vaccinations as a pup (12-14 weeks?) I was walking him down our side walk in front of our house when a black labby type of dog started bounding toward us.  It scared the carp out of me because I didn't know if it was a nice dog or not.  I grabbed Rosco and his 30 lb self, rushed back to my lawn, and attempted to hold him up as high as possible afraid of the dog having a communicable disease (I was very afraid of parvo). I then plopped him on our raised porch and then attempted to climb up the wall myself.  Once I got Rosco safely inside, I realized this dog was totally sweet and I was SUPER tempted to keep him or adopt him after I turned him in.  I was still single and had only Rosco and thought about this dog for days!  Thankfully my head won over my initial infatuation as I was not ready for another dog!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Well, those are probably MY Dogs running up to you...LOL!  However... all kidding aside, I don't think it is your job to help them control their dog.  I would not entertain the being yelled at as I don't really like unfamiliar dogs either.  Are you walking near a park that you could avoid? 

Whenever we see a dog coming I try to leash mine up so they don't go running because I don't know how the other dog will react either...

 

Good Question!! Not an easy answer.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

OMD!!! I can't believe these idiots yelled at you as if their dogs were your responsibility! Whose fault is it their dogs are loose in the first place????

They're lucky it isn't me running into their unleashed dogs, because I'm the one yelling way before they get the chance when that happens to me. This has nothing to do with protocol or politeness...this has to do with irresponsibility, rudeness, and a dangerous situation for me and my dog.

If someone's dog starts heading for JD and me, I tell the owner as loudly as necessary that he's better get his dog away from mine. And then I do my best to go another way. Help them? Even if I were out walking by myself without Jack, I would be very hesitant to approach a strange dog who was running loose. With Jack, and he's at the disadvantage of being on leash, out of the question. I wouldn't care if you "seem unkind". Of course, Phoebe's safety comes first.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

okay Karen, thank you. I guess it was an easy answer:):)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I wasn't yelling at you, lol. I was yelling at those rude people who are yelling at Phoebe's mom!!!!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Waa Waa Waa... you made me cry!!  LOL!! I know you wouldn't dare tangle with me!!  But if you ever see Rosey and Bandit running toward you and JD please... be gentle...they are ferocious!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, doodles are another story, lol.

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

So that is the rule!! If it's a doodle you stop, if not just keep on truckin'!!  Oh Karen, what would I do without you?? {hugs}

[Adina P]

Before Natalie (when I could just up and leave my house at any moment I saw a loose dog outside;-)) I would hunt down all sorts of loose dogs and leashed them up.  Now, I almost always just call animal control.  I've even taken Rosco with me when I walked a neighbor girl around the neighborhood to help her find her dog.  I figured Rosco would attract another dog better than we could if it was not wanting to be 'captured' --- but I would only take Rosco with me if I knew the dog was not going to attack my dog.  Regardless of the responsibility of the owner (and I too get really MAD when the owner is right there and their dog is not under control) I feel bad for the dog running loose who is in danger of getting hit. 

 

But I guess, in all honesty, if one of my dogs got loose (and it CAN happen) I would really hope that a person walking by WOULD help. I understand if they were deathly afraid of dogs they would not want to...but I'd hope they'd be willing to stop and help.

[L.M.]

This is exactly how I feel....if it was one of my dogs getting loose by accident.   If I am wildly chasing my dog down yelling for help, I would also hope that someone would try to grab Seamus or Stella if they approached.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack actually did get loose once...the side gate was open and I didn't know it. And he did run into the street, and thank God, the minivan coming down the street saw him and stopped. And a man walking his small dog picked up his dog and kept going.

And it never for one minute occurred to me to be angry or yell at anyone for my own carelessness in not checking the gate. Or have expected that man with the 10 lb. toy dog to try to get ahold of the 85 lb. dog rushing at them, when he had no idea if his own dog or he himself might get bitten.

Of course we all hope someone would help if our dogs got loose. But that isn't always possible. And these people who yelled at Phoebe's mom are clearly out of line, any way you look at it.

[L.M.]

This is a great question and I'm curious myself to hear some answers.  If it's a small dog or one who appears friendly, I'm prone to scoop it up or grab it so it can't run away any further from its owner....although I know that reaction may one day endanger me or my own pups.  I have been in this situation a few times....With a big or barking dog, I tend to keep walking on like you do....My own pups are super friendly and curious about other dogs, so I know I have to be extremely careful about other people's unleashed pets, but when I don't know a dog it's not my responsibility to help it back to its owner.  My dogs are ALWAYS leashed in a public place and other owners should be responsible enough to do the same.  Then on the other hand, I always remember the time when Seamus got off his leash accidentally and a kind soul grabbed him and returned him to me.