Hey everyone,

I am so livid I need to rant to let off some steam!

Me and my mum have just come back from walking Dottie and Charlie up our local shops (I thought I'd try pavement walking the two together as a trial to see how it went)

We just start up our road and a friends puppy comes running up from behind us full pelt, Charlie likes her but still doesn't like the dogs rushing up to him regardless, then she runs over to Dottie, who is clearly uncomfortable, then back to Charlie, I'm looking around to see where the hell the owners are, said dog not leaded up at all.

Owner soon comes around the corner on her phone about 2 minutes later after Dottie has snapped and snarled at her. We try walking away but she follows, I also didn't want to leave her as we were next to the road and I didn't want her run over.

So said owner finally gets dog back and says "Sorry I didn't know you were round here with them"

What difference does that make?!

We quickly part ways. Then we get to the shops, dogs were okay, Dottie barked at a friend on his bike and Charlie followed suit, which for me showed, I can't pavement walk them together yet either if not they are going to copy each others bad habits. So that was the trial and error.

We then walk back home and cut through a part of the estate where we live and walk down this back alley of houses and out of no where silent as you like, this massive Staff, build like a brick house and a lot taller than a normal Staff, with a studded collar on, charges up along side us.

To say I soiled my pants is an understatement, we did not see or hear this dog AT ALL. He charges round and stops in front of us, hackles up, towering over Charlie, my mum was panicking like mad and I was trying to stay calm and walk on. But one dog went for the other (Charlie or other dog I do not know) and they started fighting, thank heavens I had, on his lead and picked him up.

I know they say don't pick up dogs when fighting, but I bricked myself and screamed too. I was so scared. I looked round for the owner, but he was no where to be seen. Poor Dottie was terrified as was my mum, I carried Charlie along the path into the opening and said dog followed us about, Charlie snarling and growling at him.

He then bolted off into the estate so me and mum had to change our route as I could see him running free from afar, so we quickly marched up the road and came back round in a big loop to avoid him.

As we are walking back down the main road, another Staff, big built, no lead or collar on starts walking towards us, Dottie and Charlie pull up on their leads and the owner starts saying "Here! Get here!" to which the dog ignores, we quickly walk down the road on our left to avoid said dog, but walk straight back into the area where the first Staff was!

I was LIVID!

The only reason I mention they're Staffs is because there are so many idiots on my estate, that get these dogs as the typical "I'm 'ard" dogs, they INSIST they don't have collars or leads on and let them run aloof through the estate.
I love ANY dog ANY breed and it's not the dogs I'm mad at (like some people get) its the stupid bleeping "owners" and I use that term loosely on them as to me an owner is someone who is responsible for their dogs at all times.

It seems it's not "cool" to have your dog under control on a lead and collar or to train them, which is so sad for the dogs as they end up getting a bad name and possibly killed by another dog or owner who see's red if their dog is attacked or run over. I've had to bring back a Staff who lives on my estate on the dog groomers spare lead as he nearly got killed in the busy car park near the salon, luckily I knew some people who lived in his block of flats who told him and met me half way.

All the owners of Staffs on this estate are young men who don't lead 'em up (or pick up their mess after, like they care...)

I had to leave Dottie with the dog groomer as she wouldn't walk along side said Staff and tried to attack him. When I met up with the owner he just said "Cheers, he's always escaping" and walked off.

Does he not care about this poor dog?! The sad thing is, he went and got another Staff too, who isn't good with other dogs, but will no doubt be allowed to run free too.
Why the hell should I have to leave my dog behind in a dog salon to run around after other peoples? (I wouldnt have left him, I couldnt see the poor dog run over) it just makes me SO mad!

Imagine if all these dogs meet and had a fight?

I feel so upset and can't even begin to imagine if it was just my mum on her own and this had happened, I have no doubt Charlie would have been seriously hurt, or worse...

It makes me so sad when you are trying your damn hardest to ensure your dogs are the best they can be and these...(insert rudest swear word here) can screw it all up in an instant.

Sorry for the mega rant, just so upset and angry

xxx

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Aren't they just awful!

There's one road near me that I won't walk up or down very often because it has numerous council estates leading off it as well as a large green area and a field at the other side so it's bound to be full of morons with their untrained, unrestrained dogs.

I know exactly how you feel - I was once in the park with Tiger and a bloke was ahead of us with a Rottie which was on lead. I didn't worry since it was on it's lead but I did speed up a little bit and headed out just in case. Next thing I know, I heard the thumping of paws running across the ground and the jingle of a collar, I looked behind and the man had let his dog off lead and it'd come running full pelt towards us. I was on my own with Tiger who also doesn't like being approached on lead (and often just doesn't like other dogs in general) so all I could do was try and block the dog from getting to him, who had it's hackles raised and was trying to get around me and sticking it's face in Tigers face. Tiger was going mental - barking, snarling and snapping at the Rottie and although it didn't seem as though it was out to cause damage, I was terrified all the same because I didn't know whether it was just going to turn on Tiger since he was kicking off at it.

The owner was just casually wandering along, minding his own business and swinging the lead in his hand, I called over to him about 3 times to recall his dog and he totally ignored me. In the end, I just screamed as loud as I possibly could - I just wanted someone to come and grab his bloody dog away! The bloke then proceeded to swear and me and drag his dog away, leaving me completely shook up and Tiger worked up into a real state.

I got home and just cried and cried, it was horrid and I am ashamed to say it took me a week nealry before I walked Tiger again - I was just so frightened by it. Ever since that happened, I now avoid the park unless I know it will be quiet. It's not the first time we have been approached by off lead dogs with ignorant owners in the park so now I just avoid it completely. Nobody with any brains seems to walk in there!

So I totally sympathise with you and I hope you aren't too shaken by it. I can also understand about not walking them both together - I can't walk my two together either, they just start each other barking! Me and my mum even tried meeting up half way once and they set each other off barking when they met each other and would not shut up. In the end we just had separate and walk different ways.

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

oh you did not have a good walk!

It annoys me so much that people allow any dog to just run free with no supervision!

And even more so that once again its staffies that look like the problem dog, even though as you say its not the dogs fault it is the usless bloody human it belongs to! but unfortunatley most people dont view it like this and the dog gets branded with the wrong reputation!!

people actually cross the road to avoid my staffy x and he is the softest thing on the planet he just loves everyone and likes to show it, i obviously keep him on short lead when passing people (he is being trained not to react to everyone we pass) but yet people still look at him with terror in their eyes and its all becaus eof idiots like you described!

hope your 2 are not to shaken by it all, and of course yourself and mum are all ok!

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Sorry you had such a rough walk today!

Irresponsible owners are my biggest bug bear. Why anyone would have their dog loose running, without a collar or tags, near roads is completely beyond me! Do these people not care if their dog gets run over, stolen or just never comes home again.

Zac got out of our garden once, luckily I saw him get through the gate so I went straight after him, he saw another dog and no amount of calling him was going to get him back, he didn't get into any trouble with the dog, thank god, but the lovely owner held him by his collar until I managed to catch up. I apologised profusely and thanked him soooo much for holding onto him. Since that happened we've re-doubled garden security to make sure it doesn't happen again. If this guys dog is ALWAYS escaping why is he not making any effort to change that! Grr!

On a positive note, it sounds like a similar estate to the one I live on, lots of 'ard lads with 'ard dogs, however I learn't a valuable lesson the other day when at the park, a group of lads entered with a large staffy, I recalled Zac and held him near me, one lad called the dog and he went straight to him, he then called over and asked would it be ok if he introduced his dog to mine as he wanted him to be well socialised with all dogs. To say I was shocked was an understatement! Definitely made me think how I judged these people by how they look, and I will try to be more openminded in future.

Sorry I got a bit rambly there, what I saying is don't let today's experiences stick with you, continue to be the wonderful owner you are to Charlie and Dottie and hopefully you're due some really pleasant experiences in the near future.

Big hugs! xx

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That sounds awful; I am lucky that we don't have loose dogs on the street or many dogs bought as status symbols around here as being on constant watch for them must really spoil your walks . Especially when you have reactive dogs that you are putting so much work into.

We do have our fair share of 'he only wants to play' (as their dog is taking chunks out or growling at others) or owners on their mobiles whilst their dogs cause havoc though....and they are bad enough .

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im not starting a row or anything,
but i had to point out i live on a council estate and strive to train my dog as well i can and also there are several other staffy types and other well trained dogs ont his estate. so please dont tar us all with the same brush just because of the area in which we live, these moran owners can be found in many a area.

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Maybe so but I know this area and I know what it can be like for 'well ard' dog owners and loose dogs, many a time i've had to turn round and go back the opposite way because i've seen loose dogs ahead..... one was even chasing a van up the middle of the road, barking and snapping at it, so I wasn't gonna risk walking my dog past it!

I knew there would be someone who picked that out of my reply, I live in an ex council house, I love staffies and believe me I KNOW there are bad owners in every area. I was just relating to the OP's post.....which by the way, you didn't pick on theirs did you?

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R.I.P Buster - Causing mischief over the bridge, sleep tight soldier

Ring the dog warden, the law states that they must have an I.D. tag when out in public and be under control. My best mate rescued his Staffie after the dog warden picked him up for the 3rd time is as many weeks.

Like you say the young lads who get these dogs just want a status dog that they can show off, but don't want the responsibility that comes with it. It's just not cool to be seen picking up dog poo! I've had the little chavs round here threaten to 'smash me up' for telling them pick up after their dog!

Laughing at them was all I could do as a guy a few doors down who is police dog handler, came out and made him pick it up with a bag that he gave him and then walked him to the end of the road to put it in the bin!

Most amusing!

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You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

Harvey the Labrador X German Shepherd 12.2.08
Bella the Alaskan Malamute 1.8.09

VERY true! These idiots, to put it nicely have NO brains.

That's nothing to be ashamed about. I feel like crying or screaming or something! I haven't really de-stressed since then and it has certainly put me off walking on the estate.

LOL! Sounds just like Dottie and Charlie! He even barks at his own reflection like "Hey! You! Big guy! You think you're pretty hard dont you?" I'm so glad I'm not the only one who has to do that, one starts it, the other finishes it!

xxx

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i dont know your particular estate and if thats the main dog experience people get when there i sypathise with you having to contend with that every day.
Maybe im lucky with the estate i live on as although there are a couple they have been moaned at by the rest of us so much they finally seem to keep the dogs on leads.
i totally understand why you wouldnt risk walking you dog past, and i would probably of done exactly the same tbh.

slightly off i was walking Rocky the other day (boxer x staffy) and a mid twenty something bloke started talking to me saying i need to get him a leather harness with spikes and a much thicker lead as the one i had was far to slim for such a dog!! i replied that he didnt need a chain the size of my arm to hold him and a spiked harness/collar does nothing for the dog and if that was the values he had about these breeds i hope he doesnt own one.

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