Our dog was attacked by another dog while we were out walking, my dog was on the lead the other dog was loose, Our dog was not seriously hurt but the other dog got bitten as a result of my dog retaliating. My dog has had two other dogs run at him one was circling him and having random bites, my husband was shouting for the owner to call the dog but the dog did not respond, my husband was desparatley trying to stop our dog from getting in a serious fight for obvious reasons As a result we get very upset if we see a dog loose and the owners dont know you or your dog, people need to keep their dogs under control at all times and not wait for incidents like this to happen before they react. Im really sorry your dog got bitten, but if you had been on a flat peice of land and you saw these other two dogs would you still have let your friendly dog greet them, i think yes, because you assumed an aggressive dog would be on a lead, it is the responsibility of both dog owners to play their part unfortunately ther are alot of owners who dont think the rules apply to them, in this case i feel its half a dozen of one and six to the other. please dont think i am saying its your fault your dog got bit on this occasion, but we can't assume its ok to let our dogs run up to other loose dogs.

So are you advising that the pup in question and/or all dogs should be kept on a lead at all times?

No thats not what im saying, im saying you as an owner should be aware that not all dogs are friendly and you shold keep your dogs under control.

I do keep my dogs under control and I'm quite aware that not all dogs are friendly, I'm not going to keep my dogs on a lead around all other dogs though, they are dogs not prisoners. Unless there is a dog on a lead that I don't know there's no way I'm putting mine on a lead.

I'm sorry about your dog. I hope he's over his ordeal and heals quickly...

We walk our dogs in the middle of the countryside mostly and they have both always been off the lead. With the new boy, if we see dogs approaching, we recall and put him on the lead, only cos he has no proper social skills right now, i.e. lunges enthusiastically at other dogs. He's going to go to gun dog training next week to make other dogs less interesting..

BUT I couldn't possibly keep them on the lead all the time. They learn many of their skills from being off the lead and also become less defensive. I understand about some dogs not wanting to be approached etc and if I see a dog on the lead he is DEFINATELY put on the lead too as I don't think it's fair, even if I have to get off the horse and do it (sorry, that was with the old dog, not riding out with the youngster yet).

I also believe though, that if my dog gets attacked from approaching a difficult dog on a lead, then it's his fault. Part of the learning process... he'll be more careful next time. Same thing with the horses... I knew he'd get kicked before he learned respect, it just depended to what degree.. as it was it was just a warning air kick. He now avoids their back end and is more respectful (which is a wise move as he walked under my horse's belly on the first visit).

If DJ was on the lead all the time, I may as well just walk him round the streets. He certainly wouldn't burn off any of his energy..and he'd probably be a more problematic dog cos he's learned no socialisation skills from meeting other dogs out and about.

I'M not directing this at you or anyone else ,i am simply saying on this occasion both parties are at fault, my dog has been attacked as you know, while on the lead i would not let our dog off the lead as he is unpredictable so we never put any other dog at risk, but in the same breath other people need to keep their dogs under control as well. If your dogs are loose and enjoying there walk and are under control at all times then there isnt an issue is ther. I think you are taking my oppinion to heart it is not meant to offend anyone.

my dogs are on lead through the streets but they get off lead time when i go up the mountain with them and it does them the world of good but if i see another dog on or off lead I call mine and put them on the lead until the other dogs have gone, its a case of better safe than sorry

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But dogs like to play together and they need to socialise.

Both my pups are allowed off the lead, their recall is as good as Milo's, if not better, it's like a race to get back first when I call them so I feel they deserve to be allowed to roam, I'm not going to restrict them to a lead for no good reason or call them back everytime I see another dog, unless it is on a lead.

I really do think that keeping them away from other people and dogs would be harmful to their development. Puppies (and dogs) need to socialise with people and dogs regularly.

If I had an aggresive dog, which I am confident will never happen, I would muzzle it when it was in public for it's own safety, it's just common sense.

I think the size plus the non bouncing on their heads probably helps

I agree to a fashion, but my dog was attacked while on the lead while walking on a main street he as a result is very uncertain around other dogs, we are getting a behaviourist in to help us so that maybe he can enjoy being off the lead when we go for a walk, if we muzzled him which we have considered and he is again attacked by another dog how can he defend his self. I dont want any dog to get hurt while we are out with him but if a dog runs up to us and bites then what are we to do. We have a jack russel too who is excellent with other dogs, a little timid if they pester, but great otherwise, she always comes back when we call her, and yes it is important to let a dog greet and play with other dogs but it really depends where you live, we have a lot of Di*k heads round here who have large agressive breeds who have had no training at all and they let their dogs off lead. We are getting to the stage where we feel we can't walk our dogs safely anymore but of course we dont not take them out, we are just more aware than may be you have to be. Im not saying you are not aware just maybe people where you live are a little bit more responsible.