Why not? If they are on a lead and under control why should they not have the freedom to walk where they like?
Most so called aggressive dogs are actually fearful. Muzzling them will often exacerbate their fears and anxiety.

Off lead dogs should not under any circumstance be running up to on lead dogs. Allowing them to do so is irresponsible and down right rude. Not to mention indicative of lack of control and training.

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

Couldnt disagree with you more.... it is normal and natural behaviour for dogs to greet each other, most dogs sense when a dog is not freindly and back off...
What is a small child runs upto an aggressive dog, fearful aggressive or not, a bite is still a bite. I find that more rude than a freindly dog running up to my dog to say hello!!!!!!!
My dog was actually attacked, by a dog that was not on his lead. If your dog is agressive mussel them!!

Just to go off topic. I was in one of my usual parks last week next to a castle. Children were filing out from some sort of school trip and being herded onto one side of the main green. We were happily playing fetch on the other.

All of a sudden, without warning the children started running straight towards us. Teacher must have decided an energy draining race was in order. They could all clearly see me and the dog, it wasn't a huge green but went ahead anyway. Luckily a well timed and aimed tennis ball sent him out of the way with me running behind so I never had to find out what would happen if he saw them getting too close.

I wanted to have words with the teacher about that because very few owners know what their dog will do in that situation let alone strange teachers.

Yes it normal for dog to greet eachother, but you dont just let then run around willy nilly, approaching all and sundry. You have the common decency to ask the owner if its ok to let them meet. Especially if a dog is on lead like the one in the OP.

An aggressive dog shouldnt be offlead, in that situation the owner is being just as irresponsible as those with out of control off lead "friendly" dogs.

What the hell is a child doing running up to a dog? Parents should control their children, just as much as owners should control their dogs.

If owners of off lead dogs had them under control and prevented them from running up to on lead dogs (who tend to be far more defensive as its a confrontational act, not to mention they know they cant get away) then there wouldnt be any problem would there?

If those with possibly aggressive dogs have the sense to keep their dogs on a lead, why cant other people be respectful enough to have control over their dogs?

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

What the hell is a child doing running up to a dog? Parents should control their children, just as much as owners should control their dogs.

What? you are joking?
Yes children should be taught to ask if they can pet a dog first...but children are children, and yound ones are unpredicatable and do not see danger...that is normal for children, and the child should not be at risk. You can not blame the child.

I maintain, if you have an animal that is 'known' to be agressive then it is your responsiblty to keep public and other animals safe. So if you do go to areas where there are children and dogs mussel them, if not keep away.

What about agressive dogs that are on a lead, and you walk past and the launch at you? I have had that happen.

I will always say the buck stops with the agressive dog/owner....why should other dogs/owners/be penalised.

Seriously???? You must live in a different doggie social world than me cos the majority of dogs who are not controlled properly by their owners do not seem to understand the quiet obvious signals my bitch sends out. Maybe her snarling and showing her teeth are not quiet the right communication methods dogs understand anymore??? And yes she is muzzled when on and off lead if I'm walking on public land but at what point does my responsiblity end and yours start? Is it when your dog is approaching my dog? Is it when my dog is sitting on command and watching me while yours circles her? Or is it when she lunges (thus undoing countless hours of training) because YOUR bloody dog doesn't have recall?

My dog is not the problem while she is on lead under my control and responding perfectly to my commands. She shouldn't have to muzzled because I have control of her but I do it to protect myself from idiots who carelessly allow their badly behaved unsocialised dogs approach her.

Although must say I love it when numpties who allow their dogs to approach my on lead bitch get the shock of their lives when the rest of my off lead pack proceed to show their unsocialised mutt some manners. They soon start to bleat and attempt recall when they think Fido is going to be shown exactly how to behave by a secure, well mannered and socially aware pack of dogs.

Im not blaming the child, im blaming the parents.

Dogs are unpredictable and under no circumstances should a child be allowed near a strange dog without permission.

Its the complete complacency of parents that get children mauled.
And by keeping a dog on the lead its under control.
An off lead dog should not be running up to an on lead dog.
If a dog is truly that aggressive then it should be muzzled. But in this case, the dog doesnt appear to be human aggressive, so there is no justification for muzzling it. Just as there is no justification for other people to have their out of control dogs running up to it.
Why should responsible dog owners who keep their potentially problematic dogs be penalised because other ignorant, irresponsible allow their dogs to run riot? On or off the lead a dog should be under control and have near perfect recall.
The buck stops with the person who has no control.

I dont allow my dogs to run up to other dogs, i dont allow them to run up to people they dont know. Its called being a responsible dog owner and maintaining control.

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

I disagree LOL - sorry. Forgive me, i really am trying

I do see your piont, and no of course other dogs should be kept under control, and yes in a perfect world all little children would be controlled etc... but it is not always the case. And why should the innocent dog / child get a bite.
Also, if there is a park where most dogs are not on a lead, and run around, why take her there?
I have owned a agressive fearful dog.
Sorry, but if i, my dog, my child gets attacked, it is down to the owner/biter not the bitee.

Not in the eyes of the law.

If you allow your dog (i shall leave children out of this as i honestly cant see why parents would allow such god awful behaviour. You dont let your kid run across a busy road, so why let it run up to a strange dog? I hate it when kids do this and a fair few parents have had a mouthful from me because of this) to run up to an on lead dog and it gets bitten it would be YOUR fault for not having control.

And no this isnt a prefect world, which is why as dog owners we need to be responsible, maintain control and have a bit of respect for other people who are abiding by the law, and doing whats best for their dogs.

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Knacker Lacquer - Adds Luster To Your Cluster

I think there is far too much generalization here in response to what I thought was a quite specific original post. Although there have been some very valid points they are all based on the fact that you understand your dogs and are aware of what their reaction will be to any given situation.

My complaint was with an owner who did not have this understanding and so was in no position to go around telling other people, regardless of their age, what to do.