This is inspired by a comment on Captain Awkward from someone who didn't care for dogs, but who assumed that dog owners LIKE jumpy dogs and think jumpy dogs are great, and that
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I am not just talking about visiting friends. I am talking about living in a world that has dogs in it, which as far as I know, consists of this world in its entirety.
There's a bit of a process problem there, though, isn't there? I mean, this is specifically talking about dog owners who are training their dogs to behave. I think we can all agree that dog owners who don't bother are Doing It Wrong.
But, though you can and should train in controlled circumstances; if what you want is your dog to behave around strangers, at some point that's going to involve letting the dog be around strangers. And it's unrealistic to say that a dog should be perfectly behaved around strangers before the first time it ever encounters any. Dogs don't all learn that way any more than people do.
Fortunately, I rarely have had a dog actually jump on me. Unfortunately, I very frequently pass strange dogs on the trail or sidewalk who are off leash (or on a very long leash) who come up to sniff me (often directly in my path). Mostly I just do my best "I don't want to touch you" body language by pulling to the edge of the path and keep walking or running, and the moment passes.
It drives me bonkers when people let their dogs off-leash around the city or the parks. I know exactly one dog who stays glued to his owner and bothers no one when he's off-leash; it's just not OK to let a dog roam like that.
I run in Frick so I see a frick-ton of dogs off leash, and several of them are actually decently-behaved and don't bother other people, but I don't think it's the majority so I'm always on guard. But it's Frick and trying to change general behavior there without making a huge huge stink at the top of the chain would be an exercise in futility and anger, i think.
I think I actually am more nervous around the dogs-on-retractable-leashes than off leash, because a) leashed dogs more anxious aiee and b) stupid dog owners(1) tend to think "dog on leash!" means completely in control! while "dog off leash" owners are at least vaguely aware that they have to be able to give their dog commands sometimes, except retractable leashes basically mean dog does whatever it damn well pleases including clotheslining runners grumph.
(1) [not you, btw. I differentiate between stupid dog-owners and responsible dog-owners and I've seen enough of your behavior around dogs and children to know which category you guys are in.]
Do not get me started on how dangerous and irresponsible retractable leashes are. I can go all day. Short form: super-dangerous to all the humans involved, including the owner, and super-dangerous for the dog. Anyone who has a dog who uses one of these needs a smack upside the head and a lecture.
My approach when a dog jumps at/on me or my children is to flash a dirty look at the owner and try to make obvious that I don't appreciate the behavior. I'm not inclined to pet any animal except those I have specific permission to. The main reason my children are generally terrified of dogs (oldest is not as much anymore) is because of uncontrolled unleashed dogs, which are common in our local park.
Dirty looks at the owner are way more appropriate than saying "it's OK", in my book! It really is safer to combine that with the cold shoulder/turn away if you can, which I know is super-hard for scared kids. (It's super-hard for MY kids, and they aren't scared of dogs at all.) A lot of other responses, unfortunately, excite the dog more and that can be so frightening.
Personally I think that even in areas where off-leash is allowed, it is antisocial and irresponsible of owners who don't have excellent verbal (or other) command of their animals to let them off-leash. Dogs that jump on people are certainly not appropriate to have off-leash in most situations.
Anyway if you're in town sometime and want to practice with dogs at all, lmk & you guys can come practice with Bella. (Not Snufkin; she is WAY too much an excitable puppy still, but Bella is like. Zen dog.) Or I can lock both dogs up and you can come over anyway.
Our park has signs that specifically say to keep dogs leashed, so it kills me when people disobey it. Also, these owners frequently give me the line "he's really friendly" or "he's never like this" when their dog has just invaded my or my child's personal space. My kids don't need to be jumped on to be really scared of something twice their size. My looks of disgust are rarely considered. I mean, they are already disregarding the rules. *sigh*
And yes, we need to work on a Pittsburgh visit... :)
That kind of leash-disregard is why I avoid much of Frick Park. For whatever reason, there are SO MANY off-leash dogs there with no manners, and I never believe anyone when they say "he's never like this". YES HE IS.
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But, though you can and should train in controlled circumstances; if what you want is your dog to behave around strangers, at some point that's going to involve letting the dog be around strangers. And it's unrealistic to say that a dog should be perfectly behaved around strangers before the first time it ever encounters any. Dogs don't all learn that way any more than people do.
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Fortunately, I rarely have had a dog actually jump on me. Unfortunately, I very frequently pass strange dogs on the trail or sidewalk who are off leash (or on a very long leash) who come up to sniff me (often directly in my path). Mostly I just do my best "I don't want to touch you" body language by pulling to the edge of the path and keep walking or running, and the moment passes.
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I think I actually am more nervous around the dogs-on-retractable-leashes than off leash, because a) leashed dogs more anxious aiee and b) stupid dog owners(1) tend to think "dog on leash!" means completely in control! while "dog off leash" owners are at least vaguely aware that they have to be able to give their dog commands sometimes, except retractable leashes basically mean dog does whatever it damn well pleases including clotheslining runners grumph.
(1) [not you, btw. I differentiate between stupid dog-owners and responsible dog-owners and I've seen enough of your behavior around dogs and children to know which category you guys are in.]
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If only there was a way to stop the completely freakin' dangerous way that most people use them...
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The main reason my children are generally terrified of dogs (oldest is not as much anymore) is because of uncontrolled unleashed dogs, which are common in our local park.
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Personally I think that even in areas where off-leash is allowed, it is antisocial and irresponsible of owners who don't have excellent verbal (or other) command of their animals to let them off-leash. Dogs that jump on people are certainly not appropriate to have off-leash in most situations.
Anyway if you're in town sometime and want to practice with dogs at all, lmk & you guys can come practice with Bella. (Not Snufkin; she is WAY too much an excitable puppy still, but Bella is like. Zen dog.) Or I can lock both dogs up and you can come over anyway.
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And yes, we need to work on a Pittsburgh visit... :)
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