I wouldn't say, "My dog isn't friendly".
Some people don't get it.

I tell people my dog bites. (She never has. She ignores other dogs, and does the aloof glance at people unless I tell her to "Watch"). I just got tired of trying to explain to folks that I don't allow my dog to meet other dogs, and I don't let strangers to pet my dog.
I finally just started telling them that my dog might bite.

I hate doing it, when Danke is such a good dog, and such a good example of solid GSD temperment, but if it comes down to my dog appearing bad in the eyes of others, or my dog actually being made "bad" because of other people and their dogs messing with her... I'll choose looks over substance.

About a month ago I was walking my 2 older shepherds down a street and seen a boxer behind a fence, kept walking and a few seconds later there he was right behind us, must have jumped the fence. It took everything I had to keep my dogs from attacking the boxer, he was not acting aggressive but would not leave us alone. I yelled and kicked my foot out but he just stayed there. I just started walking and eventually by the end of the block he turned around and went home. I was always worried about an aggressive loose dog coming up to us but the non-aggressive dog was just as bad since my dogs reacted. I was so tired from trying to keep my dogs off of him-it was terrible. Anyway, it is frustrating, since the other day I was driving and seen the same boxer loose following a guy walking his rott and causing the same problems. I'm wondering if the owner thinks its ok for him to get out since hes "friendly", If I see him out again I think I'll call animal control and since then I've been going to a baseball field thats fenced in instead of walking. Just needed to vent and I know how the OP is feeling and I dont think I would be nice about it if someone had their dog off leash and let it run up to mine

I wanted to add: I was so mad when I got home I wanted to go back to the house and let the lady know what happened and that her dog was out but then I wasnt sure because the dog wasnt acting aggressive (mine actually were) so i wasnt sure what I would have said??

jessica, wow.

you guys are right. it really is that i feel so guilty about being aggressive myself towards a dog that is not behaving aggressively - i've taken out dogs that i didn't think had good intentions, and no problem, but it's clearly a hurdle i have to get over. and kathy, yeah, i was like 'what do you say to someone who's dog isn't being 'bad' but isn't being appropriate (in my eyes) either?'

alyssa, probably 'my dog bites' is better than 'not friendly'. i'm also going to try to keep teagan in clear view of any owners :rolls eyes: honestly, i was worried about something happening to neb, b/c he has such a nice even temperament and is confident, and i don't want a strange dog to mess that up.

and while i think it's really important to socialize teagan, i really - she cannot attack again. it's horrible for the other dog, their owner, me - yeah, it's fun for her, but frankly i can't afford for her to attack other dogs, $1300 was enough of a surprise once, what would happen if her muzzle came off? it's a fighting muzzle and pretty solid but what if? and what if it was an uncontrolled dog that provoked it and approached her? i was really proud of how she behaved monday, but it honestly freaked me out.

and b/c she already causes reactions from people being a muzzled GSD and fairly confident making eye contact, i think i try to avoid making her seem bad in other people's eyes, but 'my dog bites' would be very effective. honestly, once that woman saw teagan - she had her dog on lead and gone FAST - maybe people just don't take saying 'she's not friendly' seriously enough, it probably covers too wide a spectrum of reactions.

i'm going to have to be a lot more 'no dog, no matter what, enters X radius' without me really going at it.

"My dog is in training. No interaction."

The end.

No prolonged discussion; no opportunity for the owner to explain his dog's actions.

And an uncontrolled dog in a place where they are required to be on leash -- that warrants a call to AC.

Luckily, I haven't been in this situation (it's hard enough to keep owners with dogs on leash away from me and my dog- look straight ahead... keep walking ) but it seems to me kicking/ pushing etc a strange dog with your leg is inviting a bite in calf, foot etc - by both your dog and the strange dog- if something goes bad.

Obviously the OP didn't have a stick or some other deterrent with her this time, but I thought a possible bite risk was worth noting for people reading. Reminds me that I should go out and buy a can of pepper spray...

mike, that's very true. i admit i've kicked incoming unfriendly dogs several times and never had an issue, but it could occur. pepper spray isn't legal up here and i'm sure the cops would be curious if i carried something like bear spray IN toronto.

connie, you're absolutely right. this was one of the few times i've gone into the park, and it was on thanksgiving monday, b/c normally i haven't had issues there.

i don't tend to take teagan in places where she will be in close quarters with other dogs - well, not at all, actually - i think i just had this the whole weekend, on a part of the bruce trail that is marked 'dogs must be leashed' all over the place and i normally don't have issues in that section of trail with luc, and then when i was out w/teagan and neb. it was just constant this weekend, but maybe it was the thanksgiving thing, but it brought it up for me, b/c it happened so often, and in places where i normally don't expect to have an issue.

i did do exactly as described - sat teagan behind me, and stayed between her and the other dog, who was more interested in neb, though my bf who was walking neb stayed between neb and the strange dog. it just wouldn't GO AWAY!

i don't think leash laws are strictly enforced anywhere in toronto, unless there is an incident. the problem here was i can't really call animal control to report a lady with a mutt off-leash and not controlled at the park - i don't know who the lady was, where they live, etc.

 Quote: Mike Hawker

Luckily, I haven't been in this situation (it's hard enough to keep owners with dogs on leash away from me and my dog- look straight ahead... keep walking ) but it seems to me kicking/ pushing etc a strange dog with your leg is inviting a bite in calf, foot etc - by both your dog and the strange dog- if something goes bad.

Obviously the OP didn't have a stick or some other deterrent with her this time, but I thought a possible bite risk was worth noting for people reading. Reminds me that I should go out and buy a can of pepper spray...

That's why I mentioned the ASP.
If it's legal in your jurisdiction, I highly recommend it.
If not, a cane, umbrella or walking stick works well too.

Jennifer is right - a call to AC can't always be done. In my city, animal control is only available 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday. How many irresponsible owners walk their dogs only during business hours?

I have constant problems with off leash dogs, since my property backs onto a city park. I have complained to the city numerous times as well as animal control. The situation has not improved. It's basically every dog for himself. The city would not even put a sign up saying dogs have to be on leash (even though it is the law) grrrrr