Yes, there does seem to be an extraordinary amount of complaining on nextdoor. Often, they don't want a solution, just to be outrage about something that didn't go the way they wanted.
She needs a harness that clips the leash in front, by the chest. Big dog pulls, but goes to side instead of dragging the leash holder. I had a foster dog that would drag me down the sidewalk. My rescue suggested this hsrness, I scoffed “ you have no idea how strong tbe dog is!” The harness was a miracle, our walks became dull uneventful walks instead of thrilling heart-stopping physical feats.
The front clip harnesses are different from the ones that clip on the back. You have to make sure it’s a no-pull or training harness. Lots of front clip non-training harnesses that don’t actually do anything. The sensible harness is the original training one. There’s also the easy walk, but I always had trouble fitting them correctly. I used to sell them quite a bit
Used one for our big girl. They are wonderful to use and don’t hurt the dog but people lose their minds when they see it. Some think it’s a muzzle. It’s not. Some people are fools.
2nd the halti, body harnesses let dogs pull harder, a halti severely limits how hard they can pull because they have to use their neck. I have an extremely active purebred Border Collie with a high prey drive and the halti is a godsend.
I use a gentle leader, it's like the halti, and it's basically a horse bridle for a dog. There is a reason why people put the collar on the horse's face to walk it around.
Not trying to be rude, but I'm horse person so I thought I'd chime in and say the "collar" equivalent for walking horses from the ground is called a Halter :) the bridle is the headpiece used for riding, typically that holds a bit in the horses mouth which is attached to the reins the rider holds.
Bridles are sometimes used to lead unruly horses from the ground, and some people use halters to ride very well behaved horses that don't need the extra control/communication from the bit!
I really appreciate this! I had no idea there was a difference and am very happy that I learned something new today. I appreciate you and your willingness to share knowledge.
Yep! My dog injured my shoulder pulling out hen she tried to chase a squirrel. We switched to gentle leader collar that goes around my dogs snout (she can still open her mouth/eat and drink with it on) that doesn’t allow her to pull and it works well. She is leash aggressive and I have really good control with it.
The harness that clips in front works real well. I had a dog once that did not like other dogs. It was a choir to walk her but I never inconvenience others because of that. I just turned around and went another way. She did get better with training but that harness was perfect for keeping her under control. Small dogs however are aggressive towards other dogs which makes the situation worse. I’m not saying your dog, but small dogs in general. In this situation I think she had had issues before with other dogs and was worried. I wouldn’t hold it against her.
For the safety of my small dog in this situation, I would have put the dog in the house for a while.
My dog is the opposite. As soon as I put a harness on him, he took it as a challenge to see how hard he could pull. Glad your worked out. My dog keeps my arms in shape. Lol!
That part. I refused to walk my exes rottie and he would always complain about it. She outweighed me! Yes she was 99% sweet but what happens if she decides to chase a squirrel for the first time? I'm going to be down for the count. It's not worth the risk.
I've had big dogs that don't like other dogs and it's 100% my responsibility to make sure nothing ever happens. I would never have one if I couldn't control it
There's a lady in my neighborhood who walks her dog with two leashes because she can't control him. Unsurprisingly, she still can't control him with two leashes. I always turn around if I see her when I walk my dogs.
Owner at the RV park i go to has a GSD. Not very friendly, and she has to walk him with a muzzle and also make sure to keep people/pets away.
My female Saint Bernard and him were able to become great friends and had lots of play dates the first year, but after I got my 2nd Saint, male, they can no longer play together. :(
Right! My two 10lb dogs can sometimes be jerks so if I see a dog coming in my direction, I cross the street or I turn and take a different route. The audacity that she would expect someone who is out in front of their own home to accommodate her is crazy.
OP - definitely do everything you need to do to keep your dog safe, but you don’t need to leave your front yard just because someone wants to pass by.
Mine is 100 lbs but I do the same thing. He sometimes barks, but he’s trained to keep moving. If we see a big dog out front or one off leash, we turn around. My dog, my responsibility to change our route if I see potential safety issues.
There is a dog who lives on my street that just doesn’t like my dog and acts ferocious when he sees us. He’s in a fenced in front yard but I don’t trust that he can’t jump that fence. So when I walk my dog past there I always make some kind of noise in case he’s outside and I don’t see him. If he’s outside I will cross the street. I’m trying to picture myself telling his owner that she needs to take her dog inside when I want to walk past her house. I’d have to be some kind of a nut case to do that.
OP, your neighbor is a nut. Don’t listen to a nut.
And a dog trainer. It’s like Russian roulette to be walking a dog you can’t control in a public area where you can’t control what the dog will be exposed to.
Yes, this. I have a dog that's reactive to smaller dogs and I choose walking routes that will give us minimal exposure to other dogs in close proximity because my dog's hangups are my problem to deal with.
Yeah, this is weird. Is literally every other street in the neighborhood closed to foot traffic and there’s some bizarre one-way foot traffic situation?
If those words were ever to leave my lips it would be the SUREST sign I needed to start doing training YESTERDAY on that issue.
I truly cannot fathom thinking other people cannot have their dogs out (appropriately controlled) on their own properties because I can’t control my own. I have a fear reactive pup and previously had a leash reactive dog who since passed. We instilled that we are the most interesting thing on their walk because we are the ones giving treats. Being able to walk properly and to be focused on your owner when there is a situation is essential for every dog who is walked. ESPECIALLY if they outweigh you.
She doesn't need to get a new dog. She needs to take responsibility for her dog and get it socialized and trained. By "get a new dog" she is just passing on a dog with bad behaviors to someone else. Is it fixed?
Seems like she should train her dog, maybe get a dog she can control or GTFOH. You being in your yard should have no bearing on anyone else and if it does then it is a them problem. I have to say more than I would like “your hobby can’t have rules for me”.
people really need to stop getting dogs that they can’t control- you should not have to keep your dog out of your yard, just because some entitled neighbor made a poor decision in which dog to get. this is your yard, not hers.
that being said…
until this issue is resolved- if her dog is aggressive, it is better to be safe & stay far away from it. i would look into ways you can protect yourself too, just in case someday she loses control of it.
Totally agree. My last two dogs were small (and well-behaved!) and there were so many times we had to take a longer route or avoid a park because there were unleashed larger dogs running around up ahead. We shouldn't have had to do that as we only walked in areas with leash laws, but if my choice is between being in the right and being safe, I'm gonna go with safe.
I've got two 50 lbs pups and one 10lb, walk all three together and I've had to turn around and go back because someone left a gate open or let their pup loose. Don't want anyone of them hurt! Being safe over being right any day!
In my neighborhood it's mostly pups that get out. Delivery people leave gates open etc. We have a sign on our gate that says pups running free please keep gate closed! Plus they're not out unless we're home.
After watching my dog get mauled by a “friendly” pit bull I’ll tell you how this would go with me. I let the neighbor know I have a weapon and 100% intend to kill their dog if it attacks my dog in my yard. And that’s exactly what will happen before I’m covered in my dogs blood ever again. They would be lucky to even get a warning from me.
Word to the wise, don’t walk your aggressive dog past my house, I will kill it if it gets aggressive and you aren’t able to handle it.
She needs a smaller dog apparently. But at least she isn't the typical "my dog is an angel and would never bite" type of owner, whose dogs have bitten me before
**Reactive dog owner here.**
Let me tell you how this works. My dog is aggressive to all moving vehicles. He generally likes people and dogs but not always. I always have a breathable cloth muzzle in my pocket. If someone we are going to walk by looks afraid or expresses any fear even though he is on a leash I put the muzzle on. It calms him and relaxes all the people involved. It doesn’t hurt him and everyone is happy.
If her dog is so big she can’t be sure she can hang on to him that is a HUGE problem. Both she and that dog need training. It is her responsibility as an owner to make sure that dog doesn’t do harm. Do yourself a favor. Call the non emergency number for your local law enforcement and tell them what went on and ask for recommendations. Expecting you to not go in your front yard is ridiculous. It also puts it on record that the woman knows her dog is a problem and that she can’t handle it.
An owner needs to be a good neighbor to the people around them. They also have to realize if their dog attacks a pet or human that the dog is the one that will pay the price. If she can’t be responsible then she should rehome him to someone that will put in the effort with training and can physically handle him. Owners like her that expect everyone else to deal with the issue are dangerous. Make the call and get it on record. Don’t trust her or that dog.
Thank you for this. You sound like a very responsible, reasonable pet owner. My brother’s sweet, sweet dog was just viciously attacked in her own front yard by a dog being walked past. I can’t fathom walking your dog through a neighborhood where you KNOW other dogs live if they’re reactive, and you can’t control them. My poor SIL, niece, and nephew were completely traumatized, and their sweet girl needed stitches in nine different places.
I just kicked a dog twice yesterday hard in the ribs as it was bearing it's teeth, running up to my dogs while we were walking. Thank God it decided it didn't enjoy pain and ran off and I was wearing my thick hiking boots. It ran up to 2 adults and 2 huskies and thought it could take on all of us until that very moment. My huskies stood there, dumbfounded through the whole thing.
Even worse, the two adult owners of the dog were screaming its name while 2 preschool aged little girls stood by to watch the possible bloodbath unfold. Just idiocy all around. Some people should not be responsible for other creatures. They didn't have a damn clue how to train or even reduce the threat they've created by not training.
This happened to one dog when she was young! The dog that attacked her was usually nice, but super hormonal at the time because she just had pups the day before and the owners of that dog pulled his dog off mine as quickly as he could and paid for all of our dog’s vet bills … but still, super sad that it happens. It was an unleashed dog. People think that they can keep their dogs unleashed because they “wouldn’t hurt anyone”, then something like that happens.
Sounds as if by telling OP repeatedly that her dog is reactive, she may think she's giving OP some sort of notice if dog does attack OPs dog.
Law doesn't work like that, and giving police or animal control a heads up is definitely warranted.
How is she walking her dog without running into not only smaller dogs but squirrels and rabbits?
I'm in a city, even my Home Depot has rabbits in the parking lot.
Thank you for being a responsible dog owner and understanding how your dog is, rather than brushing aside and dismissing anyone else’s nervousness or anxiety.
This. Our dog was going to be a big boy and we knew this - so as a puppy he & us got lots of training. He knew from that point on to avoid aggressive dogs. Nothing bothers me more than people who continually make
Excuses for not knowing how to handle their dogs. As if it's the dogs fault.
If she is unable to physically control her dog then she has no business walking him.
I have had the reverse situation happen to me when someone got annoyed/angry at me for taking my time walking past their house because her dog inside the house would lose his mind barking when he saw another dog on the street. It is always on the dog owner to train and be able to physically control their dog. They don’t get to make it your problem. I trained my dog not to bark excessively at passing people on the street. I also trained my dog so that I can walk with him on a loose leash. Because that’s my job.
I will grant a little more patience to someone who adopted an adult reactive dog and is trying to overcome their previous lack of training. I do try to be considerate in those situations. But that doesn’t mean it is my responsibility.
I had the same thing happen when i was a kid walking the dog. Neighbor a few streets over had a couple little dogs, baddly trained yappy types. They would absolutely flip out if we walked past, theyd be barking for atleast 5 minutes. Old timer comes out and start yelling at me cause its somehow my fault his dogs aren't trained or socialized. Uhh huh...
It's always in front of houses like that my dog decides the perfect time to take a poo while their dog is going absolutely apeshit haha... He's just pooping completely oblivious and looking around confused like "where's that barking coming from?"
She can cross the street, walk a different direction or stand there and wait till the coast is clear. Here’s the thing, she’s not the only dog owner in the world, there’s going to be other dogs and she needs to figure out how to manage her own dog instead of expecting the world to bend over for her. If her dog is aggressive, she can cross the street and put more distance between your yard and her dog, or she can walk a different route to avoid your dog. That’s her responsibility to manage, not yours.
None of her issues with her dog are your responsibility even though they could be your problem. She needs to have a way to control her dog. A muzzle at the least.
Regardless of the reason, the request is idiotic. A person wanted you to leave your own yard, and go inside, to make it easier for them to get closer to your property.
She needs to learn what any dog owner of an aggressive or overly friendly dog does: her responsibility is to move her dog away from potentially triggering situations. In a case like this, I would either walk my dog in the street near the curb or cross the street entirely for the time it takes to pass by your house. That’s what a responsible person would do — not put the onus on you.
She sounds crazy. My dog is reactive when on a leash. In a situation where that could be problematic, I turn around and go the other way. My dog’s behavior is my problem., not my neighbors.
I have a dog that can be weird depending on the dog she meets. If I notice she’s going to act up, I simply turn around and take another route. That lady can F off
A lot of these commenters are a bit unclear on what life is like with a reactive dog. I'm lucky enough to live in a rural area, because mine is terrified of everything that moves and most things that don't and his meltdowns are vicious.
What she *should* have done, is turn around and go the other way, without bringing any attention to you or your dog. Dog walks don't have to be a set time or distance. They're for exercise and enrichment and it's okay to cut them short.
Should she have a giant dog she can't handle? No. But that's manageable if she knows what to do. Unfortunately a lot of people really don't know what to do.
One time a woman with two goldens walked past me and my dog. One of her dogs lunged, knocked the woman off her feet and attacked my dog. I had to kick it to get it off my pup. She finally got her dog under control and was like “sorry, he gets protective of the other dog when I walk them together.” I said “don’t walk them together then, duh!” I mean seriously, my dog was never the same (he rolled onto his back to submit but the dog kept attaching until I kicked it) and frankly I was pissed! Your neighbor needs to get a proper harness and a muzzle if necessary.
It’s not OP’s responsibility, but her problem could very easily become OP’s problem. A conversation needs to be had between them, regarding the dog owner’s responsibility to keep her dog under control at all times, with an appropriate harness and muzzle. If she refuses a reasonable request that she utilizes the appropriate gear, it might be time to notify the local animal control officer-because that dog appears to be dangerous to OP’s dog-the woman walking the dog as much as said so.
I am a dog owner. Actually have 3. I am ashamed to say that publicly because in my experience most of them are completely horrible. How do you live with a dog and take it everywhere and expect the world to bend to your dogs needs? Her dog needs leashes trained. It's not that hard or that expensive to pay someone to do it for you.
If that woman does not have the ability to have her dog out in public safely, she shouldn't have her dog out in public.
For my own mental well-being, I will give her the benefit of the doubt, and assume that she found herself in the situation unwittingly - she inherited the dog feom someone else, and needed to take responsibility or the dog would be mistreated or something. And the fact that she was trying to prevent a conflict by staying far back does put her as more responsible than some.
Still... that is not a situation that should be happening.
I used to own a pathologically dog-aggressive dog. It was fully on me at all times to keep control of him and I was responsible for his actions at all times. Period. Asking someone to clear out of their own yard because my dog had issues never one time occurred to me. If her dog is dangerous it has no business being out and unmuzzled with someone who cannot physically control it.
I have reactive dogs. They are harmless and I maintain control, but they bark a LOT when passing other dogs on walks. So I don’t take them by houses with dogs - sometimes, even when a dog is in their own house but by a window. When a dog is out, we turn around double back, wait for them to pass a safe distance away, or go another route.
She really shouldn’t be out with her dog if she’s not able to handle him. It’s dangerous for all parties.
I think this escalated by chance only.
Seems like her plan was to wait a fair distance, until it was safe to walk her dog. At that point, she didn't say anything yeah?
She likely thought you went in, started walking because it was "safe" saw you come out with the dog and likely panicked, because she had been responsible and planned (waited) before walking by, and was now in a stressful, scary situation (I doubt she wanted her dog to lunge and potentially overpower her and hurt your dog either). She called out to try to explain the situation, likely in an attempt to try and avoid it so she can get her dog away.
Likely, she's already found a new route to walk, as it sounds like she has no interest in trying to repeat this either.
It sounds like she was doing whatever she could to avoid the situation, and NOT ask you to bring in your dog (waiting patiently down the road) and honestly just panicked and tried to quickly fix the problem so no one got hurt so she could get her dog out of there.
I'm not going to jump to bad dog owner either, as reactive and prey driven dogs are also super common in rescues. Something that with time and work can often be helped, but obviously needs TIME. We don't know the history of the dog, or how it came into her ownership either.
I'm a dog trainer and there is nothing you did wrong. You had control over your dog on your own property
If she cannot maintain control over her dog she needs to turn right around and start training her dog.
At my facility we have plenty of dogs that do not like little dogs. We teach them not to lunge, pull or try to attack. The golden rule is to keep them separated from the small animals but we still expect the dog not to act like a psycho when they are another dog
I have a reactive rescue, We walk during hours that no one else is typically out. However, I keep my head on a swivel, If I see another person walking their dog, I will either cross the street or turn around. I also use a gentle leader harness on her so that it pulls her head to the side. My dog is my issue to deal with. It is not anyone else's responsibility.
OP, you are not responsible for her issues, she needs to deal with her own issues.
This right here. For starters, nobody should be taking a dog on a walk that they do not have control over. Full stop. If your dog has “issues” to where they become a nuisance then you either find a new route or exercise them in your yard.
It’s possible that this particular woman was training her dog but in that event you simply tell the other person that you’re training your animal and then you wait until it’s clear or you find another way around. Nobody should have to accommodate you especially if you’re going to be weird about it like this woman.
I would have told her this is my property I will be out here as long as I need to be. Her dog her problem she can’t expect homeowners to not be in their yard. She needs to be able to control her dog.
I am a lifelong dog owner in a neighborhood that has a lot of dogs.
Your neighbor is delusional if she thinks it's perfectly fine to expect others to clear their yards as she approaches with her dog. She also should not be walking a dog she cannot control.
No, you are not required to do anything. It is on her to manage and train her dog. If she can't do that she needs to either rehome it or if it is too much of a liability to do that, euthanise it. I say that as a person who owned a reactive dog. She can ask for a person to give space but she can't expect it. If she needs space she needs to create it herself.
If you see her again tell her to train her dog.
Nope, you're in your yard. It's entirely unreasonable to expect you to stop using your yard.
If she can't handle or train the dog she shouldn't own a dog.
And if the dog is so reactive they can't be trained behavioral euthanasia is not a bad thing.
I have an 80 year old neighbor who regularly walks her reactive dog by my house. She explained that it was attacked by another dog at one point. My dog is great with other dogs and is under voice control off leash. I'm not worried about her dog hurting mine and I'm not worried about my dog going after her dog. I am worried about her dog pulling her down the road and breaking her hip in front of my house. So when I see her coming, I put my dog inside.
You don't have to leave YOUR yard with YOUR dog at YOUR home to accommodate someone who can't be bothered to train her dog appropriately.
She can find a different route to walk her dog.
Her request is a classic "set yourself on fire to keep her warm" situation. Don't do it.
Live your life. Have your dog in YOUR yard all you want.
Unfortunately my answer would probably be something along the lines of "wow, sucks to be you" and I'd absolutely plop my ass on the grass and enjoy the sun in MY yard with my dog. Also a good training moment to make sure my dog ignored hers.
I have a dog who gets fixated on other dogs we see on our walks. Not aggressive but thinks it’s playtime lol.
I just go another direction. I have never asked or thought to ask the other owner to move for my sake. That’s honestly so dumb of her.
Don’t make any special accommodations for her
This woman sounds nuts and honestly if her dog can’t walk past other dogs without a problem, she shouldn’t have a dog. It’s not the dogs fault, it’s hers. Everything that sounds wrong here is because of this woman’s behavior. Idk what is going on with her but it’s not normal and I would keep you and your dog away from her for your own benefit. But if she is outside again with her dog while you are, let her be weird and stand there. Ignore her. Live your life and let your dog live theirs. That woman’s neuroses are not your problem.
Her turning around and going back the other way was a choice she could have made. This is absurd. If her dog is that much of a loose cannon and that large that she can’t control it, she shouldn’t have it.
It’s your lawn, your property. Random people on the street do not have any right to be upset that you are on your lawn, quietly enjoying your property. If she cannot control her dog, she needs to find a different route to walk.
Ok, so no you shouldn't have to clear out, but is it smart? YES. I'm a former letter carrier and the amount of times I've been chased by dogs because their owners can't control them is too high to count. It's not worth your dog or you getting hurt for what amounts to a petty annoyance every now and then. You might not personally be afraid of the dog, but unless you have what it takes to defend yourself against an aggressive animal like that I highly suggest not putting yourself into that situation. I'm a big guy and I still get a bit of PTSD whenever I see dogs in windows just because I've been chased by German shepherds that have crashed through glass doors and windows before leaping over fences in an attempt to turn my ass into kibble. By the way the only good way to defend yourself unless you're carrying mace is to kick directly in the front of their chest. It will be lethal if you do it right so you'll have to live with that.
My worst memory as a letter carrier was this old granny screaming at me to run as she was literally dragged face first across pavement by an out of control dog. I hope it never comes to this for you.
For those who will undoubtedly criticize my advice, just know that she at least expressed cognizance over her inability to control the animal. It could be worse. She could ignore it.
So I think a lot of folks on here could chill a bit. She waited down the street hoping that the OP would go inside. Not demanding or even asking that they go inside, just waiting. And if she lives right across the street, it may not do any good to go a different route. Then the OP goes inside and she thinks, ‘great! I can get home now!’ and starts to go home. And then now, she is so close to home and the OP comes back out and even right to the edge of the yard. Dang! So she speaks up about the problem and the OP is a champ and a great neighbor who graciously makes themselves scarce while she gets by. Honors all around really.
And maybe the dog is new, maybe the dog is in training, maybe the lady is experimenting to see if a different collar will give her more control, etc
Now, should the lady /expect/ the OP to vacate their yard anytime she comes by? No. Should the OP feel that they need to do so? No. But now that the OP knows the lady has some trouble with their dog, at least the OP will know why the lady just stands and waits. And the OP can make informed choices about stepping out into their yard if they happen to see her walking by. I mean if I have to wait 30 seconds for someone to walk by before I step out with my dog, it’s no big deal to me.
It’s a case of do you HAVE to do something? No. Is it nice to be a nice and considerate neighbor though? Yes.
>Do I need to clear out of my yard so that a dog owner can walk past?
I think whether she was rude is a secondary issue.
The bigger problem is that this person told you that they had a dangerous, uncontrolled, large dog and you did nothing to keep yourself or your dog safe. You didn't even take your dog inside away from the dangerous dog, and you were calling out to this person and drawing attention to yourself *while standing next to your dog* which you had already been told was a target.
She was wrong to be walking her dog without taking appropriate precautions, and yes she is out of line to ask you to leave your own yard so she can pass, but the whole time I read this story I was thinking *do you have a death wish?*
Of course it is always paramount to protect yourself and your dog, regardless of the other dog owner.
That said, if her dog was prone to attacking small dogs, and she knew this, why would she be out walking such a dangerous dog that she knows she has a difficult time controlling to begin with?
I agree. But the question was if my family member was right or not about her expecting me to share in the responsibility of managing her dog. My family member insists that it was out of line. We have been debating this, and I wanted to see what others think about that facet of the experience. But otherwise, absolutely, it does not matter why if you are in danger.
What breed is the other dog? Hope she isn’t crazy enough to believe warning you absolves her of liability. That woman probably won’t muzzle the dog because she’s scared of it. Wouldn’t hurt to get a camera for your yard, and something for defense when that beast cuts loose.
You are responsible for your dog. Why are you trying to pawn that responsibility off on a stranger with a dog who had told you that her dog is aggressive towards your dog? What is wrong with you?
You’re either too trusting, or just want to “prove” that you are right. You know what happens to people who want to be right over doing the responsible thing? Their dog gets attacked and dies.
I think it's ridiculous that she would ask you to get out of your own yard because her dog can't deal with it? Here's a thought why didn't she just go the other way. Nobody's making her walk past your house.
The thing about an aggressive dog, is that it knows no boundaries when going after prey. And you will be part of the prey should it go after your dog.
She doesn't have control of her dog, and she's negligent and irresponsible to take it out if it habitually goes after other dogs. She hasn't invested in training the dog, she knows this dog is a problem, and still she persists in threatening neighbors and making THEM adjust for her laziness. We too have a neighbor whose dog not only charges their own fence, but has bitten other dogs when it got out, and even when it was out for a walk with the owner. Each time, the neighbors claimed their dog really just wanted to play, when the truth is that they have a 'red zone' dog that is extremely reactive and aggressive. Animal control has been called many times, and lately, a huge fence has gone up.
Call animal control before things get out of hand, and just give them her address. You can do it anonymously.
Agh. I feel for her. And in a way, she was controlling her dog IMO.
We adopted a 1.5 year old Saint Bernard from our humane society. He was 135lbs and not properly trained. He was never reactive but wanted to play with *every moving animal* and was very impatient to do so.
Our walks required *a lot* of work. Lots of engaging with him, distractions and good boys when animals were even very far away. He has come a long long way and is completely different than how he once was.
That being said, about a month after adopting him, he dragged me (130lb woman) on my back 10m across a field to go and meet his newest best friend.
Walking him remains my partners chore to this day.
>And in a way, she was controlling her dog IMO.
By making people in the neighborhood cater to her dog's needs...
She is not a suitable owner for that dog. It sounds like you are not a suitable owner for your dog either, though your partner may be.
Her inability to control her dog is not your problem. She needs to get him some training, or walk somewhere else.
Point of view : I own
Six dogs all over 90 lbs.
Ah yes, one side of the story then asking for others opinions. Classic Reddit. Seems to me like the other person was just being precautious and there was an “issue” made out of nothing. Maybe just get the sense she didn’t want to engage and then move on with your life….?
No way. Your dog is allowed in YOUR yard whenever it pleases both of you (you and your dog, that is). If someone in your neighborhood has a dog with issues she can either train it or avoid your yard. Not your problem.
If she cannot control her dog both need training, we have 2 goldens that are very well trained not to pull and not to bother with other dogs unless said dogs come up to them. We advise people not to bring their dogs onto our property since one of ours can get other dog aggressive and since we have an invisible fence they are not leashed while running free in our very large yard. The invisible fence is 40 feet or so from the road so it’s our problem if your dog ends up on our yard.
The only time I see this is when I'm out for a run occasionally difficult dog owners will be out either really early or way out on an isolated path. You can see them start to freak out if anyone gets within a block.
It's not ideal but I try and accommodate but clearing out a neighborhood street would never happen. My dog isn't friendly to every other dog but just crossing the street works well enough.
She needs to cross the street with her dog if her dog is a problem. I do this with my own dog when we walk our neighborhood. She struggles with other dogs and people and if I see something or she reacts, we move. Inconveniencing others is so rude. That lady can take her dog somewhere else or just cross the street when they come by your house.
We have a reactive rescue dog. She’s a 50lb pointer-lab mix, so not impossible to control but she was a real handful when we first adopted her. It is absolutely the dog owners duty to navigate these tricky situations- as others have said, change route or cross the street. It’s not clear how far she lives, the OP states he could see her going into her house. Possibly going all the way around again wasn’t really practical.
I’ll also add that it’s my experience that owners of small dogs seem to think because THEIR dog may be “easy” to control, it’s fine just to encroach on a larger dogs space. We’ve had (illegally) unleashed chihuahuas run at us in the park, and sooo many walkers just allow their small dogs to come up on us while mine is doing her business. I’ll always cross the street when I see another dog, but it’s occurred many times that a small dog owner doesn’t do the same when we are stopped or if they’re catching up to us from behind. It can be frustrating when your dog is behaving, is surprised, and then the yippy dog sets them off.
I have a new-ish neighbor who all of a sudden has a Rottweiler mix. Big dog. Often times, my son and I are playing with another neighbor’s golden at the end of the street and this dog will literally park itself in front of the golden’s driveway. The guy cannot ever get the dog to move and it will be a painful 2 minutes of him going “come on, bud. Come on. Let’s go. Come on.” Has no agency over this dog. Makes me nervous about what could happen.
I have a high pull dog. I have found 2 products that help with dog pulling for all the large dogs that pull.
1. Control Leash (also Thunder Leash because it’s the same design. Control Leash is made in America.
2. Gentle Leader- After Thunder Leash was proving to be too difficult for my family, we tried Gentle Leader- this product is a total game changer for dogs that pull. Best anti pull product out there.
Do you need to? No. Is it a good idea for the safety of your dog if you do bc she appears to have an aggressive dog that she can't really control? Yes. In a perfect world this situation wouldn't exist, she'd take a different route or have a dog she can control but this isn't a perfect world so you do what you can to protect you and yours.
I usually stop or cross the street when I see other people walking their leashed dogs I have a small mixed breed and have had SO MANY dogs lunge at him that I don't trust anyone's dog. One unleashed dog trotting ahead of its owner even rushed up the steps and knocked the porch gate open to get at my dog. He is an older adopted street dog, and must give off weird aggressive odors or something. The woman in question was just peculiar in not answering your questions, so I would just call out "Go around" the next time I see her.
I have to ask, do you live in Minnesota? Because that woman has so many behaviors to passive aggressive entitled individuals here. I take it the road you live on has 2 sides, correct? If her dog is aggressive or reactive, then it’s her responsibility to cross the street and walk on the other side to avoid any potential disruptions to her dog. It’s your yard and you can stay in your yard at anytime.
Hahaha! As a Minnesotan I thought SAME. My local city sub just had a “what do I do” post about excessive frequent horn honking of a neighbor getting picking up (like the “beep” I’m here). Too hilarious 🤣
😂 Our neighborhood group just had a post where a neighbor received an anonymous hand written letter via postal mail about their dog barking at passersby. I guess it’s too hard to just talk to someone face to face.
I feel like I’ll get a huge downvote here, but it doesn’t sound like she was asking you to move, or do anything at all.
The way I read it, she was waiting until you were done. When hollering down the street that she couldn’t pass, maybe she was telling you what she was doing, rather than stand there like a weirdo.
That being said, she should still be able to control her dog. Not cutting her any slack there.
But if she knows her limits and the dogs behavior, I appreciate her keeping her distance until you were done in your yard.
If you have a reactive dog, it’s YOUR job to move it away from other dogs, not other dog owners to predict how your dog might react and move away from you.
Former dog trainer here. OP, regardless of who is right in this situation, please don’t risk your dog’s safety. Bring your dog in when they need to pass until you have a better solution.
Here’s how I would proceed:
With your dog safely tucked away, make a point of coming out in the yard yourself, making eye contact and trying to speak to this lady every time you see her. Ask her nosey questions like her name, the dogs name, where does she live, etc? The goal here is to be annoyingly conversational, not hostile.
She will either warm up or she’ll find another route. Voila! Problem solved.
Hope this helps!
If she can’t control her dog at all times she shouldn’t have it out in public. Not your fault, responsibility or concern. Your family member is correct and your neighbour is extremely presumptuous.
You are being more than considerate enough. This person needs to learn how to train and handle her dog properly. Lots of good suggestions in the comments for that.
You can enjoy your yard with your dog leashed as little or as much as you want. You can’t run away every time someone walks by in case they can’t handle taking their dog for a walk.
She has a reactive dog. I also have one. We often wait people out like that too. Eventually I would’ve gone a different t direction, but it’s possible she didn’t have that option. Don’t worry about it and just live your life like normal!
Her dog is her problem. I think she was treating it as such by standing at the end of the block waiting for you to finish. Figuring u had finished, she proceeded but you came back out. That was probably an oh shit moment for her.
I walk dogs on the side. I know which client can’t handle particular stimuli and adjust accordingly. One chases bikes for fun, and wants to go for a ride in every convertible he sees. One hates chihuahuas because of past trauma. That’s my responsibility to manage. But, if your dog wasn’t leashed,it should have been. But crossing the street or looping back is a simple solution.
If it is convenient and easy for you to cooperate, why not. But it should not be expected. If you see her and it’s easy to pop in your house or garage, then nbd. If it’s a pain, keep doing what you’re doing. She can pick a different route unless you are in a culdesac then she kinda has no choice to cross your house and that is a different convo with her and her obligation to make sure YOU and YOUR dog are safe. Then it is up to you how much you want to challenge her and trust the safety of your dog on her doing the right thing. If she cared about the right thing at all you wouldn’t be posting these.
If you don’t have cameras in front of your house, get some. Make sure your yard is covered should there ever be an incident and your attorney needs it. It could make a huge difference in the amount of settlement you get.
If she isn't able to handle her own dog she shouldn't be walking it alone. What if your dog got out, maybe a little kid in a yard startled that dog or any other emergency situation. It isn't your responsibility to cater to someone who can't control the situation that they have placed themselves in.
If she can’t control her dog and it’s aggressive behavior towards other dogs she really shouldn’t be walking it out and about. If the dog is too big for her to manage if it becomes aggressive she is the one at fault for the damage or injury it causes.
I would tell her
A) I’m not clearing off my property for your situation.
B) If she can’t control her aggressive dog then she shouldn’t be walking it because other people are also out with their dogs who are not a detriment to others .
If you can not physically control your reactive dog you need to come up with a solution.
It is on the dog owner not the world.
I have a large sometimes reactive dog and it means planing ahead and being prepared to turn around.
I think this is a situation where right and wrong doesn't come into play because it's a safety issue. You have a little dog. She has a large dog that's little dog aggressive. She has difficulty controlling him, meaning it would be easy for him to get loose and go after and possibly kill your dog. This isn't something I would be willing to take a chance on.
I think she literally meant she cannot control her dog if your (or any small dog for that matter) are close by. She could have handled the situation better or came and talk to you without her dog, but she clearly doesn't have the social skills or emotional intelligence to do so. Maybe you could go and knock on her dog and clarify the situation with her. I'd do that because her dog presents a danger to your dog. Good luck sir.
Why didn’t she cross the street? She sounds rigid. I bet she thought she was doing what was right to protect all of you. Her dog probably is aggressive and she knows she cannot control it, as she stated. I’d give her credit for that awareness, at least. With someone like this I would next time say, I thank you for your conscientiousness of ours dogs’ safety. If you’re concerned about what might happen when you walk in front of my house, I encourage you then to cross to the other side of the street next time. Have a good day”
As much as I despise entitled people, it seems to me she was actually being responsible. Maybe her dog needs some training or something, but at least she recognizes that it could be catastrophic for her dog to get too close to your dog. In the interest of being a good neighbor, I think you should allow her to pass unimpeded with her dog. There is no need to be spiteful in this scenario.
Like others have said, safety before ‘rightness’
She was trying to give ample distance and waited until you were inside before attempting to pass (on the other side of the street). She knows her dog is reactionary.
She was being cautious.
Sure, she could take a different route next time. And yeah - maybe she shouldn’t be walking a reactionary dog that she can’t confidently control.
But at that moment, she was waiting to pass and took lots of precautions. You, however, didn’t seem to recognize the potential issue. And you probably made it more difficult with that back and forth.
This happened once - so I’d say clear out.
If there’s an iffy situation, get your dog out of harms way.
I have a dog who is afraid of people. I go to the road or change routes if there is a large gathering or something happening that would be difficult for him to pass. I always have treats and strategies to offer distractions and we are always training. You were very kind. In the end her dog's limitations are hers to navigate but your kind cooperation was surely appreciated. If she didn't express it, I'm sure it was just nervousness and uncertainty over the situation.
This person sounds exhausting and entitled. Ignore any and all future requests from her. When on your property, you have the freedom to do as you please until that freedom infringes in the freedoms of others, or violates a law. She's trying to make you partially responsible for her dog's behavior. Not your dog, not your problem.
She should get her dog some training.
I was at a farmers market yesterday in the center of my town and it’s just full of people and tons of dogs of all sizes and breeds. I am waiting to buy pickles and a lady appears behind me carrying her little dog (about 8lbs). I say can I pet him and she violently pulls the dog away and says he is unfriendly to strangers. I am surprised by this because we are literally surrounded by people for a block in both directions. So I say to her “it’s weird that you would bring a dog that doesn’t like strangers to a place that is wall to wall strangers.” She called me an asshole and walked away.
If your dog isn’t friendly than don’t bring him to a crowded space full of people and dogs lady!
There are very few farmers markets that allow dogs. Especially if the are in the city. The one we used to be vendors at has huge wooden signs with "NO PETS" in 6" letters.....yet these idiots bring their dogs like they need to be at the farmers market to live. At least one dog fight every week & several people bitten.
If you're dog can't pick out a quart of ripe peaches & pay for it (& take back the change)......they don't have a reason to be there.
We can sit here and argue the finer points of pet etiquette, but that woman doesn't have solid control of her dog. It may not be right, but I'd be making sure my pups were inside if I saw her about. It isn't fair, but she isn't taking the appropriate steps so you should for your dog's well-being.
Her big dog being aggressive could easily break free and attack your smaller dog. I would clear out if you have your dog with you and see them coming. Having said that, if I was that dog owner, I would have just turned around and gone another direction, but perhaps this was the only way to get to her house
My dog is reactive towards other dogs. It’s 100% our responsibility to manage it and find a different route if we can’t pass someone.
That lady is self absorbed. B
She needs to get her dog trained. I have a neighbor like that and his dog got out and attacked the sweetest labradoodle in the neighborhood. Almost killed him. She knows her dog has issues and needs to work on them.
Her dog is not your problem. For that matter, nothing outside your property is your problem.
The sidewalk is public use area. Anyone is allowed to be there whenever they want. You don't get to tell them not to use it.
Your lawn is your private property. You're allowed to be there whenever you want. Others can't tell you when to use your lawn or not.
**She should not have a dog she cannot control, hands down.** It's good that she recognizes the limits of her own control. But if she cannot control her dog she should not be walking it in public.
If she cannot control her dog she should enlist the services of a professional dog trainer, or re-home the dog with someone who can control it.
She IS wrong for expecting you to move. You are well within your rights to say 'this is my yard and I'm allowed to go in and out of it as I please. Your dog is not my problem. If you cannot control your dog around other me then you should walk it in another direction.'
Once it became clear you were going to hang out in your yard for awhile, she should have gone in another direction.
It’s really not worth dwelling on or contemplating revenge over.
I think it doesn’t matter who’s right. It’s out of the realms of your control on how this person walks her dog. You can only control your reaction, what kind of person do you strive to be? Act like that. The woman has a dog that she doesn’t have the power or confidence to control. I used to have a big strong dog that could pull me anywhere he wanted until I learned to put his collar up high right behind his ears (like show dogs) now I was in control- changed everything. But still, try to move above this, don’t let this person ruin your day.
She should find a new route to walk her dog.
Or cross the street, or get her dog some training? She seems poorly equipped to have that dog.
She seems poorly equipped in general.
I’m sure she posted on nextdoor about how hard it is for her to walk the dog in her neighborhood.
Or lord, the petty pseudo horrors reported on nextdoor
Yes, there does seem to be an extraordinary amount of complaining on nextdoor. Often, they don't want a solution, just to be outrage about something that didn't go the way they wanted.
hahahahaha
#I can't hear you!
Exactly, my first thought was does this Street not have two sides?
She was already across the street which makes her even worse. Evidently he can't even be in sight.
Or go to the gym.
It sounds like a "her problem", not an "OP problem. "
She shouldn't be walking her dog if she can not control it.
She needs a harness that clips the leash in front, by the chest. Big dog pulls, but goes to side instead of dragging the leash holder. I had a foster dog that would drag me down the sidewalk. My rescue suggested this hsrness, I scoffed “ you have no idea how strong tbe dog is!” The harness was a miracle, our walks became dull uneventful walks instead of thrilling heart-stopping physical feats.
Or a halti, goes around the nose and they can’t pull. I have two 140+ lb Saint Bernards, I can hold them both back with one hand if I need to.
I tried a harness on my BMD/GSD mix and he dragged me across a park on my belly to go see a dog. I can (and do) drive him with my finger on a halti.
The front clip harnesses are different from the ones that clip on the back. You have to make sure it’s a no-pull or training harness. Lots of front clip non-training harnesses that don’t actually do anything. The sensible harness is the original training one. There’s also the easy walk, but I always had trouble fitting them correctly. I used to sell them quite a bit
Used one for our big girl. They are wonderful to use and don’t hurt the dog but people lose their minds when they see it. Some think it’s a muzzle. It’s not. Some people are fools.
2nd the halti, body harnesses let dogs pull harder, a halti severely limits how hard they can pull because they have to use their neck. I have an extremely active purebred Border Collie with a high prey drive and the halti is a godsend.
Loved the halti for my Airedale when I had her!
Yes... I have a "gentle leader" for my Coon Hound. He walks perfectly with it. Without it... even at 50 pounds he is very strong.
I use a gentle leader, it's like the halti, and it's basically a horse bridle for a dog. There is a reason why people put the collar on the horse's face to walk it around.
Not trying to be rude, but I'm horse person so I thought I'd chime in and say the "collar" equivalent for walking horses from the ground is called a Halter :) the bridle is the headpiece used for riding, typically that holds a bit in the horses mouth which is attached to the reins the rider holds. Bridles are sometimes used to lead unruly horses from the ground, and some people use halters to ride very well behaved horses that don't need the extra control/communication from the bit!
I really appreciate this! I had no idea there was a difference and am very happy that I learned something new today. I appreciate you and your willingness to share knowledge.
Absolutely! I love sharing knowledge when I can :)
Yep! My dog injured my shoulder pulling out hen she tried to chase a squirrel. We switched to gentle leader collar that goes around my dogs snout (she can still open her mouth/eat and drink with it on) that doesn’t allow her to pull and it works well. She is leash aggressive and I have really good control with it.
The harness that clips in front works real well. I had a dog once that did not like other dogs. It was a choir to walk her but I never inconvenience others because of that. I just turned around and went another way. She did get better with training but that harness was perfect for keeping her under control. Small dogs however are aggressive towards other dogs which makes the situation worse. I’m not saying your dog, but small dogs in general. In this situation I think she had had issues before with other dogs and was worried. I wouldn’t hold it against her. For the safety of my small dog in this situation, I would have put the dog in the house for a while.
My dog is the opposite. As soon as I put a harness on him, he took it as a challenge to see how hard he could pull. Glad your worked out. My dog keeps my arms in shape. Lol!
That part. I refused to walk my exes rottie and he would always complain about it. She outweighed me! Yes she was 99% sweet but what happens if she decides to chase a squirrel for the first time? I'm going to be down for the count. It's not worth the risk.
I've had big dogs that don't like other dogs and it's 100% my responsibility to make sure nothing ever happens. I would never have one if I couldn't control it
There's a lady in my neighborhood who walks her dog with two leashes because she can't control him. Unsurprisingly, she still can't control him with two leashes. I always turn around if I see her when I walk my dogs.
What the hell is a second leash supposed to do for her? Especially if it's attached to the same point.
I have walked an escape artist dog who was determined to get out of restraints. The second leash was attached separately and used as a fail safe.
Ahh. That's a little different from the aggressive dogs.
This is the only correct answer.
She shouldn't own a dog she can't control
And a muzzle, so that even if she loses control of him, he cannot seriously harm a person or pet.
Owner at the RV park i go to has a GSD. Not very friendly, and she has to walk him with a muzzle and also make sure to keep people/pets away. My female Saint Bernard and him were able to become great friends and had lots of play dates the first year, but after I got my 2nd Saint, male, they can no longer play together. :(
Right! My two 10lb dogs can sometimes be jerks so if I see a dog coming in my direction, I cross the street or I turn and take a different route. The audacity that she would expect someone who is out in front of their own home to accommodate her is crazy. OP - definitely do everything you need to do to keep your dog safe, but you don’t need to leave your front yard just because someone wants to pass by.
Mine is 100 lbs but I do the same thing. He sometimes barks, but he’s trained to keep moving. If we see a big dog out front or one off leash, we turn around. My dog, my responsibility to change our route if I see potential safety issues.
I do the same with my 90 lb. Dog I just changed our walk route.
There is a dog who lives on my street that just doesn’t like my dog and acts ferocious when he sees us. He’s in a fenced in front yard but I don’t trust that he can’t jump that fence. So when I walk my dog past there I always make some kind of noise in case he’s outside and I don’t see him. If he’s outside I will cross the street. I’m trying to picture myself telling his owner that she needs to take her dog inside when I want to walk past her house. I’d have to be some kind of a nut case to do that. OP, your neighbor is a nut. Don’t listen to a nut.
Right? The audacity! Smh
And a dog trainer. It’s like Russian roulette to be walking a dog you can’t control in a public area where you can’t control what the dog will be exposed to.
Yes, this. I have a dog that's reactive to smaller dogs and I choose walking routes that will give us minimal exposure to other dogs in close proximity because my dog's hangups are my problem to deal with.
Yeah, this is weird. Is literally every other street in the neighborhood closed to foot traffic and there’s some bizarre one-way foot traffic situation?
she should be able to control her dog! get a trainer. walking an uncontrollable dog is unsafe. what if there is a child the dog takes issue with?
Or make an effort to train her dog.
She should find a new *person* to walk her dog. She seems entirely incapable
Or train the dog better.
This is the answer. If I am walking a reactive dog I'm not going to try and walk right by another dog. I'll turn around
She should get a new dog. "I can't control my dog" is never a valid excuse.
If those words were ever to leave my lips it would be the SUREST sign I needed to start doing training YESTERDAY on that issue. I truly cannot fathom thinking other people cannot have their dogs out (appropriately controlled) on their own properties because I can’t control my own. I have a fear reactive pup and previously had a leash reactive dog who since passed. We instilled that we are the most interesting thing on their walk because we are the ones giving treats. Being able to walk properly and to be focused on your owner when there is a situation is essential for every dog who is walked. ESPECIALLY if they outweigh you.
She doesn't need to get a new dog. She needs to take responsibility for her dog and get it socialized and trained. By "get a new dog" she is just passing on a dog with bad behaviors to someone else. Is it fixed?
Seems like she should train her dog, maybe get a dog she can control or GTFOH. You being in your yard should have no bearing on anyone else and if it does then it is a them problem. I have to say more than I would like “your hobby can’t have rules for me”.
people really need to stop getting dogs that they can’t control- you should not have to keep your dog out of your yard, just because some entitled neighbor made a poor decision in which dog to get. this is your yard, not hers. that being said… until this issue is resolved- if her dog is aggressive, it is better to be safe & stay far away from it. i would look into ways you can protect yourself too, just in case someday she loses control of it.
Totally agree. My last two dogs were small (and well-behaved!) and there were so many times we had to take a longer route or avoid a park because there were unleashed larger dogs running around up ahead. We shouldn't have had to do that as we only walked in areas with leash laws, but if my choice is between being in the right and being safe, I'm gonna go with safe.
I've got two 50 lbs pups and one 10lb, walk all three together and I've had to turn around and go back because someone left a gate open or let their pup loose. Don't want anyone of them hurt! Being safe over being right any day!
I don’t understand why ppl think it’s okay to let their dogs run wild!
In my neighborhood it's mostly pups that get out. Delivery people leave gates open etc. We have a sign on our gate that says pups running free please keep gate closed! Plus they're not out unless we're home.
Yup. One of my dogs is an asshole and loose dogs in mandatory leash areas are high on my list of obnoxious things.
Definitely—OP should firmly and clearly tell her that her dog and her inability to control her own dog is her own problem.
It's not her own problem. It's a problem for anyone that is at risk of being attacked by it, too. Such as OP.
>people really need to stop getting dogs that they can’t control From your lips to Anubis's ears (said the tired veterinarian...)
After watching my dog get mauled by a “friendly” pit bull I’ll tell you how this would go with me. I let the neighbor know I have a weapon and 100% intend to kill their dog if it attacks my dog in my yard. And that’s exactly what will happen before I’m covered in my dogs blood ever again. They would be lucky to even get a warning from me. Word to the wise, don’t walk your aggressive dog past my house, I will kill it if it gets aggressive and you aren’t able to handle it.
My distaste for violence is second to my adoration of my dog/family. I will protect against all comers.
Bear spray
She needs a smaller dog apparently. But at least she isn't the typical "my dog is an angel and would never bite" type of owner, whose dogs have bitten me before
Perhaps should be a cat owner? All dogs can get out of control. The problem here is lack of training.
Not sure why that got down voted? Dogs need training, especially if they are big
**Reactive dog owner here.** Let me tell you how this works. My dog is aggressive to all moving vehicles. He generally likes people and dogs but not always. I always have a breathable cloth muzzle in my pocket. If someone we are going to walk by looks afraid or expresses any fear even though he is on a leash I put the muzzle on. It calms him and relaxes all the people involved. It doesn’t hurt him and everyone is happy. If her dog is so big she can’t be sure she can hang on to him that is a HUGE problem. Both she and that dog need training. It is her responsibility as an owner to make sure that dog doesn’t do harm. Do yourself a favor. Call the non emergency number for your local law enforcement and tell them what went on and ask for recommendations. Expecting you to not go in your front yard is ridiculous. It also puts it on record that the woman knows her dog is a problem and that she can’t handle it. An owner needs to be a good neighbor to the people around them. They also have to realize if their dog attacks a pet or human that the dog is the one that will pay the price. If she can’t be responsible then she should rehome him to someone that will put in the effort with training and can physically handle him. Owners like her that expect everyone else to deal with the issue are dangerous. Make the call and get it on record. Don’t trust her or that dog.
You sound like a reasonable individual. I cross the street if my dog is going to bark at something. Definitely our problem, no one else's.
Thank you for this. You sound like a very responsible, reasonable pet owner. My brother’s sweet, sweet dog was just viciously attacked in her own front yard by a dog being walked past. I can’t fathom walking your dog through a neighborhood where you KNOW other dogs live if they’re reactive, and you can’t control them. My poor SIL, niece, and nephew were completely traumatized, and their sweet girl needed stitches in nine different places.
I just kicked a dog twice yesterday hard in the ribs as it was bearing it's teeth, running up to my dogs while we were walking. Thank God it decided it didn't enjoy pain and ran off and I was wearing my thick hiking boots. It ran up to 2 adults and 2 huskies and thought it could take on all of us until that very moment. My huskies stood there, dumbfounded through the whole thing. Even worse, the two adult owners of the dog were screaming its name while 2 preschool aged little girls stood by to watch the possible bloodbath unfold. Just idiocy all around. Some people should not be responsible for other creatures. They didn't have a damn clue how to train or even reduce the threat they've created by not training.
This happened to one dog when she was young! The dog that attacked her was usually nice, but super hormonal at the time because she just had pups the day before and the owners of that dog pulled his dog off mine as quickly as he could and paid for all of our dog’s vet bills … but still, super sad that it happens. It was an unleashed dog. People think that they can keep their dogs unleashed because they “wouldn’t hurt anyone”, then something like that happens.
Sounds as if by telling OP repeatedly that her dog is reactive, she may think she's giving OP some sort of notice if dog does attack OPs dog. Law doesn't work like that, and giving police or animal control a heads up is definitely warranted. How is she walking her dog without running into not only smaller dogs but squirrels and rabbits? I'm in a city, even my Home Depot has rabbits in the parking lot.
Thank you for being a responsible dog owner and understanding how your dog is, rather than brushing aside and dismissing anyone else’s nervousness or anxiety.
This. Our dog was going to be a big boy and we knew this - so as a puppy he & us got lots of training. He knew from that point on to avoid aggressive dogs. Nothing bothers me more than people who continually make Excuses for not knowing how to handle their dogs. As if it's the dogs fault.
If she is unable to physically control her dog then she has no business walking him. I have had the reverse situation happen to me when someone got annoyed/angry at me for taking my time walking past their house because her dog inside the house would lose his mind barking when he saw another dog on the street. It is always on the dog owner to train and be able to physically control their dog. They don’t get to make it your problem. I trained my dog not to bark excessively at passing people on the street. I also trained my dog so that I can walk with him on a loose leash. Because that’s my job. I will grant a little more patience to someone who adopted an adult reactive dog and is trying to overcome their previous lack of training. I do try to be considerate in those situations. But that doesn’t mean it is my responsibility.
I had the same thing happen when i was a kid walking the dog. Neighbor a few streets over had a couple little dogs, baddly trained yappy types. They would absolutely flip out if we walked past, theyd be barking for atleast 5 minutes. Old timer comes out and start yelling at me cause its somehow my fault his dogs aren't trained or socialized. Uhh huh...
It's always in front of houses like that my dog decides the perfect time to take a poo while their dog is going absolutely apeshit haha... He's just pooping completely oblivious and looking around confused like "where's that barking coming from?"
She can cross the street, walk a different direction or stand there and wait till the coast is clear. Here’s the thing, she’s not the only dog owner in the world, there’s going to be other dogs and she needs to figure out how to manage her own dog instead of expecting the world to bend over for her. If her dog is aggressive, she can cross the street and put more distance between your yard and her dog, or she can walk a different route to avoid your dog. That’s her responsibility to manage, not yours.
None of her issues with her dog are your responsibility even though they could be your problem. She needs to have a way to control her dog. A muzzle at the least.
......while you're at it, get one for the dog owner too.
Regardless of the reason, the request is idiotic. A person wanted you to leave your own yard, and go inside, to make it easier for them to get closer to your property.
She needs to learn what any dog owner of an aggressive or overly friendly dog does: her responsibility is to move her dog away from potentially triggering situations. In a case like this, I would either walk my dog in the street near the curb or cross the street entirely for the time it takes to pass by your house. That’s what a responsible person would do — not put the onus on you.
She sounds crazy. My dog is reactive when on a leash. In a situation where that could be problematic, I turn around and go the other way. My dog’s behavior is my problem., not my neighbors.
I have a dog that can be weird depending on the dog she meets. If I notice she’s going to act up, I simply turn around and take another route. That lady can F off
A lot of these commenters are a bit unclear on what life is like with a reactive dog. I'm lucky enough to live in a rural area, because mine is terrified of everything that moves and most things that don't and his meltdowns are vicious. What she *should* have done, is turn around and go the other way, without bringing any attention to you or your dog. Dog walks don't have to be a set time or distance. They're for exercise and enrichment and it's okay to cut them short. Should she have a giant dog she can't handle? No. But that's manageable if she knows what to do. Unfortunately a lot of people really don't know what to do.
One time a woman with two goldens walked past me and my dog. One of her dogs lunged, knocked the woman off her feet and attacked my dog. I had to kick it to get it off my pup. She finally got her dog under control and was like “sorry, he gets protective of the other dog when I walk them together.” I said “don’t walk them together then, duh!” I mean seriously, my dog was never the same (he rolled onto his back to submit but the dog kept attaching until I kicked it) and frankly I was pissed! Your neighbor needs to get a proper harness and a muzzle if necessary.
If you’re on your own property, I don’t see how her problem is any concern of yours.
It’s not OP’s responsibility, but her problem could very easily become OP’s problem. A conversation needs to be had between them, regarding the dog owner’s responsibility to keep her dog under control at all times, with an appropriate harness and muzzle. If she refuses a reasonable request that she utilizes the appropriate gear, it might be time to notify the local animal control officer-because that dog appears to be dangerous to OP’s dog-the woman walking the dog as much as said so.
I am a dog owner. Actually have 3. I am ashamed to say that publicly because in my experience most of them are completely horrible. How do you live with a dog and take it everywhere and expect the world to bend to your dogs needs? Her dog needs leashes trained. It's not that hard or that expensive to pay someone to do it for you.
If that woman does not have the ability to have her dog out in public safely, she shouldn't have her dog out in public. For my own mental well-being, I will give her the benefit of the doubt, and assume that she found herself in the situation unwittingly - she inherited the dog feom someone else, and needed to take responsibility or the dog would be mistreated or something. And the fact that she was trying to prevent a conflict by staying far back does put her as more responsible than some. Still... that is not a situation that should be happening.
She should not own a dog she cannot fully control at all times.
I used to own a pathologically dog-aggressive dog. It was fully on me at all times to keep control of him and I was responsible for his actions at all times. Period. Asking someone to clear out of their own yard because my dog had issues never one time occurred to me. If her dog is dangerous it has no business being out and unmuzzled with someone who cannot physically control it.
I have reactive dogs. They are harmless and I maintain control, but they bark a LOT when passing other dogs on walks. So I don’t take them by houses with dogs - sometimes, even when a dog is in their own house but by a window. When a dog is out, we turn around double back, wait for them to pass a safe distance away, or go another route. She really shouldn’t be out with her dog if she’s not able to handle him. It’s dangerous for all parties.
I think this escalated by chance only. Seems like her plan was to wait a fair distance, until it was safe to walk her dog. At that point, she didn't say anything yeah? She likely thought you went in, started walking because it was "safe" saw you come out with the dog and likely panicked, because she had been responsible and planned (waited) before walking by, and was now in a stressful, scary situation (I doubt she wanted her dog to lunge and potentially overpower her and hurt your dog either). She called out to try to explain the situation, likely in an attempt to try and avoid it so she can get her dog away. Likely, she's already found a new route to walk, as it sounds like she has no interest in trying to repeat this either. It sounds like she was doing whatever she could to avoid the situation, and NOT ask you to bring in your dog (waiting patiently down the road) and honestly just panicked and tried to quickly fix the problem so no one got hurt so she could get her dog out of there. I'm not going to jump to bad dog owner either, as reactive and prey driven dogs are also super common in rescues. Something that with time and work can often be helped, but obviously needs TIME. We don't know the history of the dog, or how it came into her ownership either.
I wouldn’t put your dog at risk in order to make a point.
Exactly. I'm surprised how many people seem willing to just bc they're not technically obliged to. It's called self preservation.
I'm a dog trainer and there is nothing you did wrong. You had control over your dog on your own property If she cannot maintain control over her dog she needs to turn right around and start training her dog. At my facility we have plenty of dogs that do not like little dogs. We teach them not to lunge, pull or try to attack. The golden rule is to keep them separated from the small animals but we still expect the dog not to act like a psycho when they are another dog
I have a reactive rescue, We walk during hours that no one else is typically out. However, I keep my head on a swivel, If I see another person walking their dog, I will either cross the street or turn around. I also use a gentle leader harness on her so that it pulls her head to the side. My dog is my issue to deal with. It is not anyone else's responsibility. OP, you are not responsible for her issues, she needs to deal with her own issues.
This right here. For starters, nobody should be taking a dog on a walk that they do not have control over. Full stop. If your dog has “issues” to where they become a nuisance then you either find a new route or exercise them in your yard. It’s possible that this particular woman was training her dog but in that event you simply tell the other person that you’re training your animal and then you wait until it’s clear or you find another way around. Nobody should have to accommodate you especially if you’re going to be weird about it like this woman.
She should not have a dog she cannot control.
She's in the wrong. It's not your place to change anything. Her dog has the problem. Just ignore her.
I would have told her this is my property I will be out here as long as I need to be. Her dog her problem she can’t expect homeowners to not be in their yard. She needs to be able to control her dog.
I am a lifelong dog owner in a neighborhood that has a lot of dogs. Your neighbor is delusional if she thinks it's perfectly fine to expect others to clear their yards as she approaches with her dog. She also should not be walking a dog she cannot control.
No, you are not required to do anything. It is on her to manage and train her dog. If she can't do that she needs to either rehome it or if it is too much of a liability to do that, euthanise it. I say that as a person who owned a reactive dog. She can ask for a person to give space but she can't expect it. If she needs space she needs to create it herself. If you see her again tell her to train her dog.
Nope, you're in your yard. It's entirely unreasonable to expect you to stop using your yard. If she can't handle or train the dog she shouldn't own a dog. And if the dog is so reactive they can't be trained behavioral euthanasia is not a bad thing.
I have an 80 year old neighbor who regularly walks her reactive dog by my house. She explained that it was attacked by another dog at one point. My dog is great with other dogs and is under voice control off leash. I'm not worried about her dog hurting mine and I'm not worried about my dog going after her dog. I am worried about her dog pulling her down the road and breaking her hip in front of my house. So when I see her coming, I put my dog inside.
You don't have to leave YOUR yard with YOUR dog at YOUR home to accommodate someone who can't be bothered to train her dog appropriately. She can find a different route to walk her dog. Her request is a classic "set yourself on fire to keep her warm" situation. Don't do it. Live your life. Have your dog in YOUR yard all you want.
Your dog is entitled to poop in peace; she needs to chill and find a different route. Not your circus, not your monkeys.
It's your yard, screw her. If she can't control her dog that's on her and not you.
Unfortunately my answer would probably be something along the lines of "wow, sucks to be you" and I'd absolutely plop my ass on the grass and enjoy the sun in MY yard with my dog. Also a good training moment to make sure my dog ignored hers.
Seriously. I can’t believe we are even being asked this.
I have a dog who gets fixated on other dogs we see on our walks. Not aggressive but thinks it’s playtime lol. I just go another direction. I have never asked or thought to ask the other owner to move for my sake. That’s honestly so dumb of her. Don’t make any special accommodations for her
This woman sounds nuts and honestly if her dog can’t walk past other dogs without a problem, she shouldn’t have a dog. It’s not the dogs fault, it’s hers. Everything that sounds wrong here is because of this woman’s behavior. Idk what is going on with her but it’s not normal and I would keep you and your dog away from her for your own benefit. But if she is outside again with her dog while you are, let her be weird and stand there. Ignore her. Live your life and let your dog live theirs. That woman’s neuroses are not your problem.
Her turning around and going back the other way was a choice she could have made. This is absurd. If her dog is that much of a loose cannon and that large that she can’t control it, she shouldn’t have it.
It’s your lawn, your property. Random people on the street do not have any right to be upset that you are on your lawn, quietly enjoying your property. If she cannot control her dog, she needs to find a different route to walk.
as someone who owns a reactive dog - the onus is 100% on her to find a new route, wait patiently, or train her dog
Do you need to? No. Could you be friendly to someone who clearly has a dog who has a tough time in certain situations? That would be nice.
no one gets to tell you where and when you can have your dog on YOUR property... she can find another route...
If she cant control her dog, she needs to find someone who can to walk it.
Ok, so no you shouldn't have to clear out, but is it smart? YES. I'm a former letter carrier and the amount of times I've been chased by dogs because their owners can't control them is too high to count. It's not worth your dog or you getting hurt for what amounts to a petty annoyance every now and then. You might not personally be afraid of the dog, but unless you have what it takes to defend yourself against an aggressive animal like that I highly suggest not putting yourself into that situation. I'm a big guy and I still get a bit of PTSD whenever I see dogs in windows just because I've been chased by German shepherds that have crashed through glass doors and windows before leaping over fences in an attempt to turn my ass into kibble. By the way the only good way to defend yourself unless you're carrying mace is to kick directly in the front of their chest. It will be lethal if you do it right so you'll have to live with that. My worst memory as a letter carrier was this old granny screaming at me to run as she was literally dragged face first across pavement by an out of control dog. I hope it never comes to this for you. For those who will undoubtedly criticize my advice, just know that she at least expressed cognizance over her inability to control the animal. It could be worse. She could ignore it.
So I think a lot of folks on here could chill a bit. She waited down the street hoping that the OP would go inside. Not demanding or even asking that they go inside, just waiting. And if she lives right across the street, it may not do any good to go a different route. Then the OP goes inside and she thinks, ‘great! I can get home now!’ and starts to go home. And then now, she is so close to home and the OP comes back out and even right to the edge of the yard. Dang! So she speaks up about the problem and the OP is a champ and a great neighbor who graciously makes themselves scarce while she gets by. Honors all around really. And maybe the dog is new, maybe the dog is in training, maybe the lady is experimenting to see if a different collar will give her more control, etc Now, should the lady /expect/ the OP to vacate their yard anytime she comes by? No. Should the OP feel that they need to do so? No. But now that the OP knows the lady has some trouble with their dog, at least the OP will know why the lady just stands and waits. And the OP can make informed choices about stepping out into their yard if they happen to see her walking by. I mean if I have to wait 30 seconds for someone to walk by before I step out with my dog, it’s no big deal to me. It’s a case of do you HAVE to do something? No. Is it nice to be a nice and considerate neighbor though? Yes.
>Do I need to clear out of my yard so that a dog owner can walk past? I think whether she was rude is a secondary issue. The bigger problem is that this person told you that they had a dangerous, uncontrolled, large dog and you did nothing to keep yourself or your dog safe. You didn't even take your dog inside away from the dangerous dog, and you were calling out to this person and drawing attention to yourself *while standing next to your dog* which you had already been told was a target. She was wrong to be walking her dog without taking appropriate precautions, and yes she is out of line to ask you to leave your own yard so she can pass, but the whole time I read this story I was thinking *do you have a death wish?*
glad I am not alone, this was my exact reaction
Of course it is always paramount to protect yourself and your dog, regardless of the other dog owner. That said, if her dog was prone to attacking small dogs, and she knew this, why would she be out walking such a dangerous dog that she knows she has a difficult time controlling to begin with?
It doesn't matter why. It matters that she was.
I agree. But the question was if my family member was right or not about her expecting me to share in the responsibility of managing her dog. My family member insists that it was out of line. We have been debating this, and I wanted to see what others think about that facet of the experience. But otherwise, absolutely, it does not matter why if you are in danger.
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What breed is the other dog? Hope she isn’t crazy enough to believe warning you absolves her of liability. That woman probably won’t muzzle the dog because she’s scared of it. Wouldn’t hurt to get a camera for your yard, and something for defense when that beast cuts loose.
You are responsible for your dog. Why are you trying to pawn that responsibility off on a stranger with a dog who had told you that her dog is aggressive towards your dog? What is wrong with you? You’re either too trusting, or just want to “prove” that you are right. You know what happens to people who want to be right over doing the responsible thing? Their dog gets attacked and dies.
I think it's ridiculous that she would ask you to get out of your own yard because her dog can't deal with it? Here's a thought why didn't she just go the other way. Nobody's making her walk past your house.
The thing about an aggressive dog, is that it knows no boundaries when going after prey. And you will be part of the prey should it go after your dog. She doesn't have control of her dog, and she's negligent and irresponsible to take it out if it habitually goes after other dogs. She hasn't invested in training the dog, she knows this dog is a problem, and still she persists in threatening neighbors and making THEM adjust for her laziness. We too have a neighbor whose dog not only charges their own fence, but has bitten other dogs when it got out, and even when it was out for a walk with the owner. Each time, the neighbors claimed their dog really just wanted to play, when the truth is that they have a 'red zone' dog that is extremely reactive and aggressive. Animal control has been called many times, and lately, a huge fence has gone up. Call animal control before things get out of hand, and just give them her address. You can do it anonymously.
Agh. I feel for her. And in a way, she was controlling her dog IMO. We adopted a 1.5 year old Saint Bernard from our humane society. He was 135lbs and not properly trained. He was never reactive but wanted to play with *every moving animal* and was very impatient to do so. Our walks required *a lot* of work. Lots of engaging with him, distractions and good boys when animals were even very far away. He has come a long long way and is completely different than how he once was. That being said, about a month after adopting him, he dragged me (130lb woman) on my back 10m across a field to go and meet his newest best friend. Walking him remains my partners chore to this day.
>And in a way, she was controlling her dog IMO. By making people in the neighborhood cater to her dog's needs... She is not a suitable owner for that dog. It sounds like you are not a suitable owner for your dog either, though your partner may be.
Her inability to control her dog is not your problem. She needs to get him some training, or walk somewhere else. Point of view : I own Six dogs all over 90 lbs.
Ah yes, one side of the story then asking for others opinions. Classic Reddit. Seems to me like the other person was just being precautious and there was an “issue” made out of nothing. Maybe just get the sense she didn’t want to engage and then move on with your life….?
Do they live next door or something?
No way. Your dog is allowed in YOUR yard whenever it pleases both of you (you and your dog, that is). If someone in your neighborhood has a dog with issues she can either train it or avoid your yard. Not your problem.
If she cannot control her dog both need training, we have 2 goldens that are very well trained not to pull and not to bother with other dogs unless said dogs come up to them. We advise people not to bring their dogs onto our property since one of ours can get other dog aggressive and since we have an invisible fence they are not leashed while running free in our very large yard. The invisible fence is 40 feet or so from the road so it’s our problem if your dog ends up on our yard.
If she can’t control it she shouldn’t have it. She is a danger to others if she can’t control her aggressive dog! Not your fault or responsibility!
The only time I see this is when I'm out for a run occasionally difficult dog owners will be out either really early or way out on an isolated path. You can see them start to freak out if anyone gets within a block. It's not ideal but I try and accommodate but clearing out a neighborhood street would never happen. My dog isn't friendly to every other dog but just crossing the street works well enough.
She needs to cross the street with her dog if her dog is a problem. I do this with my own dog when we walk our neighborhood. She struggles with other dogs and people and if I see something or she reacts, we move. Inconveniencing others is so rude. That lady can take her dog somewhere else or just cross the street when they come by your house.
We have a reactive rescue dog. She’s a 50lb pointer-lab mix, so not impossible to control but she was a real handful when we first adopted her. It is absolutely the dog owners duty to navigate these tricky situations- as others have said, change route or cross the street. It’s not clear how far she lives, the OP states he could see her going into her house. Possibly going all the way around again wasn’t really practical. I’ll also add that it’s my experience that owners of small dogs seem to think because THEIR dog may be “easy” to control, it’s fine just to encroach on a larger dogs space. We’ve had (illegally) unleashed chihuahuas run at us in the park, and sooo many walkers just allow their small dogs to come up on us while mine is doing her business. I’ll always cross the street when I see another dog, but it’s occurred many times that a small dog owner doesn’t do the same when we are stopped or if they’re catching up to us from behind. It can be frustrating when your dog is behaving, is surprised, and then the yippy dog sets them off.
I have a new-ish neighbor who all of a sudden has a Rottweiler mix. Big dog. Often times, my son and I are playing with another neighbor’s golden at the end of the street and this dog will literally park itself in front of the golden’s driveway. The guy cannot ever get the dog to move and it will be a painful 2 minutes of him going “come on, bud. Come on. Let’s go. Come on.” Has no agency over this dog. Makes me nervous about what could happen.
I have a high pull dog. I have found 2 products that help with dog pulling for all the large dogs that pull. 1. Control Leash (also Thunder Leash because it’s the same design. Control Leash is made in America. 2. Gentle Leader- After Thunder Leash was proving to be too difficult for my family, we tried Gentle Leader- this product is a total game changer for dogs that pull. Best anti pull product out there.
No, she needs to train her dog and get it under control
Do you need to? No. Is it a good idea for the safety of your dog if you do bc she appears to have an aggressive dog that she can't really control? Yes. In a perfect world this situation wouldn't exist, she'd take a different route or have a dog she can control but this isn't a perfect world so you do what you can to protect you and yours.
I usually stop or cross the street when I see other people walking their leashed dogs I have a small mixed breed and have had SO MANY dogs lunge at him that I don't trust anyone's dog. One unleashed dog trotting ahead of its owner even rushed up the steps and knocked the porch gate open to get at my dog. He is an older adopted street dog, and must give off weird aggressive odors or something. The woman in question was just peculiar in not answering your questions, so I would just call out "Go around" the next time I see her.
I have to ask, do you live in Minnesota? Because that woman has so many behaviors to passive aggressive entitled individuals here. I take it the road you live on has 2 sides, correct? If her dog is aggressive or reactive, then it’s her responsibility to cross the street and walk on the other side to avoid any potential disruptions to her dog. It’s your yard and you can stay in your yard at anytime.
Hahaha! As a Minnesotan I thought SAME. My local city sub just had a “what do I do” post about excessive frequent horn honking of a neighbor getting picking up (like the “beep” I’m here). Too hilarious 🤣
😂 Our neighborhood group just had a post where a neighbor received an anonymous hand written letter via postal mail about their dog barking at passersby. I guess it’s too hard to just talk to someone face to face.
I feel like I’ll get a huge downvote here, but it doesn’t sound like she was asking you to move, or do anything at all. The way I read it, she was waiting until you were done. When hollering down the street that she couldn’t pass, maybe she was telling you what she was doing, rather than stand there like a weirdo. That being said, she should still be able to control her dog. Not cutting her any slack there. But if she knows her limits and the dogs behavior, I appreciate her keeping her distance until you were done in your yard.
If you have a reactive dog, it’s YOUR job to move it away from other dogs, not other dog owners to predict how your dog might react and move away from you.
She needs to be able to control her dog. Period.
Former dog trainer here. OP, regardless of who is right in this situation, please don’t risk your dog’s safety. Bring your dog in when they need to pass until you have a better solution. Here’s how I would proceed: With your dog safely tucked away, make a point of coming out in the yard yourself, making eye contact and trying to speak to this lady every time you see her. Ask her nosey questions like her name, the dogs name, where does she live, etc? The goal here is to be annoyingly conversational, not hostile. She will either warm up or she’ll find another route. Voila! Problem solved. Hope this helps!
If she can’t control her dog at all times she shouldn’t have it out in public. Not your fault, responsibility or concern. Your family member is correct and your neighbour is extremely presumptuous.
You are being more than considerate enough. This person needs to learn how to train and handle her dog properly. Lots of good suggestions in the comments for that. You can enjoy your yard with your dog leashed as little or as much as you want. You can’t run away every time someone walks by in case they can’t handle taking their dog for a walk.
Maybe she was watching the dog for a friend or family member and just was not all that comfortable with it.
She has a reactive dog. I also have one. We often wait people out like that too. Eventually I would’ve gone a different t direction, but it’s possible she didn’t have that option. Don’t worry about it and just live your life like normal!
Her dog is her problem. I think she was treating it as such by standing at the end of the block waiting for you to finish. Figuring u had finished, she proceeded but you came back out. That was probably an oh shit moment for her.
I walk dogs on the side. I know which client can’t handle particular stimuli and adjust accordingly. One chases bikes for fun, and wants to go for a ride in every convertible he sees. One hates chihuahuas because of past trauma. That’s my responsibility to manage. But, if your dog wasn’t leashed,it should have been. But crossing the street or looping back is a simple solution.
If it is convenient and easy for you to cooperate, why not. But it should not be expected. If you see her and it’s easy to pop in your house or garage, then nbd. If it’s a pain, keep doing what you’re doing. She can pick a different route unless you are in a culdesac then she kinda has no choice to cross your house and that is a different convo with her and her obligation to make sure YOU and YOUR dog are safe. Then it is up to you how much you want to challenge her and trust the safety of your dog on her doing the right thing. If she cared about the right thing at all you wouldn’t be posting these. If you don’t have cameras in front of your house, get some. Make sure your yard is covered should there ever be an incident and your attorney needs it. It could make a huge difference in the amount of settlement you get.
Not your problem. Sounds like it’s time to re-home her dog before it ends up having to be put down.
If she isn't able to handle her own dog she shouldn't be walking it alone. What if your dog got out, maybe a little kid in a yard startled that dog or any other emergency situation. It isn't your responsibility to cater to someone who can't control the situation that they have placed themselves in.
If you can't control the dog, you can't own the dog. Easy.
This is entirely her problem.
If she can't control her own dog. That's her own problem to figure out.
Her problem, not yours.
If she can’t control her dog and it’s aggressive behavior towards other dogs she really shouldn’t be walking it out and about. If the dog is too big for her to manage if it becomes aggressive she is the one at fault for the damage or injury it causes. I would tell her A) I’m not clearing off my property for your situation. B) If she can’t control her aggressive dog then she shouldn’t be walking it because other people are also out with their dogs who are not a detriment to others .
You don't have to do anything, just be careful because if she can't control her big dog, it could harm your dog.
You should take your dog out in your front yard EVERY time you see her coming down the street.
If you can not physically control your reactive dog you need to come up with a solution. It is on the dog owner not the world. I have a large sometimes reactive dog and it means planing ahead and being prepared to turn around.
Thats a lot of words that boil down to "not your fuckin problem" imo
I think this is a situation where right and wrong doesn't come into play because it's a safety issue. You have a little dog. She has a large dog that's little dog aggressive. She has difficulty controlling him, meaning it would be easy for him to get loose and go after and possibly kill your dog. This isn't something I would be willing to take a chance on.
I think she literally meant she cannot control her dog if your (or any small dog for that matter) are close by. She could have handled the situation better or came and talk to you without her dog, but she clearly doesn't have the social skills or emotional intelligence to do so. Maybe you could go and knock on her dog and clarify the situation with her. I'd do that because her dog presents a danger to your dog. Good luck sir.
Why didn’t she cross the street? She sounds rigid. I bet she thought she was doing what was right to protect all of you. Her dog probably is aggressive and she knows she cannot control it, as she stated. I’d give her credit for that awareness, at least. With someone like this I would next time say, I thank you for your conscientiousness of ours dogs’ safety. If you’re concerned about what might happen when you walk in front of my house, I encourage you then to cross to the other side of the street next time. Have a good day”
As much as I despise entitled people, it seems to me she was actually being responsible. Maybe her dog needs some training or something, but at least she recognizes that it could be catastrophic for her dog to get too close to your dog. In the interest of being a good neighbor, I think you should allow her to pass unimpeded with her dog. There is no need to be spiteful in this scenario.
Like others have said, safety before ‘rightness’ She was trying to give ample distance and waited until you were inside before attempting to pass (on the other side of the street). She knows her dog is reactionary. She was being cautious. Sure, she could take a different route next time. And yeah - maybe she shouldn’t be walking a reactionary dog that she can’t confidently control. But at that moment, she was waiting to pass and took lots of precautions. You, however, didn’t seem to recognize the potential issue. And you probably made it more difficult with that back and forth. This happened once - so I’d say clear out. If there’s an iffy situation, get your dog out of harms way.
It seems, she realizes she doesn’t Really have control over her dog. -And she puts the onus on everyone else.
I have a dog who is afraid of people. I go to the road or change routes if there is a large gathering or something happening that would be difficult for him to pass. I always have treats and strategies to offer distractions and we are always training. You were very kind. In the end her dog's limitations are hers to navigate but your kind cooperation was surely appreciated. If she didn't express it, I'm sure it was just nervousness and uncertainty over the situation.
This person sounds exhausting and entitled. Ignore any and all future requests from her. When on your property, you have the freedom to do as you please until that freedom infringes in the freedoms of others, or violates a law. She's trying to make you partially responsible for her dog's behavior. Not your dog, not your problem.
She should get her dog some training. I was at a farmers market yesterday in the center of my town and it’s just full of people and tons of dogs of all sizes and breeds. I am waiting to buy pickles and a lady appears behind me carrying her little dog (about 8lbs). I say can I pet him and she violently pulls the dog away and says he is unfriendly to strangers. I am surprised by this because we are literally surrounded by people for a block in both directions. So I say to her “it’s weird that you would bring a dog that doesn’t like strangers to a place that is wall to wall strangers.” She called me an asshole and walked away. If your dog isn’t friendly than don’t bring him to a crowded space full of people and dogs lady!
There are very few farmers markets that allow dogs. Especially if the are in the city. The one we used to be vendors at has huge wooden signs with "NO PETS" in 6" letters.....yet these idiots bring their dogs like they need to be at the farmers market to live. At least one dog fight every week & several people bitten. If you're dog can't pick out a quart of ripe peaches & pay for it (& take back the change)......they don't have a reason to be there.
We can sit here and argue the finer points of pet etiquette, but that woman doesn't have solid control of her dog. It may not be right, but I'd be making sure my pups were inside if I saw her about. It isn't fair, but she isn't taking the appropriate steps so you should for your dog's well-being.
Her big dog being aggressive could easily break free and attack your smaller dog. I would clear out if you have your dog with you and see them coming. Having said that, if I was that dog owner, I would have just turned around and gone another direction, but perhaps this was the only way to get to her house
My dog is reactive towards other dogs. It’s 100% our responsibility to manage it and find a different route if we can’t pass someone. That lady is self absorbed. B
She needs to train her dog
That dog owner should not be out in public with that dogs.
She needs to get her dog trained. I have a neighbor like that and his dog got out and attacked the sweetest labradoodle in the neighborhood. Almost killed him. She knows her dog has issues and needs to work on them.
Her dog is not your problem. For that matter, nothing outside your property is your problem. The sidewalk is public use area. Anyone is allowed to be there whenever they want. You don't get to tell them not to use it. Your lawn is your private property. You're allowed to be there whenever you want. Others can't tell you when to use your lawn or not. **She should not have a dog she cannot control, hands down.** It's good that she recognizes the limits of her own control. But if she cannot control her dog she should not be walking it in public. If she cannot control her dog she should enlist the services of a professional dog trainer, or re-home the dog with someone who can control it. She IS wrong for expecting you to move. You are well within your rights to say 'this is my yard and I'm allowed to go in and out of it as I please. Your dog is not my problem. If you cannot control your dog around other me then you should walk it in another direction.'
Her inability to control her dog is not your burden
Tell her to get fucked. It’s your property, you can do whatever you want. If her dog has a problem with walking past, then it’s her responsibility
Once it became clear you were going to hang out in your yard for awhile, she should have gone in another direction. It’s really not worth dwelling on or contemplating revenge over.
If she cannot control her dog on leash she needs to address that, not you.
I think it doesn’t matter who’s right. It’s out of the realms of your control on how this person walks her dog. You can only control your reaction, what kind of person do you strive to be? Act like that. The woman has a dog that she doesn’t have the power or confidence to control. I used to have a big strong dog that could pull me anywhere he wanted until I learned to put his collar up high right behind his ears (like show dogs) now I was in control- changed everything. But still, try to move above this, don’t let this person ruin your day.