Another dog tragedy

Hampstead Heath, near me, which is run by the Greater London Authority, brought in fairly stringent rules and licences for dog walkers last year- 4 dogs only per walker and they are not allowed to meet up and have, for example, 2 people with 8 dogs. However - it has not really been policed at all and yesterday I saw a walker with 6 dogs and a Heath van drove past her and didn’t stop to challenge her. Also there are packs with dog walkers getting together in groups all over the place. Not sure what the solution is at all.

Blondiescot

This is why children need to be taught that they cannot just run up and pet strange dogs. You need to teach dogs how to behave around people, yes - but people (not just children) need to learn how to behave around dogs too. Some dogs love attention - others don't, especially from strangers. I love all dogs, but I'd always ask the owner before petting one. My friend has a Cocker Spaniel who was horribly treated as a puppy by the children in the house he grew up in - he's a lovely little thing now, but still very wary and mistrusting of children, and with good reason.

Quite. We had darling rescue JR cross who was Christmas puppy and passed from pillar to post before we got him. Took me a week of strict boot camp to get him to understand what I was about and he lapped up(!) The mix of discipline/rewards but my training never ended, I never got so lax with him that he went off piste ever! He was adorable happy social loved by everyone who knew him and left us aged 16.5 in 2021..😢

Nvella

Hampstead Heath, near me, which is run by the Greater London Authority, brought in fairly stringent rules and licences for dog walkers last year- 4 dogs only per walker and they are not allowed to meet up and have, for example, 2 people with 8 dogs. However - it has not really been policed at all and yesterday I saw a walker with 6 dogs and a Heath van drove past her and didn’t stop to challenge her. Also there are packs with dog walkers getting together in groups all over the place. Not sure what the solution is at all.

The solution is to take photos of anything like this (involving packs of dogs or walkers in groups) and send it to the council and your MP and remind them of the young lady who has just died. The more evidence there is of this dangerous practice the better. The more we pester our MPs the better.

Mosie

I understand that the young woman was a dog walker walking 8 dogs. They turned on her as a pack. A couple were dachshunds not known for their dangerous behaviour. I think the issue here is that she was walking too many dogs together. Eight dogs are too many for one person to control if they are not the owner. It would be relatively easy to register and licence professional dog walkers

Daschunds, not bad?!? You've not had one then? MiL had longhaired dsch. Called Sacha and he was the snappiest nasty bad tempered little horror I'd ever come across!! He ruled the roost and she let him! So 100% her fault for not getting to grips with his place in the family - below the youngest member ALWAYS! Any dog will have a go if scared/spooked/untrained and clueless as to what's expected of them enough! Don't be fooled by size! It definitely DOES NOT matter with pooches🤣

For a brief interval between jobs my husband was a postman and Jack Russells are known to be the most dangerous breed, at least for biting postmen. As the owner of two beautiful, totally harmless dogs I deplore news like this which makes people frightened of dogs. Having said this I would still never leave a baby alone with my dogs because a dog is a dog and you never know exactly what could press the wrong button. I agree with the poster who said 'it's the owner, not the dog' is a nonsense statement (or words to that effect) Some dogs are bred to be vicious and should be seized and - sadly - put down. As for German Shepherds, I love them, but they are not to be messed with. If I had one I would train very thoroughly and be very careful where I let it off the lead, because they are scary (but beautiful). It's such a shame when news like this comes out and turns people against dogs, for they are human's best friend and should be treated responsibly.

Iam64

Agreement with germanshepherd and blondiescott. Secure, well cared for dogs can cope with occasionally being left slightly longer. Rescues shouldn’t be left

Puppies - I’m astounded by the number of people on the spaniel Facebook groups who think it’s ok to work full time with a puppy. It isn’t.

I agree - same on the cockerpoo sites. People get very annoyed if anyone queries their right to work 8 hours a day and leave their dog locked in a crate. Infuriating.

Our 2 year old fox red lab barks vociferously at anyone coming to the door, especially the postman. Yesterday I opened the door for a parcel not realising she was loose and out she ran and wanted to jump up the postman. “She won’t hurt you” I said. Then thought how stupid, that’s what they all say! Anyway a dog biscuit soon lured her back in.

Terribly cruel. The dog is nothing more than a plaything for when the owner happens to be available. You might as well have a toy dog to play with.

Not read all of this but I understand this young woman was walking 8 dogs. How could she possibly control that number? The answer has to be largely limits on numbers (4 sounds good) and Policed.

I agree. We always wanted a dog but thought it too cruel to just leave him/her alone all day.

Germanshepherdsmum

Terribly cruel. The dog is nothing more than a plaything for when the owner happens to be available. You might as well have a toy dog to play with.

Indeed. So many seem to think a dog is just a toy or some kind of fashion accessory. It's not fair on the dog and just stores up problems for the future.

When I'm walking my dog some children ask to stroke her, but I tell them she's a rescue dog and prefers not to petted. She was a stray so I know nothing about her and no children really visit my home, it's just her and I most of the time. I tell the kids to just say hello to her as I prefer not to take any chances with me not knowing her background.

Once, years ago when out with my children, we met a person with a Corgi on a lead. We like Corgis but were not going to pat it. However, the owner called us back and said, ' Excuse me. I wonder if you could pat the dog. He's very friendly and really likes meeting people.' The wee dog wagged his tail stump and looked at us hopefully. We were surprised but duly and happily stroked him and made a fuss of him. Just a small thing but it fair cheered us up!

Normally I wouldn't touch a strange dog and am not a great dog lover. One day last year we were walking across the park and I picked up a stick to take home for the fire. A couple we vaguely know were coming towards us with their elderly dog, and as they passed, the dog calmly and gently took the stick out of my hand and then dropped it, obviously expecting me to throw it for her, which I did. Every time after that when we saw them in the distance, we found a stick for the dog. She was lovely, always wagging her tail and enjoying fetching the stick, though slowly! Haven't seen them for months though, so I think the dog must have died.

Blondiescot

Germanshepherdsmum

Terribly cruel. The dog is nothing more than a plaything for when the owner happens to be available. You might as well have a toy dog to play with.

Indeed. So many seem to think a dog is just a toy or some kind of fashion accessory. It's not fair on the dog and just stores up problems for the future.

As I understand it one of the dogs being walked by that poor young woman was some kind of German moutain breed that stands 3 feet high at the shoulder, weighs 10 stone and was bred to protect sheep from wolves!
Who - apart maybe from sheep farmers - actually needs such a dog nowadays? It was obviously bought as a fashion accessory, with no thought for its needs.

There’s no evidence that the dog was bought as a fashion accessory or that its needs were not met, other than that being walked with so many other dogs is less than ideal. I have large German shepherds - they were also used to protect sheep, hence the name. They are very loyal and intelligent much-loved members of the family, not fashion accessories.

I have a 2 year old male show type labrador. He came from excellent breeders, pedigree good for health and temperament. He’s been in training groups from 6 months. He arrived in lockdown or would have started at 3 months. Prior to formal groups, I worked on loose lead, basic obedience and recall- he aced
He has been a real challenge, big powerful easily distracted male. The trainers I’m working with all use the words lovable rogue/challenge.

My point - if you decide to share your life with a dog, be prepared for anything. Commit to meeting the needs of the dog you have. Also dismiss this nonsense that there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.

I did positive dog training with my rescue dog and it has worked fine

JaneJudge - I’ve packed his bags and he’s on his way 😂

Iam64, I'm sure he'll improve - he is only 2years old

GrumpyGran8 Leonbergers are of German origin but they are a cross between Newfoundland's and St Bernard's, with a bit of Pyrennean Mountain Dog thrown in. Heinrich Essig, mayor of Leonberg claimed to have bred them because he wanted to pay homage to the town's crest - so the legend goes. They were owned by several royal households during the 19thC.

During both World Wars they were used to pull ammunition carts and this resulted in the breed nearly dying out. Apparently only 8 dogs survived WW2.

In addition to pulling carts they were also used for guarding flocks of sheep. Other breeds are used for this too. In Italy they use Maremmas which are slightly smaller. The large dogs are not used for attacking wolves and other predators - they would not have the speed but for the noise that thy make which would alert the shepherds and villagers.

Now they are used for water rescue/life saving dogs, as are Newfies.

Why should someone not have particular breed of dog just because it's big?

My first thought when I looked at the origins of the breed is that dogs bred to guard flocks of sheep might possibly, in a pack of dogs, go into protection mode with it’s pack. And walking a large group of dogs might bring out that latent trait. Many dogs have very strong traits eg people think that Belgian Shepherds are the same as German Shepherds but they protect their territory and that territory extends to anywhere they happen to be, even when out on walks. I know someone who has a Malinois rescue and he said te rescue agency are very careful about who they rehome dogs with. I do think they’re lovely dogs but I do give them a wide berth when out with my dog. When we did puppy classes with my latest dog the trainers were very careful with which dogs they put in the play area together and it wasn’t just down to size. Some dogs they just wouldn’t allow in the play area. It takes a lot of experience to pick up on dogs body language and temperament. I don’t think a lot of these dog walkers have that knowledge.

My lab is 5 months and is great at recall, was easily toilet trained, etc but is a nightmare for lead pulling, I am following easy peasy puppy squeezy guidance for lead walking but not having much success. 'He is still little' is my comfort blanket

I agree Maybee. An inexperienced person should not be walking a variety of different dogs.

Galaxy - my lab was easy peasy puppy squeezy till adolescence hit. He was house trained by 12 weeks, recall superb, loose lead, general obedience all good. He reminds me if the Kevin and Perry episode where he goes to bed a polite well brought up boy and swaggers downstairs talkin Manc. JaneJudge is tight, he’s young and a work in progress. The trainers tell me labs don’t mature till she 4 🙏🏽🐕

Two of the trainers I work with are Steve Mann trained, and were Guide Dog trainers in the past. They’re all as fed up as I/we are with the lack of regulation around the growing industry of dog walkers. One of them offers a dog walking service. She uses her enclosed field, assess dogs, never mixes mire then, she’s fully trained, insured and very experienced.