what would you do in this situation?

My starting position is I pay no attention to words of an owner who is inconsiderate and allows their dog to charge at or excitedly run towards my dog, as their evaluation of “friendly” behavior might not coincide with mine. Telling the owner to call their dog or come over and put it on a lead is a warning shot over the bow and all the notice they will get before I take whatever steps I think the situation warrants to handle the situation.

A medium to large off leash boisterous dog could flatten my b*tch with joint problems to the grounds, causing days of restricted mobility requiring pain medication and house rest, and my dog would not tolerate a dog “getting in his face” with disrespectful behavior – especially males – which means I have to maneuver myself in between the dogs, and keep the “friendly” dog contained and away from my dog’s physical space until the owner recalls or gets their dog.

Keeping a dog away from my dog is where a walking swept in front of me comes in handy, as does a confident demeanor and an emotionally detached but firm tone telling the dog to GO. Thwacking a dog would happen in an extreme situation where there was a real threat to my dog’s safety and I would do what was necessary to protect my dog.

I do not have a quick temper so would not lash out, and remain controlled when I encounter idiot owners. Once the owner had control over their dog that would be the incident over and I would walk away. If I felt threatened then a sharply raised knee or spray in the face would be used to temporarily incapacitate giving me time to get away and call for help on the phone I carry.

The world is full of people that think aggressive behavior is the only way to settle a problem. Dogs should always be leashed even if the owner thinks their dog would never aggress a strange dog.

If I had a dog off leash that attacked another dog, I would consider it my fault. If I can't call my dog off anything at all that they are interested in, then I have no right to let my do off leash.

The dog should be on a leash, it's the law. It's very rude for the owner not to listen to your request, however, you have to right to hit another persons dog unless they start fighting with your dog (then do whatever you can to get the dogs off of each other). If this occurred, it would be the other persons fault because they were breaking the law by keeping the dog off leash. You do not have the right to hit someones dog (or any animal). This could get YOU in trouble. Would you hit someones kid if they came running up to you and you didn't want them near you?

This happens to me all the time. In my area nobody seems to believe in following leash laws or getting their dog off of people. Me and my caregiver had my leashed dog in the park with giant keep your dogs leashes signs everywhere and a bunch of twits came had their dogs leashed they just weren't holding the leashes. So anyways some boston terrier came charging at my dog which scared the crap out of her so she jumped into my lap and then the boston started jumping on me so my caregiver kicked the damn thing, it was only at that point did the dog owner get off her duff to get her dog and starts yelling at us because my dog is barking at her dog. I would smack a dog away a male owner though I don't think I would slap. As for my dogs running loose it would never happen they are always leashed and the one time my bichon got out of her harness she sat and waited for it to be put back on.

This does happen to me. All the freakin time, with the same woman and her same 2 stupid labradoodles. She doesn't care her dogs are actually in danger, or that it's like being harassed when i'm just trying to get back from the school run with a buggy. She doesn't care at all, just slowly ambles up past me, not calling the dog or anything, while the black one is jumping around, growling and barking just out of my dogs reach. I'm sure you can imagine how my dog is reacting to that....and just which one of us do other people probably think is the menace in this situation? A staffy or a labradoodle??

Just for her complete lack of care, my extreme annoyance at being held up like that, and that annoying dog, i have felt like actually just letting my dog go and then see if she pays any attention, or at least put the dog off running over every time it see's me. I would never actually do that, obviously! Just an evil thought i have every time she lets this happen...

I can't hit or kick the other dog. I have a short dog lead and short limbs. I can't reach the other dog and keep both animals apart at the same time. Besides, this is always on a hill, and i can't just let go of my buggy.

If my dog acted like that, i wouldn't care if someone kicked or hit him. I can hardly blame them. I wouldn't slap anyone, not really into fighting in the street like a fish wife lol anyway, what would be the difference? An irresponsible jerk is an irresponsible jerk, regardless of whether it's a man or woman

this happened to me last weekend ... i was walking my dog on leash our normal route and came across a group of homeless kids with two pit bulls and a large mixed breed dog ... as soon as the pit bulls spotted my dog they zoned in and and came for me ... luckily my dog is very little (five pounds) and i put him in my jacket and turned my back to the the pit bulls ... one pit jumped with his front paws on my back and the other pit was circling me ... i yelled out for them to get their dogs ... i did not resort to violence towards the pit bulls or owner/s but i did pull out my cell phone and dial 911 ... i could not move forward or past these kids and they would not put their dogs on leashes ... then i dialed 311 (animal control where i live) and within five minutes the cops and animal control arrived moments later ... all three dogs were impounded by animal control ... and the worst part is just as i turned the corner to where these kids were, when the first pit bull spotted my dog, one of the homeless girls went to grab the dog and another homeless kid told her to just let him go which she did ... the group of kids found it hilarious until their dogs were taken ... hopefully to rot in a shelter until they are killed ... if it were pretty much any breed other than a pit bull, i would kick the dog to get it away and verbally abuse the owner ... pit bulls though, i would never win a fight ...

Well one thing I am with you on is that if you were walking your dog ON lead and another walker had his dog OFF lead then you have every right to ask him to not allow his dog to approach yours. He might be friendly but if yours isn't then there is a problem and it wouldn't be your fault as your dog is on lead.

If he had done that when I was walking my dogs I would of been furious. I wouldn't of slapped the guy but would of turned my back and walked away.... leaving him frustrated that I wouldn't play his game.

If this happened to you then I would report the git.

Did this actually happen to you?