[Beewyched]

Went to "Pets r we" to grab a sack of layers pellets - as our delivery not turned-up today 
I always take Merlin into the store with me - as he likes a good mooch at the toys, spoilt brat usually gets a new toy every trip & he loves the attention from the staff - he still gets a biccy every time from them 
I was just popping him into the back of the Landy, when a woman walked by, with a Jack Russell on an extending lead - the dog started yacking & pulling, so she let the lead run & the dog came growling towards us - Merlin raised his hackles & started growling at it, but it kept on - so he jumped at the dog, bowling the small dog over - no squeeling, just a lot of growling from both dogs.  No reaction from the woman - at all    I told Merlin to "leave" & get "ups" into the car & the blasted Jack Russell was still coming for him.
Now this happened a lot quicker than I can write about it!
My partner took the trolley back to the shop & blow me, some man (possibly the woman's partner) came across to me & asked me if I was going to apologise     I replied with "pardon?"  He then went on to say that Merlin had gone for his dog & that I didn't have him under my control - started making a big scene (we were parked in the spot nearest the store, so you can imagine the audience  ). 
I  tried to explain what had happened, but he wouldn't listen to me - in the end he just stormed-off & left me standing there.  Honestly, how rude!!!
 

[funkyfish]

Stoopid people! That is exactly why I hate extending leads! My dog once approached a tiny Yorkie (was not at all socialised), it screamed blue murder, so he walked off. The person gave me a ton of abuse for my dog hurting her dog- he wasn't even 5 foot from it!

[Beewyched]

Why does it always seem to be small, yappy dogs on these extending leads? 

[Sylvia]

They worry me when folk have them on main roads. can they have split second control if the dog sees a cat or another dog on the other side of the road?
I think they should be banned! Beewyched, I dare say this woman knew that snarling and growling was as far as her dog would go and expected you to know that too

[Alistair]

IMO the owners should be educated, not sure how though, it's nearly always little dogs, and that's cos they're cute, so the owner doesn't give them any rules to live by, so the dog thinks its in charge, this ten combined with a flexi lead, where the dog can do what it wants, I.e. take a dominant position in front of the owner who has no control, just means he dog is even less socialised.
Bigger dogs tend to be on proper leads and not allowed by the owner to pull, just cos it's more comfortable for them, even if they have no knowledge of dog behaviour.
I hate flexi leads with a vengeance, it just shows ou have no recall or control on your dog as a generalisation that is, they may have a place on a beach or in a field with livestock but not on the streets

[bloomer]

small dog syndrome is the bane of all big dog owners lives...


when walking my mums heffalump of a dog (harley is a big lad) and he gets pestered by small dogs with issues i just tell the owners he's not had breakfast yet and there dog would make a nice snack for him, yes i'm not serious but i get some funny looks and their dogs always end up on short leads as they're never quite sure...


 

[Bionic]

I have a flexi lead and it works well for us. I take Archie for a walk across the fields with it.
In built up areas we use the same lead but its always, always locked on a short lead and I wouldn't dream of having it any other way.
Sally

[Old Shep]

How rude indeed!  And why is it always the big dog's fault?  I've been in the same situation myself a few times.  Once I was just getting two dogs out of the car, putting their leads on in a car park next to a popular walking area.  The dogs were still in the car when a husky type thing and a terrier came bounding up to my car barking at my dogs, Lucy got away from me and nipped the husky on the bum which then ran off - got her back in the car - terrier still going at it!! - I shouted at it "go away you stupid little dog".  Man finally arrives on the scene - tells me off for calling his dog stupid!!!

[SteveHants]

I've had 'small dogs' all my life.

If people who have terriers can't accept that terriers are, well.....terriers, they shouldnt have them.

[robert waddell]

oh the stories i could tell about out of control dogs   trouble is they are all over rainbow bridge

[sokel]

I can understand you getting worked up.
when we where at Stanhope show there was a yappy cairn terrier there , we had the 2 wolfhounds and the terrier lept up and grabbed Paddy by his chin bearing in mind Paddy is now close on 39" to the shoulder . Poor paddy didnt even growl at him but jumped to the side and the terrier fell to the ground yelping,obviously hurting a back leg and they tried to say Paddy did it 
I flipped and a heated argument started and thankfully several people around us backed us up saying that Paddy had done nothing at all and it was all the terrier

[Old Shep]

oh the stories i could tell about out of control dogs   trouble is they are all over rainbow bridge