You hear the cheerful tone of "my dog's friendly" as you brace for the impact of the uncontrolled dog that is hurtling towards you. This is something that many of us are, unfortunately, all too familiar with.
"My dog's friendly" has almost become code for "I don't have control over my dog and it's up to you to manage my dog for me". This phrase, seemingly meant to reassure you, is often the final warning that you're about to have an unwanted canine encounter.
The dogs that approach you with this phrase following after them, are usually rude, overly-aroused, intimidating, aggressive, or a combination of these.
These kind of encounters are nightmare fuel for those with nervous or reactive dogs but just as bad for those with puppies, elderly dogs, dogs with medical issues, and service dogs. Even well-behaved and well-socialised dogs can become unsettled by the presence of a rude dog giving them an unwanted greeting.
Not only is it against the law to have a dog that is out of control in public, the fact is that no dog should have to put up with these unwanted scenarios and no dog owner should be left to deal with a dog that doesn't belong to them.
What to do if you meet an out of control dog in public
Always scan the environment as you are walking and make quick evaluations based on your observations - does this approaching dog look like a potential problem? If the answer is yes, can you avoid this dog by putting greater distance between you and them to avoid an unwanted situation in the first place?
If you find yourself in an uncomfortable situation, the most important thing to do is to advocate for yourself and your dog. You can do so verbally by speaking to the other dog owner and physically by blocking the strange dog from having access to your dog.
Carrying a spare slip lead is an extremely effective way to manage other dogs when they approach. You can loop the lead over the dog and return it to it's owner. Do not be worried about protecting yourself and your dog when in a dangerous situation.
What to do if your dog is the out of control one
It's simple really - keep your dog on a lead or a long line until it has reliable recall. This keeps you, your dog, and everyone else safe. Seeking professional help from a trainer should help you train in the right way, and will ensure that the training is effective in all situations in the long term.
If you want to learn more about the legal side of keeping a dog under control, you can read more here: https://www.gov.uk/control-dog-public
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