Problems w/ Off Leash Dogs

 An air horn. 

I have very little patience for people who allow their off-lead dogs to approach ones that are on-lead, wherever they happen to be.  For one thing, in a lead-mandatory area they should be obeying the law, but even where I live (dogs are allowed to run free in almost all parks) I don't allow Ben to approach dogs who are on a lead at all, and dislike it when others don't have the same courtesy.  It really doesn't matter whether their dog is friendly - what if yours is not?  I don't mean Apollo, just that it doesn't occur to people that the dog may be on a lead for a reason, namely because the owner is responsible and knows their own dog isn't dog friendly.  

So yes, an air horn or similar.  You have a right to prevent your dog from being accosted by strange dogs, particularly in a place where those dogs should not even have the option of approach.  

The thing that really gets me is twice we were on a boardwalk- not even a park! We were on a busy boardwalk with cars flying by on the street and a women had a Golden off leash walking and running up to everyone, and a guy had a yellow Lab doing the same.

My dog walks within literally 2 inches from my leg and I still put him on a leash him. Of course I've been guilty walking him off leash when it's noone outside but it's a law to keep your dog on a lead and no matter how well disciplined a dog is, he's still an animal and for his own safety he should be leashed in the case he may find that other creature across the street unresistable.

be really rude to those losers. Even in legal off-leash areas dogs shouldn't be running up to every dog and person they see; that's a seriously under-trained totally rude dog and owner.

We've had this problem, usually when we are walking past people's houses and their dogs are out.  I'm lucky that my dogs are friendly so in the past we haven't really done anything.  I let my dogs sniff for a few seconds and then we go on our way.  If the other dog follows, not my problem.  I personally wouldn't be comfortable carrying mace and an airhorn is too big (sorry I don't feel like bring "supplies" along to deal with other people's dogs), but maybe a few extra treats and if the dog was particularly annoying, throw a treat to distract it and move quickly along?

I pictured using an air horn in the ear of the moronic human. I suppose, however, you meant to use it to startle the other dog away. How about a megaphone? "Leash your pet" so that everyone can hear. Of course, there's never a Bobbie around to write a ticket, is there?

An air horn is a good idea, as long as YOUR dog isnt startled by it as well.

We have unleashed dogs approach/harrass my wifes Guide constantly. I carry pepper spray and have used it on three occasions; once on a dog  AND his owner. Being (somewhat) good sighted, it is no problem for me to use the spray, but when she is out without me she does the boat air horn thing. Got it at WalMart in the sporting goods dept.

I have heard of limited success using the "can of rocks" method, whereby one throws a tin can with a half dozen small rocks in front of the offending dog as it is approaching. Supposed to scare them off by the unpleasant noise.

 Fortunately, there are laws concerning the harrassment/distraction of service dogs while working, and usually when I mention the fine and/or jail time the other dog owner is facing, they are quick to corral their "oh, he just wants to be friendly" untrained mutt and keep it away (at least til we are gone). Someday, I hope that animal control will be able to respond to ALL "off leash" dog incidents for all dogs-----hey, just think of the revenue they are missing by not enforcing the leash laws!

I hear this same old complaint everywhere frequented by dog people. Doesn't seem to change the fact that there will always be people and dogs that don't behave the way you would like them to. Sure, you have a right to not be accosted, but that doesn't help you much when you are anyway. So what do you do? My answer is learn to live with it. If for some reason you can't have strange dogs running up to you and your dog, I guess you will have to stay at home or find somewhere quiet. We found a dog park with a good, regular crowd with nice dogs. Some still run up to us at full speed, but hey, Kivi has learnt that some dogs just do that and waits for them to arrive. We know one dog that stalks him on her belly then charges him at the last moment, all in fun. It took him a couple of goes to learn what it was all about, but now he patiently waits for the rush and they are great friends. In my opinion, you can't control the way other dogs approach, so you stay away or habituate your dog to it. If we want to practice something in a more challenging environment than home but not as challenging as a busy dog park, we go to the park at a time we know will be quiet, or else we take them somewhere dogs don't regularly get walked and keep our dogs on long lines to obey the law.  

There are solutions, IME. You just need to accept that these people and dogs will always be around and there's not a great deal you can do about it unless you want to walk around grouching at people and deliberately spooking the blameless dogs all the time. You take responsibility for your own dogs as that is all you can do, and that includes finding places you can work with them to their ability. Meeting rudeness with rudeness doesn't make for polite dogs and owners. It just puts you at loggerheads. Put your energy into something that will have better returns.

 I would give the rude owner a civil warning, then out would come the Spray Shield.  Take no prisoners.

Anne, I don't know if you've ever been to Hull (where I live), but all of these incidents happened on the boardwalk along the beach. The main ave is right there!

I haven't come across any unleash dogs recently- yet. But I think next time I do I'm just going to toss a treat away from us since I always bring them on walks now and give the owner a civil warning.