I was hoping you could kindly pass on my very strong support to Natalie Green in response to her letter titled “Dog gone it, it’s an issue” in yesterday’s Independent.
I too am the owner of a large, very well behaved dog, who just happens to dislike smaller yappy dogs rushing into her personal space.
Let’s face it, these small breeds may get away with that kind of behaviour because they can’t actually do any damage, but we all know that it is classic aggressive behaviour and needs to be treated as such.
Natalie, among many others, I had an incident recently while walking along the path at Oxley beach, where the signs clearly indicate that leashes must be used.
My large dog was securely harnessed and, when we saw a small poodle running down the path towards it, a good 15 feet in front of her owner, we pulled off the path to indicate that we didn’t want to play. My dog sat, and she waited.
The poodle continued to prance closer, so I called out to the lady owner, politely telling her that my dog is not friendly.
She laughed. So, I don’t think I need to tell you what happened next; the poodle of course came rushing up to my dog, who reacted as any dog would when being attacked, she retaliated and pinned the poodle down.
I had to physically remove the poodle from the melee, and the lady was hysterical and upset. I asked her why she did not simply put the dog on the lead?
Incidents like these leave you with an awful feeling, as if our large dogs are the ones at fault. They have EVERY right to be out and about, walking and enjoying the fresh air, as every dog deserves. The owners of large dogs, I find, are the most responsible, and I completey agree with you that is an issue which needs to be addressed.
I do find it heartening to hear of similar stories to ours as, for many years, I would not walk around the more populated areas of Port because I really disliked these incidents.
Of course, I would never take her to an off-leash area like Nobbys Beach, but I would also avoid anywhere that there might be other walkers, even on-lead areas. I would drive 40 minutes out of town to the bush!
But now, I am of the attitude that, as long as my dog and myself are doing the right thing, then the other dog owners might just have to learn the hard way that not every dog wishes to play. My dog has never approached another dog, and only retaliates when another dog comes into her personal space.
So, hear hear! If we decide to make some sort of community group or forum, count me in! We must not let our big dogs become the bad-guys in this.
Many thanks to Natalie for writing in, and thank to Independent for passing on my support.
Anna Jurs
Port Macquarie
