Why do people say “sorry, he’s only a pup/youngster”

[DixD]

Why do people make the excuse that their dog’s only a youngster, when he’s standing over your dog trying to mount and intimidate him.

Yes, I met the black lab again today, off lead. Was intimidating Hugo, like the last time. It’s at least 3” taller than him, and Hugo’s 24” at the shoulder, and it’s nuilt like a brick s**thouse. It’s pretty mature. Don’t owners know how ridiculous it sounds, making excuses for it because it’s a youngster. They’ll still be doing it when it’s in its dotage.

Tge little dog was less than impressed at what was happening. Luckily, he was on the lead.

I’m definitely going to be prepared for next time, and have a discussion about what they’re allowing their dog to do. One day, it’ll take on the completely wrong dog, which wii set it right.

Hrrrrmmmmppphhhh!

 

[JudyN]

'Let them sort it out for themselves,' so many people say... even when it's an oversized bullying brute and a tiny timid dog. 'It's OK, he's just playing,' says the owner of a wolfhound as he plonks his paw on the back of a chihuahua... Whatever happened to common sense?

There was a time when I seriously considered getting a t shirt printed with 'I'm sorry, he's just a puppy' though!

 

[Mad Murphy]

I have to say I often hear the same excuse with slightly different wording.. 'Oh but hes a rescue', when the dog is behaving badly (often off lead) as I used to point out all three of mine were rescues but it was no excuse for continued bad behaviour.
George has very bad habits, he came like that but it doesnt mean we are not doing our best to re-train him into good ones.

 

[DixD]

JudyN, I keep my wee Havanese on a flexi a lot of the time, exactly for that reason, so I can “reel him in” if I see a big dog off lead. I only let him off where the coast is clear, or the dogs around are friendly, normal sized or smaller. And he is not hapoy, when he sees this big black Lab intimidating poor old Hugo, but doesn’t recognise the size differential, so I always have to lift him up.. I bet the Lab is well aware Hugo’s nearly 13 and not going to retaliate. i had two sighthounds at one time. only Hugo npw. Though they were really well socialised with small dogs, they did agility, I was aware that people with small dogs often worried, and would make sure they didn’t run up and were under control.

Madmurphy, I agree totally. . When we had, Wolfie, the smooth collie, who was very anxious and barky at all sorts of things, though absolutely fine with dogs, I’d make sure he was concentrating on me, when bikes and things went passed. It’s so frustrating when it’s not reciprocated.

 

[JudyN]

I was aware that people with small dogs often worried, and would make sure they didn’t run up and were under control.

Same. Though thanks to the woman with several tiny dogs, who hands out whole digestives to other dogs without asking, Jasper decided that anyone with a multi-pack of snack-sizes in the park was a potential treat fairy Fortunately, he's now developed the habit of going up to them and stopping about 30' away, and waiting for me to recall him. This is ideal really, as he doesn't get too close to the dogs, and makes me look like a very responsible dog owner with an extremely obedient well-trained dog

 

[DixD]

i bet that looks very impressive!

 

[JudyN]

Yup, particularly as he thinks he set up the whole thing so comes at top speed with a huge grin on his face!