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I don't think you have to worry about your dad getting knocked over or attacked by a dog since he is unable to walk and cant even open the fridge door.

And maybe the guy with the dog was confused because you told him to lease his dog. And he was like WTF are you talking about?
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JoAnn29 Jul 2022
Dog was off leash, leash was in the owners hand not connected to the dog.
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Speaking from my own experience, this is a case where a neighbor of a parent is being a complete jerk, and you didn't handle it as well as you'd like to have. You didn't say anything about your father's situation, but if you're on this forum you're likely under some amount of stress to begin with. For your father's sake, if you encounter that neighbor again, and they're not being aggressive toward you AND if you feel the need to say anything at all (you might not), you could say something like 'if I had that to do over again, I'd have handled it differently' and then resist explaining further, unless the situation really calls for it. It's not exactly an apology, or an admission that you were wrong, it's just an acknowledgement that you'd like to have handled it differently, which I think you would. So next time dealing with neighbors, for your father's sake, try to be more smooth. But worrying beyond that won't help (I know, easier said, than done). The situation was created in the first place, because the neighbor was being a jerk. I like dogs, but don't have one because I don't want all the responsibility that comes with having one. People who do have one, but don't accept all the responsibility, are jerks. (and that's pretty much true of anything, people who want the rights, but not the responsibility/courtesy owed that comes with anything they own)
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Many dog owners are irresponsible jerks. This sounds like one.
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Maybe they were in shock. Years ago my new dog got loose and I was calling him, and running after him completely panicked. I went to get the mail, and he bolted past my legs. New dogs try to escape. It's not their home yet. It is common.
A woman walking across the street started yelling at me about leash laws and get my dog. She could clearly see me running after him and calling him. I was so panicked he would get hit by a car right in front of me, or take off to look for his last owners and be gone for weeks. Or the aspca finding out he got loose and get mad at me or fine me. These thoughts were flashing before my eyes. And then I had this woman yelling at me about leash laws like I let him loose on purpose. He never went near her.
Maybe the dog escaped. If a dog wants to get past you, they can. The person probably went to the door and had it opened and reached down to leash them not thinking. The dog saw you and bolted to you. They probably did it that way Fifty times before and the dog stood there to be leashed. Now they know the person knows they cant do that any more. Maybe they felt their was no point arguing with someone who was mad. Nor in this climate. You never know.
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Maybe they were in shock. Years ago my new dog get loose and I was calling him, and running after him completely panicked.
A woman walking across the street started yelling at me about leash laws and get my dog. She could clearly see me running after him and calling him. I was so panicked he would get hit by a car right in front of me, or take off to look for his last owners and be gone for weeks. Or the aspca finding out he got loose and get mad at me or fine me. These thoughts were flashing before my eyes. And then I had this woman wanting to lecture me on leash laws like I let him loose on purpose.
Maybe the dog escaped. Maybe they felt their was no point arguing with someone who was mad. Nor in this climate. You never know.
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PeggySue2020 Jul 2022
Well Jasmine, Lisa did say the owner was exhibiting no exertion. And as the leash was in owners hand, owner had responsibility for actually having said leash on the dog.
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I was walking with my 90 year old MIL on a beach which allowed ‘dogs under control’. MIL was just shorter than 5 feet, which was shorter than the dog when it jumped up on her. I held my arms around her and yelled at the two girls walking the dog. Response - ‘He’s only a puppy’..”He’s only trying to be friendly’. MIL and I were really shaken. My work gave me an extensive swear word vocabulary, most of which I used. Grrrrr!
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PeggySue2020 Jul 2022
Fave girl,
My sister used a citronella collar on her dog that sprayed when the dog barked. It was effective to the point that just showing the dog the collar would make it shut up.

But yeah. You can’t go spraying chemicals at other peoples pets when they’re not doing anything.

What I will say is that I’ve noticed cattle dog owners, in particular, to be extra law abiding and not thinking people will love their dog. They are a personal breed favorite of mine. I can’t imagine the work though.
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🙄
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lealonnie1 Jul 2022
I dont have that emoji on my tablet or I'd use it. Next best thing 😑
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I don't think you should feel bad. I think how you handled this was silly and counterproductive.

#1 Yelling at a dog rarely makes it less aggressive, if it's being aggressive. Evidently this dog wasn't being aggressive, it was being sociable, and as it was a retriever you can be sure that if it had been really coming after you it would have got you. That's its job.

#2 Yelling at people rarely makes them think you were right and they were wrong. Saying "shouldn't your dog be on a leash on the sidewalk?" would have reminded him of any applicable bylaws and allowed you to express appropriate disapproval, but instead you just insulted him. Twice. All he'll take away from that is that you're a rude and unpleasant person who's mean to friendly dogs. He won't have thought "my bad, I should have kept the dog on a leash."

Does this man live very close to your Dad's house? Are you likely to bump into him often?
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I totally relate, Lisa. I hate it when dog owners don’t seem to care that their dog has scared you.

That said, if you feel it might make you feel better with this neighbor, you could leave a friendly card or note apologizing for yelling and explaining that you were startled and would greatly appreciate it if they would leash their dog in the neighborhood.

The neighbor may not comply but it couldn’t hurt! 😊
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This is one time I’m gonna agree with you, Lisa.

Any responsible owner keeps their pet on leash while around the public. Not one of them can use the excuse that their dog is nice. Maybe toward them, maybe toward everyone but me. I don’t really care, there’s a leash law for a reason.

That said, what does this topic have to do with agingcare? Did that dog threaten your dad?
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lisatrevor Jul 2022
Not that dog but there is another dog that almost knocked my father over. That might have very well have been a disaster. No one in their 80's should fall. Ever!

Then there are others in the neighborhood who are leashed but aggressive and these could get loose from their owners and harm my father. I let him him know the dangers of dogs and falling. In fact dogs and cats account for over 50% or more of falls in the US!
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