Little Gifts Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I'm afraid I was one of those irritating dog owners only this past Monday. Stussy has been sick on and off since Boxing Day so Monday we went in and they decided to test for pancreatitis, which meant we had to wait half an hour for the results. So I took Stuss through Red Rooster and I got some lunch, then we had a bit of a walk then went back for the test results. It was a very hot day so waiting outside or in the car wasn't a good option for either of us. The surgery was full by that stage and Stussy is an SBT who loves everyone and everything. There was a mini poodle, 18 years of age on a bed on the floor waiting to be pts and Stuss desperately wanted to go over to her to make her feel better (I could see in her eyes she wanted to give her face a lick/clean). There was a small black puppy and 2 kids and she so wanted to say hello to them all as well. Then someone with a cat in a little bed poked it's head out, but the thing that sent her over the edge was this grumpy looking man who came in and sat with the min poodle lady and for some reason Stussy acted like she knew him and went beserk - ear piercing barks, whole body wags. As I still don't have a lot of strength in my left arm I was getting her to sit and drop and shushing her rubbing her between my feet half under my chair. She didn't get close to any of the other animals or people but she certainly made sure everyone knew she desperately wanted to - like a kid in a candy shop. She even tried to get under the reception counter to say hello. As she had what ended up being a gastro bug she was also farting like a trooper and the smell filled the room. Luckily everybody was very good about her antics (and the farts) and none of the other animals in there were of the reactive type. Lots of apologising on my part. As for retractable leads - I think they are the worst invention ever and should carry warnings so that only small, non-athletic dogs are only ever attached to them. Unfortunately they make the leads big and chunky so people with bigger and stronger dogs think they are fine to use. An accident just waiting to happen. The mind boggles, PS, but also laughs out aloud!!! Surely your wrist is still strapped, so people would know you are injured ?? How awful for the little mini poodle to have to lie in the waiting room. I know whenever I've had to make an appointment for a euthanasia, I've been taken immediately into a waiting room. Yep I'm still in a cast thingy and looking gumby on that side until mid next week but no-one notices - people push into it all the time and gets the poops if I take too long trying to get my purse out of my bag, etc. As for the min poodle - from what I heard from the nurses they just turned up with it and only one vet was on. Also not regular clients. It looked like kidney failure to me. They usually have a special room set up for any pts that are booked in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Gifts Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I have a retractable for Woo and, for her ,it is the best invention ever - when teamed with a harness. I always have it locked on short when needed - eg roadside etc. The huge benefit is that she now does not get herself tangled in the lead every few steps when loose leash walking. I do think that Staffyluv hit the spot when she said it needs to be suitable for the dog. There is no way on earth I would have used one on Kaisie - she would have ripped my arms off with 30kgs of lunge by the impetus she would have got up at 3 metres! Until I got Woo and found the use for them, I was a bit nonplussed as to why people would use them at all. So again, it's a case of horses for courses and equipment used correctly according to the circumstances. I forgot about that! They don't worry me on smaller/lighter dogs and I obviously didn't even register seeing one on Woo. It is larger and stronger dogs and ones that pull badly that scare me. I have this image of something snapping and the thin bit of leash whiplashing someone in the eye as much as the dog getting away. You see people holding those handles with all their strength trying to control their dogs by pushing the button down to stop any more leash coming out, like that is all they need to do to control their dog. It frightens me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubiton Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I can never understand why any vet surgery would have 'resident' animals. I'v read about wandering cats (moving target as my older dog would consider it - she may be old and stiff and sore but put a cat there and shes as quick and agile as she ever was!) not wandering dogs (wouldnt tat be a health risk). As for other dogs if we are just there for cartrophan and both dogs are looking healthy usually you get chatting with other owners and if they are there for the same or something routine it usually ok for dogs to meet under a hold (but only after everyone has checked first). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noisymina Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I have a retractable for Woo and, for her ,it is the best invention ever - when teamed with a harness. I always have it locked on short when needed - eg roadside etc. The huge benefit is that she now does not get herself tangled in the lead every few steps when loose leash walking. I do think that Staffyluv hit the spot when she said it needs to be suitable for the dog. There is no way on earth I would have used one on Kaisie - she would have ripped my arms off with 30kgs of lunge by the impetus she would have got up at 3 metres! Until I got Woo and found the use for them, I was a bit nonplussed as to why people would use them at all. So again, it's a case of horses for courses and equipment used correctly according to the circumstances. I forgot about that! They don't worry me on smaller/lighter dogs and I obviously didn't even register seeing one on Woo. It is larger and stronger dogs and ones that pull badly that scare me. I have this image of something snapping and the thin bit of leash whiplashing someone in the eye as much as the dog getting away. You see people holding those handles with all their strength trying to control their dogs by pushing the button down to stop any more leash coming out, like that is all they need to do to control their dog. It frightens me! Definitely not cool for big dogs. Personally. I think anything over 7-8kgs is not OK in public with a retractable. I did use the harness as Woo was taking off after birds down the back. I really don't need the green dog from dam experience again! :laugh: However, it must be that she was just not used to birds flying over her head and she's much better now. Ran past a couple of ducks waddling around this morning at last twice and never even saw them! OMG. If she had, they would have been history because they never even tried to get away from us. I just don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisovar Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 I can never understand why any vet surgery would have 'resident' animals. I'v read about wandering cats (moving target as my older dog would consider it - she may be old and stiff and sore but put a cat there and shes as quick and agile as she ever was!) not wandering dogs (wouldnt tat be a health risk). As for other dogs if we are just there for cartrophan and both dogs are looking healthy usually you get chatting with other owners and if they are there for the same or something routine it usually ok for dogs to meet under a hold (but only after everyone has checked first). what health risks do the clinic animals pose? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubiton Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Well our young dog who came from a rescue got kennel cough from being exposed to it when being desexed at the vet (the rescue had a few others desexed same time and they got sick the same time he did and all were housed in different foster places). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Well our young dog who came from a rescue got kennel cough from being exposed to it when being desexed at the vet (the rescue had a few others desexed same time and they got sick the same time he did and all were housed in different foster places). Which more likely came from a patient at the vet, not a resident animal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diva Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Even if the dog is tiny, the retractable leads can be a great hazard. Hardly any users I see have the sense to shorten and lock them when around other dogs and people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimax Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 Even if the dog is tiny, the retractable leads can be a great hazard. Hardly any users I see have the sense to shorten and lock them when around other dogs and people. And I've seen them get stuck "out" and the owner be unable to reel it back in, so they had to wind it around their hand to shorten it to get them home! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted January 4, 2013 Share Posted January 4, 2013 When you have a sick DA dog, having a dog approach you off lead in a confined space puts your dog, their dog and you at risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brookestar Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Even if the dog is tiny, the retractable leads can be a great hazard. Hardly any users I see have the sense to shorten and lock them when around other dogs and people. I'm about ready to start walking with a knife or something to cut them with. The amount of dogs on flexi's that have ran around my legs, trying to get to my dog, who is simply walking past ignoring them is beyond me. I should add that most of this happens on main roads and the like, when the people have no ability to control the dog, and cannot control the tiny dog on a standard leash with all the pulling, so uses a flexi, so the dog is on leash, but can range as far as they want. I have seen them cross over whole roads, with the owner on one side, the dog haveing run across, to chase a cat or something. Retractable leads are not designed for everyday use. They were designed to help people teach dogs a recall in a safe offlead area, so they could recall them in if needed. Problem is no one knows how to use them, most people have no concept of how to teach a recall, etc. I have personally never seen anyone lock them when around dogs, people, etc. That does not mean it never happens, just that I have never seen it, and nor have most people I know. Even if locked, they are not going to give nearly as good control as a standard leash would give. I have also known of cases where the lock broke and so they had no control at all. Way too dangerous for my liking with any size of dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brookestar Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) I've never understood why people let their dogs socialise with everything in the waiting room. I keep my dogs away from the others purely because I don't know what they're there for. If the other dogs have highly contagious diseases, I don't want my guys picking it up too. It's the same as a doctor's surgery. If I can help it, I'm not going to deliberately sit next to someone who is coughing and spluttering and oozing everywhere -- especially if I'm only at the doc's because I'm in need of a new script. I don't want to end up sick so why should I risk my dog? The mind boggles at the sheer lack of logic and common sense. That is something I can totally agree with. Who allows a dog to interact with every single dog they see, let alone every dog at a vet clinic. Most dogs are at vet clinics because they are sick, not for routine health checks, but even then who knows if they do or do not have something wrong with them. The last time I was at the vet my dog was recovering from a back injury. The other dog while there for routine stuff, was out of control and not doing anything to help my dogs injury. My dog has plenty of time to interact with other dogs, ones that I know and whose owners I trust. I would never simply allow my dogs to interact with every single dog they see. I do not need to speak to every human, and kids do not need to speak to every other kid. I do believe that my dogs need time with other dogs, but a vet clinic is not one of those times, and I also want to know who the dogs are, even when not at the vet clinic. Edited January 5, 2013 by Brookestar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huski Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 (edited) My dog has plenty of time to interact with other dogs, ones that I know and whose owners I trust. I would never simply allow my dogs to interact with every single dog they see. I do not need to speak to every human, and kids do not need to speak to every other kid. I do believe that my dogs need time with other dogs, but a vet clinic is not one of those times, and I also want to know who the dogs are, even when not at the vet clinic. I totally agree with the above. I don't let my dogs interact with every dog we see, nor do I want them to learn that is what we do. I keep my dogs away from others at vet clinics and depending on the dog I usually wait outside. This is getting off topic, but I think while a lot of dog owners are now aware that it's important for pups/dogs to be socialised, they miss the part where the key to socialisation is teaching your dog how to behave in different situations. What happens when this key part of socialisation is missed is that we end up with dogs that think every time they are near another dog they can run up to it and interact with it, and dog owners who see any situation where other dogs are about as a chance for their dog to greet and play with others. One of the least appropriate places for play with other dogs would be a vet clinic waiting room where dogs are generally there because they are sick or injured, but there are lots of dog owners who think otherwise. Edited January 5, 2013 by huski Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Yes huski - we really need another word for socialization because owners have interpreted it in the human sense! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddy Posted January 5, 2013 Share Posted January 5, 2013 Put a muzzle on your own dog...... People soon keep their dogs and children away....... Works even better if it is a large breed dog I've found that muzzles actually make it worse. People see the big dog can't bite and give their small yappers a full lead to "go and say hello" to the big dog (i.e. go and bark/nip/jump at). It's tempting at times to just pop the muzzle off and see how quickly the owners can reel their dogs back in.. Our clinic is generally pretty good about the waiting area though. If we have a dog with any issues, we wait in the car park and they come out and get us, cats are always kept in carriers and the nurses seem aware of what's going on. Compare that to a much bigger (and very "respectable") clinic we had to use one weekend when our normal vet was booked out.. we had to take a grey in for a C5 and an eye check and in the waiting room.. someone had a rabbit in one of those low, open washing baskets. Very fortunately for us, the greyhound in question had zero prey drive and was more interested in trying to get her head out of an open window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I've been using retractable leads for years, Affies, Gordon Setters, Min Pins, Border Terriers. Noisymina is right. Like any equipment you have to know how to use them. All my dogs have always been shown on loose light check chains and know when they are put on, it's show time so when fun walking I use the retractables and a flat collar. Our walks are always in the bush etc. If I happen to have them in town or at the Vets I use the check chains. Yep, I too love the flexi leads for relaxed walking in areas that are not off lead and in summer it is safer if they are not running loose due to the snake risk in the parks. I want them to have some freedom but not get more than 5 metres away from me so I can watch out for snakes. My flexi leads have about 60cm of thicker lead with a handle nearest the dog and if we see another dog I hold onto the short bit so I have full control. Otherwise the dogs are free to wander around sniffing while I walk in a straight line. They are not allowed to pull on any lead and quickly learn that if the brake is applied they have to stop. Around roads, other people and dogs, at shows and at the vets we use normal short leads. The flexi leads are only for use in deserted parks. I would never use them on a dog that was not trained to not pull on a lead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BC Crazy Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 (edited) Well said Dancin bc's. Flexi's are great when correctly used & your dog can enjoy some safe freedom :) Edited January 6, 2013 by BC Crazy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I have used Flexi's with my Dobes. They were used to give them some freedom to toilet etc when I didn't want them off lead. If I had to hold them close the short bit had a loop like a lead so it was locked and I held the short bit. They were not used for general walking but were fantastic for travelling when dogs needed toileting and a leg stretch. I hav never had an issue using them. Someone I know had a smaller dog on one, it got a fright, whipped around her legs then bolted. Yep very deep nasty burns to her legs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 I love the ones who just let their dog approach your new rescue when you tell them you don't know their vaccination status. It's not a social area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HazyWal Posted January 6, 2013 Share Posted January 6, 2013 Well said Dancin bc's. Flexi's are great when correctly used & your dog can enjoy some safe freedom :) Yes but the key words here are "correctly used". Obviously the people in this thread do know how to use them but I have never seen it happen myself. I saw a girl recently walking her little dog along my street while she was fiddling with her phone and not paying attention the little dog wandered straight out on the road and narrowly missed being hit by a car The guy in the car hit the brakes and horn which snapped the woman out of whatever she was doing and she reeled the dog back in. As someone else said I have seen them wrapped around chairs in cafes not even belonging to the table the owners are sitting at! So yes if they are correctly used I'm sure they are fine but in my experiences they are a bloody PITA. Not having a go at you BC :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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