Hi,
I am hoping for some advice from fellow Dogs Today readers.
I have a Cocker Spaniel, Mandy, who is 11 years but still very active. We walk the same route every morning and very often come across a chap and his terrier type. The terrier type is a bit bigger than my Mandy, and is quite boisterous. He is friendly and not aggressive, but he does play roughly and does bowl Mandy over on occasion.
His owner is very pleasant and chatty, but doesn’t seem to understand that his dog’s boisterous play can be a bit much for my old girl. I have tried to say things like, “Oh, you’re a bit old for young dogs now, Mandy, aren’t you?”, before walking on quickly, in an attempt to help the terrier’s owner to call his dog away, but it doesn’t seem to be working. How can I politely ask him to jump in and stop when his dog has a bit too tight a hold on Mandy’s ears?
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Yours,
Sheila, by email
If he's not getting your hints I think you may need to just come straight out and say something like "Mandy doesn't like your dog's play style, do you think you could try and keep him a bit further away?"
ReplyDeleteI would just tell him! Why not say to him that Mandy is getting on a bit and (white lie here) the vet has advised her to slow down a bit, so you would appreciate his help in not letting his dog play with her. If you phrase it nicely and say that you know his dog is friendly and lovely, but that Mandy is getting on a bit, hopefully he won't take offence.
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