I want to get a dog but I have to work, how does everyone on broadway market do it ?

He's being a dick, if you came up to me with my dog and did what you just described I would be happy enough, or even if she came up to you. If someone just came up and started trying to pet my dog with an assumption of 'knowing best' I would think they were a proper tool!

Nah, always ask. (Unless the dog has already approached you etc). Some dogs aren't sociable, don't like kids, don't like other dogs, are defensive on a lead etc etc. I'd always ask.

I had a really lovely recently rescued staff/boxer cross come up to me in the park this morning. He was really friendly with me but the owner explained that he is very snappy with men while on the lead. Has been known to draw blood etc.

This is why it's always good to check.

next time I see him I'll pat him on the head and say who's a good boy

had a little boxer run over to me completely ignoring his owner when i was in the middle of my ultramarathon in Reading. I stopped briefly so he didn't get caught up in my legs as I went past and he gave me a quick sniff, flopped his tongue out and rolled onto his back for a tummy rub, I laughingly obliged for a few seconds and then he hopped up and happily run back over to his owner ready to head off on a new adventure, she was very apologetic and said he insisted on making new friends everywhere he goes but it was one of the highlights of my race. would stop running for belly rubs again.

I had a terrible experience a couple of weeks ago, that I've hesitated to post about, but feel I can now.

I was visiting my parents and was walking Herbie in the morning. He was on the lead and we were approached by a woman with an Old English Sheepdog that was running free, so we stopped, Herbie sat and we waited. The other dog ran over and started trying to dominate Herbie - standing over him, growling - so I told her to get hold of him, but she couldn't get him under control. I kept turning to try to keep the dogs apart and the sheep dog jumped and barked at me twice - the second time it nipped me, I shouted and Herbie (still on the lead) went for it. There was a scuffle, the sheep dog backed off and we continued our walk. I later found out from the neighbours that the dog is notorious for this, but is still walked off the lead.

I didn't think much about it, until the evening, when my son was going to bed and Herbie was lying down. He stroked his head to say goodnight and Herbie snapped quickly and drew blood. I put Herbie in his crate and took my boy to A&E, where he was kept overnight. That gave me time to think long and hard about what to do and, in the morning, I took Herbie to the vet and had him put to sleep.

My son's 16 and 6'4", but he's my son and comes first. It turned out that Herbie had been caught in the ear in the scuffle and I can only assume that my son hurt him inadvertently and Herbie, who may still have been slightly on edge, reacted as dogs do. It was a one-off - I know, all dog owners say that - but this is the dog that my kids used as a cushion to watch TV, who'd grown up with them as a puppy. Whenever the kids were alone in the house with him, he was crated, he was never allowed in their rooms, they fed him - but he got no food or treats inside the house. I took all sensible precautions and it happened right in front of me.

I thought about rehoming, but Corsos are incredibly attached to their owners and families and notoriously difficult to settle in new homes. And it really wouldn't have been responsible to rehome a large dog that has bitten, even if only once and even if someone else was prepared to take that risk. So I did the only thing I could do.

It was horrible and felt like such a waste to see him sedated and then put to sleep. Anyone who knows me will know how much I loved that dog, and how affectionate he was to everyone. My kids are only with me half of the time, so the house now feels very empty and it still takes me by surprise when he's not there - behind a door, at the top of the stairs, snoring by the sofa...

Oh fuck

This is the kind of thing that terrifies us as dog owners. Someone else’s fuck up putting our dogs in difficult situations. It was a big part of our motivation to move to the countryside and get a house with no public right of access so we can limit our dogs interactions with people.

So so sorry to read this, it made me cry, can’t imagine how you feel right now.

Thanks James, I haven't let the anger get the better of me yet, but I'm sure it will come out.

Sorry to hear this Mark, terrible situation to be put in.

Really sorry to hear that, such a difficult decision to make.

I know somebody else who made the same decision as you, in order to protect his children, and it's heart breaking.

Not everybody is going to agree with what you did but your reasons are as sound as any. I think i would have done the same. Im sorry for your loss.

(Edited for clarity)

im sorry to read what you have had to decide and go through. heartbreaking.

So sorry, that sounds awful.

Really sorry Mark.

I'm really sorry to hear this. It must have been so awful for you. I know how much you loved Herbie, and he loved you too.

Oh dear, is that what you have to do if a dog bites? I didn't know that.

I'll remember Herbie fondly as a friendly and excitable oversized puppy. I only met him the once, but he left quite the impression.

RIP big chap.

What a dreadful spot to be put in, for what it’s worth I feel you had no choice. My thoughts are with you.

WPC Savage rang me mid-morning today to tell me our Sprollie had "fucked off". She'd parked outside the house and let the two dogs out of her car to run up to the house. The big dog turned left and ran off up the road and into the distance. Wopsie S and numerous others went searching for him to no avail. Sadly someone found him fit and well about a mile away and took him to a vet who rang us to collect him some three hours later. Once a stray always a stray in his case. The fucker's twelve years old and still can't do what we want.
He's now dropping his guts every five minutes so I think he's been gorging on blackberries whilst living as a fugitive . Knobend.

Neighbours springer/lab cross had a couple of squitty days recently.
Cause; ate some fox poo!

He's just farting, bad,

What you need is a pure working pedigree Labrador, or preferably two, their farts smell of lavender. Or not. Stinking purple shitting bastards. I hate blackberry season.

My bitch is doing farts so bad I am wretching. Unfeasibly awful.

And the boy has just started doing likewise. The fuckers are either side of me on the sofa.

Despite the expression, Errol is loving the Buddyrider.

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Some prize spanner with three dogs not on leads. They all come belting out into the road and tearing about the place, surrounding my dog - on a lead, on the other side of the road - who starts getting a bit antsy.

When I say "here mate, you wanna get your dogs under control?" as my terrier starts getting defensive, the fool launches into a rant about how mine should be on a muzzle. Point out that he's being a dick as none of his are on leads and are running wild in the road, he gives it the "yeah walk on. walk on" hardman act.

Never mind that we were indeed trying to walk on, but couldn't due to three massive dogs surrounding us.

We shall be shitting on his doorstep on a weekly basis for at least a month now. Ain't no shit like a revenge shit.