That’s a very odd situation. I would hope being on the beach on at sunset I’d pay more attention to another person and notice if they were approaching my dogs vs my dogs approaching them. Good on you for not reacting and potentially setting the dog off. Rotties are such gorgeous dogs, but can definitely be a big sensitive.
Comment on Discussion Thread 🌶️ Thursday 8 October 2026
Bottom_racer@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Bit of a confusing night at the dog beach yesterday.
Lady there with 2 fully grown rotties. Was getting my kit off and one of them trotted up and started licking my hand. Lady went a bit mental at me ‘don’t touch my dog’ etc. There wasn’t much I could do. It was obviously a happy doggo and not a threat. Not the sort of dog I’d go up to for a pat though. I was just standing there.
I guess you’d probably only get 2 rotties for protection (or partly at least).
If the thing turned, the other would have jumped in too. No one else on the beach.
The way she spoke to me, doggo very easily could’ve figured I was a threat. And there was no way I was going to say anything back. Just had to wait for doggo to stop licking and her to come over and grab it lol.
Not sure if you should be bringing dogs like that to an off leash beach if you’re not happy with them interacting.
First time I’ve felt uneasy at that beach over the 30+ years I’ve been going.
SpinMeAround@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Thornburywitch@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Owners usually know their own dogs best, but do have a bit of a blind spot when evaluating other people’s responses. She may have had problems in the past with unwanted strangers coming up and petting the dogs without invitation. And this could have led to trouble. But if the doggo came up to you of it’s own accord and interacted, I can’t see the problem. Unless the doggo had a bite history but you didn’t and don’t know that though she probably did.
Could also be paranoid about strangers so prefers an empty beach (and big scary doggos for companions).
Bitiest doggo I’ve ever come across was a little white mini-poodle - who was clearly completely over having complete strangers rush over and smoosh it or wallop it over the head while gushing ‘oh how cuuuuuute’. Very lengthy bite history, which I reckon was not at all the doggo’s fault. Particularly the face bites. Belonged to a past neighbour who ended up putting on a muzzle and a placard round it’s neck reading ‘I BITE - LEAVE ME ALONE’ whenever it was taken on walks or to the shops, which reduced the problem but didn’t stop it. Nice enough dog in it’s home environment, but not nice at all outside it’s home. And it had learned to be that way from other people’s complete lack of respect for boundaries. It wasn’t afraid, rather it was quite willing to be pro-active to protect itself.
Taleya@aussie.zone 1 day ago
I thoroughly respect that dog
Thornburywitch@aussie.zone 1 day ago
Me too.
Seagoon_@aussie.zone 1 day ago
We had the same thing happen with a cat, it was as cute as teddy bear. I had to remind people it was a living being , not a toy.
SituationCake@aussie.zone 1 day ago
If the owner was worried about the dogs interacting with people, she should have them on a leash. It’s her problem not yours, very rude to blame it on you. Yelling at you is useless and irresponsible, how would this stop the dogs being aggressive had they wanted to? I love having access to off leash spaces for dogs, but you need to judge your own pet for the public and dogs safety, and choose where you can go off-leash (if at all) accordingly.