I have a problem with a certain numpty with two out of control cockers. I know this person, I used to walk the said dogs, they used to play with my bitch and look after them however after a unreasonable falling out with my mother no longer has contact with us. The problem I have is that the two cockers keep running over to me and my dog, the numpty does not even attempt a recall and ignores us whilst her animals are jumping all over mine, usually whilst we are training. I don't want anything to do with this person or her dogs, I have told her to recall her dogs but she ignored me, it happened again to today, the dogs ran over and the stupid woman just turned her back on me, made no effort to recall her dogs. Its not only that they run over but follow us around the park. When I passed I said ' I see you still cannot control your dogs' which prompted name calling but still no recall.
My dog has never ran over to her or her dogs but then again I have TRAINED my dogs. I will make it more clear to her that It is not exceptable for her dogs to run over to mine, I don't like her and I don't like her dogs. I know it is not the dogs fault, but if the owner is not going to excerise any sort of recall and promote them distrupting me going about my business then i will take action. I wondered whether anyone has used a personal attack alarm, gas or the goo ones. I think I might buy one, tell the woman to recall her dogs and if not deterr them in this way. Any views?

I have used the sprays that spray air but if your dogs are fairly sensitive it will affect them too.  It makes a hissing noise that stops dogs in their tracks but TBH it is the woman at fault here as if her dogs see you and your dogs as friends how can they differentiate when humans fall out.

I would go at a time when I would not encounter the other person and dogs.

Far less stressful.

If you used to walk the dogs then of course they see you as a Friend and you can't blame them for wanting to come over and play.

Far simpler to go elsewhere or at a different time.

I don't do avoidance, My dog and I have done nothing wrong and I will continue to go at a time I see fit. I have alot of friends on that park. The numpty only goes on there as its enclosed, her dogs run off and she cannot even keep them in the same vicinity elsewhere. Irresponsible owners need to be told what they are doing wrong, I'll keep telling her to recall her dogs and kick up a fuss until she does so or I'll teach the animals a little avoidence behaviour of my own, I have a Personal attack alarm already but its not gas just sound my dog pays no attention to it, i dont think its scary enough. I certainly don't want to harm them in anyway just repell them.

Think of it not as avoidance, but as exercising common sense. It's not the dogs' fault that you and the woman are no longer civil to one another, so why should they be punished for greeting their old friends?

gosh

i wouldnt view it as avoidance, but good judgement

you are clearly angry, and you may well have the right to be, but just reframe the situaion

as in: what quality your training sessions if this is going to be your focus at the time?
you wont be able to concentrate on the job at hand at the time, your stress and agitation wont put you in the right mindset training antway, and your dogs may pick up on your anxiety

truth is, rightly or wrongly this other persons behavior, its still a public place

i train in the park, but plan so taking into consideration that their WILL be obstructions.
thus i adapt my use of park accordingly.

also, i dont think it fair to frighten his/her dogs just for playing (especially when you consider that you have told them before it was ok to do so), due to this persons behaviour?

I understand what you are saying, her dogs were always very responsive with me, I used to play games and do some simple training with them when they were around with me. We used to have some fun and so I know that they want to play. So far I have ignored them but they still jump up, roll over etc trying to get some attention. I know its not there fault and I know that my dog, when she sees them wants to play too. However I just recall her and send her to heel. Its quite sad that the other owner doesn't to the same. If she doesn't want any contact with me then why allow her dogs to rush over? I believe its a deliberate action to distrupt my training, as I often train on that park, out the way of other dog walkers I might ad. One of the Cockers is aggressive, has bitten humans and dogs, but he loves clover, I don't think it would be out of character for this woman that she is not recalling them back because she wants him to have a go at my girl, I'm glad that my girl is very dog friendly and seems to make friends even with the most aggressive dogs she always gets placed between such animals at the training club and seems to have a calming effect on them.

if one of the dogs has bitten people then you can report her to the dog warden, who should just give her a warning instructing her to keep her dog under control (ie, in her case, a lead).
assuming that is, you have a strong case with evidence, ie, other peoples' statements, otherwise you may not get a hearing.

in the meantime, so you can have good training session, is there no way you cant use somewhere else or this park when she isnt due there?

Well, you will obviously do what you are doing, the dogs will continue to behave the way they are behaving ...the other person will continue to do as she is doing, so nothing will change - but stress levels will rise.

Personally, I don't want my dogs annoyed, so I prefer to remove mine from the situation - keeps dogs' stress levels down at the same time as mine are kept down.

But some people prefer confrontation.  That's life.  

I totally understand and do take into consideration e.g young dogs running over, etc And I really don't mind this but I believe that this woman is encouraging and if not, not willing to prevent her dogs from annoying mine. I believe it is deliberate whereas Young dogs running over, people wanting to socialise with my dog is fine, I often get people coming over to me when they see her training to introduce her to their dog/ dogs as she is seen as safe. I find that a compliment and understand that yes, it may distrupt my training but its not a deliberate action to stop my training, understand the difference? (that's not meant to be sarcastic - u know how posts can be misread )
  Plus I know that dogs don't rationalise but I'm not afraid of correcting a dogs behaviour if it is in some how a threat etc to me or my dog etc, just like how I turn away from dogs that jump up. If owners won't correct their dogs (which is a very very small minority) I will move to do it myself if it is impacting on me. What Am I supposed to do just stand there like a lemon whilst two dogs run around? I won't be bullied by some numpty the park is for responsible dog owners, if she don't like it she can get out of my way.

By the way the alarm is a last resort. I will continue to verbally advise her to recall her dogs, she's got two chances left and if no cigar. Maybe I should spray the woman instead? :D

>I'm not afraid of correcting a dogs behaviour if it is in some how a threat etc to me or my dog

How are the dogs a threat to you? You say you know they want to play, and so does yours. Why not let them, and train at some other time when the woman isn't there?

>the park is for responsible dog owners

The park is a public place, provided for everyone, whether responsible or not. Your and her rights to use it are identical; therefore if one of you is unhappy it's only sensible that that person should remove themselves at that time.

>if she don't like it she can get out of my way.

The same applies equally to you. No offence intended.

The person that the dog has bitten is her own son, so no chance of me getting a hearing at all. I would like to report her dogs for being out of control but since they are not being aggressive towards me or mine then I've got no chance. I also believe that the dog may have been reported before for a dog on dog attack but I did not think this went far.
I do go to other parks for training as it is good to use different venues. I like this park though because I have friends that like to meet up with young dogs on there, its fully enclosed, we like to meet up and have a little group training session with mine who, as I said before is calm so is the perfect dog for the youngsters to socialise with. Plus it is very very close to where I live. I know what time she goes on, by then I have been, gone then been and gone again but if I've come home from uni early then I tend to get the dog out at that time.

>I'm not afraid of correcting a dogs behaviour if it is in some how a threat etc to me or my dog

>How are the dogs a threat to you? You say you know they want to play, and so does yours. Why not let them, and train at some other time when the woman isn't there?

That statement is a general statement, not really referring to these particular dogs. Basically what I am saying that if A) a dog wants to attack me or my dog I won't be hestant in taking action or B) if a dog is exhibiting annoying behaviour e.g humping my dog I wouldn't hesitate to pull it off her. Sum it up I'm not afraid of correcting other peoples dogs if they are somehow being a threat/ nuisence to me or my dog.
I cannot let them play because then it sends a message to the woman that its okay for her animals to run over. If I allow my dog to play, it would reinforce this behaviour in her dogs and they will continue to run over. Likewise if I allow my dog to play with them, my dog may think its okay to run over to them to play, what if she runs over to play with these dogs and the woman boots her? I don't trust this woman.

>the park is for responsible dog owners

>The park is a public place, provided for everyone, whether responsible or not.  Your and her rights to use it are identical; therefore if one of you is unhappy it's only sensible that that person should remove themselves at that time.

Perhaps she will be the one who is unhappy if she is getting grief off me? I'm within my rights to voice my opinion if I disagree with a persons actions, hopefully some of my friends will do the same as I know that others are having disagreements with her over the dogs behaviour.

>if she don't like it she can get out of my way.

>The same applies equally to you. No offence intended. 

Yes I know but I'm not budging so tough I'm not offended.

I don't do avoidance, My dog and I have done nothing wrong and I will continue to go at a time I see fit.

I guess the other owner feels exactly the same and as for you thinking her dogs 'would know' you two no longer speak is totally unreasonable.  Walk elsewhere or at a different time.  Obviously it is you that wants to avoid this person with her dogs so you need to go somewhere different.  If you don't then maybe subconciously you want to be friends again with this person or it could be you want to feel uncomfortable on your walks, or heaven forbid cause more tension between you both!
 

> As for you thinking her dogs 'would know' you two no longer speak is totally unreasonable

This is an exact quote from my previous post which completely blows your comment out of the water.

> Plus I know that dogs don't rationalise

Just incase this is lost on you, I acknowledge and understand that there is no concieveable way for the dogs to realise therefore rationalise the concept of human relationships. Ass-U-Me.

> If you don't then maybe subconsciously you want to be friends again with the person

That's definately the wrong psychological diagnosis. Mind you if you are going on Freudian theory then I guess you could say I am in denial :D
Plus she was never my friend to begin with, she was my mother's but fell out with her because my mother was diagnosed with cancer and she couldn't cope without having her as a friend and went mental, not out of concern for my mother but out of selfish obessive insecurity for herself, when my mum survived and made new friends she went even more mental and tried to stir up trouble between them. She only started all this BS with me recently when I haven't done anything other than walk my dog at the same time as hers.

> or it could be you want to feel uncomfortable on your walk, or heaven forbid cause more tension between you both

I'm not looking for a confrontation but I'm not running from one either. BTW I'm not intending to rush out at the time that she goes on the park, grab my personal alarm, wait until her dogs run upto me and then blast them. Gawd.

Anyways this thread was started to ask whether or not anyone has used any devices to repell dogs before. I hear the sonic dog repellers that joggers use are good but I don't know whether they emit a pulse in a straight line or in a sort of indiscriminate field, I don't want to get my dog as well.

> I know its not there fault and I know that my dog, when she sees them wants to play too. However I just recall her and send her to heel. Its quite sad that the other owner doesn't to the same

The cockers want to play with your dog, your dog wants to play with the cockers, but you think the other owner is being unreasonable by not recalling her dogs?? It seems to me like it's you who is being unreasonable.
It doesn't appear to be the cockers bothering your dog, they are bothering you just because you don't like thier owner.

For your own sanity, if you wont avoid the places where you know you will meet these dogs, then think of it as an aid to training under distraction. You appear to enjoy trainig, but no training is complete unless solid under distraction, so these cockers present the perfect opportunity for cementing such training.

>I don't think it would be out of character for this woman that she is not recalling them back because she wants him to have a go at my girl, I'm glad that my girl is very dog friendly and seems to make friends even with the most aggressive dogs

Maybe the woman is puttng her dogs needs first? If her dog is normally agressive, but gets on well with your dog, it would be unfair on him if she stopped allowing him to play with your dog just because she doesn't want to speak to you. You could take a leaf out of her book and not allow your relationships with other humans to effect your dogs relationships with other dogs, it would be much nicer for your dogs. They must be very confused to feel your tension and annoyance whenever thier old playmates show up, dogs that they used to have fun with but are no longer allowed to

> her dogs were always very responsive with me, I used to play games and do some simple training with them when they were around with me.

The cheeky option if you used to do training with them is to continue to do so.  Put her dogs in a down stay in the park until she comes and retrieves them

> I hear the sonic dog repellers that joggers use are good but I don't know whether they emit a pulse in a straight line or in a sort of indiscriminate field, I don't want to get my dog as well.

Why would you not want to 'get your dog aswell' ? Would that be becasue you don't want to frighten your dog, or risk a negative association with something thus causing a behavioural problem (fear at the time of looking at another dog could cause agression towards dogs etc..). ? Yet you are perfectly happy to use such a thing on friendly dogs that want to play with your dogs?

In answer to your question - no, I have never used any device to repell a dog, it is plain crazy. You could end up making yourself a target or frightening your dogs witless causing them behavioural problems. No, I would never consider using a device to repell dogs, especially friendly dogs that want to PLAY.

The mind boggles Heaven forbid a dog ever gots in a scuffle with your dog, how would you react to that if playfull dogs cause so much anger in you!

> The cheeky option if you used to do training with them is to continue to do so.  Put her dogs in a down stay in the park until she comes and retrieves them 

Lol I thought about doing that. It's quite funny really, one word from me and they come belting across the field , pop themselves in a sit and look for a treat. They follow me around too, lol maybe I should call them to heel and just walk off then she might pay more attention to them. Trouble is though they don't have a great amount of patience so I doubt they would stay in one place long enough for the woman to retrieve them.

    > her dogs were always very responsive with me, I used to play games and do some simple training with them when they were around with me.

The cheeky option if you used to do training with them is to continue to do so.  Put her dogs in a down stay in the park until she comes and retrieves them
ali - with a staffy and a rottie not a chow, but very cheek

now that the OP has explained better her position seems reasonable to me

i love this suggestion above - great idea!!!

i also agreeing that proofing exercises are a great idea, but i would still make *some* attempts to train when this lady isnt about

Okay so your saying its perfectly fine for two dogs to run up uncontrollably towards my dog who I have taken a good 2 years to train, just because they want to play? whilst the owner refuses to recall them back totally aware that I do not want her animals to disrupt me? maybe I should do the same, I'll just let her off and let her do what ever she pleases, let her run around, and I'll just stand there watching like a lemon because she wants to.
A dog never dictates anything that I do. She's a follower and is treated as such, she knows her place and hence therefore is obedient and respectful. I find it unbelievable that people are so ready to defend irresponsible owners then in the same breath winge and complain when a such an owner's dog comes jumping all over their puppy/old dog/ aggressive dog on lead/ anxious dog etc.

The owner should take the responsibility of her dogs and I mine. If she don't want to train her dogs its not my problem, it is my problem if I allow my dog or myself to be annoyed, disrupted etc If the dogs are frightened or have any adverse behavioural affects then they have their owner to blame, should have recalled them when I have given ample time for her to do so. The bottom line is that no one should assume that everyone's dog is allowed/ wants to play with theirs and have a right to allow them to run amock. I manage to keep control of my dog, dictate to her when and when not she can play. So do most of the owners that come on, there dogs walk around with them not bothering anyone, some may run over but normally run back but don't persistently hound me as we are going round doing our own thing.

BTW if this owner was putting the needs of her dogs first she would have gone to a training club to get it socialised or at least ask me first if he can socialise with mine. My dog is not there to satisfy her dogs needs. Plus my dog has lots of friends to play and socialise with so its no big deal for her.

>I'll just let her off and let her do what ever she pleases, let her run around, and I'll just stand there watching like a lemon because she wants to.

All work and no play ...

>She's a follower and is treated as such, she knows her place and hence therefore is obedient and respectful.

I wonder if I'm the only one to think that's one of the saddest descriptions of a companion dog that they've ever heard.

>My dog is not there to satisfy her dogs needs.

Your dog has needs that require satisfaction. The AWA states that animals should be allowed to display natural behaviour. Playing with their own species is a natural canine behaviour.

Frankly, I think you have a problem

From your posts I gain the impression that you want this other person to see you interacting with other people - but not her, and your dog interacting with other dogs - but not hers!  It smacks of playground bullying "don't talk to her or her dogs - she's a numpty and they're badly trained - neh-neh-ni-neh=neh"  And you're a grown woman?

You say that you walked and trained this other person's dogs - and that they will do what YOU tell them, but not what she does - so send them away if they are not "allowed" to play with your dogs!

I will be an irresponsible owner because in over 30 years of having dogs ive never gone to classes as you talk about. My dogs have always been my pets and companions. Just wondering what your dog is.
Are you sure its the dogs you have a problem with. These 3 dogs have played together till this ill feeling with the OP happened. How can you expect this not to be so now.
Choose a different route if your not happy as any other sensible dog owner would do

>>She's a follower and is treated as such, she knows her place and hence therefore is obedient and respectful.

>I wonder if I'm the only one to think that's one of the saddest descriptions of a companion dog that they've ever heard.

WTF? Pack leadership is the universal language of dogs. She is a follower, I'm the leader, hence what I say to her she listens to me as I have authority. What's so sad or nasty about that? Or would you like me to humanise her?
Treated as Such = eats her food after we (humans) have eaten/ walks through doors after me
Pack leadership is effective but of course I use reward based clicker training as well. I must be such an awful person wanting my dog to be obedient, respectful and non-dominant. She's certainly not a tool, most definately a pet and most certainly a well trained dog. For that I make no apologies.

I'm fully aware of the AWA. Natural Behaviour in dogs is also hunting, killing prey and fighting each other. My dog doesn't do any of these, OMG I must allow her to satisfy her needs. She gets lots of playing with canines and socialising, everyday on the park with her friends, at her 2 obedience classes per week and all the shows she goes to at the weekends.

> whilst the owner refuses to recall them back totally aware that I do not want her animals to disrupt me? maybe I should do the same, I'll just let her off and let her do what ever she pleases, let her run around, and I'll just stand there watching like a lemon because she wants to.

If you don't want your dog to run around 'like a lemon' with other dogs, it would be much easier for you to NOT walk her in a dog park (or 'park that allows dog to be off-lead').

> The bottom line is that no one should assume that everyone's dog is allowed/ wants to play with theirs and have a right to allow them to run amock.

I really don't see the problem, the other person knows that your dogs & hers get along, so there is nothing irresponsible about her letting her dogs play with yours.
You have said further up the thread that you don't mind young dogs running up to your dogs, so why are these friendly cockers (that you allready know) a problem for you?

>Pack leadership is the universal language of dogs. She is a follower, I'm the leader

You are not a dog.

> Pack leadership is effective but of course I use reward based clicker training as well

What is 'pack leadership' effective for if you need to use training?

>Treated as Such = eats her food after we (humans) have eaten/ walks through doors after me

Oh dear. Those outdated, discredited ideas.

>She gets lots of playing with canines and socialising, everyday on the park with her friends

But not these friends. They like her - she likes them. They used to be allowed to play together; but not now. Why not? Just because you don't like their owner? Poor, confused dogs.

>I will be an irresponsible owner because in over 30 years of having dogs ive never gone to classes as you talk about. My dogs have always been my pets and companions.

You don't need to go to classes to train a dog. I trained my dog previously for 18 months just on the park and reading up on certain training methods. I joined a club to get the Canine good citizen scheme awards and to look into doing formal obedience as I wished to breed my bitch and wanted to have something on paper to show that she is not just a pretty face.
What you do with your dogs is your business, but if they impact on other people doing stuff with their dogs its a different matter. Everyone has a right to walk their dog in peace without being harrassed by other dogs.

>Are you sure its the dogs you have a problem with

No its not the dogs, its the irresponsbility of the owner who is unwilling to even mutter a recall to them simply because she wants to annoy me. When they run over she just stands on the other side of the field pretending I'm not there whilst her dogs are clearly distrupting me.

The title of this thread is "Dogs annoying my dog". From what you've written, your dog isn't annoyed in the slightest - you are.

>simply because she wants to annoy me.

Or so you assume, because you're angry with her. Perhaps she thinks you just want to annoy her, but not letting the dogs all play like they used to. Perhaps she thinks you're doing it to spite her?

If you really think she's trying to annoy you, then don't let her see that you are annoyed. Let the dogs play, if only for a few minutes, with as much good grace as you can muster. Then you'll have won.

As JG says, if you think she "she wants to annoy me" - you are gratifying her wishes!

Stay away - walk at a different time - arrange for your chums to walk at a different time.   You won't be annoyed, she won't have won!

(please can we have the roll-eyes icon back!)

>Treated as Such = eats her food after we (humans) have eaten/ walks through doors after me
>Oh dear. Those outdated, discredited ideas.

might be outdated but work very well in my case

>Poor, confused dogs.

My dog is not confused. When she is told too she comes away and that's that. She really isn't bothered.

>Pack leadership is the universal language of dogs. She is a follower, I'm the leader
>You are not a dog.

And she is not a human

>What is 'pack leadership' effective for if you need to use training?

I use it as a sort of foundation for training. Those sort of excerises such her coming second through the gate into the park get her attention on me in a subliminal way, she sometimes gets too excited when going onto the park so just reminding her that I'm the leader I find helps. As I say I use it in conjunction with positive reinforcement and operant conditioning so I train with a mix of techniques, that way things don't get boring

So actually the heading to this thread is completely inaccurate!

WTF? Pack leadership is the universal language of dogs. She is a follower, I'm the leader, hence what I say to her she listens to me as I have authority. What's so sad or nasty about that? Or would you like me to humanise her?
Treated as Such = eats her food after we (humans) have eaten/ walks through doors after me
Pack leadership is effective but of course I use reward based clicker training as well. I must be such an awful person wanting my dog to be obedient, respectful and non-dominant. She's certainly not a tool, most definately a pet and most certainly a well trained dog. For that I make no apologies.

Although i have no problm with your general issue now you have explained, and dont think you a bad person at all, I would have to say you have lost me on the above.

Pack leadership is indeed very much NOT the universal langauge of dogs.
Granted some people still believe in the alpha/dominance/rank theories (ie, Jan fennell) but these people are throw backs to an old disregarded theory that was moved on from about 15-20 years ago.
There have numerous research papers, reports, studies and books by most of the worlds top trainers, behaviourists, biologists and scientist explaining why this stuff isnt really correct or meangingful.
Even when you track this alpha theory back to wolves (as was its origins) you will find out it was based on a discredited study of a captive artificial pack (Schenkel 1947) and the leading Federal USA Government wolf biologist, David Mech, has explained why wolves dont work this way (ie, the Alpha wolf doesnt always eat first).
I could list loads of links and books etc, but your best starting point is Dominance: Fact or Fiction by Barry Eaton, which is an easy to read little booklet that collates all the disparate stuff together

> Pack leadership is the universal language of dogs.

So could you not use this universal language to show the cockers that you are a 'leader' and you don't want them to play? Afterall, if pack leadership is the universal language of dogs, you should not need any alarn to deter the dogs, you can just use your 'uathority' as your packs 'leader' to tell the cockers to go away.

after a unreasonable falling out with my mother

So you are taking it out on 2 dogs because their owner and your mother had a falling out............grow up and get a life

As my name suggests I am always willing to read up and broaden my ideas on dog behaviour. Dog training is always the same though, no two people are going to agree. Pack leadership works well with my dog but might not work well with others, which I respect.
I feel we have rather gone off topic.

I really don't want these dogs coming up to me or my dog. The owner should respect that and recall them. I can understand if she tried to recall them and not come back, but to not even make an attempt is disrespectful.

>I really don't want these dogs coming up to me or my dog.

Have you actually told the owner this, with a polite explanation as to why? Or do you ASS-U-ME that she's read your mind?

(To be honest though, the explanation you've given us "I don't want your friendly dogs to play with mine because you've had an argument with my mother" is hardly credible.)

Yes I have told her this. She completely ignored me, if she had listened to me we would not be posting on this thread. A polite ' Can you recall your dog's please' as she was walking right past me met a wall of silence.
As I said in my previous posts I did not have any contact with the said person whilst everything was kicking off, just recently she has not been recalling her dogs when they run over to mine but yet when other people on the park she puts them on the lead so as not to annoy them?!

just recently she has not been recalling her dogs when they run over to mine but yet when other people on the park she puts them on the lead so as not to annoy them?!

I understand why she does this, if my two dogs met other dogs they knew and had always played well with then I would think 'no need to recall they are friends' but when I see dogs I don't know then I do put them on lead!  At least her dogs seem well behaved if they go back to her when she does recall them  -  of course this could be thanks to you and your training which you should be very proud of

I think you need to live and let live and lighten up a bit!  Just my theory not Freuds!

>I understand why she does this, if my two dogs met other dogs they knew and had always played well with then I would think 'no need to recall they are friends' but when I see dogs I don't know then I do put them on lead!  At least her dogs seem well behaved if they go back to her when she does recall them  -  of course this could be thanks to you and your training which you should be very proud of

But I am sure that if one of your dog's friend's owner's asked you to recall your dog you would do so, not walk past them completely silent. And when they asked you the second time to do it you would do so instead of turning your back on them? I don't think I am the one displaying childish behaviour here.

>I don't think I am the one displaying childish behaviour here.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Are you sure she wasn't listening to an iPod or something, and didn't hear you?

I've only read this post half way down, my heart is actually thumping away here as it feels as though you are ready to take your anger out on two Cockers just wishing to play with someone they know.

If you really are not going to change your walking pattern (I can understand that in a way) rather than preparing to squirt or do something horrible to the two innocent Cockers why not just take a large umbrella open it up and place it infront of yourself and your dog when they begin to run over to you therefore cutting you off from sight and from getting close to you. I've used this when I used to train my brothers two GSD's and they were constantly being barked and charged at by a Collie who was out of control with no recall. It worked a treat, the dog got bored with us.

When you don't want a dog to come near you, you ignore it, giving the Cockers any kind of action including a 'shush away' may seem like play to them. I also would not speak to the lady either, were taught from childhood to ignore people who tease and incite us, it makes them bored.

Far easier than getting all het up.

But I am sure that if one of your dog's friend's owner's asked you to recall your dog you would do so, not walk past them completely silent.

Yes I probably would if they were friends and asked in a polite manner, but not sure what I would do with someone who was as you say 'not speaking and fallen out with'!  I think I would probably ignore the request knowing that the dogs were doing no harm and they all liked to play together.  After all it is only to satisfy your feelings that you don't want the dogs to meet and greet, nothing to do with the dogs not getting on.....

No Ipod, No phone no nothing. She heard me well enough when I said she couldn't control her dogs selective hearing perhaps? Even after that as I said no recall, perhaps I need to say ' Call your dogs back' I wouldn't be suprised if she didn't know what recall means.

Perry, I certainly wouldn't let my dog run up to someone I have fallen out with since they may boot the dog or start an aggressive conversation with me, I would want to just walk around, enjoy the walk with my dog and let them get on with whatever they were doing.

If you're acting even half as childish in person as you sound on here I'm not surprised she ignores you.

That umbrella Idea is a good one, did not think of that. As I said I didn't want to hurt the dogs just repell them. I have been ignoring the dogs but they seem to continue to gravitate around me, a big umbrella might scare them off plus it wouldn't look out of place this time of year.

>they may boot the dog or start an aggressive conversation with me,

Why would they boot the dogs (or use a repellent spray?) if the dogs are genuinely friends with the other dog? Has this woman started an aggressive conversation?

>I would want to just walk around, enjoy the walk with my dog and let them get on with whatever they were doing.

Which sounds exactly what this woman is doing; letting the dogs get on with what they're doing.

I have read the entire post, and I am probably going to get flamed, but I would also be annoyed if I constantly had two dogs running up to my dog while I was training, and when telling the owner to recall her dogs, she doesnt. 

The fact that there is a falling out, is irrelivant, because the problem is about the owner not controlling the dogs. 

I also wouldnt want to have to change MY schedule because of someone else.  There is a time to train, and a time to play (even though training should be a playful thing, I mean actual training time, and actual just play time).

I would call the dog warden.  Not because of the dogs, but because of the owner.  Her dogs are being a nuisance to you, when the owner doesnt do what she is told by calling them off.