Disclaimer: I would never shout and I know that most dog owners are responsible, lovely reasonable people, this is not meant to tar them all with the same AIBU brush, honest guv'
My local park is meant to be a 'dogs on a lead only' park, there are meadows directly next to the park where most take their dogs for a run, but everytime we go there are always some dogs off their leads. A few months ago, my 2 year old was knocked over by a dog, it ran over to us and before I could pick her up it had jumped up at her. I think it was only jumping up, it wasn't aggressive or attacking, but she is little and it just bowled her over. She is now terrified of absolutely all dogs.
So, since then whenever we are at the park or on the beach or wherever, if a dog comes in our direction she looks panicked and I try to pick her up before the dog gets too close. I immediately have to start reassuring her that its ok.
Every time (with very few exceptions) the owners look offended, offended I've picked her up away from the dog and offended that I'm reassuring her.
They tend to then say, 'oh, its ok, he's very good with children' in either a defensive or cross tone, though today I got 'you don't need to pick her up and fuss you know, he's very good with kids' followed by lots of tutting.
I just want to scream back 'well she doesn't bloody know that does she?!'
Because if they were all good with kids then she wouldn't have been knocked over in the first place!!
How the hell should I know which dogs are good with kids, especially as they are bounding towards you and you have a screaming toddler at your heels.
AIBU?
to want to shout at some dog owners?
ParadiseMoresThePity · 04/10/2012 19:50
YANBU. They never apologise, do they? It's always "oh he's just being friendly" as if you just can't wait to make friends with their beloved pooch who thinks it's a game to knock children over 
Balia Thats awful 
It must be rotten to be one of the nice dog owners, I know plenty btw, who are responsible with their dogs because as usual a few spoil the reputation of the many.
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Glen I do wish some dog owners would realise that something bigger than them running towards them making a loud scarey noise is not actually that nice or cute. I don't let my toddler run up to them, dribble on them, knock them flying or piss on their shoe (yes that has actually happened) so why is it ok for your dog to do that to my child in the street
Yes, that's it exactly, its a total lack of empathy for the toddler.
DH has had a dog cock its leg over him whilst we were sat down on the beach, its owners made this face --> 
and couldn't believe their dog had done it!
YANBU, it is always the dog's owner's responsibility to keep the dog under control especially in places where there are children, but as a dog owner I do find it hard not to get frustrated when people whisk their child away from my (perfectly harmless although I appreciate they don't know that but he is on a lead) dog and reinforce the idea for them that it is something to be scared of. I do point out sometimes that he's fine and very gentle because occasionally people like to take the opportunity to introduce their child to a nice safe dog, not because I'm huffy that they don't realise he's ok. Although I do tend to think that the fact I'm walking the dog with 3 children, including a baby, and he's not eating them, ought to be some indication that he's not a vicious brute 
.
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