Dear dog lovers/owners...

[INeedABiggerBoat]

A few tips for 'dog lovers':

• Don't leave your young children to pet a dog while you p* off to the loo or go to buy a pint, without checking with the dog's owners first. Dogs may not find your children as adorable as you do. Some dogs also bite children/when scared and I'm betting you won't be blaming yourself if that happens.
  
• It is not okay to feed a dog without its owners' permission - especially when you give the dog a small bone that could choke it/splinter in its throat. Unless you're happy for us to pass on the vet bill to you.
  

And one for dog owners:

• Whistling for your unleashed dog to follow you while you merrily cycle off home does not constitute 'having control' of your dog.
  

Any other tips to add, MN-ers?

[SpittinFevvers]

I spent 14 years picking up my dog's poo.........and you can't even do it ONCE??

[shouldnthavesaid]

Please don't allow your dog to visit other dogs in the street/park/beach etc. Not all dogs will be happy to meet. Please don't glare at me when I pick mine up if you do so. I'd far rather that she didn't have the chance to bite or upset your dog and picking her up is the best way to manage that.

Agree with not allowing children to stroke strange dogs as well.

[Prettykitty111]

-Don't let your children run up to my dog shrieking "its so cute its so fluffy" multiple times. MY fur baby does not like shouting, high pitched squealing or being grabbed.
-When my dog is doing a poo dont march up to me and shout are you planning on picking that up? Instead look at my right hand. See that red thing? It's not a michael Jackson glove its a poo bag.


-dog owners. I know the pub garden is enclosed. I'm sure you think your dog is clean. But please don't let it loose to run around or get it to jump up on the bench next to you. And definately dont feed it of the table. Not everyone likes dogs or wants to have one begging food from them!

I can think of hundreds more!

[TooOldForGlitter]

The teach your kids not to approach and touch random dogs is vital IMO.

We have been to a steam rally today and I am not exaggerating (sp?) I must have said to 25+ kids (I said it nicely) to not touch dog without asking. I'm talking coming up behind him to touch him, not coming at him face on.

[desertmum]

I have a large Golden Retriever who goes to a lot of places with me. I am always amazed at how many people let their children run up to him and thump pat him on the head without asking first if it is OK. He is a big gentle softie, but they don't know that. Please, ask first if it's OK to pet him, and don't let your kids run up and startle him.

Not the actual point of the thread, but as the weather gets nicer so he gets to come out with us more.

And yes, pick up after you dog, I don't care how small the poo is - take it home with you.

[matildasquared]

Hey losers who use shared footpaths and fields as your own personal dog run/toilet: you suck.

[chilephilly]

Dear parents who take their toddlers to the pub, please don't use me and my dog as an entertainment service for your kids because you're too lashed to care. The other week I told a ?2 year old several times not to stick his fingers up my dog's nose. Mother thought it hilarious when I asked her to look after the kid herself. It would have been my dog being PTS if he had nipped the kid tho.

[PurplePidjin]

Dear Dog Owners

My child is under control. He's on reins, stops on command and knows not to touch dogs unless I do. Please ensure your dog is the same, I do not appreciate my 18mo being licked in the mouth.

[VivaLeBeaver]

As a cyclist and a dog owner I say have your dog under bloody control when a cyclist goes by.

Three times I've cycled slowly past a dog to have the dog suddenly lunge in front of the bike. First two times I did an emergency stop and as I'm clipped into my pedals fell off. The third time I hit the dog as I was fed up of falling off my bike.

[JerseySpud]

Dear Dog owner

If i am out hacking on my horse, then please keep your dog on a lead. Just because my horse is bigger than your dog doesnt mean your dog should scare it.

[VivaLeBeaver]

I think the thing that pissed me off was that in all my 3 occasions the owner made no attempt to call the dog back and they had loads of time and had seen me. The second time the owner laughed their head off at me as I lay bleeding on the path. The third time the owner stood the opposite side of the path from the dog and seemed surprised when the dog decided to zoom across the path at the last minute.

I'm very sympathetic if I think they've either not seen me or the owner has made an effort and the dogs ignored them.

[matildasquared]

Viva, if you can't see around the corner, surely then it's time to put the lead back on? Around here it could be anything coming around the corner--a stray sheep, another dog, a deer, kids on scooters.

[matildasquared]

Sorry! I meant everlong. I'm not having a go, I just genuinely don't understand why dog owners take that risk.

[slithytove]

Dear Dog,
My picnic is not for you, no matter how delicious and tempting it is.

Dear Dog Owner,
Please keep your dog away from my picnic.

[matildasquared]

And on two occasions whilst out running I've been bitten by dogs who were off leash because they deserved to be. I expect they were also under excellent recall. This in addition to countless incidents of rushing, growling, jumping.

How is that sharing space?

[deakymom]

dear dog owner i don't actually care how cute and fluffy your pooch is my son is scared he bolts away towards roads sometimes and i have to let go of a pushchair drag him away from the main road and catch the pushchair tighten up on the leash and he will walk past calmly!