Dog Owners

[GreyStars]

To be fair I'm uncomfortable around large dogs, i am very scared of them

Today in vets I walk in see vet in consulting room is looking after a large dog.

Vet closes door

As I'm not good with dogs and I have a cat in basket who doesn't like dogs I put ourselves as far away as possible so when dog and owner walk out we are as far away from the paying counter as possible

Dog owner walks past, towards counter I say to him " sure your dog is lovely but i don't like dogs"

He rolls his eyes at me, his dog is on a rope, he lets it get closer to me

I say again "please keep your dog away from me"

Fifth time I tell him please move your dog and I'm feeling horrible, embarrassed and I want to burst into tears

The receptionist even asked him to move. Two foot towards the counter would have helped

His answer - well I had hands my full

I'm sure the actual dog was lovely, but shouldn't dog owners understand not everyone is comfortable with their dogs?

[Wolfiefan]

They absolutely should. I own a giant puppy. She's on a short lead around people and is made to stand and wait whilst people pass. I have my hands full. That's not your problem. I love her to bits. Why should you feel the same?

[Fauxgina]

Yanbu at all. You were especially clear in your discomfort (bravo!)

I wonder if the idiot holding large dog was processing bad news though, if it helps to think that. If not he's just an idiot. It's not fair to let dogs near cats in waiting rooms when cats are probably very stressed and probably poorly already.

[honeyroar]

Yes, most of us would have moved our dogs.

A few years ago I was at the vets with my cat in a carry case after he'd been run over. A lady let her dog stick his nose in the cage then grumbled at me because my already frightened cat clawed him! I just gave her a look, couldn't even bother going there!

[Rallyaddict]

Many vet surgeries have separate waiting areas and even entrances for cats and dogs - why not move to a practice that does this?

[Wolfiefan]

Honey that's awful. Poor cat and poor you.

[ThePiglet59]

You were in a vets.
There will always be dogs in a vets

[LineysRun]

I've had this at the vet. My cat's in its box, and it's unwell. There's me one side, OH the other, and we were physically fending off a dog whose owner wouldn't bother controlling it while they were paying.

OH (dog owner himself) said, 'Can you keep your dog on on a tighter leash around the other animals?' and the owner just shrugged, like they didn't know how.

It was a young, strong boxer. Poor thing.

[Coastalcommand]

You complained because he walked past? That's unreasonable. If he was too close why didn't you move? Or wait outside until you were called as you were the one with the issue.
It's not unexpected to see a large dog in a vets' waiting room.

[LineysRun]

I think this was the scene

He rolls his eyes at me, his dog is on a rope, he lets it get closer to me

[Restorativepowersoftea]

I'm sorry, but I don't think you worded it in the right way. Instead of saying "I don't like dogs", perhaps you should have said "I'm scared of dogs", which sounds more accurate from your response. I'm not making excuses for the dog owner (who was definitely rude to make you feel uncomfortable on purpose), but your choice of words may have got his back up.

[Isthisusernamefree]

If that had been me (owner of a boxer who weirdly loves the vets more than anything and gets very excited) I would have taken him and put him in the car and come back in to settle up etc with the receptionist. I love my boy to bits, but I completely understand no one else needs to! It's dog owners like the one you describe who give considerate owners a name. Sorry you had that experience OP. I hope your cat is ok too!

[SpreadYourHappiness]

ThePiglet59 There may always be dogs in vets, but the owners of those dogs don't have to be so inconsiderate.

Restorativepowersoftea Why should she have had to reword it? Dog owners need to realise that most people aren't going to love their dog, and that if they are making someone uncomfortable, they need to control their animal.

OP, YANBU.

[stonecircle]

Not excusing his behaviour, but I totally agree that if you'd said you were scared of dogs you might have got a better response. "I don't like dogs" is a bit blunt and I can see why he might have been irritated by it.

[Restorativepowersoftea]

But the dog wasn't out of control Spread, it was on a lead walking past and did not even come up to the OP let alone bark or harass her cat! Not 'liking' dogs and being 'scared' are two different things; the latter more likely to be taken seriously and the former perhaps taken as an offensive, annoying statement by the dog owner. As the owner of a large dog myself, there isn't much I can do in a small vet's reception area other than ensure that my dog does not approach other people and their animals, but my dog will go past! Like everyone else and their pets at the vet!!!

[SpreadYourHappiness]

Restorativepowersoftea The dog owner was not controlling his dog; see what the OP said:

He rolls his eyes at me, his dog is on a rope, he lets it get closer to me

If he was controlling it correctly, he wouldn't have let it get closer to someone who doesn't like dogs. The receptionist even had to step in to ask him to move his dog, so he was clearly not controlling it.

Are you seriously saying someone saying they don't like dogs and want it moved should not be taken seriously, just because you find it offensive or annoying? You need to understand that most people aren't going to like or want to be anywhere near your dog.

If a dog owner isn't controlling their dog effectively in the street, and allows it to brush past me, I will move out the way. They often say 'Oh are you scared of dogs?' And I reply 'No, I just don't like them and don't want their hair all over my clothes.'

It's such entitlement from some dog owners to think everyone loves their dog. It's not acceptable, ever, to let your dog get so close to someone that it brushes up against their clothes, or to someone who is obviously uncomfortable (even more so if they've told you they're uncomfortable).

[SpreadYourHappiness]

AnUtterIdiot You shouldn't assume that. I say I don't like dogs because I don't like them. I'm not scared of them, I just can't stand the creatures.

[Restorativepowersoftea]

The dog "getting closer" does not mean the dog was out of control! Take away the eye roll from the dog owner (caused by the OP's blunt "I don't like dogs") and what do you have left? A dog on a lead walking past- not brushing against- where did you get that from?

[SpreadYourHappiness]

Restorativepowersoftea I was talking about dogs brushing against in general, not in the OPs case.

A loon? Of course, there can't be ordinary people who don't like dogs! How ridiculous would that be?!

[Restorativepowersoftea]

Sorry have reported my last post. Now I'm being rude and offensive. I do apologise. Time for cuddles with my lovely dog to calm down.

[tabulahrasa]

I think generally dig owners should be aware that not everyone likes dogs and make sure their dog isn't getting in anyone's way...

But, inside a vet's when they were there first and the dog isn't actually doing anything other than hanging about on a lead, if you're really not keen, tell the receptionist you're there and you'll wait outside.

The owner was presumably waiting to pay and lots of dog owners walk to the vet, they're pretty much stuck there.

Yes he could have been a bit more considerate, but as the dog wasn't actually misbehaving...

[StarryIllusion]

It's basic manners in vets to keep animals well apart and not let them roam. He was rude and inconsiderate.

[PenelopeFlintstone]

I think you were unreasonable. I'm also scared of a lot of big dogs: rotties, dobermans, alsatians.
But of course dogs are going to walk past you at a vets. You should wait outside, which is what I do with my own big dog. But the other fellow couldn't do that as he was leaving the consulting room.
I would've found you very irritating, especially if there was something very wrong with my dog.
You should wait outside next time.