AIBU or did this guy overreact to our dog approaching him?

Well, my dog died today. She wouldn’t have approached any one that wasn’t her family. They are just toddlers. And I wish everyone could be kinder. She’s left a big hole.

I'm so sorry. I prefer dogs to most humans, and this thread is exactly why. Sending virtual hugs xx

How do you know he wasn’t extremely anxious, for himself or his child? 🤔

Then why go to a dog beach? To be scared of dogs or be extremely anxious around them, and then end up there is simply ridiculous. Dogs respond to smells and can also react to noise. How do you teach them to be off lead in a new environment... that's what dog beaches are for. In my opinion.

No beach is just a dog a beach.
It's beach for everyone where dogs are allowed.
If your dog won't act on re call it needs to be on a leas at all times.. with so much media coverage of dogs attacking lately everyone is on high alert no matter the breed of dog.

I’ve never heard of a “dog beach” in my life. Do you mean a stretch of a beach where dogs are allowed? Dogs are also allowed in the vast majority of parks (every park I know, at least) - do you think people that are scared of dogs should keep out of those too?

Dog friendly beaches. I look up dog friendly beaches, when I want to take my 2.

When I was 18 I was attacked unprovoked by an off lead dog. I missed my alevel results and the party as I was in hospital. It was highly traumatic, left me scarred for life and I have no feeling to touch or temperature on my upper arm. It also bit my leg but that was minor in comparison as I had thick jeans on. I had a vest top on so my arms completely bare. If a complete stranger hadn't come to my rescue I think I would of risked losing my arm. Everytime I hear of a dog attack it takes me right back to the hospital and its something I will never get over. Please keep your dog on a bloody lead. The guy handled the situation appallingly and I would of probably called the police anyway or at least 101 but you don't know what's happened to him before or his child. Doesn't excuse his behaviour but your dog should be on a lead if it doesn't have 100% recall.

Unreasonable to be so threatening to you, but yabu to have your yapper off lead. Bane of my life people who think because their dog is "only small" they can let them be practically feral.

It’s quite possible that he was worried that if the dog had jumped up at his child it may have been upsetting. My son is scared to death of dogs. I love them and have had dogs growing up, but nothing angers me quite like a dog with poor recall running upto my son. And upsetting him, we are working on him dealing with the situation and he spends time with his aunties dogs. But they don’t jump up at him.
If your dog has moments of being unpredictable and not returning when called/approaches strangers and jumps up at them. You should have them on a lead whenever you are out.
He should not have reacted the way he did aggressively and squaring up but I have had cross words with people
in the past for not having their dogs on leads. Or assuming that because their dog is friendly jumping/barking that it’s not still upsetting for someone who does not like dogs.

It wasn’t a dog beach! It was a section of beach where dogs are allowed 🤦🏼‍♀️

This is the same with our dog. She had perfect recall but now is deaf and a bit blind (she’s 14 sob) so I have to keep her on a lead most of the time.

There’s an older couple with 2 young dogs that do the same dog walk as we do. The dogs are so naughty - jumping up at us and my toddler, constantly on at my dog (who isn’t reactive but certainly less tolerant now she’s an old girl). I’ve told them so many times to control their dog and now I groan when I see the dogs, which you always see first because they’re about 200 yards ahead of their owners.

Sorry for your loss, but comparing dogs to toddlers is really silly. If toddlers running up to people and slobbering on/clawing at them was as common as it is with dogs then maybe the comparison would work. Or maybe if toddlers were known to kill people as often as dogs are 🤔

A grown man doesn’t need to be aggressive n the way OP described him f he’s anxious. Someone who knows that dogs make him so anxious that he can’t help but be threatening and aggressive should stay away from the dog section of the beach rather than putting himself in a situation where he will become abusive to other beach users.

how is a grown man acting very aggressively more acceptable than a small dog tapping him of the knee. Mental.

I’ve grown up with dogs so have no issues. I would be very unhappy if a random dog jumped up me.
But my 3 year old is terrified of dogs, so yes I would be pushing that dog off quick time to get it away from my child.
I wouldn’t assume it’s a friendly or trained dog if it’s willing to jump up randomers.
You will just have to keep on a lead in future.
Have you considered training classes?

Pedantic much. Of course it's not a "dog beach", other people have made the point. Although, I have been to a beach where there were almost as many dogs as people. I wouldn't expect a person afraid of dogs or anxious around them to try and have a picnic in this scenario. This is getting ludicrous!! Most dog owners I know, including myself are responsible dog owners. I don't have my dog off lead if I see a group of people having a picnic or other dogs on a lead. Do you sometimes get dogs that "have a moment" and get excited about a smell and it takes a few times to get them back, yes. They can be disturbed by smell or sound depending on the breed. They are not robots. Am I saying that all dogs must be allowed to roam off lead and run around in wild abandon, no. Just be sensible for the love of all things. I take my dog out very early or later when I know lots humans aren't about. That is the norm in my local park. Have a lovely day. 😃

Dogs don't identify people by their coats 😂

Woof Is that from the spring/summer 2022 collection woof woof?

It doesn’t matter whether it was a dog friendly part of the beach or not. If you can’t guarantee recall then don’t let them off a lead.

I'm sorry but this is completely mental. A puppy putting it's tiny paws on someone's knee is not in any way shape or form an "attack". Anyone who thinks it is should seek therapy.

I am so sorry you went through that, it must have been terrifying for you.

I have had a few bad experiences with other people's dogs, nothing as bad as this but enough to make me very wary. I hate it when strange dogs approach me or especially my DS (he is in a wheelchair btw - I hate dogs trying to jump up on his lap and being close to his face. He hasn't got full use of his arms so can't defend himself. And then to get told by the owner that their dog is 'just being friendly'.)

OP: you keep complaining about how the man overreacted, but if he did he may have had his own reasons. Whether or not he did was irrelevant, the fact is: you didn't have your dog under control and you let it mess with the wrong person, so the whole situation was of your own making.

Yes you are being unreasonable.

If you can't control who your dog runs up to then it shouldn't be off the lead. End of story. He may be terrified or the child might be, i'm sorry but it's your own fault. He is also protecting his child friendly or not he doesn't know how the child or dog will react but your dog is the one that ran over to them.

Doesn't matter how he reacted it was your fault the dog was left scared as it shouldn't have been able to run up and jump up someone. What if it was an elderly person with bad legs or something would have probably tore the skin or knocked them over its just not acceptable.

Same applies if they had a dog of their own what of that dog was unfriendly and on the lead but your dog ended up hurt...ot would be your fault.

Just have to aologise for allowing the dog to go over to him and learn from your mistake.

I’m afraid I agree with everyone - your dog needs to be on a lead if it doesn’t have perfect recall. Esp if you know It bounds up to people.

Bottom line is no one should have to be approached by a dog if they don’t want.

Obviously the man reacted in a way that’s not acceptable at all, but you don’t know what people will be like, which is another reason to keep dogs on leads. Dogs have been killed by a small number of kicks in a similar situation and that would be so tragic.

Lead, long leads are great, teach recall over and over. I know a woman with osteoporosis who was knocked over by a retriever and broke her hip badly!

he could have had an allergy or phobia, you don’t know that? His response was OTT but you were initially at fault.

Precisely my situation - I have osteoporosis and take steps to make sure I do not fall as I know what the consequences could be. But if a dog decides to knock me over there is little I can do.