WIBU to reassure this child that my dog is friendly

So are children…

My son is terrified of dogs and he will literally bolt when a dog approaches him off the lead (or even on one for that matter). The places we go are always area for dogs to be on leads but this is rarely respected unfortunately so this encounter keeps happening and it’s not helping his anxiety! ANYWAY I voted YANBU. You recalled your dog and was aware and respected the child. The mum is probably just fed up of the situation and snapped. If you were in a place where dogs are to be on leads then I would change my answer!

I think it was just an interpretation OP.

My DC had a frightening experience with a dog and they became scared of dogs. We knew they and us couldn’t live like that so spent a long time (like years!) working on their confidence and now they are fine.

However, you’d be surprised I think at the number of tuts we’d get from dog owners when I’d just say a jolly ‘they are wary around dogs please can you call it back’ as though we were unreasonable.

I think if you’d caught us at a time when the fear was at its peak and said what you did I’d probably have reacted similarly. Unfairly I’d have lumped you into the tutting ‘he’s friendly brigade’ too

I'm terrified of dogs, was bitten when I was around 4 by a neighbour's dog.

Personally I've been working on overcoming my fear the past few years as the kids want a dog. I'm nowhere near as bad as I used to be, I used to cry if a dog came too close or jumped on me. I'm a lot calmer now & will pet certain dogs but I am still incredibly wary when they make quick movements.

I do think when someone says they are afraid of dogs, their fear isn't respected because 'don't worry, he's friendly'.
He may be friendly but I don't want him near me.
I know so many people afraid of spiders, cats, frogs...and I respect their fear. My sil is terrified of spiders and if she sees one, screams blue murder. I just take the spider and put it outside, I don't wave it under her nose saying 'don't worry, he's friendly '.

I didn't realise dog owners were exempt from paying tax.
How do i get a refund?

I’m an adult and I don’t like/am nervous of dogs. I get really irritated by owners telling me their dog is friendly and then it tries to jump up. I have snapped before because I get so anxious.

So your dog was walking off lead. You were approaching a little girl who appeared to be nervous about the dog, so you called the dog back and put it on the lead.

As you walked past you told the girl that the dog was friendly, at which time the mother snapped at you and said that doesn't mean she wants to say hello to it, which as far as I can tell you did not suggest that she wanted to do. I think I'm in the minority but I think you were not being unreasonable you didn't do anything wrong. Just because you said the dog was friendly didn't mean to were going to try to force an interaction.

Why should the woman have restricted where she wanted to walk? It’s your dog! If you want to play ball with it, do so in your garden. The women paid taxes to be able to enjoy public places in peace, without your lifestyle choice endlessly hassling her.

I don't think you were being unreasonable, just kind. But as a mum who has a daughter who would rather jump out in front of a car than pass a dog (not without cause, she was bitten before), that mother could have had a day of it reassuring her child with every dog that passed by. It gets so draining. So while I don't think you were being anything but kind, you could have been the 10th person to say the exact same thing to that child and mum was just weary! But well done on your very well behaved dog! You did absolutely nothing wrong.

Why do we just have to live with dogs though? Why? The people who don’t want dogs near them surely have a right to go about their business in peace without being hassled by dogs. Dogs aren’t members of society. They are a lifestyle choice made by their owners. Responsible owners recognise this and keep them on a short lead in public.

@SchnizelVonKrumm what are you on about
These threads always turn nasty, on here people really don’t care and openly say they hate dogs.
You’ve got from this thread, people are not fussed either way? are you on so many threads, that you’re just getting mixed up! Because it’s pretty clear to me there’s some very angry people on here.
It’s really not a case of not tolerating criticism of dogs, it’s the anger and hatred towards them, that’s why people who have a dog, or have actual experience with dogs, are also commenting.
Anyway, as interesting as this is, l’m out.

Personally, the mother could have moved her kids right away if she was that concerned.

I was playing ball with mine this morning and some woman walked through the middle of us and then got annoyed when my dog started running up to her excitedly. My dog thought she was going to play ball, nothing I can do about that. Woman shouldn’t have walked in between us.

People need to take responsibility for their own situations. If you or your child are scared of dogs, wide berth them, don’t expect everyone else to move. Parents also need to teach their kids how to act around animals as a lot of them have no clue. I was at a fete the other week and kids were stomping the ground, screaming and pawing at dogs in the dog show. The parents of those kids would be the first in the queue for a payout if one of the dogs reacted negatively if it had got frightened.

This. I am also a multiple dog owner and am throughly sick of the, “he’s friendly” cop out from irresponsible idiots. They have ruined it for the rest of us I’m afriad.

You recognised the situation, recalled your dog, put them on the lead and gave them space. That's all that's needed. Just calmly walk past, dog on lead, give them space as you go by. No need to engage.

Few weeks ago, I was in a park with my reactive to dogs, dog. On two leads, collar and a harness. I was sat on a bench looking at a water fountain, dog was leaning up against my leg and I had the leads tight in case an offlead "friendly" dog happened by. Out of nowhere an (offlead!) little girl of about 4yrs appeared from behind the bench, yelled DOG! in my dog's ear and proceeded to try and hug it. Now that is when you need to have a word with children!

Luckily, my dog is used to small children (shes a rescue and came from a family with five aged about 1yr to 8yr) so all that happened was the little girl had a big sloppy dog kiss up her face as I put my arm down between the two of them to separate them quietly and told her always be careful with dogs and ask before you play with one. Her DF suddenly appeared and dragged her off, didn't say anything to me, he looked terrified! Yes, I have a staffie.

It doesn't have anything to do with this thread. Just saying that there are some weird posters who won't tolerate any criticism of dogs, even if objectively valid. Not sure where you've got the idea from that people on MN "generally" aren't tolerant of dogs. I'd say most people like them of aren't fussed either way.

Or have I found Exhibit A?...

Feel the same about kids and loud people tbf, wish someone would keep them under control too!

OPs dog was under control.

Don't you think the mother is adding to the emotions and making it worse for her daughter in the long term?

How interesting, thanks for sharing! Not quite sure though what it’s got to do with this actual thread.
Think you dreamt that one up, as we’ve seen on MN generally people on here, aren’t at all tolerant of dogs.

Bleugh.

When people tell me their dog is friendly I say "yes but I'm not".

As I've said on here many times, if all dog owners kept their pets under control children (and adults) would not be scared of them.

I live by a lake, it’s well signed, dogs must be on leads at all times and certain sections of the parks, also out-side shopping areas
Yes there are many places where people can go where dogs must be on leads.

Agreed. But there is nastiness and silliness on both sides. Different people like different things, and that's fine.

(I like dogs btw, hence the username.)

Really hope you don’t have a garden you go barefoot in.

It’s going to blow your mind when you find out that’s where the foxes wee.

You are just trolling now if you think stepping in dog piss in isn't disgusting.