AIBU to think dog owners should actually be responsible for their dogs in public spaces?

The last paragraph lets you down here. I have a fear of dogs from a traumatic attack when I was a small child. How do I know your dog is a well trained one? They don’t wear badges saying they’re well trained do they? (Same reason why all men should be kept out of women’s single sex spaces).

All I ask is that your decision to get a dog has zero impact on my life. That means keeping your dog under close control at all times and well away from me. I don’t think that’s too much to ask. And on a lead when on a footpath. People who don’t like dogs have as much right to use public spaces as anyone else.

And yes I’ve tried many, many forms of therapy, none of which has made any difference. And yes I’m fine with dogs I know well and can trust. One of my good friends got a dog, we went on a walk and she’d made no effort to train it and it jumped on everyone. In a non-aggressive manner but its paws were caked in mud. It was so appalling we just don’t really talk much any more. I cannot in all conscience be friendly with such a huge dickhead.

I am a dog owner and this lazy and entitled attitude infuriates me and gives the rest of us a bad name. And my experience of owning rescue dogs, some quite damaged, due to shitty humans, often those who claim their dogs are friendly and don’t give others a choice are the red flag owners!

This is why my two dogs are kept on lead except in a secure field. I can’t risk them jumping up someone and potentially knocking them over, it’s not worth it. Plus not everyone is a dog lover.

Like a car park and a beach? 🤨

My dog is also very friendly loves people. He never just runs up to people and jumps on them because he’s well trained and well behaved.

I love dogs and have 2, unfortunately other owners give some of us a bad name with badly controlled dogs

Bit fed up of runners and cycalists suddenly turning up behind me with no warning though as I'm gard of hearing and often have very little time to call them back to me especially on narrow walking paths

I fully agree that people who don't have incidents don't post obviously. People who have an incident are more likely to post.

But my point is I'm out with the dog every single day in the park sometimes twice a day so you'd think I would be more likely rather than less likely to see out of control dogs jumping all over people.
Do i believe it happens? Yes of course. I'm not saying all dogs are perfect. Do i think they're exaggerating? Yes absolutely i do.

It’s becoming an increasing issue for my partially sighted relative. People letting their dogs run up close to someone who can’t see them. My relative was shouted and sworn at by a dog owner in her local park after she accidentally kicked a dog who ran at her - she’s severely visually impaired and unable to see a small dog at knee height.

Love it - I'll have to try that.

Typical entitled victim blaming. My DH doesn't like dogs. It's because he was bitten by one as a child - same kind of crap spoken by the owner - "he's never done it before", "you shouldn't have shouted" etc etc. It's about time that irresponsible dog owners were taken to task when they can't be bothered to train their dogs yet still think it's OK to let them off the lead in public places.

Why an earth do you thing every one would want your dog to say hello to them
the only way I would say hello to a dog is with my foot keep it under control and away from people

I'm not frightened of dogs (although I am allergic). My partner isn't frightened of dogs. But my eldest is. Solely due to an irresponsible dog owner allowing their big dog to jump up at the buggy when he was strapped in.

im not sure about you, but I can imagine how scary it is to not be able to escape when something considerably larger than you, with sharp pointy teeth jumps up on you.

its interesting you think the learned behaviour only comes from people frightened of things and not actual experiences with the animal in question.

its surely not difficult to see how a fear of dogs can develop.

@didntlikeanyofthesuggestionsMany people (me included) do not want your “friendly” dog jumping all over them.

YANBU @Dilemma87- but you’ll get loads of dog apologists on this thread.

Thought this was going to be yet another dog bashing thread, but what you say is really fair and reasoned.

You are just asking for dogs not to pester you, but happy for them to share the space as long as they don't jump on you/chase you. You don't mind them being off lead as long as they are under control.

You can't be fairer than that really, and as a dog owner I completely agree. It also annoys me when dogs come running at me and jumping up, covering me in mud or laddering my tights. I train my dogs from the minute I get them at 8 weeks old to not be a nuisance to people or other dogs. I train them to not approach dogs on lead. I get very annoyed when people allow their off lead dogs to approach mine when he is on a lead. He doesn't like boisterous dogs jumping on him. He never reacts, but you can see the discomfort on his face and in his body language, but sometimes other dogs nor their owners pick up on the body language.

What annoys me is the people who dislike dogs and therefore think they should all be kept away from anywhere they go or should be on a short lead at all times even if they are well trained and don't bother other people/animals. The attitude of some people, so full of hatred, bitterness and animosity astounds me. To spend your life carrying that much anger... Well... It's not healthy.

I own a boisterous and excitable young labrador and I agree. His recall isn't perfect, yet so I keep him on lead. I'd be mortified if he ran up to a stranger and jumped on them, or got into someone's picnic. I'm pretty sure he would as well, so guess what... He's on a lead! It's pretty simple.

My daughter doesn’t like them because one jumped up at her when she was a toddler and knocked her over. Many of the friends who were there when it happens don’t like them for the same reason.

I cannot actually believe that you are being serious. This must be rage bait.

I love dogs and have a dog, but it’s my respn to ensure the dog is under control.

The OP was jogging along a beach - which he/she is perfectly entitled to do, the dog owner(s) are at fault here. My dog loves people, but is under my control and I do not permit him to run up and jump
at people.

Did you know that under the dogs act it doesn't matter if your dog is aggressive or not, if your dog approaches someone and they are fearful of it they can complain to the police and it will be taken seriously as you do not have your dog under control. Please teach your dog not to approach anyone or another dog. It sounds to me you are one of these owners that just thinks recall doesn't matter if the dog is friendly. Well it does and I say that as a dog owner!

Sadly that attitude persists. Started by the no win no fee culture of insurance claims.

I would suggest that if anyone wants a dog - or a driving licence they need to be properly trained and item 1 needs to be training on how you are expected to control your dogs behaviour and what will happen of you dont.

For drivers clear expectations of how they should behave and the consequences of not doing so

I often wonder how dog owners would react it another human ran up to them, ran round in circles, draped themselves over their shoulders and shouted "hello, hello, it's ok I'm friendly, I won't hurt you" in their ear.

Then of course dog owners will start bleating when compulsory licencing is introduced because many of them are idiots................

Of course you’re not being unreasonable.
Dog owners with dogs they can’t control are massive ignorant eejits.
If a dog jumps up on you it can be really dangerous if you’re fragile or recuperating or elderly or very young. So untrained dogs need to be on leads - there’s not one argument that can stand in opposition to that.

A dog is either under control or not - there’s are no exceptions. If you can’t control your dog you shouldn’t have one.

When we had a Labrador when I was younger she would occasionally run up to people in the park (usually with other dogs) but I always called her back and apologised. It was before there were extendable leads.

YANBU!

I’m fucking sick of being told “It’s ok, they don’t bite” when a random dog runs over and sniffs/jumps up on me.
i don’t give a shit if they don’t bite, I don’t want your dog anywhere near me.

Today for example when I asked him to recall his dogs and told me to go therapy

And this brief exchange was all it took to make you think that actually, you might be 'unreasonable to think dog owners should actually be responsible for their dogs in public spaces?'

Really?