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Original poster

Is there anything you can say in response to this dog-owner?

44 replies

LayAllYourLoveOnMe · 03/02/2020 09:36

Just having a morning walk and a dog passing me gave me a lick of the hand. I moved my hand up out of the way.

The owner said nothing to the dog but said to me "don't worry she's friendly".

Is there anything useful you can say in this situation? "Don't worry i'm not scared" or "keep up with the training" spring to mind.

what I would want the owner to do in that situation is say "no" to the dog to train the dog not to share its licks with passers by.

Of course, the owner may have tried to do this and given up. But I really object to this "don't worry" comment as if my lack of desire to be licked by her dog is somehow a character trait of mine!

OP posts:
TatoTurner · 03/02/2020 09:41

Just wash your hands and move on with your life.

AnneLovesGilbert · 03/02/2020 09:44

But I really object to this "don't worry" comment as if my lack of desire to be licked by her dog is somehow a character trait of mine!

Couldn’t agree more. I don’t like dogs. I don’t want to be near them, for them to touch me, jump at me, bark at me or lick me. I don’t want them trying to shove their faces into my baby’s buggy. I couldn’t give a shit if “he’s only being friendly”, that makes it worse. Keep your friendly dog away from me and piss off.

KennyRogersWasNotInStarWars · 03/02/2020 09:44

I’m allergic
That’s what the dog owners whose dogs have bitten/killed said
I still don’t like it
I’m not scared I just don’t like dogs
I’m not scared I just don’t like being licked
No worries

Whatever fits your situation or just smile and walk on.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
rosie1959 · 03/02/2020 09:51

Dont really think there is any need to say anything.
I would have said good morning asked the dogs name and given it a fuss but I am a real dog lover.

Sparklingbrook · 03/02/2020 09:53

I would just show my lack of appreciation using body language and be on my way.
Saying something sarky wouldn’t achieve anything.

PuppyMonkey · 03/02/2020 09:54

You could say in response to the 'oh he's friendly' line: "Yes, but I'm not." Grin

UpperLowercaseSymbolNumber · 03/02/2020 09:55

I would say “I don’t appreciate being licked by passing dogs”

puds11 · 03/02/2020 09:56

I’d go with @PuppyMonkey response Grin

TheBuggerlugs · 03/02/2020 10:07

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns.

Seeline · 03/02/2020 10:15

I don't understand why some dog owners think that saying something like Don't worry, he's friendly, or Don't worry you won't hurt him, makes it ok for their smelly, muddy mutt to like, run round or jump at a stranger makes everything fine.

The second comment was made when an unruly Dalmatian kept up with its front paws on my DDs shoulders when she was 2. She was absolutely terrified. It took nearly 10 years for her to voluntarily go near any dog.

Ancientruin · 03/02/2020 10:20

As a previous dog owner I wouldn’t have let my dog lick someone elses hand if it could have been avoided Confused

I purposely would have tried to have move over because as a child I had an immense fear of dogs & would cross the road if one was approaching me.

A ‘Please don’t assume we all like dogs’ would cover it. It’s non-confrontational but factual.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 03/02/2020 10:20

You could look shocked and dry heave Grin. I like dogs, but they are like children, I only love my own. I hate it when a dog licks me. I don't even allow mine to lick me. I've witnessed him do some pretty disgusting stuff, so there's no chance he is licking me 🤢

Ancientruin · 03/02/2020 10:26

Yes seeline that’s what happened to me.

I have also taught my child to ask the owner if she can touch the dog before assuming it is safe to do so.

Can see this thread escalating into so much more of a debate than simply ‘What else can I say?’ so I’ll repeat it now...

“Please don’t assume we all like dogs.”
It’s non-confrontational but factual.

Booboostwo · 03/02/2020 10:29

The dog basically said "Hello, I love you". Some people don't like that fair enough, but it's not exactly easy to teach friendly dogs not to be so friendly. The owner could have kept more of a distance, but then again so could you. Overall, not really a big enough deal to keep thinking about.

PenelopeFlintstone · 03/02/2020 10:32

Agree with Booboostwo.

Chocolatedaim · 03/02/2020 10:32

I’ve always loved dogs and had two wonderful dogs in the family home whilst I was growing up. However now as an adult, maybe I’m getting miserable, dogs really irritate me.
My MIL has a tiny yappy thing and it jumps up at me and the kids, knocking them backwards and pulling cotton in your leggings/tights, and whilst it’s really not a big deal it annoys me. When the children were tiny it used to jump up and lick their faces and I said to MIL the dog is going to have to be put in other room if it can’t be trained to not do that. I know I know I’m a grump 🙄

Ancientruin · 03/02/2020 10:36

There are different ways to train dogs though. If one doesn’t work, you find another. It’s down to the responsibility of the owner.

The three D’s is one method.

Please don’t find an excuse for not training a dog to lick someone’s hand.

A biscuit or another distraction of some sort would have done the trick.

FairyBatman · 03/02/2020 10:36

If they say don’t worry he’s friendly I usually reply with “that’s good but it’s not really the point”

adaline · 03/02/2020 10:39

As a dog owner, I would just fuss the dog Grin

However I would never let my dog behave like that. If we're walking along a narrow path, he has to stand/sit at the side to allow the other person to walk past. If possible we will go into the road to let someone past safely.

Not everyone likes dogs and it's not my place to inflict my dog on them. When he was a puppy we used treats to distract him, and now it's just habit for him to look at me when someone passes, but it's taken lots of work!

PineappleDanish · 03/02/2020 10:43

Hate dog owners like this, meet them all the time when I'm out walking.

I have no interest in dogs. I don't want to interact with your dog. I don't want it near me. I certainly don't want it licking me, touching me, barking at me or jumping up at me. It is your job as a responsible owner to understand that not everyone adores your animal, and to keep it from impacting on other people.

I find a death stare usually works when the owner twitters on about "ooooh but he's sooooo friendly and wants to say hello!" Unfortunately telling them to fuck off and take their mutt with them isn't really socially acceptable.

IntermittentParps · 03/02/2020 10:46

'I just don't like dogs licking me.'

onlyoneoftheregimentinstep · 03/02/2020 10:52

I'm a dog owner. I tell them that if they can't trust their dog not to approach people then it should be on a lead.

NomDeDieu · 03/02/2020 10:52

The owner could have kept more of a distance, but then again so could you.

You mean its up to random people to get out of their way to AVOID dogs ncase they are friendly/not friendly/will jump on you???
And the dog owner is only vaguley responsible to keep his dog in check.

As far as I am concerned, the dog owner is responsible for the dog. If they cant teach they friendly dog to not lick people, its their problem and them being unable to train their dog properly. As a dog owner, you have no ide who the person coming is. They might be immunosupressed. They might be terrified of dogs. They might consider a dog licking them as the most disgusting thing ever (after all who knows where the dog has put its tongue/mouth just a couple of minutes ago).
assuming that people will be happy to be licked by the dog or that they should just move away is lazy behaviour from the dog owner.

Ellybellboo · 03/02/2020 10:53

I suppose it depends how it happened. I’m personally not really that bothered by it but I’ve never let our dog jump up and lick people

Saying that though, I was walking my dog on her lead in the summer when she managed to lick a man’s bare leg

She was on a short lead but we were on the inside of the pavement beside a huge, prickly hedge and he just came round the corner and despite a wide pavement and plenty of room the other side of him, he barged past so close that I had nowhere to go to move away from him and no chance to swap her to the other side of me or move to the outside of the pavement

I did apologise profusely though

I hate the ‘don’t worry’ brigade of dog walkers. I usually hear it when someone has absolutely no recall or control over their dog and it’s hassling mine who is walking nicely on her lead

mynamechangemyrules · 03/02/2020 11:00

Oh god, I love dogs and not fussed about licking but I absolutely loathe the 'don't worry' brigade too!!
My SIL is like this, I remember walking with her in a beautiful part of the world and her (greedy, insane) black lab trampled over a families picnic, licked the child's face and started eating something 😱 SIL was yelling 'don't worry, she's very friendly! She wants to join in!' And I was legging it in the other direction with our dogs in shame 🤣🤣 So bloody unacceptable!!! The thing is, you'd never just allow and make excuses for behaviour if it was a child... If they wandered over and nicked a sandwich you'd tell them off!! Well.... I would!