"It's ok, he's friendly!"

[daffodilandtulip]

Out walking this morning and I've heard the ultimate ridiculous excuse for not training your dog: an off lead dog jumps up at me, snarling and barking. Owner "we didn't see you there, you scared him."

Over the past week, we've had:

"He just wants to say hello", whilst jumping at a terrified, crying toddler.

"He won't hurt her, there's no need to be scared", whilst face to face with a dog the height of toddler.

"I'm not taking him on the road, he'll be scared", regarding the chiwowa IN THE OWNERS ARMS, whilst trying to make me walk three toddlers on a main road in order to pass.

"You'll have to get off the path, she won't walk in the mud" - large Rottweiler, in a children's park.

"He doesn't bite, he'll just jump up".

"Whatever's the matter with her?" said about toddler who has just been knocked over by a large dog and dog is remaining towered over her.

And obviously, a million and one of the "it's ok, he's friendly."

I've also got scratch marks down the entire side of my leg from trying to drag a "friendly" dog off my own dog's neck.

He's not friendly. It's not ok. Stop looking at me like I have three heads when I ask you to move the dog away from the child. Control your dog or use a damn lead!!

I love dogs but have now reached the point where I believe that all dogs should be on leads at all times in a public place. If your dog needs a run, hire a dog field or get a house with a bigger garden.

I agree completely, I think the reason this hasn't happened is that the pet industry will lobby hard against anything which puts barriers in front of and thereby reduces pet ownership, because this will reduce their profits.
Think of all the pet adverts in which pet owners are encouraged to think of the animal as human, they know that this is the best way to get the pet owner to spend more money on the animal.
I worry that we will end up with packs of feral dogs like they have in some countries.

I don't see how that's really relevant. I don't hate dogs, I'm not scared of them, I just don't want to be jumped on while walking along the pavement. I'm genuinely baffled by people who think that's an unreasonable position.

These days I carry a walking pole and a bag of chocolate covered raisins.

Totally agree with OP.
Some dogs are a hefty weight of muscle, teeth, paws and claws. Some are unpredictable.

Too many people cannot control their dogs. Too many people think everyone should love their dogs. Too many people think they should be able to take their dogs everywhere they go.

Some restraint and judgement please. At least muzzle them.

Our small local park is pretty much unusable at weekends these days. I was in ours last Sunday Pokemoning (yes, judge away) - and counted maybe 40 dogs. I’d say about 20 were off lead - it was pretty chaotic.

I was set on and bitten last year by an out of control Patterdale and Daschund, and jumped all over my work clothes one morning when taking a short cut through there to the station. I was filthy to the extent I had to go and change. At the time I was skint and had no washing machine, and was doing the schlep to the launderette every week by foot. I didn’t have anything left that was clean and cried when I got home.

I also had a bizarre incident when a dog jumped up and caught its paw in a hole in the knee of my jeans. As it tried to detach itself whilst being hysterical it ripped the leg off my jeans. The owner just pissed herself laughing.
Owners need to take responsibility for their animals.

Yes this happened to me some years ago. Patients Dog bit me, patient took it in to the kitchen, dog knocked frail patient over. The Kitchen door closed as dog wanted to attack me. Patient on the floor, I couldn't get to them to see if they were ok without the dog going for me again. Luckily relative came home and was able to help patient. Worse thing was previous nurse was like "oh yeah that dog tried going for me last time". Bit didn't think to report anything. I am so wary when I go into houses now, but I'm always told "don't worry he's friendly" 😞

Ugh I’ve had that recently! Muddy Labrador jumping up at me and sticking its nose in my treat pocket, my dog got annoyed because he knows where the treats are and absolutely doesn’t like to share food. He snarled at the other dog and the owner had a go at me because my dog snarled at his dog! I pointed out that had his dog not jumped up at me, harassing me for treats, that my dog wouldn’t have snarled at his dog 🙄

I agree OP. I've had my tights ripped by a dog jumping up at me, and I've also had muddy paws all over a cream skirt which then wouldn't wash out. My kid has been chased and growled at. 'He's only playing!!' Grrrrrrr. This type of irresponsible dog ownership and the fact people leave shit all over town makes me very grumpy towards quite a lot of dog owners.

I ask patients to keep their dogs away when I providing care but they are welcome to come out and say hello if I’ve already met them and know them to be friendly. Most of my patients are fab with keeping their dogs away though, especially if they aren’t friendly. If I ever needed any medical assistance at home, my dog would be upstairs in his crate as he is petrified of strangers in his home. I haven’t ever given any thought to how I’d manage it if I needed an ambulance though and couldn’t get upstairs to shut him away so I might need to come up with an ‘emergency’ plan!

Wow that's a lot of dogs jumping at you in the space of a week, I don't think I'v had that many happen to me in 47 years.

I would like to see dogs banned from public areas especially parks and woodlands. They are an absolute nuisance. (Waits for dumb ass 'what about humans, they should be banned' comments)

"Don't worry he's friendly" said to 12 year old me 5 seconds before the dog took a chunk out of my leg. No I wasn't annoying/teasing it. It ran towards me and as I moved to get away it sank it's teeth into me, but hey it was "just being friendly".

Where are you taking all these walks - Crufts?

What's a Chiwowa?

I've noticed that dogs seem to make a beeline to my DD who is scared of dogs while ignoring her sister who loves them.

The child who is scared of dogs is scared due to dogs jumping at her. She is fine with well mannered dogs.

Incidentally... People who walk more outside are more likely to meet dogs.

I walk my dog on a lead every day. Have had 2 dogs before this one so I’ve barely spent a day without going for a walk in the last 20 years. And I have never, ever experienced what you’ve experienced in the space of a single week OP. It seems to be something that only happens on this website.

We have taken to carrying poo bags with us on the school run as so many people don't clean up after their dogs. We don't even have a dog!
Yesterday at a park saw a large dog bothering a medium sized, on-lead dog. Owner ineffectively calling the dog, eventually went over and pulled dog away but still didn't put it on the lead! Few mins later, dog bothering the other one again! Poor other dog's walk thoroughly spoiled.
So many owners think their dogs have good recall when they don't. Having to call your dog 10 times and then go and get them isn't good recall.

I'm sure dog licenses used to exist, bringing them back might help a bit.

"Don't worry, he's friendly."

"That's nice for you. I'm not."

Cue glaring and muttering.

Well clearly from this thread, I'm not the only one...

I've already said I spend a lot of time outside so accept that the incidents are increased ... but why does that make it ok?

Yes, not agreeing with them always makes you the bad person!

It's not ok but the Op has had more problems with dogs in a week than I have in a decade, and I am out and about 3hrs a day minimum.

What does she do, cover herself with gravy granules before going out?

Over egging the pudding much?

It's about 1 per day. Hardly excessive or unbelievable.

sometimes I have to ask people to call their dog off 3 times in one dog walk as my dog doesn't like them bouncing up to him.

I agree OP. I too am sick of it. Put your dog on a lead and while you're at it...pick your dog shit up.

I am not saying it's OK but the number of events you've experienced in a week seems improbable. I think you've adjusted the timescale for dramatic effect.