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Original poster

Have you ever been pleased/relieved to be told a dog “is friendly”?

179 replies

lingle · 08/04/2023 18:52

Or to hear more about the dog’s age, training, “people who don’t like dogs” or that said dog is “just having fun”

I personally haven’t - it’s very annoying because I’m often thinking about work/solving a work problem, or getting away from the stresses/conflicts of everyday life when on a walk and if a dog needs to be called away I prefer the owner to just say “sorry” so I can say “no problem” and then we can each get on with our day.

of course the dog owner can curse my failure to embrace the chance to praise their dog/ask what breed it is afterwards - not on my time.

OP posts:
flowertoday · 08/04/2023 19:45

Most dogs are friendly. I am one of those weirdos who is unbothered by a dog jumping up at me to say hi. I don't care and nor do my kids as they are used to animals.

That said I think it is best to keep dogs on short leads in busy spaces . I am too worried about strange people to let my dog off lead !I think it is common sense these days ( from mumsnet threads !) to be mindful that some people are not as keen on dogs as others.

Original poster
lingle · 08/04/2023 19:49

sounds dangerous - is it even legal?

”lingle · Today 19:11

Booted as in struck? crikey!
Yes as I’m not going to stand and have a dog snarling and barking at me. We’ve had dogs chase the horses and the sheep while the owner is screaming “they’re friendly”. I adore our dogs but have absolutely no time for owners who cant be arsed to train their dogs to recall or behave.”

OP posts:
TropicalTheIslandBreeze · 08/04/2023 19:50

No. I don't want to be friends with someone's dog. I don't want a dog sniffing around my kids or me.
We are all also allergic.

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Dogs
Wasywasydoodah · 08/04/2023 19:52

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Rude. I’ve had this happen when I have my period. I hate it.

Soubriquet · 08/04/2023 19:53

lingle · 08/04/2023 19:14

Soubriqet are you sure they are approaching your dog, not vice versa?

Considering my dogs on her lead and they make a beeline towards her, I’m very confident in that

Soubriquet · 08/04/2023 19:54

inshitsville · 08/04/2023 19:19

Soubriquet is off their rocket

Show quote history

Why am I?

People approach ME. My dogs are on their leads and they come up to me.

My bigger girl smiles. It’s what she does. It’s not malicious

Scottishskifun · 08/04/2023 19:54

lingle · 08/04/2023 19:26

What is a hare courser? Sounds terrifying

It's illegal its catching hares using dogs and lights generally chasing them down they use /greyhounds/salukis/lurchers for it as they have the speed. It's a cruel sport and the dogs are discarded or sold as bait dogs for dog fighting.

Original poster
lingle · 08/04/2023 19:55

Suzi I deserve neither such praise nor such censure. I have many faults and a moderate pleasure in nice dogs/dogs with cute faces.

OP posts:
Original poster
lingle · 08/04/2023 19:56

Well Soubriqet if your dog is on a lead that does change it, as you are demonstrating control already

OP posts:
DoNotEatPickles · 08/04/2023 19:57

Yes, when I’ve put mine (excellent recall and walks to heel if asked) on a lead because I’ve seen people &/or people with dog on leash approaching and know it reassures them if mine is on a lead too. If the other owner explains their dog is friendly too and is happy to let them play then I am delighted that my boy gets a chance to have fun with another dog.

slowquickstep · 08/04/2023 19:59

Let your dog jump all over me and it is you that will come off worse. Keep your mutt on a lead.

Changeau · 08/04/2023 19:59

Most mumsnetters seem to hate dogs. I assume most dogs are friendly so don't need to be told. I'm perfectly happy to have a lovely pat of a friendly waggy doggo.

ItWillWash · 08/04/2023 20:02

Lots of dogs smile. I had an Italian greyhound who would smile and snap her front teeth when she was pleased to see you. She'd smile so hard she'd make herself sneeze. She'd also vibrate so hard with excitement she lost the ability to walk and would writhe across the ground like a demented snake. I had to explain to many an unsuspecting visitor that she was a) not snarling and b) not having a seizure.

The only time I ever need to tell people my current dog is friendly is if we are on a narrow walkway and it's unavoidable for them to pass without getting close to him. He's a big, stocky black and tan dog so a lot of people are understandably wary of him, even when he is sat nicely at my side waiting for them to pass.

He's too friendly so I don't let him off leash where he might spot people. His recall is pretty much spot on with adult people but I don't know enough toddlers to toddler-proof his recall and toddlers are literally his favorite thing. No clue why. He didn't meet one until he was around 1 year old but he was smitten from the first second, following him around the house and bringing him toys and treats.

SaveMeFromMyBoobs · 08/04/2023 20:04

Nope, because for an owner to need to claim it's friendly, in my experience it's already done something to scare me. It's either barking/jumping/licking/growling at me, without fail off a lead with no recall. Half the time said dog definitely is not friendly. Other half its an excuse for the fact they were too lazy to train their dog properly.

MargaretThursday · 08/04/2023 20:05

No one says "watch out, I'll get him, he's bitten two people this morning" so saying their friendly means nothing. They might as well say "it's a dog".

And all the dog attacks you ever see the owners are still saying "never hurt a fly. Friendly ball of fluff" which shows how meaningful it is.

Snugglemonkey · 08/04/2023 20:07

I love dogs, but I do not want any dog to run toward me unless I know them and have called them. I do not think they should be off leads anywhere but dog runs or parks.

GrumpyPanda · 08/04/2023 20:07

lingle · 08/04/2023 19:56

Well Soubriqet if your dog is on a lead that does change it, as you are demonstrating control already

That doesn't signify much with some dogs. I had an on-lead dog jump up at me and rip a triangle in my sleeve many years ago. The owner's comment? "She only does that when she's on a lead." Umm, maybe get a muzzle then? I did successfully shame her into coming up with cold cash, mind you.

RedDirtWildChild · 08/04/2023 20:08

I like it when people tell me their dogs are friendly, yes. It means that I know my dogs are safe.

Ponderingwindow · 08/04/2023 20:11

I don’t care if someone’s dog is friendly. It doesn’t change the fact that if the dog touches me, I am going to have an allergic reaction.

The dog being friendly is only relevant if I request an interaction with the dog. I never do that, but my dd does occasionally ask very politely if she can say hello
to someone’s dog. She loves them and obviously we can’t have one of our own. We have taught her very strict etiquette for approaching dog owners and then dogs only if granted permission.

Original poster
lingle · 08/04/2023 20:13

Interesting! I hadn’t realised it’s used to set up a bit of doggy play.

as I haven’t had a dog since Gemma died 15 years though, I don’t think it justifies people saying it to me!

OP posts:
Original poster
lingle · 08/04/2023 20:14

That sounds scary. I was on a boat recently with someone anaphylactic to dogs - really tough.

“I don’t care if someone’s dog is friendly. It doesn’t change the fact that if the dog touches me, I am going to have an allergic reaction. ‘

OP posts:
ItWillWash · 08/04/2023 20:16

No one says "watch out, I'll get him, he's bitten two people this morning" so saying their friendly means nothing

I've said similar many times, maybe not that he's bitten two people already that morning but telling people they could not touch my small, fluffy dog because he would bite them used to be a daily feature on my walks. I muzzled trained him in the hopes seeing a muzzle would put people off and it did lessen the number of people who wanted to interact with him but apparently small, cute teddy bear like dogs cannot be aggressive and are fair game to approach without asking 🤷‍♀️

Honestly, as much as the majority of MN despises dogs, you don't see it in RL. In RL I am normally trying to fend people off away from my dogs because I do not like people and do not wish to interact with them. I'd love it if a personless dog came tearing across a field to slobber on me and jump at me but it's sadly never happened. In fact I can count one hand the number of times a strange dog has attempted to interact with me.

I need to move to MN world I think where the people are unsociable dicks like myself and the dogs are all out of control slobber machines Grin

BelindaMelinda · 08/04/2023 20:17

I say 'she's friendly' often when walking ddog in busy areas - because she wears a halti and people mistake it for a muzzle and are clearly made nervous by it.

More than once a child has approached her and I catch a glimpse of their parents horrified face a few feet behind when they clock the 'muzzle' - so I'll call out she's friendly so they know their child isn't about to get mauled.

Daisybee6 · 08/04/2023 20:18

lingle · 08/04/2023 19:09

Yes - if our children do something comparable we don’t try to justify it/explain it, we just say sorry.
unless, I suppose, it is sensible to briefly mention some special needs.

“in the same way that my 3 year old isn't going to injure anybody, but I don't let her run up to people (or dogs) and bother them.”

Just imagining my possessed looking 4 year old running up to people and me shouting 'don't worry, she's friendly' 😄

ThreeRingCircus · 08/04/2023 20:21

I was sat outside at a café in a park the other day eating a bacon sandwich and having a coffee and this dog ran up to me, jumping up at the table.... clearly wanting the sandwich. This idiotic woman that owned him was just calling him back and repeatedly being ignored by the dog until she eventually came over and dragged him away saying "he's friendly". I don't give a shit, if your dog is that badly behaved that you have no recall control then make sure it's on a lead.