Dog on the beach

[Redebs]

So I'm here on the beach with two small grandchildren. Just about to sit on the only dry rock (I really NEEDED to sit down) when a smallish dog runs up and tries to pee on it. Grandkids aren't happy with dogs running up to them and peeing on their shoes.

Owner nowhere in sight, although they must have just arrived at beach.

I tell the dog 'No! Off you go!" but it ignores me and carries on sniffing. Total disregard. It cocks a leg, so I take a hold of the collar and guide it away. I'm annoyed, but calm and gentle. It has sprayed over the rock and immediately runs to another part of it to spray again. I repeat, taking collar and pulling dog away. Dog is unconcerned about it and quite happy sniffing everything.

Owner comes up and starts being all passive aggressive. At first I thought he had come to retrieve his dog or apologise, but turns out he wants to accuse me of 'pulling his dog'. I was about to accept his apology, but then had to assure him I was appropriately gentle with his dog but I didn't want dog urine on the children.

He protested that it was a public beach ( presumably giving his dog freedom to pee on anyone) and it didn't look like I was gentle. I again assured him I was gentle and that I have had dogs myself. He replied that that didn't count for HIS dog.

While he was muttering away, his dog squatted and pooped amongst the rocks and I pointed to it and helpfully asked him if he had a bag. He said he did, because he was a RESPONSIBLE dog owner. I replied, 'Excellent!'

He went away complaining to anyone near that I had PULLED his dog and how totally unbelievable it was.

I suffer from extreme anxiety and depression, so I'm venting here to get it out of my system.

I held it together throughout. Dignified, calm, reasonable. Just feeling so angry now.

Bluddy ignorant man.

I don’t know why you’re telling me that.

Yes dear. But at least I know how to use commas.

Or not 🤣🤣🤣

Why do some dog owners persist in defending the indefensible? It just makes them look daft.

Fortunately the majority of dog owners aren't so stupid.

Well, two days later I'm trying to get up the motivation to take grandchildren out again. We are going to a different town, but my anxiety is rising every minute.

Just to confirm any details about the beach incident: I was feeling faint, so asked my two small grandkids to run ahead a few yards and sit on the rock. Grandson sort of sprawled on it and just as I arrived, dog dashed up to them. It was peeing everywhere. Male dog desperate to scent mark everything in sight. It was eagerly sniffing rock where grandchild's leg was, so I made discouraging sounds to it. I had gotten there by then. Grandchild was alarmed by dog and froze. Dog started to cock leg, so I took hold of collar and moved it a metre or so away. It had already sprayed. Fortunately grandchild was wearing wellies, but got splashed. Dog then scooted around to other side of rock where other grandchild was standing. Dog was going to pee again. Child was more anxious, clinging to me, so I moved dog by collar again. At all times, I was bent over, so didn't lift dog or make it uncomfortable. It wasn't distressed or bothered. It would have been less pressure than someone pulling on a lead. It peed on several more rocks right next to us as we sat. I got children's snacks and drinks out for them after wiping their hands and a moment later the rather owner appeared. I thought he had come to apologise and collect his dog and was halfway to graciously accepting it, when he started... anyway!
Sorry no punctuation. Too stressed.
Dogs aren't allowed on this beach in the summer, but they are now. Guess why they keep them off in Summer?????

Hmmm. Seems a bit convenient that you only decide to tell us that your grandson was sprawled on the rock after loads of posters told you that you were being unreasonable.

Lots of details left out. You wouldn't like what happened when his friend turned up

We should have been at venue by now, but anxiety

Oh gosh. Now there's a friend. I can smell a rat coming too.

What venue, what friend? What have I missed!

If op considers what is in the sea ( which covers the beach twice a day) local parks, the garden and infact anywhere outside maybe indoor soft play areas are the way forward?!? But there again....

This !

Op isn't anxious or depressed. Just a storytelling drama Lama. It's all very dull.

Do you want more details? I'm totally bored of the issue. And it doesn't reflect well on the dog owner, so will bring up more haters... yawn!

Not as bored as we are.

I'm very sympathetic to you but if his friend was also laying into you surely that was an integral part of your anxiety so I don't really know why you wouldn't have put it in the op.

Sorry no punctuation. Too stressed.

🤣

Lol this is funny ( years after ) my young son had an accident in what is now called soft play . We were there with lots of family , when we all eventually got him out we left rather smartly 🥵 . Now when I think back it was rather funny 🤣 . I don't think I would remind him a he's thirty now .

I don't think you were unreasonable for trying to guide the dog away - it sounds like you are a dog person so used appropriate pressure and I wouldn't want a strange loose dog around my children.

However, please be careful. My old dog was so calm and placid but he would freak out if anyone but me reached for his collar due to chronic ear infections. He was a giant breed so could cause a lot of damage even in fear. He was always on a lead because of this but not all dogs react well to strangers touching their collar.

😅😅😅

👍

🤣

Bored willingly if you keep coming back