Sick to death of dogs

[SwordToFlamethrower]

Went to the beach today with dh and dd1.

Got jumped on by a dog off its lead. Owner said "oh. Sorry"

Two dogs ran up to us and started growling and snapping at me and dd who was playing on the sand.

Another dog ran up to us, had no idea what it's intentions were!

All off lead, all owners using their baby voices "don't do that Fido darling!"

Dog shit bags everywhere despite their being loads of bins and even free dog bags!

Absolutely so fed up of entitled dog owners and their nasty little dogs.

Exactly this.

I like dogs. I have no fear of dogs. Both my kids did because of bad incidents with dogs. Took me a long time to get them over it. Had just got my eldest over him when a dog chased him and bit his hand and I had to start over again. And yes, I was absolutely furious with that dog's owner.

No need for an apology but appreciated all the same.

I agree with you, it does seem to be the same people. I feel sorry for those people, can you imagine being disliked everywhere you go and being oblivious as to the reason why (I’m assuming they’re oblivious), life must be really difficult for them.

They prefer them to people because they can’t talk back. Like those women that have baby after baby but lose interest after the cuddly newborn stage.

Basically humans are more selfish and entitled than ever before. 👍🏼I concur.

How can you possibly know why people have their preferences? About anything.

Well likewise I am
fed up of people coming up to my dog to try and pet him. He is anxious and if you go up to him before he’s sniffed you to death he reacts.

I guess this is why they end up preferring dogs. Because they find natural interaction with people very difficult.

That’s horrible, and you feel so bad because you tell them it’s ok and then it happens again. Thankfully DS hasn’t been bit, but if he was then I doubt I’d ever be able to get him near a friendly dog ever again.

I tend to stay weary of dogs off leads, but the ones that are obviously in control of their dogs I try to make an effort for him to say hello. He’ll sometimes pet them if he’s in the mood and the owners are always happy for him to do so.

Another dog ran up to us, had no idea what it's intentions were!

Did you ask it?

It makes me so angry that people push their own fears onto their children. You see it everyday, I’ve seen it with extended family members.
Usually due to some bad experience themselves (like the OP) they end up with a fear of all dogs. Sometimes though, let’s face it, it’s just that they hate animals. It’s then pushed onto the children

I agree and I have a little story to add.

DS used to go to a nursery next to a park ... you could park the car at one end and walk through to the nursery. Something most parents did.
Another parent and myself would bring our dogs along- all fine and well behaved.

There was one parent who insisted that the dogs should be on a lead when this parent & DC where around due to fear. No issues there, happy to comply. However I watched this parent push their DC away from dogs minding their own business on several occasions. So definitely some fear reaction from the parent.

Then the nursery had a Pet Week and I offered to bring my dog in. (DDog had a pets as therapy certificate). All lovely and good. The DC that was apparently afraid of dogs, sat with my dog the whole time! Loved cuddling and fussing the dog, it was actually lovely to see.

It is true, the majority of off lead dogs are just trotting along minding their own business. 9/10 they will gravitate towards you as they’re just investigating. If you don’t engage them
then they take a quick look from a distance and then get on with their day. It’s very different from a dog making a beeline to you to jump all over you. I find the best approach is just to ignore them and keep walking. Makes life easier for their owner too.

People should ask permission first, it’s impolite to just assume.

I’m curious as to what you mean by ‘he reacts’ though?

You are exactly the type of person we’re complaining about on this thread. You should not be bringing your dogs to a nursery, and you definitely shouldn’t have it off the lead.

What a rubbish nursery if they had a pet week - there are bound to be children who don’t like or allergic.

🤷🏻‍♀️ it's a public park. Why shouldn't I bring my dog along?

As for the nursery, I think it's lovely if they offer young children all kinds of experiences. In our case, this included being close up and personal with a well beahaved dog.
Ever heard of school dogs or reading dogs? My old girl did all that and more!
She made a lot of adults and children laugh, smile and happy. She reached out to people in a way no human ever could. But you wouldn't know and your poor DC will never experience the joy a pet can give.

You sound like the serotype parent that projects their fear and hatred of animals onto their DC.

It might not have ever occurred to you, that others don’t like your dogs and they shouldn’t be around children, especially not off the lead.

How about you have some consideration for others, instead of being a flat out narcissist.

My child will benefit from the fact he has parents who are considerate. He’s well liked by everyone who meets him, and he’ll take that confidence into his life. I can’t imagine the same could be said for a parent that’s so inconsiderate, passing on the attitude of Why can’t I bring my dog? Why can’t I blare my music loud? Why can’t I rev my car up in a quiet neighbourhood?

Did it ever occur to you that some children may be allergic, and may even have some type of anaphylactic reaction? Maybe think about that, before forcing something on children that is a hygiene risk and possible health risk. It's an animal. Keep it at home.

They may, but in the context of a nursery setting this should already be known about. In fact there is significant evidence that being exposed to pet dander as a young infant reduces the likelihood of pet allergies developing.

As it happens, I do have a friend who is severely allergic to dogs. Keeping the dog at home isn't quite the answer you think it is.

But yes, dogs should not be off the lead in and around places like nurseries.

You're being unreasonable. She was invited to bring her dog by the nursery. It's a qualified therapy dog. The nursery will have been aware of children with allergies to dogs and/or an aversion dogs. I imagine the event would not have taken place in the context of dog allergies! And I'm sure that children afraid of dogs would have been supported or doing something else.

In any case, contributing to an "extra-curricular" for nursery kids on an invitation basis is not inconsiderate behaviour, it's actually generous and kind.

There are lots of very good examples of extremely entitled / selfish / inconsiderate / downright dangerous behaviour from dog owners but I don't see any in the post you're quoting!

I personally would be glad of a therapy dog coming to my daughter's nursery. It might help her to overcome some of the anxiety she has developed as a result of being chased, jumped up at and barked at by poorly trained uncontrolled dogs on several occasions.

Oh dear @DancefloorAcrobatics. I think the comments you are getting are very mean and a bit extreme. I have plenty of complaints about off lead dogs, but taking a dog into a school or nursery for a pre arranged session so that children can pet it etc sounds absolutely lovely and I'm sure any allergies or fears would be flagged up well beforehand. Not everyone who has had bad experiences with out of control dogs feels negative about dogs in general. I certainly don't!

@Funnywonder I think some people just live in a sad little box and are unable to engage with the wider world. Its easier to hate something than engage with it.

@SoreAndTired1 I can see from your post, that you teach your DC that the world and everyone in it revolves around them. Everything has to be orderly and micro managed.
Dog in a public park? Needs to be on a lead! Dog within 1/2 meter of DC - remove it instantly!
Nursery/ school offering one off experiences- waay to dangerous! So not participating.

Problem is, when DC relises that all the above cannot be controlled or avoided it my be to late. They will end up a nervous wreck every time they cannot control their environment... with parents like you, no wonder anxiety in children is increasing.

You seem to have a habit of accusing people of You sound like the serotype parent that projects their fear and hatred of animals onto their DC. and teaching them the world revolves around them? On the contrary! It's dog owners like yourself who thinks the world revolves around you and your dog.
Laws are laws, it's not 'micromanaging' at all, your selfishness stops you seeing it any other way. The one I feel sorry for is you, and your children will grow up to think the world revolves around them and considering the needs of others is not their job. You're behaving like the stereotypical dog owner we are talking about.

I was talking about when she said she always took her dog to the nursery, before she was even asked.

The false dichotomy on this thread is driving me mad, but I guess that’s internet forums and I need to get over myself.

I don’t think people fall into two categories: pro-dogs and anti-dogs. I don’t think being alert to the heightened and increased risk of an unfriendly dog is being a scared snowflake teaching their child to be terrified of the world around them.

@DancefloorAcrobatics

I think some people just live in a sad little box and are unable to engage with the wider world. Its easier to hate something than engage with it.

Again, you’re being the typical entitled dog owner who thinks there’s something wrong with people who don’t like their noisy, space invading dogs and thinks that everyone should love what they love. Not only that, you’re then making out like it’s their fault. I beg you to think for a moment, and try to see someone else’s point of view other than your own.

To be fair, there does seem to be a few levels of pro/against. There have been quite a few dog owners that have posted with fair opinions on the subject, like the poster who’s dog was a victim of another a-hole dog owner; they dislike bad owners as the rest of us who don’t like dogs full stop. So I wouldn’t say it’s extremes.

Thing is, we all enjoy our time on earth differently. I don’t like dogs, and won’t pretend I do. That doesn’t mean others can’t enjoy them though, providing it’s not at the detriment to others well being and freedom. I can have the opinion that I don’t like dogs, at the same time as recognising there are good owners who do enjoy their dogs and won’t ever bother me or my children.