“Don’t worry, he’s friendly”

[BigJean]

This should probably be in The Doghouse, but I’d really like to hear from people who probably don’t go there.

I know on MN that everyone is a perfect dog owner with their dogs properly under control, but I also know that in real life there are far too many people who don’t. If you are one of those people I’d love to hear your reasoning. Namechange for anonymity if you want.

My dog is reactive, for lots of reasons, and I am successfully working on it and every month is better than the last. She is a large dog, and as such could easily kill another dog if provoked enough to do so (she’s not a bully breed, she’s walked with a muzzle but could still damage another dog). I am a responsible owner, I have her under control.

Every week I come across at least two other dog walkers who don’t have any control over their dogs. They run up to people, dogs, horses, children and leap around whilst the owner calls it pointlessly, and cries out “it’s ok he’s friendly”. It’s not ok.

This behaviour enhances my dogs reactivity, it sets her back every time. I have a yellow “nervous dog” coat and collar, they don’t give a shit.

I put my phone on to film every time, because I’m very aware that if anything happened to another dog mine would be blamed, even though I’m doing everything I can possibly do to manage it, and it’s the friendly dog’s owner who is being irresponsible.

Please, come and tell me why you do this, and tell me what you would do if your dog was killed by a reactive dog because you haven’t kept your dog on a lead or taught it effective recall.

Agreed but also hate it when dogs come up to me and my kids and the idiot owner says 'he's fine, he's friendly or 'don't worry, he's harmless'. There's always a first time, as my youngest was unlucky enough to discover when a dog attacked him in his pram when he was 6 months old. Then it was 'oh, he's never done anything like that before'. Had to wrestle yhe creature off my son with my bare hands. Now, if any dog comes too close to me or my kids, I have no time for utter selfish c**s who say 'oh don't worry he's friendly'.

I can think of 3 beaches within 30 min drive of me that do not allow dogs, or at the very minimum don't allow dogs from end of March to the end of October.

Strange how as a dog owner I'm aware of the numerous places that dogs can't go, and yet anyone with a dislike for dogs seems unable to so much as leave their home without being surrounded by them.

Same! I don't give a damn whether or not the dog is friendly. Just keep it well away from me and my kids.

But what's your point? It's true. Dogs are everywhere. I had a meeting with some staff members at my son's school recently and couldn't believe there was a bloody dog in the meeting. In the Head's office. Apparently the 'school dog' (really the dep head's pet, who seems to accompany her everywhere'). I gave her such a look of disbelief, she quickly took the dog out and returned without it.

I so agree. And then, when I have a dog leaping up at me and I'm yelling 'go away', the moronic owner gets upset if I try and kick it off me. Well, control your animal then!!

Great, thanks. So I can go to 3 beaches for 7 months of the year.

But nowhere else.

Cheers

@surreygirl1987 my point is, I think some posters exaggerate. As a dog owner I actively seek out places that I can take my dog, and I never have the issues that are apparently almost daily occurrences for a lot of posters.

If dogs are absolutely everywhere, surely I wouldn't have such a long list of places I can't take my dog?

To be honest, I think nothing gets some posters in to quite the frenzy that a good dog hating post gets, so why let the exact truth get in the way of a good pile on?

No I stand by what I said, there are plenty of areas where you can walk where there will not be dogs everywhere - some beaches have dog free areas, walk on them. Some parks are no dogs allowed, walk there. Countryside areas are huge is some parts of the UK they will not all be wall to wall dogs.

Many of the posts on here are quite clearly anti-dog, that does not mean there should be no dogs.

Can I have this 'long list' then?

I presume these are places in the countryside that I can walk without encountering any dogs?

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings nope, you can also go to places like Costa, spoons, Primark, all supermarkets, numerous clothes shops, numerous nice restaurants, dog free cafes, libraries, museums, theatres. The beaches that are dog free all year round. All national trust areas near me are either dog free, or must be kept on a lead, in which case they'd be no bother to you.

But where's the fun in listing all the places that you can go, when you can spend your evening being angry and bitter about dogs.

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings of course there are countryside walks you could take without running in to a dog 🤣 I've been on plenty and not come across a single soul.

This is rather silly now.

Not a single parks near me are zero dog. And no beaches at this time of year. I apparently have to wait until next April now if I want to visit the beach sans dog.

Everywhere else is teeming with dogs.

Am I supposed to drive 20 miles just to get some fresh air and exercise whereas dogs owners can literally let their dog off lead at about 20 different rural locations 5 minutes from my front door?

There is definitely some skewed unfairness going on.

I wish our local nature reserve would ban dogs - they won't because the council make too much money from car parking fees out of everyone taking their dog for a shit twice a day.

Portmeirion in Wales.

Some National Trust places.

Gardens etc. And most seaside towns have beaches dogs aren't allowed on in the summer months or at least areas. You have to seek out the dog friendly ones from June to September

There really isn't unless I drive 20 miles inland. I live on the coast and believe me - there are dogs EVERYWHERE.

I can't drive 20 miles everyday just to go for a walk for my health.
Y'know - climate change.

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings you've never once been on a walk without being bothered by a dog?

😆

Wales is 400 miles away.

The nearerst national Trust is 20 miles away. And I shouldn't have to pay a national trust admission fee just so you can fill the countryside with dog shit at my expense.

Is that the 'long' list?

2 places?

nope

tell a lie - Iceland

It was bliss

Good grief, talk about wanting it all - so only your needs are important? You cannot demand that everything on your doorstep fits your requirements, just as dog owners cannot go everywhere.

Yes sometimes life means you have to drive somewhere for it to fit your needs.

I could walk my dog in a part of the national park I live in where everyone goes at it is a popular "must see" tourist area, but it will be full of children, people having picnics etcso in order to have a nice calmer walk for all concerned I get in a car and drive a short distance to somewhere which is more suitable for the walk I want.

I agree with some of the other sensible posts on here - people are trying to paint a picture of the UK being full of dogs, all of which are badly behaved in order to fit the anti-dog narrative.

You asked for places. I gave them. I have no idea where you live. It's 200 miles away from me too.

We have places here which are dog on lead only. Plenty.

I pick up my dogs shit. Wish I could say the same for the amount of litter left around by twats not picking up after themselves.

@fluffyfurryfeatherythings are you wearing clothes made of steak?!

What do you class as being bothered by a dog? Just seeing one? It walking in to your path? One physically jumping up at you?

Just to balance things out - I've never once had an unsolicited encounter with a dog.

It's always the same. Hysterical dog haters claiming they get pounced on every time they leave their house

@K0OLA1D only once they've swam through a river of dog shit, don't forget.

But you can walk your dog everywhere - that's my point.

People have literally cited 2 dog free destinations: the occasional beach during the summer (local dog walkers are UP IN ARMS about this where I live and constantly badgering the council to reverse it), and a few national trust properties.

I would just like to leave my house and have a quiet walk somewhere away from roads with no risk of dogs racing round a corner, either growling or jumping up with its muddy feet.
It doesn't exist unless I drive 20 miles.

Tell me - do you have to drive 20 miles to walk your dog?

No.

For a family who have walked their dog every day of his 13 years, he gets approached very rarely by other dogs. It happens, but not to the extent of some on here.

In An area where dogs are allowed off lead they should still be under control, I.e have very reliable recall, and shouldn’t be jumping up at people!

l