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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to want to smack dog owners around a bit?

300 replies

smuggins · 15/08/2010 18:36

Just been for a walk with DD in the backpack.
Walking across a lovely meadow, we saw a woman walking her bear (might have been a large dog - looked like a bear to me) in the distance. As we approached each other, the bear sat down and awaited its owner. As we came closer, it stood up and took two (meter long) steps towards us. Naturally (evolution, survival instinct, etc) we shied away. The owner cheerily told us that the bear was 'a real sweetie' and meant nothing by it. The wife was a bit riled so said something along the lines of how the hell are we to know that, its a fucking bear and it was coming towards my child and its not on a leash. The response was 'well, you weren't to know, so have a nice day'.

Why do dog owners assume that we all love dogs. I hate dogs. And why were we made to feel bad for being threatened by the bloody bear. There are countless stories of 'real sweetie' dogs biting people - be they strangers / family / children. Do the dog owners know the law on such matters? Not sure I do totally, but I'd like to think that if an injury occurred because of a dog owners lack of control of their animal, they would be liable for that injury and the dog will be destroyed. Anyone know any different?

Anyway. I don't like dogs. Keep yours under control. Please.

OP posts:

DetectivePotato · 15/08/2010 18:37

You will be flamed.

MrsReality · 15/08/2010 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

sheepgomeep · 15/08/2010 18:39

yanbu but not all dog owners are the same.

nattiecake · 15/08/2010 18:39

reads a tad too provocatively to me...

MillyR · 15/08/2010 18:40

I don't think either you or the dog owner said anything wrong. The dog owner could have apologised for her dog leaping towards you, but I think her words were meant to reassure you, not to blame you.

Original poster

smuggins · 15/08/2010 18:40

i thought i was about to be ripped to shreds right then

this things was HUGE

OP posts:

GypsyMoth · 15/08/2010 18:40

lol,i think you need to find a bit of perspective here.....but made me laugh anyway!!

Roobie · 15/08/2010 18:41

I like dogs and grew up with them. I do tend to agree with you however.

choufleur · 15/08/2010 18:42

Oh a big dog walked towards you. It didn't run, growl, bark ... People take dogs for walks and let them off leads in meadows

megcleary · 15/08/2010 18:43

I agree, I am getting totally hacked off by dogs bounding towards dd in the park, her being terrified flying into my arms and some owner saying "oh they wouldn't hurt her". How the bloody hell do I know that or does a 3 year old know that.

MillyR · 15/08/2010 18:44

I don't really understand the issue. You feel threatened by large dogs. There is nothing wrong with that. So you went on a walk in an area where people are legally allowed to walk dogs off a lead. A dog appeared - it was not on a lead and it walked towards you. It did not walk towards your child as your child was in a backpack. It did not bark, growl, or show any sign of aggression towards you.

So - you were out walking on open land and a dog walked up to you. This is a very common experience. What are you proposing is done about this?

Tiredmumno1 · 15/08/2010 18:46

That happens constantly here.

that and i saw a bloke walking his dog earlier, it took a dirty crap on the playing field, and he didnt clear it up. i didnt say nowt cos he was huge.

(the man not the dog )

DetectivePotato · 15/08/2010 18:46

I do actually agree with you though. I am not a dog lover at all. In fact I am very allergic to them and I avoid going to my friends house as she has 2 small dogs that constantly jump up and try and lick you. I find this revolting. One was licking DS's face, then his snack pot. She didn't put them out of the room though. Now I have an excuse that I can't take antihistamines as I am pregnant so I can't go over there.

atswimtwolengths · 15/08/2010 18:47

I agree with you (though I call them wolves, not bears.) I don't think a lot of dog owners realise how scary their dogs can appear to others.

onagar · 15/08/2010 18:47

Someone will be along to tell you that it wasn't a pit bull. I'm not sure why that is important, but every dog thread has to begin with establishing the breed.

My position is that if any big animal (not on a lead) runs at me then there will be serious injuries either to it or me depending who has the fastest reflexes/is strongest.

Btw can all dogs swim? Only I walk along the river most days and throwing the lighter ones over the wall seems most humane. :o

Takver · 15/08/2010 18:48

If it was your meadow, then you are totally within your rights to be outraged.

If not (and assuming there is no notice requiring dogs to be on leads), I think MillyR has the right of it.

Tiredmumno1 · 15/08/2010 18:49

Milly i think a bit of consideration from the dog owner would have been good.

owners must understand some people dont like dogs, so put them on a lead when you see anyone around, then let them off when they are far enough away.

simple

Tiredmumno1 · 15/08/2010 18:51

Oh so now the meadow belongs to dog owners

teameric · 15/08/2010 18:53

kind of agree with MillyR there, however I do kind of see where your coming from, there are a couple who live near me (In a ground floor flat no garden) with 2 huge Rottweilers that bark at everyone who walks past, they shit all over the grass outside and the owners don't bother to pick it up, they are often left off the lead outside too and children play nearby.

Takver · 15/08/2010 18:53

no, tiredmum, but I think the owner of the meadow has the right to decide what rules they impose.

MillyR · 15/08/2010 18:55

Yes, I do think the owner could have been more considerate. I don't put the dogs on the lead, but I would hold them both by the collar until the other person had passed.

But as we can't assume that people will always be considerate, the solution seems to be that rather like we have dog free beaches and dogs allowed beaches, we could do with dog free inland public spaces and dog allowed public spaces.

Because we are never going to get to a point where there are no dogs or no inconsiderate dog owners, or where there are no people who are scared of dogs. What would be better for the OP's family is if they could go to places where they could be confident there will be no dogs, particularly when their child is not in a backpack.

Wanttofly · 15/08/2010 18:55

Not all dog owners are so inconsiderate but there are a lot of owners that dont know how to control their dogs when out and where the dogs are not trained correctly.

Also i think a lot of dog owners do not have insurance which is realy stupid IMO.

choufleur · 15/08/2010 18:55

The dog sat down, and then walked a couple of paces towards the OP. It didn't run, jump, bark, growl (rip their throats out and then devour their child).

really if you are that scared of dogs try to not instil the same phobia in your children (i'm trying really hard with spiders around DS) and don't go walking where you know there will be people walking dogs off a lead.

I completely understand people's loathing of owners not picking up their dog's poo or those who let their dogs of leads where it is prohibited however.

StarlightMcKenzie · 15/08/2010 18:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

YunoYurbubson · 15/08/2010 18:59

"to smack dog owners around a bit"

"the wife"

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