to want to smack dog owners around a bit?

[smuggins]

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.

I walked my dog this morning along a lane and a chav exposed himself to me. What an idiot, his mates were all laughing and I thought to myself (secretly, didnt want stabbing or anything) how it wasnt dogs that should be banned.

I can't believe the violence of this post.

Presumably motivated by fear but surely, as a grown up, you can see that the issue here is your fear not the dog owner when nothing happened other than a dog looking at you?

:( skirt

oh skirt that couldn't have been nice for you.

I have to say I'm not keen on dogs at all. I will have to try and not show my fear to my DC. I just feel that at the end of the day, a dog is exactly that, a dog - there is absolutely no possible way you can know what it is thinking 100% of the time. That is what scares me about them.

Onagar, I know what you are saying, but again this is all down to perception and experience. In my experience the overwhelming majority of dogs ignore you if you ignore them. They only tend to jump up or slobber on you if you stop to make a fuss of them. If you make no eye contact and walk on by, so do they.

I'm not a rabid dog-sdefender, though I love them Becasue I can remember very clearly, not that many years ago, feeling just like all the anti-dog people, and making the same comments. I just want you to know that understanding a bit of doggy psychology takes takes all most of the fear and loathing away!

you were somewhere where dogs were allowed off leads.

you fear dogs, yet went around this area and complain when a dog is off its lead and comes up to you?!

what???

Lemony- there are a lot of places in UK where you can let dogs off leads!

Should those with kids never visit the great outdoors in case someone with a (non-mumsnet perfectly controlled) dog might be there?

(just to reiterate- OP overreacted and was YABU)

hold on, thats the point i was trying to make [reads post back] is that not what i said? sorr! i was saying 'what???' at the OP, if i was scared of fish i wouldnt go swimming on the great barrier reef, id walk through the tunnel at the aquarium...

but then i dont understand the whole
kids+dogs=DEATH attitude at all...

Whether a dog is out of control and a danger is a in the eye of the beholder, though, BeerTricksPotter.

Theoretically, dogs being animals, they are a potential danger and also potentially out of control if they are not physically under control, on a leash. No-one can read a dog's mind, and a dog owner can't predict what a random person you encounter might do that might be ill-advised in the presence of a dog. Some may shriek, some may sneeze loudly (DS always does this as he is allergic to dogs) some may turn and run. You can't predict how the other person will react to your dog and therefore you can't predict what your dog will do next. The only way you can be reasonably sure that your dog is under control is when he or she is on a leash.

And the presence of other dogs is something you have to take into account too. I witnessed a pack of dogs galloping madly through a park after a bitch in season who had been unwisely taken out by her owner. They were unstoppable, ran right through the children's playground -- it was a miracle no-one was knocked over.

I think, on balance, you are statistically more likely to be attacked and injured by an out of control human, than a dog. And whilst there is a case for keeping certain humans on leads, you don't hyperventilate with fear every time a human walks past, do you?

But fellatio, no human has run up to me in the park/woods and given me a sniff/lick/bite.

Who was hyperventilating? The OP?

Blimey, none of you dog haters should ever go on holiday to India or Sri Lanka - there are packs of homeless dogs roaming about on the beaches!

Picture it - you're lying on your sun lounger, you reach underneath it to grab your sarong before wondering to the bar, and what do you encounter? Why, a furry friend catching some shade!

You lot would shit yourselves freak!

And nope, never been bitten by any of them and have been 4 times.

YANBU - I am in total agreement, OP. I am fed up with having to deal with thoughtless dog owners who allow their pets to charge towards me and the DCs when we're out and about.

mhmummy - did you actually read the op? The dog took 2 steps.... Would you really want to smack the owner around a bit because of this? If yes, then you cant be a particulary nice person. I cant abide casual violence but hey ho.

... although I wouldn't advocate violence against the owners, as per the thread title

Crossed threads with you rainbow...

Yes, I'll forgive you for the casual violence bit but still say the dog never charged.

I'm not a dog lover or a dog hater - I just don't get it. I don't want to have a dog, but other people are welcome to have one or more if they like, as long as the dog(s) are well behaved and trained.

I've told my story before: when my ds was a toddler he was attacked by an off the lead border collie and had a shoulder vein ripped (through his coat). I hit the dog twice before it let go, and the owner laid into me verbally for it, which I was unable to respond to as I was too busy calling an ambulance for my son who was rapidly losing consciousness. He ended up needing 2 operations and a massive blood transfusion. I would have followed the owner back to his car and taken details had I not been cradling my son at the time.

This was in a park where dogs are supposed to be on the lead. There are hundreds of signs!!

There are a lot of god dog owners out there, and a small number of awful ones. My ds is ok now, and thanks to a fabulous neighbour who owns scotties, he is learning not to be afraid - he can take the delectable Hamish for a walk round the block on his lead now, for which I am immensely proud of both him and Hamish!!

We will never own a dog as to be honest we wouldn't want the commitment level (we are happy with rabbits, guinea pigs etc) and we just aren't that into them. At all!

Dog owners should be able to keep dogs under control, but it is also important that children learn to interact properly with dogs as they are so likely to meet them on a daily basis.

I don't know what you can do to stop a small child almost bleeding to death from the actions of one badly trained dog/very poor owner (I blame the owner not the dog!!). But I reserve the right to attack a dog which is attacking my children. If I had not done so, I would have one less child right now, and that is indefensible for any dog owner!

Ifancyashandy, I second your comment. This story might be of interest to you.

I am a cat person but DP has persuaded me that after 8 years of him putting up with my cats, I should allow him to have a dog. Can't argue with that really, so we now have a lovely puppy.

We took her for her first long walk on Sunday which we know to be a popular dog walk, the puppy books having advised that interaction with other dogs is a good idea. The very first dog our puppy encountered ran at least 20 yards to try to attack/play with her, the dog was also attempting to get to the puppy in DP's arms. The owners took ages to react and part of the group of owners thought the whole situation was hilarious. That was horrible.

Having said all that, all of the other dogs (30+) and owners were fab. We met a mixture, some who were happy for dogs and them to meet puppy, some who felt they needed to keep their dog away from puppy, some who advised we keep puppy away from their dog, some who let puppy have a proper play with their dogs, some even went swimming with puppy. Generally, a kind and helpful community of dog owners who just want happy pets.

What became clear to me as a dog-phobe-in-recovery is that most dog owners are v sensible and sensitive to others, the scariest bit though was: how do you tell the difference between relaxed owner and irresponsible owner? Coz they acted the same, with very different outcomes for us.