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 second Yuno's to "the wife", etc.

This is a bit of a tricky one, and I think MillyR is being most thoughtful and reasonable about it.

Though the dog in this OP did very little to make the OP and his family afraid, it was a whacking great dog so that in itself is enough to make a person who is uncomfortable around dogs feel even more nervous. I can't imagine that any dog owner in the world would be so insensate as to have no idea that some people are afraid of dogs, and so if you own a gigantic "bear" of a dog I think part of the responsibilities of ownership include being extra careful around people who think your dog is monstrous. It's similar to people owning aggressive dogs like pitbulls, IMO - they have to be extra careful and considerate to others (but how ironic that owners of aggressive dogs so rarely are the considerate type).

I was afraid of dogs for many years; now I'm fairly comfortable around most dogs. However, I totally agree that the statement 'it's alright, she won't hurt you' is utter meaningless nonsense to someone who's never met your dog, so it's pointless saying it. I always want to say 'well I don't know your dog, so I'll trust my own instincts, thank you very much'. If you genuinely want to reassure someone it's far better, as Milly said (think it was Milly), to hold the dog's collar until the walker passes.

Dogs running loose dont really annoy me so much, as long as im not walking my dog that is. If one is over-enthusiastic then I just ignore it and they lose interest.
Now if im walking my dog it's a different story. I keep my dog on her lead, she's unpredictable around other dogs, sometimes she can play happily othertimes she would prefer to rip them to shreds. Ive lost count of the times ive had other dog owners say to me about their dogs "oh it's ok she's friendly" whilst my dog is straining at her lead and snarling, even though it's quite obvious my dog isnt happy with the attention I always have to say "well mine isnt, can you please control your dog" and then they get huffy with me!
I know it's seems a slightly bit off topic but the OP seemed like a bit of a non-problem because the do in question was perfectly well behaved from the sounds of it so I thought i'd post with my own doggy annoyance!

You should know that the dog in question was no thread then, shouldn't you.

The vile language off the op's wife was uncalled for and alot of dog owners would have not been so relaxed about it.

I don't condone violence towards dog owners or trolls for that matter

However I am exasperated with the idea that dogs are every fully under their owners control when off the lead. Dogs, much like cows, are in the main, not as smart as some humans (exceptions apply, some humans are immensely dim ). They cannot foresee the results of their actions like we can.

Vis: the dog that stood on my foot with long nails and went through a vein when I was a kid (ouch - lots of blood and stitches) - probably my fault for having a foot and soft shoes

Vis: my SiLs two 'big softy' golden retrievers, who barrelled down the hill in play and knocked my MiL flying into a tree. She was 80 at the time and was very seriously injured and was lucky to survive their game.

Vis: Hearing the constant yells of 'come away now Rex/Jack/Goldy/Muffin' from the fields over the road as owners try, unsuccessful to retrieve their dogs who are sniffing the sheep. Yeah, they appear really obedient.

And the owners, oh yes, the owners.

In the main part dog owners are good people, but what is the 'throwing the bag of dog shit into the hedge with a view to collecting it later' about? And how come they don't always collect it. Do they think that's not my turd? (now that's a variation the copyright owners have yet to exploit!)

But why do people take particularly mean looking dogs to car boot sales (and through crowds anywhere). Can they not leave them at home?

Anyhoo, I'll out myself here, I'm a cat owner. I fully accept my cat is a feral shitter who irritates people and who kills continuously. But at least no-one pretends he's a big friendly feller

now im sure this is a troll but i'm going to post anyway.

it is idiot like you op that mean i end up walking my dog late at night. that way she can't look at anyone the wrong way.

and to all the posters with your stories of having dogs approach/frighten you and your dc, i can appreciate how scarey it is but that is not the case here! read the op. the dog took 2 bloody steps toward them. get the beast put down now!

i really hope you and the wife are not real for the sake of your poor dd.

rofl at wmmc!

Personally, I wouldn't trust someone who doesn't like dogs, but hey, each to their own.

Is anyone else mentally hearing We're going on a bear hunt as they read this thread?

Smuggins: you don't like dogs. I don't like you.

OP is totally unreasonable.

OP evidently possesses an irrational fear - why expect the rest of the world to move around this irrational fear?

OP is also extremely rude and unpleasant.

Cupcakes - so i had guessed you didn't can tell a mile off because of your attuitude and constantly saying bounded and leapt when clearly the op states the dog stepped forward.

No need to run off anyone whacked my dog wouldn't be standing.

BeerTricks, I like your angle. I vote for bear dog.

BeerTricks - Yes i think the massive huge bear was a Newfoundland too.

Bear's in a meadow? now that is scarey!! but still cute.

So the dog 'took two steps' towards you and your wife swore at the owner in front of her own dd? It sounds you like have a lovely wife

The dog sounds trained, although not perfectly, it shouldn't have stepped towards you at all, but didn't come haring across the field teeth bared did it? Your wife reacted hysterically and aggressively. Had it been me you did that to I would not have responded so cheerily as this dogs owner did.

Perhaps had you been calm she would have apologised.

perhaps OP needs this advice page

TSSB - I drew a comparison between dog owners like the ones in the OP when I was talking about dog owners not respecting that people might be afraid of dogs. I didn't say that THAT particular dog bound up to the OP, I was just speaking from experience.

Simmer down.

Speedy!

Umm does OP live in Suffolk ?

A dog that looks like a bear has to be an Akita. They are beautiful, intelligent and very easy to train if you are firm enough with them. But very, very big.

So, there I am, having a nice leisurely stroll on a beauuuuudiful summer's day, the wife at home making some dog biscuits, as you do, when all of a sudden I can feel summink mighty stirring in me bowels.

So I sits down, I does. Heeeeave-ho! And again - heeeeeeeave! And out comes a megablaster of a fart, the likes of which you've never heard or smelt before.

Well, I weren't gonna stick around to take the rap - whoever smelt it, dealt it, naaah mean? So I gets up on me plates 'a' meat, and takes a couple 'a' steps away from the scene of the crime. Next thing I know there's a right bloody barney going on between Patsy (me owner) and some daft-lookin' bloke wiv 'is missus by 'is side and a young'un on 'is back. Can't understand a bleedin' word they're sayin' so I wanders off to leave behind, shall we say, a more substantial memento of my stroll. Let's see how long it takes Patsy to find it...

I hate Dc's bounding up to me i don't swear at the owners of the little crittens to keep them under control.