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.

Yes, I didnt like the whacking either! Never did that to our dogs. Have seen a number of people do it though. Dog owner training should be compulsary!

'you can't trust dogs off the lead'

Really gk? so I should stop exercising my very well behaved dog who actually heels better off the lead?

Instead I should drag her about on a short lead that makes her anxious and more likely to misbehave so that I don't accidentally offend someone's pfb by being within two hundred yards of them in a well known dog walking area?

I'll say it again, I don't trust people who don't like dogs, it goes against human nature.

You wouldn't like my aunts dog then. Its a Newfoundland. Its very friendly put has no idea of its own strength and weight.

DD rides round on it like a little pony and he's lovely with her. However, my aunt walks on it on a lunging rein meant for ponies and takes it to the vet in the horse box.

when I was about 10 I was staying there and the dog decided to sleep on MY bed ie on top of me. I could barely breathe and there was obviously no way of moving the dog off. It aws not a good night!

My uncle on the other hand favours his miniture jack russell - they look a bit odd walking their dogs together

Just to point out that my Aunt has had a successon of these dogs and it is not the one she has now that slept on me when I was 10

this thread is basically the people who have and love dogs vs people who don't.simple.

Bitter... ok... but goes against human nature?

Were humans made to love dogs? What about people who like cats? Or ferrets?

Or pythons?

What exactly did the bear do to you? Oh I see - nothing. Twunt.

Shiny's DD has the best post on this thread.

sharbie...er, no it's not!

Bitter: "I'll say it again, I don't trust people who don't like dogs, it goes against human nature." That is a very black/ white view of people. Does that mean that when I was afraid of (and so didn't like) dogs, you wouldn't have trusted me, but now, even though I am still the same person, but have learned to be less fearful of (and so like) most dogs, you would trust me?!

but you've proved my point speedy - people who don't like dogs are usually scared of them and they (over)react in this way

sorry but i let my bear of a dog off his lead because I know he doesnt jump at children and can be trusted not to attack people. I walk as far away from people as we can, but i cant predict who is coming around the corner.
Most responsible dog owners never let a dog who is a risk off lead, but have to say this isnt always true. :(
Still think your being unreasonable though, where do you suggest we walk dogs?

"I'll say it again, I don't trust people who don't like dogs, it goes against human nature."

You can say it as many times as you like but it doesn't make it right. What on earth does not liking dogs have to do with human nature?

A lot of people don't like dogs for any number of reasons. Does that make them inhuman? What about people who don't like cats or fish or kangaroos.

an dogs cant be trusted always on leads too, my poor puppy was attacked by another dog, and both were on leads! dont be fooled by a piece of string.

There is a difference between a phobia, a fear, and a dislike.

Dogs are by nature programmed to please, I find it hard to understand someone who rejects on principle a furry bundle of loyalty, maybe I didn't explain myself properly, sorry.

If you have been attacked by a dog (thankfully very rare) then you have good reason to be scared. Like wise a phobia is an irrational fear (I don't see anyone calling for laws against buttons because people have a fear of them).

But Joe public, a dislike of dogs? I do see that as strange, I'm sorry. And the people I have met who feel this way are generally quite opinionated in other ways. Not people I would choose to spend time with.

sharbie - no, I don't have a dog but still like them.

Anyone else think there is also more than a measure of PFB syndrome in OP's post too?

Fontella - no it doesn't make them inhuman, it makes them odd.

glad to hear it - bit touchy bout this as it sort of happened to me a few weeks ago.not nice to be shouted at by some strange man just because my dog stepped up towards him and his child.
99% of people love him and he loves everyone.

speedy got a cat then??

was this the big bear <a class="break-all" href="//[IMG]pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2352/11262894/23423272/390761440.jpg[/IMG]" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here