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AIBU?

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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:
lisad123isgoingcrazy · 15/08/2010 23:03

sorry try this one here

Fontella · 15/08/2010 23:03

Talk about generalisation - "the people I've met who feel this way are generally quite opinionated in other ways". And you're not opinionated? What about all the millions of people you haven't met, a fair percentage of whom won't like dogs.

You are a dog lover. You see things from a dog lover's perspective and can't understand anyone who doesn't see what you see. Hate to tell you this, but not everyone thinks and feels as you do, and it doesn't make them inferior or opinionated or sub-human.

sharbie · 15/08/2010 23:05

i think i may have bitten him after that beer Grin

BeerTricksPotter · 15/08/2010 23:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

glitterkitty · 15/08/2010 23:13

In fairness, the OP is provocative and over reacted. However, that dosent mean that everyone who dislikes dogs is odd.

Dogs are ok, have had many myself. Not at the moment tho. Dont think they are the best thing on earth tho. Is there a PDP (Precious Dog Pal) acronyn? Grin

Some dogs are placid, some are vicious. How are people to know how a particular dog will react? Trust the owner? Some people are not particularly good dog owners...

BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger · 15/08/2010 23:19

Fontella, the difference is I present this as my opinion. People who talk about how dangerous dogs are present their opinions as fact.

That is why I was so careful to say the people who I have met. I am not trying to suggest that everyone who does not like dogs is opinionated. I admit , as I said before, that in my opinion there is something odd about not liking what is basically a huge fuury bundle that wants nothing more than to please you.

Talk about generalisation? From the other side, let's see - all dog owners are irresponsible, all dogs are basically killing machines, No dog can be trusted off the lead. So yes, let's talk about generalisation.

glitterkitty · 15/08/2010 23:22

All the dog people are angry Sad (generalises) because others do not love their/all dogs.

Oh go on, just a small puppy then.

Vallhala · 15/08/2010 23:23

"Some dogs are placid, some are vicious. How are people to know how a particular dog will react? Trust the owner?"

GlitterKitty, some people are placid, some are vicious. Can you imagine the uproar if I threw my toys out of the pram and swore at them every time a black person, a person covered in tattoos and piercings, a Jew or a florist stopped within ten feet of me and my children?

glitterkitty · 15/08/2010 23:24

I did say the OP was provocative & over reacted, Valhalla.

waves bunch of daffs

hmc · 15/08/2010 23:25

I don't expect people to love my dog - why should they? However if I experienced misguided and unwarranted aggression like the dog owner in this scenario from Mr barmySmuggins, I would have been hard pressed to show such an admirably restrained response as she did "Well, you weren't to know, so have a nice day" - she deserves a Nobel peace prize, I'd have twatted him Wink

glitterkitty · 15/08/2010 23:27

hmc- quite agree, that was very rude of the wife. Grin

Vallhala · 15/08/2010 23:31

I'm sure the troll OP is loving all the attention. At least now he knows that he has been deemed unreasonable by the majority and a prick by me and has been made aware of the laws on dogs if he ever has reason to make a genuine complaint. :o

BeerTricksPotter · 15/08/2010 23:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

glitterkitty · 15/08/2010 23:35

Can we talk about cats now?

Vallhala · 15/08/2010 23:35

Hey, Beer! Have you seen my profile pics? :)

BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger · 15/08/2010 23:36

Val, I'm glad you turned up - I felt on my own for a bit then!

hmc · 15/08/2010 23:36

Yes me to Beer!

BeerTricksPotter · 15/08/2010 23:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

musicmadness · 15/08/2010 23:40

can i just say some people are stupidly oversensitive when it comes to dogs. I can fully understand not wanting a strange dog to approach you but some people seem to resent their very existance!
I remember one woman started screaming at me for having my dog off the lead, in the one park in the area where there are signs everywhere saying dogs do not have to be on leads Hmm. She was going on that my dog might attack her kid, who was about 20 metres away kicking a ball around! my dog hadn't even looked at the kid FGS!
I pointed out that the kids play area (fenced off and no animals allowed) was on the other side of the park and if she was that concerned maybe she shouldn't let the kid play in the one park (out of 3 local ones) that allows dogs to be off leads.
She then proceeded to tell me that i was a F C* and that i should drop dead Angry. I was a bit less polite in my next comment to her!
I can understand people not wanting dogs running up to them but seriously, anyone who objects to a well behaved dog being in the near vicinity needs to get a life (or at least avoid areas that are very dog friendly)!

Vallhala · 15/08/2010 23:43

Beer, he's lovely, I must admit (well, all 3 are). he (Fish) is 7.5 and epileptic, a long term foster dog on paper but who is in practice with me for keeps.

midori1999 · 15/08/2010 23:46

I am a dog owner and my dogs are my life. II am able to keep them under control though and I do not allow them to approach people, or dogs, I do not know whilst I am out walking them. I never get why dog owners feel that it is acceptable to let your dog approach other people or dogs, especially on lead dogs. In fact, my already nervous rescue pup was recently attacked by a dog that the owner allowed to approach us, despite the fact I put my pup back on his lead when I saw another dog... Angry

That said, the OP sounds rather provocative and over reactive. And yes, I do think people who have a genuine dislike for dogs, and other animals, a little odd...

BitterAndTwistedChoreDodger · 15/08/2010 23:49

Thanks, midori, glad someone agrees with me. Smile

Animation · 15/08/2010 23:50

Your OP made me smile - Thanks :)

LadyThompson · 16/08/2010 00:06

Totally agree, Midori. I absolutely love dogs, we always had them when I was a kid and there is a dog-shaped hole in my life now. I live in the country and am often appalled at the dog owners in my village who think it's acceptable to let them come flying at you off the lead. I feel even more strongly about it now that I have a toddler - I don't want her to be afraid of dogs but she will be if some hound knocks her down and I don't care whether it's just 'enthusiasm' or 'excitement' or 'he's daft as a brush'. It's these selfish dog owners that give all the lovely, well trained dogs and considerate dog owners a bad name.

Scuttlebutter · 16/08/2010 00:22

Val - sorry to hear about those nasty florists down your way. You just can't trust them, with their bunches of peonies and funny "hand-tied" ninja attack wreaths - lethal, I tell you, lethal.

OP sounds like a complete idiot, and am strongly suspecting they live under a bridge. Like many people here, I am proud to be a responsible dog owner. Our three dogs are chipped, always wear ID, we always pick up poo, and are walked on a lead with two of them wearing muzzles. We only let them off lead when it is safe to do so and generally (as they are greyhounds who run very fast) that's in a securely fenced field. Parents and dog owners should be mutually respectful. Children should be taught how to approach and behave round dogs, and dog owners should ensure they pick up crap, and keep their dog under control, in a way that is appropriate for the surroundings. That way we can all get along.