to feel threatened by ALL dog owners...

[StartingAfresh]

because you can't tell until the damage has been done, which ones are good (And yes, I do know many of them are very responsible)

However, even 'some' good dog owners with friendly dogs with exceptional behaviour could kill my nephew.

He has an allergy to dogs which is potentially fatal. He has been hospitalised a couple of time due to his reaction (inability to breath).

Why can't ALL dog owners, even the good ones keep their dogs away from other people as a default?

What do you mean by keep them away? If you mean don't let them jump on people then YANBU. If you mean that they should not be anywhere near people then YABVVVU.

And that is coming from someone with a partner with a severe dog allergy.

Nephew is fine as long as no dog touches him. I'd be happy with that tbh.

I accept that people need to keep their dogs under control and on a lead if in public, but I never seem to come into contact with loads of dogs so I'm not sure why your nephew would?

How are the dog owners supposed to keep their dogs away from other people? serious question, I mean taking a dog out for a walk on a lead doesn't mean that the dog won't come into contact with people...even if it means the dog just brushing past the allergy sufferer.

Nobody knows who has an allergy or not. It would be far simpler to cross the road when you see a dog, rather than the other way round?

That's just the thing biscuit. I've asked on this before but people don't seem to care or want to acknowledge the problem or solution.

My SIL and her son live in fear, that could be solved by extremely good recall and a lead. Not out of the grasp of responsibly owners, yet even usually responsible owners think their dog should come first since their dog isn't going to 'harm' anyone.

Well, actually their dog can due a great deal of harm, - to my nephew and also others people who may have a phobia, not to mention simply be an irritant for disturbing a picnic etc.

Well, I can see your point, dogs should be controlled so that they don't go up to people. But dogs are social creatures and it's their nature to be friendly and want to meet people.

To be fair, you can't put all the blame on dog owners here either, a fair proportion needs to go to dog lovers who call every strange dog they see over for a pat. My DH does this and it drives me nuts! It makes my job as a dog owner twice as hard if I'm trying to teach my dog not to approach people, but people are actively calling them over or coming up to them. The poor animals get mixed messages.

If your nephew has an allergy, the onus is on the person looking after him to keep him far away from places where dogs might be, and to cross the street if a dog is walking his way.

So, in conclusion, YABU. Particularly your use of the word 'threatened'.

On a lead, and my nephew can pretty much stay out of the lead's maximum length.

That isn't an issue at all.

Dog owners should keep there dogs away from people - on a lead when out & about. If someone wants to come up to my dog then it's fine with me as he'll be happy with the interest. I would impose my dog on others

How are we supposed to exercise our dogs if they are not allowed off the lead?

I was just about to make that point BeerTricks. Yes YABU and good dog owners do stop their dogs approaching strange children.

The OP feels threatened by all dog owners, though.

Blimey I find it hard enough not to indulge in the odd Snickers bar whilst walking down the street in case someone with a severe nut allergy walks past :(

I very rarely see anyone with a dog out and about without a lead, unless it's in a park where they're letting them have a run about.

As a rule kids play areas are fenced off from the rest of parks, so I still don't see where all these dogs are coming into contact with your nephew?

If you were walking down the road and saw someone with a dog, cross the road, you can't expect all dog owners to be aware that someone somewhere might have a severe allergy?

Isn't that a bit like saying "AIBU to feel threatened by everyone that eats salted peanuts" - if your nephew was severely allergic to them even just being in close contact. If someone sat down next to him on a bench and opened a pack of peanuts..........

I don't think the OP is being unreasonable.

My dogs are onlead if we're walking the streets, and if they're offlead they are not allowed to run up to people.

Presumably, if I met the OP out walking and my dog was onlead, the OP would assess the length of the lead and body-swerve accordingly.

Where did she say she wanted to rid the world of assistance/guide dogs?

I do hear your concerns. We're responsible dog owners (springer spaniel, but very well trained) and my DH often returns home from a dog walk in a rage about how useless people are at keeping their dogs with them. (And the irresponsible ones are usually the ones who just let their dogs run ahead, when the dogs have a tendency to go on the attack with other dogs.) It's usually on our local cycle track, where there is all kinds of pedestrian traffic.

People also sometimes just pull up in their car, let their dog out unsupervised to have a dump, then call them back and drive away again! It's utterly disgusting.. and I hate other people's dogs putting their noses in our pushchair too. We're very cautious with our dog, despite the fact there's no evidence of threat, we never trust her 100% with the kids. I don't think you can..

But I do think there are silly relatives, too, who don't teach their children the best approach to animals. It's often either teaching them to be scared, or letting them rush up to dogs who are tied up somewhere to pat them. Dogs can often feel threatened when this happens.

Very few outside spaces are dog free, and many of those that are still have dogs in them (yes I know, it isn't the majority that do this).

But EVERYWHERE is a danger. Getting into the school gates, or tesco etc. It's highly stressful. However, school gates and tescos are solvable. The dog is tied up. There is usually a way round by using a different entrance or going somewhere else or asking the dog owner if they would mind moving their dog for a sec (At school gates all the parents are fab at this apparently).

So situations where my nephew can avoid the dogs, my SIL takes the responsibility and finds ways around it.

But lots of places the owner is far far far away and this is a problem especially.

I personally live on the edge of a country park and go for walks regularly. I have to say I see a good deal of dogs that whilst off a lead are not in the slightest bit interested in me, or if they are, are more interested in their owners recall to disturb me, - so I know it can be done, sociable dog or not.

guide dogs don't usually go up to other people uninvited.

Well actually, I think dog owners should 'assume' that all other people have a dog allergy.

Where I live, there are very few areas that are suitable for dogs to run free, so it wouldn't be difficult to avoid these areas. (and this is taking into account open countryside and busy towns)
If we go to the seaside, there is only one beach that allows dogs, so again, not difficult to avoid.

I see where you're coming from though, but I think maybe YABalittlebitU.