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?

Well in that case, all nut eaters should assume that all other people have a nut allergy and refrain from eating them in public

Eating nuts isn't the same thing as getting one and rubbing it all over an allergic child is it? Don't be obtuse!

Baroque - the peanut analogy would only work if say 1 in 50 peanut eaters were in the habit of throwing their peanuts at people. If you see the peanuts you can move; the trouble is with dogs that run up and jump up at you that you physically can't escape it (if you start running away the dog will probably think it is a great game and chase you).

OP is not BU. We go for a lot of country walks and probably someone in our family gets jumped on by a dog every month or so; most of the time this doesn't do any harm (except for the one that knocked over the paddling child or the one that put muddy pawmarks on my new coat); I can see that if you had a life-threatening allergy it would be bloody terrifying.

the vast majority of dogowners are of course fine, but the minority are a pain in the neck.

I'm allergic to grass. I demand that all parks and gardens to be paved over immediately. That's not unreasonable is it? Grass could kill me. As could dust, so could all you all slatterns start cleaning more, you are putting my life at risk. And no more buildings work either, I am allergic to builders dust as well as normal dust.

In fact it can be, StartingAfresh.

Some people with severe nut allergies, are like your nephew with dogs. One sniff of a nut at 5 paces and the allergy is set off.

but dog owners aren't all rubbing their dogs hair over your nephew are they?
Some dogs do run off from their owners and jump up at others. but not all.

Actually, a little girl at my dc's school has a very severe nut allergy. If she goes into a restaurant where peanuts have been cooked in a sauce, (for example) it could possibly kill her.
The onus is on her parents to carefully research where she can and can't go. They would never expect all public eating places to be nut free.

dooinmecleanin - I too am allergic to dust. And feathers. For this reason I have been known to cross the road if I see birds. Because I know it could trigger off an asthma attack

Okay, but as a nut allergy suffere you would develop hawk eyes for peanuts and avoid them. They don't suddenly then spot you and run at you before you can get away do they.

Same with grass. And grass isn't everywhere and where it is, it stands still again, so technically you can avoid it fairly easily.

How the feck would you research dog free walk to school? Dog free outings. It isn't possible.

I don't understand what you are saying anyway. Nowhere needs to be dog free, just selfish-bugger free!

My dog don't touch children/adults unless they are in his own home.

He does try to say hello, he is a Westie, but I always pull him away as some don't like dogs.

Ah yes I forgot about feathers. I used to be allergic to feathers as a child, but I grew out of that one. Shall we call for a massive cull of all wild and pet birds? Just incase you know.

Most dog owners are fine. A few are not. The one I met yesterday was a bit mad I think.

She has a collie (the ones that round up sheep) and it's obviously in its blood because if there are two people or more in fairly close proximity (usually me and my running mate) it tries to round us up. Yesterday she saw me approaching on the narrow towpath, my friend a few metres behind. The dog was on the lead. At that point she let the dog off and off it went hell for leather behind my friend and then in front of me trying to get us as close together as possible and attempting to included two hissing, spitting swans into this huddle. Jeez it was like something from a comedy sketch.

Oh says mad sheepdog lady, I'm sorry, I let it off because it doesn't like the swans - WTF?

Eh?

Not all nuts can be seen or smelled! they are often hidden in food, and as has been said sometimes the mere presence of a nut anywhere can kill someone with a nut allergy.

So no, it isn't as easy as you seem to think.

doonhammer You know I didn't say that ALL dog owners or dogs are BAD, but my nephew is threatened by ALL because until the damage is done, you haven't got a clue who is who.

Good dog owners don't staple their dog training certificates to their hats do they?

I have an English bull terrier who is a big softy with most people, although I ALWAYS have him on a lead, loads of dog owners don't have their dogs on leads. It annoys me when they say "it's ok, my dog's friendly"! Yes, maybe but who would actually let there jack russel (eg) run up to a scary looking dog with no idea if he's friendly?! I had to split up a fight once as some idiot with a long retractable lead allowed their dog to bounce upto mine and their leads got tangled up and it freaked him out. Was awful!
Another annoying thing is young men going in for a STROKE without asking! Madness! He's quite protective of me so can't guarantee he wouldn't bite!

I didn't menton BAD. however you did say in your OP and thread title "ALL" dog owners. I was merely pointing out that not all owners are irresponsible

Baroque's peanut allergy analogy does work, because someone who has eaten peanuts out in public, and disposed of the bag, may well still have peanut dust on their hands, and coming close to a peanut allergic child, this could be enough to set off a reaction.

It is not reasonable to demand that all dog owners assume that everyone they meet might have an allergy to dog hair. It is reasonable to expect dog owners to keep their dogs under control (lead or good recall) so they don't bother other people.

I think what I'd like Beer is for the dog licence to come back and only be given once a dog has been trained properly. Until then, short lead and muzzle with heavy fines.

As an aside, I'd like the DNA of the dog to be taken and any left poop to be matched to dog and dog owner fined to pay for the scheme, - but that again is a bit off topic and my own personal bugbear.

People with uncontrolled dogs are a bit of a bugbear of mine, I must admit. Actually, I'll amend that: people with uncontrolled dogs WHO MAKE NO EFFORT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION are a bit of a bugbear.

Example 1 (among many): Yesterday on the local field. Playing with junior dog. Minding our own business. Couple pushing pushchair, with a Staffie type offlead. Quite a fair distance away. Staffie comes HURTLING over to me and junior dog, leaps upon her, they have a brief tussle (I think the Staffie was actually just playing and excited but my dog, oddly enough, objects to being jumped on at speed and was NOT happy). Couple with pushchair simply look on casually. Staffie goes back to them eventually. Do they put it onlead?? Ohh, no. So it did it again 5 minutes later.

Example 2: Over the field again doing a bit of training. Carrier bag full of bits and pieces/equipment on floor. Jack Russell offlead with 2 people walking across the field. JRT comes hurtling over. Again, owners look mildly interested and carry on walking. JRT cocks its fucking leg on my carrier bag, soaking my bloody cones . Eventually goes back to owners. Again, no apology, no attempt to retrieve the pesky sodding thing making a nuisance of itself.

And breathe...

[/rant]

You did say that ALL dog owners were threatening, it's the title of your post. So one would be reasonable to presume you think ALL dog owners are BAD.

I am rarely approached by strange dogs and I live opposite a park in a rough neighbourhood where dogs are often left to roam freely.

My dogs are approached by other dogs, but if I am out alone or with the dc then 9 times out of ten the dogs ignore us.

I must live in a place with very responsible dog owners then, as it would be very easy to avoid all contact with dogs.

Most childrens playgrounds are dog free. Dogs don't tend to be off leads in towns, so can be avoided.

Most places of interest to visit are dog free.

Maybe I live in a very unusual place :)

(not trying to be picky or Seder at all, I do understand how difficult this must be)