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?

I think that traffic wardens should become community wardens and deal with dogs, not picking up poo, dropping litter etc. as well as parking.

I am responsible with my dog, the only risk of my dog running up to someone is if they look like me or DH, when we call him, and it is hard to train in more brains!

I hate dog owners who can't control their bloody animal.

I hate the title of this thread.
We live in the arse end of nowhere. It's an unusual day if we see another person when out walking the dog let alone close enough for the dog to start an allergic reaction. She doesn't even go off the lead so couldn't come across anyone by accident unless they were hiding with intent in which case it would be their own stupid fault. And most of the walk is done on our own land so they would be in the wrong anyway

I also don't like the title of the thread.

I also can't really see what the problem is. I spend a lot of time out of doors - in town and in countryside, and I can honestly say I cannot remember the last time I saw a dog off the lead and out of control (ie, running up to people and coming into contact with them randomly) in a place where I wouldn't expect there to be a dog off the lead.

Walking in fields, parks, beaches and forests, yes, occasionally, but walking down the street etc, no, never.

And there are usually dog free or dog-on-lead areas withing park and at beaches etc, so surely the solution is simply to keep away from the obvious areas of dogs-of-leads, and take a wide walk around those on leads? Don't see what there is to feel threatened about really.

And no, I'm not going to assume that every person I meet has a dog allergy, as that would be ridiculous. I'm not exactly out walking with a rabid and ferocious wild animal.

I don't let my dogs go near anyone when they are outside. On lead, off lead, it doesn't matter, they don't go near anyone because a) I know that not everyone is a fan of dogs and b) they are staffies and a lot of people are completely misinformed about the breed so I would rather avoid misunderstandings whereby "SMALL CHILD TRIPS OVER DOG THEN IGNORANT PARENT CLAIMS DOG IS A DEVIL DOG AND HAS BITTEN CHILD", which sadly happens because a lot of people are fucking idiots.

OP, YABU. I am allergic to cats but they still come into my garden, AIBU to feel threatened by all cat owners because close contact with a cat (my garden is very small) could set off an allergic reaction and kill me? Aren't the cat owners even more irresponsible than the dog owners considering their cats AREN'T EVEN ON LEADS, roaming the streets waiting to KILL innocent allergy bearers?

In fact I'm actually quite offended by the title of your post. Would it be preferable for you to live in a bubble where no human or animal came near you or your nephew? Should no one else have ANY rights just in case it impedes your convenience?

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)

How ridiculous. You do realise it is the same with people? You do realise you cannot tell whether people who come into close proximity to your nephew are "good" or will "do damage", don't you? If you want to put it into less sinister terms, what if your nephew had a severe nut allergy and a stranger sitting behind him at the cinema was eating peanuts and breathed their peanut breath all over him, triggering an allergic reaction?

I would advise stepping into reality and taking responsibility for your nephew's allergy instead of blaming every fucker else. You know that he has an allergy, dog owners don't - they may be irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs bound up to children (in my opinion as well) but unfortunately that is something out of your control so instead of making silly statements like "I feel threatened by all dog owners", take him to parks that dog owners are less likely to visit (there are a couple in my town that have dog-free areas) and try not to feel too bitter about it. No, it isn't fair, but few things are.

I am a dog owner and I believe that ALL dogs should be kept on a lead at all times when out.

I have a staffie who has been attacked twice, while on his lead, once by another staffie and once by some black labrador cross.

I now avoid going to parks or anywhere that there are dogs off the lead.

I have a big garden, so its not a problem with him having a run every day, and he gets long walks too (on the lead).

If all parks were to fence off a dog exercise area where people could let their dogs off, and keep them on leads everywhere I would be much happier.

I dont care how friendly people say their dog is, when it comes bounding up to mine, he is terrified and so am I.

My ds is scared of dogs, my nephew has been hospitalised due to his allergy of dogs, at one time the reaction was very serious.

2blessed I didn't say that ALL dog owners were threatening. Many obviously are not, but feeling threatened by all dog owners is down to the fact that until you have passed them or witnessed their behaviour you have no idea whether they are dangerous or not, - therefore it is reasonable to feel threatened by all.

Just as it might be reasonable to feel threatened by all people who wave a gun in your direction. They may have no intention in using it or using it on you, but the 'potential' of that situation would normally make you feel threatened.

It's up to you to re educate your ds about his fear of dogs surely??!!

I am going to say that I simply don't believe you. I am allergic to cats, and I have been hospitalised several times. I have been in hospital for an extended period and was told I would probably die.

The probability of having a serious allergic reaction to an animal is not going to be brought about by a dog off the lead running up to you, or even jumping up and touching you in an outdoor environment.

People who are allergic to animals are most at risk in the following ways:

1. Being in a confined indoor space with the animal in close contact to them for an extended period.

1. Being in a confined indoor space where the animal lives even if the animal was not there.

1. Being in a confined indoor space with a pet owner.

The amount of allergens you will come into contact with as a consequence of a dog jumping up at you outdoors where airflow is moving the allergens away is tiny. One of my son's friend is so allergic to dogs he cannot sit next to my son in school as we own dogs. I have been the same with some cat owners.

Far more useful for allergy sufferers is if non-allergic people rather than controlling their pet's behaviour is if they can control their own allergen levels. When you get in from work/school, please change your school/work clothes and coat before petting your dog or cat, and please store them in a cupboard that is closed and away from you pet. I can stand your cat appearing in my garden and trying to rub up against me. I can't breathe next to an allergen covered person at the next desk for seven hours.

If your nephew was so allergic to dogs that he could be hospitalised as a consequence of a dog jumping up at him outdoors for a few moments, then I do not see how he can go into any indoor public spaces such as a school or on public transport. Even clean spaces like hospitals have dog and cat allergens circulating in the air.

So I would like to ask the OP, has your nephew ever actually been hospitalised solely and directly as a consequence of a dog coming near him in an outdoor public space?

Well said countrybump. The OP is being somewhat hysterical in feeling threatened by all dog owners and is being unreasonable.

Can I just say a huge thank you to those with dogs that have posted to say that IANBU.

I don't hate dogs. I'll be honest that I don't have any particular fondness of them in general although there are a few that I've very much enjoyed the company of.

wrt to saying that people are also potentially dangerous, - well that is true to a certain extent, but if one came bounding up to you and jumped up or stole your sandwich or damaged your coat there is compensation and the law that you can use which usually acts as a deterent in the first place.

I am asking that similar is in place for dogs. Not under control = not off lead or without muzzle.

I don't understand why SHE feels threatened anyway, when it's not her with the allergy!!

Where has a dog owner said that they agree that all dogs being exercised off lead should be muzzled?

I also don't see how muzzling a dog will help your nephew's allergies.

Oh ffs you know nothing about my ds. He has a fear of the colour yellow, of mirrors and things that wobble as well as dogs. He has ASD. You don't educate your child into asd.

I have to say however, that we started a desensitisation programme for him but had to give up because the day after we began to slowly introduce him to dogs in a controlled way, he had TWO dogs within 5 mins jump up at him. One took the ball he was holding in his hand.

I didn't educate him to fear dogs, but it sure is impossible to educate it out of him whilst some irresponsible dog owners can't control their dogs.

Well I've just come back from yet ANOTHER walk when we were accosted by an offlead dog

Got to the top of the field, met a lady with a large Xbreed. She said "Is yours friendly?" so I said "She's OK offlead, but she'll tell him off if he takes liberties". So I let her off and start walking away, and the woman waits for a moment. Bear in mind my dog is still within 4 feet of me, waiting for me to produce her tuggie. Anyway, next minute the woman's bloody dog comes running over, rushing at my dog and barking, then running off a few yards, then rushing her again. Woman comes over, yelling the usual "BAILEY! BAILEY! COME! COME! COME! BAILEY COME! BAILEY COME! OOOH, WHASSISS???? BAILEY!" blah blah blah while the dog takes absolutely NO notice of her.

So I start walking away in the other direction, my dog following, while Bailey follows us. Meanwhile, the woman's changed tack to a high pitched "Baileeeeeeeee!!" which as precisely as much effect as her previous pleadings. Then it's "GRRRR! WAIT TIL I GET HOLD OF YOU!!"

It's bloody annoying, because I've basically got 3 choices:

1. Stop and wait for her to catch her dog. Which would be OK, but he's expertly avoiding her, in between rushing at my dog which is making her increasingly pissed off.

2. Put my dog onlead so hopefully she can catch her dog while it's climbing all over mine/sniffing her arse. Nope. Not prepared to put my dog in a position where she can't escape the bloody thing.

3. Keep walking away and hope that eventually it will realise it's too far from its owner and go back in her general direction on its own. But that's looking unlikely because for all the notice it's taking of her, she might as well be a lump of mud.

What has any of that got to do with your nephew and the misinformation you are spreading about allergies?

For any pet owner who does actually want to know who they can help people who are allergic to their pets, information is available on the national asthma campaign website.

I'm seriously thinking about starting to carry a squirt bottle - or possibly a Jif lemon, emptied of lemon and refilled with water (handier to put in a pocket) for when other people can't be arsed to either call their dog away, or train them to come back.

Don't CK! It only works with cats. Dogs will love it and think you are playing a game with them.

I was going to disagree with you BUT I do think dog owners (I'm one myself) need to properly train their dogs re-call, I won't let mine off lead in a public place until I've trained them to come back every single time I call.

'Not under control = not off lead or without muzzle' I have just bumped into dd2's 'friend'. I don't know his name, but I am sure dd2 will. He is German Shepard. He was trotting leash free and muzzle free inches from his owners side. When he spotted dd2 he did as he always does and sat patiently waiting for her to give him his usual pat, hug and kiss. He did not jump up, he did not try to steal the food she was holding.

I class that as under control so I don't see how or why a dog needs to be leashed and muzzled to be controlled.

And as for short leads, the tension on the leash and collar tends to wind a lot of dogs up and sends them into stupor of pulling and jumping and generally being a pain in the arse. My dogs walks much closer to me and much more clamly when his leash is loose.

Plus we are going around in circles. First you say all dogs should be leashed. Then you denying saying that and say you just eant them to controlled and now in order to be under control you think they must be muzzled and leashed. Do make you mind up op, this is most confusing.

I'd also love to see your answer to MillyR's post. My cat allergfy was similar. It is not as bad now I am older, but as a child I could sit in my grans garden with her cat meandering about. It was being in the house that caused the problems.