Dog off lead running at DD in park

[megcleary]

AIBU to have roared at man who said oh he won't hurt her.

My comments on his dog owning skills included the fact there is no sign on the dog to say he won't attack DD, the dog should be on a lead, sign as you enter park and the dog did not return/ respond when he called it.

His response was to tell me to shut up.

I hate dogs on the loose in the park.

I'm not playing, I genuinely don't understand why anyone would think that the solution to this is that people not have children.

There are people upthread who have children with severe allergies to dogs. They didn't know this before they had children. If they take them to a place where dogs are supposed to be on leads, how are they at fault if a dog jumps at their child?

also I dont think being approached by a dog should create a life long fear, my dc fall off swings, slides, trip over skipping ropes, fall down the stairs, fall off walls, all of these things have hurt them a lot more than any dog ever has but for some reason they are not afraid of them.

approached, I am personally petrified of big dogs, especally if they jump up at me. I stated approached by a dog.

On the plus side you have made me realise why my dogs are far better company than a bunch of strangers.

So no-one needs children. In the context of this conversation - what does that mean? What is it saying to the OP?

OP: I'm upset that dog jumped in park with dogs on leads rule
Answer: No-one needs children

That is really helpful advice. What is one to do with the children one already has? Get rid of them in some way?

I give up.

lists DD on ebay to please the doggie people

As I have said we introduce DD to dogs of people we know when they are there, so not dog haters or phobics.

My main annoyances was the dog was off lead in a designated lead area &the owner could not control him.

I don't understand all of the responses that the OP was being U, saying that dogs must be off the lead to exercise. In a park with "dogs on leads" rule? I don't get it.

Some of the responses on here are just baffling.

"Some of the responses on here are just baffling."

You're telling me.

Sardine - it's because owning a dog entitles you to disregard the opinions of anyone else and just do what the hell you like, apparently.

Anyone who isn't crazy about a strange animal leaping all over them and their children is clearly just incredibly uptight and needs to embrace the marvellous educational opportunity the dog owner is being kind enough to provide.

People seem to immeadiately jump in with "let dogs be dogs",

I am having a go at the the owner here. The one point may take away is not to roar but I was trying to get the owner to act/ move / deal with the dog, not dawdle towords us going he won't hurt her.

Fabulous level of debate there flatbread
'whatever' ' you have an attitude 'problem'

Why? Because I am happy to mind my own business and not inflict my children or pets on other people?

Not quite the considerate, open minded person 'you claimed to be!

It is interesting to see different attitudes to dogs in different countries.

I got my dog in France because I felt sorry for the wee thing in a pound. Plus I was terrified of dogs (parents instilling fear, seeing my sis bitten by one because she had not been taught how to stand up and face dogs). I couldn't take walks without fear around my heart in case I came across a dog roaming by itself. It was getting ridiculous so I decided that it would be good to tackle the fear.

I learnt how to bring her up based on French vet's advice and what other dog owners taught me. Certainly there is an easy acceptance of dogs and people include them as a part of the community in France. People come up and touch the dog freely, my neighbour's dog spends all day at our place and no one raises an eyebrow, village kids take dogs for walks. Strange dogs invite themselves and join me and my dog for a walk. Dogs have social outings with each other. All part and parcel of life.

When I left my dog for a week in a kennel when I had to travel, the owner praised my dog and said she was well-trained and socialised. In UK the attitude is quite controlled towards dogs. I did find the dogs a wee bit more agressive here, tbh, when I came back to UK with the dog.

Anyway, I am rambling and just wanted to say it is interesting to read some of the perspectives on this site.

Megcleary- you may have overeacted and shouting wasn't best in the circumstances. But the guy was clearly in the wrong for having an unleashed dog in an area of the park where it wasn't allowed.
And if 'you have a phobia of dogs, or a child who is exceptionally anxious of them, that is EXACTLY the right part of the park to be walking in because you should be reassured that a dog wont come bounding over at all.

Everyone wittering on about dogs needing to roam free/ nick peoples sandwiches blah blah blah are entirely missing that point!

No it actually went like this:

OP: I'm upset that dog jumped in park with dogs on leads rule
Answer: No-one needs dogs
Answer to answer - if you put it like that, no one needs children either

Well it is baffling to me that anyone would think it was right for a person to have their dog off the lead in a "dogs must be on leads" park, as dogs need exercise.

And the fact that the unleashed dog ran towards a child in this park, where it should have been on a lead and would not return to its owner when called is something the OP was unreasonable to be upset/angry about.

And what about all the responses to the OP saying she was BU as dogs need exercise off the lead?

Saying "well people don't need children" is just really stupid. The suggestion in "nobody needs dogs" is that people should not have them. The response "nobody needs children" is therefore that people should not have them.

I think the suggestion that no-one should have dogs is extreme, and the suggestion that no-one should have children is ridiculous.

In France, if a dog runs up to you and steals your food, or leaps up on you you can use pepper spray on it.
Which is illegal in this country.

Sardine - I was the one who said "no one needs children" if you read through the thread properly you will see it was in response to Andrew's suggestion that no one needs a dog and that they should be eradicated away from towns full stop. It was meant (and I have to say that you are the only one not to read it as such!) to show that how the statement was ridiculous and at no point was it literal

I have 2 rescue lurchers. Surprisingly they actually have good recall,but if they see kids/other dogs ,one wants to play ,the other wants to eat another dog.Therefore I do NOT ever let them off the lead unless very early morning/ late at night,so they can run about and chase each other if they wish. I have a huge grassy area at the back of my house (and yes I do pick up dog poo)

Like Dooingmecleanin's dog,one of mine is very badly socialised.I keep her on a lead/muzzled.She adores children, but is very unpredictable with other dogs. Most responsible dog owners know her and keep her away,the irresponsible ones have their dogs off leads,can't recall them when I tell them to keep their dogs away from her. I need to socialise her on HER terms,not someone elses.

In the summer, I had her on a lead,muzzled etc.Some dog owner had let their CHILD of about 10,take the dogs out/off lead, who immediately ran up to mine.I was picking up her "doings" at the time so didn't see them approach so lead was in wrong hand. She thought the dogs were going to attack me,so she snarled and lurched, and guess who ended up breaking her ring finger.

While I hate people screaming when a dog is approaching,I also hate people who say my dog is fine,well mine certainly isn't.

Is it ridiculous to ban dogs from some areas in towns though? They are banned in some shopping centres I think. Not sure if I would support that but it's not a wildly "out there" idea. Not like he said send them all to the moon or something.

And I still don't understand that view that the OP was BU, and not the man, as dogs need exercise off the lead?

Can I just clarify a fact which sees to be largely being ignored.

Every "arrogant" dog owner on this thread has stated that the man WAS being unreasonable having his dog offlead where signs forbid it. This is WRONG, we all agree on that, so please STOP reacting like we don't.

I think every dog owner on here seems to believe that the OP would be within their rights to express their disappointment with the reaction of the owner of the dog. However we believe that 'roaring' is a bit of an overreaction which could have made the situation worse. Advice has been given on how to deal with the situation in a way which would be more beneficial to the child.

I don't mind being slated for things I AM saying, but please don't assume I am arrogant because I agree with the OP.

But why does loving them extend to saying they must be allowed to exercise off the lead in "lead on" areas, and that OP is BU to be upset abut that and the fact that dog wouldn't return to owner when called?

Is there something I'm just completely missing here?

Interesting thread.
Both my DSs have a fear of dogs - they are 4 and 19 months old. I am not a dog person myself, I don't mind them, but I have a nervousness around jumpy and big dogs, which I guess has rubbed off on DSs (despite me trying desperately to show no fear, to stroke neighbours, friends dogs etc).
I genuinely would like some advice on how to try to stop my kids being fearful of dogs. A small dog ran up to DS2 in the park the other day and the dog ran so quickly, straight up to his face and the dog was getting excited. I went and picked up now distressed DS2 (screaming and shaking), saying it's fine, just a friendly dog etc. How do I engender a respect, but no fear of dogs? DS1 is particularly reluctant to stroke any dogs (of people we know). Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated.
In response to original post - I think YABU and NBU. Dogs that are jumpy in your face, who get all giddy and don't respond to being called back by their owners shouldn't be loose in a park, IMHO.

goldenbrown people have said that OP was BU. Just looked at the first 10 or so responses and people said that. Reasons were dogs need exercise etc.