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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get annoyed that some mumsnetters think dogs should be perfect all the time

331 replies

lesley33 · 01/11/2011 21:50

I try and be a responsible dog owner. I call my dog back if he is near anyone who looks uncomfortable with him, I move him over to the side of the path to let joggers by and clear up dog mess.

But some posters on here seem to think that dogs should alwa\ys be perfectly behaved, never run up to strangers and never bark at people.

Dogs are not robots. However much you train them no dog will always behave 100% perfectly all the time. Some dogs are harder to train. For example, dogs that are really really dim or dogs that have a very nervy and neurotic personality.

We all accept that DCs will not always behave in public. I think most dogs generally behave well most of the time - but it is unrealistic to expect them never to misbehave. So AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 22:18

No my lab wouldn't go for a sausage in anyones hand - or at least never has in all his years. He would go up and beg for some if I hadn't called himback before he got to the child - remember he is very old and very slow. But a sausage on the floor is a different matter.

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 01/11/2011 22:19

YANBU. A dog is a sentient animal. No one can be in total control of any animal at all times no matter how well trained. Fact of life.

Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 22:19

And I would apologise profusely if he begged from anyone.

OP posts:
nancy75 · 01/11/2011 22:20

I'm not a dog hater either, we always had a dog when I was growing up, but they were kept on the lead while we were out, as for it not being fair on dogs that are stupid - are you for real? If a dog is barking in my daughters face I am supposed to be ok with that because the dog is thick? The bottom line is much as I might like dogs I care about my child more than i care about your dod.

Kayano · 01/11/2011 22:22

Look at our phobia thread

YABVU

Why should others be TERRIFiED

KittyFane · 01/11/2011 22:23

Lesley please try and understand that SN dog or not - I don't want anybody's dog approaching me. At all, ever.
It is not ok to allow a dog to approach people. Just as it's not ok to impose yourself on other people.

catgirl1976 · 01/11/2011 22:23

Dogs need to be let off the lead for exercise. Keeping them on a lead when out at all times is cruel to the dog - not unfair - CRUEL.

Yes they should be well trained etc, but no dog is going to be perfect 100% of the time e.g. come back every single time it is called or never jump up at anyone. Doesn't make them dangerous.

topknob · 01/11/2011 22:25

Lesley..You need to keep your dog however old on a lead if you CANNOT recall it instantly around kids.
As for SN dogs, seriously if my dog had SN it would be more the reason to keep on on lead around other people.

KittyFane · 01/11/2011 22:25

housewife absolutely - personal space is what it's about. :)

topknob · 01/11/2011 22:26

You can exercise your dog off lead in areas where there are not kids...we do every day...but when kids are about we muzzle her ! Simple really ! She is a GSD and we are responsible dog owners with kids. It is a shame other dog owners don't have such restraint on their dogs around our kids though !

ElaineReese · 01/11/2011 22:26

Sorry but a dog's 'need' to be let off a lead doesn't trump a human child's 'need' not to be jumped at or barked at or bitten.

If they're living according to natural rules and doggy mentalities and all the rest of it, they shouldn't need to live in humans' houses and be fed special food and be wormed and all the rest of it. If you've domesticated them to the extent which suits you because you like dogs then you should also domesticate them to the extent that they don't frighten, upset or hurt people who are less keen on your animal than you are.

ElaineReese · 01/11/2011 22:27

Special needs dogs. Now I've really heard it all.

Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 22:27

My dog does recall except ONE time when there was a half eaten sausage oon the floor that he ate and then came to me. So you really think I should keep him on a lead for ever because of that one incident that did not involve anyone else. Thats just ridiculous.

OP posts:
topknob · 01/11/2011 22:29

When kids are about yes ! It is called common decentcy (sp) and I for one as much as I love dogs, would I appreciate your dog approaching my kids ! And remember I have a dog !

ThisIsANickname · 01/11/2011 22:29

I have been bitten, stepped on, kicked, tripped, and made sticky or slobbered on by children.
I would have said "more children than dogs" but that implies that dogs have ever done this to me.

And here's the really annoying thing... when a dog misbehaves or acts in an unruly way near me, even when they are not my dog, it is considered acceptable for me to raise my voice and tell said dog off.
But if I do the same thing to the sticky little monster on the tube who has stepped on my toes for the umpteenth time because they want to run up and down the carriage rather than sitting next to their parents, suddenly I'm the bad guy?

No... I will think that dogs need to be behaved all the time when parents can guarantee the same thing of their children.

Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 22:30

Perhaps not SN - but very very thick.

And the deaf dog was kept on a lead, but would still bark sometimes. The point is that the owner couldn't stop her barking as she didn't understand what she was being asked to stop doing. The only way to stop her barking at someone while on a lead would have been to never ever take her outside the house.

OP posts:
ElaineReese · 01/11/2011 22:32

If a dog on a lead barked at me, though, it wouldn't bother me. Dog not on a lead barking is rather different.

PartyPooperz · 01/11/2011 22:32

Yes dogs need to have a good run off the lead to keep fit and healthy and enjoy themselves. There are places you can take a dog off the lead though - different parks have different rules and some have separate areas. If you move as a dog owner (or before you get a dog) you check out how local those areas are for you and use them. If you don't live or make sure you live near areas where you can take your dog off the lead then as an owner you are being cruel to your dog (either by not permitting him/her to be off lead or putting them at risk of attacking someone) and unfair.

Dogs are dogs, thick, deaf, incontinent, aggressive, untrained, whatever. Choosing to own a dog makes you responsible for that dog's behaviour. Seems pretty straightforward to me.

Also a dogowner's conviction that their dog is not dangerous is of no comfort to someone who has had a bad experience of other dogs and no experience of your dog.

Original poster
lesley33 · 01/11/2011 22:33

And ime, badly behaved dogs tend to be more of a problem for other dog owners. I have had to rescue my old lab from lots of other dogs that are frightening him with their behaviour.

OP posts:
topknob · 01/11/2011 22:33

But he was on a lead !!!!! There is the difference !!!

topknob · 01/11/2011 22:34

HA maybe your dog is the issue then. Next you'll be saying you let him approach any dog whether the other dog on on a lead or not !

ThisIsANickname · 01/11/2011 22:35

Also, what one person considers "well behaved" another person may not. It's incredibly subjective.

KittyFane · 01/11/2011 22:35

Lesley, so you understand other people's fear of your dog then?

dramatrauma · 01/11/2011 22:37

I find that most members of the British public seem to think children should be perfectly behaved, too. So YABU to think dogs would be cut any slack.

IveGotTightsOlderThanYouLove · 01/11/2011 22:39

I find it's parents who need to be more careful, not dog owners. My dog is a big softie, but strangers don't know that. Too many times small children have run up to my dog, cuddled her, shouted at her, tried to drag her along. I know she's ok with this (or at least she shows no outward signs of distress) but the children's parents don't. OK, she may be walking well with my young DD, but that doesn't mean that other children can run up to her, shout at her and 'oat' (or rather smack) her. I try to drum it into my dog-mad DD that you should always ask the owner before touching a dog and approach them with some respect!

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