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

[lesley33]

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?

Sorry I don't accept that if I am in an area where dogs are allowed off the lead I should accept that they might jump on my daughter and lick her face! I don't mind the dogs being there and sharing the space- DD used to love dogs and has been taught to ask the owner first if she wants to stroke them, to be gentle etc. But why should I accept bad behaviour? If you can't keep your dog under control, don't let it off the lead.

That's fine if you let your own horse lick your face (though a little gross). My friend lets her own dog lick her face. But if you were in a park and a random horse came running out of nowhere, jumped at you and licked your face, would you not be a little intimidated? I'm just trying to point out that to a toddler, a dog, even a small one, is pretty massive!

Sorry I don't accept that if I am in an area where dogs are allowed off the lead I should accept that they might jump on my daughter and lick her face! I don't mind the dogs being there and sharing the space- DD used to love dogs and has been taught to ask the owner first if she wants to stroke them, to be gentle etc. But why should I accept bad behaviour? If you can't keep your dog under control, don't let it off the lead.

That's fine if you let your own horse lick your face (though a little gross). My friend lets her own dog lick her face. But if you were in a park and a random horse came running out of nowhere, jumped at you and licked your face, would you not be a little intimidated? I'm just trying to point out that to a toddler, a dog, even a small one, is pretty massive!

cheese if someone is not going to drive a car safely they should not be allowed to drive a car.

Sadly - life doesn't work like that and we have to accept that roads pose a risk as not everyone drives within the speed limit or with due care and attention. Therefore, if you go near a road, you have to accept there is an inherent risk of coming across a dangerous driver.

If you go somewhere where you know dogs are allowed to roam free you have to accept there is a risk a dog may run up to you or your child. It doesn't mean it's ok for the dog to do that, but no one can guarantee 100% recall of all dogs all the time.

If you are not prepared to accept the risk that a dog might approach your child, don't take your child to places where dogs are allowed to roam freely.

If a dog is off a lead where it shouldnt be report the owner as they are totally irresponsible.

I would be mortified and very apologetic if my dog did that to your toddler. Of course a big dog is scary to a toddler.

But, to use your example, if a horse did that to me I wouldn't think the horse should always be tethered to the ground.

My original post was just trying to say that yes of course dog owners should be responsible and train their dogs, not have them off the leash where it is forbidden, monitor what they are doing and call them back/intervene if they look like they might do something that will upset someone is wrong.

But dogs are not machines. Nobody can guarantee that a dog will never do something they shouldn't. And I think it is unrealistic for anyone to expect this on mumsnet - which some do seem to expect.

erm............tethering horses really is not good.

But that's a whole other thread.

i love dogs.

however at the end of the day dogs are animals and can never be 100% trusted. your dog may never in its life have had an behavioural issues and the most reliable trustworthy pet and one day something triggers ... and can bite, maul or main.

remember that. can you live with that? knowing your dog had to be put down or has harmed and scarred another person for life? simple ... keep them on leads ion public places and only in sign posted areas or drive further out to leave them off the lead. if that is too much bother then you shouldnt own a dog.

and because owning a dog is a CHOICE ... it is not fair to let them invade kids/adults personal space because you love dogs and cant understand why others dont.

UABVU

A dog that was normally "well behaved" bit my son,causing him to go into shock and a hospital visit. He now has a scar and all 3 of my kids are petrified of dogs.

Sorry dogs should be well behaved at all times or put down.

I am of the opinion that dogs should all have a visible license number so the general public can report dogs off leads,in areas they shouldn't be,being aggressive or biting.After 3 reports the owner should loose their license and the dog be either placed elsewhere or put down.

My 3 children have never petrified anybody,shat on the pavement or injured a child.

Batty owners who like to think dogs are children quite honesty annoy the hell out of me.

i love people.

however at the end of the day people are animals and can never be 100% trusted. your child may never in its life have had an behavioural issues and the most reliable trustworthy child and one day something triggers ... and can murder, rape or maim.

That sentance can be applied to so many things.

This subject makes me furious. All dogs in public places should be on a leash. I accept that there should be some special designated areas where they can be let off for exercise at certain times, which should be easily avoidable for children and those of us who have no wish to be subjected to unwelcome attention from someone else's dog . I can't believe one of the earlier posters who indicated that a dog licking a toddler's face was only unacceptable if this had occurred in an area where the dog should have been on a leash. WTF!! Is this acceptable if it happens in a park or a public highway with no signs to specify about leads? What if the child is seriously traumatised or hurt, would the council be at fault for not having signs everywhere to dictate whether or not a leash is required?

Also for the record there are higher instances of people mauling, murdering and maiming children. We don't go around stating that all people should be locked up/not allowed out in public for the actions of a few do we?

Or that all drivers should have their liscenes revoked for the actions of a few?

Or that all nut products should be banned because they could cause death to a few?

Life is full of risks. Learn to live with it.

I wouldn't stuff my cat in someones face so why should I put up with some stinky slobbering dog running up to me?

Dooin try telling that to my scarred 7 year old son,thanks for the empathy.

You have to bitsnbobs. Avoid off leash areas. Report people who off leash dogs in on leash areas. Problems solved. I have been bothered by more strange cats than I have strange dogs, but that's irrelevent really.

In an ideal all dogs would be born instantly trained to never approach a stranger. In reality that doesn't happen. They need training. Mistakes whilst training are not good but are unavoidable to a certain extent. Most owners train their dogs. Most untrained dogs are merely untrained dogs, not dangerous dogs. Most people are not dangerous, fortunately. I am undecided on cats. I would reckon there are a higher number of plotting to take over the world the cats than there are happy house cats

I am fed up with dog owners and their mutts. Utterly fed up. The amount of shit on our streets is unbelievable.

I live in a flat. We have lovely gardens out the front, worked on by residents, which are practically unusable due to the fact that dog owners seem to think it's a lovely toilet for their mutt.

Yesterday I witnessed a woman allowing g her dog to shit in the back communal gardens - the only outdoor space children have to play. She didn't bother clearing it up but just walked I the opposite direction with a disgusted look on her face.

I am fed up with cleaning shit off my kids shoes/bikes/ buggies etc

And I have very little time for ' he's just being friendly' etc

MrsHeffly, slow down a little I am trying order a sports bra and MN at the same time. I did not see your comment.

I am very sorry about your boy. I hope he isn't too traumatised and you're able to work with him to help him manage his very understandable fear of dogs.

I'm all for dog licenses and more reporting of those who break the law or act irresponsibly. I think for the most part licenses will not solve the problems. Responsible folk will abide by the law. Other folk will continue to do as they please. Much as it is with cars. Responsible folk have insurance and drive safely. Other folk do as they please.

"Sorry dogs should be well behaved at all times or put down."

If only you were sorry for that remark, MrsHeffly.

Sick.

A child who is raised to think that it's acceptable to kill a healthy dog might be considered to have the potential to grow up to be just one of those immoral, aggressive types that Dooin was mentioning. Shall we put such humans down too, if they are not well behaved at all times?

Besides, the correct term is not "put down". It is "KILLED". We don't need twee euphamisms to hide the barbarity of your suggestion.

Where I lived in the US you could not bring your dog out without a lead. You would be ticketed and your dog impounded. There were specific dog parks where dogs could run around, equipped with bins and baggie dispensers and poop scoopers. There were still people who went to the nearest park with their dogs for off leash and illegal exercise.

There were notices up about picking up dog poo but still there were owners who ignored the regulation, even outside houses where the presence of children's toys strewn around the lawns really should have indicated that not picking up the poo was likely to result in a child walking in it (thinking not too fondly of you, the owner of Brandy the Irish Setter); when the winter snow would melt finally, you would see frozen poo on each layer of snow, and it was very easy to see just how much dogs pee too, as the patches of yellow snow were uncovered down through the layers.

Dogs can't help being dogs, but a lot of the people who own them need an attitude adjustment. imo.

I can't believe one of the earlier posters who indicated that a dog licking a toddler's face was only unacceptable if this had occurred in an area where the dog should have been on a leash.

I didn't say that - in fact I cleary said it wasn't ok, but that you did have to accept the risk your child might be approached by an off leash dog if you take said child to an area where dogs are exercised off the lead.

If you are not prepared to live with that risk factor, don't take your children to areas where dogs are permitted to be exercised off the lead. It really is that simple.

I have also said any dog owner who lets their dog off the lead in an area where it is not permitted is an idiot who shouldn't be allowed a dog.

To go a bit further with cheeses analogy, if you were not prepared to take the risk a horse might approach your child, you wouldnt take your child for a picnic in the new forest. common sense really.

The worst behaved dogs I have come across are not the dogs of yobs. They are the pooches of people who assert that their dog is their baby.

For the record, I am not saying all dogs should be kept on leads. BUT it is a fact that places where people walk dogs are very often the same places people take young children- parks, green spaces etc.

So if I can manage to teach my DD to be respectful to dogs, ask the owner before stroking them, don't pull their tails etc then I expect dog owners to have the same courtesy. WATCH your dog, call them back if there is a pushchair or young child coming your way and you know your dog is prone to jumping up or licking faces, pick up it's mess etc etc.

And apologise profusely if your dog happens to do something wrong or upsets someone.

Common courtesy, no?

Btw OP, I think you do sound like a responsible dog owner, my comments are for those who seem to think jumping and licking strangers is just what dogs do and not the owners' responsibility

For the record, I am not saying all dogs should be kept on leads. BUT it is a fact that places where people walk dogs are very often the same places people take young children- parks, green spaces etc.

So if I can manage to teach my DD to be respectful to dogs, ask the owner before stroking them, don't pull their tails etc then I expect dog owners to have the same courtesy. WATCH your dog, call them back if there is a pushchair or young child coming your way and you know your dog is prone to jumping up or licking faces, pick up it's mess etc etc.

And apologise profusely if your dog happens to do something wrong or upsets someone.

Common courtesy, no?

Btw OP, I think you do sound like a responsible dog owner, my comments are for those who seem to think jumping and licking strangers is just what dogs do and not the owners' responsibility

There will always be those who don't obey requirements and laws, math. Humans, not dogs, are by far the most aggressive and destructive species, ignoring speed limits, litter bye-laws, drink driving laws, you name it.

Just as we do not ban all cars from the road because of the minority of drink drivers (who I'd lock up and starve to death, personally), we should not be thinking in terms of killing dogs as some above have or of requiring them to be on leads in all public areas.

Sooooo agree with you Math.

Re the New Forest,never likely to picnic there as it's miles away. My kids however do like to walk streets and visit beaches and woods locally without fear of being jumped at,licked or bitten. Are they supposed to just not go out then?

And catgirl, I don't think you have understood my horse analogy- I just meant for a toddler being approached by a slathering dog would be as terrifying as an adult being approached by a horse foaming at the mouth. Not nice!

And I refuse to let irresponsible dog owners drive me out of the local park, what a ridiculous idea!

And catgirl, I don't think you have understood my horse analogy- I just meant for a toddler being approached by a slathering dog would be as terrifying as an adult being approached by a horse foaming at the mouth. Not nice!

And I refuse to let irresponsible dog owners drive me out of the local park, what a ridiculous idea!