to ask dog owners to keep their "friendly" dog away from my toddler?

[CultureMix]

Happened again today, we were out for a walk with my two boys (2 and 4), when a big dog bounded along, with the owner miles behind, and charged right up to the boys. Not in an aggressive manner, more just curious, but had DS2 leaping into my arms screaming in fright and DS1 clinging onto my legs.

The owner called out from a distance "oh he's friendly it's alright". No it's not alright, you can tell my two kids are scared, the little one is hollering in terror. Come and get your mutt away right now... grrr.

I'm not against the right of anyone to walk their dogs nor even saying they should be on a lead (this was a local park so perfectly ok to let dogs run). And yes my boys haven't grown up used to dogs as we don't have one at home. But when it's obvious the dog is scaring the children, don't just laugh it off and make no effort to a) fetch the dog asap -that means run not stroll- and b) apologise. How would you like it if a huge creature the (relative) size of a donkey came galloping up to you looking like you'd make a tasty snack?

It's the "he's friendly' that drives me crazy, like that excuses anything and should of course reassure the children, or indeed guarantee that nothing will happen....

Yes OrmIrian,That's what i was trying to say....Why dog owners think that animals should have more rights that people????? And yes,i agree with your post...We are facing lack of consideration in many areas of life.....

I do find it depressing that otherwise sensible adults lose perspective when it comes to their dogs. Was talking to a lovely lady with a lab once who then started complaining that a couple had got quite aggressive as her dog got one of then muddy. She was of the opinion that they shouldn't be wearing light coloured clothing. I was so taken aback I didn't have an answer.

Then there's my neighbour, had dogs all her life , came for a walk in the woods when Plog was a pup. We nearly fell out as she couldn't understand why I kept calling her back and wouldn't let her run ahead with the DC's. I kept explaining that I wouldn't be able to get her back and she might jump on someone and she trotted out the shouldn't be in the woods if they don't like dogs one.

Then there's a TA at a local school who has a golden lab who hasn't been trained and my heart sinks if I see her coming. She jumped up on DH and drew blood threw his trousers last time he met them .

Plus two boxers who all the dog walkers avoid like the plague as their dogs scare the living daylights out of a lot of the other dogs, circle them then pun them down apparently.

And I witnesses two young labs race off from their owner at woods entrance. Came racing up to where I was talking to another dog walker , both our dogs were on lead. A childminder with two toddlers was walking by and the labs were running round in circles. The other lady I was with yelled at the owner to call them off but she didn't. I bellowed at the dogs to sit or leave but had no impact. Very soon one of the children was on the floor. After the labs had gone I got him to stroke Plog in an attempt to end their walk on a more positive dog related note, but goodness knows if it had any effect.

That clip of Fenton in the park makes me cry with laughter though. I know it shouldn't be funny, but i can't watch it without laughing.

But I'm a dog owner and I don't think any dog has more rights than people. I don't know many dog owners that do TBH. I think that most of the irresponsible dog owners referred to here are simply inconsiderate of other people - they don't realise (or care) that other people are nervous of or dislike dogs. It's THEIR rights to do what they like regardless of others that cause the problems.

O yes,lots of dog owner do think that their pet has equal or more rights....i heard lots of things and seen a lot.
I think we shouldn't just assume that people will be ok for dogs to run towards them,or while sitting in restaurant having very important conversation for some toddler to come and start asking 1000 of questions,or while you are talking to your friend on the phone,she puts in the middle of it her 9mths old to gugu and gaga to me....So i quess,it's all about consideration and respect of personal space...........my opinion...
maybe i am wrong for some people but that's what i feel...

I think Dust is probably right. It would seem that the tide is turning away from having dogs in the UK so if the out of control and shitting everywhere doesn't ease up you are going to find there being more and more legislation surrounding dog ownership.

If the penalty for running up and knocking over kids or leaving dog crap on the ground in playgrounds etc was either confiscation or havng the dog put down, I bet owners would be a lot more careful.

Dogs out of control was a pretty regular occurence in SW London where I lived, as was dogshit all over the footpath, don't see that many dogs where I am now. And all of the play parks I have been to since getting home have a No Dogs rule. I think it is a lot more regulated here but I don't know, perhaps we are just not as likely to treat dogs as humans.

Telling people to not run or how to behave around your dog is bullshit, keep the dog under control, it is your dog and therefore your problem.

I like dogs just fine, what I don't like is that so many owners seem to think that their dog is special and that everyone else should have some responsibility towards it.

Yes, I agree with you (I thought I was anyway ). I just think the 'dog's rights' thing is a red herring and irrelevant.

I live in NW London,you should come and see dog shit over here on the footpath and areas that dogs are not allowed ...
I work in SW (fulham) and it's not as bad...