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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this dog should not have been on the beach?

55 replies

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 22:35

ok it's been 7yrs and i'm finally braving my first ever AIBU thread so please be nice!

I was sitting on a fairly busy family beach today when a couple with a big sloppy looking retriever came and sat behind us. My 3dcs and a few others were playing in the waves. The dog (on a lead) sat behind me showing its teeth and growling at the waves (so i thought). An elderly lady walked past and said "oh doesn't he like the sea?" to which his owner replued "yes but he doesn't like small children" Shock After a little bit of sitting uncomfortably listening to this dog growling at my dcs u gathered my 7, 4yr old and 6 month old and moved away.

Now I'm no dog hater and did't bat an eyelid at the mad staffy diving in and out or the 2 mongrels playing ball but am i really BU to expect people with 'child hating' dogs not to go to a busy family beach full of children?

OP posts:
OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/07/2012 22:36

If the dog was well controlled, which it should have been if it was on a lead, then YABU.

WorraLiberty · 28/07/2012 22:37

What a pair of twats! YANBU

Why would they take it there?

Doodlekitty · 28/07/2012 22:37

I think I'm missing the problem if he was on a lead. Off lead I see what you are saying, but perhaps they were trying to socialize him, which seems safe on the lead. Am I missing something?

WorraLiberty · 28/07/2012 22:38

Yeah but Freddos it's not fair on the poor dog is it?

CommaChameleon · 28/07/2012 22:39

Was he perhaps joking with the lady who commented?

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 28/07/2012 22:41

You're right Worra, it's not fair on the dog. I hadn't thought about it from the dogs POV, only the OP's.

Although as Doodle suggests, maybe the family were trying to get the dog used to being around children? The beach doesn't seem the best place to do that though.

squeakytoy · 28/07/2012 22:42

Sounds to me like a joke that has been taken the wrong way. In any case, if the dog was on a lead, I cant see what the problem is.

pinkyp · 28/07/2012 22:44

Yanbu - why would anyone do that?

Rhubarb78 · 28/07/2012 22:47

The beach is there for everyone to use and the dog was on a lead so I personally don't see the problem.

patosullivan · 28/07/2012 22:49

Even if the dog's on a lead, it does seem odd to take a dog that hates small children onto a busy family beach full of small children.

Even if you didn't care about the small children, you'd think that having an upset growly dog would make the beach less enjoyable for the dog's owner?

WorraLiberty · 28/07/2012 22:50

If it was showing its teeth and growling at kids, it should be muzzled on a beach full of kids.

It only takes a second for the owner to look the other way and a toddler runs by a bit too close.

Original poster
mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 22:50

it could have been a joke i didnt see their faces but didnt sound like it.

I know the dog wasnt an immediate threat as it was on a lead but...

  1. the dog was obviously unhappy and there are definately better, quieter places to socialise a dog.
  2. its not nice for dcs to have a dog sitting growlung at them.
  3. its unnerving having a dog sat (about a metre) behind you growlung down your neck and visualising your dcs as dinner i couldnt keep turning around so could just hear the growl
OP posts:
hmc · 28/07/2012 22:50

No YANBU and I am a dog owner. Comment from owner was a bit Hmm - if a joke as other posters have suggested, not a funny one

EndoplasmicReticulum · 28/07/2012 22:51

Easy to solve this one. Go to a dog free beach.

Original poster
mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 22:51

and wow you lot answered quick!

OP posts:
sooperdooper · 28/07/2012 22:52

I think the owner was joking, the dog was on a lead so not able to do anything, not really sure it was a massive issue

thekidsrule · 28/07/2012 22:53

yanbu

wrong on so many levels

Olympia2012 · 28/07/2012 22:53

Yanbu but what is a 'family beach'?

Original poster
mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 22:54

we're a bit far inland to be picky about beaches. took us 2hrs to get to this one. dont mind dogs on beaches usually.

OP posts:
TuftyFinch · 28/07/2012 22:56

Maybe it was a joke? I can understand why you felt uncomfortable though.
I was on the beach yesterday and a dog had a shit. The woman told the dog off then ran away! Across an empty ish beach and up into the dunes. Like no one could see her for half a mile around. She was unreasonable. Poor dog.

Sallyingforth · 28/07/2012 22:56

Dogs are prohibited from most 'busy family beaches' , for hygiene reasons. If a resort wants to have any sort of cleanliness award it's compulsory.
If this beach doesn't have a dog prohibition then you shouldn't really want your kids playing in the sand.

WorraLiberty · 28/07/2012 22:56

Yes but on a lead or not...or if it was a joke or not - the couple still had a stressed out tetchy dog that was growling and clearly unhappy about being there.

And even if the owner held it by the collar, it still only takes a minute to get distracted and some little kid chasing a ball runs too close.

Poor dog shouldn't be in that position.

Ariel24 · 28/07/2012 22:56

OP I don't think yabu. It's good the dog was on a lead, but its hard to know how to take the owner's comment, very strange!

Anyway it doesn't seem fair on the dog either if it is anxious around children, and doesn't seem like the owner is trying to socialise it properly. A crowded beach is not the best place to start!

Original poster
mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 22:56

family beach - i just mean one wherw families rend to go as opposed to rocky or cliffy beaches. you know the ones with toilets, icecream, arcades and lots of familues squashed together Grin

OP posts:
pigletmania · 28/07/2012 22:57

YANBU that dog should not be on a busy beach where there ate lots of small children if he does not like it. Why the hell take the dog to a place it is not going to like and increase the possibility of injury Hmm