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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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" 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:

Bedtime1 · 28/07/2012 23:01

I think he probably phrased it in a bad way, some people are crap at explaining what they mean. My dog is only little but kids scare it so we keep it on the lead if we go for a walk. I mean with any dog you never know if they might nip children some might really attack.

I think if it was on a lead then it's fine.they have a right to be on the beach just as much as you and family. If you didn't like it then maybe you should have moved a bit.

hiddenhome · 28/07/2012 23:02

YANBU

The owners should have taken their neurotic mutt somewhere else. Nobody wants to have to sit and listen to some dog growling.

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:03

they were sat there for a good half hour before we moved. even if it was a joke, the dog was unhappy with something and they were making no effort apart from the odd "shh lay down" to calm him.

OP posts:

hmc · 28/07/2012 23:05

No she shouldn't have moved a bit! The children had a no problem with the dog (and they were there first), the dog had a problem with children, ergo the dog owner should have moved a bit

edam · 28/07/2012 23:05

Bedtime - the OP did move. She shouldn't have had to, though, the stupid dog owner shouldn't have plonked themselves down next to children.

hiddenhome · 28/07/2012 23:05

Dogs are banned from the beach during the summer holidays at South Shields.

thekidsrule · 28/07/2012 23:06

beaches on a sunny day are normaly packed with kids

how stupid to take a growling dog onto a beach on a warm day

i wonder if people would object to a growling dog sat by a childs playgound

WorraLiberty · 28/07/2012 23:06

Bedtime the OP did move

hoops997 · 28/07/2012 23:07

YANBU where I am there are beaches that dogs are not allowed on because they are family beaches, you shouldn't have moved but asked the people to take their dog elsewhere.

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:12

we did move which was like a military operation with 3dcs plus junk but shouldnt have had to. we were there first. why sit behind a family knowing your dog dislikes children?

OP posts:

catsrus · 28/07/2012 23:16

If it was a golden retriever some of them make a noise that sounds like a growl but isn't - I've heard stories of people wanting to send them back to their breeder because they were growling, but it's a very definite vocalisation that is not aggressive and is well known among Golden owners but does sound like a growl to non- golden people.

Tbh I'm amazed dogs are allowed on the beach at this time of year - unless you were in the dog section? On our local beach there is just one small area at one end that dogs are allowed off lead between may - sept. the rest of the beach is a dog free zone during those months and dogs on lead only on the promenade.

It seems fair to me, all the dog people congregate up one end, with and without dcs, and the rest of the beach is dog free.

hoops997 · 28/07/2012 23:16

OP why didn't you ask them to kindly piss off take the dog elsewhere?

EndoplasmicReticulum · 28/07/2012 23:17

I'm surprised that you were on a beach without a dog ban, to be honest. Most of the "family" type beaches with cafes, toilets etc. have a dog free section, at least, in the summer.

I wouldn't sit in the "dog" bit, for poo reasons.

If it was a dog ban beach, then growly and its owners should have moved, obviously.

Olympia2012 · 28/07/2012 23:17

A kids playground is just that though..... Specially for kids

A beach is for all.

hmc · 28/07/2012 23:21

A beach may be for all - but hopefully normal standards of courtesy and consideration to others should prevail!

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:23

we werent in a special area of the beach although there were at 1 point 4 dogs nearby. it looked and sounded like a growl although im not too familiar with retrievers. surely the owner would have told the lady he wasnt upset if this was the case instead of saying he doesnt like small children.

OP posts:

HappyAsChips · 28/07/2012 23:25

Dogs shouldn't be on beaches at this time of year anyway, should they?

thekidsrule · 28/07/2012 23:26

well if a growling dog was outside the playground say in a park setting,then thats for all in the same context

bet some parents wouldnt be happy with that even though everybodys entitled to be there

i really dont understand why you would take a growling dog on a busy warm beach,utter lunacy imo

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:28

hoops i wish i had. its played on my mind since we left.
olympia agree a beach is for all, to share, not to feel intimidated an bullied off as we did

OP posts:

hoops997 · 28/07/2012 23:30

I'm in bournemouth and we have rangers that walk up and down the beach, they're pretty hot when dealing with this sort of thing.

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:42

this beach had no 'no dog' signs which wasnt a problem in itself. the other 2 dog owners were acting responsibly although im amazed the staffy didnt collapse from exhaustion there were no poo issues which i hadnt even thought about tbh the only issue was the growly dog and more to the point the owners knowing and not guving a monkeys that it was growling at children.

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 28/07/2012 23:44

I've got 2 DC , one loves dogs, one is terrified.

Alot of beaches have an Off Season for dogs. Don't know if this was one.

Owner might be joking (like yes he loves kids but he couldn't eat a whole one )

They say behind you . So if you were there first, then you shouldn't have had to move.

We went to a beach a few years back, before the Off Dog Season.
A lady came along with a large dalmation, (and even though the beach was empty) she let the dog off the lead where it did the most massive turd . We were eating (thanks dog) and she turned and said "Oh I'll just go and get a pooh bag" and went. Bleurgh.

Then a man came along with a large hairy dog. My DS (who was about 8 yo at the time) said to him "Excuse me, my DSis is very scared of dogs, could you keep your dog on that side?"
The owner was very taken with my DS caring and polite request and said "Yes, of course".

No excuse IMO for a known child disliker dog to sit right next to children- lead or no lead!

Original poster

mumnosbest · 28/07/2012 23:59

i just googled the beach in question (skegness). the main beach has a ban on dogs with a dogs on lead policy in other parts. theres also a £100 fine in place. wish id known this. surprised there were at least 4 offenders on the beach!

OP posts:

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 29/07/2012 00:06

With my DD being such a dog disliker it is really hard to find places she can go and run free. (She's getting better with age)
But a couple of years back we went to the beach in high summer and she kept asking "Are you sure there are no dogs mum?"

So if someone brought a dog onto the beach when they were banned, I probably would have reported them.
(Like I said to a man that his dog should not be in the fenced and gated childrens play area .Where his dog had a dump. And I was told to Foxtrot Oscar. He got a verbal earbashing from me, my dander was up )

Original poster

mumnosbest · 29/07/2012 00:17

i think the sun made me a bit too lethargic and laid back. normally i mouth off without thinking would have said something?

OP posts:

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