To be cross with this dog owner and to have told her she is a stupid cow

[Vagaceratops]

To get home DS2 and I have to walk across a large playing field which is also the local dog walking spot.

DS2 has SN and is not confident around dogs (I wouldnt say he was afraid but he cowers when he sees them). Today dog passes us coming down the hill as we are going up, about 2 metres in front of his owner. Dog stops to give DS a sniff. It was only a small dog but DS was still hiding behind me. Dog owner tells him not to be silly, that the dog wont hurt him. I say that he doesnt like dogs. She gives me a face and picks up the dog to bring it nearer to DS, saying there is nothing to be afraid of. DS squeals in fright so I bend down to pick him up. She brings the dog higher, telling DS again there is nothing to be scared of, the dog is friendly. DS starts to cry.

I walked off quickly carrying DS and over my shoulder I said 'stupid cow'. I know I lost the moral high ground at that point but I was so cross and DS was so upset. Its taken a good half hour to calm him down.

YABU. Why take your son through a dog walking area every day if he is terrified of them? I don't understand.

Presumably not going through the field would involve a massive detour around the perimeter.

I assume the field is not purely for the use of dog walkers so they should be responsible when using the shared space

She was very pushy and stupid. She could see ds was afraid - it's not her job to imagine she can cure him of his fears and to thrust the dog into his face. I think you had every right to call her a stupid cow.

I'm a dog owner but if I come across people who are obviously scared of my 35kg Labrador (even though he's a great big softy) then I will make sure I get him away from them sharpish. I don't know what the woman was thinking trying to force the dog onto your DS.

The OP has already explained the alternative to walking in this area is alongside a very busy road with the child who is a bolter.

"Why take your son through a dog walking area every day if he is terrified of them?"

I wasn't aware there were designated areas purely for the use of dogs and their owners? Just because it's a green space doesn't mean it was built for dog walkers! It's for everyone and everyone has just as much right to use it!

LadyJH

Read the OP again. Apart from the other excellent points made above, it is described as a large playing field.

I think children should be able to walk through playing fields in absolute safety from having dogs thrust in their faces!

Rtft

Y'know, on a personal, self-centred level, I don't object to sharing the world with dogs. But I don't understand why so many people, on this thread, and others, believe it is the duty of children and parents to avoid anywhere with dogs, even when it's an area originally built for children, rather than the duty of dog-owners to keep their dogs under control and to act like civilised human beings, instead of being rude, opinionated and arrogant human beings.

I live in urban sprawl. If I avoided everywhere where dogs were walked, I wouldn't be able to get out the door, never mind get to the dog-free fenced-off playgrounds!

TheBigJessie Mon 01-Oct-12 12:52:16
But I don't understand why so many people, on this thread, and others, believe it is the duty of children and parents to avoid anywhere with dogs, even when it's an area originally built for children, rather than the duty of dog-owners to keep their dogs under control and to act like civilised human beings, instead of being rude, opinionated and arrogant human beings.

I'd agree with that, and I'm a dog owner.
I keep my dogs under control, and away from people who don't want to bother with them.

I'd also say it's beyond me how many parents believe it is their right to invade areas, originally not built for the use of children, and fail to keep their children under control.

Running about noisily in pubs and restaurants; being loud in libraries; careering into people on scooters, bikes on training wheels.

I kept my kids from doing that, and away from being a nuisance to other grown ups.

They are both examples of good manners.

On the whole? I think there are more good dog owners than parents.

Oh, please don't divert this thread onto Children in Restaurants! Please!

Sidepoint, I got called a bitch on facebook becuase I commented on an adult's status about having been asked to turn her music down in a library!

Why take your son through a dog walking area every day if he is terrified of them?

I am not any more - he is too terrified to even go down the field and after trying to make a run for it on Friday on the busy road we are now resigned to getting the bus to the bottom of the busy road from outside out house and walking through the back streets, which adds a good 15 minutes onto our journey and a cost of £1.70 a day.

Where we live is quite built up, so the playing field is used by most people - children playing, football teams, runners and dog walkers.

When I was very little, we had a gorgeous loving female big collie cross as a pet, who was gentle. I had no fear of dogs until one day I remember at the bus stop with mum, when a male smallish dog mounted my leg and started frenzidly " humping" me. I was terrified as he clung on too intensely, but did not know what he was actually doing at that age. I hated that, and as I aged I always had female dogs My niece's lurcher neutered male is a big softie who just wants his chest stroked and has no sexual arousal, thank goodness. he's really sweet. Even now I would avoid unneutered large male dogs, I must admit.