To think you shouldn't just let your dog run out of your house?

[slatternlymother]

DS (2.4) and I were walking along into town this afternoon; he was on his reins and we were pottering along slowly.

A door opens behind us and a small-medium sized dog races out, obviously excited and barking madly. Which is fine; I'm sure he didn't mean any harm. But he jumped up at my DS, who immediately started screaming and I whisked him up. But the dog wouldn't go away, and started jumping up at us; not in a horrible way; just in the way that some dogs do.

The owner came out, calmly got the dog by the collar; uttered the immortal words 'it's ok, he's only trying to be friendly!' And took the dog back inside.

I was quite shocked, tbh. No apology that her pet had frightened the life out of DS (he was really crying and shaken). I was so surprised, I didn't actually say anything to the woman.

AIBU to think she should've kept hold of the dog if she knew it was excitable/liable to rush off? What if it had raced out into the road?

Also now really quite concerned that DS is going to wind up afraid of dogs. He has always been a bit unsure/not wanting to go too near.

But all this afternoon and this evening he kept looking out of the window 'for the doggy' and asking 'where's doggy now?'

He's quite shaken

Bugger.

Well sometimes dogs do sneak past you and bolt for the door. Mine is a bugger for trying and has been successful 3 or 4 times. We live on a busy road and its something I really try to avoid.

But dog owner should have said sorry.

Oh, I'm sure they do; I have an escape artist of a toddler. I do understand.

But there was a good gap between the lady opening the door and her actually coming to get her dog; she wasn't straight out behind it.

Yes, she should have apologised. Mine has been known to do this though, usually if she sees another dog She also ran into a cafe as a puppy once - thankfully everyone in the cafe just went "ahhh!" as I charged after her apologising profusely

I hate it when dog owners do the 'oh he's just being friendly line'. I couldn't give a shit. Try controlling your fucking dog.

No I don't hate dogs. I hate dog owners who think we should all love their animals because they do.

aw that's wank!! Have you got access to any less jumpy dogs? It's really annoying when people tell you somethings alright, when clearly it ain't! It might be worth putting in some extra effort to reverse the damage done. Ask local dog walkers who you see out and about if your ds can say hi to their dog (providing you feel comfortable) Most decent owners will happily oblige. Good luck

Perhaps she was embarrassed, or the dog managed to let itself out by fluke. I don't know. But it is a fairly busy road, and leads up to a school so lots of traffic. At the very least you'd think she'd want to save it from the traffic.

I'm not a dog person myself, I got bitten as a child. But I don't want DS to share my aversion.

YANBU. I'm a 100% 'dog person' and I get cheesed off with dog owners that allow their, albeit friendly and happy, dogs to run up to my daughter when we're in the park, or anywhere else.

I was in the park the other day, and was walking along with my DD's (22 months) hand in one hand, and my dog (soft big yellow lab) on her lead in the other. A choc lab came steaming up to us, followed by a jack russell and a third allsorts mixed breed. The choc lab shoved her face in my DD's, scaring her in the process, and I had no option but to shove him away with one leg. The dog's owner thought I'd kicked him (I hadn't, it was a forceful shove) and was pretty pissed off - I just told her to control her dog or it would get a kick next time. The owners of the other two dogs got them under control quick-smart after that!

My main concern wasn't for her safety, as I could see the dog was friendly but exuberant, but more that she would develop a fear of dogs from it. The dog's face was at the same height as DD's, so that's partly why it happened, but that would only make things scarier for DD.

DD lvoes dogs, I've made sure of that, but it was all too sudden and close for her to understand what was going on and it made her jump.

And yes, no apology, just a filthy look.

Maybe the dog shot past her and she couldn't stop it? It can happen. I should think that she will be more careful in future if it is a busy road - dogs and busy roads really don't mix.

Yes, I doubt the dog would've bitten. I think it was a young dog, and perhaps DS might've got a playful 'nip' at worst. So not a horrid dog; just a very excitable, jumpy little chap.

But this is exactly what makes people 'not like' dogs isn't it?

country I did wonder that; like I said, I do understand. But at the very least, even if she wasn't bothered about her dog being jumpy uppy (!), she should've been bothered about the road.

Sometimes dogs get out though.

My aunty got a lurcher a couple of years ago and she always escapes.

At first it would just be running past you at the front door, she'd run off and come back a few hours later.

Then she worked out she could clear the 6ft fence in the back garden.

She was picked up by the dog warden and my aunty had to pay to get her back.

They went through everythig to stop her from escaping and it worked for a while and then one day she smashed through a downstairs window to get out.

Not saying this person couldn't have prevented it but some dogs try their hardest to escape.