AIBU to be furious at dog walker?

[MakeTeaNotWar]

DS is 8 months and teething. He hasn't napped well today, so exhausted and fractious, I load both him and 2 year old DD into the buggy for a walk around the block. He finally nods off and we are heading back home 10 minutes later when an approaching old lady lets her small dog run at DD who is petrified of them. I ask her to please call her dog back as DD is terrified and her screaming is waking DS. Old lady carries on talking over me, "oh he's a friendly doggie, loves children". DD is now practically wetting herself with fear and DS is woken. I am now back home with trembling toddler and screaming overtired baby.

AIBU to be incandescent with rage with people who let their dogs run at small children and buggies, terrorising them in the event even if they are supposed to be friendly dogs?

Sounds like our paths won't be crossing, then.

For what it's worth I agree with your point about teaching children, especially small ones, to leave strange dogs well alone.

I just get really, really pissed off at the number of dog owners who think it's OK to let their hound bound up to me and DD when we are quietly minding our own business and making it pretty obvious we don't want to get close to the dog. Because it's apparently OK, they only want to 'play/be friendly'- well I don't, and I don't want DD licked, pawed, or knocked over.

I feel your rage OP

I am a dog lover, always had them as pets pre dc.

My dd1 was fairly nervous of dogs, until 3 poodles ran at her one day on the beach and were jumping around her yapping. They were playing but she was only 22 months and screaming. I grabbed her, only to be told by the woman walking them, who made no attempt to recall the dogs, "she has to learn you know, don't be silly, they won't hurt you".

And what a helpful way to learn that was, she's nearly 4 and still screams when she sees dogs. She'll get over it but that stupid woman's attitude has made it much worse than it needed to be.

ipswitch and elvis agree with you both - hate people inflicting their animals dogs on me off lead or on (mucky paws FU) and mucky hands snotty noses

I have cats and warn folks before coming to mine so they have the choice can always meet in local coffee shop DS not beyond mucky hands/nose stage so no issues there he does insist on intelligent conversation tho

OP YANBU leads are usually required for a reason as much for dogs as for the peeps around them

YANBU

I hope you gave the silly twat a mouthful, people like that give dog owners a bad name

I have massive dogs and though they have never been aggressive and are only ever friendly we never let them approach anyone because we know some people just don't like dogs and its their right not to be harassed

The dd's fear needs addressing so she can go about her daily life in peace without worrying about whether a dog is going to appear around the corner.

It is reasonable to expect strange dogs not to approach you.

MayThe odds, you are a good dog owner. I wish more people were like you where I live! FWIW, I like dogs in general, just not the owners who think they don't need to train them!

YANBU. We have a dog and I would never let her go and pester anyone. Our DD loves dogs but that's because she's grown up with ours. We have the opposite problem with her she will run up to any dog she sees.

Those immortal last words, before he takes a huge bite out of you.....followed by " ooh I don't understand it - he loved children!"

BrainzmeanzHeinz that made me chuckle!

elinor that's exactly the point I was going to make, it's a lot bigger to a 2yo!

MY DC's are 7 and 4 and are absolutely petrified of them. I'm starting to get them used to the Social Situations as they're always going to encounter a dog at some point in the day. We practice when ever we're at my BF's with her 2 very well controlled staffs and
If we're out and they start panicking at one approaching. If they're on a lead and the owners don't look in a hurry I sometimes ask if it's okay for me to stroke them, so the DC's can see the dog is okay with Mummy and then they can come in if they want to.

I must admit I do find the "oh he/she's really friendly" irratating, I've no doubt most are but I just find it a little patronising.

No OP, YNBU ~

YANBU

I like dogs and am happy to fuss them if they are out. I hate the friendly excuse being used tp excuse any unwanted behaviour

My DSis has huge dogs, confession I am cat lady and don't really like any dogs hers are really well trained so despite bite on bum when one had puppies and was feeling territorial I am ok around her dogs and my DS is too.

Getting used to animals is a good thing, being careful around strange animals is a good thing. Of course knowing some people are irresponsible animal owners even in our area deliberately training their animals to be aggressive means that in some cases a report to the local dog warden is a good thing too.

Whilst I certainly agree that the woman in the op acted badly, having her dog off the lead on the pavement, letting it jump on a small child and not even apologising. I do think some of the posters in here could have more tolerance.

I would like to think I am a responsible dog owner, I recall train every day. Always have him on a long line at the moment, (or short lead for pavements) and have even done some one to one sessions with a trainer in addition to the standard classes. But he's a 8.5 month old Labrador, who had perfect recall up until about 7 months, and since then has clearly got a bit braver and his recall has suffered. He just wants to play with other dogs and will often try and approach them, and occasionally he won't respond to recall if its just a person (without a dog), but particularly if its a small child, making a lot of noise and jumping around which make him think they want to play.

I would always get him on a short lead if I see a child in the distance, but sometimes you'll turn a corner and there they are. I do all the techniques my trainer suggested, but sometimes he won't listen. Some might say I should keep him on a short lead all the time, but if I do that, how is he to learn? Do your toddlers always behave impeccably and obey your every command? I am always very apologetic if he does approach someone.

I would also suggest that as well as dog owners needing to train their dogs, parents needs to make their children aware of what to do if they have unwanted attention froma dog. Make them learn that not making a noise and turning their back on the dog calmly, will be far more effective than screaming or flapping about (which a lot of dogs will see as an invitation to play).

YANBU. I do feel those with children who run at dogs need to be careful. I used to have a love wee spaniel, sadly no longer with us. Her first home had lots of small grandchildren who were allowed to torment the life out of her, climbing on, smacking and pulling ears. No wonder she developed a dislike of smalk children. So i would walk her on a short lead. And call out loudly whenever (quite often....) a small child ran in my direction to see the nice doggy. Parents would do the same 'oh its fine he/she loves dogs' that may be but sadly my dog does not love children. To be fair once they got a few feet away the dog would snap and grizzle and the kids would back off. Then the parents would have a go at me....