To not care how 'friendly' your dog is, if you can't control it, it should be on a lead

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

I'm neither a lover or hater of dogs but this is beginning to piss me right off rankle.

Near to where I live is a lovely lake. Nice path, children's play area, ducks etc. Popular in this weather.

I was out walking today with DS 2.6 and DD 6mo. As has happened on so many occasions now, we'll be stood feeding the ducks, only to have somebody's dog come bounding along to us, no owner in sight (the path is quite bendy) and start sniffing about. Now, obviously the sniffing I don't mind so much but DS is a bit wary of dogs and today one started trying to lick his face and was licking at DD's feet in the buggy. The owner then saunters around the corner, calling dog's name (to which it pays no attention) and then looks endearingly at the dog and at DS's worried expression and says "oh don't worry she just wants to give you kisses". No attempt to get control of the dog at all.

I gave tight-lipped half smile and turned away resisting urge to wipe DD feet with an anti-bac wipe

[Wallison]

Buffy, I don't think they should be banned - obviously some nutters people want to have them around. But I do think they should be required to be on a leash - it's clearly not working letting them run around free.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Yanbu. 100%.

[Justforlaughs]

OP, totally agree with you and ragwort. I have even more of a problem withthe total idiot who walked her large dog, on a lead (ok, so it was a lab) right up to my 2yo DD and let it lick her face! . "oh, my dog is SO friendly", yes, it might be but right now it's the size of an elephant to a 2yo, you moron! My DD freaked out and frankly I don't blame her!

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

A friend of mine has six d

[Pobblewhohasnotoes]

Oh FFS!!

A friend of mine has six dogs (why?) and cannot understand why DH (who doesn't care about animals particularly) doesn't want a dog or want to visit her dogs.

She thinks he'll change his mind, he won't. Her house is his idea of hell.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

6 dogs?! 6?! I love dogs but one is definitely enough for me.

[SelectAUserName]

YANBU,and I say that as a dog owner.

Owners who don't control their dogs or don't pick up after them don't only ruin open spaces for non-dog owners, they ruin them for those of us who are trying to be responsible too. I don't want to step in dog shit any more than the rest of you, which is why I always bag it and put it in the nearest bin. Also, my rescue dog is dog reactive so it really pisses me off when some out-of-control hound comes charging over to my on-lead dog "to play" while the owner shouts ineffectively from half a field away "it's okay, he's friendly". To which I usually snarl "yes, but mine's not", probably around the same time SelectASpaniel starts barking and I end up getting bitch-face (no pun intended) from them because their pwecious ickle puppy-wuppy has been seen off.

And breathe...

[Justforlaughs]

Selectausername I think I might need to hire a selectaspaniel myself

[ElphabaTheGreen]

YADNBU.

I was out walking my two not-terribly-sociable small dogs, firmly on their leads, in the country, when this fucking crone older woman let her hyperactive, huge dogs come bounding up to mine and did not call them back, assuming that the blanket cry of, 'they won't do any harm!' might stop my poor, lovely, loving but completely antisocial girl dog from, literally, shitting herself, releasing her anal glands and becoming horribly distressed. Just as I was trying make my voice heard over the yelping to ask this completely oblivious woman to restrain her dogs, my poor F fear-bit at one of the big dogs. This, for some reason was entirely my fault, and I got an earful from this stupid woman for 'letting' my dog bite hers EVEN THOUGH MINE WERE ON THEIR FUCKING LEADS AND HERS WEREN'T.

Not a sore point. Not a sore point at all...

[macreturnofthe]

i agree people should keep dogs under control. I was bitten as a kid and was scared for a long time.

The reason I was bitten - i lifted my arms up and he thought i was playing. No ones fault, but maybe some better education of our youngsters about being with animals may help avoid this kind of thing.

I now have dogs and think that it is most important to teach children to be around dogs and dogs around children.

Oh and one thing that is going to upset people - I don't trust anyone who hates any animal.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

I have yet to encounter one who call their dog back with any success

Well you clearly haven't met mine.

He'll drop on the first whistle, and come flying back to me on the second or a call of his name, even at half a mile (across open hillside, with tantalising livestock moving in front of him) or in a busy urban park with other dogs and kids playing all around him.

He's the most obedient animal I've ever had the pleasure of owning.

[Inertia]

YANBU.

I get really really pissed off when people suggest it's the responsibility of parents to stop their child being scared, rather than the responsibility of the dog owner to keep the dog under control.

[YouTheCat]

Mac, you'd love my severely autistic ds. He's 18 and petrified of dogs and not only is it not possible to teach him how to be around dogs, it is also quite possible that he might harm a dog out of total and utter fear.

I don't hate any animals but I do hate self-entitled pet owners. Dogs should be on a lead unless they are in a specific place for dogs.

[IcouldstillbeJoseph]

zola can I ask what you said as a challenge? I've been trying to think of a suitable thing to say next time this happens I.e. tomorrow

[SelectAUserName]

I'm not Zola, but I would say something like "I don't want him to be friendly, I want him to be under control."

[Turniptwirl]

Parents, put yourself physically between your DC and the dog and give all the "go away" signals like turning your back and no eye contact. Hold onto your DC so they don't run because the dog will think that's a game. Yes it's unreasonable to expect a small child to do anything other than their natural fear response so you have to do it for them.

Also teach your kids to only approach a dog with permission from the owner. Some kids just run up to pet dogs and most are fine but some may snap, especially if surprised or if they're elderly and cant see properly what happening.

[madhairday]

YANBU. I'm fond of some dogs but can't stand this, particularly after the day we were out at a country riverside place, loads of people, picnicking etc. ds was playing by the river on the stones, he was 4, we were right next to him. A dog came out of nowhere and bounded into ds, knocking him into the river. we were so shocked and ds beside himself, though he loves dogs. More than that, the owners showed no remorse, even when dh waded in to pick soaking ds up, and asked them to put their dog on the lead and control it. They lost it, shouting at us that they were entitled to a nice day out as much as us, and their dog was entitled to run around off the lead, and now they'd have to go home because it wouldn't be any fun if he was on his lead and could we pay their car parking then.

Yes, really.

We were

[saintlyjimjams]

Where are all these nutter dog owners? I have never come across any like this. Ds2 did get dogs bounding after him but that was definitely because of the signals/communication he was giving off and the owners were always apologetic. I spend loads of time around dogs and there's only one that I would say has a blinkered owner who thinks her dog can do no wrong - but she's a PITA to other dogs rather than kids. Other dogs might occasionally do something wrong (especially the pups) but the owners are always apologetic and never entitled (except the one mentioned above)

[CloudsAndTrees]

Dogs that jump up at other people or who are inclined to lick strangers should be on a lead in busy places, but my dog does neither of those things and I've had dirty looks just for allowing my dog to run straight past people before.

I think there are some people that don't think dogs should ever be allowed off a lead.

[Wallison]

Tbh I'm inclined to fall into that camp, CloudsandTrees, just because I so often have had dogs chase me/ds when we're on our bikes or indeed even just frigging walking along a footpath/in the park/at the nature reserve etc. If I hadn't have had those negative experiences I'm sure I wouldn't think like that, but I am so sick of dogs spoiling what we are doing even if our ambitions are no more adventurous than just having a walk in peace, that I have lost patience with dogs and their owners. Too many of them are just a menace and I am fucking sick of pandering to them. As far as I'm concerned, dog-owners have had their chance and been found wanting, so they should be required to leash what are after all dangerous animals.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

As far as I'm concerned, dog-owners have had their chance and been found wanting, so they should be required to leash what are after all dangerous animals

It's pretty blinkered to presume that your experience of dog owners is representative. I have to say, the majority of dog owners I know put effort into training, and handle their dogs according to their control over it. The majority shouldn't suffer for the faults of the few.

I'm sick of pandering to cyclists who take up the whole road, parents who don't keep their kids under control and let them scream/ run around public places, and all manner of antisocial behaviours. I don't, however, believe that these basic activities should be banned or limited to confined spaces.

[Wallison]

Yes, but you are talking about the actions of people, who are entitled to expect a bit of give and take. I don't see why I should extend that same courtesy to an animal. Put them on a sodding leash.

[cloutiedumpling]

I really dislike irresponsible dog owners. They do give good dog owners a bad name. Bad dog owners either don't see or don't care how their actions impact on others. I am completely fed up with dogs jumping up on my kids and me in our local park. Dog owners that yell "oh, he's just playing" while the dog has its teeth clamped round my jeans or my DCs trousers really make me mad. I would strongly support any moves to force all dogs to be kept on leads when in public places unless they are in areas designated for exercising dogs in parks. I appreciate that this will impact negatively on good owners, but think that this move would be good for public safety.

[DiseasesOfTheSheep]

Yes, but you are talking about the actions of people, who are entitled to expect a bit of give and take. I don't see why I should extend that same courtesy to an animal. Put them on a sodding leash.

No, I'm talking about a human owner, who deserves as much consideration and courtesy as anyone else.

I'm also talking about a well trained dog, who deserves to be allowed to express his natural behaviour (by which I mean, running around and playing). Indeed, the 5 freedoms, listed by the RSPCA as basic welfare for any animal include this freedom to indulge in natural behaviours - which is frankly impossible for an active breed, exercised exclusively on a lead. Dogs do deserve consideration - they are living, feeling animals, with needs and the right to a basic standard of welfare - and that does include exercise.

Of course, I'm in the fortunate position of being able to exercise mine on private property, so I don't have to encounter idiots who can't handle a dog off the lead (who is not allowed to approach them, or interact with them) unless they're trespassing Sadly, many dog owners don't have that luxury.

[Wallison]

Five freedoms my arse. The RSPCA can fucking bite me if they think that human society should structure itself around the needs of bloody dogs.