to have kicked off at another mother for confirming her child's fear of dogs!

[MrJugsMummy]

Just taken my DS and our 1 year old springer spaniel for a walk in our local park. He was running off his lead as he always does and a toddler walked around the corner without her mother. Our spaniel is quite a caring dog and loves children and often tends to mother them somewhat (he worried himself senseless when my DS was ill last week slept on the sofa next to him and woke every time he so much as sniffed!) so he went up to the child the child screamed I called Brian away and said to the little girl "it's fine he won't hurt you he just wants to say hi", the kids mother then decided to make an appearance and pick up the child and had a go at me saying that I shouldn't let my dog off of his lead! She then turned to the child and said "Did he bite you?" to watch the child now upping the screaming and crying actually said "No" she then turned to me and said my dog was a menace and shouldn't be allowed near children!

I snapped at this point and said "My dog was concerned about the fact your child was seemingly by itself in a park, he simply went up to her to check she was ok, he didn't even jump up at her let alone bite her" she then started saying again that he shouldn't be off his lead!
I really got riled up then and shouted "My 5 year old son is here right next to me, I would have no qualms about leaving him alone in a room with my dog as he is well trained and good tempered and adores him, if I had any doubts about his behaviour I would not have him as a family pet and if I had any concerns about his behaviour around children do you seriously I would let him off his lead in a park after school with loads of children around!" I then stormed off and muttered that she was a stupid bitch!

I get so annoyed at parents who do this if your child doesn't like dogs don't take them to places where dogs are, I get that all children are scared of things but why confirm the fear?! If my DS ever shows fear about something I either reassure him that nothing will hurt him or tell him how to avoid being hurt.

Grr rant over

Your dog should not be allowed to run up to children. You were at fault here. Imagine how you'd feel if some big, fuck off bouncy thing bounded up to you and started sniffing round you. Unless your dog is trained sufficiently, keep it on a lead in public places.

and also, the fact is, a lot of parents (myself included) teach their children to NEVER go close to or touch dogs, or any other animals really, unless you have asked their owner.

i WANT my kids to learn to ask first, because not all dogs are friendly.

so when people like you allow your pet to run up to them and get in their face it kind of pisses me off. if i had a child who was very scared of them I'd be even more pissed off.

YABU.

You're one of those annoying dog owners who cannot see it from the other perspective.

My two are scared of dogs simply because of "friendly" dogs sniffing at them - despite me not reacting negatively.

Think about it for a second. If a massive furry animal the same height as you came bounding towards you, what would you think? Would you think "oh what a lovely cuddly animal" or "oh shit!". Toddlers think the latter. They're small and dogs are big to them.

Ffs.

If your dog approached the child it wasn't under control.

YABsoooooU

My DD was so very scared of dogs at one point that I went through a period where she didn't want to leave the house if we were taking certain routes in case we came across a dog.
A friendly dog running up to her would be enough to send her into blind terror.

Just a little understanding may have helped the situation,I think.

PMSL at "My dog was concerned about the fact your child was seemingly by itself in a park, he simply went up to her to check she was ok"

Even Jilly Cooper at her most ridiculous would not anthropomorphise to such a degree.

You are so out of order I can only assume that this is a reverse thread. Surely nobody can truly think that it is o.k to let their dog go up to other people in a public place.

Keeping your dog under control means keeping it with you. You don't know that her child wasn't allergic to dogs, or had been badly bitten before, or simply hates them. I love dogs and have had about 14 at a time once in my life, and yet none of them ran up to other people.

If somebody's dog runs up to me now I will try to scare the dog away if it won't go or if the owner doesn't get it. I then have a go at the owner verbally and try to make them see how unreasonable their behaviour is. Due to a very very bad attack by three dogs (very large dogs!) in a public place, I am now scared of them running up to me or my children (if the attack had happened to a child it would likely be dead - I was quite badly injured (not just a simple bite or two)). These were domesticated, kind dogs that acted out of character.

My children have no fear of dogs by the way but I now know that the kindest, softest mouthed dog is able to act out of character at any time. A dog is just a dog and not capable of thinking completely like a human - it thinks like a dog which can at times be similar to a human but it is still a dog. You are mad to think your dog was concerned about the child.

Small child, large dog bounding towards him? Yep, YABU.

Oh and an added YABU for calling the woman a bitch in front of your own child.

You seriously think people with kids who are scared of dogs shouldn't take them to places dogs are likely to be?!! You mean, like everywhere? Neither of my kids could walk to school if that was the case!

You see far too convinced of the good behaviour of your animal. Children do need to be taught how to behave around animals, yes, but the animals need to be taught how to behave around strange children, including not running up to them. When you are a toddler even a small dog is as big as a lion would be to you!

and also, the fact is, a lot of parents (myself included) teach their children to NEVER go close to or touch dogs, or any other animals really, unless you have asked their owner.i WANT my kids to learn to ask first, because not all dogs are friendly.so when people like you allow your pet to run up to them and get in their face it kind of pisses me off. if i had a child who was very scared of them I'd be even more pissed off.*

DS1 went through a stage of being terrified of dogs and nothing scared him more than an unrestrained dog running up to him. And nothing pissed me off more than an owner saying "it's okay, it's only saying hello!" Actually you've just scared the shit out of my child and I don't care how fucking friendly your dog is Its bloody irresponsible and dangerous. DS1 has been so scared that he's blindly run out into the road to avoid dogs and only by sheer luck avoided being run over. I wonder if your dog would have been worried about my son then!

YABVVU - can't believe you acted that way. Totally inappropriate to shout & also none of your business whether other people are afraid of dogs or not.

People should be free to walk in the park without having strange dogs come to them (no matter how friendly!) & your only response should have been to apologise.

I think you're so unreasonable that actually this must be a reverse AIBU as any responsible dog owners I know don't act like this & think its ok!

So, by your logic, my children (and I, by default) should stay away from the local park and playground so you don't have to leash your dog?

YABU.

It's up to you to control your dog, the child did nothin apart from get upset. I'm scared of dogs, I don't know why, I just am. I don't like being belittled because 'he's just friendly' - how the fuck do I know that?

YABU

If your dog runs up to people, then it should be on a lead or you should have called him back before he reached the child.

DS used to be terrified of dogs, and is still very nervous of them, even dogs he knows well. If one came running up to him when he wasn't expecting it, he would most probably scream as well

She over reacted, yes, and it wasn't helpful for the child as it confirms a fear rather than teaches coping.

However, I love dogs, but it's not possible to say that they are always safe with children - learnt that the hard way as a kid.

YABU

Having reread the OP I'm sure this is a reverse AIBU.

I wondered if it was a reverse AIBU!

I find them egotistical (reverse AIBUs!)

100% wrong, OP. Your dog should never be allowed to run up to anyone - that means it is not in control and that is your responsibility.

As for the idea that your dog was showing some kind of concern for the child - bonkers.

YABU. I have a spaniel, so I know how inquisitive and bonkers they can be. An off lead dog should not be approaching other people/dogs/aliens without permission. My dog is far from perfect, so if he shows interest in someone I call him back and lead him (Although I also don't walk him in parks, far too many small children). People who are scared of dogs aren't being precious, they are terrified. Imagine if you were afraid of spiders, say, and some bastard came along with one the size of a dinner plate, threw it at your head and then just went 'Oh, it's ok, it's friendly'. You'd shit yourself and be very cross, both of which would be reasonable reactions. Strange dog you don't know plus tiny child is always going to equal panic imo.

Did you actually call her a bitch in front of her child and yours?

You and Brian are BU.

^ that by bundaberg tgat i c&p is what i have taught mine yet ds2 was terrified if dogs as some owners let their massive great danes 'say hello'... he is fine with dogs now after lots of hard work.

sadly ds4 has had a similar experience and is now terrified of dogs.

its annoying as hell! and i like dogs, lots of my family own dogs. but i hate owners that just let their dogs run and 'say hello' and all the "its ok he wont hurt a fly etc" bollocks they come out with.

control your dog, if i or my children want to say hello we will ask to do so.