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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not want a dog twice my size to lunge at me?

44 replies

matildamatilda · 28/12/2013 20:46

I was at vet's getting medicine for cats. Very enclosed, cramped reception space. Around a tight corner came a St. Bernard dog literally twice my size, with its owner behind using a stretchy lead. The dog lunged at me--clearly out of curiosity/friendliness, not growling.

I backed away as far as I could and managed to avoid him. I'm afraid I shouted, "Okay, seriously?" and the owners (a couple) assured me that the dog was friendly. The vet tech joined in, "Oh, don't worry, he's a big friendly boy."

I felt bad for shouting so I said something like, "Oh, he just startled me," and I asked about the dog, found out he was poorly due to Christmas chocolates, chatted a bit with the owners, left.

I love animals but dogs make me nervous--especially in that first contact. I was bitten badly by one when I was very little and I think it's stayed with me for life.

AIBU to think that the couple should have kept him under control, and that they should have apologised for letting him lunge at me? If I hadn't turned my head in time he might have knocked me over.

I am seriously asking--am I supposed to just find that sort of thing amusing or something?

OP posts:
TheGreatHunt · 28/12/2013 20:47

YANBU

The just friendly dog brigade fuck me right off.

formerbabe · 28/12/2013 20:50

Can't stand dogs and don't want them anywhere near me. YANBU...those St Bernards are huge and could easily knock a small or elderly person off their feet. Owners of such big dogs should keep them away from others in public places.

SquinkiesRule · 28/12/2013 20:50

I'm with TheGreatHunt. I don't care if he's friendly, I don't want to be jumped on or slobbered on.

littlewhitechristmasbag · 28/12/2013 20:50

It's hard to say really. The dog was on a leash but i am not sure such a big dog should be on a stretchy lead. However, dogs at the vet are often more skittish and anxious so i would be inclined to let it go and accept that probably both owner and dog were a bit stressed.

littlewhitechristmasbag · 28/12/2013 20:51

formerbabe The OP was at the vet. It was hardly the public library!. It is a place you might expect to come in contact with large stressed out dogs.

justtoomessy · 28/12/2013 20:53

I've got a big dog and I have trained him not to lunge at people. He's nervous at the vets but he still wouldn't lunge. Might try and have a sniff but i'd have him on a tight lead so YANBU.

littlewhitechristmasbag · 28/12/2013 20:54

I really think the issue is that the dog was not on the right kind of lead so the owners couldn't keep him reined in.

Misspixietrix · 28/12/2013 20:58

YNBU. I couldn't Care less if he's 'just friendly'. Keep it out my personal space! (Sorry! Tad Sheldon Cooper there! Grin ). Although I suppose with it being a waiting room space is limited.

CosyTeaBags · 28/12/2013 21:02

I have a big dog. He's quite keen on invading people's personal space for a cuddle - however, I always assess the situation and only allow him to do so once I've spoken to the person and figured out whether they want a slobbery cuddle from him first.

The dog's owners were disrespectful. They may have made a mistake initially, being in a confined space and not realizing that the dog could reach you - but once he did, and you were clearly not comfortable with it, then they should have apologized and backed off.

rumbleinthrjungle · 28/12/2013 21:06

YANBU

My (still very young) dog lost the plot last week and barked at a lady in the street - she's never done it before, I didn't have any reason to anticipate it so hadn't been prepared to prevent it, but the poor lady was scared and I felt awful about it. Blush

I apologised and got the dog away asap, and when I saw her in the street the following day I went and apologised properly. Luckily she was lovely about it. My dog, my responsibility, she shouldn't be inconveniencing anyone, and we're now practicing how to behave as we pass people.

TheGreatHunt · 28/12/2013 21:10

Sorry but the owners said he's just friendly?!! Not that he's nervous etc.

Not good enough.

Rachelicious · 28/12/2013 21:15

I've had a "just friendly" dog try and bite me through my coat before when I was holding a bottle of water. I've had a fear of them since my aunts dog chased me when I was 6 but everyone sat laughing at me. It put me off for life as no one tried to stop her. I'm sure she meant no harm but at 6 years old it was terrifying. I don't know if the other dog was after my water but it scared the shit out of me and the owners just said oops and carried on

FestiveYoni · 28/12/2013 21:17

ARGGHHHHHH " Its ok he is friendly", no not ok!

MrsLouisTheroux · 28/12/2013 21:50

I have a big dog. He's quite keen on invading people's personal space for a cuddle
Wow, I knew that there were plenty of 'he's just being friendly' dog owners but 'for a cuddle'? Hmm This is a new breed entirely.

BakeOLiteGirl · 28/12/2013 21:55

I've started saying "your dog may be friendly but I bite."

coffeeinbed · 28/12/2013 21:59

I've never seen a St Bernard lunge.

Original poster
matildamatilda · 28/12/2013 22:03

Lucky you!

OP posts:
coffeeinbed · 28/12/2013 22:04

And it was at the vet's.
Give the poor dog a break.
Nevermind it was the Christmas Chocolates - not quite sure how that's relevant to the whole sob story here - he was poorly and he was the patient. Not you.

OOAOML · 28/12/2013 22:09

Once a 'just being friendly' dog pissed on my daughter's pushchair. People really piss me off with their 'just being friendly'.

coffeeinbed · 28/12/2013 22:10

Was it at the vet's OOAOLM?

HavantGuard · 28/12/2013 22:12

You were in a vets. In a 'very enclosed, cramped reception space' round a 'tight corner.' What is the person supposed to do with their dog to get it into/out of the surgery? Perhaps someone could walk in front of it waving a red flag?

OOAOML · 28/12/2013 22:14

No, not at the vet in a park - so I suppose at least there wasn't dog piss to clean off a floor.

Barefootgirl · 28/12/2013 22:15

I love dogs, but i HATE dogs that lunge and jump up. My dog knows she is absiolutely not allowed to do this, and (most of the time) remembers not to.

Even if the 'victim' is another doggy person and they are cooing and fussing all over your dog, the polite thing to do is to haul your dog off and apologise profusely.

HavantGuard · 28/12/2013 22:17

If a St Bernard jumped up an unsuspecting person would be on the floor, so I don't think he jumped.

HavantGuard · 28/12/2013 22:19

And it sounds like the dog never actually touched the OP. 'I backed away as far as I could and managed to avoid him.'