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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell Dog owners control you fecking dogs!

397 replies

Wishfulmakeupping · 17/03/2014 10:16

I'll get flamed I don't care. I'm fed up of people letting their dogs run wild just had another dog clamour all over me when I'm walking down the street with a 'sorry' from the owner again this happens to often. Last week a dog off its lead stuck its head near my child pram.
Its simple if you can't control your dog off its lead then keep it on its lead until you get to the park.
I think I'm going to go nuclear next time :(

OP posts:
BornFreeButinChains · 17/03/2014 18:50

CRISPY

you poor thing how awful and horrific.

Its disgusting.

How the fuck are we supposed to know your dog wont attack us. dreadful.

maybe dogs should have big signs round their necks,

I am friendly, until the day I turn.

Thetallesttower · 17/03/2014 19:24

Inspiration that's my worst nightmare which is why I feel so stressed when a big dog bounds up face- height to a child.

Greydog · 17/03/2014 19:33

Another dog owner here, who totally agrees with you. My dog is a rescue dog, so scared of other dogs. Sick of asking people to call their animals to heel. Sick of the " Oh, He's fine with other dogs" well, mine isn't so put your bloody animal on a lead. On the other side are the parents who let their kids run up to my dog. Now, she hates other dogs, but likes people, but even so, I won't let children touch her until I've spoken to them about approaching a dog (because their parents don't seem able) It was lovely last week, when a little girl asked if she could pat greyhound - this youngster was afraid of dogs, so I spoke to her about approaching hound, gave a a dog treat to give to her, and the little girl was so pleased. It was so nice to see.

BackOnlyBriefly · 18/03/2014 09:10

I think KittensoftPuppydog has demonstrated that some kind of campaign is in order. No one with that attitude is safe in charge of a dog.

NannyAnna · 18/03/2014 11:27

Dogs are just as entitled to be on this planet as people and as long as they are not a danger to anyone I don't see why they cannot run around the local park/open space. Yes I agree people should pick up their dog poo but Otherwise YABU

5madthings · 18/03/2014 11:55

Yes dogs are entitled to be here and run around and be off lead but they are not entitled to jump up on and paw at people. If you have a dog that doesn't have good recall or will jump up on people then it should be on lead.

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 11:55

Yes, but people who behave inappropriately get ASBOs or the equivalent, and if they bits and scratch strangers, they get arrested.

Rommell · 18/03/2014 15:06

Inspiration, so sorry to hear about your son - what an awful thing to happen to him.

I would support a campaign of some kind - maybe that dogs should be on a lead at all time, preferably muzzled. I do not think that a dog's so-called 'right' to run around should trump the rights of people to be able to go about their daily business unmolested, and the rising number of dog attacks prove that dog owners, left to regulate themselves, are found wanting.

Canidae · 18/03/2014 15:42

Rommell - I have spent years training my dogs and we have competed in many obedience trials. They will heel, sit, stay and come upon my command and have never chased or jumped up on any man, woman or child. I always have them leashed around children, horses and livestock.

They are both working breeds and we walk on average 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. 80% of that is off lead across fields and public footpaths.

Why should my dogs have to wear a muzzle and have no chance to run because of irresponsible owners?

I would happily pay for dog licensing and would want the money to be used for more dog wardens. Plus harsher penelties for those who dog not train their dogs or don't pick up poo.

LtEveDallas · 18/03/2014 16:05

I would support a campaign of some kind - maybe that dogs should be on a lead at all time, preferably muzzled

I wouldn't support that at all. You are punishing the many for the actions of the few. Dogs need time off lead to be healthy and many dogs would react badly to being muzzled.

I would campaign for designated "Dog Friendly" and "Dog Free" parks and areas. With strict punishments for dog owners that allow their dogs in "dog free areas" and warnings for parents/children that go into "dog friendly" areas.

There should be more Dog Wardens with police style powers who are also responsible for patrolling known areas that are bad for dog fouling.

Dog Licences should be compulsory and more costly, as should chipping.

There is no reason that dogs, dog owners, non-dog owners and children cannot live in harmony with a little consideration from all sides.

Rommell · 18/03/2014 21:23

It would be 'punishing' (although I am not sure that is the right word) dogs. Animals. Ie not humans. There is a pecking order and they are low down on it. I really don't see what the problem is with that. Why should precious public space be given over to dogs? What is wrong with letting people be able to go where they like free from the fear of having their faces bitten off by someone's fucking fur-baby? These aren't wild creatures that need protecting in their natural habitat or whatever. They are animals that wouldn't exist if it weren't for this crazy human habit of wanting them around, and this crazy human habit is ending up with thousands of people being treated in hospital every year. It really has gone too far now.

kerala · 18/03/2014 21:43

We were walking my friends small dog when 2 enormous Staffordshire type dogs (am not a dog person so can't be sure but muscly fighter type dogs) ran over and started aggressively circling us (dh I little dog and our 2 young dds). One dog literally slavering round and round they went really aggressively. Dh asked the owner to call them off but they were with a really weedy teenage girl who called them over but was ignored. We were all terrified until a man who happened to be walking past managed to help weedy girl get them on their leads. We were all quite shaken up was dreading having to tell my friend her little dog had got eaten in the park

LtEveDallas · 18/03/2014 22:05

Don't be daft Rommell. Off the top of my head:

Guide dogs for the blind
Guide dogs for the deaf
Disability assistance dogs
Epilepsy dogs
PAT dogs
Sniffer dogs for drugs
Sniffer dogs for explosives
Earthquake/natural disaster dogs
Police dogs
Swim dogs
Snow dogs
Sled dogs
Cattle dogs
Sheep dogs

You'd let all these dogs suffer, get ill, die early simply because you think humans shouldn't have to give up any of their 'precious space'? Do you still use these open areas when it is howling a gale or pissing down with arctic rain? Dog walkers do.

I can't walk through a farmers cattle field in case I get trampled, cows are very dangerous - should we get rid of cows too so that more space is available?

No-one on this thread has said that it is acceptable to have a badly trained dog, but the answer isn't to get rid of, or muzzle, or constantly leash dogs. Better, stricter punishments are needed for the owners, the dogs are responding to training (or lack of). It's not their fault, don't punish them.

BobCrow · 18/03/2014 22:13

"Dogs are just as entitled to be on this planet as people"

This is what is wrong with the attitude of so many dog owners. Dogs do not have the same rights as people.

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 22:18

' No-one on this thread has said that it is acceptable to have a badly trained dog, but the answer isn't to get rid of, or muzzle, or constantly leash dogs.'

Self-regulation is often the first and best choice, but when it isn't working effectively, then compulsory laws are imposed. Dog owners need to make self-regulation be seen to be working in the eyes of the general public. Then more draconic rules won't be necessary. But it's going to need a lot more effort on the part of owners. Takes a village to raise a dog too.

ShredMeJillianIWantToBeNatalie · 18/03/2014 22:23

I've been chased down and bitten on the ankles by a terrier while out running in the park. "Just being friendly" according to the owner. She soon legged it when she spotted my shredded bloody socks though....

Out of interest (and apologies if this has already been covered) what exactly DO you do if a dog is chasing you? In that instance I ignored the dog as I saw it hurtling towards me from about 100 metres away, but it still bit me. I'm no expert in animal psychology, but this terrier was wagging its tail (presumably through excitement) as it sank its teeth into me. Which kind of makes it hard to judge if a dog is "friendly" or not.

I also witnessed a really nasty bite a few years ago when I saw a dog rear up and bite a man as he walked past it - he was bitten very badly in the top of the thigh and actually through the scrotum. The dog was destroyed.

My dog is never off the lead because (a) having been bred to chase a furry thing round a racetrack, he would chase and kill any small animal he caught and (b) if he got away from me I'd never catch him. It would be lovely to find a safe, secure dog-only field where I could let him off lead but it's not going to happen.

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 22:32

Oh, you are supposed to do all sorts of things; stop and raise your arms out at your sides, not make eye contact, become a tree (See, those primary drama lessons were actually self-defence) Say 'no' in a firm and clear voice, wear puttees or decent boots so that the teeth don't go through.
Never ride a bike where there might be a dog off the lead. Never have a picnic in a place where there might be dogs, or let your child eat food in a buggy.

Or make all dogs wear muzzles, so they can yap and growl and snap but not bite. So you don't have to live your life thinking about badly-behaved animals screwing up your day.

oldandcrabby · 18/03/2014 22:35

Responsible owners pick up poo. Not all owners are responsible but many are. At least dog poo is usually obvious and often picked up. How would you deal with pigeon poo and other bird poo, squirrel poo, rat poo etc.? Who imposes 'compulsory laws' on wildlife? Just asking....

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 22:39

Rat infestations get poisoned, pigeons are deterred by many nasty defences that often maim them, what's your point?
Dogs are domesticated animals, not wild. Aren't they? The responsibility lies with the owner. How do you make sure that all the irresponsible ones don't end up spoiling the freedoms and lifestyles of dogs owned by responsible owners?
What do you suggest?

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 22:49

Someone is poisoning dogs in a Brent park. Angry
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-26628294

That's the sort of vicious stupidity that no one should be happy about, but if the intention is to drive dog owners away from the park, it's scary enough to do that. Sad

ormirian · 18/03/2014 22:54

My dog doesn't want to hurt you. But he does like to chase and pick up sticks, sniff and nose about in piles of leaves, chase balls etc. Muzzling and leashing him at all times would make him pretty miserable, and me by extension. Does that matter?

Most dogs are not vicious. Most people have never been by a dog. Does that matter if just one attack was prevented?

What you have to weigh up are the pro's of the enjoyment of thousands ( of human dog owners not dogs) versus the con's ie the impingement on the enjoyment of others who fear dogs.

I am surrounded by people doing things that impinge on my enjoyment. I hate effing drum and bass played loudly in a car, I hate BO and fag smoke, I hate listening to screaming toddlers, I resent uncontrolled kids on scooters, I hate lots of things that are not actually illegal. But I put up with them because that is what life in a town/city is like. Lots of people doing things I may or may not like in proximity to me. In the vast majority of cases dogs are no more than that, a minor inconvenience.

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 23:04

If they had muzzles, then the leash would be less of an issue, because they couldn't bite.
I've never been bitten badly, but I've been bitten hard enough to draw blood on three occasions, and been badly scratched several times. Nipped at frequently when I was on my bike. So it's not just the actual damage, it's the anticipation of being snapped at that creates the stress and the wariness.

almondcake · 18/03/2014 23:04

I agree with Ormirian. Many things that other people enjoy carry a small risk that I (or my kids) may suffer serious injury and a large risk that I (or my kids) may experience minor inconvenience. Accepting that and learning to reduce the risks that the activities you carry out or come into contact pose as little risk to you and others as possible is part of being a tolerant and responsible adult.

Goblinchild · 18/03/2014 23:09

I drive a car now, no more bike. No more being snapped at and pursued as I pedal along. I'm a grown up.

Tulip26 · 19/03/2014 00:28

My dog is trained, neutered, insured and his recall is excellent. He is put back on the lead if we see another person, dog, cyclist or child.

So what do I do about out of control kids running up to him and squealing? If he's on the lead he can't move away. It's happened a few times and I worry that he'll knock them over as he's pretty big and daft. For every child who asks nicely there are two who just run straight up to him. Genuine question to do with the thread, I don't want to tell other people's kids to go away/get lost. We usually stomp off very quickly with me distracting him with food.