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AIBU?

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Original poster

to not want your dog to "kiss" my dc face

140 replies

m0therofdragons · 16/04/2014 15:16

Sorry for grumpy old lady rant but we spent a few hours in our local country park and had a picnic - me and my 3 young dds.
While sitting and eating 6 dogs came over at the same time circling us after scraps of food (don't think they were too impressed by all dc eating blueberries). Anyway, there were 3 owners walking over slowly while I shielded dc. When the owners eventually made it over my two youngest (2yo twins) were scared and crying. They didn't apologise and just commented how friendly their dogs are and how they Love to lick and kiss people but would never bite. Now I find it naive that people would be so confident their dog won't bite but that aside... I do not want my children's faces licked by a tongue that moments ago had probably been licking its own bottom or eating poo. Dog owners seem to think I would find this cute. I love dogs but I do not find it cute!

OP posts:
Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 09:40

'Goblin - the trouble is, that would mean that the many parks that are currently used will increasingly become 'dog free' or 'on lead only' '

Yes

Maryz · 17/04/2014 09:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 09:43

Goblin - my dog likes to look for rabbits and squirrels. She's not caught one in the 18 months we've had her, but she likes looking. She is a rescue and probably wasn't socialised much apart from the dogs she was working with - so generally has a positive attitude towards other pointy dogs and terriers and is wary of others until she gets to know them. So, she would not like an enclosed area where there were no interesting tracks and trails to sniff out.

I agree fights etc would be for the owners to sort out - but its a lot easier to avoid them when you have, say, 20 acres to spread around in rather than, say, 1.

thebodydoestricks · 17/04/2014 09:43

It's unacceptable op I totally agree with you.

BunniesBurneze · 17/04/2014 09:45

Aeroflotgirl A park is a big open field ffs. If there was a nice bit of green that wasn't a park, don't you think there'd be people picnicking in it!!

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 09:49

The problem is always the minority of dog owners - and they wouldn't be put off by areas being 'dog free' - they would just continue using them and letting their dogs run wild. Its not all dogs that are the problem, its just a few dogs with irresponsible owners.

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 09:53

Then you round up all the random dogs and pen them, and the owners pay a fine to get them back. Sin bins if you like.
I don't care, I want to be able to enjoy the parks, woods, open spaces and the beach and be ignored by dogs.
So for those that want their animals to be off lead, I like the idea of designated areas for those with dogs and those that don't mind being jumped on or chased or having food stolen. All happy together.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 17/04/2014 09:59

YANBU. Candydog goes on lead in a busy area. Tbh, he's only ever off lead in the massive field near us. Even us dog owners hate people like that; they give us a bad name and their dogs (in general) tend to bother our dogs.

As I said, there's a lovely huge field near to where I live. In winter or non-school holidays or just non sunny weather, it's a dog walker's paradise. When the sun peeks out, dog always goes on lead. It's just one of those things. I try to ensure he's walked at less busy times so he can get a run. I'd hate a dog park; it'd just be an excuse for shitty dog owners to let their dogs run wild and certain dogs would get attacked. Sad

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 09:59

You'd be fine with my dog Goblin - she happily does her own thing in the park - humans are not interesting when there are lots of wildlife smells to look for - and if she is feeling friendly I can see it coming and call her back. So why should my enjoyment of my walks be restricted?

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2014 10:01

YY ideally the recall would be before the dogs nose actually made contact with food/people.

MoominsAreScary · 17/04/2014 10:02

We had it the other day, the dog was on one of those long leads being walked down the road and ran up and licked ds3s face before I could stop it.

Im sure it was a lovely friendly dog but I really didn't want it licking my toddlers face, hes been a little weary whenever he sees a dog since then.

Preciousbane · 17/04/2014 10:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 10:05

I'm fine with all sorts of well-mannered dogs, I meet a lot of them.
Why should her enjoyment be restricted? Because of the irresponsible owners. If you can't sort them out, then the laws will become increasingly restrictive as people protest and insist that Something Is Done.

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2014 10:08

I think it's worse with a picnic because you are sat on the floor (unless you have managed to get a table) so you are at face height with the dogs mouth so to speak.

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 10:12

But Goblin - what you are suggesting won't impact upon them - they'll continue to do it anyway - it will impact on me and my dog and my enjoyment of walks through her enjoyment. But you say that I'm OK and they're not. And then you get the paranoid people - I've been shouted at to keep my 'dangerous dog' on a lead when she was behaving impecably - she didn't go and give a small boy on a sled a lick - she listened to me and came back - and she didn't get anywhere near them when she had a play with a collie - but apparently it wasn't acceptable that she was there, playing with DS in the snow - the collie owner wasn't shouted at though.

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 10:14

They also often run onto the picnic blanket, knocking stuff over and messing up what they don't steal. And they are so fast that you don't get much warning.

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2014 10:15

Yes, trodden on sarnies, licked faces,then on to the next.....

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 10:17

So what would you suggest to control the incompetent and feckless dog-owners who are threatening the freedom and enjoyment of you and your dog?
What would you put in place to stop others becoming defensive and paranoid because of what they have experienced first-hand, heard of or read about on the news?

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 10:19

I wonder why the owner of the collie wasn't shouted at and you were.
You have a terrier? A Yorkie or a Staffie?
Was the collie owner bigger and scarier than you?

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 10:22

The issue is the picking up of bad behaviour and getting something done about it... There could be some sort of permit that you needed to have your dogs off lead in certain places - with a chance to lose it and have to undergo an obedience class or something to get it back - but the problem is policing it.

Mind you, if that came up, perhaps people could also have a similar option for their children... Wink

Pasithea · 17/04/2014 10:22

It's the husbands grandchildren who give my dogs icky kisses. The two year old is right at his height mouths together and she does it all the time.

mistlethrush · 17/04/2014 10:25

Goblin - my dog is a rough haired lurcher. She's as soft as butter - but does have a little bit of wolf-like appearance. So collie (in my experience, much more likely to be nippy than my lurcher) is a recognised 'pretty' breed so apparently 'acceptable' and just because mine looks a bit unusual she gets called 'dangerous'. Yes, staffies also have that reputation, although the great majority of the staffies I have met have been lovely dogs, certainly to humans.

BeerTricksPotter · 17/04/2014 10:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sparklingbrook · 17/04/2014 10:32

We now have 4 folding picnic chairs and have dispensed with the romantic picnic blanket malarkey. Our picnics usually consist of pre packed sarnies too. Blush

Goblinchild · 17/04/2014 10:36

No, it's not the end of the world, but it does spoil the day.
I do feel entitled to enjoy the lovely free things I'm able to do in my country, and I'm surprised that you want to use that as a sneer.
Equally, it could be said that you lot have months to train your dogs in when there are fewer people around, so why are so many still so crap in the few months of good weather? Still poor recall, still no manners?