Dear dog lovers/owners...

[INeedABiggerBoat]

A few tips for 'dog lovers':

• Don't leave your young children to pet a dog while you p* off to the loo or go to buy a pint, without checking with the dog's owners first. Dogs may not find your children as adorable as you do. Some dogs also bite children/when scared and I'm betting you won't be blaming yourself if that happens.
• It is not okay to feed a dog without its owners' permission - especially when you give the dog a small bone that could choke it/splinter in its throat. Unless you're happy for us to pass on the vet bill to you.

And one for dog owners:

• Whistling for your unleashed dog to follow you while you merrily cycle off home does not constitute 'having control' of your dog.

Any other tips to add, MN-ers?

Jeez guys, I leave the thread for a day and this is what I come back to! I hate it when threads go this sort of divisive way where people seem to take 'sides' and start demanding ever more extreme measures. Reminds me of cyclists vs driver debates, which just go round in circles. I'd hoped instead that this would be a thread where dog owners/non-owners could share things that might help us all rub alone nicely and with more consideration.

Can we all just not agree that SOME dog owners and SOME parents can be unreasonable, but not start suggesting measures like keeping ALL dogs on leads all the time, even in public parks and footpaths (where signs permit them to be off lead, of course), or by telling dog owners that they should be responsible for any harm to children, even if said children approach a leashed dog without the owner's permission???

For example, I will forever be grateful to the woman who stopped her six children from ambushing my dog in a cafe by explaining that some dogs don't like being patted by lots of people at once then, when they continued, dragged them away and apologised to me. On the other hand, I still get the rage when I think about the parents who allowed their young son to harass my dog, who was only trying to escape it, while they got pissed. When we asked them to control their son they only said, "Oh, he just loves dogs, he's only being friendly," and continued drinking.

Likewise, I often walk in a park where people train their dogs and everyone has those really long training leads that allow them to catch them easily while practising recall - everyone is lovely, considerate and polite, whether dog owner or not. Yet yesterday I got on the train and had the 'pleasure' of a man getting on with his two little yorkies, both off lead. The dogs proceeded to jump on the seats either side of him and start to lick their bums and rub themselves all over the seats before coming to say 'hello' to me. The man did nothing (I would have said something but, coward that I am, he and I were the only people in the carriage, he was a lot bigger than me and was clutching a beer can and not looking too steady...)

So perhaps we can just agree that some people can be inconsiderate arseholes, dog owner or not?

Also, yy to making sure you can physically control your dog. I will never forget seeing a boy (around 12 or so) begin dragged towards my dog by his own husky-type. We made a swift exit but the poor boy was clearly completely out of control of the dog, and his parents were nowhere in sight.

Our dog isn't well trained enough yet to be off the lead where there are other people and hazards. We're still working on being calm at all times when passing people, dogs, bikes etc, and not pulling to go and see them.

I've been surprised how many dog owners feel the need to comment on our 'poor lad' not being allowed to run around freely. Usually while their dog has come right up to ours causing him to get all excited.

I do know that everlong but equally it does not mean that no dogs behave like that.
TBH I have got neighbours with 2 giant Newfounlands and they never worried us because their owners keep them under control. I have several friends with dogs who are fab because they are responsible owners and it is never an issue to be around them with the DCs. Sadly, walking through a park with "unknown" dogs and their owners has been an ordeal for years due to several bad experiences,. It is becoming less so as my Dcs are growing up and they now understand that the best way for a dog to stop bothering them is to stay still until the dog gets bored. I still think it shouldn't be my DCs responsibility to get the dogs off themselves IYSWIM.

Oh, he just loves dogs, he's only being friendly," and continued drinking.

Could it have been because it is the line that parents are usually told by dog owners, "Oh but Fido loves children, he is only being friendly!"

I'm now imagining an excited toddler zooming towards me while a harassed and embarrassed looking Mum yells "IT'S ALRIGHT! HE'S FRIENDLY!"

Followed up with "He's never done that before!" when the sticky fingers of doom are unleashed on my coat

Greebo0gg that is great!

As a dog owner/lover I really don't have these issues.

The last children to approach my dog were 2 adorable girls who asked if they could touch her first, and then said thank you before going.

Tbh I would rather parents teach their children to approach dogs then be afraid of them. Most dogs are fine, and I find the hysteria surrounding children and dogs rather unwarranted.

Anyone else have a problem with some asian families teaching their children to run away screaming when they see any dog from ten feet away,also a note to any older asians : if you hide down an entrance while a dog passes by - dogs have excellant nose's they know you are there and are expecting you to ambush them,as am i, - just keep walking as normal .

The only thing that annoys me about dog owners is when they have aggressive dogs off the lead. If your dog is not friendly and under control it should be on the lead and muzzled if necessary.

I let my dog off the lead in the park because I know she is friendly and has perfect recall.

Greebo0gg - that is pretty much what happened - ironic eh?!

Bob yes I see that a lot where I live. Muslim Asian families run away in fear from my small docile dog. It is almost hilarious.

Anyone else have a problem with some asian families teaching their children to run away screaming when they see any dog from ten feet away,
Really???not so much as bemused.

Bob

I live in an area lots of Asians live in. I've never seen the children encouraged to be frightened in that way but given how some of the teenagers have reacted eg walking into the road despite there being oncoming cars it must happen.

I did experience an Asian woman who was quite clearly frightened herself encourage her child to pet my dog. I felt for her because she looked like she felt about dogs how I feel about spiders.

Well if my links aren't good enough for you SirChenjin, could you please provide 'evidence' (systematic reviews, meta analyses and RCTs) for dogs NOT needing off lead time

Nope - because there is no evidence either way, is there? The difference is that I didn't claim there was.

Know what you mean everlong

I used to worry when dd's Asian friends came round. But fortunately they loved bastarddog.

I can't say I've particularly noticed Asians throwing themselves under buses to get away from my dog, but he's a big German Shepherd so I might have been distracted by the white people leaping in front of articulated trucks. "Careful! Alsaaaaation!" is the general death cry.

Surprised we have never met in a dog park.