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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Other peoples dogs

108 replies

Burke1 · 05/02/2015 15:00

AIBU to ask that people with dogs that they can't control keep them on a lead in public? Witnessed one dog run towards a group of other dogs on a walk. He was much bigger than them and scared them by chasing them for ages and his owner did bugger all to get him back. If you can't control the dog, keep it on a lead, so it doesn't annoy other people and other dogs.

OP posts:

HappyAgainOneDay · 05/02/2015 15:01

Was the owner around?

Original poster

Burke1 · 05/02/2015 15:10

Yeah but at a bit of a distance, but did nothing to try and stop the dog.

OP posts:

zippyandbungle · 05/02/2015 15:12

Were they not just playing. Was the other owner of the smaller dogs distressed or just you.

psyandsoc · 05/02/2015 15:17

YANBU I hate people who have dogs and can't control them and let them run around off the lead. I met a woman some time ago who's dog wasn't neutered and expected me to let her dog mount my bitch for his fun! He was running way off from her and she couldn't see what the problem was. Just don't get me started I'm well on your side.

FluffyMcnuffy · 05/02/2015 15:20

I don't see the issue tbh as long as the dog isn't aggressive.

TidyDancer · 05/02/2015 15:20

There is a gormless fool of a woman who walks 3 dogs in my local park. She never has control of them properly. Last weekend I witnessed 2 of the dogs surround a much smaller dog who was visibly scared. The owner came strolling along and didn't do a thing to pull her dogs away. As it happened, they did seem friendly but the owner would never have been able to intervene in time if they were inclined to attack. She was definitely not in control. The dogs were all over the place.

Op, YADNBU. I'm all for walking dogs off lead in public places, but it's the under control part that people forget.

Idefix · 05/02/2015 15:40

YANBU, sadly some people don't seem realise that even if their dog is friendly that to another dog who is on a lead the dog is seen as a threat.
Most people where I live (v dog friendly country) will put their dog back on the lead when they see another dog approaching. There are the occasional slip ups - young dogs/puppies who don't return to call. On these occasions my dogs (miniature breeds) are terrified. Off the lead they are fine, too many cyclists for this to happen most of the time.
I don't think it is ur to say something to the owner, I do usually shout a warning if people are thinking of not controlling their dog. Whilst mine are small they could cause damage in self-defence.

ExitPursuedByABear · 05/02/2015 15:42

I repeatedly ask people not to let their off lead dogs come up to my on lead dog, and you would not believe some of the responses I get.

FluffyMcnuffy · 05/02/2015 15:44

Let me guess exit your dog is fear aggressive?

scalliiondays · 05/02/2015 15:47

Yanbu - unless a dog can immediately and consistently be called to heel by an owner they should be on a short lead. I suspect some owners like their dogs out of sight so they don't have to pick up the poo....

Behindthepaintedgarden · 05/02/2015 15:54

YANBU. I also get really annoyed at people who let their dogs run up at strangers barking their head off, or who let their dogs run around parks off their leads despite signs expressly forbidding this.

There are some very selfish and thoughtless dog owners around.

NickyEds · 05/02/2015 15:55

YANBU. The number of dogs I've had jump up at my buggy only to be yelled at across the park "He's only being friendly" is ridiculous. If they're jumpy uppy things keep them on a sodding lead.
Don't even get me started on the shit.......

kawliga · 05/02/2015 16:03

I don't see the issue tbh as long as the dog isn't aggressive

OP, here is your answer. The dog wars will never be resolved because some dog owners don't see the issue. End of. They think it's ok for dogs to jump on other dogs or other people as long as the dog is not aggressive. You will never persuade them otherwise.

There are also wars about what amounts to 'aggressive' in a dog. Some dog owners think even a bite is still ok, it does not mean the dog is aggressive, just maybe overly playful. There was a thread on here from a woman whose parents dogs bit her three or four times and the parents still thought it was ok and even thought it was a bit funny and were saying 'he never bites other people, why does he keep on biting you, that's hilarious'

You will never resolve this one. There have been MANY threads here on mn, and they always go the same way.

HouseBaelish · 05/02/2015 16:07

Wednesday morning as I was dropping DD at school, someone walking their dog had them on one of those long extendable leads.

We rounded a corner and dog jumped straight up at DD. Fortunately it was dry so no mud and DD loves dog and isn't nervous around them. I said to the woman that she ought to be keeping her dog under control when there are school children about. She looked at me and said "he's on a lead" . Yes - but so far ahead of you he can still jump up! If DD's dry clean only coat gets covered in mud, she will be getting the dry cleaning bill

Whoami24601 · 05/02/2015 16:07

Exit it sounds like you have the same issue we do- our rescue staff is fear aggressive and is almost always on a lead (he has very good recall otherwise). I've lost count of the number of times dogs have come bouncing over. I've had arguments with other owners and heard the 'its ok they're friendly' line so many times! Now I just respond with 'yes, but mine isn't!' That shuts them up straight away lol

soontobemumofthree · 05/02/2015 16:08

Yanbu when I used to do a lot of running I got snarled at/ jumped up on but (only just) managed to avoid getting bitten. This was almost always dogs being walked off lead. My fil runs a lot and has been bitten many times, he still likes dogs tho!

HappyAgainOneDay · 05/02/2015 16:16

What would my position be (legally) if I hit away a dog that jumped up at me while outside somewhere? Not with a stick or something - just with my fist hand?

kawliga · 05/02/2015 16:27

Happy, your legal position would be that you would be the victim of a justified assault (from the dog owner).

Do you not read dog threads on this forum? There are two types of dog-owners. Type A is responsible for their dog. Type B lets their dog jump on other people and even bite them - the only thing they wouldn't accept from their dog would be for the dog to actually bite your head off to the extent that your head was separated from your body i.e. a death-causing bite is the only possibly wrong thing their dog could do. Even then it's not clear - they would want to just point out that you provoked the dog and so it wasn't really the dog's fault that you came out worse off from the altercation. Because they've had this dog since a puppy and it has NEVER bit anybody's head off before.

The type B owner has come on here many times to say that they would assault anyone who touched their dog.

EasyToEatTiger · 05/02/2015 16:37

An off-lead dog is not always out of control and nor is an on-lead dog always under control. You can train a dog not to nip joggers, although for some dogs it is in their DNA to nip at anything that moves. There is a really good thing here www.yellowdoguk.co.uk The more people who use a yellow ribbon, the more people will understand. It's really really useful when there are a lot of dogs around.

weeblueberry · 05/02/2015 16:49

An off-lead dog is not always out of control and nor is an on-lead dog always under control.

While this is obviously true it's a pretty big grey area in the law.

The gov site says:

^Out of control
Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:
injures someone
makes someone worried that it might injure them^

Obviously the latter means anyone who suspects a dog MIGHT injure them could argue they are out of control. Someone who has a real fear of dogs might then reasonably suggest they were concerned the dog was going to harm them.

jigglebum · 05/02/2015 17:01

Yanbu - I dislike dogs but actually have no issue with dogs off leads as long as they can come as called and do not come running at or jumping up at other people. If they do that then I think they should be on a lead.

I was at a forest playground at the weekend. There were wooden tunnels kids could crawl through. One man had his two dogs in that area and they were enjoying running through the tunnels and through all the mud around it. I walked over with my 2 DCs to use the tunnel bit - both dogs came running at us - covered in mud, chasing each other and only just missed my kids as they ran past so close. I asked the man fairly politely to control his dogs with children around. They than ran back at us, pushing past my DS and made him cry. I more forcefully told him to control his dogs as it was clearly a kids play area. He was very rude (despite having my 2 young children in ear shot) and told me it didn't say no dogs so he was entitled to exercise his dogs in that area! Eventually he got them under control and on leads - I said thank you - he told me I d pissed him off and stormed off. It gives all dog owners a bad rep.

ExitPursuedByABear · 05/02/2015 17:25

Not sure if BastardDog is fear aggressive, or just a bastard. Hence why I never let him approach other dogs.

One response I had recently when I asked a chap to put his malamut on a lead and get him away was to blame me for having my dog on the lead and that it is better to let dogs just be dogs.

Yeah right, last time that happened a chap kicked my dog.

BrendaBlackhead · 05/02/2015 17:35

I actually have a problem with people whose dogs are on leads.

Of course walking on a pavement etc all dogs should be on leads, but I go to a park where there is always some idiot with an extendable lead which is as good as useless. My dog knows that he's not to bother dogs on leads, but sometimes he's fooled by an extendable and runs up to greet the dog, and gets tangled up. I also hate the things, as the owner can never reel them in fast enough.

Even worse, dog owners who shout, "She's in season!" Fgs - what the hell are you doing taking out a dog in season and then expecting other dogs to politely pass by without even a sniff? They're not humans and able to avert their eyes as some female goes sashaying past.

BarmyBeth · 05/02/2015 17:38

YANBU. My dog is the soppiest, most friendly dog ever and will come back when called yet I will always have her on the lead when other dogs or people are around. I will take her to a quiet area to let her off. Other dogs may be aggressive, people may be scared of dogs or not want a dog jumping around them no matter how friendly they are. I certainly wouldn't want a strange dog running up to me.

Kleptronic · 05/02/2015 17:39

My dog's fear aggressive on the lead, a bit of a gnarly random bastard off lead and so I put him on the lead every single time I see another dog. The next time someone lets their dog run up to mine despite my warnings I'm going to let him go because I'm fucking sick of it.

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