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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs should always be under close control, even if they are just being friendly?

220 replies

Model5 · 20/04/2015 12:56

I'm scared of dogs. I know that's my issue and I deal with it as best I can but I don't want dogs I don't know approaching me.

Out running in the woods early this morning, most of the other people about at that time of day are either runners or dog walkers. In my hour, I had two dogs run over and slobber over my legs, one just up and put muddy paw prints all over me and another came over yapping and growling at me. Another (big one) chased & frightened me and I stood stock still praying for it to go away while it's owner called several times without success.

All of the owners, were kind of apologetic, but in aw bless, what can you do, he just wants to say hello/play kind of way.

TBH, even if I wasn't scared I wouldn't be very impressed by the slobber and paw prints.

Lots of other dogs just trotted by without giving me a second glance and several owners took hold of their dogs as they saw me approach (which I always say thank you for) so I know it's possible to stop dogs approaching me. Lots of owners seem to think it's not necessary. Is it them or me? I realise I came to no real harm. Do I just need to accept that if I go out at prime dog walking time, I'm going to get growled at, chased, slobbered over etc?

OP posts:
jenniferjane21 · 20/04/2015 21:45

Mousmous not monstrous! (Though that seems apt!)

ouryve · 20/04/2015 21:52

Agreed, mousmous - we adopted a middle aged Irish Setter who could not be let off the lead. It took long enough to train her to walk on a lead, as it was. Even in old age, she needed lots of exercise. So, rather than drive her to a park or field and let her off to run, as I've seen people do, I took her for long, long (typically 4 mile) walks. She slept well afterwards.

If I were to own a dog that would be likely to need a run, I would want to be sure that, if recall training turned out to be impossible, I would have access to somewhere enclosed. And I wouldn't even consider ownership of such a dog unless I could provide free access to enough space to hare around.

I don't have a dog for several reasons. About every 3rd house in the street has one and the barking drives me mad, sometimes. I also have a child who needs his hand holding all the time and I can no longer walk 4 miles in one go, even while the kids are at school. Oh, and the dogs I like tend to be the big, hairy, bouncy type.

ouryve · 20/04/2015 21:56

jennifer "loving" dogs is not an excuse for keeping a dog you can't safely exercise without impinging on the needs of others.

mousmous · 20/04/2015 21:58

that's what I mean ouryve if you decide to keep a pet, any pet, you need to put effert into keeping it happy and healthy.
if you are not able to do that you shouldn't keep a pet.

sparechange · 20/04/2015 21:59

This has gone from the OP's original 'should dogs be under close control' to being way off thread.
Even the OP has said some of these reactions a OTT
Let's be clear. No one should have a dog off a lead unless they have control over it. I would imagine most park by-laws stipulate this, and farmers with footpaths going through land wouldn't tolerate it either, so that isn't up for debate
But to leap from there to 'all dogs should be put down' is akin to saying because I once got mugged by a teenage boy, all teenage boys should be kept inside or under police supervision to keep 'our species ( Confused ) safe.
Idiots come in all shapes and sizes. Some idiots have bikes, dogs, double buggies, drink habits, insufficient parking abilities.

Having those things doesn't make them an idiot, and without those things they would still be an idiot. Let's all just be a bit more sensible, eh?

GraysAnalogy · 20/04/2015 22:15

then maybe people should reconsider keeping dogs

Really? All this because people can't practice tolerance? And 'impinging on others' well quite frankly my dogs have never impinged on anyone because they're well trained. However people have interrupted MINE and my dogs pleasure time. Maybe they should rethink how they conduct themselves.

People's cats roaming around all over the show and pooing and pissing in my garden impinges on my gardening and ability to let my child out without scouting for shit, but that doesn't mean I want a cat ban.

Complete and utter lack of tolerance in here due to hysterical and ignorant attitudes.

mousmous · 20/04/2015 22:23

my tolerance wears a bit thin if I keep get bounded at by untrained 'friendly' dogs.

mousmous · 20/04/2015 22:25

...don't start me on cats... :o

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2015 22:27

Oh no. Don't turn it into a cat poo thread. Sad

GraysAnalogy · 20/04/2015 22:29

Sorry, sorry I retract my statement Blush Grin

Sparklingbrook · 20/04/2015 22:39

I don't know which is scarier. Thread about dogs off leads or ones about cat poo in the garden.

ouryve · 20/04/2015 22:55

Grays your dogs might be well trained, but some really aren't.

ouryve · 20/04/2015 22:55

And I don't have cats, either.

theQuibbler · 20/04/2015 23:11

I saw a dog make off with a roast chicken at the weekend. There was a couple having a romantic picnic - all wicker baskets and champagne glasses and this dog just dived in the middle of it all and nicked the chicken. The couple looked so shocked - understandably - and the owner did nothing. Just took the dog by the scruff of his heck and went away. No apology or anythingShock

I can't bear dogs these days. I got bitten by a Jack Russell when I was young so I've never been keen. And now, especially living in a city with small children and having to share park space with badly trained dogs and their indifferent owners, my tolerance is wafer-thin. Maybe I would feel differently in the countryside, but I don't live there. I think they should be on leads all the time, tbh. I can't count the number of times that a dog has jumped up at my children, or gone for the 3yr old's ball or generally just been a bloody nuisance. And it's invariably followed with a cheery, "just being friendly!".

It is infuriating and YANBU.

chocolateyay · 20/04/2015 23:18

Disclsimer: I adore dogs.we akwats keot dogs. Well behaved, well trained dogs.

Five - five - fucking dogs invited themselves to our picnic last week. 3 of the 4 owners had the decency to half heartedly try to shoo them away - not a whif of an apology though.

Final stupid woman just looked at her 2 mutts matching over the rug, licking the sandwiches, then trot on - she didn't even break her mobile conversation.

I was up a tree at the time rescuing a football at the time. I got down as the dogs were coming back for desert and bellowed 'I think the word you are looking for is SORRY!' at her. There were children present, or I would have been more emphatic in my disapproval.

Grrrrrr. A properly trained dog will not stick its nose into any food lying around. It will come when called. People just don't train their dogs, and pretend not to see when they shit on the pavement. Grrrrr.

Selfish bastards.

chocolateyay · 20/04/2015 23:19

Obviously not all people...

lemonhope · 21/04/2015 09:32

The roast chicken thing made me smile - disclaimer I would in no way ever let my dogs go NEAR a picnic. I am quite sure that they wouldn't nick the chicken (or any food for that matter they are very well trained around food) but being in close proximity to a roast chicken might tip my greedy labrador over the edge.

lemonhope · 21/04/2015 09:36

All these 'people come first' 'we should be able to do whatever we want without dogs impinging on us' 'dogs that jump up should be put down' posts.

And yet if my chickens or ducks were killed by foxes I'd still be an awful person to want the fox destroyed.

Hmm
mousmous · 21/04/2015 09:53

I'm not saying dogs should be put down (unless it is fairer for both dog and human).

I'm just saying what is in the op's thread title: Dogs should always be under close control, even if they are just being friendly

and if close control is only possible on the leash so be it.

(we wouldn't have these discussions if dog owners had their dogs under close control at all times).

goodnessgraciousgouda · 21/04/2015 10:11

You can't keep a dog on a leash at all times. That's utterly ridiculous. You just can't, unless it is an old dog, or a breed that really doesn't need much exercise. Or if you just don't care about the well being of the dog I guess.

Here is a counter example - Person X is afraid of children. Parents shouldn't let their children out without one of those harness leash things unless they can guarantee that their child won't blindly run into people, or tread on someone's foot, or go running up to others, even if their intentions are totally adorable.

It is very easy to see if a dog is running up to you to play or to be aggressive. Barking, tail movement, baring of teeth, ears, whatever. An aggressive dog is not difficult to spot.

You're right that dogs should be trained not to jump up at people, that much I agree with. If you had been wearing something other than jogging gear, which would inevitably have been washed afterwards ANYWAY (sweat and inevitable mud from you running) you probably would have got an apology I should hope.

GraysAnalogy · 21/04/2015 11:12

Grays your dogs might be well trained, but some really aren't

Well as someone upthread has so bluntly put, 'thats not my problem'. Mine are.

Maybe instead of screaming about keeping dogs on leads people should put pressures on better dog training so us who actually give a shit aren't restricted.

mousmous · 21/04/2015 11:55

why should I as non dog owner put pressure on dog owners to be responsible?

lemonhope · 21/04/2015 11:58

why should I as a non-runner care if you have to stop for 30 seconds on your run?

Because we should all make the effort to see everything from someone elses point of view, that's why.

Comfortzone · 21/04/2015 11:58

Yanbu at all. Hate this esp when a local husky dog on beach always sniffs my kids owner just shrugs and barely bothers to call dog I usually resort to yelling like a mad woman as don't want it to suddenly bite my kids

lemonhope · 21/04/2015 11:59

yes yelling like a mad woman will help your kids learn to trust dogs

if it hasn't bitten your kids yet it is probably not going to

calm down.