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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To get really upset when people talk to me and my dog

150 replies

GeorgianaDevonshire · 19/06/2015 17:04

She's my first dog so I'm new to all things canine and might be PFD about this. I put on one of her collars and matching lead (we have quite a selection already!) and off we trot to the local park - poo bags at the ready.

Every day, EVERY flipping day, someone speaks to us.

"Nice day"
"Lovely dog"

Kids will point and say "big dog", their mums will say "yes, it is a big doggy". Men try to engage me in conversation and, if the weather's a bit nippy, you can bet your life some old bag will tell me my dog needs her coat on.

AIBU in just wanting to walk my dog without men trying to pick me up, kids and their parents pointing at us and old biddies making passive aggressive comments?

OP posts:
ThursdayLast · 19/06/2015 21:23

What?
I don't get it.

ReginaBlitz · 19/06/2015 21:24

Well aren't you a joy! Old bags? You are just plain unsociable,miserable and rude the only person I feel sorry for is the dog, keep him on a lead at all times as I'm guessing as soon as he gets a chance that fucker is off.

Yarp · 19/06/2015 21:26

OurGlass

There's no sucking up or hidden agenda. It doesn't even have to be a TAAT. I recognised the OP was joking and joined in. Way to go to spoil a bit of fun though. Blimey.

OttiliaVonBCup · 19/06/2015 21:26

YABU.

Everybody knows you address the dog but mean the owner.

drudgetrudy · 19/06/2015 21:32

You don't need to be very familiar with Mumsnet to spot that this is an attempt at irony.
Its not a TAAT-its a piss take on many threads.

Original poster
GeorgianaDevonshire · 19/06/2015 22:02

Regina - I'm a bit uncertain as to whether you think I'm being unreasonable or not Confused

OP posts:
Original poster
GeorgianaDevonshire · 19/06/2015 22:17

PigsDOfly - I think in the situation you describe, it shows that the mother is lacking in social skills. I'm always happy to encourage DD to engage with adults when I'm around as well.

OP posts:
pigsDOfly · 19/06/2015 22:37

It made me feel a bit hurt tbh Georgian. As if I was behaving inappropriately.

The funny thing is I'm not really one of those people who talks to children as a rule, don't really notice them if I'm honest, and on the one occasion I do I get a really frosty reaction.

I think you're probably right about the mother, but it's a shame for the child if he/she is never allowed to talk to strangers.

ReginaBlitz · 19/06/2015 22:46

Ahh so this was meant to be funnyGrinHmm

OurGlass · 19/06/2015 22:54

There's no sucking up or hidden agenda. It doesn't even have to be a TAAT. I recognised the OP was joking and joined in. Way to go to spoil a bit of fun though. Blimey.

I suppose it just gets annoying when an innocent responder IE me responds to thread but then finds out the OP isn't actually posting a situation about themselves but making something up about another situation or thread about a thread. People not in the in joke don't get that... I hope that makes sense, I am trying to watch Big Brother cringe at the same time

Original poster
GeorgianaDevonshire · 19/06/2015 22:54

regina - your response was unintentionally funny.

OP posts:
NewFlipFlops · 19/06/2015 23:54

Excellent work Lady Devonshire Wink

ilovelamp82 · 20/06/2015 00:15

This makes me sad. You see lots of children afraid of dogs so I try to take the opportunity to introduce my dc (1&3) if I see a friendly looking dog and owner.

The dogs and owners have always seemed pleased but I guess I'll think twice now. That's pretty depressing.

Arsenic · 20/06/2015 00:22
Grin
Arsenic · 20/06/2015 00:24

lamp82 Thursday

Have a root around for the recent rash of "OMG people keep smiling at my baby, the bastards!" threads.

Smile
hideandseekpig · 20/06/2015 00:33

Um...my 16 month old LOVE to point dogs out but can't say dog she just says "woofwoofwoof" very loudly so I usually say "yes dd what a lovely dog"

I've never thought for one minute that I might be upsetting dog walkers when doing this! They usually smile at dd and engage us in some conversation and even gasp let dd stroke the dog if it's a soppy one. Shock people have polite conversation shocker.

hideandseekpig · 20/06/2015 00:34

Oh I didn't get that this was meant to be funny either !

Original poster
GeorgianaDevonshire · 20/06/2015 02:45

Our Glass - you weren't an innocent responder; you called me a "fucking misery". A succinct YABU would have done Grin

OP posts:
Rainbunny · 20/06/2015 03:13

Don't get me wrong, I'm always happy to have children pet my dog, but it's so important that parents teach them that they should ask if it's okay first and don't rush at him which scares him. Not to mention that they shouldn't approach any strange dog in this way. I mentioned in my previous post that younger children tend to whack at my dog instead of gently pat him, only because they haven't developed coordination fully of course but it's still no fun for my poor dog. TBH when he sees children his tail goes between his legs and he tries to walk in a different direction because he's had too many experiences of being whacked on his head and back. It probably doesn't help that we live next to a nursery that uses the adjacent park where I walk my dog for the children's play and sports activities, so we encounter children very frequently.

About a month ago a child came up to me and asked if he could pet my dog and then held his hand out for my dog to sniff first before petting him. I was delighted as I think this was only the second or third time ever that a child has done this, and my dog was quite happy to let the boy pet him. I told his mum how wonderful her son was around dogs and she explained that she was a dog owner and she totally understood how important it is to teach children the right way to approach other people's dogs.

Out2pasture · 20/06/2015 04:09

read and commented on the "can't look and speak" to babies thread and thought OM what is the world coming to....
part of doggy culture is chatting about said doggy and weather!!!
fave safe comment...weather

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 07:27

Well done OP! Perhaps some of the miserable posters with babies will get how silly it is- I doubt it somehow. Grin

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 07:29

Love the thread! Brightened my morning!

KiwiLemon · 20/06/2015 08:43

YABU! It's almost the law that you will engage in some form of conversation when owning a dog and walking it! In fact, while I always say hello/good morning to a fellow dog walker, I wouldn't do this if I was walking down the street sans dog......very bizarre.

popalot · 20/06/2015 08:59

Now am I stupid because I thought your thread was genuinely about someone who had a dog and didn't like people speaking to them about it?! I even commented on it. Honestly, I know you probably had a 'reason' to do this but it smacks a bit of the in girls knowing the secret joke and a whole load of others innocently thinking they are commenting on something else. You might say I've taken that a bit seriously, but it's made me feel quite uncomfortable. I think you took the other thread about babies a bit seriously in return, which is why you started up this thread. I didn't see the other thread and am not in on the joke. Maybe even feel like I am part of the joke. Is that what you were aiming for?

Mehitabel6 · 20/06/2015 09:05

The other thread turns up regularly on MN. This one is fine- you can comment seriously and point out how unreasonable OP is. If she is unreasonable with a dog, then so are people with babies. People chat- it makes the world a better place. No idea why anyone can chat as long as not to mother's with a baby.