To feel hurt that my lovely dog licking someone caused such distress.

[sweetgrape]

He's just a big affectionate softy, the only trouble is he thinks everyone loves him. We went for our walk this morning in the park and sat down on a bench for a rest. We'd only been sat down a minute or so and this woman sits down next to me. We were just chatting about the weather when all of a sudden she jumped up shrieking, "ahhh the dog just licked my leg"
Now I know not everyone loves dogs but i thought it was a bit of an over reaction. I did apologise but I felt kind of sorry for my dog, who seemed to have a bit of a hurt look on his face. Wabu to have felt sorry for my dog or should I have felt more sorry for the woman?

I think we should have the exact measurements of his tongue, with photos next to a ruler, plus rough guess of the woman's height so we can gauge how far up the leg the lick went - any chance op?

Then I guess you wouldn't have sat next to one then crap? It's not obligatory you know

Sounds like a plan Costa, let's put this baby to rest

In which case - yes, in order to get the answers she wanted the OP would have been better to post in The Doghouse. She'll know next time.

I think YABU. I really love dogs but I wouldn't like to be slobbered on by one!

Right, Barney is a medium sized Springer spaniel. He has got rather a large tongue but he refuses the indignity of having it measured. Sorry Costa, once he's made his mind up he won't back down. I can't be sure but I think the woman was wearing jeans, he only likes bare flesh, definitely not into denim. So just the ankle got licked.

It's about as predictable as the precious/better than TV/here come the frothy dog haterz

I think that might be my first LOL on MN, thank you, bollocks I'm deeply honoured

I can see both sides really . . I am not a dog owner but I like dogs. The woman if she was nervous of dogs, was not really smart when it came to sitting on a bench which part of a large dog was under . Dogs lick, I know this.

However, OP, I am sure your dog did not give a second thought to the incident , unlike yourself.

My DS is allergic to dogs, their fur causes him eye irritation and in the past when a dogs wet nose has come into contact with his skin it causes a hive to appear, I presume the same would happen it a dog licked him.

So would you sit him on a bench next to a dog rinky?

Haven't RTFT but I have a dog that I love dearly but I hate it when he licks me - it's disgusting. If a strangers dog licked me when I was sitting talking to them I'd be disgusted, wouldn't show it though. When people come to our house the dog is sent into another room because he doesn't get that not everyone wants to be loved by him, it's respectful.
Hate when people expect everyone to love their dogs.

No Rachel you're wrong, Barney really was quite offended.

I'm not sure you can say that with any degree of certainty Rachel. The dog had hurt feels apparently, judging from the look on its face.

Do you have to be nervous of dogs to get a shock at an unexpected luck and react involuntarily?

Grumpy I don't think for one minute that everyone should love my dog.

Lick

whataload I don't hate dogs, just have a poor view of owners who think other people should tolerate dogs behaviour. I stated further up I thought the woman should not have sat by the dog but the dog should not have licked her. After reading this thread I now think the police should cut the dog's tongue out, OP should compensate woman and never be allowed to own so much as an ant. The arrogance of some you dog owners is breathtaking.

I was just going to say I'd quite like some unexpected luck

Oh yes, good idea, let's cut all dog tongues out - maybe ant and dec could host a Saturday night tv show?

It wasn't luck for poor ol' doggie - he was mortally offended. He might actually need counselling to get over his hurt. Hardly a laughing matter.

Fair comment, no I wouldn't. In fact today DS and DH were sat on a small train carriage for a trio round a local park, a lady carrying a small dog and her husband wanted to get on, only space available was opposite DS and DH. I had to say would she mind not getting in with them due to DH also having allergy, but not as severe as DS. She said ok but had a little " overreacting" comment to her husband. i went on to tell her husband how allergic he was and husband was lovely, but she thought it was a slight against her dog, and said " never mind....( dogs name) we'll get in the next train.

I'd watch. They could start by filming the most ignorant dog owners in local parks and then we could vote on who should be cut.

12 pages!

wow....