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?

depends on whether he was licking her to see if she was worth gnawing on? Did you ask him if she tasted like chicken?

You don't have to know him. Your dog isn't offended by the rejection. He probably doesn't know it was a rejection. He knows a woman started jpimg around and won't now remember it

Sunshine it's not the dogs fault.

It's not necessarily the owner's fault either - even with training dogs will step out of line occasionally.

The fault in the case is the OP deeply odd reaction to someone not liking her dog (which is what this comes down )

Plus, While I don't like dogs but I do like children. If I sat down in a bench next to one I wouldn't be that happy to be licked.

Bit daft of the woman to sit down next to a dog & owner & then freak out if dog did a very common doggy thing. I don't think I'd feel hurt if I was OP, just amused at people who don't foresee likely consequences.

The silly woman chose to sit on a bench with a dog under it.

If she had an allergy, she's even more idiotic!

Ignore love. She won't melt.

really like the examples of kids putting snot on people etc. Control your animals if you take them out. nobody should have to be licked by anything!

Love dogs, have one myself, absolutely hate them licking me, even my own.

I love dogs but wouldn't be overly keen about being licked by a random dog. And while your dog may have been startled by the woman's sudden movements, I'm quite sure he wasn't hurt or offended!

Love dogs, don't mind mine or strange ones licking me.

However, I hate cats and wouldnt want one near me let alone licking me, so I guess I know where she's coming from.

If I was bothered about dogs I wouldn't have sat down down next to one. Silly cow.

I don't like dogs and would not choose to sit next to one on a bench, however I did a huge favour for someone the other day (carrying a large piece of furniture home for her from a jumble sale) - she told me she would lock her dogs away as she knows I don't like dogs however when we got to her house she let them out and they jumped and slobbered all over me - I didn't shriek but I did say in a very curt voice, I am not a dog lover, I will have to leave now.

Why do so many dog lovers assume that we all love dogs?

The dog should have been trained not to lick people or think that everyone loves him by now and the screamer should not have sat near the dog.

Over the years I've had to explain to quite a few dog owners, I dgaf about the playful traits of their pet, keep them away from me and mine or face the consequences.

I am sure the dog will get over it.

I don't mind dogs but I cant stand them licking me. I would be less than impressed if I was Licked by a strangers dog in a public place.
The woman has every right to sit down without being covered in dog saliva.

I also hate the attitude of some dog owners that think everyone should accept being bounded on/licked/jumped at/sat on..... because its "just being friendly!"
I don't care if its just being friendly I don't want to go home covered in dog hair, saliva or stinking of dog!!

The same thing happened to me and my dog. I'd say he gave me a look more along the lines of "dear me, mum. Did you see her overreaction? She didn't even taste very nice and I could do with a drink of water to get rid of the taste". So, yanno I get you.

Why shouldn't she sit on a bench just because a dog is under it?

It would never occur to me that a dog would just randomly lick me tbh.

He is easily offended.

Ah, I get it now. This thread is a wind-up, right?

This woman and all the posters saying they don't like it and wouldn't be pleased should get a grip,she sat next to the dog figs,if you don't want to be licked,rubbed by wed nose etc don't sit next to the dog.No I don't own a dog by the way

she was not being unreasonable to not like your dog slobbering on her and it may have been a shock reaction.

it wasn't nice, but not a major deal either that the dog did lick her, stuff happens you say sorry and move on. if you find out your dog likes to regularly lick random strangers your control him more/move him if someone sits close to him in a public place.

yabvu (and it is slightly barmy) to be concerned your dogs "feelings" may be been hurt.

What I don't understand is why people think that not liking being licked means not liking dogs. I am ridiculously in love with my dog but I hate her licking me.

I always thought it was part of my parenting job to teach DC how dogs are likely to behave (we don't own a dog). Dogs sniff whine slobber lick bark pant drool stink growl don't-respect-personal-boundaries, all sorts of things to learn about dogs, sooner or later, I guess.

I know it's bizarre isn't it? People just can't see that some people dont like dogs and cant understand why people have them as pets. I don't like dogs but I'm not particularly scared of them. I'd happily sit down on a bench next to someone with one at their feet as it just wouldn't occur to me that the owner would let it lick me - much as I wouldn't expect someone else's child to be allowed to clamber all over me. Same as all the irritating dogs round here that bark from dawn to dusk because the owners can't be arsed to take them out for a walk and just let them out into small suburban gardens on their own to be taunted by other dogs. Plenty of responsible dog owners dont let this happen but many do.

Love dogs, have one myself, absolutely hate them licking me, even my own.

Agree, agree, agree, agree. Being licked by a dog is revolting (especially the ones with huge slavery strings of froth hanging off their chops), and I say that as a dog lover who has owned several dogs since childhood.

I wouldn't be happy at a dog licking me. I'm not too bothered whether or not the dog likes me tbh and I don't care whether or not it is being friendly. Part of me would be slightly worried it might bite me and it's all very well dog owners saying that the dog is just being friendly but that's not necessarily how it feels to me.

Op I think what bugs me is that you are putting your dog's feelings over a person's right not to be licked by your dog.

I get really sick of dog owners saying "he's friendly" when the dog in question has licked or slobbered on my kids.

I know licking isn't exactly fatal or anything, but you need to accept that some people just don't like it, and if offered the choice would choose not to be licked. Problem is, nobody is asked, they just get licked and the dog owner expects them not to mind.

Eigg I won't be losing any sleep over it, so need to analize my deeply odd reaction. I should have put "lighthearted" really. Btw the bench we were sat on was huge, she really didn't need to sit right next to me.