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?

Ugh. I would have HATED to have been licked by your dog. Not as bad as owners who can't be bothered to look after their dogs well enough to make sure they don't jump up at others, but would have hated it as well.
If you can't control your dog, don't take it out in public places.

"Fortunately, most dogs of my acquaintance don't lick, and if they do they're disciplined for it."

How do you "discipline" a dog for licking?

Some dogs lick more than others and some don't do it at all. It's a character trait unless purposefully taught.

OP your dog sounds adorable and that woman was ridiculous.

No child has ever planted an unwelcome and unwanted sticky, slobbery kiss on anyone, ever - hmmm

I'm with everyone who have said I wouldn't have liked it, but wouldn't have sat down next to a dog.

In my experience that's exactly what parents do phantom

So what is it was an overreaction? We all overreact sometimes. It's not the end of the world. Seriously, move on.

If you can't control your amimal don't take it into public places."

The same could be said about children.

Just how many children do you know that randomly go up and lick a perfect stranger on the leg?!
As that would be exactly the same.

It was the woman who had the 'deeply odd' reaction, not you!

If someone is that squeamish about dogs - maybe find another bench? Daft cow. (Again, not you!)

No actually Londonrach I don't really see how a gentle lick on the ankle is a huge problem. If she didn't like dogs, why sit next to me?

Maybe she needed to sit down and this was a convenient place?

I'd sit next to someone with a dog as I'd assume they had trained the dog. I don't mind dogs, but hate them licking me.

It would be nice to sit on a bench at the park and not have to worry that some random will assume I'm okay with being licked by their dog.

Especially as in my local park, there are very few benches.

It was the woman who had the 'deeply odd' reaction, not you!

If someone is that squeamish about dogs - maybe find another bench? Daft cow. (Again, not you!)

I know, right? I mean, fancy not wanting to get a stranger's dog saliva on, you...how bloody dare she!

So what is it was an overreaction? We all overreact sometimes. It's not the end of the world. Seriously, move on.
Seriously, I have. But you know it's mumsnet, we don't always have to discuss the serious stuff do we.

Seriously, I have.

Sure...

Goodness, what a precious bunch! Massive over-reaction from the woman who sat on the bench. I expect the bench was dirtier than the dogs mouth.

For all we know her leg was dirtier than the dog's mouth - are his jabs up to date op?

We don't all like being slobbed on by shit-eating puke-guzzlers, however much of a 'softy' they are.

Oh yes Anita
Fwiw I do get that not everyone wants a dog licking them but I really thought she massively over reacted. She shrieked like she was being attacked. It's this simple....you don't like dogs, you don't plonk yourself down next to one. There was loads of benches, she chose to sit right next to him. It was out of proportion to what happened.

Sorry I meant Costacoffee

Toad if we all shoved everything out of our heads straight away and didn't discuss them on here there probably wouldn't be a mumsnet. It's not a big deal just like a large majority on here aren't. You were interested enough to click this thread on, it's not for you to tell me to move on.

In your opinion, her reaction was ott. In hers, a) is was probably automatic - I'd be revolted too, and b) at least you know now that not all of us like being licked by your disgusting big softy of a dog.

But yes I'd not have sat next to you in the first place. Maybe she didn't see it.

I think I'd have laughed if your dog licked my ankle, OP. It strikes me as one of those funny awkward social moments. I can't get het up.

Haveigotnewsforyou
How unbelievably rude and nasty.