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?

People clean their phones OP. I always used alcohol spray and wipes, opened the receiver etc. Same with mouse, keyboard etc

But anyway that's not the point. The lick of a dog, while well meaning is disgusting. I know done people don't get that but it's true nevertheless. They lick their holes, balls and eat shit.

I like dogs, but it turns my stomach when people let them lick their mouths. It's revolting.

If your dog had licked my ankle I would have thought it was very cute but surreptitiously baby wiped my ankle and then gone home and washed my ankle!

Dogs are dirty.

Euw @ gentle licks. So disgusting!

Would you mind terribly if I sneezed and globules of green phlegm landed on your leg? Yes? You'd be revolted, you say? Then don't let your mutt slobber on mine.

I'm not particularly thrilled by dogs licking me - but I know that it's what dogs tend to do, and would not sit next to one if I hated it that much. Equally, I'm sure your dog wasn't actually hurt by it.

Jumping up and barking at me or the DCs while the owners effectually try and call them off, or tell me that it's 'just being friendly' - now that really pisses me off - but I know that's a whole other thread

A great big slobber dog licked my 2 year olds face while we were walking in the park. The dogs owner told me it meant her dog liked my child. I told her to keep her dog under control and and away from my child.
I cannot fathom people who think everyone will like their dog as much as they do. I do not like dogs and wouldn't want one licking me (or my dc). And yes I am aware that probably no harm will come from being licked by a dog.
Would it be acceptable to let my toddler wipe her nose on you? Or smear you with some other bodily fluid? Or lick you with her super dribbly tongue? I doubt it.
Keep your dog slobber to yourself thank you very much.
Yabu

I would never let a dog lick my mouth nor has mine never tried but I'm talking about the ankle here. Scarlet I wasn't talking about in the home, but in the office. Most are literally teeming with germs.

If the dog was mainly under the bench and the woman jumped out of her skin and shrieked when it licked her then it's got to be a possibility she didn't notice it (not everyone goes around looking at the floor) and it gave her one hell of a shock.

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

Yes - the same as nipping or jumping up. Some owners just choose to condone some behaviours and not others.

Plenty of advice out there on the subject - but if a dog's owner is condoning what even many dog lovers consider to be an unpleasant habit, the owner shouldn't be surprised (or hurt, fgs) if people react negatively.

at 'babywiped my ankle'

I would never let a dog lick my mouth nor has mine never tried but I'm talking about the ankle here.

So it's a dog behaviour you're fine with and condone. Maybe if there's anything you take away from this experience, it's that not all dog owners/lovers do, and you can expect them to react negatively. And that said negative reaction is not aimed at hurting your dog's feelings.

It's then up to you how you manage the situation - whether it's warning people that the dog is a bit licky, or removing the dog from ankle-proximity.

Sunnystriker i have to say that never has my dog ran up to a child and slobbered all over her. Many parents approach me and ask if my dog can be petted and if he is safe to be stroked. I let them but he is on a lead and I've never seen him yet lick anyone's face. There are many untrained badly behaved dogs out there. My dog isn't one of them. She licked someone's ankle. I will not accept she's badly trained because of that. The woman was stupid not my dog.

I think that this woman really didn't see the dog. My husband is often in a world of his own and could quite easily have sat next to you and not noticed the dog. He likes dogs anyway so it would have been a non issue.

He not she.

Binbaker she did see the dog. I was actually giving him a treat as she approached, and she told me he was bonny.

I don't get why people post in aibu when they're so sure they're not.

Msgrinch I wonder that too.

Op I'm sure you're dog is beautifully trained but in my opinion ywbu to let it lick a stranger.

I don't particularly like dogs,but I like even less the 'if you don't like dogs,don't sit next to them' attitude. Control your animal and don't expect me to make allowances for you poor 'parenting'of your pet.

Maybe she assumed it was a dog like the dogs of many dog owners on this thread, who do not think it acceptable to let their pet slobber over random people?

Yeah grape I know, I used to clean my office phone.

Well op how would you feel if someone had come along and spat on your dog, which is effectively what you allowed your dog to do to her?

Seems to be the norm doesn't it msgrinch
Fwiw I have took on board a lot of the comments and I do agree that not everyone appreciates being licked by a dog. But I think there should have been a bit more criticism for the woman who sits down next to me and my dog just minding our own business. I didn't ask her to sit there and nor did she need to. Given that she doesn't like dogs I find it strange.
If the woman came on AIBUto say she sat down next to a stranger with a dog and whilst chatting the strangers dog licked her ankle, and said AIBU to feel annoyed that this happened I am certain that this woman would get flamed for being that stupid as to sit there. It's not consistent. Yes I accept that dogs shouldn't do it but the woman was certainly being unreasonable to have sat there.

In that case she was probably startled when the dog licked her as she clearly wasn't expecting it. I agree that she over-reacted, but I think you were being unrealistic in expecting that people don't mind being licked by a random dog.

nocool and I bet a lot of the dog owners on these threads have dogs with different annoying habits. Otherwise these clever dog owners need to tell us all how to achieve these perfect dogs. They could perhaps write a book and share their great knowledge with the rest of us.

Bunbaker i was startled when she suddenly sat down next to me, invading my space. In actual fact the lick got rid of her so I wasn't that bothered. She was a silly woman. Make of that as you will.

Notoneiota my dog was under control, shut up with your goady remarks.