To shout at this dog-owner?

[AnotherNC]

Surely if your dog jumps up at strangers it should be on a lead?!

Walking in park, 4-month-old baby in baby-carrier (with his feet dangling in furry bootees) a Westie started jumping up at me, scrabbling at my leg and making grabs at baby's foot when he jumped! I yelled at dog to 'get down then shouted at owner to 'get your dog under control' (she responded with a cheery sorry!)

Did I overreact? I wouldn't care so much had I not had baby strapped to me. I get it that baby's bootees might look like toys but I don't want a dog tugging on them or getting mud/slobber everywhere. And I don't want dogs running round my feet particularly when ground is slippery.

Why can't people keep dogs on leads?? It's not the first time random dogs have jumped up in the park.

Lol at all the misanthropes on this thread. I do hope none of you have jobs where you have to interact with the human, rather than canine, race.

Seryph what??

If a dog approaches you and seems about to jump up, turn sideways. Keep turning and they will fall off you. It is also acceptable to stick your knee out to fend them off.

I'm a lifelong dog owner, and my dogs have perfect recall. We mind our own business and dont bother others.
I cant see the American style public leash laws being made mandatory here.

kali no word of a lie. The child was about three I would guess and had obviously been caught short in between bathrooms.

Just one of the reasons why I find people having a go at irresponsible dog walkers to be hilarious. Especially since I always do clear up after the dog!

But booboo the whole point is that there is something that dog owners can do - put their dogs on a lead. I'm not asking for dogs to be banned or kept out of public places or parks as that would be outrageous. I'm saying keep them on a leash!

Of course I'd drive slowly and patiently around horses. They have to ride in the road sometimes. Of course you learn to cross the road safely because cars drive on the road and pedestrians have to cross roads.

So no I don't feel I should have to pay for professional help (I do hope you realise how utterly selfish and arrogant it is to make the problem mine, rather than actually do a very, small practical thing to make sure your dog doesn't do this) to get over the terror of a dog running at me with the owners hysterically calling its name because they had no trust in it and no control over it, no.

Dog owner here. I also get the rage about the increasing number of irresponsible dog owners. Public footpaths dotted with shite, great if you accidentally roll a wheelchair through it and the metal rim you self-propel with gets covered too. "Dont mind him!" as their dog jumps up at me or my daughter. I also run (feebly) along a promenade that is very popular with walkers, families with their little kids on scooters, cyclists, runners and dog walkers, I'm sick of people's uncontrolled dogs worrying me as I run while, if I'm lucky, their owner ineffectually calls them. Put it on a fucking lead like I do with mine on the promenade.
My dad had a huge concave scar on his calf from a Jack Russell hanging on to him while he had me in his arms as a baby. Little dogs can do a lot of damage. Some owners of small dogs seem to think they don't need to train them, I've met horrendous Westies, and yes I suppose I have threatened to kick one, it was snarling and growling at me as I was minding my own business in a builders' merchants, I couldn't move and the owner said "Don't worry, he's fine!" to which I replied "Its alright, I'll kick it if it comes any closer." at which point he found the energy to pick it up and glare at me so I could escape.
I can see legislation banning dogs off lead in public places in a few years. All down to the behaviour of a minority, but significant minority of selfish, irresponsible owners.

I'd not hesitate to kick a dog if it was going for me - I don't see why people are so aghast about that. Of course most right minded people wouldn't ever want to hurt a living creature but if it was physically threatening me, of course I would use force!

I suppose the logical thing is that if you don't want your dog kicked, or struck with a stick, brolly or other random item, keep it out of range.
Around 1.5 metres and your dog will be safe.

I do think people on MN overreact about dogs. Realistically the chances of being attacked by a dog are very small. Yes it's annoying being jumped on but its hardly the end of the world. Children are annoying too as are some adults. Really not worth getting worked up about. Obviously people with out of control dogs are being unreasonable but you can't tar all dog owners with the same brush, just like you can't insult all parents if you meet one naughty child.

For what it's worth, ive had children grab and sit on my german shepherds while parents laughed. I have turned around to find a small child pulling my dogs tail, and also a child feeding one ice cream while mum is off talking to someone else. I've also had people touch them while they sit politely and after I have already asked the person to leave them alone.

I've had people run away and scoop up hysterical children, all while my dogs are sitting by my side or walking calmly minding their own business and it really does make me that they don't get help, dogs are a normal part of society and if I couldn't function around them I would try and sort it or avoid the dog park. Screaming/running is about the worst thing a human can do around any animal (wild or domesticated!) and it's the type of reflex that needs controlling for the persons safety more than anything.

It works both ways and banning dogs off lead because of the odd bad owner is not fair to the millions of responsible ones.

For what it's worth, I keep my dogs on a lead mainly because people get on my nerves. I would however be embarrassed if they jumped on someone and would apologise.

Throwing as I have tried to explain seriously restricting the amount of exercise dogs can get by always keeping them on the lead will only lead to less reliable dogs. Even if they are on a lead they can pull free, leads break, dogs jump over fences, etc. so under all circumstances it pays to know how to identify dog behaviour and how to react to it.

If a person has a phobia, however innocent they may be in acquiring it, it would be sensible for them to seek help with it rather than live with an extreme, unreasonable fear. Being scared of all dogs at all times would, arguably, make one more vulnerable to attack as you'd miss the signs of a truly dangerous dog.

Greyhorses which wild animals do you think people need protecting from in the UK?

Number of people in England requiring hospital treatment for dog bites = 7227 (although it is estimated circa 200,000 were bitten). I think that is a very alarming statistic even taking into account that a number of bites will have been dog to owner or doc to owners family member or friend.

Number of people requiring hospital treatment because they ran away screaming from a fox/rabbit/stoat = 0

Yet again, a dog owner putting the onus on other people rather than accepting that keeping dog on a lead and under control at all times would dramatically reduce the number of injuries by dogs in public places.

Should have said figures are for March 2014 to Feb 2015.

Perhaps not wild animals in the UK as such Anthony but certainly screaming around any animal with the potential to react badly is not a sensible idea, I have seen people crushed by horses for example for behaving inappropriately around them. Neither is kicking an animal which has the potential to fight back very sensible either.

I actually said that my own dogs were on lead for the reasons I mentioned but I don't agree that it is necessary for every single dog at all times.

I think people need to be a bit more understanding on both sides, dogs are not going anywhere any time soon.

I always find on these threads on Mumsnet there are two opposing sides.
Those who think dogs should always be on a lead in a public place.

And dog owners who think their dogs should not be on a lead.
There will NEVER be a consensus.
And I am never reading a thread like this again because it is a waste of time.
I think dogs off lead should be banned and I am a dog owner/ dog lover.

I agree greyhorses dogs are not going anywhere soon, but that doesn't mean that people who do not want to have any contact with dogs should have to put up with dogs being off lead in public places.

Hello hollyisalovelyname. How refreshing to hear from a sensible dog owner on this thread.

You have a right to walk in the park with your baby.

Dog owners (unless it states on entrance to the park) have a right to have their dog off lead .

If you do not like this go to parks where dogs have to strictly be on leads.

I have 2 young DC and a dog. My dog goes off lead in the park because she needs to run. People who do not like that need to go to be in parks where dogs have to be on leads ( the same as I avoid coffee shops where there are postnatal mums taking over the coffee shops with buggies and babies ).

And tbh if somebody assaulted my dog just because "it was in range" I would hope that my police officer husband would be there to caution them . Because that is totally unacceptable . I can't stand mothers who let their toddlers invade my personal space, thinking that I will find them "cute " but I wouldnt kick out at the toddler.

I love my own DC and my nephews but mothers with young children can be more annoying than people with dogs .

Anthony is a GF people, don't bite!

YANBU

People are more important than dogs.
I hope that the future sees half of all parks dog free.

I had to kick a dog recently. It wasn't attacking my children, it was attacking my beautiful gentle young pedigree Labrador. It apparently belonged to the ineffectual idiots standing by looking dazed and stupid. My lab was on the lead, as the signs all around us said due to it being a wildlife conservation area. This dog was off lead and it's idiot owners didn't think to grab it despite it showing obvious problems, growling and snapping at us as we walked past. I kicked it away and shouted at the twats to get their bloody dog on a lead and we left.

Absolutely true and a perfect example of how there are good dog owners - me - and bad dog owners - them. So could all the narrow minded people on this thread stop generalising and lumping us all in together?

My lovely jrt was attacked by another dog and knocked down the river bank. He sat there shook up and confused whilst the owners just called the dog away and quickly scurried off.

There will always be idiot dog owners because the person them self is an idiot.

Waitrose trying to silence someone who doesn't agree with you at all times by calling them a GF is nasty bullying behaviour.

iN real life and on MN different people have different opinions - and there are plenty of those on this thread. There's no need to be abusive to people who don't agree with you.

I am a dog owner. I get irritated when I see piles of doo poo sitting on the paths (and yes I do pick them all up, whether from my own dogs or not). I also get irritated when I see discarded fast food cartons, beer cans, plastic bottles littering the woods (and yes, I pick those up too).

Here we have segregated areas. There are areas where all dogs are banned, areas where dogs are allowed on a leash only, areas where dogs are allowed providing they are under control (so off leash is allowed but with excellent recall and within sight at all times, otherwise on leash only) and areas where dogs are allowed off leash. There are enough of all of them that everyone's needs can be catered to - the local beach has two halves, one is an off leash exercise area and one is a dogs banned area. The local parks are dogs on leash only areas, the national parks are dogs banned areas. Playgrounds are dogs banned areas, large expanses of grass next to playgrounds are off leash exercise areas. It all works.

You still get inconsiderate owners and dangerous dogs. You still get dogs that escape from their gardens and attack other dogs (my friend had to go through that, thousands of dollars on surgery and vet bills) but on the whole, the rules are observed well and everyone has somewhere they can go.

I disagree that dogs need off leash exercise areas though. It's much easier for me to exercise my dogs off leash, I can saunter slowly along throwing tennis balls while they run around and get lots of exercise. However - it may be more hassle for me, but I can also go for really long hikes with them on a leash and they will still get lots of exercise - anyone that can't guarantee their dog will be sufficiently exercised if they're forced to stay on leash shouldn't be owning them.

If a dog jumps up at you, don't lift your arms (they'll try and jump higher, thinking it's a game). Hands down in front of you with palm flat, firm "No", lift knee up of whichever side they're jumping towards (or straight in front, use whichever knee will keep you most stable while standing on the other leg!) to block them. Turning your back will present a "boring" part of you and they won't jump so readily.