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AIBU?

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Original poster

To shout at this dog-owner?

308 replies

AnotherNC · 09/01/2016 10:44

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.

OP posts:
WaitrosePigeon · 09/01/2016 12:38

It's not going to happen, so I'm not worried about it at all.

ArmchairTraveller · 09/01/2016 12:38

As a child, I could never imagine a time when dog owners would pick up their dog's shit and put it in a bag.
or a time where everyone wore seatbelts in vehicles, and chidlren had special seats and carriers. We just used to all pile in and get driven at speed to our destination.
But you know, times change. So will the laws on having potentially dangerous animals roaming free.
If this was the 60s, I could have the pet leopard I've always wanted, and take it for walks on a lead round the city. Let's see what the next 20 years brings for dogs.

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/01/2016 12:39

op find out where the dog lives and send AndrewFogg round to sort it out.

You're okay with pets being left inside bags in fields, right?

AlpacaLypse · 09/01/2016 12:40

I'd like to see the UK follow the Swiss model for effective dog licensing - basically you can't have a dog without a licence, and you can't buy a licence until you've taken and passed a dog care test.

The licence costs are fairly high, but the concomitant is that there is enough money for effective policing and dog wardens.

honkinghaddock · 09/01/2016 12:40

I don't mind dogs being off lead along as they are under control. So if the dog is approaching someone it needs to be called back and no dog should be jumping up at people or getting under their feet. If a dog owner is passing someone they should bear in mind that that person may have no understanding of dogs and keep the dog out of touching range.

AnthonyBlanche · 09/01/2016 12:41

You haven't explained why you think it won't happen though Waitrose. There are already moves afoot to bring in stricter dog control laws so I believe your confidence is misplaced.

Buxtonbubbles · 09/01/2016 12:41

A public place is maybe somewhere where there are members of the public? Eg, country lane one day, may be free of anyone other than dog walker plus dog, so off lead = fine. Another day, member of public is spotted so dog needs to be put on lead?

My example - cycle to work every day along lovely country lanes, often see dog walkers/runners/other cyclists etc - all fine. Last Mon, encountered man walking dog - dog on one side of the road, man on other. MAn crosses road to be on same side as dog. Fine. Dog then runs up to me, barking v loud. I flinch, and have to work hard to maintain balance. Man says, "it's alright she won't hurt you". It wasn't alright though, because the dog very nearly made me lose my balance - who doesn't flinch when a dog comes pounding up? I considered lucky not to have fallen off.

SoupDragon · 09/01/2016 12:41

Ah, the usual hysteria overreactions on both sides of the fence.

ShitFacedTinyTim · 09/01/2016 12:42

What?! Kicking a dog that is jumping up at you, not in an aggressive manner, but out of curiosity is 'defending your child'? Do you kick other children if they knock yours over at soft play? Bite the kid that pushes yours in the playground?

Appropriate defending your child if a dog jumps up is to say 'NO, OFF!' In a firm voice, and then tell the owner they are an arse, not to attack the dog!

Let me be perfectly clear - I am not saying that it is appropriate in any way for people not to have their dogs under control. Or that dogs have the same rights as people.

What I am saying is that cruelty to animals because you feel entitled is never ok.

I firmly believe that dog owners such as myself are responsible for their pet's actions and should train them appropriately, but the world is a big place and to designate all public areas including the park and the woods as purely for your children's enjoyment is pretty selfish and unreasonable.

And to the PP saying they bet us dog owners would complain if they let their child wipe their muddy hands on our coats - yes, I probably would complain. But I wouldn't kick your child in the face!!

Alisvolatpropiis · 09/01/2016 12:44

Armchair

Those posters "withered" (myself included) because in this instance, the dog quite literally posed no risk to the baby.

Because the baby was strapped to his mother's chest, far out of reach for a dog of Westie stature. What about that is so difficult for you to grasp?

It could have sunk it's teeth into her calf of course, nobody has said otherwise, that wasn't the point being made when mentioning the size of the dog.

SoupDragon · 09/01/2016 12:44

Do you kick other children if they knock yours over at soft play?

You do understand the difference between a child and a dog don't you? They really aren't the same thing at all.

whois · 09/01/2016 12:45

Dog owners - if a dog is rubbing up to me and looks like it's going to jump up, what should I do to prevent it jumping up at me. Stand still, and if that doesn't stop the approach, what is the recommended thing to do?

Shout 'no' really fucking loudly? Then what?

ArmchairTraveller · 09/01/2016 12:46

' Ah, the usual hysteria overreactions on both sides of the fence.'

Grin Yup.
I remember on a similar thread, years back, Tethersend and I proposed a Korean restaurant as a side business for Battersea's dog home, and then extending it as a franchise around the country. That way, shelters could ensure finances matched demand.

whois · 09/01/2016 12:47

You do understand the difference between a child and a dog don't you? They really aren't the same thing at all.

Some people really are silt enough to think that their cat/dog/hamster IS as important as a child though! Like when you see people paying out £thousands and £thousands for long term cancer treatment for a dog... It's a fucking dog, have it PTS if it's got cancer!

AnthonyBlanche · 09/01/2016 12:47

Shit it is highly unlikely that a marauding child / toddler would bite you at the same time as wiping their muddy hands on your coat (or if one did it is very unlikely that they would inflict any real damage). The same can't be said for dogs, which is why it is appropriate to use a kick or raise a knee to ward off unwanted attention from a dog.

ShitFacedTinyTim · 09/01/2016 12:48

soupdragon - thanks for pointing that out. I had no idea.

my point is not that they are the same, my point is that finger pointing and advocating violence is hardly helpful. Yes, some dog owners are irresponsible arses. So are some parents. Doesn't mean everyone is, and the stupid, knee jerk reaction of 'kick all jumping dogs in the face' is an overreaction that I find totally unreasonable and cruel. Some people in this thread seem to think that that was fine, so I used the child example as an analogy to demonstrate it was not.

You do know the difference between an analogy and a direct comparison, don't you? They really aren't the same thing at all... Hmm

SoupDragon · 09/01/2016 12:49

I've happily kicked a couple of dogs in the last year.

I suppose I should have simply told them NO! OFF" though, when they were attacking my spaniel. I'm sure they would have listened.

ShowOfHands · 09/01/2016 12:49

Do not scream at dogs, or run up to them, do not touch a dog without asking the owner first. Don't try to stare a dog down. Don't make excited gestures or pick up your child is a rapid motion because that will encourage the dog to jump

The first couple maybe. My gestures are my own. The speed at which I pick up my child is not something I filter through the sensibilities of dog owners first. I choose not to have anything to do with dogs. I simply ignore them. I don't have to coexist with them by altering my behaviour. If an unrestrained dog leaps up at my child, I'll pick him up as fast as I like.

ArmchairTraveller · 09/01/2016 12:49

I didn't let my children run up and attack people or knock them over or slobber on strangers and wipe muddy hands all over them. I didn't let them raid other people's picknics or grab food from them either.
Yes, I know my children aren't dogs, but they needed to understand social boundaries as well, or have me step in smartish.

SoupDragon · 09/01/2016 12:50

An analogy only works of the items are comparable. A child and a dog are not.

kali110 · 09/01/2016 12:50

Yes lets not care about the animals at all? doesn't matter if they're traumatised, they're just animals? Hmm

ShitFacedTinyTim · 09/01/2016 12:51

spupdragon- would you also be fine if someone kicked your spaniel in the face?

Also the OP was not discussing a dog attack, but a dog jumping up.

Hellochicken · 09/01/2016 12:51

Seryph

Your post shows an attitude that pisses me off the most

Don't try to stare a dog down. Don't make excited gestures or pick up your child is a rapid motion because that will encourage the dog to jump.

Basically I have to learn how to avoid being attacked by dogs if I want to go for a walk/run in the park.

I run and very regularly I pass dogs. I love seeing them out, being walked. However loads of them don't have recall. Many many many times I have been jumped up on (once twisting my ankle a couple of weeks before a big race). I have been bitten too.

Once a Jack Russell was trying to bite my lower loose tracksuit bottoms (nearly my ankle) and the owner said I shouldn't wear loose flapping clothes! How I kept my cool I'm not sure!

Several times I have been told (when asking owner to stop snarling dog) I should have stopped running as I was "encouraging" them to chase me or similar.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR DOGS. I should be able to walk or run in public places without a dog coming into direct contact with me.

So YANBU but I doubt they listen

kali110 · 09/01/2016 12:52

whois What a nasty post.
That is heartless

chapthedoor · 09/01/2016 12:52

Dog threads on here always make me Shock at just how many people think it's acceptable to be cruel to animals. It's worrying.

In response to the original question OP YANBU. I have actually written to my local council asking that it be made that dogs in parks should be on leads as I am fed up of dogs running up to my small elderly dog who us always on his lead and scaring him half to death whilst their owner shouts "it's ok he's just being friendly" The council didn't reply. In America they have dog parks - fenced in areas in parks where dogs can go off lead. This is a good idea