To demand people keep their dogs away from me on the seafront

[TigerPath]

I'm sick of random dogs coming up to sniff me and DS or getting under my feet. All dogs make me nervous even small ones. And I hate it when they cock their leg on my pram wheels

So now when a dog comes up to me or just before it reaches me I shout to the owner (politely but firmly) 'please keep your dog away from me/my pram'
Most oblige but a number are rude! Yesterday a woman retorted crossly 'but it's the sea-front'. I replied 'they should be on leads' and got a mouthful of abuse. There is a bloody great sign saying 'dogs should be on leads on the promenade'!! I wouldn't care if people kept them to heel but I don't want them touching me, my pram or tripping me up

AIBU??

Exactly NeedaCleverNN.
The advice to keep your dog on a lead in public is as much for their safety as the comfort and assurance of everyone else. Even if you ignore the obvious dangers such as cars and inconsiderate cyclists, if your dog approaches a stranger there is a chance the stranger may not react favourably. Just as I would not permit my child to go up to strangers and say hello, neither should dogs. You simply do not know the background of the person. You do not know if they have a fear of dogs and might whip out a can of hairspray in panic, you don't know if they have an allergy or if they cannot touch dogs for religious reasons (some muslims).

My dogs DO NOT chase or jump up.
They aren't bothered by people walking past.

In reality people are interested in one of them in particularly as he is a beautiful dog with an even better personality.

Strangers stop me and ask what breed he is, they compliment me on how lovely and well behaved he is.

Some are dog owners and some are not.

In that case Farrow it seem perfectly reasonable for your dogs to be off lead, but many dogs do chase and jump up at people, it happens to me every time I go running

What sort of dogs do you have Farrow?

eating defenceless babies must be happening on a different earth to mine people are sometimes attacked and killed by dogs

Why do ask Shining?

Curiosity, I'm being genuine, they a sound like really nice dogs
I know I have ranted on here but I like dogs

people are sometimes attacked and killed by dogs

People are more often attacked and killed by people. Should we muzzle humans too?

No, we apply different rules to humans, they are not moral equivalents

Aw mate, live a little. I was taking the piss

People kill more dogs than vice-versa

The average dog is more agreeable than the average human

I sometimes despise humans, not as individuals, but as a species. The OPs views are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of how we hold animals and nature in contempt. But won't start a TAAT as it will be deleted.

If a dog had a human equivalent brain what would it be like?

Dogs are not part of nature, they are designed and created by humans
The op is not complaining about polar bears or rhinos or demanding that rainforests be torn down for her convenience

shining why don't you read this: www.amazon.co.uk/Awareness-Gene-Stone/dp/0615944647/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462098912&sr=8-1&keywords=the+awareness+gene+stone

Interesting concept
Then again I don't think we can ever know what it is like to be a bat

I'm sure the OP WOULD complain about polar bears and rhinos roaming about on the beach, such an inconvenience, the size of their poos for a start, she would be begging for dogs again!!

I haven't read the thread and am responding just to the OP.....

It depends upon your tone and demeanour OP. If you look like you are chewing a wasp and use a strident tone of voice, then you would piss me off and I would recall my dog but would say something cutting and sarcastic.

However if you made the same request with a smile I would recall my dog in much better humour and smile back at you.

If you are getting snippy responses from some dog owners I imagine you might be coming across more like the former..

(Its all a bit academic however because I recall my dog before they go over to strangers - unless the stranger indicates that they want to say hello)

And as usual mn are nowhere to be seen.
People threatening abuse to amimals is perfectly acceptable ofcorse on here.
If you're going to kick a dog or mace it just for coming near you then don't blame the owner if they do the same to you, i certainly wouldn't blAme them.
Ofcourse the dog may also bite you after that and it would be your own fault.
shinning i don't give a toss if some people think or treat their pets like their kids, not everybody can have or choose to actually have children you know?
Please stop saying you don't hate dogs because that's a big pile of dog crap right there.

Farrow I don't hate dogs. I hate irresponsible owners who let their dogs cause a nuisance and spoil public spaces. I hate it when dogs jump up at me, shove their head between my legs, poke their nose into my pram or run round my ankles when I'm trying to walk. I also hate seeing big powerful breeds of dog off the lead in public parks... it's intimidating! I also dislike it when dog owners let their dogs barge past on a narrow footpath! Just keep your distance, how hard is that to understand?

Of course I don't care if they sniff the air in my direction. But I don't want them to come up and make physical contact, I don't want their nose sniffing at my legs/boots/crotch or their paws scrabbling at my legs. If you can't be bothered to train them properly, keep them on a lead!

No op you just hate bog digs.
Just be prepared that if you do hurt someones pet you may come worse off.

big dogs

I doubt very much an unknown dog has poked his head through your legs OP.

Bog digs

Large breeds off their lead are not intimidating

If they were growling at you or had you cornered THAT would be intimidating. Walking by minding their own business is nothing