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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

999 replies

TigerPath · 29/04/2016 07:16

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 Angry

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 Angry

AIBU??

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
merrymouse · 02/05/2016 09:02

But the OP specifically said she had no problem with dogs being off lead if they walk to heel. The only problem is when they are off lead and approaching her.

In general people don't mind dogs running around off lead as long as there is plenty of space and they are clearly under the control of their owner. There aren't loads of dog haters going around trying to find annoying dogs - if the dog is behaving it will be ignored.

Again, never mind cyclists and runners, many dog owners are going to be cross if your dog approaches their on lead or closely controlled dog.

The default option is that you establish that it is fine for your dog to approach another person or animal before allowing it to approach and that it is always under control - what is there to argue about?

totalrecall1 · 02/05/2016 09:07

Do you not cross roads tiger incase someone has a partial seizure when driving that means they might run you over. You do need to get a grip a bit here

Mammylamb · 02/05/2016 09:07

Yanbu. In the local park dogs always run loose, but if I see someone (child or adult) who looks nervous of our dog, I put her on the lead. I am 99.9999% sure my dog would not hurt anyone, but if someone is nervous, they are entitled to a bit of security

ZBE67 · 02/05/2016 09:10

I am a dog owner and I too hate it when loose dogs run up to me and my terrier. He is always on the defence as he is on his lead and the dog owners look at you as if you're in the wrong ! You are nbu I totally respect your view as for dogs cocking their legs on your pram that is disgusting . My pet hate is when dog owners say "He's very friendly" Nobody truly knows what a dog is capable of ! I just reply "Well mine isn't!"

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:12

It's ok Poverty. These threads always go like this. Dog haters, miserable people, those with a true fear.

It wouldn't matter what I said, it would never be right. Unless I promised to muzzle my dogs at all times.

These threads are truly insightful though.

totalrecall1 · 02/05/2016 09:12

ZB totally agree about dogs off lead running upto onlead dogs. Its completely out of order and irresponsible of the owners

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:14

OP I find you arrogant funnily enough.

Your attitude is pretty poor and not just regarding your apparent hatred of dogs and their owners.

Shining12 · 02/05/2016 09:15

I don't think for a second the poster who ran 6-7 times a week was accosted every time. That's pure exaggeration to try and make a point

You clearly don't do any running
If you run in an area where there are dog many of them will want to run with you....its quite a thing for dogs, they love running with people and express their delight by jumping up.

Some dogs have a thing where they feel humans travelling at faster than walking speed must be reprimanded and will aggressively fly at anyone running or on a bike

Seems to me that some dog owners love their pets so much that they have a kind of mind meld with them and see every thing in nice simple doggy terms

ZBE67 · 02/05/2016 09:16
Smile
FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:16

And OP read all my other posts please.

I've explained more than once how I handle my dogs in certain situations when meeting people. It's there to see if you open your eyes for one minute instead of just repeating yourself.

LauraLoz13 · 02/05/2016 09:17

This whole topic set out like mums and dog owners are two completely different groups of people 😂 all the dog owners agree it's a disgrace so how self entitled is that 🙄

merrymouse · 02/05/2016 09:18

Merry it depends what you mean by irritating? I think by some of the comments on this thread ' irritating ' might mean a dog walks too close or God forbid sniffs you.

Well yes, some people don't like being sniffed by dogs. I let my dog sleep on my bed. However I do respect the fact that non-dog owners probably think about the other things a dog will have sniffed on a walk and might want to stay away from its nose.

I never let my dog approach other people unless they are clearly doing the whole "I love dogs, aren't you beautiful" thing and even then I am right next to him.

Sometimes it is very difficult to prevent your dog sniffing somebody e.g. If you are on a narrow path. However there is a big difference between being sniffed by a dog that is clearly being controlled by its owner (on lead/called to heel) and a dog whose owner is just leaving it up to everyone else to deal with their dog.

Nokidsnellie · 02/05/2016 09:19

I have two dogs, one of which is not good around kids and it makes him anxious. The number of kids that run up to him (always on lead) and I have to tell their parents to control their child is unbelievable. YANBU at all, but it works both ways.

JeanGenie23 · 02/05/2016 09:21

I do actually shining I am training for a half marathon.

I have never had a dog run at me in the past 12months of running, never!

Car1401 · 02/05/2016 09:23

As a dog owner myself I wouldn't appreciate the things mentioned.
We only let our dog off the lead on beaches where they're allowed and fields, there are beaches that ban dogs so if you feel that strongly about them then I feel you would opt to go to one of those. Our dog is part of our family and so will join us on days out or holidays.
I must say reading some of the comments they sound very bitter, a nice friendly comment is all it takes for me to keep our dog away.

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:28

You are talking seconds of being sniffed at by a random dog Merry in reality. If someone is truly put out by that well I'm sorry but it says a lot about that person unless they are dog phobic.

What is wrong with the world that people would be up in arms and so out out by a dog sniffing them?

merrymouse · 02/05/2016 09:28

It wouldn't matter what I said, it would never be right. Unless I promised to muzzle my dogs at all times.

The thread is full of dog owners agreeing with the OP that dogs should be under control in public places.

neversleepagain · 02/05/2016 09:28

I agree with you.

My small children, like me, are not dog fans and get scared to death in our local park when strange dogs run up to them. I would be frightened to if an animal bigger than me bounded over and sniffed me.

I had a massive clash with a woman in th park last summer when her dog ran over to our picnic and helped himself to our food! She go really cross when I asked her to put her dog on a lead and responded that "this wasn't a picnic area"

It's bad enough dogs piss all over the place.

kali110 · 02/05/2016 09:29

jean yes you're right. The threads gone this way mainly because of ots of goady posts.
Says something that only one person has had their comments deleted Grin ( and probably more later).

bigbuttons · 02/05/2016 09:29

I am not frightened of dogs. I grew up with them.
I really dislike them though.
They stink and dog shit is utterly revolting.
There are so many dog owners who have very little control over their dogs and appear not to care either.

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:30

Merry this thread moved on since the OP when dog owners were agreeing with her.

Shining12 · 02/05/2016 09:33

Maybe I just run in an area where there are more irresponsible dog owners?
Do you run alone or with others Jean, if I run with my partner we are not troubled by dogs often, usually I run alone and dogs invariably try to engage with me uninvited.
Im not unduly scared of dogs and have had to get better at reading them an anticipating their behaviour, I am always friendly towards the owners and gentle but firm when necessary with the dogs.

But I do wish that I didn't have to deal with them, i want to run or cycle without having to scan for dogs
so many dog owner seem to regard their pets as holy animals ...India has the sacred cow, we have the sacred dog

LauraLoz13 · 02/05/2016 09:33

Christ what happens when you are actually a dog owner AND a mum. Is that even allowed? Should I be arguing with myself? Jesus Christ some of the comments on there are self entitled from both sides of the argument. Makes me feel pretty ashamed to just be a human full stop reading some of the bile on it. Shocking. Don't like dogs fine. Don't like people who don't like dogs fine but don't feel the need to make a sweeping statement about a whole group of people because of your own point of view. 🙄

Shining12 · 02/05/2016 09:36

a nice friendly comment is all it takes for me to keep our dog away

So your default position is that other people want your dog to engage with them?

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 09:37

What is wrong with you Shining?

Do you find fault with everything in the real world?