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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 10:33

Reading this thread most people either like or are indifferent towards dogs.

What they dislike is people who get a dog without taking responsibility for its behaviour.

I think the group that is most likely to have a problem with irresponsible dog owners is other dog owners as they are most likely to come across them when walking their dog.

Gindrinker43 · 02/05/2016 10:37

We have a dog that is never off the lead in public as she loves people and will leap up and cover them in hair and mud for a bit of attention.
I have always taught the children never to approach a dog without the owners permission.
Recently we were all out walking on a sea front when a dog ran off the beach and attacked mine, knocking DS 7 to the ground. It was quite scary. The owner had just let it run loose and was leaning on the sea wall watching it. Her excuse, it doesn't like small dogs. When I suggested she had an out of control dog I got a gob full of abuse.
So, keep you dog on a lead unless you have absolute control, track your children not to approach without permission and clean up after them, and that doesn't mean throwing the bag of dog mess in to a hedge.

Gindrinker43 · 02/05/2016 10:38

Teach, not track!🙄

allegretto · 02/05/2016 10:40

Yanbu - I hate it when dog owners don't think rules apply to them. I saw a dog run out in the road yesterday and nearly cause an accident. The woman was actually carrying the lead but she still didn't put it on

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 10:40

Absolute shocking and lazy behaviour from that dog owner Gin!

Original poster
TigerPath · 02/05/2016 10:59

Farrow, I didn't say all dogs should be muzzled all the time. I said they should all be on leads in public places (or at least walking to heel and not running up to people for a sniff!) I don't care if it's only sniffing me for a few seconds, it shouldn't be sniffing round my feet at all. IME dogs come for a sniff them start scrabbling at my leg or jumping up, or trying to sniff DS in his pram! Can you really not understand why I don't want strange dogs sniffing my baby?!

If you own a big intimidating breed it needs to be properly restrained in public. That is common sense. Not be charging ahead of you on a footpath Angry

Sadly I suspect it will take a serious injury/fatality in a public place before there is a law passed that requires all dogs to be on leads in public.

If you want to let them off lead, go somewhere remote, like moors, hills, remote dog-friendly beaches, fields where you can see ahead and recall them if people are coming the other way. Not woodland trails and beaches where families are walking/running/picnicing. Better yet, don't own big intimidating dogs unless you have private land to exercise them on!

OP posts:
WaitrosePigeon · 02/05/2016 11:12

Sorry slowly, where have I demonstrated that I am an inconsiderate dog owner? I didn't know I knew you in real life!

WaitrosePigeon · 02/05/2016 11:15

Oh dear I've been sucked in again! Obviously you don't know me or my dog in real life. I'm a responsible, and considerate dog owner. I have two young children myself so I am well aware of families near by. I always pick up dog poo. My dog does as he's told so where the law allows me I shall continue to let him off the lead to enjoy his day alongside everyone else Smile

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 11:17

I don't have big intimidating dogs OP they are mild and docile.

I will be walking them in woodland trails as this is where they love to walk. They are under control and do not pose any threat.

I'm sorry that where you live you seem to be inundated by dogs that sniff your legs and try and jump on you every time you step outside. as if

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 11:18
WaitrosePigeon · 02/05/2016 11:21

Yes let's go for a stroll. Let's see how many of these nasty vicious dogs we encounter. Apart from our own vicious dogs of course Grin

Lighteningirll · 02/05/2016 11:23

Can I invite Farrow and Waitrose to come visit me I live in a SE seaside town with a gorgeous couple of miles of prom that is full of dog owners/children/old people/cyclists/runners all happily getting along Tigerpath you'd hate it but you'd still be welcome

kali110 · 02/05/2016 11:23

wibble here here!!
farrow stop engaging, it is clear this post isgetting off on winding you and others up. Don't let them, i realised that last night.

PovertyPain · 02/05/2016 11:24

Can I come with you Farrow and Waitrose? However I will have to carry my vicious, threatening beast for some of the way, as he's a Yorkie with arthritis.

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 11:24

Sounds wonderful Lightening Smile

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 11:26

Grin poverty

kali110 · 02/05/2016 11:27

op agAin, only to some bug dogs are intimadating, not to All.
If they are well trained then no they shouldn't be kept on a lead 24/7, that only leads to stress.
Sniffing your feet is not out of control.
I'm sure you and your kids certainly do and say things that annoy people, it's life.
Though i feel this thread has only been started to piss people off

NoMudNoLotus · 02/05/2016 11:29

I got badly hit on the head with a football as a child .

I am genuinely nervous around children / adults playing with footballs as I have a whole body pain condition.

I think I might start a thread about banning footballs from parks and beaches because my fear is clearly everybody else's problem.

LyndaNotLinda · 02/05/2016 11:29

Dogs should be on leads if they're going to run up to people. My dog is constantly getting people going over to him and trying to get him to come over for a stroke though. I don't blame dogs for being confused.

And no, I'm not going to take him somewhere remote to exercise him. I live on the coast and most of the beaches here are dog-free 10-6pm during the summer months which is fine by me. But some beaches are dog-friendly. Please would you avoid those beaches?

I'd really like it if our parks would become dog parks - that's a great idea!

FarrowandBallAche · 02/05/2016 11:30

Though I feel this thread has only been started to piss people off

Of course it was. If you unpick the first post the dog in question was just walking along the prom off lead which infuriated the OP.

Hardly some snarling out of control dog from hell.

NeedACleverNN · 02/05/2016 11:43

Can I come with you Farrow?

I don't have dogs anymore but I'm exposing my children to them as much as possible so they don't get dog phobic

Mominatrix · 02/05/2016 11:44

I think you have spectacurally bad luck Shining. I have been running for donkey's years, and for the past 5 years have been running on a path frequented by dog walkers. I have never been accosted by any dog. Perhaps I should be offended? I run with my dog off-lead (who is usually behind me) and can tell you I am 100% confident that she has no interest in any other human - squirrels definitely and other dogs, perhaps. She has been socialised from puppy stage to deal with bicyclists, runners, frantic small children, and prams so she takes no notice.

Additionally, as a long time dog owner, I can state that the big dogs are the ones I am least likely to be afraid of - it is the yappy little handbag sorts which really cause the problems. I suggest you watch a large group of dogs playing in a park - the big dogs are the most calm ones.

LauraLoz13 · 02/05/2016 11:45

Can we all just start our own net? Mumswithdogstoonet.com? ☺️

GinIsIn · 02/05/2016 11:46

I'm in, Farrow and Waitrose - I have dog treats. And gin.

Rosebud05 · 02/05/2016 11:51

Yyyy to segregation. The cafe in one of our local parks divided its outside seating area into 'dogs welcome' and 'no dogs'. Works well. I'd like to see more of this.

I know for me, a dog thread on MN is somewhere where I can expressy dislike of being jumped at/ sniffed at by random dogs. I don't do this in RL as I too busy smiling at the owner whilst saying 'I'm sure your dog is lovely, but I a bit nervous, would you mind calling it to you please?' Whilst inwardly screaming not-a-fucking-again-for-the-love-of-all-that-is-holy-keep-your-animal-under-control.