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??

Dogs running up to people is rather the point if this thread, as much as some would rather it was a dog haters v. Dog lovers thread.

farrow if your dogs are perfectly behaved and always under your control, great. The OP would clearly have no problem with your dogs.

If you think that dogs never approach people or animals when they are unwanted you are living in an alternate reality.

Dogs who approach random people and animals aren't really misbehaving. It's their owners who are the problem because it's the owner's job to either keep their dog on a lead or under control off lead. It really isn't difficult to call your dog back until it becomes clear that the other dog or person wants to say hello.

Dogs don't have any particular right to be off lead anywhere. They are tolerated if they are under control. That toleration is not a right. Off lead access to public spaces can easily be withdrawn.

Well of course Hands - walking through a field with any livestock means dog on lead however well trained they are

so however well trained they are they cant be trusted no to harass livestock, but they can be trusted not to harass other dogs humans, children
how does that work then?

It's about owners TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. Not letting your dog approach people and prams (even for a sniff), keeping dog on a lead in public, and calling it to heel if it's off-lead and people need to pass you. Not letting your dog charge towards people who may be fearful of it.

I don't think anyone disagrees with you? I agree with you, and I think every single dog owner on thread doesn't allow their dog to behave as you described.

So we can all life happily ever after. The end.

Dogs dont have very good impulse control....thats why they need to be kept on leads

Actually many dogs have brilliant impulse control - that is why they are allowed off lead and why there are so many working dogs doing so many different jobs.

I see dogs every day who have that kind of recall.

However, some dogs can't be trained to have effective recall and some owners can't be bothered to train their dogs. This wouldn't be a problem if they would just use a lead. Unfortunately the 'he's only playing' types give everyone a bad name.

Harrassing a human will not kill it unlike a lamb or sheep.

Thankfully, none of these silly extremist views will ever be implemented.

Anyway, we just went to a famil fun fayre. Took the dog. Absolutely tons of other dogs there. None that I saw misbehaved. It was lovely.

Sounds nice Waitrose. I've been out with my dogs today too. Walked happily along the bridle path to a cafe where sat outside having coffee and cake. Lots of attention for the dogs and comments of how gorgeous they are.

Harrassing a human will not kill it unlike a lamb or sheep
so humans are supposed to not mind being harassed by dogs because they (probably) wont be killed by it

I suspect the real reason is that the farmer may well shoot a dog which is harassing livestock but people in parks tend not to be armed and probably wont start a fight with a human over the behaviour of a dog precisely because you have a large dog for protection

It really was lovely. The sun was shining and there was wine! Then it shat it down so we've all come home, had a nice bath (dog included!) and now we are watching Charlotte's Web! Happy bank holiday everyone!

A sheep or lamb can die of fright by being approached by a dog.

And yes I'm protecting my dog as much I as am the lamb or sheep.

Why wouldn't I?

Unfortunately "dog" threads do tend to attract people who really do hate dogs - all dogs - and are on a mission to make them an endangered species.

But tarring all dogs with the same brush is idiotic. Yes, there are some unpleasant dogs and there are unpleasant owners - and I include the over-indulgent types here too. But most dogs are just ordinary decent pets and not out to "get" strangers.

My dog never approaches people (unless invited), never jumps up and is very well behaved in pubs etc. He is a golden retriever and I think if a person has a problem with him, then they've really got a dog problem, as he is the polar opposite of a slathering mastiff.

it's not about the possible suffering of the sheep, it's the loss of revenue to the farmer for which he is entitled to punish you by destroying your dog.

People in public places have no real comeback and dog owners inflict their dogs upon them becasue they can.

I'm sure a few people do admire your dogs Farrow, that doesn't mean that everyone likes dogs though does it

Rhoda Well your dog sounds like the ideal type of dog- well behaved and doesn't approach anyone unless told to. I have no problem with dogs like that.

It's the dogs that come up to you and the owner just smiles, thinking their dog is being adorable when its sniffing you/licking you/trampling on your picnic/jumping up at you. All ways of showing you they are just being friendly I know that- but it's annoying. I don't stroke the dog and say hello like some owners probably expect people to do.

Keeping them on a lead through farmland is a no brainier for obvious reasons.

Being off lead when they aren't bothering anyone is acceptable imo.

And as for not everyone not like my dogs that's fine.

shining you have a go at people for not believing that you are harassed weekly by dogs yet refuse to believe that some dogs have good recall

merry no i agree completely with your post. Agree kids should be taught not to go up to ANY strange dog, horse etc and to be cautious.
It's just the stating that all big dogs are intimidating, scary or a status symbol that i don't agree with.

rhonda unfortunately any animal thread goes like this.
The cat threads are vile.
My friend has had a few dogs in her life and is amazing.
She has taken on a few dogs that were mistreated and turned them around.
All had excellent recall. She is def in the wrong profession!

Cat threads are vile?
Why? What have the poor cats done??

Don't for pity's sake Farrow!

Cats defecate you see. Unlike every other creature in the world. They're spiteful and evil too, and want to make little babies go blind. WIBU to squirt Ribena at them with a water pistol?

Seriously farrow if this one has annoyed you, never own a cat one!

open bloody phone!!!

some dogs have good impulse control but if they were 100% reliable it would not be a 'no brainer' to keep them on a leash around livestock would it?

Dogs should be on a lead at all times in public, end of story, then the public could be free of dog harassment as they should be

I say you should have lived in a country where there are NO off lead spaces- as I and my dog have- and see how that works out for you

out of interest Zombies whereabouts was that?
and was it accepted with good grace by dog owners or did people complain about thier dogs not having a right to enjoy life off lead in public?