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??

just because a dog looks menacing to you, doesn't mean it should be kept of a lead. If it's under control and behaves appropriately, you don't have a leg to stand on I'm afraid

I agree, people can't be forced to put them on leads. Yet. But wouldn't it be considerate and kind to do so in public? Many people are afraid of big dogs, especially children. Many others are wary. I think dog owners need to consider other people's feelings before letting the dog off-lead. The dog can still get exercise on a lead. The lead provides a sense of security for people who don't know your dog.

Maybe the answer is a law requiring dogs and owners to pass tests before being given permission to let them off lead. Eg an 'off lead certificate' that proves dog has good recall, gentle temperament, no behaviour issues etc. And heavy fines for owners who break it.

As for huskies, I can't imagine how they make suitable pets. I've encountered them in the Arctic, where they're used to pull sleds and gaurd against polar bears. In the Inuit villages, if a husky bites a person it is instantly shot in front of the other dogs. If they can't determine which dog bit (eg all were chained together) they shoot the whole team. The dogs roam freely around the villages when not working, they can't run the risk of a biter or of the aggression being bred down.

I do think many people get overly sentimental about dogs and their rights in the UK. If you want to keep the freedom of exercising off-lead, you need to make people feel safe, otherwise people will keep campaigning for a blanket ban on unleashed dogs.

No. Dogs need to have time off lead. They need to run.

If you're pushing a baby in a pushchair, stick to pavements. Because your level of fear is close to phobic. The best thing you can do if you don't want to past that on to your child (am assuming you don't - surely no one wants their child to inherit irrational fear?) is to stick to pavements where there's no danger of you meeting a dog off lead.

It won't ever be enforced.

No sorry, I don't think people with well behaved dogs should pander to everyone else.

Dogs may well need time off lead, but people need to be able to use public spaces without being in fear of being jumped at.

The OP is about being on a promenade with many dogs off lead, despite signs asking that dogs are kept on leads. Is this not a pavement?

But of course you're going to say that dog lovers get over sentimental about their dogs and their dogs rights.

It's nothing to do with sentimentality. Nothing.

As their owner I give them the best life I can. All animals deserve to be looked after and be happy, this means running/walking off lead for many breeds.

And I will carry on letting them off lead where I think it's safe for them and where they aren't going to be in anyone's way ie very busy park.

And that's about it really.

Dogs need to have time off lead. They need to run

They don't 'need' it. They like it, yes, but it's not essential. IMO you shouldn't have a big dog unless you have a big secure garden for it to run in, or access to private land.

I think dog beaches are a great idea, provided owners actually use them so the main beach is dog-free.

Nor is it irrational to fear big powerful dogs. You don't know their temperament, history or how much control (or sense!) the owner has. I would never trust a strange dog around children, it would be foolish to do so.

And why should mums and babies 'stick to pavements' because they are wary of dogs or have a phobia? Humans should be able to enjoy parks and beaches and public footpaths, without fear of unrestrained dogs.

We have this argument every single time from people that no nothing about dogs.

Dogs need to run. Dogs need to exercise off their lead. It's good for their well being, it's totally wrong and unfair to have a dog that is possibly bred to hunt/point/retrieve and walk it around the block in a lead.

You are asking for trouble if you do that.

Ps could you please back that statement up with some evidence or personal experiencing of owning dogs? Thanks

Anyway what is everyone having for dinner? I'm about to have Chilli con carne and we are going to catch up on Peaky Blinders, scary Yorkshire terrier is asleep on my lap. Snoring a bit. Annoying.

TigerPath England is a nation of dog-lovers having a history of working dogs needing exercise that they can't get outside of public spaces. You can't escape this reality.

We had roast salmon and a mango/chilli/lime slaw. Doginatrix had salmon sashimi.

I blame the rise of the inner-city pit bull for the rise of the anti-dog sentiment. I doubt many of the anti-dog brigade would raise an eyebrow at bouncy seaside dogs were it not for the mauling headlines.

I had fajitas. Slightly less glam than the ones they're making in masterchef.

Dog is in his basket, having had a busy day 'helping' the decorator.

My fear and dislikes of dogs dates back well before the inner-city pit bull, apple.

I was chased/jumped up/growled at many times by dogs as a child. The worst incidents were being bitten on my shoulder and having a neighbourhood dog with its paws on my shoulders barking loudly in my face on several occasions (I was about 7).

I agree that dogs should have plenty of exercise and space where they can run freely. Parks, beaches and other public places frequented by lots of people including children aren't these imvho.

Chilli was lush. Fajitas sound delish. Not had those in ages! Now I am having a Solero in bed

Rose those were scary, awful incidences for you and especially as a little girl.

I think when we were children there were a lot more dogs out on their own, roaming the streets getting up to all sorts of trouble.

Thankfully now dogs aren't left to their own devices to wander about.

As for huskies, I can't imagine how they make suitable pets. I've encountered them in the Arctic, where they're used to pull sleds and gaurd against polar bears. In the Inuit villages, if a husky bites a person it is instantly shot in front of the other dogs

I agree, it's a good job we do have some laws re what animals can be kept as pets, otherwise we'd have lions and chimps roaming freely with their owners insisting that said animals are honestly quite safe

'yes he could tear you limb from limb but he's not interested in you he just wants his banana's.

and ' you really need therapy for your irrational fear of lions, he has a right to be happy and roam about you know'

Fair enough Rosebud. I was bitten by a schnauzer when I was a kid and I can't stand them to this day. What I can't understand is people being nervous around friendly, easy-going dogs - but appreciate this is subjective.

That's it farrow.

When dogs aren't walking to heel, don't return to their owner when called, approach other people they are effectively being left to their own devices, albeit for a much shorter period of time.

They might not be 'roaming the streets' but they are still many posing a danger to others, as evidenced by experiences on this thread.

I don't like huskies. I'd be delighted if they were added to the list of banned dogs.

But not all dogs are posing this threat.

You have had a horrible experience as a child that has scared you.

Have you had counselling for your fear Rose?

Apple, I'm not externally nervous around friendly, easy-going dogs. It may be that dogs can 'sense my fear' but I genuinely can't help the automatic physiological reaction I have due to multiple frightening experiences. I've learnt to manage it (neither of my children are fearful of dogs) and indeed endure staying with a close relative who has two large dogs, but can't relax.

I was bitten by a friend's Jack Russell when I was in my 20s too - I walked into a room and he jumped up and bit my hand. Sure, he may have been 'guarding his territory' 'more scared of me that I was him' or whatever, but his perception of mme being a threat made him more dangerous, not less.

I'm neither an animal lover nor an animal hater. Heck, I don't even eat the things. But I do dislike being suddenly frightened by an animal that may be dangerous when I'm in a public place, and dislike even more being told 'he's only being friendly' (which is what the owner of the first dog who bit me said just 30 seconds before).

Of course not all dogs aren't posing this threat all the time. I don't think anyone has said that.

But all dogs will, in certain circumstances with certain triggers, growl/snarl/jump up/bark/bite and I don't know what each dog's triggers may be (disclaimer - other animals including humans will behave like this too if they feel threatened).

Counselling? I've had lots for a variety of things. In terms of dogs, I understand completely why I'm so frightened. I've learnt to manage my anxiety responses, talk myself down etc. But no-one can promise me that I'll never be bitten again.

And I know enough other people who have been bitten (including dog owners and dog lovers) to make it impossible to tell myself that I won't get bitten again.

I've been bitten. And you are right

No one can guarantee you will never be bitten again.

But the chances of being bitten is slim.

Like I've posted before I worked in a rescue kennels. Some dogs that came in were very traumatised. One had nearly died after being hung by his owners. He was petrified of humans but never aggressive. I used to sit on the floor of his kennel every day for up to an hour so he knew no one was going to hurt him.
Took a book with me and just sat there. Took him about 2 weeks for him to approach me, but he did.

In the year I worked there, I got bit once. Just once. By a yappy, snappy little Scottie cross westie. Did it make me nervous around dogs again? No not really. Was i a bit more cautious around certain dogs. Yes