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??

[Alisvolatpropiis]

🙄

[ChihuahuaChick]

YANBU, OP. Some dog owners are absolute cocks about their precious fucking dog getting to do what it wants. I remember being quite upset when I got a mouthful of abuse off a grown man when I was a teen because I asked him to control his dog (it was scaring the life out of my half blind half deaf slightly senile old poodle who was on a lead).

[CheshireChat]

As a (previous) dog owner that used to be quite frightened of unknown dogs I get it, also the combo of small children and dogs needs managing as I tried to explain to a nice lady that invited my toddler DS to stroke her dog. I was also more worried for the dog rather than ofit. It used to annoy me though when people came up to my dog and stroked her without permission- blooming ask first!

Even if the dog is on a lead and you see somebody that seems uncomfortable you should put yourself between them etc. Just common sense.

[Luckystar1]

I think a large part of the problem is (and I'm sure many dog owners will agree) that some owners sense of their dog's recall and their actual recall are two very different things.

I don't want a dog that's 'pretty good' at returning when called to be off lead, I want them to be amazing. Why should it be up to me to defend myself and my DS against a bounding, excited dog? It's entirely the owner's responsibility.

And as for those stupid extendable leads, what a total joke. They look about as secure as a glass lock.

[zeezeek]

Ok, should have explained what I meant better: I mean when my dogs are on one side of the road happily minding their own business and not cocking their leg, sniffing people (which they don't anyway because they aren't interested in you), not getting their fur everywhere and all the other things that annoy non-dog owners....and there is a small child and their parent on the other side of the road and when the child is, understandably, nervous why the FUCK don't some of those parents say don't worry, they are not going to harm you? All it does is reinforce the belief that dogs are monsters and are going to bite everyone that they pass.

[TimeToMuskUp]

I own a dog and openly admit that loads of dog owners are utter dicks when it comes to controlling and being responsible for their pets. Ours often comes to the seaside with us at weekends and it's rare we holiday without her. She's got fabulous recall (springer trained originally as a gun dog before being rehomed with us, so genuinely fantastic at following orders) but I've never let her off-lead on a pavement simply because you don't know who's coming and how they feel about dogs. I wouldn't take the risk with an exceptionally responsive dog, so why should anyone else?

The laws for dog owners in the UK aren't terribly strict when it comes to keeping your pet under control. I'd like to see more people fined for breaking those no-dogs-off-lead rules. It might encourage them to stop being such entitled asscravats.

[molyholy]

I hate this. Yanbu. I quite like dogs, but the large ones make me v nervous. A huge dog up to about my waist came up sniffing me etc. The man on the other side of the road shouted 'don't worry love she's harmless'. I dont fucking care. That is not the point.

[bungmean]

Dogs aren't carnivores btw. They are scavengers

They eat meat, they're carnivores. Whether they are scavengers or not is irrelevant to that, but they are both scavengers AND predators, so you're wrong on both counts.

And they are unpredictable. Therefore "Unpredictable carnivores" sums it up nicely. Not OTT at all.

[Scaredycat3000]

why the FUCK don't some of those parents say don't worry, they are not going to harm you?
I do, I tell them every time, look it's all the way over there, it's on a lead, you are safe, etc. The problem of telling your child that every time is often you are often lying, the owner does not recall their dog, or keep the lead short or basically not behave like a decent human being and at best your child ends up nose to nose with the dog you have just assured would not be allowed to get anywhere near them. So next time your child doesn't believe you. Zee Why do you keep digging your hole deeper and deeper? As a parent I do not want my child to be scared (it is not a phobia, phobias are an irrational fear, dogs can and do and some are trained to attack) it makes every school run, trip to the park, playground, infact any trip out difficult. Why do you think parents are trying to make their children scared?

[NellysKnickers]

Pisses me off. No, I'm not scared of dogs, neither are dcs, what ducks me 9ff is d9g owners blasé selfish attitude when their stinking sand covered mutt is jumping up us or trampling all over our picnic. Fuck off and contol your dog, selfish entitled wankers. I have promised dcs next time it happens I will copy exact behaviour of said dog to its owner, face licking, leg coking included, then I too can say "Oh I'm just being friendly"

[NellysKnickers]

Oh ffs. FUCKS NOT DUCKS.

[amarmai]

YANBU, OP. I have had sim when out with small gs on a footpath signposted 'Dogs ON leads" when a power walking couple with an off leash dog decided to run around the stroller and my gs ,who is deathly allergic to dogs tried to climb out and the stroller fell over. The man's response to my cry for help ,was to keep on marching and raise his fist yelling; 'Go Leafs"This will hopefully identify them to Torontonians.

[zeezeek]

Scaredycat3000
I'm obviously not talking about you, am I. I'm talking about the people who continuously feed into their child's fear. I have a child who is terrified of horses. I don't react by reinforcing her fear by standing by and watching her scream and wail when we see a horse (we live in the country so it's a fairly common occurrence). I tell her calmly that the horse is not going to hurt her, that it is no where near her etc etc. because to do otherwise would be very stupid as my daughter lives in a world also occupied by horses and will come across them throughout her life. I don't care if she never gets on one, but really think it's in her interests if she doesn't burst into tears everytime one walks down the road.

[Scaredycat3000]

OK zee so I'm the only parent that doesn't deliberately make their child scared of dogs? All other parents actively and independently of real dogs decide to make their child scared of dogs, just for the jollies? So you're victim blaming? Is a woman in a short skirt asking for it as well?
And horses just aren't the same, nobody takes them in playgrounds, ties them up outside school, takes them in the shops or let them run free in public spaces. You get to protect your child if she's had a bad day and really not up to meeting a horse right now.

[zeezeek]

Oh for heavens sake stop exaggerating what I'm saying. If you want an argument then find someone else to have one with.

[Scaredycat3000]

But zee I find your ignorant victim blaming comments offensive. Of course if my child is scared or upset by anything I try to comfort them, just as you do with your daughter and horses, just as most half decent parent does.
First of all you say young children that are scared of dogs annoy you and blame the parents.
It also annoys me when I'm walking along with my dogs, on the lead, perfectly under control, and we pass a toddler or small child on the other side of the road/path whatever who start wailing that there's big dogs. My dogs aren't interested and just walk past, really, why can't some parents just tell their children that the dogs are not going to even reach them at that distance, let alone hurt them and seem totally disinterested in them anyway.
Then you try to explain yourself a bit more, by blaming the parents again!
when the child is, understandably, nervous why the FUCK don't some of those parents say don't worry, they are not going to harm you?
So I explained I was a parent that did try to assure their child that they are safe and why it didn't work. Your response was to blame every parent but me
I'm obviously not talking about you, am I. I'm talking about the people who continuously feed into their child's fear.
You blame the victims in every post you make. So how exactly am I exaggerating?

[LunaLoveg00d]

I think many many parents can tell similar stories tilder, but you must never forget it is our fault our children are scared of dogs, not shit dog owners fault, oh no hmm

Another one with a similar story - my daughter had a springer spaniel rush up to her, jump up, lick her face and terrify her when she was 3. The owner's response was "he's only playing". 8 years on and we're still having to work really hard to get over her intense fear of ALL dogs.

Dogs off the lead are the worst fear for her. Even those long leads are better as she can see the physical connection to the owner and most owners when they see a child recoiling in absolute terror will shorten the lead or even pick up their dogs.

Platitudes like "she's only playing" or "she won't hurt you" go in one ear and out the other - by the stage of the owner being close enough my daughter is already in fight or flight stage and completely terrified. We even had a letter home from school telling dog owners that they really should keep their dogs on leads at the school gates - shocks me that people have to be told that!

It's really not much to ask that owners control their animals and keep them under control and on the lead in a public place. Problem is that many dog owners just don't "get" that many of us dislike dogs or have children who hate them, and expect their dogs to be treated as mini humans with all the rights that a child would have.

[Slowlygettingthehangofthings]

"Problem is that many dog owners just don't "get" that many of us dislike dogs or have children who hate them, and expect their dogs to be treated as mini humans with all the rights that a child would have."
^ This!

[tilder]

I know I'm not the only one with a story like that. It's really sad. Kids and dogs go together really well.

I did get a bit of insight recently though. We have a cat. No dog as our work commitments don't allow it. I was shocked to discover my friends dd was terrified of the cat.

What, my lovely cat? ! He wouldn't hurt a fly small birds etc plus anyone who pulls his tail. She isn't used to cats. He is quite a big boy. He yawned and showed his teeth. Then tried to sit on her lap.

It was a real eye opener for me and I was mortified that my pet frightened a child. He's my responsibility and I try and keep him out of her way (I shut him in the kitchen). I certainly don't encourage contact.

[DotForShort]

YANBU. I love dogs. My current dog is the sweetest thing in all creation. However, I would not allow him to approach anyone without the person's express permission. He is always on a lead in public (local laws require it).

Other dog owners are not always considerate. We were in a park the other day and someone took her dog off its lead right in front of us. My husband politely asked her to put the dog's lead back on (again, this is the law here). To her credit, she did. But some people seem to think their dogs should be allowed to run freely in all circumstances. I don't get it.

[CantWaitForWarmWeather]

why the FUCK don't some of those parents say don't worry, they are not going to harm you?

It may come as a surprise but as a parent I do do that. He has a phobia though- something he will probably grow out of. Until then he's scared of them and I don't have a magic wand to ge that out of him. Not sorry if that annoys you!

[BombadierFritz]

They are omnivores not carnivores

And i'd greatly appreciate it too if kids could stop screaming and jumping round in front of my poor dog because they are scared. He isnt very keen on small kids and it doesnt really help. I never say anything though, just in my head, but there are good kid friendly sites like the 'be a tree' ones that can help teach this.
www.be-a-tree.com/kid%20main.htm

[Scaredycat3000]

They are omnivores not carnivores
Evidence please? good luck with that And we made it to page 4 befor somebody got confused between dogs and humans, that's a first. Hint the dogs are the furry ones with sharp teeth and a penchant for licking faces and arses.

[exLtEveDallas]

Vets are actually taught that dogs (like pigs) are omnivores. Dogs can be fed and will survive (and thrive) on a vegetarian diet (FYI, Cats won't, a veggie diet would kill them).

(Though what this has got to do with off lead dogs on a promenade I have no idea)

[LyndaNotLinda]

My dog only likes people who make an effort to attract his attention. So do that - he'll give you a massive swerve

On a serious note - the proms and most beaches here are no dogs May - September. So in those months, I absolutely respect your right to have dog-free time. Until Sunday, my pup will run free. He may bound over but I always call him away.