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??

[BombadierFritz]

Dunno d'you want a picture of my dog eating carrots or something? Can do I suppose

[Lockheart]

My dog eats blackberries, if that's any help. He also eats rice, pasta, toast crusts, vegetables of all kinds, grass, and one one memorable occasion, rocks. He's definitely an omnivore.

But then a 30 second Google could have told you dogs are omnivores...

[FunnysortofPlaying]

Aaaargh I just had to come on here and vent. Have just got in from a bike ride where I passed a bloke and his dog (off lead, not illegal here, but antisocial if dog can't be controlled. As I passed the guy started calling "mollie, here mollie"(to the dog, not me!). Said nothing to me. the wretched little beast starts chasing me and grabbing my (fortunately thick) biking trousers, plus socks, in its teeth and holds on, pretty frightening so I go on riding to try to get away, then once I have done stop, get off with bike in front of me to ask the guy to please control his dog.
Oh and you can guess what's coming next. Yup. "She's only playing, she just wants to play." (in whiny-five -year-olds voice) With her TEETH???? And “you should have given me a chance to put her on the lead.” Err – nope, you didn’t specifically warn me that your dog was a trouser biter.
He then said “oh she’s only playing, because I ride a bike and she bites my leg”.
Words fail me. (well they didn’t actually, but he wasn’t exactly open to reason so I gave up)

[LordoftheTits]

It works the other way too. My dog isn't great with kids so I keep him on a lead and try my best to distract him/cross the road/give families a wide berth at the park. Then I hear, 'look, Timmy! Go and see the nice doggy!' and the child is encouraged to touch him, so I have to be the hard faced cow who tells little Timmy that he can't pet the nice doggy

[lljkk]

Did OP ever say how close the dogs actually get? Or how close she thinks is reasonable?

I like dogs. I'd be happy for every dog to come up for a sniff. Vast majority owners pull their dogs back & try to stop them approaching within 5-10'.

[TheBouquets]

I am constantly wondering why dog owners think it is OK to being their dogs on to our communal areas to cause fear and foul the ground. There are some owners who do pick up after their dogs and many who don't. However they only have to pick up they are not required to thoroughly scrub and disinfect the area on which their dog has left germ ridden. There is no requirement for dog owners to clean up dog urine, this too is likely to be germy and it is also very unpleasant for others like bin men who have to pick up black bags on which dogs have cocked their legs.
I don't own a dog and never will so I do not see why I should have to navigate round dog mess or wet when out. It should be compulsory for all dog doings to be thoroughly cleaned up and disinfected.
Cat owner who cleans out the litter box. My cat does not foul any place other than the box.

[PinkyOfPie]

OP I agree with you and think it's a bit creepy when people are obsessed with dogs and expect others to see them as their children or something. I just don't get the undying adoration for pets, and the term "fur babies" makes me boak.

I also find people who are OTT crazy about dogs are not so compassionate when it comes to humans.

[A4Document]

YANBU. Why should you have to put up with someone else's dog?

[DogMa1]

TheBouquets The problem around here is cats not dogs. Cats who come into my garden, scrape up my seedlings and bedding plants, and bury their shit in my flower beds for me to find when I am weeding!!! Not all cats use litter trays. My dog, on the other hand, is housebound and I clean up every drop of pee and every square inch of dog poop.
To paraphrase your post - I don't own a child and never will so I do not see why I should have to navigate round children's nappies or urine when out. It should be compulsory for all children's doings to be thoroughly cleaned up and disinfected. - Sounds silly, doesn't it but I've come across used nappies in the strangest of places, along with vomit and urine from overenthusiastic party goers.
The point I am trying to make is that we all have our faults with the possible exception of yourself and a bit of tolerance on all sides might help.

[kali110]

Great another thread for people to slag of animals.
wonder entitled dog owners, really?
I could say that parents of young kids are entitled. I won't because i'm not a twat and realised that not all are, just like not all dog owners are.
sonlypuppyfat you mean you had to actually move out of the way? For a dog? Poor you
When did it get so acceptable on here to slag off animals so much?
If i started a thread on here slagging of small children people would abuse me, but as it's animals it's perfectly fine.

And i'm not a dog owner! I just get pissed of seeing thread after thread like this that always ends up with people saying how they'll kick a dog if it gets too close, or the cat if it comes into or shits in their garden again.

[PinkyOfPie]

Slagging an animal off is hardly the same as slagging someone's child off

[SoleBizzz]

I will never understand why some dog owners get upset because others do not like dogs it is totally odd.

[Jeremysfavouriteaunt]

Agree Kali

[Lockheart]

SoleBizz it's not the disliking dogs I don't like. People are free to like and dislike whatever they want.

It's the insulting, sometimes violent, language people use about them. I have seen people condoning kicking dogs who come too close on here. As someone with close friends who use guide dogs as lifelines, as someone who has seen lonely elderly people brought out of their shell by the love and companionship of dogs, as someone who is a dog owner and lover myself, it does upset me to hear that my best friend who helped me through some of my darkest and most suicidal days is little more than a drooling, dirty, disgusting animal and who deserves nothing more than a kick and a harsh word.

The hyperbole on this thread has been disgusting (cunnilingus, really?) and completely unnecessary. The OP was absolutely NBU but many posters will look for any excuse to slag off dog / pet owners.

[kali110]

PinkyOfPie maybe not too you but to some pets are part of the family.
Some people on here don't have kids through choice or are unable too so their pets are just as important too them.
Why should people be able to slag off these repeadly, yet not kids?
I don't go around slagging off anyone let alone kids do why is it always acceptable for people to keep slagging off dogs and especially cats?
lock as as they said some of the comments on these threads about animals are absolutely appalling.
It's always the same.
People stating how they will/have kicked an animal and how they are justified.
It always goes like this and the thread is allowed to stand.

[kali110]

lock yes, last 2 years my pets have given me a reason to actually get through the day again.
I try to never open animal threads anymore as it really upsets me how nasty people can be, and how mn do not care.
I used to really love and valuethis site, but not now as these threads and comments are allowed to stand

[BMW6]

All dogs should be on lead on a promenade.

{I am a dog owner}

[SoleBizzz]

I never take DS to parks because of dogs jumping up at him. We miss out. It really is unfair.

[Dailymailpretendreporter]

I started the other thread about a dog, because one was nipping at my child in a fenced off area for children. It's not a vendetta its just the topic of the season especially as the weather gets warmer. And another thing I'm sorry (not sorry) but my child takes priority over your animal.

[A4Document]

kali I don't see this thread as being critical of animals, just some of their owners who don't consider others. A dog may wish to jump up on people, because that's what dogs do. But its owner should ensure that it doesn't.

[GreatBritishBakeOff]

It might be just me, I'm sure I'll probably get all sorts of flaming for this, but I'm pretty sure people's small children haven't, without warning, lost their shit and mauled/killed someone's pets because someone coughed or sneezed or whatever unexpectedly. Those dogs that have are often described as 'friendly' or 'harmless' until they're just not.

I'm not saying that all dogs are dangerous, far from it, but they all have the potential to be because they are fucking animals and never ever 100% tameable.
If people don't want your pet near them, that is their right.

We had dogs when I was growing up, but I would never approach any that I didn't know, nor would I expect to be harassed by them in a public place.
Dogs should always be on a lead, and not allowed to approach small children unless the parent encourages it.

[TheSolitaryBoojum]

I agree with a PP that the victim-blaming on dog threads is ridiculous.
What's wrong with objecting to unwanted attention, or being wary based on previous experience? Wuld you be as dismissive of a woman feeling that way about a man?

[BombadierFritz]

Why 'victim blaming'?
Your child is frightened of something, anything, and there are different responses you can make. Some make it worse and reinforce the fear. Why do that? Some fears are learned responses from parents. Again, why do that?
We've all seen examples of what i personally think of as shit parenting, where a parent is inadvertently building up a childs fears. Its not victim blaming, its parent blaming.

[WaitrosePigeon]

Andrew will be along soon with tales of animal cruelty...

Anyway, if the signs say all dogs on leads then that is what should be happening. The end. Finito.