Dogs on buses near babies

[FireLamp]

Just to be clear, this isn't a goady thread about dogs and I don't hate dogs. Interested in others opinions as I have to take the bus daily!

I think owners should keep them away from prams and only take them on buses if there's plenty of space! AIBU?

Today, coming back from a long walk at a local beauty spot, someone plonked their husky-type dog right next to DS in his pram (pram was in the area with fold-up seats, 2 other prams opposite). As dog was on eye level with 10-month DS I asked him to move the dog. He assured me dog 'won't hurt him' but I said I'd rather not take the risk thanks, especially as DS will try to grab anything furry and interesting. He reluctantly moved dog into the aisle, where it meandered around on the end of a long lead, sniffing people and getting in everyone's way.

I've had similar with someone's dog licking my ankle on the bus, owner didn't seem to think it mattered

Did I overreact or AIBR to think dogs should be kept on a short lead on buses, sitting next to their owner, away from babies/small children?

A dog lick is upsetting to someone with severe sensory problems. Obviously with a guide dog it might be a unpreventable unfortunate event. A dog licked my ankles when I was walking down a street a few weeks ago and I just thought 'yuck' but I don't have the same difficulties ds has.

What is the indefensible?

A dog on the bus where it might or most likely might not lick someone's leg?
A tragedy in the making this isn't.

YABVU

What a miserable old boot you are.

I love dogs. It makes my day if I get I to stroke one, and they are the only things that make the tube bearable.

Would I want grabby shouty excitable baby DD next to a strange dog that she could pull at and upset? No. YANBU.

Coco it sounds like you love your dog.
Sorry to be a killjoy but your d script ion of you on the floor and dog on the sofa gives your dog the unimpressive it has higher status than you which in turn may make its behaviour unpredictable.
I know you are just loving your beautiful dog but actually that may not be in its best interest.

Honking that's interesting for me to know. If we were sat side by side (guide dog) would you alert me that I'd need to be extra careful? In that situation I would hope teamwork would resolve any issues.

NeedacleverNN, no, it's indefensible. Undefendable isn't a word.

Navy, I have read your posts, that's why I'm disagreeing with you. Dogs have the potential to bite. That is all. I'm not neurotic but I do have some common sense.

And as for the people comparing dogs with humans, where do you get off on that? It's just not relevant.

Chardonnay, what's indefensible is the position a couple of people are taking by denying that dogs could bite when they have been presented with several pieces of evidence to the contrary.

surf and how much evidence is there for adults or older kids attacking or killing people?

Your poor dog being muzzled for no need. That's horrible.

Not to mention people probably avoid you like the plague because they think your dog is most likely vicious.

Wow, there have been loads of 'alternative reality' posts recently, this thread is full of them! I love dogs, but I think most real world parents wouldn't want an unknown dog within grabbing range of a curious baby/toddler. Keeping them apart is just common sense and there's no need for dog owners to get all defensive about it "but MY dog would NEVER bite". You don't KNOW that, as the tragic accidents in the papers every year show.

It's totally different in someone's own home with children the dog is familiar with.

Navy I'm afraid it's impossible for you to KNOW that your dogs won't bite. Every year there are dog attacks that are the first and only time a dog has shown agression.

When my best friend was small, she was in the room next to the kitchen, where the smell of roast chicken was very strong. The dog belonging to a family friend, a lovely animal (a German Shepherd) they'd owned since he was a puppy, with no previous behavioural problems, suddenly turned on her and bit her in the face. She still has scars. The family have theorised that the dog was hungry and driven crazy by the tantalising smells, but the truth is they have no idea what caused their lovely pet to savage a child at random.

Indefensible? Stop please
surf don't know why you are only picking on navy there are loads of people who don't agree with you!
If a person wants to compare their pet or thinks of their pet as a human where do you get off saying they can't?
Some people only have their pets.
Stop being so bloody nasty.

navy it's clear surf has their own agenda.

Yes dogs are bad and you do not know anything

Lurked, we're not talking about children attacking people. We're talking about dogs biting.

Kali, Navy and I have been exchanging on the subject since this morning. I'm not picking on her or being nasty. I can see an accusation of bullying heading my way which would be unwarranted. I disagree with all those in the same position as Navy but as Navy is responding to my comments she is inviting further comment. I'll happily make the same points to anyone else.

I also pointed to a study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania that found the breed of dog most likely to display aggressive behaviour is the same breed that Navy happens to own so she has taken exception to it.

Ah!' I thought dogs licking legs was indefensible.

Be aware of the murderous sausage dogs people

Navy, you mentioned in a PP that you let your dogs off the lead "when it is safe to do so" indicating that there are times when it is unsafe. You've proved my point.

I don't think you are unreasonable to want to move away from the dog but I think you were very unreasonable to ask the man to move away from you.
Dog's are unpredictable; so are children.
You were worried about your son grabbing the dog, so therefore you should have been the one to move away. It sounds like you were a lot less confident in your son's ability to keep his hands to himself than the man was in his dog's ability to not be aggressive.