When people say their dog is fine and won't bite?

[marshamella]

Walking down the narrow road with my ds and hear a dog heavy breathing behind me. So I turn and tell the owner she can go infront. Her reply "it's ok he won't bite he's soft as anything" and stays behind us. With ds I couldn't walk fast so decided to cross the road when I didn't need to. Was this rude of her not to walk infront as she could see we were uncomfortable with a dog right behind us? I'd rather be the judge of weather or not I want the dog by us.

However I'm entitled to choose life without one, and their lifestyle choice should not trump mine. I don't want dogs to touch me, lick me, or come close enough to me or my children to make me (or them) feel uncomfortable, intimidated, or upset. Why is that so hard to understand?

I agree with this totally. I had lots of pet dogs when I was young, loved them, and was never nervous about other people's dogs ... until the day a neighbour's normally friendly dog tried to sink her teeth in my throat. I really don't feel the same way about dogs now, especially dogs I don't know. I am especially sick of dog owners who let their dogs lunge at me, leap up at me, lick me, try to smell my crotch, or leap on or sniff at my children, while saying "Don't worry, he/she is just being friendly" because if they can't stop their dog doing irritating things to strangers, they are obviously not in control of it and there is no guarantee that it won't bite. In addition, having seen elderly and not-so-elderly people being knocked over by running dogs (including one who ended up with a badly broken leg due to being knocked over awkwardly), I do not underestimate the potential risks from being knocked over by a dog.

In short most dogs are lovely, parents please don't teach your children to fear them.
I am not instilling a fear of dogs in my children but I am most certainly teaching my children not to get close to dogs they don't know because I think this is an important life skill. OP: I think you were definitely NBU to want to put a distance between you and the dog.

It would be really nice if dog owners realised that other people may not find their dogs as cute and loveable as they find them ...

Yes, that same drivel has been said over and over again. Please read the thread.

Am i reading the same thread?
Yes not everybody has to like dogs, asking someone walking their dog on a leash, minding their own business to walk where you want them to just because you don't like dogs is unreasonable.

There's not a chance I'm going to put my dog back on lead every 30 seconds when I see another person, either.

My DH who absolutely detests dogs and refuses to have anything to do them - even he says the OP is BU.

And he never sides with the dog!

Some of you really are ridiculous. Making out I was telling someone where to walk when I simply offered her to go infront. Some people actually get impatient walking behind kids when they're going slow so seeing as the dog was walking fast I thought maybe she'd want to go on ahead. Most people would say thank you

OP.
NORMAL people see someone offering for them to pass as a total non issue and just say Thankyou and get on with it.

I actually didn't think people get offended by this and interpret this act of politeness as being dictated to.
"I will NOT be told where to walk" Oh seriously, get the fuck over yourself.

Can I comment yet?

OP, you made it ridiculous by posting your trivial story on AIBU. What did you expect? You told us the story of how a dog had dared to breathe too loudly behind you and people said you were BU. Then people with completely different stories about dogs not on leads and being out of control start of jumping in and saying you were right to have reacted ridiculously that way, all because they have a phobia of dogs.

Dogs are delightful! I love them and I can't wait until we get a dog (when DD is older). However, I teach my DD not to approach strange dogs because that's a sensible thing for a parent to do. We admire them from afar. If we are seeing a friend's dog, I stroke it first so she sees it is safe and knows where to stroke so she won't hurt it. If I knew the dog could get boisterous, I wouldn't let her stroke it. And I would never leave her alone, or even move further than a foot away, with ANY dog. No, you're right. You can't trust that dogs won't bite.

However, the OP's story was that the dog was walking behind her. She didn't like it so she said the woman could go in front but she politely declined. The OP crossed the road. Who was BU? Nobody!

when I simply offered her to go infront

An you thought she was rude when she declined.

You still don't get the point do you? Beingatwat think you answered that yourself

Yes she can go infront not walk infront of me now! As you are making out

I am not instilling a fear of dogs in my children but I am most certainly teaching my children not to get close to dogs they don't know because I think this is an important life skill.

Same. I've told my oldest 2 not to touch any dog they don't know. If people think I'm being ridiculous then that's fine, but I'd rather my children be safe than sorry.
If we pass a dog in the street, I don't do a big dramatic scene like shielding my children from the dog, or say "quick kids, a dog is coming!". We just carry on walking. They both used to be apprehensive about dogs, but they are growing out of it now. Some children can have fears of dogs without being influenced by their parents.

My DS1 was scared of the elephants at the zoo when he was a toddler. Are you going to blame me for that as well? Stop getting offended about the fact that children are scared of your dogs and instantly blaming the parents. Some children just don't like them and it can be as simple as that.

OP what is the point then? Go on. Explain it to us (use small words so we can all understand).

Really was you there navy? You have clearly misunderstood

Navy I mean when it's out for a walk
You knew full well what I meant.

I am not instilling a fear of dogs in my children but I am most certainly teaching my children not to get close to dogs they don't know because I think this is an important life skill.

What a ridiculous statement. It's an important life skill to not get close to dogs? You clearly are instilling a fear, which is very sad for your children.

Same as meand if you had normalised dogs to your children they wouldn't be 'apprehensive'. You are clearly passing on your own fears onto your children, which isn't fair on them.

Is this shit still going FFS, it was nothing yesterday and it's even less today

I don't think the dog owner was unreasonable - you don't say you told her the dog that close made you nervousness so I would assume she thought you were concerned that walking with a toddler was hindering her progress and she wasn't that bothered by it. Merely offering for her to come past you does not instantly make her know you were frightened. Dog owners like most people are not mind readers.

She wasn't rude to you, you have interpreted her statement as rude because you are looking to be offended by an evil dog owner - that makes you unreasonable