To say that I hate dog owners more than the dogs.

[Sandra12345t]

I was walking in the park with my four year when a horrid dog unleashed by its owner jumped up on my four year old scratched his leg and arm deeply (will probably scar and knocked him down.

My child was shaking with fear and what's worse is the owner said "he's only being friendly/didn't mean any harm.

I hate dogs but this just reinforces my hatred but what's worse is the owners who think there pets can do absolutely no wrong. Some of us choose to not own dogs we have a right to not be scratched,jumped on, knocked down or sniffed and chased. Why can't dog owners put them on a lead.

Meant to add - OP, I'm sorry your little boy had to go through that and I hope he heals without scarring.

ohhh dear - a tough one for me. I am a dog owner (i have 2) and am a mum of 2 as well. I think saying you hate all dog owners is a little bit harsh. You can't put us all in one bag - i am responsible, pick up after my two and sometimes, pick up after others irresponsible mess (when out in the communal gardens) I also have my two on a lead when i am about (except for when we are in the woods) and believe it or not, its to protect them from children who think its ok to run up to them to try and poke/stroke/carry them. It works both ways OP. My smallest dog now has a phobia of young children because when she was a puppy a young child decided to come up and manhandle her, tried picking her up by her back legs when she was trying to squirm away, also poked her eye. Guess what the mum said to me? 'how cute - she's only trying to give it a cuddle!'. What is my dog bit her? she would have been put down. Nothing happens to the child though - the child was only trying to 'give it a cuddle' Now because of that incident, i have to keep my poor dog away from visitors if they have kids because she is terrified of children. Is that fair? Should i say - i hate everyone with children?!

YABU - to say dog owners are all the same
YANBU - to be upset re your child, i am sorry he is hurt and hope he feels better soon.

That person sounds awful. That said my Youngest is scared of dogs and dog owners have always been very sweet about keeping their dog away from him and being reassuring.

Oh a dog thread!

Sorry it you had an unpleasant experience OP.

I have bad experiences with children being mean to my dogs but I can't say I hate all children and their owners.

The problem is that there are very few guidelines about what constitutes a responsible dog owner. People get puppies without being aware of the amount of time needed to train them, and whether that breed is suitable for their location and situation. Most dogs (some are easier to train than others) need a hell of a lot of work, but the 'norm' is not to bother, so you see a lot of badly trained dogs around. For some reason, a strange dog jumping up is acceptable - and why i should take a stranger's assertion (plus a stranger with blatantly no control of their dog) that their dog is 'friendly' is beyond me. I do know responsible dog owners - those who spent a lot of time and money being their did trained - but they are in the minority. I think part of the problem is that we anthropomorphize our pets in this country. Owners want to see their dogs 'happy' and 'having fun'.

'being their did'??? What the hell?? Having their dog, maybe! Bloody Swype.

Sorry to hear you had this experience, OP. That's not fair. I'd like to say that I am a responsible dog owner and we have the opposite problem when screeching toddlers run up to my cute little fluffball and scare the heck out of her trying to shove their grotty, sticky fingers into her eyes. She actually tries to hide from them!

I think it works both ways: dog owners need to respect that others might not like their canine friends and parents need to realise that dogs and their owner might not like their little stinkers bothering them too!!

please don't provoke an unnecessary fear od dogs in your child. I understand what it is like to be afraid of something but that does not mean you need to pass that on to your kid.

I thnk the dog knocking her child over might have done that.

I hate it when some dog owners think everyone loves their pet as much as they do. We don't. It isn't all dog owners though, there are plenty of really good dog owners out there. Its just unfortunate there are some arseholy ones too.

I hope your little boy will be ok OP. I dont think people realise that a dog bounding up to a small child would look like the equivilant to them of something the size of a bear bounding up to us adults. It can be very scary.

I hope your little

Lets not tar everyone with the same brush, thats not constructive or useful!

This particular dog owner was a dick, an inconsiderate dick.

There will always be people who are inconsiderate dicks.

To move on, you need to look at ways to prevent this incident becoming a serious fear issue for your child - many dog trainers will if you drop them an email or give them a ring, let you and your kid come and sit in on some puppy training classes or classes with steady dogs, to allow you to give your child safe, positive experiences being around dogs in a controlled situation.

I could say the same about parents and children though;

Riding/Skating in unsuitable locations.
Screeching/running in shops/restaurants etc.
Kicking the backs of seats on buses/planes.
Pulling up the flowers in my garden.
Winding up my dogs when they are in the garden.

There are many things that I find inconsiderate that some children do and some parents allow them to do but I don't blame EVERY child/parent for the actions of the minority.

I have to say as well that my dogs are very friendly and don't jump on strangers but I have had incidents with bratty little fuckers trying to annoy my dogs, for example last Summer my dogs were sleeping in the sun in our garden (gates locked) and this child thought it would be funny to pour a tin of fizzy juice over the top of them - and "what's worse is that the owner (mother) said he didn't mean any harm".... My dogs were left anxious about it but if my dogs even looked at a child sideways there'd no doubt be some dick moaning about it.

Rules should apply to everyone, dog owners and parents alike!

I have had bad experiences with other people's dogs and other peoples children. The one that sticks in my mind was a delightful child who came over to my dog, who was on a lead and dozing in a pub garden and spat on her.

This really tears me in two. I don't like dogs. They smell. They eat poo. They are needy. But my son has a support dog. A 38kg Lab.

So there's a dog in my life which I look after everyday. I was prepared to collect the poo (book), wash the feet (boak), wash the muddy wet dog (boak). What I wasn't prepared for was other people.

I really ain't a dog person. He's not my best friend, I don't want any harm to come to him and I treat him well and I respect the job he does. Other people are so negative though. He's extremely highly trained. The number of people that come up to a dog lying completely still on a leash outside to tell you that they can't be near dogs and they are so dangerous is outstanding! And if somewhere is advettised as dog friendly why are you there if you hate dogs.
I don't get it.

I wish dogs were banned in public places, or at least required by law to be on leads. I hate it when they come sniffing round my ankles or pram.

I'm scared to walk through my local park because of all the 'playful' dogs running up to me or trying to steal picnic.

If a dog comes up to me or DD I ask owner to put it on a lead. Most do so but a few are unable to call dog back and have to pull it away by collar.

You hate ALL dog owners? Even assistance dogs? ? The Queen ??.
Seriously, I hope your ds is ok, THAT dog owner was a twat, no 2 ways about it.
I'm a dog owner & take my responsibility seriously, as do most. Unfortunately you get knobheads in all walks of life........

Oh and non not all dogs eat poo !!

that I know. And ours doesn't. It's just once you've seen it, it's hard to unsee! And that's a great example of putting human emotion on an animal. Which is where I come from. Dogs are dogs. Pretending they have human emotions is ridiculous. Whether positive or negative they do dog things for dog reasons.

I've not rtft, as tbh most post are moaning about the wording.

I'm choosing not to take the wording seriously and to believe that you are just annoyed at this one shit owner (and others like them).

But you do need to report this to the police. This dog was 'dangerously out of control' in a public place which is a crime. Yes it didn't bite your son but that isn't the limit of the law. Any dog is deemed out of control if it is not restrained and causing justified fear or any harm to a person.
I hate the extent this law covers, if I left a dog in a parked car with the window down and the dog barked through the window causing a passerby to be startled it is still deemed out of control. Of course most cops/courts wouldn't be interested but it can be taken that way.... However in this case a dog (weather meaning ill intent or not) cause fear in an adult and child, drew blood on the child (in numerous places??) and knocked down the child. What if next time it jumps up at a child with brittle bones or other ailments etc. Please do the right thing and report.

Dogs eat poo, true.

But they don't get pissed on booze or off their head on drugs the way people do.

I hope you took your ds to get stitches and a tetanus jab.

Or is the scar part an exaggeration?

I think it works both ways: dog owners need to respect that others might not like their canine friends and parents need to realise that dogs and their owner might not like their little stinkers bothering them too!!

Not comparable really- human children will always take priority over dogs. If your dog is on a lead, by your side, how can a toddler stick their fingers into her eyes or pick her up? Why didn't you tell them not to touch or pick her up yourself out of harms way? Toddlers are naturally curious and a lapdog looks like a fluffy toy especially if it's trotting around off lead.

IMO dogs are potentially dangerous, carry diseases and worms, and wee/poo all over the streets. They certainly shouldn't be running up to strangers or knocking children over!

What PageNowFoundFileUnderSpartacus said.

I've been known to pick up other people's dog's shit on the pitches where I walk my dog, because if I and others don't, soon all dogs will be banned, including those owned by people are not behave like total tossers.

I walk a lot in the countryside, and even there I bury the stuff.

I have a Doberman, she's very friendly and has 100% recall. My problem is children are fascinated with her and run at her to say hello when she's off lead. The parents always shout "It's ok they love dogs" but my dog is worried around kids so she goes straight on the lead as soon as i spot one and i turn and walk away. It happens so often i muzzle her now (for her sake).

Non, I see what you mean

OP, I hope the reason you've not been back is that you are at A&E getting stitches and tetanus jabs for your DS.

An injury that's likely to scar is deep and open. I really hope you have taken him to hospital as the scar will be worse if the wound is left untended.