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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have confronted this Oman whenever her dog licked my daughter’s face?

122 replies

Goldenboots11 · 02/11/2017 22:19

Context is daughter is 2 and quite frightened of dogs.

We were at the park today and it was full of children as schools are off here (N Ireland) and it’s still half term.

I was walking to the entrance of the park with my 2 & 4 year olds.

Party of 3 came walking past with their 3 dogs. One of the dogs came over to us and straight away licked my daughter’s face from chin to forehead. I wasn’t worried about the dog biting, it didn’t look cross iykwim, but my daughter was really upset. The dog was the same height as her, so I can see why she was scared.

The owners of the dog stopped and laughed and them walked on. They didn’t seem even remotely embarrassed.

I stood for a moment and thought, hang on that’s not really on.

I went after the owner in question and told her it’s not really ok for a dog to go around licking children on the face. It’s unhygenic and if she couldn’t control her dog it should be on a lead.

The women (age 50/60 ish) made a oooooohhhhhh sound and looked at me as if IWBVVVU

So is it ok for dogs to lick children on the face? I genuinely think it’s gross. My mum who was with me said I should have just let it go.

I was not rude or aggressive in any way but I just wanted the woman to know.

AIBU?

OP posts:
Original poster
Goldenboots11 · 02/11/2017 22:21

So on reading this back clearly I mean woman and not Oman and I guess I didn’t confront her, rather speak to her.

OP posts:
Minnn · 02/11/2017 22:22

YANBU, that is beyond disgusting. I'd have been livid.

FenceSitter01 · 02/11/2017 22:22

If you weren't aggressive why do you use aggressive words such as 'confront' which intimates hostile.

FenceSitter01 · 02/11/2017 22:23

cross post - ignore me.

Neverenoughspoons · 02/11/2017 22:25

I'd have said a lot more then you did! YWDNBU. That could easily cause a child to be even more bloody scared of dogs. Also a child could have immune system problems. She was totally out of order to have let it happen and for not immediately apologising to your daughter and to you.

notsohippychick · 02/11/2017 22:25

YANBU. Bloody awful. I would have been livid.

Battleax · 02/11/2017 22:25

YWNBU, but this will turn into a bun fight as all dog threads do. In fairness, most dog owners are far more reasonable than that particular woman was.

PurplePillowCase · 02/11/2017 22:26

yanbu
perfect example of why all dogs should be on the lead in public places at all times.

Wispygypsy · 02/11/2017 22:26

I'd have been very annoyed too. You don't know if her dog is wormed regularly!

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 02/11/2017 22:26

Revolting. A friend comes out in hives if licked by a dog.

Battleax · 02/11/2017 22:28

perfect example of why all dogs should be on the lead in public places at all times.

Yes. Millions of unexercised, frustrated dogs sounds SUCH a good idea 🙄

The most extreme blanket response is always the remedy for a few anti-social individuals, isn't it?

Longdistance · 02/11/2017 22:30

Yuck!

I could think of nothing worse than a dog licking my face. Dogs tongue arse 💩

user838383 · 02/11/2017 22:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ameliablue · 02/11/2017 22:36

As a dog owner I would have been embarrassed and apologetic.

Ermm · 02/11/2017 22:37

YANBU. I've got an 8 month old puppy and challenge we're working on at the moment is not jumping up (including on children). He's not at all aggressive - but I know that, they don't. And even if he's not aggressive I understand why kids (and adults!) might not appreciate having his paws on them.

We were at a busy train station the other day - he was on lead but I lost focus on him for a few seconds and he jumped up on some poor girl. I was MORTIFIED.

The thing is - you really can train dogs not to do it. But it does take a lot of work.

I lot of dog owners don't bother and really do have entitled attitudes - its my first dog and I've been quite taken aback with some other dog owners I've chatted with.

So I think you really were correct to say it - but I'm not surprised you got dismissed by the dog owner.

AdoraBell · 02/11/2017 22:49

YANBU.

I have dogs and don’t let them like my face, never mind a child’s.

ShellyBoobs · 02/11/2017 22:55

perfect example of why all dogs should be on the lead in public places at all times.

This.

DamsonGin · 02/11/2017 22:59

That's really grim. Hope your dd wasn't upset.

PerfectlyDone · 02/11/2017 22:59

YANBU.

It is utterly unacceptable for any dog to go round licking random people, never mind children and faces Shock

I think all dogs should be shot.
And cats.
And all other pets, frankly.
They all poop and are unnecessary and carry diseases and cost time and effort and actual money.
I shall start with my own dog right away.

Yes, gotta love a good generalisation Hmm

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/11/2017 23:00

I think the woman was being ridiculous. And YWNBU to tell her that her dog should not be allowed to do that.

Just disgusting!

MrsOverTheRoad · 02/11/2017 23:03

I have a very large dog and whenever he's out and about on his lead where children are present, his lead is SHORT.

That's because he's a licker and if I allowed it, he'd lick every single child and short adult he passed.

It's not ok.

BrioAmio · 02/11/2017 23:14

My dog is a licker (pretty sure it’s in the breed description) and I always warn people that ask to stroke him because not everyone likes it. I’d be mortified if he did that to a child and upset them.

Bumblesbees · 02/11/2017 23:16

Why didn’t you intervene when you saw a large dog approach your child? I would have lifted mine up out of the way of an approaching k9

dietcokeandwine · 02/11/2017 23:18

YANBU op.

Dogs licking humans is disgusting. Dogs licking human faces is doubly disgusting.

They shouldn't be allowed to do it, and the vast majority of the sensible considerate dog owning population would not allow their dogs to lick like that. Unfortunately there will always be a section of the dog owning population that is neither sensible nor considerate, and sounds like you ran up against one of those today.

PeapodBurgundy · 02/11/2017 23:30

There needs to be better provision for dogs in this country IMO. There was an awful incident on the bus with a dog who got agressive over DS's pram toys, we couldn't get away from the dog (people would have had to move closer to the dog to get out of my way), so I had to take DS out of his pram, and pass him over the seats further back on the bus to some very helpful and understanding people who kept hold of him for me until the driver got the dog and his owners off the bus. The dog wasn't on a lead, when it plainly needed both a lead and a muzzle. The owners didn't give a shit! Their response was 'he's a puppy, he doesn't know any better'. I agree, he was, and he didn't, but THEY should have, and they should have been trying to teach him.
These incidents would be much less if there were stricter rules about where dogs can be,and how they must be restrained. That being said, where are dogs supposed to go for a good run around? There needs to be more designated areas where dog owners can have priority to unleash their dogs, to reduce the need for dogs to be off the lead where people who may be nervy etc are. (I should add that I know there are many impeccably trained dogs, with brilliant owners who are more than capable of managing their dogs, but the few seem to spoil it for the many)