Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think crying over a puppy snapping at your heels is a bit pathetic?

466 replies

outofthefryingpan · 26/01/2018 22:32

We have a 7 month old pup. A small breed which will never grow higher that knee height. A friend came round unexpectedly with her 9 yo boy and because husband thought it was our daughter he let the pup down to greet her when he opened the door.

Pup ran outside and started snapping at ankles of the 9yo boy. Pup chased him a bit until husband managed to pick him up. Boy crying hysterically in floods of tears. Mother (friend) then storms off in a huff and apparently then arrives home herself in tears. Friend’s husband then demands we “do something about that dog”.
I’ve apologised profusely but they’re still all really upset about it. AIBU to think they’re being a bit pathetic about it? They’re good friends and I really value our relationship as I’ve always thought of them as really sensible people. Can’t believe the drama over this 5 second incident! I could understand it if it was a big dog but honestly- it’s tiny!

I suppose if you’re not used to dogs you don’t know how to deal with them but am I really BU to think it’s a daft drama over nothing?

OP posts:
LakieLady · 27/01/2018 11:30

I was brought up with dogs. I was taught from an early age never to run from one because the dog's prey drive means it is likely to chase, and the only means it has of catching you is with its teeth, and never, ever, to screech and squeal around them because it excites them even more.

I think OP is getting a lot of stick for not controlling the dog, when it was her husband who let the dog out, believing that it was their daughter at the door.

I've had dogs for over 30 years, and not one of them could be trusted at the front door at 7 months old. They're always shut in the living room in the event of unexpected callers, until we let people in.

Bogmoppit · 27/01/2018 11:32

I'd be very unhappy if any age/size dog snapped at my child's ankles. Why does he do this? None of the pups I've met do it.

I'm an experienced dog owner by the way

MovinOn · 27/01/2018 11:35

FFS I am so fed up of people and the "its a small breed" so its ok to let it jump up o snap at children....

would it be ok to let a 7 month old great dane jump up or snap at a child? NO....so why let a small breed?

Puppy teeth are sharp and hurt.... YABVVVVVU

my dd was brought up around dogs.... loved them.... then a neighbour moved in with a patterdale terrier. She let it run around the street and would jump up at my dd. When we pushed it down off her she shouted at me and called me all the names under the sun and how its "only a small dog it's not going to hurt her" Well yes it did.... my dd doesn't need a dog jumping up at her face, almost knocking her over!!!

my dh was bitten by a dog when he was a postman....guess what.....its was a west highland terrier!!! A SMALL BREED!!!!

FluffyWuffy100 · 27/01/2018 11:46

Bet you’d be pissed off of the puppy had been kicked whilst the boy was trying to get the dog off him.

millyk · 27/01/2018 11:55

YABVA

Celebelly · 27/01/2018 12:01

While I often think that parents sometimes do children no favours with their OTT reactions to dogs, I do admit to being concerned that your dog is 'snapping' at people's ankles at seven months old. I can understand your dog being excited and wanting to greet people, perhaps jumping up, but snapping at a kid's ankles is very bad behaviour. It doesn't matter that it's a tiny dog or not - it's behaviour that shouldn't be allowed to continue. I'd be mortified if my dog snapped at anyone's ankles and would be extremely apologetic.

Celebelly · 27/01/2018 12:04

I do think though that the mum's reaction was a bit OTT and it probably could have been defused without histrionics and tears on her behalf. She's probably just made things even worse for her son's anxiety by reacting so badly herself.

ittakes2 · 27/01/2018 12:10

YABVU - lots of children are afraid of dogs. The child has gotten themselves worked up and become hysterical - but they didn't choose to be that way. They must have a fear of dogs. Do you think being bitten by a small dog is somehow much nicer than being bitten by a large dog? Regardless of whether you thought your dog was going to bite the child or not - the child thought it was and that is what matters.

flatwood · 27/01/2018 12:12

If your dog small or otherwise snapped at my 10 year old I would never go near you again and probably report you to the RSPCA.
I love dogs and I love the role they can play in our lives. You can't control it then you shouldn't have one.

Youngmystery · 27/01/2018 12:47

Control your dog better or sell it to someone who can.

Nanny0gg · 27/01/2018 12:52

Where's the OP?

When I was 15 I had a friend with a very snappy Jack Russell. Damn thing wouldn't let you in the gate. I was very nervous around it and I'd grown up with a german shepherd!

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 27/01/2018 13:06

I'm so shocked you need to ask...YABVVVVU!

MagicWillHappen · 27/01/2018 13:10

Obviously yabu op.

If only for the sake of your dog, keep it under control. I don't care how old or big it is, if it came snapping round the feet of one of my dc it would get a swift boot in the arse to make it go away.

allthgoodusernamesaretaken · 27/01/2018 13:14

What is pathetic is yet another dog owner believing that everyone should love their dog as much as they do, and not understanding everyone is different. Keep your bloody dog under control.

This

OP has disappeared by the way ................

SusanneLinder · 27/01/2018 13:20

I own 2 dogs. Whether your dog is small or not, there is no excuse for not training it. And I would certainly apologise to my friend . Definitely not pathetic.
Sadly far too many people with small dogs treat them as cute little bundles that can do no wrong and don't train them properly.

PoisonousSmurf · 27/01/2018 13:27

That's the problem with little dogs. They aren't trained properly because they are so cute! But seriously, you really do need to get the dog trained, because one day it will be someone else or the postman.
No one likes out of control yappy dogs.

luckylavender · 27/01/2018 13:29

Another OP who doesn't like what she's heard and so is sulking.

eggncress · 27/01/2018 13:30

Not pathetic .. I can understand child being terrified.
You say you apologised ... are they not accepting your apology or is there more to it?
Why was child’s mum in tears?

Ironfloor · 27/01/2018 13:30

Of course YBVU. Why do some people think nothing of their darling pets causing fear/nuisance to others? You maybe ok with them but not everyone is. You need to be responsible for your dog.

One day, we went for a walk in the woods and had a picnic lunch under a tree. We had just finished our lunch when a dog walker cane along. The dog ran towards us and gobbled up one of the leftover sandwiches. Bloody woman didn’t even apologise! She just muttered ‘ooh I hope that wasn’t your lunch’. It could very well have been, you plonker! Next time, control your dog better.

blackteasplease · 27/01/2018 13:34

yabvu.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 27/01/2018 13:38

Think the OP was successful in just starting this thread as a wind up exercise.

flatwood · 27/01/2018 13:41

Op, are you Marge Dursley?

zeezeek · 27/01/2018 13:45

Another OP who doesn't like what she's heard and so is sulking

Or maybe she has just had enough of the bullshit hysteria around dogs on MN and has decided to withdraw rather than put up with the abuse?

Kursk · 27/01/2018 13:47

Dogs need to be trained, to stop this behavior. However this sounds like normal puppy behavior.

I think your friends over reacted to a puppy.

MavisPike · 27/01/2018 13:49

I don't think there is a dog