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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:
BigBaboonBum · 27/01/2018 00:02

If your 7 month old puppy is still snapping at peoples legs and chasing people down like that then you really need to invest in some dog training classes...

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 27/01/2018 00:02

Big whoop Di doo that you don’t pander to anyone
you know what if a parent wants to reassure a child when your dog walks by,that’s up to them
You see Your dog isn’t universally loved.or pandered to.

Iusedtobecarmen · 27/01/2018 00:03

foogirl
They are making a huge fuss

Not helping the kid deal with a dog walking past on a lead. A everyday occurrence in the UK.
I protect my kids too but I do wonder. what kind of up bringing some have had to have genuinely not encountered a common pet

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 27/01/2018 00:03

Fear of dogs is a pretty valid fear to have. For starters, dogs are everywhere, on the streets, in the parks, roaming free. Secondly they can cause serious damage in a very short space of time. And they do. There is no denying that, they do. And thirdly, So many of them aren’t owned responsibly which makes them even more dangerous. So I dont think it’s pathetic at all to be scared of dogs and even less pathetic to be scared and upset after you’ve actually been chased and nipped by one. It’s pretty much your fear come true! It validates your fear absolutely!

I speak as a dog lover and a dog owner.

3EyedRaven · 27/01/2018 00:03

Maybe they’ve encountered common pets like this one

Dazedandconfuzzled · 27/01/2018 00:03

Iusedtobe so let me get this straight a child is scared of dogs. A parent picks said child up when a dog comes near to avoid the child freaking out. And you think this is ridiculous. So it would be better for the kid to start screaming and running thus scaring the dog in the process. People are scared of many things, I'm scared of hot air balloons, children can't control themselves like adults so react differently and you think that respecting that and trying to make a small child comfortable is pandering?

PrincessoftheSea · 27/01/2018 00:03

Yep just one of many reasons people are scared of dogs, not just kids.

YABVU

HuskyMcClusky · 27/01/2018 00:04

I don’t think people are being ‘precious’ because they’re frightened of something.

I do think parents do their children a disservice by indulging screaming hysteria at a nipping puppy in a 9-year-old.

My youngest nephew used to be like this. Was terrified by any dog running near him. My brother used to kneel down and talk to him calmly and soothingly, pick him up if necessary, etc. He is now 7 and a bit nervy around huge dogs but mostly fine.

Teaching children that they’re in danger when they’re not does them no favours.

MotherofaSurvivor · 27/01/2018 00:04

If they report this then your Dog is going to be seized and destroyed OP

Iusedtobecarmen · 27/01/2018 00:04

Whoop di woo back

I won't walk in another direction either to avoid a wimpy kid. And an even more wimpy parent acting like they are face to face with a wolf.

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 27/01/2018 00:05

So applying your logic rose,no big deal cause it was only a few minutes duration?
Oh well then,let’s not consider the impact or fear of a child.
Folk like you give dog owners a bad reputation

Idontdowindows · 27/01/2018 00:06

because nobody matters on this planet except you and your dog, eh Iused...

Iusedtobecarmen · 27/01/2018 00:07

Hang on OP. According to survivor,your dog may be seized and destroyed?seriously.
I'd think about who you consider to be good friends with

DonnyAndVladSittingInATree · 27/01/2018 00:07

It’s not wimpy to be afraid of dogs. It’s pretty logical.

Dazedandconfuzzled · 27/01/2018 00:09

Children who are scared are not wimpy they are frightened. What if that child had been bitten by a dog when they were younger?
I do think children should be taught where possible that most dogs are fine, but if a child has had a bad experience then I don't see that removing them from situations involving dogs is a bad thing.

Iusedtobecarmen · 27/01/2018 00:09

No lots of things. matter apart from my dog. Obviously.
However if I am in a dog friendly park or beach and a parent chooses to also walk there and be petrified walking past me. Not my issue at all

LipstickHandbagCoffee · 27/01/2018 00:09

Well you can holler that whoop Di doo loudly cause you’re all fired up,and all over wimpy kids
Do you just stroll round all bad ass taking no shite from any wimps
What a peculiar outlook on life. You vs the wimps. You and a maladjusted dug

ButchyRestingFace · 27/01/2018 00:09

Tiny dogs scare the crap out of me.

I like my dogs nice, big, bounding, slathery and stoopid. much like my men

I'd probably have keeked my breeks as well if some toothsome wee terror was trying to take a chunk out of my ankles. 😱

HuskyMcClusky · 27/01/2018 00:10

If they report this then your Dog is going to be seized and destroyed OP

Don’t be so bloody ridiculous.

CheshireChat · 27/01/2018 00:10

I don't see why you wouldn't make small allowances for people who are scared actually.

I used to have striped black boxer and some people looked uneasy near us so I'd shorten the lead and switch the dog around to the other side, though I wouldn't detour or something.

If you grow up with dogs, it's easy to forget how little other people know about dogs. My best friend and my DP were virtually clueless about pets before they owned one, we now have a cat and I still think 'how the hell can you not know that' with DP.

singingdetective · 27/01/2018 00:11

I'll probably get flamed into next week for this but I wonder how the people saying they'd boot the dog into oncoming traffic would react if someone said similar in a thread about badly behaved children Hmm

It's not the dog's fault if it hasn't been trained.

FissionChips · 27/01/2018 00:12

If your dog came at me I’d likely send it flying with a good kick.
Yabu op

Dazedandconfuzzled · 27/01/2018 00:12

We only have 1 park in my town, parents have no choice but to take them to that park dogs or no dogs. Maybe people who have a fear of dogs should just stay inside so as not to bother entitled dog owners with their fears. I mean I walked down the street the other day past a dog, if i was afraid of dogs I should have flown to avoid such encounters.... Maybe we should all just respect that we are not all the same.

Iusedtobecarmen · 27/01/2018 00:13

Yeah I'm proper solid.
I laugh in the face of silly parents and poncey kids who screech at my skinny little dog on a lead.
What should I do?walk her somewhere else?.somewhere I won't offend delicate little flowers?

Greensleeves · 27/01/2018 00:13

I'd be very surprised if anyone said the same thing about a misbehaving child.

because that would be batshit crazy

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