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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

for wanting to walk in the park without being bounced on by giant b*stard dogs?

292 replies

bohemianbint · 11/05/2007 16:22

Shouldn't people keep an eye on their fricking dogs and not let them run all over parks and scare the crap out of people? Was subjected to about 5 minutes fending the world's biggest dog off before the stupid bitch of an owner came sauntering round the corner. Don't people understand that just because they think their dog is great doesn't mean anyone else does?

OP posts:
Blandmum · 12/05/2007 19:02

and also that dogs can trigger allergic reactions!

I don't give a toss how nice a dog is. Meeting one triggers ds's asthma attacks. I don't think that I'm being unreasonable is wanting this not to happen, am I?

Or are the 'rights' of dogs to roam off the leash more important than my ds's health?

flightattendant · 12/05/2007 20:10

Connie, sometimes it's really necessary to step in and protect your child - I always steer a bit away from ANY dog who is pulling to get near DS - until we've asked, or been told by, the owner, whether the dog is friendly or not.
Even if yours are, please bear in mind that some dogs are not safe with kids...I've even been told by some owners, 'No, don't touch him, he'll bite'.
Just being a bit careful...that shouldn't piss you off, because not all dogs ARE like your lovely hounds!

Like walking onto a zebra crossing with confidence, assuming all the cars will stop - many, many times they don't, even when you have a buggy and are pregnant...

martini · 12/05/2007 20:20

Haven't read all this thread but I totally agree with the first dozen posts. I posted a while ago on days out thread about a really unpleasant experience I had in the Imperial War Museum Peace Park. This is unfortunately regarded by dog owners as a great enclosed space to let their dogs run about.

I was there with 2 small kids and a bloke with 2 large dogs let them keep running up to my obviously scared children while he chatted on his mobile phone.

He was then quite abusive when I asked him to keep them under control. I'd had enough and was pretty abusive back. So much for a Peace Park.

whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2007 20:42

Connie - is this another of you 'mumsnet is shit and it's posters are full of it' posts? Seriously, do you actually mean what you say or are you just stiring?

Do you honestly believe people are avoiding your 'big lively dogs' because they want their kids to be irrationally scared? Are you honestly telling us that if your two 'big lively dogs' took it into their head to chase a rabbit you could stop them? How about a toddler?

flightattendant · 12/05/2007 20:45

wmmc without any particular reference to any particularly infamous thread - maybe there should be a 'let's be really unreasonable and totally contentious' board...

whomovedmychocolate · 12/05/2007 20:51

FlightAttendant - yes, perhaps a 'mock-flouncing troll section'

elsiefergie · 12/05/2007 22:28

I've got 2 labradors and am out every day with them. I always put them on the lead if I spot wee/nervous looking kids ahead of us. The idea of having dogs on a lead all the time, in the parks round here is just daft as for most of the year its's only the dog walkers that are using them.

And actually what about protecting my dogs from some kids. Took the dogs and my DD (15 months) to the park last week. Tied the dogs up away from the fenced off playpark area, while DD had a wee swing. Had a stupid woman letting her son firstly try to get my mutts to fetch sticks (duh they're tied up!)
and when they wouldn't, and even after I'd asked the boy and his mother to stop teasing the dogs, he carried on and then started hitting them over the head with his stick.

Totally understand why people could be scared of dogs though, and think that some owners as well as their dogs should be put down.

RachelG · 12/05/2007 22:34

I don't hate dogs, and I'm not scared of them either BUT I really hate it when they come running up and lick my son's face! The owner says "it's OK, he won't bite". But that's not much comfort really, considering that the dog has been licking its own bottom all afternoon, and is now licking my son's face!

Yuk, can't stand it!

Vulva340 · 13/05/2007 08:12

Sorry, but have just skimmed the thread and have a contender for the weeks "ill thought out quote of the week" from Expatinengland

"I think a lot of people are more scared of black dogs..probably the same people that are racists"

Sorry, but that just has me pmsl! No one can seriously think that. Can they???

I agree wholeheartedly with much of the sentiment on this thread. To an extent I agree with what Connie is saying too, but I don't think it is relevant to the OP in this case. If people make their kids frightened of dogs because that is only their problem, until an irresponsible dog owner allows their dog to frighten them.

The owner whose labrador broke someones ankle should be charged with assault as that is what it is imo. Control of dog laws are very clear.

PS I am a dog owner and I love dogs. I dislike quite a few dog owners though!

Vulva340 · 13/05/2007 08:13

pmsl.. looks like I forgot to change my name that I didn't end up using yesterday!

TinyGang · 13/05/2007 08:31

Completely agree.

Has anyone known people with dogs who insist the doggy 'makes friends' with you?

Some neighbours have got a big dog. It starts up with the growling and barking routine if you are at the front door. They at least try to assert some control but then the dog is paraded in and we both have to make friends.

Good grief

flightattendant · 13/05/2007 08:34

Vulva340...ROFL, great name!!

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 13/05/2007 08:38

Vulva - lol - the mind boggles as to what you were going to post under that name!

ConnieDescending · 13/05/2007 08:47

Oh FGS, am I not entitled to an opinion anymore because of something I expressed in another thread?

Just sick of this evil dog terrorising my children stance. For what its worth my eldest child has been knocked down by a dog in the park but she wasn't bothered by it because my reaction was to pick her up, dust her down and laugh about it.

It is the responsible thing to do to walk a dog. The parks are for everyone. I have passed some families with my dogs and they have picked the kids up out of the way ofthe dogs path when they are on the lead. We have been walking with the dogs and kids on bikes have been turning round and screaming at them and the parents are giving us the evil eye.

Kids being afraid of dogs is not a good idea because it is often the running away and the screaming thta encourages a playful dog to bound up to them.

dionnelorraine · 13/05/2007 08:48

I agree that all owners should be responsible with their dogs. We are. But some comments on this thread are completely ridiculous!
'Being scared of black dogs cos of racism'! Please! Thats just stupid!
'Dogs shouldnt be let off the lead in any woodland area' Well thats just an unrealistic, narrow minded thing to say! I agree that they should be on lead in play parks, but to keep dogs on a lead up the downs or woodland areas is plain cruel! Dogs need excersise. Only a person that doesnt like animals or own a dog would say that! If a dog is aggressive then, yes, definately lead/ muzzle at all times. But a normal family pet with no 'issues' is fine to be let off the lead in bigger spaces. The downs isnt just for people!

LittleMouseWithCLogsOn · 13/05/2007 08:55

yes you are being ur

whomovedmychocolate · 13/05/2007 09:24

Connie - so it's the CHILD's responsibility if the dog savages them then, they were asking for it by running away?

I agree you have to have a sensible response. When DD falls over I pick her up with a 'whoops a daisy', however I wouldn't expect her to be charged by large animals and if she was, once I'd checked she was okay, I'd be flipping annoyed with the owner who had allowed this to happen.

If you are walking your dogs on leads (and short leads too, not half a mile long so they take up the whole path) then well done, no-one needs worry about your dogs. However your comment: 'nothing pisses me off more when I am walking them than hysterical parents trying to 'protect' their precious children from them' speaks volumes on your attitude on this subject.

So everyone else is 'hysterical'? Oh and FWIW yes, I do believe children are 'precious' and have more rights than dogs. Who do you get out the house first in a fire?

Oh and yes, everyone does remember that post - you insulted everyone and said you were leaving - yet you are still here. So are you surprised when people doubt your integrity?

whomovedmychocolate · 13/05/2007 09:26

dionnelorraine - I actually agree that if you are in woodland you have to expect animals, it's a natural environment and TBH I reckon dogs cause less mess than the families who leave all their picnic rubbish behind on the heaths!

It's the squirrels I worry about (vicious bastards)

But I think the owner has to train their dogs to return and not to wander too far.

Blandmum · 13/05/2007 09:29

Connie, if a dog bounds up to my son in the park it will give him an asthma attack.

What are your views on that? Is my son never to be able to go to the park because people want to let their dog off the leash?

And yes, he really is that allergic. Even in the open air!

No-one seems to want to comment on this one.

winestein · 13/05/2007 09:41

I did actually consider it MartianB. It was an insight to something I had never even thought about.

winestein · 13/05/2007 09:41

(that was me, Vulva340 btw)

Blandmum · 13/05/2007 09:43

Great name change btw

vimfuego · 13/05/2007 09:44

I love jogging round our local park but it's a lot less fun when dogs are around. Most are OK but you get the odd psycho dog and there's no way of telling from a distance.

I think for a lot of owners the physical intimidation aspect is part of the appeal. ("wanting a big dog for protection")

Not so nice for other park users.

ConnieDescending · 13/05/2007 10:37

Chocolate, nobody mentioned dogs savaging children - thats exactly the kind of hysterical over reaction I was pointing out. The fire scenario is an equally ridiculous statement to make that doesn't even warrant a response.

MB, I'm sure there are lots of other environments and places that trigger your childs asthma other than a park with dogs and whilst I sympathise with this I can't see how having a dog on a lead would make a diference?

Finally, I don't think dogs jumping up at people and knocking children down etc is appropriate but its not the end of the world either. A dog who has a tendency to be a bit overzealous should be either kept on the lead in parks (not woodlands/ fields etc) or have a much more aware owner who is working on the issue. Its just the same as parents taking a child who is in a biting/ hitting phase to a childs playground - they should either not do it or keep an eye on their child and make sure its dealt with.

I keep my dogs on the lead in the park but only because I usually have my children and pushchair with me, dogs will be off the lead if we go across the fields or in woodlands.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 13/05/2007 10:47

That's the point of the OP though isn't it? 'Over-zealous' dogs are often not kept on leads. Dogs jumping up at people isn't the end of the world either but why should anyone put up with it when it can be avoided? And remember that for a toddler a dog on the loose is probably relative in size to a galloping pony.

And of course it makes a differnec to mb's child if the dog is on a lead. She keeps her ds away from the dog and the dog is kept away from him.