AIBU bloody “dog people”

[mumof2exhausted]

Ok so I know there are some decent, responsible dog people out there but AIBU to say that there are some absolute arseholes who genuinely don’t seem to understand that not everyone loves dogs?? My 4 year old was recently bitten by a random dog so understandably is little nervous around them. A huge dog has just ran after him in the park (double the size of him) and he was petrified. Dog obviously thought he was playing game of chase. I don’t blame the dogs, I blame the owners. They didn’t call him off immediately just laughed and shouted “oh he’s just being friendly”. This happens all the time. Another big dog jumped up and pushed over my 2 year old couple of weeks ago. And no sorry or anything. Again a “he’s just being friendly ha ha” and off they walked without so much as a backwards glance to check my crying 2 year old was ok. I don’t have a dog but if I did and this happened I would be mortified and would apologise immediately and dog would go straight on a lead. Nearly lost my shit today with the owners but honestly don’t think they would have even cared.

YANBU. I have always had dogs and keep them under control. It is totally inconsiderate to allow your dog to rush up to anyone - adult or child. I did have a couple of bounding-up incidents when my dog was a puppy (and therefore whilst training was a work in progress) but He didn’t knock anyone over, I got him back under control, apologised profusely and (at the parents’ request) stayed around so the children could get over their shock by petting him when he was on a short leash and calm. Can I just say, however, that my bugbear are parents whose children scream in “terror” (possibly real, possibly assumed) when my dog is on a short leash and they are several metres away. I do think that is an excessive reaction, though I know that’s not the case with OP.

Avocados i think the difference tho is if you know your dog reacts, you keep them leashed...it's the ones off leash that are the nightmares. I never let mine off unless secure area (all been rescues) because their triggers are vast; they all have been bounced by others tho. It's like the proverbial kid in tantrum...if it isn't directly bothering you people tut & walk.

Friends dog isn't the aggressor, think i missed that part. Always muzzled as precaution but has to date never retaliated. It's the other dogs that have had her sadly; she is just a wreck & other dogs target that. She is happy enough tho, walks when she is stable & stays at home if she isn't. But owner constantly on alert as morons don't get it with their unruly dogs

I adore nearly all dogs. I'm even paid to write articles about them and studied a dog behaviour course because I find them so fascinating. I would never let one of my dogs run up to a child like that. Sometimes things happen by accident, (sometimes dogs and children inevitably bump into each other!) If it did and the child was scared I'd be apologetic.

Those owners are idiots OP and are not 'dog people' because they don't understand dog behaviour and aren't responsible owners.

@Lockheart I don't think @RhapsodyQueen meant guide dogs in the sense you are! I'm sure Rhapsodyqueen is aware that guide dogs are in a totally different category...for starters guide dogs are 'working animals' and very controlled when they have their harness on they know it's work not play time I don't know anyone including myself who would mind a guide dog in a shop/restaurant/shopping centre etc

@RhapsodyQueen Dh and I used to love going to a local cafe, the odd guide dog used to be in there and never had issues with that...they were always sat on the floor usually under the table quiet, waiting for it's owner! Slowly but surely 'normal' dogs that are not guide dogs started coming in!

When you're trying to have breakfast and you've got them barking, running around your legs or wet dog smell/dropping the stinkiest of farts it's not great! We stopped going and found somewhere that only allowed guide dogs...much more pleasant and chilled on a Sat/Sun morn...we heard the owner lost quite a few customers from allowing dogs that weren't guide dogs they'd either be outside tied to a lamp post/railing making a racket or jumping up on people whilst having food!

Sorry don't know why half of it is in bold

We were on a beach not long ago with my brother and five year old niece who is nervous of dogs - not terrified but nervous. A family arrived with a dog, who proceeded to run over to where we were sitting, and scamper around us, clearly looking for food. He started nosing at my niece, who was scared and started to try and back away from it, it followed her and she started getting panicky. The woman came striding over and shouted to us, 'For god's sake, this is a dog friendly beach, if you don't like dogs you should go somewhere else' (actually I think she wasn't so polite). I felt like saying, but it is also a child-friendly beach, so if you don't like children YOU should go somewhere else. But I didn't because I'm way too polite.

@Sparklyshoes16 - Rhapsody’s objections were that dogs are “disgusting” and unhygienic and unclean.

Guide dogs are exactly the same as normal dogs - they can still lick, fart, roll in things they shouldn’t when they’re off duty, shed hair like the rest. They stilll smell when they’re wet. If you object to dogs for the above (as many posters have done), then you are objecting to guide dogs as well.

Everyone is so quick to complain about dogs because of the above, but you need to realise that when you complain about dogs in public spaces that it includes guide dogs and assistance dogs which are life lines (and dear friends) for many disabled people.

My friend gets extremely upset when she goes out sometimes - she can’t see the eye rolls but she can hear the tuts and the mutterings because she dares to have a dog with her. She doesn’t use mumsnet, but imagine if she could hear what some posters on here are saying about how unclean her house is and how awful her (guide) dog is?

Some people need to think before they post.

When out for a nice country walk you can get idiot dog owners, and oblivious parents, and dangerous cyclists

We have a real problem with mountain bikers. They use footpaths, where you're not supposed to cycle, and don't stick to the bridle paths. Because it's hilly, they come down through one of the fields where we walk at an alarming speed, and just shout at you to get out of the way.

An elderly lady's small dog was hit by a cyclist a few years and required surgery that cost over £600. They didn't even stop, the fuckers.

I was once bitten by a guide dog. My own fault. The man was talking about the dog and I said, can I stroke him? Yes, he said. He’s very friendly. He bit me. The dog was working. I got in the way of that and he wasn’t happy.

People who make flippant remarks on MN about "train your bloody dog" often fail to appreciate that there is an inbetween stage where the dog is learning but isn't yet the finished product -

Then at this stage surely the dog needs to be kept on a lead at all times in public so that he is fully under your control. If a dog ran up to me or my child and bothered us then I'm afraid "He's being trained" wouldn't cut it.

YANBU. We have a dog, she is jumpy so is not allowed off of the lead in public places until she is better trained. I hate seeing people out with dogs that are not under control, pooping everywhere whilst the owners chat on their phones :(

I totally agree. We are walkers and without fail when we sit down to eat our sandwiches, out of nowhere a loose dog will run up and stick its nose in our food. One ran off with the main part of my lunch last time .

‘He’s friendly, don’t worry’
‘Sorry, he’s not mine, I’m just -not- looking after him’
Or they are completely oblivious

I love dogs but why should they take precedence in all open spaces. There’s just so many now.

@Lockheart I can see your point but I see those dogs as an exception...I've only been around guide dogs when their in work mode i.e. on a lead/frame thing...of course they are dogs that shed hair, roll around in mud, poop too etc but I've only seen them when their usually all clean and looking like the Andrex dog I've never had a guide dog run up to me or jump around all over the place, or bark profusely they've always been controlled.

We have 2 dogs and I tend to walk them where there aren't many people or at quieter times. If busy I recall them to me and pop on a lead.

I also encounter annoying dog owners. However, I feel that the majority of dog owners and considerate but you only hear of the inconsiderate ones.

Equally people can be inconsiderate, glass left on beaches, old BBQ's left to smolder away on the sand for people or dogs to walk on.

Then at this stage surely the dog needs to be kept on a lead at all times in public so that he is fully under your control. If a dog ran up to me or my child and bothered us then I'm afraid "He's being trained" wouldn't cut it. Exactly

I of course did not mean guide dogs. Yes they are gross but I accept they are necessary. And their volume is tolerable. It's when we try tp go out to a cafe and there are ten dogs in there all wagging and stinking and slobbering. No thanks.

No Yanbu...…..I have a dog and we love her, but we understand that others don't share our fondness of dogs! I feel the same way about irresponsible dog owners as I do about irresponsible parents who expect everyone to adore their dc's as much as they do when they are running about in a pub/restaurant creating havoc whilst their parents get pissed and leave the staff to look after them!

lockheart, yes, we have had some of our dogs scoot round on their bums!(Yes, they are regularly wormed some is no that, before I get it) same as they roll round on their backs when they get an itch.

Then at this stage surely the dog needs to be kept on a lead at all times in public so that he is fully under your control. If a dog ran up to me or my child and bothered us then I'm afraid "He's being trained" wouldn't cut it.

If you read the rest of my post and didn't selectively quote you'd see I get a lot of judgement and tutting from people when my dog IS on a lead, because he's terrified of motorbikes and will lunge and bark at them to make absolutely certain that they're going to go away.

Hardly any cafes allow dogs inside, if you don't like dogs then go and visit one of the many places that don't let dogs in.

You have a choice @Rhapsody, go to a different cafe, then. I cannot abide people who wrinkle their noses up at well behaved animals.

I was in town at the weekend and two adults allowed their young boys to run up and down a bench seat. We were sat next to them. Eventually, one of them sent a glass flying. My dog meanwhile, sat under our table watching the chaos and only moved when the glass broke. I’d say, some people should control their kids better.

And then....(hoping you’ve all have breakfast by now) the older child sat, chastened, picking his nose and wiping his hand in the seat. Clean. Very clean 😐

RhapsodyQueen you really need to chill out. I find your comments about dogs being disgusting, smelly,slobbering etc very ignorant, my 2 are definitely not smelly, nor do they slobber anywhere maybe you shouldn't judge all dogs the same as I wouldn't judge all people the same.

My dog drools in the vicinity of food. She doesn’t pick her nose and wipe it on the furnishings though 😁