albafloss Serious question, are you capable of reading? I mean, do you actually read anything before you respond or are you always so clumsy with your replies? I've already quite clearly stated my dog is always under control, did you miss that bit? Did I at any given point say my dog wades through picnics? Next time you want to fire off a factually inaccurate and poorly written response, stop and read the post a second time before you type.
As a dog owner, I can guarantee that myself and other dog owners are in environments where adults, humans and dogs will merge several times a day I will be in these environments significantly more often than someone who does not own a dog, because of course owning one naturally requires you to spend more time at parks, nature reserves and outdoors in general. This is why I can say with certainty and accuracy that the majority of dog owners are very considerate people, because the rare occasion I see a dog out of control is just that, RARE. I completely agree that dogs should not be permitted to approach others without the owner checking that it's OK first, but surely that is common sense. It certainly is for all the many, many dog owners I know and encounter daily. I won't, however, allow myself and all the other responsible owners out there to be lumped in with the minority of owners who are less considerate by a group of people who clearly simply cannot be bothered to accept their dislike of dogs might contribute to their perception of the situation. And let's be honest, most of the posts on here are from people who have a wide and unscrupulous distaste for all dogs, regardless of how responsible their owner is.
Would you like to know what is much more likely to ruin a picnic than an over-friendly dog? A loud, noisy, shrieking child allowed to run "out of control" by it's parents. Children thoughtlessly and inconsiderately kicking footballs into people's picnics. Toddlers, allowed to totter over to your picnic and clumsily topple into your midst upsetting your goods whilst their beaming parents watch on indulgently because little Timmy is so sweet and surely everyone adores their child? Judging from the responses on here perhaps next time an unwanted child comes over, unwatched by their parents, they should be treated in the same way that a pp has treated someone else's beloved pet. A swift, knee-jerk reaction is called for surely rather than taking a split-second to assess the situation with a rational head? But isn't it just amazing what parents are allowed to get away with, all under that useful blanket excuse of "parental instinct".
And for the record, children who grown up in dog owning households have been repeatedly shown to have stronger immune systems, fewer allergies and a more active, outdoorsy lifestyle I can guarantee you those children will have at some point received a friendly lick to the hands or face whilst playing with the dog. Might be worth thinking about the benefits of healthy immunity before you start shrieking about germs.