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 like dogs but some owners are delusional. There is one owner that always lets their muddy dog climb up my legs while I'm walking home from the school run. It's unbelievably rude.

I think you should need a license to own a dog and have to pass a fuckin test to get it.

Yanbu. Mine is usually on the lead unless it is a dog friendly beach/park. Eben then she stays close to us and if she wanders off we call her and she comes straight back. Even if not on the lead we stick close to her and in Control. Would never let her go wandering by herself.

Last month some dog attacked ours. They were sniffing - we were there, other owners nowhere in sightc when the bloody thing turned. It was only a pup (albeit a nasty one) so luckily only nipped ours. We pulled her away, other owners came running (as ours was yelping and barking - understandably as the other dog was straining to get at her, teeth bared). They automatically blamed ours, when told what happened didn't even apologize just said 'well she's a pup, she doesn't knowv. All the more reason to watch her then!

I've no issue with children asking to stroke the dog, or looking at her and I offer a stroke if they want - while holding the lead close, Eben though she's soft as butter with kids. I don't like it when numerous kids run over and start tugging her ears/being boisterous/rough, and have told them off in the past. She is placid but she shouldn't be treated like that anyway. The parents should a) teach them to treat dogs with respect b) teach them not to approach a dog without asking/being offered and c) keep their kids on sight. Parents would have enough to say if a dog turned round and nipped their bullying kids.

I think its unfair on the dog to just let them wander. Not only is the kid at risk - any dog can turn - some children are unkind, or may be rough without realizing, or other dogs could attack the dog. My dog for example gets intimidated at big dogs and goes into fight mode so we need to be there to control the situation. Owners have a responsibility to look after their dogs, and you never.fullly know your dog. Any dog can turn. Hence the need to keep in control

There are responsible and twattish dog owners. The same as parents really.

I take my dog to the top of the mountain to have a good run around. She is kept on a lead in places where people and other dogs are likely to be.

That doesn't mean she's not run at by other dogs or kids. I wish everyone would consider other people and their children/dogs tbh but whilst we share our world with inconsiderate dog owners, pathetic parents and just plain ignorant humans that's just not possible.

I love my dog. I don't expect anyone else to love her. I don't love other people's kids either. And I really resent people allowing their snotty nosed kids to lean on my table when I'm eating. You think your child is adorable. I don't...

I don't allow my dog near you. Keep your kid away from me. Then we'll both be happy

Just like to point out that statistically you're more likely to be killed by your parents than a dog.

I have no issues with polite dogs on leads etc I have taught my children not to approach dogs we don't know. I'm nit looking to hurt or get hurt but I will put myself between my child and some out of control animal rushing towards them. I won't wait for my Toddler to be knocked over or licked or bitten. If I shove a dog or kick at it and it bites me then fair enough I've protected my child. I would also seek to get the dog destroyed were that the case.
Take responsibility for your animal or face the consequences

Chinnyreckoning again animals are protected in law... They're not destroyed for biting someone who was kicking them...

I completely understand wanting to protect your child, it's 100% natural part of parenting and we all feel that way about our children but purely statistically our children are at MUCH MORE risk from humans than dogs.

I also hate it when I'm trying to train my young dog NOT to jump on people and people say "it's ok I don't mind". Well I do!!! Really ruining my training attempts and confusing the dog.

YANBU We live in Pembrokeshire and only visit beaches with a dog ban, yet I still spend my time telling people it's dog free and the majority are so rude and completely ignore the ban

My dog's always on a lead when we're out, because she's not good with people or dogs (or anything really) and the number of people who let their dog bounce all over mine, going "it's ok, he's friendly..." that's great that your dog is friendly, my dog is terrified and when my dog snarls and lunges, you're not going to say "sorry, missed the cues and body language, my fault," are you...

I so agree! I was chatting to a dog walking friend today about exactly this. I don’t care if someone else’s dog is friendly, mine is scared, fuck off and recall your bloody dog! I was especially pissed off yesterday when someone who has a muzzled dog on the lead allowed her other dog to chase me in the park and I had to bloody well lock my dog and myself in the tennis courts to escape. She then dicked about standing in the middle of the field on her phone while I fumed. She knows mine is reactive. Cow.

YANBU! Total arseholes at the pub today had a dog that was crying the whole time - we specifically don’t take our dog out to pubs etc because he can be a bit annoying and people don’t like to hear a dog barking or whining for 2 hours over lunch! We left after them and their dog tried to wee on the pavement and they kicked it on to make it stop and walk on - foul, foul people. Agree that if dogs don’t have recall they shouldn’t be allowed loose.

My family member is a dog person. Invited me and 2 small DC to lunch. When we got there, an hour and a half away, we were told that her dog wasn't good around children. So instead of a nice lunch I had a stressful afternoon keeping my 3 & 1 year olds away from her unrestrained bitey dog in a totally open plan house. They couldn't have told me their dog was bitey before I travelled? Or met me elsewhere? Won't be visiting again in a hurry.

And no I don't let my children go up to dogs. Both children like animals but are taught to be respectful and a little bit cautious.

Irresponsible behaviour. If you have a dog, train it or leash it.

Yanbu. I would be furious if my dog jumped up on a stranger. Not acceptable at all

I aim to be a responsible dog owner. I put the dog on his lead if we see people approaching or if there is another dog we don't know. I don't expect anyone to love him like I do. He is only off the lead in familiar places where I can see a good distance ahead. He isn't allowed out of my sight. We have a short lead, not one of this awful retractable cheesewires and a lunge rein for recall training.

However I am guilty of shouting 'he's friendly' when I see another dog walker approach as generally they put their dog back on the lead when they see mine on the lead. There's no need unless their dog doesn't like others as my dog is friendly.

I really try my best, especially as my top lip was bitten through by my childhood dog. I have a large scar running from nose to lip. There has to be a happy medium though, dogs do benefit from time off lead and the freedom to sniff and interact with people, however my dogs needs don't trump humans.

YANBU this situation is ruining our local park for my eldest. The sheer amount of ignorant dog owners is infuriating. My eldest will be practically climbing up the back of my legs to avoid a dog, I say they are nervous around dogs (after a dog snapped unprovoked at them in the same park!) and you can almost hear the eye rolls from the owners. It pisses me right off because it's a big park and people seem to insist on walking dogs off the lead right through the kids playground! There are plenty of routes that would avoid it too.

Protected yes of course... but I'd love to see the jury on whether I was defending myself from a vicious attack or not. If you honestly think me nudging a dog who is not under control is a crime then 😂

I must live in an area with a high proportion of irresponsible dog owners. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve had a dog jump up at me or worse, at my son in his pram only for the owner to give some half assed ‘apology’ usually followed by a tinkly laugh and a ‘don’t worry he/she is friendly’ I don’t care if they are friendly I don’t want a dog jumping up at me!

Chinny I think most parents would do anything in their power to protect their child from an attack.
But your post isn't about this. You say you would kick a dog that ran towards you. That's not the same and I think the law would see it very differently.
Not to mention if you kick the wrong dog you could get bitten or thumped by an irate owner.

I live in a tourist spot in a National park and dog walkers drive me wild. The constant fouling of pavements, the fucking sheep worrying (caught a man in Feb chortling to himself and filming his terrier having a stand off with a pregnant sheep), the idiots who bring their dog into the specifically dog free play area (one won’t hurt) and the dogs offrhe lead and out of control in the busy village.

A few weeks ago DD and I were walking though the village when a woman came the opposite way down the lane with three dogs in extendable leads. She was busy nosing in a shop window and didn’t notice one dog rush out towards DD. I called out to her to get the dog under control and she just looked at me. Dog got closer and started growling so I asked her, again, to get the dog under control and she blanked me. Only I yelled ‘Control your bloody dog’ did she bother to reign it in by which time the dog was close enough to try to go for DD.

So I bollocked her. DD was distraught and shaking. Dog was going mental at us and I was livid. She just kept saying that the dog wouldn’t have hurt us and being a smug twat.

People like that should have dogs.

I used to go running through the beautiful walkway at the end of our street to help my crippling anxiety. I haven't been able to go for a few months because of circumstances. I would love to start again but can't because I get so anxious at the thought of the dogs that race up to me and jump all over me. Oh the irony!

And I love dogs!

I suppose it's a subjective thing. A dog getting too close and acting unpredictably then yes. say to a range of a foot away. I certainly wouldn't kick at one who is 6 or so feet away. I guess it's an instinctive thing and I'd know what was too close for comfort.

But also more body blocking and shoving than giving a solid boot... that would be reserved for if it was persistent or barking aggressively etc.
I actually like dogs and we do stop and introduce my toddler to many but I do so after checking with the owner etc. Many lovely dogs out there.... and lovely owners.. but I'm always vigilent. My children know how to act round dogs.. . in fact both their childminders have rather large dogs and neither child is scared of dogs at the moment. I don't want that to change. My sister was knocked over by a large German shepherd as a young child and I would say her fear now is an awful hindrance as she won't go to beaches or parks where dogs might be loose.

I'm with you OP. The 'he's friendly' owners are the worst. I don't want mud and slobber up my clothes. I used to walk to work across a park, and every day without fail the same jack russell would run up and jump mud all over my suit. I ended up taking a long umbrella to fend him off with. I was too polite to lose it but I wish I had done.

I totally agree with you OP. I was in a graveyard with my two DC last week when a very large dog came bounding up and was haring around all over the graves. I was shocked! The owners seemed to think this was funny and cute and he was 'only being friendly'! Wiped it's muddy paws down me too. I had to keep my mouth shut else I would've let rip but how entitled and inappropriate is that!!