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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU bloody “dog people”

711 replies

mumof2exhausted · 03/06/2018 17:05

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.

OP posts:
Newerversion · 03/06/2018 22:42

Chinny, my dog is Barry but not aggressive. If he ran towards you barking and you used your foot to block him I would totally understand and back you. How would you know his noise wasn’t a threat? That is why he goes on the lead if we see people approaching with no dog, and so he should. Oddly if you had a dog he would ignore you and just toddle over to the dog (if it was off the lead)

Newerversion · 03/06/2018 22:43

He isn’t Barry , he is barky 😂. Although Barry is a great name.

Barbaro · 03/06/2018 23:03

This is why all dogs should be on leads, should just be law. Can't trust the idiots that own them and don't bother with leads.

Newerversion · 03/06/2018 23:07

There are great places for dogs to be off leads but none of those places are public parks or areas imo.

popcornpaws · 03/06/2018 23:20

I always keep my large dog on a lead, he is very strong and not very sociable around other dogs ( since he was attacked twice by dogs not on leads)
I fucking hate the summer when all these untrained (owners) think its fine to wander around with their dogs off the lead causing mayhem!
Only tonight i was met with two large alsations off the lead, the owner saying aw its okay they wont bite...
Well mine fucking will because he’s scared!!
And i used to have an alsation so its not that i think theyre vicious but come on!!

JuicySwan · 03/06/2018 23:24

YANBU.

Earlier I had reason to shout at a moron with a GSD to put his fucking dog on a lead because it was frightening my terrier pup to the point of making him cry while said moron carried in his phone conversation.

Actually the strength of my protective instinct surprised me - I was ready to take them both on.

Butterflykissess · 03/06/2018 23:24

I don't get why people with dogs seem t o think everyone likes them. I hate dogs. I had one come and jum p up at my belly when I was heavily pregnant and like so many others have said the owners just stood there staring! No attempt to call back or anything . I shouted over t to them and they still ignored me .

Wolfiefan · 03/06/2018 23:26

Of course dogs can be off lead in public. Where kids are playing football? I wouldn't.
In a quiet park away from toddlers pottering about? Why not?

Sparklyshoes16 · 03/06/2018 23:28

YANBU my friends dog on a lead (Springer spaniel) was recently attacked" by a Rottweiler in a park off its lead Angry my friend was so upset, scared and angry as she had to separate them, not sure where the owner of the other dog was! The Rottweiler ran off...my friend reported the dog to 999 as she was scared it might go for a child...they said they would log it but it may take upto 3 hours for someone to come out to them as they were dealing with another incident!

We also went to a beach in the NW recently and a few owners let their dogs run off lead even though there were signs everywhere saying dogs must be on a lead! One of the dogs (think it was a staffie) ran up to a family that were having a picnic and trampled through then ran off with a bit of food! The Mum of the family was asking whose dog it was...whilst her kids ran off and hid behind the windbreaker terrified! The owner responded "oh he's soft as a brush he won't hurt you he's more frightened of you" and then laughed...the Mum shouted put your dog on a lead...the owner shouted back" o give over it will help your kids not be so frightened"...whistled to the dog and carried on walking up the beach off its lead Hmm

SmilingButClueless · 03/06/2018 23:30

I love dogs.

I don’t appreciate dogs with muddy paws jumping up at me when I’m walking on a public footpath to the train station in my best interview clothes.

Yes, I know they’re friendly. I can read dogs well enough to work that out.

I still don’t want mud on my clothes.

Just keep them under control and don’t let them stop other people using public areas.

Childrenofthesun · 03/06/2018 23:42

We also went to a beach in the NW recently and a few owners let their dogs run off lead even though there were signs everywhere saying dogs must be on a lead!

What can you actually do if a dog is off-lead in an area where there are signs to say they should be on a lead? Or, more annoyingly still, when people take their dogs onto beaches or similar which are supposed to be dog-free? I saw this loads when I was in Norfolk and if you say something, the owners just ignore you. Who enforces the rules?

ginplease8383 · 03/06/2018 23:51

My dad died in a woodland. We were putting some flowers down where he died and having a ‘moment’ when some dog came and cocked it’s leg on the flowers(quote clearly a large arrangement) The owner just walked past and called their dog on. Really grates on me, luckily my own dog is interested in 2 things - balls and sniffing (not people) so he leaves everyone alone.

ScaredPAD · 04/06/2018 03:51

Sparkly that is it entirely. The attitude that no one shoiuld mind a dog walking through their picnic and if they do it's the children that are blamed. No responsibility whatsoever. This happens so often to us but I never know how to counter it as I suspect we'd getvthe same response. The dog owners genuinely don't see anything wrong.

INeedSleep07 · 04/06/2018 04:20

@AvocadosBeforeMortgagesBiscuit

categed · 04/06/2018 04:56

My old dog was a gsd and terrified of pther dogs she didnt sniffing her bum. She was walked on a lead due to this. However the number of idiots whoose dogs weren't on leads who would run up and sniff her bum, growling, hackles up, whilst i tried to sit her between my legs so they couldnt get to her bum, was insane. No your dog isn't friendly, your dog is in my dogs personal space get rid. (Not the dogs fault but the owners)
My dad has also had fogs poo in his garden and was told by one owner whoose dog was mid poo he needed gates up if he expected dogs not to use his garden?? It was also ok for these dogs to attack my dads dog who was laying in the garden?
The problem isn't the dogs its the owners. People don't train themselves or their dogs. Many aren't walked enough so are constantly hyper.

WineAndTiramisu · 04/06/2018 06:32

@Locasta
Clue's in the name
Not for me, I'd be grateful if you could elaborate.

Try Google, it's a great invention.

samueledotericson · 04/06/2018 06:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

toomuchtooold · 04/06/2018 06:45

Oh god YANBU. About a year ago when my 5yo DD jumped, terrified, into my arms when a dog chased her I got an actual lecture off the dog owner along the lines of my DD was unreasonably scared and I should take her to a psychiatrist Hmm

She's actually got over her fear a lot in the last year, since her speech therapist started training up a therapy dog. She can tell me (nervously) that when he comes up to me he's being friendly, that he wants to lick me and not bite me etc. That's after a year of hanging out with an incredibly patient and well trained dog.

Sunnyjac · 04/06/2018 06:48

Totally agree. I’ve had the same experiences and the same throwaway comments about “friendly” dogs. If I ever own a dog we will attend training together to ensure this kind of thing doesn’t happen

KathyBeale · 04/06/2018 06:49

I go running in the woods near my house. It’s gorgeous and it is often spoiled by dog walkers. I know it’s only a minority but they have a big effect.

I have been jumped at enough times that I am nervous when a dog off its lead goes near me.

I have run through poo many, many times.

And there are lots of black plastic poo bags left hanging on the bushes, or just thrown to one side, which is disgusting.

I used to love dogs until I started running! Like I say it’s definitely a minority but they have a big effect.

pictish · 04/06/2018 06:50

Grow up Samual. 🙄

OP yanbu - haven’t read the thread so sorry if I’m repeating....but I’m a dog lover and I agree with you. I don’t currently have a dog as my dh and both work full time and poor animal would be alone all day, which isn’t fair. But yes...I have come up gainst some truly arseholian dog owner behaviour quite recently. One was a friend whose dog has no recall to speak of, letting her dog off the lead whereupon it got stuck down a steep river bank that it couldn’t get out of for over two hours. She’s never bothered training the poor thing and frankly the dog is a poorly behaved pain in the arse. I wish she wouldn’t bring it with her when we meet up as its’ behaviour spoils the outing. If it’s not jumping up at us constantly covering our clothes in mud, it’s running away. I like my friend but on this one she’s been an idiot.
Also was chased, barked at and jumped up at by a German Shepherd off the lead, while out for a run last week. The owner was calling the dog back but it paid no heed and kept after me. I ended up cowering in fear at which the stupid man looked annoyed and snapped ‘she’ll not touch you’ at me. She was touching me! She was all up in my face, barking, chasing and jumping at me you fucking dicksplash!

You do get some absolute arseholes of dog owners.

Sunnyjac · 04/06/2018 06:51

Samuel yes dogs bark and so on but a responsible owner will have the control to call it back if it does. Most owners I see are yelling at their dog which takes no notice. If anyone should sicken you it should be crappy owners

Yannynotlaurel · 04/06/2018 06:55

dogs by nature bark, woof and bite and growl

This is the excuse shit dog owners give for being too fucking lazy to train their dogs properly.

If these carnivores can be trained to be domesticated they can be trained not to bark at every fucking thing that walks passed them.

Newerversion · 04/06/2018 07:42

To be fair a barking dog who is on a lead and controlled and not approaching you is not exactly a problem anymore than a child whinging, screeching or shouting in a shopping trolley, pushchair or being held by the hand. Although in both situations lots of people nearby are probably thinking ‘shut that thing up’. 😂😂

MrsLaurac · 04/06/2018 07:47

Had a massive (allbeit) very cute dog come upto me and my small dog in the Park last week, ithad its Jaw around her. But aparinately all was ok because it was a friendly dog and was mine not a nice dog. Not saying it wasn't playing in it's own way but nevertheless scared my dog and me and dh kept putting ourselves out to protect our dog.