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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have ranted at this professional dog-walker?

222 replies

Collaron · 22/06/2018 17:24

Beautiful day here today, went for a picnic and dog-walk with a friend. We were sitting at the picnic table in the woods, ddog under the table waiting for any crumbs or sneaky titbits. A dog-walker passes on the path with a flock of dogs - 7 in all - and one of them, a young spaniel runs over to our table and starts jumping around at me trying to get my sandwich. Dog walker call to the dog 'come here' but it doesn't come. I tell it sternly to 'get down!' I hate dogs jumping up but I was also worried that ddog might get defensive at it (it was obviously quite a young dog)
Dog then climbs on to the seat next to me and tries to snaffle food from the table. I get hold of the dog's harness and pull it back to the ground again saying sternly 'get down!' while glaring at the walker who is just staying put with his flock and calling out 'come here' in a lame way.

Finally the dog runs back to him and i'm turning back to my friend when the man calls out in a sarcastic tone 'okay now? Panic over is it?'
I turned back to him and said 'you should have your dog under control'.
him: He is under control!
me: You called it and it didn't come so it isn't under control is it? You shouldn't be walking so many when you can't control them.
him: oh for god's sake, i'm sick of people like you telling me my job! Your dog's perfect is it?
me: no he's not perfect but he's under control. When i call him he comes back to me!
him: (walking away, calling out) yeah, you're perfect aren't you
me: (shouting after him) you couldn't even apologise!
him: (turning back) why should I apologise? He didn't do anything you stupid woman!
me: He was jumping all over me you stupid git!
him: (walking away again) oh push off!
me: (shouting after him) I wouldn't let you walk my dog, you're not a responsible person!
him: I wouldn't accept your dog you stupid woman!
He walked away still gobbing off but I couldn't hear him any more

If he hadn't come out with the sarky comment I would have left it but I felt goaded to retaliate. Once he was gone I would have forgotten all about it but friend went very quiet and said she wanted to get back home. I apologised for the shouting and she said she was embarrassed and perhaps I had 'anger issues'.

Actually I do have anger issues but in this case I think I was justified?

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 23/06/2018 11:56

2 slices of raisin bread, spread with Nutella and a bar of dark chocolate in the middle, you never know who might be sitting on a park bench eating it.

Vicky1990 · 23/06/2018 12:03

Just a thought, is chocolate harmfulto dogs?.

SugarIsAmazing · 23/06/2018 12:20

I would have been quite happy if a waggly happy puppy paid me a visit
Grin

You put him down on the floor, he didn't get your food, no issues. I'm guessing you would have moaned more if the dog walker came to physically retrieve the dog bringing the other six close to you too.

Although I think you're not giving a true representation of your anger if your friend felt embarrassed by you.

SofieMonde · 23/06/2018 12:54

this dog walker was barking mad lol

longtompot · 23/06/2018 13:04

Not read the whole thread, but some things have irritated me. My dog is food aggressive so if a strange dog came over whilst we were having a picnic she would growl and go for the other dog. I know she is food centric, shes a spaniel, so if I think someone is eating sat on a bench say, I will put her on her lead as I can't guarantee she will come away. To say the pup was only coming over as thats what they do is not good enough. I am sure the dog walker would have be outraged if ops dog had gone for the pup. To say did the op have her dog under control is just ridiculous. Her dog was sat under her table where she was sat having a quiet picnic.
I think you did the right thing anyway op. Picking up the dog by the harness when it was being a nuisance was the right thing to do. I also use get down to my dog if I need her to get down. We use lie down for, erm, lie down ;)

Willow2017 · 23/06/2018 15:18

Vicky yes iit is . There is a compound in it which can make them extremely ill large doses can be lethal.

Original poster
Collaron · 23/06/2018 15:55

You put him down on the floor, he didn't get your food, no issues

That's right, no issues. Until the idiot dog-walker decided to make an issue out of it for no reason.

OP posts:
NotTakenUsername · 23/06/2018 16:28

That's right, no issues. Until the idiot dog-walker decided to make an issue out of it for no reason.

You need to take responsibility for your own behaviour. It’s like we try to teach our children. You can only control your actions and reactions. You let yourself down and as a result you embarrassed your friend so much that she wanted to cut your meeting short.

He didn’t make you do anything.

IslaBoots · 23/06/2018 17:02

That's right, no issues. Until the idiot dog-walker decided to make an issue out of it for no reason

Because you were the height of diplomacy! 🙄 Tell us how much disruption have you had to your "normal" life if you have to post a thread on NM about a puppy begging a sandwich?

Better still don't bother replying...go get a life instead! And make sure your kids don't inconvenience anyone at anytime..

I'm sure some mumsnetters live in a parallel universe on times...

We all have to live through other people's mistakes and ideals. The puppy looked at your sandwich ... Boo fucking Hoo!

Puppy had a harness on. Anyone with half a brain would have held on to it to prevent it from jumping... But I guess that's too simple for people who love to run to MN for sympathy for the most mundane things. 😏

Wolfiefan · 23/06/2018 17:24

Jeez.
It wasn't a puppy.
It shouldn't be jumping over people and trying to climb over them.
The law clearly states that dogs have to be under control in public. It's actually a really serious issue if they aren't. All a person has to do is say they fear a dog may hurt them. And that can include scratching wtc and the dog is a dangerous dog. You really don't want that. Check the law Isla. Or the boo fucking hoo could be a dog confiscated or even destroyed. Because that's what can happen.

Bramble71 · 23/06/2018 17:28

I'd probably have had a go, too, OP! He was bang out of order. I hate people who can't or won't control their dogs, partly because I'm terrified of the things.

Shout away!

Original poster
Collaron · 23/06/2018 17:38

Congrats islaboots, you've managed to be come across even more ignorant and obnoxious than the dog-walker. Perhaps that's your goady intention or maybe you really are so up yourself that you think other people's inconvenience and irritation is irrelevant. Luckily you are practically a lone voice of stupidity here.

It should matter to any dog-lover/owner that someone blatantly fails to take responsibilty for the dog in their charge and ruins other people's enjoyment with knobbish behaviour. Pretty simple really.

OP posts:
Slartybartfast · 23/06/2018 17:43

i am cross on your behalf op.

Slartybartfast · 23/06/2018 17:44

so many rude people around

IslaBoots · 23/06/2018 17:46

It wasn't a puppy.
It shouldn't be jumping over people and trying to climb over them.
The law clearly states that dogs have to be under control in public. It's actually a really serious issue if they aren't. All a person has to do is say they fear a dog may hurt them. And that can include scratching wtc and the dog is a dangerous dog. You really don't want that. Check the law Isla. Or the boo fucking hoo could be a dog confiscated or even destroyed. Because that's what can happen.

Wolfie OP described it as a ' young dog' aka puppy! It had a harness on. Why didn't OP refrain it from jumping? It's not difficult seeing she obviously has experience of owning a dog.

Seriously? You think a young dog is likely to be put down because it disturbed someone eating a sandwich?? Ive heard it all now! Grin

You have totally gone down in my estimation with that gem, seeing as you are the first to spout up with dog training etiquette....

oh wait! Sorry wrong person. You are the one who is convinced that every puppy comes from a puppy farm. Sorry! My mistake...
As you were 🤗

Wolfiefan · 23/06/2018 17:49

My dog is young. She's not a puppy. OP has stated not a puppy.
You really misunderstand the law. A dog can absolutely be labelled as dangerous if a person says they feel threatened. I love dogs but can understand that if my dog came at you teeth first (for a sandwich) you may feel intimidated. She won't. She's trained.
Please read up on the law if you have a dog. It's bloody scary how little a dog actually has to do to be at risk.

SnuggyBuggy · 23/06/2018 17:52

Could 7 off lead dogs ever be fully under control

IslaBoots · 23/06/2018 17:54

Wolfie... Bollocks! No vet is going to put a young dog down because it mithered someone for a sandwich!

I have 2 young dogs. I wouldn't allow them to mither anyone but that's beside the point!

I really am aghast at your thinking about a young dog on this thread. C'mon surely you have seen a lot worse and haven't felt the need to report it?

Wolfiefan · 23/06/2018 18:05

I wouldn't report. But it's not about me. It's about the law. And it's not the decision of a single vet. Do you really not know the law?!?!
I wouldn't put my dog at risk like that. Under control. On a lead if not somewhere private and secure or a rock solid recall.

Fortheloveofscience · 23/06/2018 18:06

YWNBU OP. If that was my dog walker and I found out I’d be horrified, it’s a disgrace how many people think it’s acceptable to walk a dog with dodgy recall off-lead. Completely unnecessary, if you can’t get a dog back immediately with a call then keep it on a lead or long-line. If you’ve got too many dogs to walk them all on lead if necessary, walk fewer dogs. It’s really not rocket science. Can’t believe the dog walker had the nerve to criticize you after showing himself up like that.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 23/06/2018 18:11

I’ve read the OP over 3 times and I’m really baffled by people saying OP let herself down! I can’t see it. She said nothing at all to the man until he made snide things remark about her panicking (when she hadn’t) and even then she only responded by stating his dog should be under control. Which is right, it should be. OP did not cause or escalate that situation. He did that.

IslaBoots · 23/06/2018 18:12

I wouldn't report. But it's not about me. It's about the law. And it's not the decision of a single vet. Do you really not know the law?!?!
I wouldn't put my dog at risk like that. Under control. On a lead if not somewhere private and secure or a rock solid recall.

I wouldn't allow my dogs to mither someone full stop. Yes I know the law.

Go on convince me there are vets who would put a young dog down because it mithered someone for a sandwich.

Only last week I witnessed a dog and owner being attacked by an off lead dog. It was reported and I was witness. Dog is still alive... Owner was ordered to keep him muzzled. That's it!

No way on this earth is a young dog going to be pts because of a bloody sandwich!

Original poster
Collaron · 23/06/2018 18:16

I applaud your efforts to explain wolfie but there's really no reasoning with stupid.

It's interesting though to get a peep hole into the brain of people like isla who brush this off - the same people who cause misery on the roads, in shops, in crowds - pissing people off wherever they go with their crap attitude then either giving a load of abuse if anyone dares to criticise or accusing them of making a 'big deal' out of it.

OP posts:
IslaBoots · 23/06/2018 18:24

Collation I can assure you my dogs cause no bother to anyone. I still can't believe that someone couldn't restrain a young dog. There you go... You've had the attention you crave. Maybe you should report the dog walker for having a pup out of control... see where that gets you! 😂

Original poster
Collaron · 23/06/2018 18:42

I can assure you my dogs cause no bother to anyone

How would you know? It's obvious you've no idea what that means.

OP posts: