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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset at peoples reaction to the muzzle?

484 replies

Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 11:56

Just that really.

Dog wears one because she has nipped a few people.

She is not people aggressive.

I had a woman today clearly frightened because she ran near her buggy.
Near as in running past it.
Not barking/lunging/acting aggressive/approaching the child etc.

The woman got really scared at the sight of my dog, recoiled pulling the buggy so my dog did what most dogs will do in response and looked at her and went to approach.

So I called her back to me immediately and put her lead on.
That didn’t stop the woman constantly looking back angrily at me as she was walking ahead.

I really don’t think my dog had done anything that would reasonably make anyone feel frightened.

I can only assume it is the muzzle making the mum think she must be some child mauling demon.

And I find it really upsetting.

I wanted to talk to her and explain that she has the muzzle for nipping dogs and that I was sorry she frightened her but she honestly poses no risk to her child and has no interest in her child.
But her constant looking back and glaring at me made me feel really uncomfortable so I didn’t.

OP posts:
FlippinNora1 · 09/01/2019 16:23

For those going on about how it’s fine, it’s safe because it’s muzzled. Why would anyone want to be next to something that is likely to bite them if it weren’t for the muzzle? It doesn’t exactly make you think “aw, how sweet, look at the cute dog”!

You need to grow thicker skin OP.

TitOfTheIceberg · 09/01/2019 16:27

It's up to you as a dog owner to do the right thing.

Exactly! Such as, I don't know, just thinking randomly here...putting a muzzle on your dog.

Deadbudgie · 09/01/2019 16:31

madaliene - it might possibly help both you and your kids to learn about animals you come into fairly regular contact with though.

I will never keep a cow but walk in the countryside and come across them frequently.

I therefore have learned a bit about cow behaviour (they've killed about 75 people in a 15 year period) to make sure I can be as relaxed as possible round them.

Confusedbeetle · 09/01/2019 16:33

This dog should not be let off the lead

Deadbudgie · 09/01/2019 16:33

Oh and up to the end of 2015 dogs had by comparison killed 17 people in the preceding 8 years

GobblersKnob · 09/01/2019 16:41

It's like sharks Deadbudgie,

To be upset at peoples reaction to the muzzle?
GobblersKnob · 09/01/2019 16:41

Misconceptions and all that. Mostly sensationalist media led.

ADropofReality · 09/01/2019 16:43

OP

You keep repeating the dog was running past the woman, but so what? If the dog is running at full pelt, all it needs to do is change angle and suddenly it's running towards the woman. Nothing says the dog will always run in a straight line.

Also, even if the dog was running in a straight line past the woman, depending on where it started from it's quite possible the woman thought it was running at her. If someone starts running from, say, 100 yards in front of me, on a course that will take them 10 yards past my left side, then when they start running it will still look to me as if they are running at me.

In which case I would take evasive action that it turns out I didn't need to. Well, so what? I'm not sure why you would be so upset a stranger flinched at the sight of your dog.

Imonaplane · 09/01/2019 16:43

Yawn - a poster who simply won't be told they are wrong.
Yabu to allow your muzzled dog to intimidate members of the public and their ddogs by wandering without a lead. I hope someone reports you for not being in control of a dangerous dog in a public place. You can't prove to the police your dog won't bite a human being. It looks dangerous whether you agree with that or not. Maybe it will be seized and pts.
Your ddog could pay the ultimate price for your entitled attitude op.

Without a doubt the most ridiculous post of the whole thread and there have been some humdingers! As I said before, Mumsnet hysteria at it's very best. Sad

Imonaplane · 09/01/2019 16:44

Hmm, bold fail!

itsnosoap · 09/01/2019 16:45

I don't think the cow v dog analogy works though, as the farmer isn't generally standing around in the field recalling their magnificent beasts. Also, you are on their land.

I am not scared of dogs, and when she's old enough, will hopefully teach DD not to be.

I will also teach her not to run up to a strange dog because I don't know how it will react and I wouldn't want to distress it. Dog owners should extend the same courtesy to me and my child. Is that really so much to ask?

Yearofthemum · 09/01/2019 16:45

I'm afraid it's you who is struggling to understand. People don't know that your dog is t aggressive when it approaches them. It appears to be.

Deadbudgie · 09/01/2019 16:48

Gobblers - exactly - sharks are absolutely amazing, once saw a nurse shark whilst diving - one of the most beautiful experiences I've had

recently · 09/01/2019 16:48

I'm not sure why you are so upset. Some people don't like dogs, including me. It really bugs me that not only do dog owners not understand this, they also seem to think that it is our duty to pretend to like them!

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 16:48

It’s not just the flinching.
Although that is upsetting but she really isn’t a child mauler.
Though I appreciate the woman does not know that.

It’s the angry looks aswell.
First, as I have already said it is threatening.
I felt worried that I was going to be subjected to verbal abuse from her.
And second, if you don’t feel like you or your dog have done anything wrong then it’s not very nice to be getting angry looks.

OP posts:
WhoWants2Know · 09/01/2019 16:48

I think I'm the opposite to many posters. If a dog is wearing a muzzle, I assume the owner is being responsible and minimising risk. So why be worried?

GobblersKnob · 09/01/2019 16:51

Ooooh lucky you, Deadbudgie, that sounds amazing.

Interesting that animals with pointy teeth don't necessarily want to rip you to shreds, who would have thought it?

Walkingdeadfangirl · 09/01/2019 16:52

Op you are still not getting it. It is irrelevant whether you believe your dog is friendly or not. A human being has a right to go for a walk without the fear of being assaulted by an uncontrolled dog. To repeat, it does not matter if that assault is friendly slobbering, scary barking or dangerous biting / clawing.

That right is not dependant on me interpreting if the uncontrolled animal is running towards me with the intention of passing me or with the intention of stopping and jumping up on me. A dog is an animal and can be unpredictable at the toss of a coin.

Dog owners should be responsible and keep them leashed in public places. A person has a right to prepare to defend themselves from a strange animal approaching, I do not have to guess what the dogs intentions are.

Deadbudgie · 09/01/2019 16:53

itsnosoap no it isn't too much to ask and I do think some dog owners need to do more training in this respect. A dog should not just run up to strangers just like it should be socialised appropriately to approach dogs correctly.

Ironically, the problem dogs in this regard are often those people think of as friendly, Labs, spaniels, cockerpoos etc - most other dogs do trot by as it sounds exactly like the OPs dog was doing until something suddenly changed next to it which warranted further investigation for the dog.

Imonaplane · 09/01/2019 16:55

THE DOG WAS NOT OUT OF CONTROL! Sorry for shouting but people are not reading the OPs posts.

MadeleineMaxwell · 09/01/2019 16:56

madaliene - it might possibly help both you and your kids to learn about animals you come into fairly regular contact with though

TBH, we do what we need to. DS knows not to approach or touch a dog without the owner's permission, and to stand still if they come up to him. Other than that, what does he need to know? We'll never own a dog as a family, and if he wants one when he's an adult, he can learn about them then.

I'm a pretty incurable arachnophobe. When I see a spider, even a picture of one, I immediately jump and recoil. You'll never see me move faster than when cornered by a spider (the orrible little skittery bastards). I don't think about it, it's not a rational decision I've consciously made, it's just what happens. Similarly, if I perceived a dog I didn't know to be running at me and/or my child, I'd probably move instinctively to protect him too. So what? I don't see why this is so upsetting or something to even be bothered about. It doesn't mean I think all dogs are slavering hellbeasts, it's just monkey brain instinct.

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 16:58

Neither are you walking!

A dog minding its own business, ignoring you and happily going past is not making you fearful of an assault!

It would be totally different if she had run straight at her, or put her nose into the buggy, or been jumping up or barking or snarling.
But as far as I can see, she did nothing wrong!
Apart from ‘being there’.

Your comments mostly centre around how dangerous my dog is and how she is a ticking time bomb.

Despite there being zero evidence of any link between dog aggression and human aggression.

OP posts:
AssassinatedBeauty · 09/01/2019 16:59

I'm not surprised she gave you angry looks. The number of times I've had unknown dogs run at full speed up to me, jump up, slaver, bark, growl, etc etc at me and my small children when walking in public spaces is huge. Sadly many people are not responsible dog owners who can keep their dogs under control. It makes you suspicious and tense about any dog that comes running near you. You don't know what they're going to do or how their owner is going to respond.

Surely you can understand that many people are going to be afraid of dogs, or nervous of them, or simply dislike them. You've got to accept that your dog may upset other people and learn to not take it personally if they react to your dog.

PierreBezukov · 09/01/2019 17:01

I would have reacted angrily too if I had been the woman. A big dog with a muzzle off running around in public is scary for an adult never mind a child.

Dog owners are so entitled sometimes.

PierreBezukov · 09/01/2019 17:02

#with a muzzle on