To be upset at peoples reaction to the muzzle?

[Doggydoggydoggy]

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.

Oh and up to the end of 2015 dogs had by comparison killed 17 people in the preceding 8 years
well cows killed 70'odd in a 15 year period and up to 2015 dogs killed 50'odd people. rather a lot

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

This so much. People get so weirdly offended by the idea that not everyone loves their dog as much as them, that some people don't like them or want to spend any time with them and would prefer to have no interaction with them at all.

I love dogs, I have two, you'll always find me wherever the dog is at parties, but I don't like it when dogs approach me off-lead and well outside of their owner's range when I'm out walking. My dogs go off-lead a lot, but I also call them back to heel when we're near other people. I've been jumped up at and had my work clothes made filthy by someone's 'friendly' dog whilst out walking, minding my own business, and,
especially since being pregnant, I really don't want dogs I don't know milling around and potentially jumping up at me. I imagine when I have my baby in a pram I will feel even more strongly about that.

I appreciate that your dog didn't jump up and just ran past her, but she wasn't to know that and she has no way to tell why your dog is wearing a muzzle. It would automatically make me a little wary I'm afraid, and I've had dogs my whole life.

Deadbudgie. Neither myself or my children are afraid of dogs at all and I actually love dogs. However I am not and never have been a dog owner so am obviously less knowledgeable about dog behaviour and reasons for muzzling. My initial thought would be, rightly or wrongly that a muzzled dog is aggressive and should be on a lead, so if one approached my child I would likely say something to the owner about keeping it on a lead. I didn’t say I would verbally abuse anyone or be aggressive, I said strong words which doesn’t constitute verbal abuse in my book, just a telling off!

If people are getting hysterical and terrified of a dog running past them then we are all doomed.

recoiled pulling the buggy so my dog did what most dogs will do in response and looked at her and went to approach.

This is not “what dogs do”. This is what your dogs does.

I couldn’t give a shit whether you think your dog is human friendly, has recall blah blah blah. You let the dog approach the woman before you called him in. You are not a responsible dog owner, keep your damned dog on a damned lead.

Ffs. Dogs are sentient beings who are curious about things. They would be interested in someone acting bizarrely!

But Thurman your phrase “I would do more than just glare at you” is very aggressive, and why should a person be subject to being told off and very likely feel intimidated simply because their dog ran past and caused no harm??? If you frequent places where animals are surely it’s common sense to learn something about them?

The moomoo (that’s our dogs nickname) where did you get 50 from 17 people were killed by dogs in 8 years in comparison to 74 by cows (18 of which were members of the public using public rights of way) in 15 so grossed up its about 32. Interestingly in 2009 (latest figures I could find 33 people drowned in their bath tub) in 2007 6 pedestrians were knocked down and killed by people on push bikes. 68 women died in childbirth in the uk.

I didn’t actually. If you read the thread, she went to approach and I called her back.

THE DOG WAS NOT OUT OF CONTROL!

THE WOMAN DIDN’T KNOW THAT.

How difficult is it to understand that not everybody loves muzzled dogs running around off leads, near them.

The dog did not run past. The dog approached the buggy. The OP wants to pretend it was because of the woman’s reaction, but nope, the dog was attracted to the woman and her buggy. Not running past. And you wouldn’t know that a dog running in your direction is going to run past you.

Nothing to do with being doomed, everything to do with entitled people refusing to accept they were in the wrong.

17 people were killed by dogs
A) you don’t have to be killed by a dog for it to do you harm
B) do you actually understand phobias and anxiety? Rationalisation isn’t the answer.
C) isn’t it also true if you are going to take your animal around people, you should learn about people?

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.

Maybe try keeping your dog on a leash and away from strangers who don't want any contact with him whatsoever? Just a thought.

I’m sorry were you there?!

My dog was running past the buggy.
She was paying no attention at all.

The woman suddenly recoiled, pulled the pram and my dog stopped and went to approach her.
At which point I immediately called her back and put her lead on.

She did not approach the buggy.

She has run past probably hundreds of buggies, people on bikes, people walking etc in her life.

I am not in any way entitled.
If I was entitled I would not call her back.
If I was entitled I would not leash her on calling her back.
If I was entitled I would not muzzle her.
Nor would I make sure her recall is good before deciding to let her off lead.
Nor would I try to keep her away from other dogs.
Nor would I be horrified and apologetic and upset on every occasion when she been mean to another dog.
Nor would I have said on this thread that I understand the woman would not have known my dogs intentions.

I said I was upset that she A) presumably thought my dog was dangerous.
She isn’t and because I love her that is upsetting although I appreciate that is her view and B) her aggression made me fearful that I was going to be verbally abused.

The dog went to approach and the OP recalled it. Read the fucking post! Why are all the dog owners "entitled" but not anybody else? Why are all the dog owners automatically wrong? There are things in life that we all don't like or are scared of but most of us put up with it.

She isn’t and because I love her that is upsetting although I appreciate that is her view and B) her aggression made me fearful that I was going to be verbally abused.

So you weren't sure of her intentions and were fearful, huh? Even though you weren't abused, the woman was minding her own business, had no intention of abusing you and presumably is loved by a good many people.

Is it just me that sees the irony?

Well considering the dog was doing nothing more than going past which shouldn’t be threatening..

Giving someone an angry glare is an obvious aggressive signal.

Like a growl or bark or lunge from a dog would be.

But you know it's not aggressive. She doesn't and shouldn't have to.

My dogs don’t wear a muzzle, aren’t that interactive around people and aren’t overly fussed about playing with dogs - even then though I’ve had people hold their children back or walk cautiously if my dogs are going past them. So it’s not just muzzled dogs people are afraid of.

If your dog needs to be muzzled why don't you keep it on leash around other dogs and people?

I have 2 dogs. I went on a group walk, which I have always done, and have always been enjoyable experiences. Except once... my dog was continually harassed by a large dog who was muzzled. The dog, obviously couldn't bite, but it hounded my dog, relentlessly. Jumping at him, growling, bounding him over. Dog owner seemed to think all was ok as her dog couldn't bite. Myself and my dog did not enjoy the experience. So much that this singular walk caused my dog to become reactive to ALL other dogs. That took a lot of work and time to rectify!

Your dog needs to be muzzled. Keep it away from others!

The person was right to be scared. YABU!

deadbudgie
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_England_and_Wales

51 in 15 years

I've always grown up with dogs, follows, labs and spaniels. I have chihuahua now because even though I grew up with them since a baby and have never had a bad experience, I still don't like bigger breeds, they do make me feel wary.

When in walking and someone even comes past me with a dog ill step off the curb, because that's just how I feel.

If you were scared of cats you wouldn't expect someone to know that while letting theirs climb all over you in their house? Or if you want scared of spiders you wouldn't expect someone to expect you to want to hold or be near one?

People have fears and anxietys. Who are you to judge who feels about what.

I do also agree that dogs shouldn't be off leads in public places. You can never, never 100% trust a dog.

fairy I have said why earlier in the thread.

Also, my dog does not ‘harrass’ other dogs.
She would not be off lead if she did.

She mostly ignores other dogs.
On the (rare) occasion she approaches I watch very carefully.
She is much better than she used to be and will play with other dogs sometimes now but I still watch carefully.
Any hint of tension from either dog and she is recalled.

She will approach and if she takes offence will growl or lip curl (and is immediately recalled - no harassing).

On the occasions when she has nipped it has always been a big bouncy adolescent jumping all over her.

I muzzle because I don’t want her nipping but I see no reason to keep a dog with good recall, that doesn’t approach people, that rarely approaches other dogs, that doesn’t bark or chase or lunge or really do anything to give people reasonable concern for their safety permanently on lead just on the basis that she needs a muzzle.

I am sorry that the woman wS frightened, as I have said, but I still reserve the right to be upset that my lovely dog is thought of as a child mauling monster when she isn’t and to be upset at getting filthy looks.

If your dog needs to be muzzled why don't you keep it on leash around other dogs and people?

I've not RTFT but in case it's not already been mentioned, some people muzzle their dogs because they have a bad habit of finding things to eat which upset their digestion.
If I saw an unleashed dog with a muzzle on, that's what I'd think the most likely reason was.

Unfortunately, as the parts of this thread I've read show, a lot of people either don't like dogs, period, or don't know much about them. So while the OP and her dog behaved absolutely fine, she shouldn't be surprised or upset if she gets some negative reactions.

She moved her buggy out of the way. That's all.

That shouldn't be enough for your dog to approach her and the buggy (and you admit the dog was, until you had to call her back). You're allowed to be hurt not everyone loves your dog I guess, but shes also allowed to be annoyed your dog tried to approach her and her buggy.

I very strongly dislike dogs and the keeping of dogs. But I cannot wrap my head around the idea that seeing a muzzle on a dog would make you MORE fearful of it!

I would be far FAR happier to have a random dog approach me if it were muzzled than if it isn't. I mean it can't bite you when muzzled!

Stupid dog owner failing to control his dogs let some mean looking thing with all the teeth run up to me and DD yesterday and I would 100% prefer to have seen it had a muzzle on. As it was I just looked away from it and it eventually fucked off back to its ineffectually yelling owner.

I'd much rather encounter the OP on a walk than that idiot.