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.

[FrameyMcFrame]

Chased not cursed

[CallMeRachel]

I'm laughing at the irony of people being fearful at a muzzled dog. why?

What do you fear ? Being bitten through a muzzle?

Personally I fear dogs who are not muzzled!!

I wish more people would use them.

I also agree with pp who said muzzled are also used to prevent dogs eating things they find.

[Mollypolly123]

I do understand it , shame there's not more places, where we can let our dogs run around without getting , anyone uptight or upset, dogs do need a bit of off lead exercise, which can reduce stressful tendencies that they might have , also many dogs react better if there off lead with one another than on, but obviously you need to be in an area, big enough and far away from people that fear being bitten and that can be hard to find these days

[Marmaladesandwiches27]

I'm not a pet person, neither am I a pet hater, but, having never owned a dog and therefore knowing little about their behaviours, if that was me and my child in that situation I would possibly have reacted in much the same way. It doesn't matter to me whether the dog was muzzled or not muzzled, on lead or off lead, the fact is that any dog unknown to me and near my child could be unpredictable, any owner unknown to me could be irresponsible, and as mentioned by pp there are more potential dangers to a child around a dog than just a risk of biting (although I am aware that's not always what muzzles are for, but maybe she wasn't). It's about perception of risk to your child in that moment, and perhaps she had good reason to be terrified based on previous encounters. Why would you allow even the tiniest perceived threat even the tiniest chance to harm the most precious thing in your life, if its something you might genuinely be terrified of? I don't think you are unreasonable to be upset that your (?calibre of) responsibility as an owner appeared to be called into question, but I think you should definitely be aware that not everyone feels the same way as you about dogs/your dog and not everyone will have the same knowledge as you about dog behaviours/your dogs behaviours, and therefore not everyone will necessarily see your dog in the same light as you.

[manicmij]

I have owned dogs and a muzzle is sensible if there is any question about the dog's safety. What I would question is why your dog was off the lead and able to near the person in the first place. Surely must have been a public area you were in.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

Public park.
Green fields, trees, lots of open space.
The woman was walking on the footpath in front of us, grass fields either side, dog was running on the grass.

[Walkingdeadfangirl]

OP: AIBU to be upset at someone thinking my dog is scary.
MN: YES
OP: But she isn't scary
MN: Lots of people find dogs scary & many are, so keep your dog on a leash.
OP: NO
MN: Entitled much?
OP: I dont care, I am NOT putting my dog on a leash!
MN: We give up 😪

[jadeandjohn2010]

firstly dont react even with body language. that will be picked up by your dog very quickly and the dog will sense your anxiety about the situation and then go into protect mode. I get why you are upset, I hate the way people look at dogs, but given the fact yours was wearing a muzzle it was more than likely the reason she pulled the pram away. that being said though my dog doesnt require a muzzle but he is also a fairly big boy and also a big softy wouldnt hurt a fly - ok actually he catches flies for fun but you get me. That doesnt stop people in the street or park becoming wary of him as he approaches. We can only deduce this to be down to his size as he doesnt even react when another dogs nips him - as proven in a couple of situations. Unfortunately there are always going to be people that react the wrong way entirely towards dogs - be it fear, be it intimidation, be it like in your case because the dog has a muzzle, or the dogs size and breed, or be it through previous experience of being bitten. All you can really do is continue being responsible by using the muzzle as it prevents fights in your situation and ignore people like that. when that kind of thing occurs take the dog a different direction to the person as if nothing has happened, remain calm in your body language because dogs are body language experts and read us like a book.

[Thehappygardener]

This seems to be a very classic case of people with dogs v people without dogs. Neither side really understands the other side!

I have a smallish dog, 10 kilos, and she has been with us for five years. She is happy and friendly BUT I know that people who don’t have dogs may see her as a dangerous creature with HUGE sharp teeth and muddy CLAWS. People may also fear the germs that they might get from her.

I am worried that people who are frightened of her might kick or hurt her, so I make sure that she doesn’t approach people, particularly if they have children.

Logically a dog with a muzzle can’t bite you BUT a dog in a muzzle can look most ferocious. And still has claws! In my experience, most dogs with muzzles that we meet, are muzzled because they will scavenge and eat anything. But how can an observer tell?

I’m sorry that you were upset, but perhaps you could try to think about other people and try to understand what their, possibly, irrational, fears may be. 🌺

[BlueBinDay]

I am used to people following up glares with verbal and/or physical aggression for very very minor things

I'm quite afraid of strange dogs and would pull away and might even glare. However, because I'm scared of your dog I would not physically attack you because you have your dog with you which will then have a bloody good reason to bite me because it would no doubt protect you from me.

I wouldn't attack you anyway, but you get my point.

[Doggydoggydoggy]

Except that isn’t quite how the thread has gone is it?

Poster repeatedly admits they were over sensitive and unreasonable and repeatedly admits that they understood why the woman felt that way.
Which was the whole point of the thread...

The hysterical world of mumsnet is not satisfied that the poster acknowledges they were being unreasonable and instead chooses to latch onto the fact that the dog is off leash despite the fact that there is no law in the UK stating dogs must be on lead.

The hysterical world of mumsnet believes that a dog that is mean with other dogs is automatically dangerous with people despite there being absolutely no evidence to suggest a link at all and the dog in question exhibiting no signs of human aggressive behaviour, ever, in her whole entire life.

The hysterical world of mumsnet believes that because she needs a muzzle she must automatically lose the right to freedom because the muzzle looks scary despite the fact the dog doesn’t approach people or dogs and therefore poses no risk, comes back when called and therefore poses no risk, is always recalled by their owner if anyone looks nervous so poses no risk and wears a muzzle so cannot nip so poses no risk?!

The only stipulations of the law are that the dog has be leashed near a main road (she is), that the dog must be under verbal control (she is) and the dog must not be acting in a manner that would give someone reasonable concern that she is going to harm them (she doesn’t)

[BeatriceBee]

I have started putting a muzzle on my dog because she is very nervous and consequently she sometimes nips the ankles of other dogs to warn them off. I am hoping that, now that I can allow her a bit more freedom, she can socialise more with other dogs and maybe she will stop doing it. I haven't noticed people shying away from her, but she is only a small dog and doesn't look at all menacing. Not wanting her to get a reputation, I am considering telling anyone who asks the question, that I muzzle her to stop her picking up rubbish, which actually she does have a tendency to do, so it isn't entirely a fib. The way I see it, she can't cause any damage now, so no-one should feel they have to avoid her.

[Topseyt]

Some people are missing the point, possibly deliberately.

A muzzle is meant to provide protection. That is exactly what it does, both to the muzzled dog and to those around. That is why muzzled dogs can be allowed freedoms that they would otherwise lose, and can be off lead.

OP, you have the measure of the hysterical world of MN now. It won't change and the bullshit will continue no matter what you say or do.

You are not being unreasonable. You are being a responsible dog owner. Take no notice of those implying otherwise.

[SuspiciouslyMinded]

OP, muzzle or not - the point is that you obviously love your dog, and you’re upset that your dog’s behaviour was misunderstood. But you can’t expect a random stranger to share your love for your dog and be interested in its psychology.

The woman felt threatened, tried to avoid the dog, and gave you some angry looks. She didn’t yell, she didn’t tell you off or called the police. If her reaction upsets you, you need to grow tougher skin. There are people who are scared of dogs, dislike them or avoid them for cultural reasons, no matter how lovable a dog might be.

[Lweji]

OP, you've been told by dog owners that they put a lead around people.
That it's best to.
Just because the law is lax in that respect and you think you follow it by the letter, it doesn't mean that you are being reasonable in letting a loose dog (even muzzled) in the vicinity of babies in buggies, no matter how good they are.

Laws change because bad accidents happen and this law could change easily.

If we want to live together, it's always best to respect everyone. And that could include you calling or leashing your dog it doesn't go anywhere near a buggy.
It's the decent thing to do, even if the law isn't specific on that point.

[AssassinatedBeauty]

It is daft to refer to people posting here as "hysterical". What happens (everywhere on the Internet) is that people don't read the whole of a long thread and just post in response to the opening post/first page. Also, as with the rest of the Internet, people have their own ax to grind and want to put forward their own feelings whether relevant to the discussion or not. Some just enjoy an argument.

You're picking up on the few people who have stronger opinions or unjustified ones and deciding that's what everyone is saying to you. The majority have actually explained to you what their perception is without criticising you.

[Lweji]

I'm a strong believer in projection. People tend to accuse others of what they do themselves.

[Shitmewithyourrhythmstick]

If I were you OP, I wouldn't be throwing stones in my hysterical glass house. The entire premise of your thread is fucking batshit overreaction.

[Lweji]

As you quoted:

The only stipulations of the law are that the dog has be leashed near a main road (she is), that the dog must be under verbal control (she is) and the dog must not be acting in a manner that would give someone reasonable concern that she is going to harm them (she doesn’t)

I think you've shot yourself on the foot there.
It's not for you to decide whether your dog gives another person reason for concern.
This woman was clearly concerned. Who defines what's reasonable? You?
You've had many people say here why they might have been concerned too, so maybe that's a better measure of reasonable, even if you don't think so.
That's why people keep posting, even if it's not been spelled out yet.
Despite reading from people who'd have been concerned, or explained why this woman was concerned, you still insist that how you handle your dog around people is reasonable.

[malificent7]

I used to be petricied of dogs muzxle or not . Op your dog migjt not be scary to YOU but to anyone rlse she might be. If my dog went near a buggy it would be a big fat No, reprimand and back on the lead.
Yabvu.

[malificent7]

Human rights before dog rights imo.

[GottaGoGottaGo]

The woman was walking on the footpath in front of us, grass fields either side, dog was running on the grass.

So, as soon as you saw the woman with the buggy, why didn't you recall your dog immediately so she didn't get the chance to run past? Since she is so well trained, she would have returned before she got anywhere near to the woman and this situation would never have occurred in the first place.

And from your original post:
so my dog did what most dogs will do in response and looked at her and went to approach.

You keep saying she didn't approach, but if she went to approach that's the same thing. You clearly think your dog is well trained, and she may be, but your training needs some work to recognise a situation before you cause distress to someone else. In the meantime please keep your dog on the lead!

[Laiste]

Why bother to post if you think MN is ''hysterical''? Throwing terms like hysterical around is what people do when they don't like what they're hearing and want to refuse it's true.

Think about this:
MN is quite simply 'The Public'. You must know that. You chose to post here.

Here you're getting an honest snapshot of what the general public are thinking about you and your dog when you're out with it off the lead. You don't like it - that's understandable. But it's your choice to have a dog and other people's choice to feel the way they feel about it.

Remember you did start the thread cross about the way someone looked at you ...

Now your your argument has degenerated into ''Mumsnet'' is hysterical.

Bottom line is you're going to have the majority of people looking at your dog off the lead with it's muzzle on hoping to god it doesn't come anywhere near them and being glad when you're out of sight. Arguing here won't change that. As long as they don't look at you funny while they're thinking that then you wont have to know i guess. Status quo hasn't changed really.

[Shitmewithyourrhythmstick]

I dunno how well trained the dog is, but the OP could frankly use a bit of work in that department.

[Aridane]

Yes, a muzzle is hugely reassuring. Just like the one on Hannibal Lecter