Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 19 20

AIBU?

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:

Report

adaline · 09/01/2019 12:15

If a dog needs a muzzle then it needs to be on a lead.

Umm, why? Muzzles are often used to stop dogs scavenging and eating things they shouldn't - why do those dogs need to be on leads?

Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 12:19

Probably true gobblers

I do at the same time though know that I probably am indeed being over sensitive!

I suppose I was hoping really for some other reactive dog owners to say I know you feel, it is a bit shit.

Oh well.

OP posts:

Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 12:19

** how you feel

OP posts:

wendywoopywoo222 · 09/01/2019 12:20

I have a lovely soft Labrador who loves people and dogs but has to be muzzled as he eats anything that takes his fancy so he is often off lead in appropriate areas. I don't get cross with people who question me or react to him as I think it's natural to be wary of a muzzled dog.

OrchidInTheSun · 09/01/2019 12:21

MN is full of dog haters OP. I'd suggest that AIBU is the very worst place you could look for a bit of sympathy!

I can understand why you're upset

Billballbaggins · 09/01/2019 12:21

You’re being a drama queen

straightouttavagina · 09/01/2019 12:22

Posters seem to be missing the whole point, if a muzzle is on a dog it CAN'T bite whether it wants to or not, so wtf is there to be scared of.

GobblersKnob · 09/01/2019 12:22

It is definitely a bit shit, I totally agree. My friends dog is muzzled as she eats poo. She feels just like you and it drives her crackers. Post in The Doghouse, you will find your people.

These are not your people

Floralgizelle · 09/01/2019 12:24

I understand where you are coming from, we have a german shepherd who hates other dogs especially when she in on the lead, we also have a 2 year old who she is absolutely brilliant with . I understand the 'looks' as we muzzle our dog and it can be a bit annoying but we know she is muzzled for the safety of other dogs and she still enjoys her walks.
That being said as a mother of a 2 year old, i would be wary of other dogs approaching as you do not know the temperament of other peoples animals. We dont allow our dog to approach anyone/other dogs as you do not know how other people feel about dogs (they could be terrifed of dogs). Sometimes accidents happen where they get a bit closer than you would like, maybe just something to bare in mind in for future walks.

Viviennemary · 09/01/2019 12:24

It's a natural reaction from a mother when she feels her child is in danger. If I see a dog with a muzzle on I think they'd bite a chunk out of you if the muzzle was off. Scarey.

peachgreen · 09/01/2019 12:25

Any dog off lead scares me a bit, muzzle or no muzzle.

I like dogs when I get to know them but I'm very aware that you can't tell the temperament of a dog from looking at them, and that their behaviour around children can be unpredictable, so I would always keep my children away from dogs until the owner said it was okay to approach.

I would have reacted the same and the fact that your dog approached her when she pulled away suggests to me that he should really be on a lead in public.

kaytee87 · 09/01/2019 12:27

These are not your people

Yes, because there are no dog owners/lovers on AIBU

Jaxtellerswife · 09/01/2019 12:29

I love dogs, I have one and I've always had them since a child. I used to work in a boarding kennel and adored it.
I cannot stand dogs approaching off of the lead, particularly if I have my children with me.

AgathaMisty · 09/01/2019 12:30

OP, sorry if you're upset by our responses. I think we just want to help you see it from this lady's point of view.

We hear on the news that small children get mauled by dogs whose owners say they wouldn't hurt a fly so it makes us nervous.

Totally different situation but my DH is not white and when walking down the street at night with a lone woman he purposely crosses the road to make her feel safer. My DH is not aggressive at all but he's aware of people's perceptions and instead of getting upset about it, he chooses to make them more comfortable. After all, they don't know if he's a bad egg or not. I hope you see why I brought that example up.

ABoozedMoose · 09/01/2019 12:30

Why are you wasting your time worrying about this? Why does it matter?

I would recoil at the approach of any dog. Muzzled or not. I don't know the dog and do not want to enter into any kind of conversation about how your dog wouldn't hurt a fly but it's nothing personal about you or your dog.

GobblersKnob · 09/01/2019 12:31

kaytee87 I stand totally corrected. The OP is not getting a bashing here at all. Must go and learn to read. Cheers for the heads up.

Chewbecca · 09/01/2019 12:32

I don't like dogs coming up to me, full stop. I'm not a dog lover and it makes me uncomfortable.

I'd actually mind it less if the dog was muzzled because at least then I know it won't be able to bite.

I think you need to stop your dog approaching people who don't want it, the muzzle is irrelevant.

YABU to be upset.

DogInATent · 09/01/2019 12:33

A muzzle on an off-lead dog is unsettling to everyone but the dog's owner - why don't you see this? And fwiw I walk a staffy so I'm not saying this from an anti-dog stance.

You've got her wearing a muzzle because she nips. But you say she's not people aggressive. Well maybe not aggressive, but nipping is not appropriate behaviour - so your right to muzzle and it sounds like people are right to be at least a little wary. YABU.

tabulahrasa · 09/01/2019 12:35

You do need to develop a thicker skin tbh, because yes, people do avoid muzzled dogs.

My dog died just before Christmas but he wore a muzzle for 5 years and people would alter their route to avoid him when muzzled in a way they didn’t before he was.

Which I actually thought was mildly amusing, because he was muzzled and on lead - so what they thought he was going to do I have no clue, look at them funny?...

Dartilla · 09/01/2019 12:35

I understand your feelings, OP.

I've fostered retired greyhounds and because of their innate instinct to chase and destroy anything small and furry, (whether bunny or small terrier) they usually were muzzled 'just in case'.

And greyhounds are the most gentle, loving dogs! But I had lots of people giving me dirty looks and pulling their children away as I walked them.

It's hard when we adore the dogs, but it is totally understandable for a member of the public to react like that, as muzzle connotes danger.

I think you may be more upset because the lady showed her anger that your muzzled dog was off lead? Perhaps she thought it shouldn't be off lead because it was muzzled, but of course you personally would never let a dangerous dog off lead so feel a bit personally offended?

You'll get a lot of stick here but I do understand how you feel.

formerbabe · 09/01/2019 12:35

Just out of interest op...what breed is your dog?

AgathaMisty · 09/01/2019 12:35

if a muzzle is on a dog it CAN'T bite whether it wants to or not, so wtf is there to be scared of.

A large dog could still push the pram over and overpower a defenseless baby, nuzzling aggressively into it. They still have claws.

Many people are also terrified of harmless spiders. It's irrational but doesn't make it any less scary for them.

MadeleineMaxwell · 09/01/2019 12:35

I took my DS to the park when he was around 2yo. We were on the path and someone with 2 dogs was coming up behind us. DS turned around to see, in his eyes, two dogs bigger than he was rushing up at him. He had nightmares for a week.

Even though those dogs weren't aggressive, bitey or anything other than playfully gambolling along a path in the park, they managed to terrify a small kid. So I can't say I blame a mother for protecting her child when a muzzled dog comes near them. To non-dog people, a muzzle indicates aggression. YABU.

InsomniacAnonymous · 09/01/2019 12:36

"Posters seem to be missing the whole point, if a muzzle is on a dog it CAN'T bite whether it wants to or not, so wtf is there to be scared of."

That's exactly what I was thinking. I'm glad I'm not the only one.

Badtasteflump · 09/01/2019 12:37

Imo all dogs should be kept on leads in public - lots of people don't want to be approached by a dog.

I cannot understand why dog owners seem to think just because they love their dog, everybody else will too.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 ··· 19 20

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.