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.

[Aridane]

(not that I'm suggesting the dog is a scary nipping cannibal)

[bpirockin]

I think it's just a reality of owning a dog that some will always get a reaction from people, be it because of the breed/size/ or a muzzle. I had a Doberman years ago, who was as soft as butter, and regularly got attacked by other dogs she would just crouch down on the ground until they stopped/were taken off her. It used to really upset me that some people would cross the road to avoid her simply because of her breed .
I am a dog lover, but imagine if I were out with a young child I would not want a muzzled dog close by. If a dog has the propensity to bite, albeit another dog, I would not want my child caught in the middle. Not out of fear of any physical harm to the child, but because I've encountered many adults with phobias because of such encounters as a child. As a dog owner, one who was turned on really nastily by another when our dogs were playing - really, playing but snarling and barking as they do. The wife, who was there, suffered from anxiety, and was really aggressive towards me as a result. I can honestly say that the dogs were both absolutely fine, but I was traumatised by the experience, being verbally attacked and indeed threatened by a large unknown man, and couldn't face walking the dog in the same place for quite some time, even though she had done nothing wrong. I vowed from that day that I would cal my dog back immediately if it went towards another person or dog that we were not familiar with. It was simply too upsetting.

Protect yourself as well as your dog, because rational or not the Law states that if a person is fearful around your dog, action can be taken against you, whatever the reality o the situation. It's unlikely that it would, but why risk it?
I can't tell you how gutted I was that Christmas it happened, with my poor dog who'd never hurt a fly, and it's something I will never forget.

[bpirockin]

Note to self: use the Preview message option!

[Ellyess]

Doggydoggydoggy. Over the years I have had so many stupid reactions by people about dogs that I'm not surprised really. It seems to bring out the "high moral ground - I am going to make a fuss" in some people.

I have little dogs now I am disabled. When I was able to take them out, a man let his German Shepherd attack my Miniature Poodle. My dog ran to me and jumped into my arms whereby his huge dog continued to jump up at me and try and bite my dog. It was terrifying. The owner of the GS? He just stood by and laughed. He thought it hilarious that a disabled woman (my disability scooter was parked nearby) had a "stupid Poodle".

So I don't expect people in England to be sensible, decent, good, kind, law-abiding or anything desirable where dogs are concerned.

Currently my dog that accompanies me is a very small "bitsa" many breeds. I muzzle her when she comes out in case she gets excited. She has never nipped anyone. However, many people have tried to feed her "treats". The muzzle is to deter the treat-givers.

[justmakemeacuppa]

so Your dog nips and you muzzle him. Sounds like your pretty responsible. Comes back when called. I see the problem being the snowflake in the park tbh

[JamieFrasersSassenach]

Everyone is different in their feelings about and responses to dogs. Personally I find a muzzled dog far less intimidating than an unmuzzled dog - purely because the muzzled dog can't bite me.......

[foxtiger]

I am frightened of some dogs (they have to appear to be behaving aggressively) and I think I would be less frightened of a dog approaching me if it was wearing a muzzle. OK, it might indicate that the dog would bite if it could, but it can't. I'm not frightened of dogs that might want to bite me, I'm frightened of dogs that look like they might actually bite me.

[Alleycat1]

Exactly, JamieFraser.

[ChrisNReed]

I can hear the explanations but these are only know to you. Other people will not know the back story about whether your dog nips people or other dogs or whatever. People are right to be cautious of a dog in a muzzle with no lead. I sometimes think dog owners think it is other people who are at fault for failing to understand the ins and out of their dogs behaviour. I jog and often get 'Ooo he's just being friendly' for a free running dog that is to my eyes barking and eyeballing me for no reason and being aggressive. This may be true, but why would I risk finding out the hard way it is not 'just being friendly' and get bitten just to avoid offending the dog owner? It is worse for children. A large dog looks (an potentially bites) a child in the face. If dogs were 5ft tall and 20stone I guess dog owners attitudes would be different.