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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:
BrokenWing · 09/01/2019 12:54

THEN my dog went to approach so I immediately called her back to me.

YABU and the muzzle is a red herring.

You should have recalled before this happened. If your dog is going to approach people unsolicited, for whatever reason, you need to anticipate it and recall. No one wants a unknown dog near their child in a buggy at dog level muzzled or not.

Cakemonger · 09/01/2019 12:54

It's just not knowing, it isn't a personal insult to you or your dog. I didn't grow up with dogs and didn't used to know much about them. When I saw a dog with a muzzle I assumed it must be aggressive and dangerous. My friend explained to me that this wasn't the case, so now I don't make that assumption.

bengalcat · 09/01/2019 12:59

As others have said many dogs are muzzled because they’re greedy little f***s and grab chicken bones and other such stuff that humans may carelessly drop .
Bear in mind if a dog has a muzzle on then it can’t bite - so for those that are scared logically a muzzled dog should evoke less fear .

Stopwoofing · 09/01/2019 12:59

God forbid a harmless dog should approach when someone makes a fuss, I agree mumsnet dog threads are always beset by dog haters. The Op should've been clairvoyant and recalled the dog before the harmless approach?

I also agree with deadbudgie, should I ban friendly hugs as it makes me feel really uncomfortable?

It's down the rabbit hole if a dog isn't allowed to make an 'unsolicited approach'.

AnneLovesGilbert · 09/01/2019 13:00

I have a lovely soft Labrador who loves people

This is my worst nightmare. I don't want to be told by a passing dog walker that their animal "is just friendly, wouldn't hurt a fly, LOVES people" (not saying you would), I want to run away as fast as I can!

Pissedoffdotcom · 09/01/2019 13:02

If a dog comes hurtling at you full pelt, with the owner either ignoring or not able to recall, fine. It can be unnerving.
If a dog is walking past you busy in its sniffing, leave it be! People do themselves no favours flapping about & squealing because then a dog gets curious

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 13:02

To add also with the muzzled dog on lead vs off lead.
She can be worse on the lead.
For example, she will sometimes lunge on a lead if another dog is close.
Something she never does when loose.
So that is another reason why I tend to have her off.

I would absolutely keep her on lead if her recall was poor or if she was the sort of dog that terrifies others by barking, chasing etc.
But she isn’t.

OP posts:
queenqueenqueen · 09/01/2019 13:03

@BrokenWing absolutely agree with you

babysharkah · 09/01/2019 13:04

You're dg nipped a few people, that's not on.

My dog is muzzled, he an insulin dependent diabetic, we cant risk him eating anything he shouldn't. No one has ever been scared of him.

Littlechocola · 09/01/2019 13:04

she has nipped a few people.

She is not people aggressive

I don’t understand?

I would imagine that the lady was worried about what a dog wearing a muzzle and off lead may do to her child. Not unreasonable tbh!

Littlechocola · 09/01/2019 13:04

Bum. First bold didn’t work.

InsomniacAnonymous · 09/01/2019 13:06

Littlechocola read the OP's post immediately following the one you quoted.

Original poster
Doggydoggydoggy · 09/01/2019 13:07

I accidentally typed ‘nipped a few people’ in the original post.
I meant to type ‘nipped a few dogs’

She is not people aggressive and definately never nipped anyone!

OP posts:
InsomniacAnonymous · 09/01/2019 13:07

babysharkah read the second post in the thread!

GabsAlot · 09/01/2019 13:08

as ive sxaid prviously my late dm was petrified of dogs big little muzzled or not she was scared- its not persnal it is what it is not everyone likes them dont be so offended

PhilomenaButterfly · 09/01/2019 13:09

I'm wary of dogs in muzzles. If you explained she was fine with people I'd be okay.

Pinkywoo · 09/01/2019 13:09

Surely the safest dog in the world is a muzzled one?! It can't bite anyone even if it wanted to BECAUSE IT'S MUZZLED!

GottaGoGottaGo · 09/01/2019 13:09

This is all about perception...

It doesn't matter if your dog is only muzzled because it eats things and is a big softie that wouldn't hurt a soul. A muzzled dog, even if it can't bite, DOES look scary and threatening...

Dogs should be on a lead if there are other people around (unless you are somewhere like a dog park, obviously), A muzzled dog (or any dog approaching or even passing close) can still scare a child / adult who isn't used to them. And a dog, muzzled or otherwise, even if it can't bite, can easily injure a child, intentionally or not. The person being approached doesn't know why the dog is wearing a muzzle and, rightly or wrongly, will almost certainly assume the worse.

Basically, as a dog owner, it doesn't matter if you trust your dog, you have to understand that there are many people who don't and it's up to you to act responsibly.

And I say all the above from the point of view of having being scared of dogs as a child and then learning to be a dog lover and having numerous rescue dogs, including a rescued Irish Wolfhound with a penchant for biting people who made the mistake of coming into our secure garden despite a very clear sign explaining there was a dangerous dog loose in it...

Jux · 09/01/2019 13:09

How is a muzzled dog a danger? It has a muzzle to stop it being a danger, surely?

Can a dog in a muzzle bite anything, human or dog, or squirel or cat or a falling leaf or.....?

Littlechocola · 09/01/2019 13:10

@InsomniacAnonymous thank you. Oops

Sorry op, I didn’t see that bit. I would still be wary if I had a child in a buggy and we were approached by a dog without a lead and wearing a muzzle.

1forAll74 · 09/01/2019 13:10

Yes, to me a dog muzzled means that they might bite another dog, or a child.or an adult.you can never be sure how a dog will act, even though you think you can.

A dog expert once said on TV, that a dog being muzzled is never really a happy dog,as its not a natural state to be in.
So a dog with a muzzle needs to be on a lead at all times .

Stopwoofing · 09/01/2019 13:10

fine that some people don't like dogs, I don't like hugs and people rarely ask before hugging, some people don't like loud noises and nobody can prevent that, but you have to live and let live. Expecting dogs to be on a lead at all times when no harm was done is intolerant in the extreme and you are also modelling dog anxiety to your children which is something best avoided.

If a dog approached my buggy, my assumption would be that the dog was safe and well trained because otherwise it would be on a lead.

Badtasteflump · 09/01/2019 13:14

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

Maybe the fact that the dog could still jump at a small child and knock them over or badly scratch them? The fact that they could still scare the shit out of their child anyway? A big dog can still do a lot of damage without biting. A small dog can do a lot of damage with its claws.

I'm also wondering why the OP is ignoring questions about the breed/size of dog. Not a difficult question to answer, really.

Pissedoffdotcom · 09/01/2019 13:15

Dogs can be successfully muzzled trained so that they happily wear a muzzle. It's a tool, similar to a lead, a collar, a crate. Done properly a dog doesn't give a damn about wearing one.

Unless there are signs saying dogs should be on leads/no dogs then people are allowed to let their dogs free as long as they are in control. Just because people hate dogs doesn't mean all dogs should forever be confined to leads. Some people hate children...shall we ban all children from public places unless you can guarantee they will be silent? As long as the dog does no harm the owner is doing nothing wrong.

SaucyJack · 09/01/2019 13:16

Good to know that a muzzle would prevent an aggressive dog from knocking a person over, or scratching their face.

On no wait.... it wouldn’t.