to not understand people that are afraid of dogs

[Josico58]

Is it not an extremely debilitating and irrational fear? Based on how many dogs there are about in public, how do you go about daily life? And to think they’re all about to attack you for no reason?

I can understand people feeling nervous of a big dog hurtling towards them/their small children, but regular, well behaved dogs in public places. Really a problem?

Don’t mean to sound harsh but it just comes across as a bit pathetic to me.

A friend’s little girl is terrified of my dog. It’s a Cavalier puppy, hardly scary! I admit he can be excitable and full on, and we’re training him not to jump up or lick people. But the mum kind of enables it, picking DD up and saying “it’s OK, he’s not going to get you”. I’m left feeling a bit “Er, get a grip!!”

AIBU?

Sorry, as an animal lover I just can’t understand this seemingly common fear.

I suspect popular opinion will be that I am and I’m ready for the backlash!!

As a child I was very nervous around dogs. Their barks were loud and they could nip or bite. I had little experience around animals and did not understand them.

I am no longer nervous because I have since spent more time with animals.

This thread has turned into a MN competition of who has been attacked the worst by a big nasty dog. Nothing to do with my OP.

Bit boring now to be honest as I’m having to post the same response repeatedly to posters claiming they would be scared of a barking, growling jumping dog bounding towards them in a public place. Of course that would be scary, from my OP I made it clear I understood that so I really don’t neee to hear of 100+ insistences of this happening to you.

Thanks to those that posted reasonable responses, and genuine well wishes to those that struggle with their fear. I honestly do hope in time you can overcome it, or at least reach a place where it doesn’t hinder your life, as this must be hell to live with in a country where dogs are so common.

Please remember, dogs are like humans and for every “horrible” one there are thousands and thousands of lovely ones.

Have a good weekend all, signing off now to go out for walkies 👋🏼

I'm not scared of dogs, I've got one. But I've been bitten by one and pushed over by another very big one. They can be dangerous. Fear is fear though, it doesn't have to be logical. i was in school with a girl who was frightened of buttons. They can't hurt you but she was still scared.
I keep my dog on a short lead when we're near other people, don't let her run up to other dogs, put her on the other side of me if we pass any children. Lots of people don't do that. I don't want strange dogs running up and I'm not afraid of them.
Also can't be doing with treating dogs like humans, they're animals.

This thread has turned into a MN competition of who has been attacked the worst by a big nasty dog. Nothing to do with my OP.

People are describing their negative experiences with dogs because you stayed in your OP that a fear of dogs was “irrational”.

Naturally poster responding are trying to explain the rational basis for their fear/concern/nervousness.

Your response to 15 pages of people sharing frightening and traumatic experiences in order to help you understand their point of view is to say that you are bored?

I’m embarrassed for you OP.

I had my face ripped open/apart by a labrador when I was younger. It took a team of army trauma surgeons to put my face back together.

Funny enough I can't be near a lab now, completely irrational

Dogs are not like humans lol

Haha if course everyone hear has some (made up/over exaggerated) story of how they or a friend or relative has nearly been mauled to death by some dangerous dog.

Ah well, what i take satisfaction in is no matter how much Mumsnetters seems to violently loathe dogs - you have to put up with them so carry on with your hatred. You can't do anything about them

I admit he can be excitable and full on and we’re training him not to jump up or lick people. But the mum kind of enables it, picking DD up and saying “it’s OK, he’s not going to get you”.

The mother is reassuring her child - what's she supposed to do, let the child be jumped on?

I suspect popular opinion will be that I am and I’m ready for the backlash!!

You already knew most people would tell you YABU, and you said you were ready for the backlash.

You're lucky you don't have any irrational fear @Josico58.

I bloody love flying, but totally understand why people might be nervous of heights or flying. Spiders don't bother me, but I would never consider a colleague pathetic when I have to remove one from the sink and work because they're screaming. Because I'm not a dick, and understand not every body feels the same way about things as I do.

You did say you were ready for the back lash.

When my ds (3 at the time) was with his dad at a friends bq, a little sausage dog was overly excited and my ds got very scared. For a few years later he was still reacting scared and nervous when we went for a walk or to the park.

It was such a small thing but created such a nervous reaction.
And that can simple carrying on until adults.

I got ds a dog for his 10th birthday ( really a family dog) but his whole thought for dogs change and he became a very caring dog lover.
It's how you deal with fear.

Didn’t come on here to be called an arsehole! We can have different opinions without being rude to each other.

Right, like calling people with a phobia of dogs 'pathetic' is not rude?

Is that an example of your maturity?

I love dogs but I think people who judge those don't are immature twats.

Oh look it's pinkgin again.

Had many visitors lately, have you?

I'm not scared of dogs, in fact I like them and was brought up with very large dogs. What I don't like is poorly controlled dogs and owners who think it's acceptable to let their dogs jump up all over people and have no control. I was out running yesterday and a young dog on one of those stupid retractable leads bounded up and jumped up snagging my brand new £40 leggings. Fuming.

Arnoldillo, no believe it or not between yesterday evening and 9am no one has come round Got group coming later though, luckily all love my boy or they wouldn't be welcome

Most dogs don't bite but unfortunately a few do bite strangers. So fear not even irrational. Barking can also seem terrifying to a small child. Even docile breeds like a lab are loud barkers. If someone who is fearful of dogs comes to my house i put dogs out into garden or if wet in crate where they sleep and they are well behaved and do not jump up but sit to be petted.

Not everyone is going to like our dogs. Get over it.

Pinkgin's friends:

OP why do you keep posting pictures of your dog?? It’s not even cute.

@Pinkgin
Have fun with your big group of imaginary friends 😂😂😂

@straightjeans i don't care if everyone does or doesn't like my dog. They just aren't welcome in my house if they don't. Luckily I know enough sane people who have no issues.

Your little Cav is lovely, Josico58 - but still a dog. As I mentioned previously, it took a long time for my sister to tolerate my little Cav even though he wouldn't harm a fly - to a person who is afraid of dogs, he is still a barky thing with big sharp teeth.

Not afraid of dogs... I am just dangerously allergic to them. Epipen allergic!

I need them to keep away from me.

But I love dogs...

@User5436477 I’m not asking if you think he is cute, I’m showing you what you and several other posters have deemed as “scary, dangerous, vicious, growling/snarling, disgusting” etc.

You’re clearly just trolling with that comment. If I showed myself in the pic you’d probably call me ugly or fat or something equally troll-like.

If you’re not going to sensibly contribute to a debate please kindly see yourself out.

I bloody love dogs but even I can see that it's not entirely irrational to be afraid of them.

But I'm phobic about birds. That really is irrational, having to cross the road because pigeons are pecking at something on the pavement, and not being able to eat outside for fear a sparrow might want to share your food.

I had to have CBT as my phobia had got so bad, I was finding it almost impossible not to duck and hide my eyes when I was driving. The CBT helped a lot, but I still struggle to go shopping in Brighton because of all the fucking seagulls.

Josiekoko I think you were trolling with your goody OP so maybe you should see yourself out. If you post photos you open yourself up. If you can’t handle feedback, get gone. You’re dog looks yappy and yappy dogs are scary to little children and people who are scared of dogs. It’s so simple but you seem incapable of grasping it.

I actually don’t mind dogs in general but I hate selfish oblivious owners like you who expect everyone to fawn over their dogs and have no consideration by letting them jump over little kids who are scared of them.