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!!

Yabvu

Total Empathy and common sense bypass.

@Wolfiefan I can totally understand that, that’s why I said in my post I can see it might be scary if a big dog comes hurtling at you, but my question is more about under control dogs just minding there business. Ie if a dog is tied up outside a shop, and people scared to enter just because of the dogs presence there. Must make daily life quite difficult to have that crippling a fear that the very sight of a dog scares some people.

Staffies are adorable, but they are the ones who kill babies.

your

As PP have said, if it decided to, a dog or any size could attack you and maul you. But apart from that I just find dogs are generally gross. They’re too big, they smell, they have smelled breath, they slobber. I loathe how, if it’s a dog with white fur, they fur around their mouth and bumhole gets stained. It’s sickening. I also loathe how dogs ‘goose’ you. Every time I see my friend’a dog it fucking sticks its muzzle right in my crotch. It makes me feel really violated. When a dog does that I could happily kick it in its face.

There’s not much to like really as far as I can see.

Josico58 the mother didn't kick the dog because it 'brushed past her toddler'. The dog ran at them and knocked the kid down. I wouldn't have just kicked the dog, I'd have kicked the dickhead of an owner too.

@thenightsky my dog is well mannered and had been helping a truly dog phobic young girl recently.
Unfortunately your description of cats perfectly captures the behaviour of my psycho tortie.

So only people who have personally been attacked or witnessed someone else be are allowed to be scared of dogs in your world?
I wouldn't worry too much about your friends dd, if I was your friend I wouldn't be bringing my small child around your untrained, annoying, potentially dangerous dog to have my child scared whilst you stand there like an idiot. Your dog is probably creating a fear in that child.

For fucks sake. There are so many typos in that post. My autocorrect is such a dick.

See I'm alright with cats, even though they have teeth and claws and I've been both bitten (gently) and scratched by cats, because I grew up with cats and I can absolutely predict what's likely to set them off and I know I'm not going to antagonise one by accident. They don't frighten me at all and I'd let my children be in contact with them quite happily.

Dogs I just don't know and that is what makes me wary. I'd add I'm absolutely fine with a dog I do know, but I haven't known enough dogs to be able to generalise this.

You do understand these people aren’t choosing to be petrified.

@josico58 I guess we interpret the mothers reaction differently. It's normal to pick young children up to comfort them. If you have children, do you not pick them up or cuddle them if something upsets them? Even if you think it's just something little? Most dog owners I know are responsible enough to be able to control their dogs around small children. If you can't control your dog, for whatever reason,
It seems a bit unpleasant judge how the parent reacts. I've seen a "friendly nip" from a puppy inflict quite a nasty injury on a young toddler.

But sometimes when you approach a dog which is tied up outside a shop it barks at you. Can you not see how that might be a bit scary?

What on earth is wrong with you?

My son feels threatened by anything that looks like it might invade his space, jump around, lick him and make lots of noise.
I'm tell idiot dog owners who let there dogs do this to shift their dog before he kicks it.

The hospital volunteers who brought their lovely Labrador to my DS hospital bed to "pet" were not too impressed when I asked them to go after the dog insisted on licking DS cannula and puncture wounds. At least the little boy next door got a special visitor as he recovered from the surgery to his hands and face after being mauled by a dog. Why the owners thought their smelly slobbering dog was of any comfort to any children on the ward is beyond me. Bizarre

At ten years old I was mauled by our family dog. Twenty years on I still have a scar on my face, you could see through my lip to my gums underneath, it was torn wide open. My dentist thought I had a cleft palette when I saw him. Because of a fucking dog.

I wouldn’t say I am scared of dogs but I am wary. My DD is 15 months old and adores dogs and I would hate to pass any of my nervousness on to her. But I will not let her near strange dogs, or them near her, because, frankly, had that dog gone for my throat and not latched on to my face I would most likely not be here typing this, and there is not a chance I would let any animal do the same to my child. They have the potential to severely attack/even kill, they smell, are noisy, irritating, hairy, messy. I cannot stand obsessive dog owners who are blind to these flaws. YA of course BU!

Guide dogs are good boys and girls.

my dd was knocked over by an alsatian puppy when she was 3. any dog with a lot of energy and off the lead worries her now. I've taught her to turn her back as they're less likely to jump up but I understand hysterical children. they need to learn to 'read' a dog, what is excited wanting to play can be misinterpreted.

But your dog isn't under control or minding it's own business when it's jumping up and running around your friends small daughter.
Can you really not see how experiencing that as a little person makes you more likely to be wary of any dog? Even the one tied up outside a shop?
You are part of the problem op

Crikey - a dog tied up near shop doorways is a nightmare - especially if on a lead long enough for them to block the doorway. PITA

YABU.

Because some dog owners are fuckwits, they allow their huge dogs to run at and/or jump up on both adults and tiny kids. Therefore said tiny kids take fucking years to get over it, no matter how much they are reassured or exposed to other friendly dogs.

2/3 of my DC are already shit scared of dogs thanks to the above, including the one who was clambered on by a massive dog in a fucking children's play park. The owner gave zero fucks and swore at all the parents.

Stupid is everywhere.

Some smaller yappy dogs can be more aggressive and bitey. Having your ancles snapped and your knees scratched by claws is horrible. I used to have a —apparently pathetic— dog phobia as a child, I’m ambivalent towards them now but I hate the loud sharp bark dogs suddenly seem to spring on you, making me jump out of my skin, sadly some owners do find that funny.

Yeah...stupid little girl, get a grip. 🤨