To have screamed at Chihuahua man?

[RobDeNirosCalling]

Took my dog for walk in country park. It’s a small foresty type area with tall tread, large rocks, a little lake and pathways. It’s very popular with dog walkers so there are always tons of dogs there.

Anyway, this absolutely bell end was there “hiking” with a chihuahua. I mean, he had the full kit on as if he was walking the Himalayas. Massive back pack, hiking boots, walking stick etc ... it isn’t that kind of park!! It has a bleeding main road running alongside it ffs. Anyway his rat dog thing was off lead and he had it “hiking” in the trees and up the rocks etc. When it saw us it ran over, got in my dogs face and then randomly snarled and snapped at my dogs nose. This bloke started huffing and puffing shouting “leave it!” To his dog. Eventually it ran off to follow him and he disappeared into the trees. Further along we saw him again arguining with an old man with a border collie. Apparently collie wasn’t on lead and had chased chihuahua. Old man adamant that this isn’t what happened and in fact, the rat dog ran up to his and started yapping in its face so his dog reacted. Again, hiking man disappeared into the trees.
We bumped into him a final time 20 minutes later where he was having a blazing row with a woman as her little girl had tried to stroke chihuahua when it ran up to her. Dog snapped at girl’s hand and then all hell broke lose. He’d been irritating me the entire time I was there and as I walked past I lost it and screamed at him that this is the 3rd time is seen him arguing with someone all because his dog wasn’t on a lead. He went mental and said people like me shouldn’t be allowed dogs with squashed faces. I shouted back “not everyone wants to pretend to hike in a bleeding country park and if I was going to pretend to be a hiker with a dog, I’d buy a dog and not a squirrel. The woman with the kid shouted at him “oh so you’ve been bothering other people today too then?” And so I told her about border collie man.

DH thinks I should have stayed out of it but he needed telling surely?! 3 adults upset by him and a little girl bitten all because he wants to play action man. I’m fuming.

I think you lost my support when you ranted about his clothing and dog. What business is it of yours to say what he wears and the type of dog he has. you basically sound unhinged!!
Shame as a dog owner who cant or wont control his dog would have be enough for him to deserve to be ranted on.

Little girl and mom were being UR for thinking every dog is approachable for a petting.

The dog approached her. Unapproachable dogs should not be given this opportunity.

Glad you weren’t there when I had a Dandie Dinmont literally hanging from my hand by its teeth. It was entirely my fault.

The man was a complete arse. He deserves any ridicule that's coming to him TBH.

What IS your dog, then, RobdeNiro?

Shit zhu? Lhasa apso? Pekinese? Boston terrier? Cavalier King Chalres?

Ooh! Ooh! - Is it a boxer?

Oh well if he looked like Jeremy Hunt he deserved all he got....

Yeah you lost me with the 'rat dog' comment and ridiculing his clothing, he was an arsehole and you're an arsehole.

Bullies never get my vote so YABU.

Screaming is a very uncool thing to do, unless you're at the Sistine Chapel of course. WTF his clothing had to do with anything is beyond me. YWBU.

Come on then tell us the breed

It sounds like the OP responded as he spoke to other people. Those of you who are dog folk who have seen how badly a small dog can attack a big dog will understand the OPs frustration. My large dog breed would be deemed dangerous had it have acted in the way this toy dog did. And it’s not fair at all. No ones dog should act in this way, and by the sounds of it the owner is the reason it is such a badly behaved dog. Most owners and dogs are alike. And for those of you who are saying she is being unreasonable a little child was bitten by this dog. A lot of people here are just being dicks. If you have a small dog and you are offended by the OPs comment, it Should not matter to you as long as your dog is a well behaved small dog whom is nice and not aggressive. I would have done the same OP. I will acknowledge the treatment another puts toward me and will amplify it back. T W A T.

"rat dog" and "hiker.. buy a dog not a squirrel" = sheer happiness and therefore YANBU.

I’m just imagining being an innocent bystander out for a nice country walk blundering into the middle of Dog Wars and being somewhat

He WBU for having a dog out of control of any size - bitey bugger dogs need to be kept on a lead, irrespective of size. However YWBU for screaming at him (although dog not a squirrel is a good line, tbf).

Everyone is unreasonable here!

Any snappy dog should be on a lead, any parent should be teaching their child never to touch dogs before asking the owner’s permission, and until they’re old enough to do this, should be keeping a close enough eye on their child that the child doesn’t try to stroke unknown dogs. And you should keep your beak out, really.

it's the image of Jeremy Hunt in faux-hiking gear with a snarling dog the size of Boris Johnson's brain that's doing it for you isn''t it family?

No, it's more that Brexit has become like Godwins - ANY subject of discussion where something bad might happen will pretty soon be hijacked by a finger-wagging member of the self-appointed intelligentsia to lets us know that it has other all been caused by or will be exacerbated by Brexit and all the low life vermin who voted for it.

So this is a brief respite.

My dog is a boxer yes. His face is not squashed and he suffers no breathing problems.

Those of you who are dog folk who have seen how badly a small dog can attack a big dog will understand the OPs frustration

Yep. I loathe small, yappy dogs after one attached itself to my spaniel's back leg with its teeth.

Also one reason a big dog would be deemed dangerous if it behaved like the chihuahua is that a big dog who bites can kill a child or even an adult, and it’s unlikely a chihuahua could kill anyone other than possibly a tiny baby. You could drop kick a chihuahua across the park if it bit you, really. Like a cat who bites or scratches isn’t in the same league as an aggressive pit bull.

As a fellow dog owner who has met this sort, you have my sympathies, OP. I don't think I have ever been provoked to an outburst like yours, but I can understand the feelings behind it!

"if I was going to pretend to be a hiker with a dog, I’d buy a dog and not a squirrel."

Little rat dogs do seem to be far more prone to being snappy. My son says they all have a Napoleon complex. The dog clearly should have been under close control and on a lead, preferably with a muzzle. I hope the child wasn't injured.

The dog rat squirrel should have been on a lead.

I think you were right to say somet however you maybe could have said it without shouting.

He was BU, his dog should be on a lead, also you don't have to like chihuahuas, much less twatty ones. YANBU

When you find yourself interfering in situations that are nothing to do with you so that you can scream at people, it is time to stop worrying (and posting) about other people's behaviour, and take a long hard look at your own behaviour instead.

Everything @PetrichorRain said.

I really dislike when people call chihuahuas rat dogs. I have chihuahuas and they certainly arent rats.
They are the most loving sweet little dogs, who love nothing more than a snooze and a cuddle.

YABU,

so was the child, no adult should EVER let the child put its hand near the dog without asking permission. That's poor parenting. Additionally, you have no idea why this man was arguing with the second person. You didn't witness it.

WHO CARES WHAT HE'S WEARING. You are immature and disgraceful 'rat thing', you're a rat thing.

Boxers have lovely temperaments.