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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Friend's Dog

44 replies

ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 22:19

I have a friend who had the world's most annoying dog, it's actually beyond annoying, it's a fucking liability. It's a terrier-cross that he paid silly money for, looks like an ewok, very sweet.

But he hasn't trained it at all, it bounces at you, to neck height again and again and again, boing, boing, boing. It claws your clothes and does not calm down ever. He lets it go for my cats (I keep them in another room now when he visits), he feeds it from his fork and lets it sit at the dinner table despite me asking time and time again that he doesn't. It's got terrible separation anxiety so when he leaves the room, it scratches the buggery out of my doors. It jumps up, on your knee, all over you whenever. IT DOESN'T STOP. It's very reactive to other dogs and goes for them constantly. In short, it's a fooking nightmare. I've been suggesting for some time that he takes it to classes or a behaviourist or something, anything.

As a cherry on the bloody cake, he's bought a 'Support Animal' luminous coat that he puts on it and then embarrassingly insists it has to have access to every-fucking-where, which nice people then let it in and it behaves appalingly.

I actually really love dogs, I adore them, I think this dog is being very badly served, and consequently it's an embarrassment.

I told my friend to 'Sort your fucking dog out' after one incident too many and he's gone all bloody nasty at me, I'm not being U though am I?

OP posts:
StoneofDestiny · 05/01/2020 22:59

Emotional support animals' have no attendant legislation, it just relies on kindness and ignorance

So basically any dog owner could buy their pet dog a 'support dog' coat and gain access to anywhere?

ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:01

Yep Stone, they can. I've not seen it fail. People just capitulate because they don't want to be seen as exclusive or horrid.

OP posts:
Littlemeadow123 · 05/01/2020 23:03

Wow, I thought I spoiled my dog. I would never go as far as this. Is he using this dog as a substitute child?

scoobydoo1971 · 05/01/2020 23:05

This man is not your friend, he does not respect you and your wishes on your own property. It is not the dog that needs training, it is him. I love my dog and spent time training him for his welfare. Dogs like routine and rules, they get anxious with uncertainty.

It makes me mad that this dog has a support vest, is uncontrolled and not restrained in a car. It is a disaster waiting to happen...

ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:05

Which is also why I'm not going to be party to it anymore, because he actually gets quite aggressive when anyone questions it. And then the dog is a nightmare.

I had a chat with him about his dog and his attitude, and his own boundaries, because I think they're a bit buggered due to things that have happened.

He wouldn't hear it though.

OP posts:
ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:06

Well yes Scooby, I did pretty much end the friendship.

OP posts:
Butchyrestingface · 05/01/2020 23:09

So basically any dog owner could buy their pet dog a 'support dog' coat and gain access to anywhere?

Henry Cavill made the press when he took his ‘emotional support’ dog (complete with coat) on a transatlantic flight.

I believe the situation has reached such farcical heights that certain US airlines have issued edicts banning ES peacocks, emus, shetland ponies and donkeys from long haul flights.

Doobigetta · 05/01/2020 23:13

It’s really shit of you to let him bring the dog into your house when it frightens your cats. You’re supposed to protect them, why are you putting the dog first?

SeagullOnTheWind · 05/01/2020 23:14

Really pisses me off when people abuse the support dog thing. My dog has certainly felt like that to me, it's pretty much why I looked to adopt a dog. But he's not trained to be a support dog, he is not suitable for many aspects of the public although I could force him out more. But at home he has given me so much when I was at my worst.

Bringing untrained dogs into spaces where proper support dogs are permitted only damages that privilege (right? Unsure) for people with hearing dogs or guide dogs. I'm on the fence on dogs for autism or seizures because I simply don't know as much about them and the regulation of them (where as I volunteered at kennels for the gdba so I could wax lyrical on that).
Thing is, it's extremely expensive to get proper trained support dogs and I know how it feels having a very cherished and loving dog with you when you're anxious. But it's not appropriate.

Your friend isn't being appropriate, he's crossing boundaries you've set out quite clearly

Thelnebriati · 05/01/2020 23:16

Any dog trainer will tell you that some people buy a dog to let it act out. They can then cause chaos and blame the dog. As your 'friend' is getting aggressive, I'd suspect thats the case.

Jaxhog · 05/01/2020 23:17

Tell your friend that he can visit, but his dog can't.

ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:19

Ahh, that's very intuitive TheInebtari, it does feel very much like that.

OP posts:
PuggyMum · 05/01/2020 23:21

I have a rescue dog. Probably the same breed by the sounds and comes from the type of owner you describe.

We've had to spend a fair few quid on getting him trained.

He's still a nightmare around food because he was fed off the owners plate. He goes crazy if I try to eat a piece of toast.

YANBU. A dog is a responsibility and this owner is not responsible.

Thelnebriati · 05/01/2020 23:22

If its the case, he will object to boundaries and try to break them. If you think back he may have used some less noticeable 'nice' methods in the past.

TheFoxAndTheMole · 05/01/2020 23:28

I have a small terrier cross. She's being an annoying teenager at the moment, and I'm hoping will get back to a polite well mannered citizen when we go back to dog training school after the xmas break. She's an absolute angel compared to what you describe though. There's no way she's allowed to chase cats, jump up or be a nuisance. I don't take her where we are not invited and although she's been an amazing support dog in my health recovery recently and I'm waiting for her to be old enough to be assessed as a PAT dog, I think buying a fake support dog tabbard to take the piss with is horrific. I'm trying to get her happy with coming to dog friendly cafes etc but if she's a nuisance out we go.

PuggyMum · 05/01/2020 23:28

Aren't all dogs basically emotional support dogs anyway! But abusing something like this just makes it so much harder for those who genuinely need the extra kindness.

I take mine to official dog friendly places and leave if he acts up.

I do the same with my child too!

ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:31

Yes, he has Inebriati, he's deployed some very 'divide and rule' friendship tactics for as long as I've known him.

We are done now though.

I always felt sad for him, and gave evidence in a court case against his abuser, but, but, I don't think he's moved on, I've tried time and time again to get him help and to help him.

I suspect he may be malicious though, he's never really accepted help, and if people don't do as he wants it can get nasty.

OP posts:
ILikeyourHairyHands · 05/01/2020 23:36

Argh, I see I've swerved a little from my OP.

Which is why I've maybe posted this, it's about the dog and my friend.

OP posts:
Grumpelstilskin · 05/01/2020 23:59

Your ex friend sounds like a bloody nightmare. We have 4 large dogs but I stopped a now former friend from bringing their Border Terrier mix to our house because it was a bloody nightmare. I love dogs but have zero tolerance for badly behaved, nipping, biting and otherwise anti-social canine behaviour. The last straw was when it tried to attack our oldest, very docile Greyhound who is almost blind now. I took a rolled up newspaper and slapped it down and then chucked it and its useless owner out. Terriers can be challenging and really need training.

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