Dog walkers

[Lockdowner13]

I’ve noticed that since the places we can visit are restricted at the moment due to virus, just how many dog walkers there are.

I’m finding it impossible to take kids out without seeing dog off it’s lead. I really don’t like dogs much.

I’m finding that dog owners round here are selfish. Taking up the whole of the path so I need to run in the road, off lead when kids are walking, taking over the local green space.

AIBU to think that during lockdown some better rules should have been implemented. Eg dog free hours for exercise. We usually go to dog free places for our fun. Eg kids parks, cafes, national trust. Now I’m being forced to mix with dogs and it’s annoying me.

@lazylockdowner Imagine if a human started jumping at you and putting muddy hands on your chest. Would not be acceptable right.

So why do parents allow their children to come up and put their 'muddy paws' on my dog? You need to grow up I'm afraid, you're going to make your DC terrified of dogs which they don't need to be. It's very rare to find a child mauling dog but much more common to find a dog mauling child!

It's very rare to find a child mauling dog but much more common to find a dog mauling child!

So true. My tiny, pretty JRT is a complete child magnet, I wish the little buggers would leave her alone.

My child doesn't jump at strangers or touch people's dogs, I control her out in public and she knows how to behave.

I have 4 children and only one is afraid of dogs (the one with ASD)

Dogs do and have mules people myself included and I have the scaring left from it so no I don't think I have to grow up at all i said people have dogs that jump at people etc then they should be kept on leads I didn't say all dogs

I never said my children are perfectly behaved. Their behaviour cannot be compared to dogs behaviour though. My child is not called Tarquin so I’m not sure if you think you are being funny or not (you are not). “My dog doesn’t need a lead”... erm actually it does if you want to use a park that requires you to use one at the moment. Funny how dogs are so friendly... until they bite, nip, jump up and then it’s ALWAYS the victims fault.

Dogs are good in curry, tbf.

My dog doesn’t need a lead”... erm actually it does if you want to use a park that requires you to use one at the moment

No. My dogs don’t need to be leashed to be under control. I need a link to back up why you think they should....

Meh, you SAY your kids are well behaved and don't do anything that inconveniences anyone else...

But then everyone says that...

The last time someone shouted 'she's just being friendly' to me.... I had to peel their 4 year old off my Deerhound, because they had helpfully raised their child to run up to strange giant dogs and hug them. Good job my dog just stood there in horror with her GET IT OFF ME face on!

Just today, I spent a good half hour listening to next doors toddler barking and growling...

And yes, they walk theirs on a lead, its called reins, and its perfectly legal to put a small child on safety reins to prevent accidents. More parents should use them in my opinion!

Sorry, are there not places where you NEED to use a lead? Eg royal parks at the moment?

You can’t just make up your own rules because your dog is “friendly”

The comparison between dogs and children is ridiculous. Neither are perfectly behaved, but a child is not going to potentially kill someone by savaging them with their teeth, or at best, leave life-changing physical damage. I know, as I was facially mauled by a dog as a child and have lots of scarring as a result.

Fortunately, I’m not scared of dogs, but I do think it’s naive and offensive to suggest that they’re not capable of doing damage.

I have had dogs jump up at me when walking (child free) and wrecking my clothes, I’ve had them nip at my ankles. It’s not acceptable.

Dogs must be kept under control in all of London's eight Royal Parks and including Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens. We strongly advise dogs on leads at this time to support government social distancing guidelines

See above. This is a direct quote. Leads are even more important right now due to social distancing. If you cannot follow this or think you are above this then yes, you are one of the selfish dog owners.

Sorry, are there not places where you NEED to use a lead? Eg royal parks at the moment

I don’t use parks - there are too many precious people using them at the moment. Do you have a link to back up your earlier claim that all dogs must be leashed at this time?

I guess since we all need to practice social distancing at the moment, using a lead is common sense really isn’t it

The gov.uk guidance said dogs had to be on leads everywhere that other people are around, right up until Wednesday when we all started being alert instead and now they just have to be "under control" although on leads in private leisure spaces like parks. Everyone ignored it though because dog happiness or whatever.

It's kind of common sense to put it on a lead though I'd have thought - if your dog is being friendly and licking a child's face and you go to fetch it then you're clearly not social distancing.

I guess since we all need to practice social distancing at the moment, using a lead is common sense really isn’t it

Why? My dogs are not interested in being close to you or Tarquin. Why do they need to be leashed? Have you found a link yet?

See above

Why are you on mumsnet? It’s a place for people that actually like children. Stop calling my child names.

Now now mumsnetters.

Tarquin’s mummy has spoken.

See above

I don’t live in London.... I am, however, affected by this worldwide pandemic. Can you provide a link to say all dogs must be leashed at this time - or can’t you?

Also probably a good idea to have it on a lead even when you're not around people if you're at all bothered about ground nesting birds and wild eg rabbit, duck habitats etc, but then dog owners, in their millions, seem as oblivious to the effects that their domestic predators have on the environment as they are to the effects they have on humans.

Why are you on mumsnet? It’s a place for people that actually like children

I have children and grandchildren and dogs. I love them all. Do you have a problem with that?

The government have said that we are to socially distance. Having people come and fetch dogs from near me is not social distancing. Go look it up yourself... it’s called google. Mumsnet is full of strange people today...

I take my dog to a quiet public field to play football (his favourite!)

He’s absolutely darling but because he has pointy ears and isn’t small and fluffy, people assume all kinds. A woman walked through the field with her children while we were there (probably 30 feet away!) and CLUTCHED her children and almost ran with them out of the field just because my dog was there. He didn’t even look in their direction, only interested in his ball, but this woman gave me a filthy look and kept her eyes on us the entire time. It’s absolutely not healthy to instil such a neurotic fear of dogs into children.

No... i DO have problem that pick on children though. A parenting forum is an odd place for people that don’t like children to hang out. I certainly contributed to mumsnet prior to becoming a parent. Particularly on the fertility boards. But I would never take the piss out of a child or compare a child’s behaviour to an animal. Seems odd behaviour.

A bit like going on a dogs forum and chatting about cats.

From another point of view... I have a long-haired (fluffy) German Shepherd dog who is always, always under control and on a lead. Can’t begin to tell you how many times that a small child has been allowed to run up to her, totally unchecked by their parent... who then scowls at me as I wrestle my large dog out of squawking child’s way!!
Why is this “acceptable?”
Dogs don’t generally appreciate small children hurtling towards them - and will react accordingly.
Not the dogs fault!