To be utterly exasperated with the ‘but she’s really friendly’ dog owners out there

[Flamingolingo]

You know the kind - the ones who holler after their bounding dog who barks and bows and jumps at you about how friendly they are.

I feel like since lockdown I’ve had multiple altercations with people and their marauding dogs. Especially either while out running or out with my small children who are terrified.

That’s not to say there aren’t loads of really responsible dog owners out there who do try and call their dog back/put it on the lead, but the few who make no attempt other than shout about their friendliness really get my goat. For clarity: we are mostly using city centre green space, that is quite busy, I think in a rural location it’s a little different.

So I guess my Aibu is about my being annoyed at people who assume everyone wants their ‘friendly’ dog to bound into their social space, and who make no attempt to call their dog back unless specifically asked to.

@balkanscot

A dog weed on my rucksack on the beach. I had the rucksack down and was sitting beside it, then this dog just sauntered over, cocked its leg up and fecking weed all over it!!! (NOT envy) The owner then shows up and lightheartedly says “Oops, sorry!”, then just walks off.

I had to throw the rucksack as it just reeked (even after being washed).

I’d have been saying where’s my money for the contents of that bag. You owe me at least 50 quid.

Not being unreasonable at all. I took my children for a walk yesterday and a Labrador bounded over. Eldest is terrified of dogs anyway so I turned to calm her down and the bloody dog out his head in to my 4 week olds pushchair.
I shouted at the owner to get his dog under control. Oh don't worry, he loves babies.
Couldn't care less if he does or not. Get him away from my baby. Honestly what if my son screamed and startled the dog or he stretched out and accidentally kicked the dog
Some people are just idiots. According to the dog owner though I'm an uptight cow. First time I'd really been out with our baby, won't be doing it again in a hurry.

While pregnant I walked on my lunch break through a public park, people regularly let their dogs off lead there and usually they are well behaved well trained and no bother at all. A massive dog jumped up at me one day. Scratched me scared me (and I’m not dog-phobic either) and left me covered in mud and having to return to work with dirty clothes and having to use the first aid kit to clean my bleeding scratches because who the fuck knows what bacteria was on that dogs claws. The owner was a silly bint who didn’t even bother calling the dog back and I walked past her and she didn’t apologise, in fact she said fuck all to me. Most dog owners and their dogs are lovely and respectful and a joy to stop and talk to. The 1% who are inconsiderate bastards should be allowed to own a dog.

shouldn't be picnicking in the park

Shouldn’t*.

This really annoys me too, and I'm generally OK with dogs. The thing is, the fact that they are 'just being friendly' is completely irrelevant, if someone doesn't want a dog jumping up on them or on their kid.

It happened with us with one particular arsehole who told us we should 'go and buy your own woods to walk in then if you don't want to see dogs' when his massive dog was jumping all over us and completely ignoring him.

Also we were once in the park and a stranger came up to us with one of those big spoons for throwing a ball and asked us if we would throw the ball for the dog as she was trying to get the dog to interact with other people. We were like 'er, no thanks' and she looked really put out that we didn't want to play with her dog!

People are weird are they?

@Quornflakegirl I’ve had that one too. Dog came lolloping over, sniffing around and eating all the food (including a sandwich out of my son’s hand!) lady dog owner came over and muttered sorry about that, my friends and I were all really nice about it, no harm done, don’t worry etc and then she had the cheek to tell us what did we expect having a picnic in the park and that it was our fault!

We went to a park for picnic this Friday with two kids. A massive black dog cane running towards us and ATE all the sandwiches we had !! Every single bit of food that I had for kids (laid out the picnic) the owner came sauntering without any worry! His dog was so damn aggressive too. Bloody bastards both of them!!

We went to a park for picnic this Friday with two kids. A massive black dog came running towards us and ATE all the sandwiches we had !! Every single bit of food that I had for kids (laid out the picnic) the owner came sauntering without any worry! His dog was so damn aggressive too. Bloody bastards both of them!!

I can completely sympathise OP. We have an enormous hairy German Shepherd. I know she's ridiculously soft, adores our children and just needs love and cuddles. I'm also very aware of how terrifying it must be to have a great big barking dog haring towards you - even if the tail is wagging.
We're relatively rural and I generally walk her off lead, but she always goes straight back on the lead if there are other people or dogs around. Mainly for others' reassurance as I know she'll come back if called.
I wasn't brought up with pets and remember being terrified of the neighbour's two GSDs. They had no gates and they would come out and bark relentlessly at the boundary when someone walked past. Nowadays they wouldn't bother me, but only because I'm familiar with the breed.
DH grew up with dogs and is a bit more lax - he's pathetic at getting ddog to do as she's told. I really have to make him aware that not everyone likes to be greeted by our pet. Thankfully he rarely walks her and it falls to me and our eldest!

rayoflightboy

Then the friend with the spider is just like irresponsible owners who let their dogs run up to people.I've already said countless times this is wrong.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
Thankfully there's places that allow off lead dogs and places that say dogs must be on a lead.

People are free to choose which one they go to.

Sadly, some on here think that their preference to never see an off lead dog / the fact they see any off lead dog as a wolf / their child's dislike of off lead dogs / the fact they consider being in the presence of an off lead dog is too big a risk to them means that owners who are perfectly legally exercising their dogs off lead are wrong.
It absolutely is about some people thinking their preferences come first and wanting to limit the entirely legal actions of others around their preferences.

There's space for everyone to do their thing. I wouldn't take my dogs to a local park for an off lead run because it's not allowed. If I wanted to take DC somewhere to play free from off lead dogs then I wouldn't take them to the local green that's known for off lead exercise.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

No one is saying a childs preference should always be adhered to.

We are saying a childs safety comes first. I'm sorry but many of us here believe that any dog has the capacity to hurt/attack a child. Unlikely though that may seem, it's a matter of safety, and we believe that trumps your desire to have your dog off leash in public spaces.

In that case you need to find places to go where dogs are not allowed or where they need to be kept on a lead.

What NoIDont WatchLoveIsland said . It is a matter of safety!Very friendly big lab has knocked me over when he greeted me ( my friends) imagine what he would do to a child. I also never watch love island .

In the last week we’ve had 3 unpleasant incidents with dogs/owners. A few days ago I was having a picnic near a river. People with dogs were going down the main path with their dogs no problem. One woman came back from the river by the tiny path next to us instead of the main path a few feet away & informed us we would be getting wet. I asked her to please could she either put it on the lead or make it go up the other path then & she refused. Her large dog then drenched us. She told us the area was for dog walkers & not for picnics or sunbathing. Her teenage son laughed & swore at us.
The 2nd incident was when I was paddling in a local lake. A small dog went & wee-ed on my shoes! The owners said a half hearted sorry but were not bothered or sorry at all & didn’t see what the issue was. Fortunately my car was only a 5-10 minute walk away & I had spare shoes in the car.
The 3rd incidents was actually my sister’s dog & she was extremely apologetic! My ds2 was walking down a steep slope & her dog ran past my son, accidentally knocking him into a dead gorse bush. He was covered in 100’s on splinters which she & dd helped to extract from him.
Everyone I know who has dogs are very considerate of others, but it infuriates me that too many other people who have dogs aren’t.

@LolaSmiles

rayoflightboy

Then the friend with the spider is just like irresponsible owners who let their dogs run up to people.I've already said countless times this is wrong.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland
Thankfully there's places that allow off lead dogs and places that say dogs must be on a lead.

People are free to choose which one they go to.

Sadly, some on here think that their preference to never see an off lead dog / the fact they see any off lead dog as a wolf / their child's dislike of off lead dogs / the fact they consider being in the presence of an off lead dog is too big a risk to them means that owners who are perfectly legally exercising their dogs off lead are wrong.
It absolutely is about some people thinking their preferences come first and wanting to limit the entirely legal actions of others around their preferences.

There's space for everyone to do their thing. I wouldn't take my dogs to a local park for an off lead run because it's not allowed. If I wanted to take DC somewhere to play free from off lead dogs then I wouldn't take them to the local green that's known for off lead exercise.

Lola, I’m in Scotland and I’ve never seen a no dogs off lead sign in any green space. So I’m supposed to never take a child to any green space then? I would never let my child run up to your dog ( if she could walk) so you should never let your dog run up to my child.

@@LolaSmiles at an off lead park a stupid dog ran up to us as we were sitting eating sandwich and ate all our food while being aggressive towards the kids. Should I let my toddler run up to people and snatch their food and pretend it is all ok because 'he is just a baby! He likes eating sandwiches!' If the dog can't be controlled they should be on a damn lead.

There's space for everyone to do their thing. I wouldn't take my dogs to a local park for an off lead run because it's not allowed. If I wanted to take DC somewhere to play free from off lead dogs then I wouldn't take them to the local green that's known for off lead exercise

This. I walk through a recreation ground to walk mine. Only one part of it’s off limits for dogs. The rest is available on and off lead. She stays on lead until we reach the meadow beyond, then I let her off. She’s recalled and put back if a runner appears. She ignores anyone else. But apparently she’s not supposed to have any freedom at all.

There isnt actually a choice where I live or in most countryside places. The history of fewer people owning dogs as pets means the balance of places allowing dogs off lead vs not is hugely weighted towards dogs, of whom there are fewer than people. Fair? Nope!

Its ridiculous that you expect me to restrict myself to a 50m playground, because nowhere else within a 10 mile radius restricts dogs to be on leads.

Your emotional attachment to your own dog/s means you do not rationally assess the risk of a dog to a child. You place a greater value on your own enjoyment of an animal as a pet, than on the (small) risk of a dog causing significant harm to another person or their property.

I'm off to bed now, the poll says it all really.

Yes, at the beginning of lockdown I had this- rural area- as huge dog came up- was really annoyed only to be met with “only being friendly”. I don’t want to have to deal with you huge dog slobber particularly at the start of a pandemic. Yuk.

@NoIDontWatchLoveIsland

There isnt actually a choice where I live or in most countryside places. The history of fewer people owning dogs as pets means the balance of places allowing dogs off lead vs not is hugely weighted towards dogs, of whom there are fewer than people. Fair? Nope!

Its ridiculous that you expect me to restrict myself to a 50m playground, because nowhere else within a 10 mile radius restricts dogs to be on leads.

Your emotional attachment to your own dog/s means you do not rationally assess the risk of a dog to a child. You place a greater value on your own enjoyment of an animal as a pet, than on the (small) risk of a dog causing significant harm to another person or their property.

I'm off to bed now, the poll says it all really.

I have two children (who love dogs) so it's nothing to do with how much I love my dog. I'm just flabbergasted that because you think all dogs should be on leads you expect people to abide to this. Yes it s your opinion and your allowed it but it doesn't mean people have to agree to it or do it. maybe if the majority of the population believe this ( I don't think they do) the law should change and dog parks should be opened but until it does I will continue walking my well behaved dog off leash.

at an off lead park a stupid dog ran up to us as we were sitting eating sandwich and ate all our food while being aggressive towards the kids. Should I let my toddler run up to people and snatch their food and pretend it is all ok because 'he is just a baby! He likes eating sandwiches!' If the dog can't be controlled they should be on a damn lead
If only I'd said that dogs should not be running up to people several times on this thread...

YANBU

my eldest is terrified and it's a massive issue for her.

people with those bloody stretchy leads who just let the dog walk up to you and do what they want. Why bother with a fucking lead !?

I'm trying to arrange a family break. Looking at a (not at all cheap) family hotel - dogs welcome. Lovely, well that would ruin our trip, thanks.
I look at trip advisor and there are idiots complaining their dogs are not allowed at breakfast- WTAF.

Another glamping place I looked at Dogs welcome again. 🙄. Must be kept on leads. Means jack shit- dogs will either be loose or on the above mentioned stretchy lead. 😡

While there are many fab dog owners (I happen to really like dogs generally) there are many idiots as the OP describes. It's fucking shit for scared kids.

And it's not a case of exposure. We are way past that due to idiots letting dogs bound up to my child on too many occasions.

YANBU I am a massive wuss and regularly have dogs try and attack me when I’m running (I always make sure I’m on other side of the road as far away as possible) and it scares the shit out of me so must be terrifying for children. Some are lovely but am now scared of all dogs, keep your dogs on a lead!!

I'm off to bed now, the poll says it all really
The poll agrees that dogs should not be running up to people.
I don't think there's any owners on here who've said otherwise. I think we are all in agreement that dogs should not be bounding up to people.

@LolaSmiles why call the dog stupid? Nasty.