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.

OchonAgusOchonO

Yes we can moan almighty here. Dogs, cat shit, kids screaming, you name it. And rightly so.

Well Maggie Thatcher said it years ago, "there is no such thing as society" and here we are. Every person on their own.

What? That has to be one of the more ridiculous arguments I've seen on here. And to be honest, I much prefer my dogs to lots of other people's children.

So in this ridiculous thought experiment you would be happy for me to shoot a child rather than any dog? or just one of yours?

So in this ridiculous thought experiment you would be happy for me to shoot a child rather than any dog? or just one of yours?

It would depend on the dog and on the child

Pets are lovely to their owners, but may not be to neighbours and others.

It is something worth thinking about.

Your post is quite worrying in that you seem to think that toddlers should be 'controlled' as if they actually are dogs, @OchonAgusOchonO
No child I've seen or known or raised, has ever gone bounding over to strangers at the park wanting to play or pinch ice cream. Parents look after their kids generally, and teach them not to go off with strangers, let alone encourage to them run off dangerously in the hope of annoying some.
Children don't act like badly trained dogs. Stop pretending that they do so you can have a counter argument.

@Notredamn - Your post is quite worrying in that you seem to think that toddlers should be 'controlled' as if they actually are dogs,

Nope. I think children should be controlled as if they are children.

No child I've seen or known or raised, has ever gone bounding over to strangers at the park wanting to play or pinch ice cream.

Maybe not but have you never been in a cafe or restaurant where a child wanders over and the parent expects you to coo in wonder at their amazing specimen of humanness? I have and it's annoying. Have you ever been walking your dog (obviously not), minding your own business and some child wanders over and starts to roughly pet your dog? I have and it's annoying.

Parents look after their kids generally, and teach them not to go off with strangers, let alone encourage to them run off dangerously in the hope of annoying some.
Children don't act like badly trained dogs.

Have you never encountered children on bikes or scooters, miles ahead of tbeir parents and completely oblivious to the danger they present? Have you never had to jump off the path to prevent these darlings running into you or your dog? I have. It's very annoying.

All pretty similar to the annoyance we all feel when poor dog owners don't control their dogs.

We are so so sick of this had a horrible experience today and last week, came home in tears today (me from the stress of it). So sick of everywhere basically being a dog toilet - it’s a public health disgrace.

Totally sympathies @Alwaysundecided we live semi rural and there are so many lovely council owned country parks, nature reserves and historic sites but they’re basically just dog toilets and exercise grounds. It’s a fucking disgrace that children can’t safely enjoy these spaces because of off lead aggressive unpredictable animals.

What I want to know is what these owners would do if their dogs attacked a child....!!

A bounding dog going towards me with an owner laughing at the antics would want me to tazer it. If I could.

But a holiday sized hairspray has helped now and then.

@GenevaL after today my DH suggested pepper spray - in all seriousness.

So what’s upsetting you @MrsGoggings85?

If iit’s dog shit, we’re asked to stick and flick in our nature reserve and pick up in the country path. We obey the rules and I’m completely with you if dog owners don’t do that.

I’m worn out with saying this but most parents don’t take their kids to nature reserves or country parks in the winter. They’re cold, wet and muddy. Dog owners have the place to themselves and our dogs have long off lead walks but suddenly in the summer the world and his wife go there and it’s the year round walkers who are asked to adapt their behaviour. Where would you like us to exercise our dogs off lead?

Experience tells me that all children aren’t perfectly behaved little angels who stay away from other people’s dogs and all dogs are ravaging beasts. I actually don’t know any dog with any interest in children, most of them want to play with other dogs. Mine certainly does.

Maybe not but have you never been in a cafe or restaurant where a child wanders over and the parent expects you to coo in wonder at their amazing specimen of humanness?

If you find it annoying, the easiest way to prevent it is to put the toddler on your lap and offer it food from your plate. Or pick it up and juggle it.
Parents will rush over to rescue their poppet from the weirdo. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work with dogs. Well, unless you ostentatiously and loudly offer chocolate.

@Cattiwampus - good plan. Ignoring them doesn't work so I'll try that next time. You're sure I won't get arrested?

For what, being friendly?
You could always brandish it at head height and yell ‘Lost Child!’

So long as I don't offer my dog to them to pet, I should be OK.

@OchonAgusOchonO

@ MrsGoggings85 - FFS shit for brains the world does not revolve around you and your dogs you ignorant cnt!!!!! The world is made for people not fucking dogs!!! *

Classy post!

Yeah but I can identify with the anger. It’s infuriating.

Yeah but I can identify with the anger. It’s infuriating.

Maybe try some deep breathing?

Things have gone way too far, dogs need to be back under control

No thanks!

Always our problem to deal with.

Maybe do a bit of deep breathing but your anger is completely justified and understandable, channel it, raise the subject of dog nuisance to your MP!

@crosseyedMary - Things have gone way too far, dogs need to be back under control

My dogs are under control. Are your children?

Seriously things have gone much too far now, essentially there are two issues in my opinion
1-the problem with dog faeces, I know some owners are responsible but many are not and so we have these awful little bags of dog faeces scattered around the place it's just so grim. It's bad enough that everywhere I look I'm confronted with some dog's anus and extruding fecal matter 🙄
2-the problem of dog behaviour, sometimes it's 'merely' a nuisance but many times it's an actual threat.
Will someone rid us of these troublesome creatures?

I keep my dog away from other children and I keep my children away from other dogs (unless there’s a mutual communication that it’s ok).

Some dog owners will have a nervous dog on a lead that won’t want a wild, untrained dog bounding over to it. The whole thing is just ridiculously disrespectful unless the free dog is highly trained and obedient.

are your children
And right on cue🤣 that same weird response!
whenever someone complains about a dog, a dog person comes back with 'but what about the children' it seems to be a sort of knee-jerk thing 🤔
why do they always draw analogies between dogs and children?