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 that’s not a dangerous lead, that’s an irresponsible owner!

My dog is always on a lead, after being attacked by another dog, as that how he now feels more comfortable/less anxious. But I know how to use the lead so it doesn’t put my dog or others at risk!

Funnily enough, some parents seem to have a similar attitude with their children who they allow run round in restaurants, trains etc

I don't distinguish between selfish parents and selfish pet owners - a plague on both their houses.

You do realise that dogs are far from being the only creatures running around in an urban environment

Yes but other animals don't run up to you, jump on you, bite you and push you over or off your bike.

By the way, jealous of the RED squirrels (misses whole point of thread).

@J2Squared - that’s not a dangerous lead, that’s an irresponsible owner!

True.

Yes but other animals don't run up to you, jump on you, bite you and push you over or off your bike

You obviously haven't read the seagull thread then.

And my dogs don't do any of those things.

By the way, jealous of the RED squirrels (misses whole point of thread).

I know. They're gorgeous. We had one in the garden for a few years. There are a load of hazels in our garden and the woods behind us. I assume that attracts them.

OchonAgusOchonO I misread
Poor DH.

I've nearly taken a fall when running due to extendable leads on shared paths. Amusingly the owner seemed to think my dog was the real problem. I did point out that their dog was on a long extendable lead all over the shared use paths causing cyclists and other path users to swerve. My dog was in a harness clipped into a running lead that is a belt round my waist and running to heel.
Apparently their dog can't help it, they're reactive . I'm not entirely sure why anyone would have a poorly trained reactive dog on a long lead in a busy area, but then I've seen enough threads on MN to know that apparently the whole world should tolerate reactive dogs doing what they like because they're on a lead, meanwhile any dog off lead is awful.

Apparently their dog can't help it, they're reactive

That was you told!

I'm not entirely sure why anyone would have a poorly trained reactive dog on a long lead in a busy area,

People shouldn't be using them unless they know how to use them correctly. I tend to use them but always put them on a short lead when around people.

OchonAgusOchonO
I know, it winds me up because if my larger dogs behaved in that way then people would rightly be annoyed, but if a smaller dog runs out, gets snappy, does what it likes we're expected to accept 'they're reactive' as an excuse for an owner not doing anything.

I also have an extendable lead. I use it when we visit National Trust sites and when moor walking during the summer when dogs have to be on leads. I've nothing against extendable leads as such but don't think they should be fully extended other than in large open areas. Too often I find that in suburban areas people can't be bothered training their dog so they get an extendable lead and let their dog have the full length of the lead to do what it wants, leaving everyone else to navigate a poorly trained dog and the metres of lead blocking the paths.

*By the way, jealous of the RED squirrels (misses whole point of thread).
*
I know. They're gorgeous. We had one in the garden for a few years. There are a load of hazels in our garden and the woods behind us. I assume that attracts them.

I'm jealous too. I've never seen a red squirrel, apart from their rear as they were running away. (We were in a place known to have red squirrels. I was very disappointed not to actually see one.

The world (Particularly parks and pavements) is full of dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, cyclists, children, teens, people on scooters, runners, walkers, people who don't like dogs, people who do like dogs, picnickers and informal football players.

The vast majority of dog owners I meet have nice dogs though dogs are animals and therefore a bit random. I happen to have one of those dogs that makes people smile, and that children like. She does not like children however. Children are noisy, unpredictable and never on a leash.

However I do not get to dictate 'no children' or 'no runners' and I wouldn't want to. The parents I meet are polite and I play along with it pretending to the (small) children my dog likes them even though she's ignoring them or moving away. The parents get it, I reassure them she's not dangerous and we often have a laugh about it.

On pavements she's on a leash, in the (relatively uncrowded) park she's not. It works fine. The only dogs I see on leads are either puppies or rescues/ones the owners know are dangerous to other dogs.

If you don't like dogs that's too bad. We don't get to dictate who goes out in public. If I could there would be groups of people I would exclude and they would almost certainly include some of the 'no dogs/dogs always on a short leash' brigade.

If you can't tolerate things that are commonplace you need to look at whether there's an underlying MH issue if you are really upset about it. I don't massively like all children but I can tolerate/humour them. That's part of life.

This has recently happened to my DS1 after having a neighbour's over excited puppy jumping all over him and nipping ("oh he's only playing!") DS1 is now terrified of all dogs, ends up in hysterics when going for a walk anywhere and shuts himself in a bedroom when at my mums once a week over the holidays because she has a fat old Labrador. It's frustrating and I'm really pissed off. Didn't help that a bloke with a "really friendly" staffie got dragged towards us while walking earlier by said manic dog which frankly even I was wary of so DS1 is even more scared.

@Mittens030869 - the first time I spotted it in the garden was out of the corner of my eye and I thought it was a rat. The kids put me right as they had seen it properly.

I've seen him collecting nuts on the ground and often see shells from the nuts simply discarded in my garden. Should I call the litter warden on him, do you think?

@Mittens030869 I hope you are picking up after him! With biodegradable litter bags!

@Drogonssmile that's really shit. Hopefully as DS gets a little older you can introduce him to some of the safer dogs out there. Puppies do jump and I never care but if you are less than 3ft high it's a different story.

As I walk in the park I can hear the unmistakable sound of a toddler saying 'doggie' upon spying mine. Mums got the kid on a leash which is a bit ott given there are bugger all people here. My dog is off the leash 😁

@Vodkacranberryplease

I'm not sure what you mean? I don't have a dog myself, I have 3 cats. They poo in our garden and bury it. We have plenty of soil in where they can do that.

I was joking.. sorry! About your red squirrel!

@Vodkacranberryplease

I never even saw the red squirrel sadly apart from the behind. But yes, I do get the joke. 

Well hopefully it will be back! I think there are things you can do to encourage them (and deter grey squirrels). V exciting!

www.wildlifetrusts.org/saving-species/red-squirrels/helping-red-squirrels-your-garden

@Vodkacranberryplease

He's my red squirrel. And he litters my garden with shells from the nuts he eats. Totally unsociable behaviour.

Spotted two red squirrels on my walk in the woods today. They are so cute.

I tend to use them but always put them on a short lead when around people

Same. It’s very useful being able to reel them in too.

@OchonAgusOchonO haha so here's me thinking there were two people with red squirrels in their gardens, and feeling rather left out!

They are just so adorable. Look at this little face!

@Vodkacranberryplease Lovely photo of a red squirrel, thank you!

@Mittens030869 I'm also a cat person but I'm OK around dogs as long as they're not too aggressive or yappy. I used to be frightened of them, but my last stepdad had a lab/GSD cross who was a very sweet dog and being around him helped me get over my fear. My brother and I took him on walks, which helped. Sometimes when I'm out playing Pokemon Go or going for a walk in a park, I have the odd dog come up to me and they're generally OK, they just sniff my leg a bit and then bugger off or the owner calls them, and I just go 'oh hi doggy' and leave it at that. Luckily I haven't had bad encounters, but the places I go tend to be very kid-friendly and kids and dogs can co-exist.

Hasn't this been discussed a million times on here? They're twats, full stop. What else is there to say.

Also, you're so lucky to see red squirrels! We never get them where I live. A Geordie friend regularly sees them though.