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.

I'd have been horrified if my dog (not that I have one) did that.

As would I and any other dog owners I know @DrCoconut. Unfortunately, there are rude, inconsiderate people who use our parks. Thankfully, where I live, they are in the minority.

The owner cycles around and just lets his dog do whatever it wants before half heartedly saying it’s name when it is bothering people.

You got a double whammy there. Inconsiderate dog owner and inconsiderate cyclist.

DrCoconut that is appalling behaviour. At the very least the owner should have been apologising profusely and doing what they could to make it up to you and DS. Not shrugging like a moron.

Mind you the kid that ruined 2 weeks of verbier holiday by tobogganing on a beginners ski slope didn't even bother with that. So it's something I guess.

Had a dog come try to eat our picnic today, fucking multiple times. Then the woman slowly meandered over pathetically calling her dogs name (which it completely ignored), bought her other dog who then tried to eat our picnic as well! Not even a sorry. The dog came back about 5 times after and she still didnt put it on a lead, it was a busy area, lots of people eating picnics. Its just pure selfishness

Look things happen, dogs try to eat picnics. But you come over quickly and get your dog away, and apologise. Its not hard.

What always gets me is the lack of apology. I dont mind if you say sorry but when the owner is just pathetically calling their dogs name, making no attempt to stop their dog jumping up/eating someones food/whatever it grates. If your child ran up and started eating someones picnic you'd run and grab them and apologise! Ive seen dogs piss on someones stuff on a beach before and the owner just laugh!

I get lots of dog owners say its irresponsible owners, but the fact of the matter is is it adds up to a hell of a lot of irresponsible owners.

My mum is disabled and lots of dogs love the sound of her crutches, so many dogs get intrigued and will chase her or jump up at her, run around her. Very few dogs seem to actually come back at their name and its so frustrating because its obviously quite easy to knock her over or trip her up. And its not funny or endearing. I dont like your dog, I am happy to coexist with dogs but I dont have any particular feelings towards someones dog.

I honestly don't understand why anyone would want to walk a dog amongst people having picnics. It's just a load of hassle when the inevitable happens.

Having said that since covid 19 families have descended en masse on areas previously used mostly by dog walkers. Then complained about dogs once they got there.

I don't particularly want to have to navigate my dog through fucking picnics and screaming kids. God knows why anyone would.

My DS is autistic, anxious and very allergic to dogs. If a dog licks him on the face it swells up like the elephant man and takes 24-48 hours to go back to normal. Same if he pets a dog or if it licks his hand and he then touches his face.

Because he’s not around dogs he’s quite a scared of them. I don’t know how many times during our lockdown walks I’ve heard ‘don’t worry she’s friendly’ as a dog has bounded over to DS and he’s run away screaming.

And I’ve then had to explain he’s not just scared he’s also very allergic and your dog cannot be anywhere near him.

Give the dog owners their due they’ve all got their dogs away from DS pretty quickly when I say he’s allergic. But I just wish we didn’t have to go through this repeatedly on our walks. It makes DS want to walk even less than he already does.

The thing is its all very well to say dont gobplaces where people walk their dogs but peoplr walk their dogs everywhere!

@BananasinPJ

The thing is its all very well to say dont gobplaces where people walk their dogs but peoplr walk their dogs everywhere!

That isn’t true where I live. Throughout the winter there are lots of walks that only get used by dog walkers. The dogs run free and play with one another when they meet. We literally never meet families. As soon as the sun comes out those walks are full of people.

There are plenty of picnic places here where dogs are either not allowed at all or only onlead. Those are the places for picnics.

There are millions of places that don't allow dogs. If you really have a problem with them it's not difficult to avoid them.

I'm not a fan of picnic spots. My bro lives near Richmond park and has a beautiful lab. It's a nightmare in summer - picnicking families everywhere freaking out and at the end of every day the park is just covered in litter. Absolutely covered. Now I'm sure you people never leave rubbish behind. But many many people do snd it's disgusting.

Along with half eaten chicken bones (which will kill a dog). You will never see a dog leaving behind empty soft drink bottles or crisp psckets.

@Alsohuman theres no dog free picnic placed round me. There are like woodland walks but there are dogs there. Or parks where there are dogs but no dog free picnic places.

Plus really even if there are a few thats very limiting. You cant only eat in designated picnic areas, otherwise youd never go out? Your just leaving vast swathes of britain to be used for dogs and small sections for humans, how would you ever go for a long walk? Your example is a bit irrelevent, there are places where people walk their dogs and when its sunny people without dogs come? Isnt that obvious

Its really quite simple, if your dog comes back when called not a problem. If your dog doesnt either keep a close eye on them or have them on a lead. If a dog comes up and sniffs near a picnic, well that happens but just apologise and keep the dog away in future. Its the giggling that gets me.

@Vodkacranberryplease well no but they leave behind shit and piss. Id rather sit on a crisp packet than dog shit.

If your DBro is so bothered by picnickers in richmond park shouldnt he be walking his dog elsewhere? Afterall picnickers are suppsoed to contain themselves to dog free zones

Your example is a bit irrelevent, there are places where people walk their dogs and when its sunny people without dogs come? Isnt that obvious

It’s not irrelevant at all. If you object to off lead dogs, don’t take your kids to established dog walks. By all means take them there if you’re prepared to meet dogs running free. After all, your kids aren’t little for long, how long a walk can a small child do?

well no but they leave behind shit and piss. Id rather sit on a crisp packet than dog shit.

I went for a walk the other day in a forest park. The toilets are closed at the moment. The number of wipes discarded at the side of the paths was unbelievable.

If you're organised enough to bring wipes, then you should be organised enough to bring a bag to take your crap and/or wipes away with you. The only people who appeared to be cleaning up were dog owners.

@BananasinPJ my dog DOES come back. She is small and well behaved and very very popular with children (she avoids them). I can absolutely stop her from going to a picnic. She will stop dead at the 'stay' command even chasing a fox. I always snd I mean always pick up her poo and bin it.

Richmond park where he walks (it's vast) is semi wild, with deer, dogs, woods. The picnicking part is elsewhere. But over the last few years London has changed and suddenly people come from miles around to places that have never been picnic spots. Whole communities covering every square inch. Leaving it a tip when they go.

My brother is a LOCAL. So all the fucking idiots who don't know deer are dangerous (someone's always getting hurt) and that think sitting in the middle of the dog walking area to have picnics leaving behind their non biodegradable shit because they are too lazy and ignorant to pick it up and take it home can just piss off as far as I'm concerned.

My dog is fine. My brothers dog is fine. That's the bottom line.

Well then whats the problem @Vodkacranberryplease?

This reads more of a rant about tourists in london, or richmond park. People who leave rubbish can fuck off, people who dont understand deer can fuck off. But its irrelevent really to a thread about dog owners who dont apologise when their dogs behave like dicks.

Ans my point still stands, if walking through richmond park is so stressful for your DBro he might think about going elsewhere

Well it is irrelevent @alsohuman

You replied to my post saying there arent many places where there are no dogs, with an example of places where there are dogs?

Here there’s a country park with a dog free area. And loads of parks where dogs can’t go off lead. That do you?

People who leave rubbish can fuck off, people who dont understand deer can fuck off. But its irrelevent really to a thread about dog owners who dont apologise when their dogs behave like dicks.

It's not irrelevant to a thread about dog owners acting like dicks. Basically, there are people who act like dicks in public areas. Some have dogs, some don't. Life would be more pleasant for everyone if they didn't act like dicks.

Well, I've added something to my picnic equipment list. A super soaker. Can be equally applied to a poorly trained dog, or an ill mannered owner. . .

Can be equally applied to a poorly trained dog, or an ill mannered owner.

I'd say go with the owner. Lots of dogs would enjoy it.

Well I know a guy who stopped his dog digging by hiding in the garden shed with a bucket of water. She started digging and he (unseen by her) three the water over her. She never dug again. My god that was a well trained dog!

My dog walker used to keep a little water pistol when my dog was young and a bit barky and would squirt her when she started but she couldn't see him do it. She's not a barky dog now.

I think a super soaker is a great idea. Although the dogs you need to use it on might have unpleasant owners. But still, they won't be rushing up to picnickers after that.

@BananasinPJ my 'problem' is that despite an endless number of comments saying we all agree that dogs need to be well behaved this is just an endless anti dog rant. I can't help how other dogs owners behave - but equally people don't exactly cover themselves in glory when picnicking either.

I've yet to see a beauty spot not trashed after a day of families - but dog walkers don't do that. I never see litter in my local dog walking place but when lockdown was in full swing and people without dogs were going there is was s fucking tip. Dog walking volunteers had to go around and pick up litter - never had to do that before.

And my brother lived 5 minutes walk away from Richmond park. He doesn't care about the picnickers apart from not wanting the conflict ftom people who shouldn't be there if they can't cope and hating what a shit hole it is when they go home.

Yet according to you he's the one that shouldn't be there. 🙄🙄.

I'll repeat it got you so it's really clear. No one on this thread allows their dog to disrupt picnics. And IF it happens (dog spots them first) we all apologise profusely.

I've yet to see a beauty spot not trashed after a day of families - but dog walkers don't do that.

I know one that does. Dog walkers aren't saints, they're normal people, some are trashy, most are not.