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AIBU?

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Original poster

DH screaming at local kids to fuck off

163 replies

CocoChan · 02/09/2020 15:53

Well not exactly but he might as well have done. We have a 1 year old dog who barks at every little noise. Anyone walking past the garden sends her crazy. We live next to a walk path popular with dog walkers. Not too much of an issue as they tend to be quiet which our dog can handle.

When lockdown started the path became popular with people taking their kids for their “one hour exercise” so this is where the trouble started. Kids running up and down screaming etc ... dog going crazy ... eventually she got used to that but now people have decided that the bushes near our fence are great for their kids to play in ... this absolutely sends our dog crazy as the kids are messing on the fence. She barks, they scream, she barks more .... it’s become a nightmare.

Last night kids were messing near the fence. Dog started barking. DH went to bring her in and then heard the kids shouting “woof woof woof” stood directly facing the fence deliberately winding her up. He then said very loudly “it’s ok Cujo, they’ll all fuck off back to school soon thank god” 😱 it went quiet and they walked away.

I said he shouldn’t have sworn at them and his argument is he didn’t swear AT them. Just about them. I believe two of them might belong to my neighbour 🤦‍♀️ Not seen her yet but if she brings it up do I apologise or ask her to keep the kids from winding up the dog?

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 02/09/2020 16:29

I wouldn't worry about him swearing. If you live next to a public path you should have carefully picked a breed of dog and worked with it so it didn't bark.

You both seem annoyed that people are using a public bit of land because you haven't trained your dog and that's what's unreasonable.

FudgeBrownie2019 · 02/09/2020 16:29

Children that deliberately wind up dogs need a bollocking.

Owners who leave their dogs barking outside constantly need a bollocking. Your DH was the least U of everyone in that scenario.

We have a spaniel who is very sensitive to noise; when she was younger we'd have the one-bark-out rule and the first time she barked at the fence (we back on to woodlands so often have animals/people behind) she came in. It doesn't take long for them to realise their nonsense doesn't elicit fun results.

Northofsomewhere · 02/09/2020 16:29

I was about16 when I shouted at a bunch of 10-ish year olds who we're tormenting my dog when I'd tied her up outside the shop. I'd deliberately tied her to one side out of the way as she was anxious of people and it could come across as aggression. She'd barked once whilst I was shopping but once I'd reached the till she was really sounding distressed with her barking so I apologised to the cashier and went outside and saw a bunch of kids running towards her then away again. I can't remember exactly what I said but it was on the lines of she'll fucking bite you if you get closer now leave her the fuck alone (I may have also walked very close to them so I was between them and my dog). I was really angry (was a very quiet teenager) and think that probably worried them more than anything, I also looked younger than my age so could probably get away with it than someone who looked older.
In my opinion anyone who deliberately taunts animals deserves whatever happens to them should that animal choose to retaliate. In your case the kids were clearly taunting your husband as much as your dog and they absolutely deserve what happened. Hopefully it'll make them think again with other dogs, especially as one day they may do it to the wrong dog. It's also not harmless to the dog, the more they do it and the dog reacts and gets distressed the more likely it will be to react in the future.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 02/09/2020 16:29

It sounds to me like the kids were being vile. And he wasn't talking to them, he was talking to the dog ("Cujo" Grin).

I wouldn't encourage your DP to take that approach on a regular basis, but I think you're allowed to enjoy it just this once. I remember some kid of about 12 following me round the park shouting "Why are you so fat, Mum?" with his admittedly sheepish looking friends. I was with a couple of female friends who told me to ignore it, but we were then joined by DP who put up with it for approximately six seconds before saying "Time for you to fuck off now, sonny". The boy went purple and spluttered "You can't talk to kids that way" to which my DP replied "I can say whatever I like to you and I'm telling you to fuck off."

OK, OK, I wouldn't encourage it and he's never done it again since, but you know what, after being stared at by other people in the park for half an hour whilst that nasty little scrote trolled me I bloody well enjoyed it and I'm enjoying it again right now.

cruisecrazy · 02/09/2020 16:29

I have exactly the same problem as the OP, It is not fair on the dog and yes I would love to tell the kids to f off but unfortunately don't have the nerve. I am with your husband on this.

Nquartz · 02/09/2020 16:31

@JamieLeeCurtains

Address the Cujo question, please. It is of vital importance.
Yes, please!

Shame the DC are too young to understand the reference though Grin

Biscuitsdisappear · 02/09/2020 16:31

Your dog started this and the kids will continue as long as he does. Is there any way that you can get your dog trained only to bark when somebody enters your property? I'm sure that the kids have heard that swear word before but if one of them decides that they will change their focus to your husband and reports him to the police there will be a visit.

Billben · 02/09/2020 16:33

@MilleniumHallsWalledGarden

If they're the sort of children who would deliberately wind up a dog I doubt they'll be at all fazed by a swear word, tbh.
Exactly this. Winding any animal up is very cruel. I’d have given those kids a bollocking personally.

I wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if my DH had done this.

mbosnz · 02/09/2020 16:35

Why on Earth would the police be visiting? Because some kids were baiting a dog on private property, and the owner used the word 'fuck' in a conversation with his dog, Cujo the chihuahua?!!

ravenmum · 02/09/2020 16:36

Winding an animal up isn't nice. But neither is it nice to have a dog barking madly at you every day on your way to school. I remember one particular dog from about 35 years ago :) I had to walk down that path, and every time I got to a particular spot I was on edge waiting for the dog to bark - but every time it still made me jump. One day the little shit even got through the fence and chased me down the path. So on that basis alone, you are all BU :)

Cheeseandwin5 · 02/09/2020 16:38

Sorry I am with DH here to.

If the dog had got out (or the kids in) and had bitten one they would have been all hell to pay.

Billben · 02/09/2020 16:38

Your dog started this and the kids will continue as long as he does.

Yeah, right 😂 Whilst I agree that dogs barking at everything passing by is annoying, they are animals at the end of the day. The kids would only continue with their cruelty until they got fed up of me going out and giving them a piece of my mind every single time they did it. At that age they should know better and excusing their behaviour because “the dog had started it” is ridiculous 😂

FippertyGibbett · 02/09/2020 16:39

I believe that Jeyes fluid stinks ], and it’s been used where teenagers congregate to encourage them to hang round elsewhere.

JamieLeeCurtains · 02/09/2020 16:40

@ravenmum

Winding an animal up isn't nice. But neither is it nice to have a dog barking madly at you every day on your way to school. I remember one particular dog from about 35 years ago :) I had to walk down that path, and every time I got to a particular spot I was on edge waiting for the dog to bark - but every time it still made me jump. One day the little shit even got through the fence and chased me down the path. So on that basis alone, you are all BU :)
Well it's as good an argument as any here on MN today
DeeTractor · 02/09/2020 16:42

Visits from the police 🤣 ffs! And he hardly "screamed at them to fuck off" either so the OP is a bit melodramatic.

I wouldn't even have bothered using the dog as a prop; just tell the little darlings straight to fuck off and stop winding up the dog. I doubt the police would trouble themselves with it.

Greentulips1 · 02/09/2020 16:42

I think what your husband said was fine. Also kind of funny Grin

MyPersona · 02/09/2020 16:44

@MaidenMotherCrone

Sort your dog out. That's the problem, not your husband or other people. Your dog!
This. My neighbour’s dog barks it’s head off every time we go outside. It’s bloody annoying. I might have told it to fuck off on more than one occasion, hopefully the owner heard.
krustykittens · 02/09/2020 16:45

Kids who torment animals need to be told to fuck off.

Scruffymac · 02/09/2020 16:47

I'm actually in a crease here, your husband was dead right. Little shits need to be told.

user1471538283 · 02/09/2020 16:47

The children were old enough to know better. That's how people get bitten by winding dogs up. I think your DH is a star!

0blio · 02/09/2020 16:48

Sort your dog out. That's the problem, not your husband or other people. Your dog!

^^ This

I hate it when our neighbours dogs bark at me for just being in my own garden

ChikiTIKI · 02/09/2020 16:50

Train your dog. The neighbours must hate the noise.

Candyfloss99 · 02/09/2020 16:51

Who cares what he said as long as they did indeed fuck off.

ChicCroissant · 02/09/2020 16:53

I hate it when our neighbours dogs bark at me for just being in my own garden

This. Or pulling on to my own drive. Or walking on the pavement.

Daphnise · 02/09/2020 16:54

What is there to apologise for?
Dreadful, badly behaved children heard something they needed to hear.