To expect dog walkers to keep their giant dogs on leash around other peiple

[Thewithesarehere]

I am still quite sick after seeing a dog, nearly my DC’s size, running after my DC knocking them to the ground and running over them.
DC is covered in mud. I was taking a picture of them running to me and it happened in a flash. I shouted at the dog owner who something like put your own children on leash.
Why the hell people don’t keep such huge dogs and then let them off leash in a public park around children? DV is covered in mud, shivering and complaining that their leg hurts where it hit a rock and that they are scared of dogs. I wish I had done more but don’t know what else I could have done.
AIBU in feeling bloody furious?

[quote Thewithesarehere]@Scottishskifun
Pepper can kill a dog in extreme cases. I have just checked this online. This means, for people like me, this is out of question regardless of the outcomes. For me, a stick is the best option as, if used correctly, it can then fend off an aggravated owner too.[/quote]
Youll defend yourself against a human with a stick you’ll be charged with assault and I would have you charged.

my dogs play yes and if you approached or if dog is playing and you come round the corner and used said stick they’d think you were playing and you because you don’t know dog behaviours and dog body language you’d try and hit my dog. I would intervene of course but you’d most likely not be happy and be angry blaming my dog on this when you’d be at fault for having a weapon. Think on that

@Dullardmullard
Did you read my OP? I was playing with my children and they were running to me when the dog ran up to them. The dog owner was too far from us. If a dog hurts my child and I try to scare it away with a stick or a spray, you are quite welcome to try and hit me and see what comes out of it.

[quote Thewithesarehere]@Dullardmullard
Did you read my OP? I was playing with my children and they were running to me when the dog ran up to them. The dog owner was too far from us. If a dog hurts my child and I try to scare it away with a stick or a spray, you are quite welcome to try and hit me and see what comes out of it.[/quote]
But the dog didn’t hurt your child in the way your stating. It jumped up got your child dirty and the owners were being a bit odd but then we don’t know what you said to the owners do we oh and your child hurt himself on some rocks. I also wonder what you said to your child too afterwards.

So your now threatening me I never mentioned hitting you I mentioned I’d have you done for assault if you hit me with your Stick.

Did you read my OP? I was playing with my children and they were running to me when the dog ran up to them. The dog owner was too far from us
Terrible of course.
I don’t mind that sarcastically, id have been mortified and extremely apologetic if my dog had done similar

If a dog hurts my child and I try to scare it away with a stick or a spray, you are quite welcome to try and hit me and see what comes out of it
This though 🤦🏻‍♀️
First, there is a huge difference between accidentally hurting your child by running or jumping and actually intentionally hurting your child by biting.
Neither is acceptable but most dogs fall into the former, not the latter.

So many dog owners have tried to explain why your view is wrong and it just falls on deaf ears.
I don’t understand why.

1. If you try and ‘scare’ a dog with no nasty intentions, a dog that wasn’t watching where it was going or tried to interact with your child and accidentally hurt them, with a spray or a stick there is a good chance that that formerly friendly dog who posed no real danger to anyone will remember and associate children with being sprayed or smacked with a stick.

The next time that dog sees your child it may go for them and growl and lunge or maybe even bite them because it’ll be scared and keen to frighten the scary child away because when children are around it gets sprayed or smacked with sticks. By using a spray or stick on a dog you put your children in danger

1. If you spray or smack a dog with a stick not all dogs will yelp and run away.

Some will defend themselves by biting you. By using a spray and stick you put yourself in danger

1. If you dared ever spray or smack my dog with a stick I swear to god it would be the worst mistake you ever made.

You can give it all the big talk on here but most dog owners will see red just as intensely as you do and if you are unlucky and piss off the wrong person you could end up badly injured.

The vast majority of dog bites are in homes, by dogs known to the victim.
The risk of a strange dog aggressively going for you is vanishingly small.

Slathering mutts need to be kept on a lead under control so other people and their children are safe from being knocked over.

OP I dont think you've understood Dullardmullards point; if you threaten a dog with a stick, they will almost certainly think that you are playing with them. After all, that's what they are familiar with people doing, playing tug of war or throwing them a stick. The dog is very unlikely to move away from you and is very likely to become excited, run or jump.

It's a shame you are not more familiar with dogs OP, so that you can tell the difference between an unfortunate incident with an owner that should have apologised to you, and a genuinely dangerous dog.

My dad kicked away a small dog that was snapping at my toddler sisters face they were crammed into the village post office - she was strapped into a buggy and terrified. The dog owner went mad at my dad. He was 😮 🙄 and utterly unrepentant so she was wasting her breath! Still remember his incredulity at her reaction that he was supposed to stand by as her dog tried to bite his baby!

@Swaddlemeinplants
Do you realise your apology will not undo the fear my DC has now? I also wonder why you put the onus on me to ensure a dog doesn’t get the fear of children in it.
Is this why you have not mentioned even once what you think of off lead dogs?
I would also remind you that a video and the word of a parent will form a good evidence. Problem is that a lot of people like you miss the point that it is only legal to have a dog off until it isn’t posing any threat. After that, it isn’t.

@DarkDisquiet You summed it up perfectly... indeed there are entitled arseholes in every area of life.

I got accosted by an exuberant cockerpoo one day, which excitedly jumped up at me, placing its paws on my bust and attempting to lick my face. It was huge - on its hind legs it stood my height, which is 5'10. I asked the owner to get it away from me, and suggested they keep it on a lead if it's prone to doing that. The woman was apologetic, but the young man with her corrected me, saying "Actually the dog is a "he", not an "it"! That gave me the rage, so I responded "He...she... it... whatever - it should be on a lead if you can't control it!" If a bloke had come up to me and placed his mitts on my breasts in that manner I would be justified in slapping his face, but as it's just a friendly dog it gets a free pass (I'd never hit a dog, unless in self defence... but maybe that owner could do with a slap).

@jenniferjane21

OP I dont think you've understood Dullardmullards point; if you threaten a dog with a stick, they will almost certainly think that you are playing with them. After all, that's what they are familiar with people doing, playing tug of war or throwing them a stick. The dog is very unlikely to move away from you and is very likely to become excited, run or jump.

It's a shame you are not more familiar with dogs OP, so that you can tell the difference between an unfortunate incident with an owner that should have apologised to you, and a genuinely dangerous dog.

Sorry for misunderstanding this but I still don’t get why the onus is on me to understand this difference, and make sense of it all to make split second decisions, all while my DC is under a dog. Like numerous posters have said already, we need a law to ensure all dogs are on lead at all times outside designated areas.

Do you realise your apology will not undo the fear my DC has now?
What would you prefer?
Me to walk off unconcerned?
Me to laugh?
Maybe make a comment about leashing your children?

Any decent person would be absolutely mortified.
Though it’s worth pointing out my dog doesn’t approach people so I’m highly unlikely to be put in that position anyway.

I also wonder why you put the onus on me to ensure a dog doesn’t get the fear of children in it
Because much as you might like to big yourself up, people are no match for a truly aggressive (which most aren’t) determined dog.
Children certainly aren’t.
Dog aggression is nearly always fear based, it’s sensible not to train perfectly nice dogs to fear people by doing stupid things like spraying them or smacking them with sticks (and btw, I agree with a PP, waving a stick will be interpreted by a lot of dogs as play)

Is this why you have not mentioned even once what you think of off lead dogs?
I think if they have decent recall they should be allowed off lead.

I would also remind you that a video and the word of a parent will form a good evidence
For what?
A clumsy dog not watching where it’s going and a rude owner.
Technically the owner breached the dangerous dogs act as the dog frightened you and hurt your children but in reality the police are very unlikely to do anything.

Problem is that a lot of people like you miss the point that it is only legal to have a dog off until it isn’t posing any threat. After that, it isn’t.
No, I don’t.
Like everyone else I think dogs should be under control but let’s be honest here, your child was no attacked or threatened in any way shape or form.
Your child was knocked over by a clumsy dog.
Is that acceptable?
No.
Was the owners reaction acceptable?
No.
But it’s a massive overreaction on your part.
The dog isn’t Kujo.

@MsTSwift

My dad kicked away a small dog that was snapping at my toddler sisters face they were crammed into the village post office - she was strapped into a buggy and terrified. The dog owner went mad at my dad. He was 😮 🙄 and utterly unrepentant so she was wasting her breath! Still remember his incredulity at her reaction that he was supposed to stand by as her dog tried to bite his baby!

This is exactly what DH’s response would have been in my place. He would Kick first and ask questions later.

@Blackitty

I understand that dog owners are protective of their dogs and they often view that their dog has the same rights as a human being which personally I find unreasonable. Dogs are animals and are not higher in the pecking order than a human and especially a child.

Sorry, but I disagree. I am an animal lover and a vegan and I see all sentient beings as equal. To me, my doggy and my cats are just as important as people and their children.

FFS 🙄

well, I am not that 'familiar' with dogs, large, small or otherwise that I would take the chance as to if they are 'friendly' or not!. If a dog runs up to me or mine anymore (and the local park and its fucking entitled dog owners this weekend have done it for me) I will be giving it a swift kick in the goolies. And I will blame the owner completly! I have seen more dog shit left on grass, more animals running up to toddlers half their size, more stupid owners with wet, muddy, stinking dogs which are not controled or kept on leads than I ever want to see again this weekend.

I often pick up sticks and play a tug of war with my staffie on walks. She would almost certainly think a stick was an invitation to play. She loves to play. She’s a strong dog with a strong jaw so your stick would be gone...

@Worried234
You don’t have to like it but that’s the way it is. I’m not a people person, much prefer animals. Animals have never let me down or hurt me 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Blackitty

I often pick up sticks and play a tug of war with my staffie on walks. She would almost certainly think a stick was an invitation to play. She loves to play. She’s a strong dog with a strong jaw so your stick would be gone...

I have just realised that I am probably using the wrong word here. I am talking about a walking stick sort of stick.

My Westie assumes everyone wants say hello, whilst my Bull Arab won't approach anyone without permission. It's not necessarily the size of the dog but it's temperament and training. The Westie refuses to follow command (stubborn little git) I have better recall on the big one and it's off lead most often due to that.

[quote Blackitty]@Worried234
You don’t have to like it but that’s the way it is. I’m not a people person, much prefer animals. Animals have never let me down or hurt me 🤷🏼‍♀️[/quote]
This shows how unhinged and militant some of dog owners can be. You would kick back to someone who has kicked your dog off their child? You are going to face two charges: one is assault which is very serious and, especially if it is a parent with children, and second is having an out of control dog. In a lot of such cases, it’s the poor dog that will pay the price for their owner’s stupidity laziness.

@Blackitty, keep your fucking dog on a lead and the issue will never arise, let your dog scare my child/mother/me and not only will it get a swift one in the goolies, so may the selfish, entitled useless owner.

and I dont care how fucking big the dog is or the owners bollocks!

@Blackitty

I often pick up sticks and play a tug of war with my staffie on walks. She would almost certainly think a stick was an invitation to play. She loves to play. She’s a strong dog with a strong jaw so your stick would be gone...

The heel of my boot wouldn't be gone, if she went anywhere near one of my children. The arrogance and entitlement of some dog owners is breathtaking.

@Thewithesarehere
My girly would latch on to any kind of stick that was being waved about in her face regardless of the material it was made out of. She always wins tug of war, I can never hold on, she is just too strong and determined. Thankfully she is well trained and has a lovely nature and she adores people. She will absolutely jump up so I keep her on a lead because I appreciate some people will be scared of a big staffie jumping on them.

[quote thebabessavedme]@Blackitty, keep your fucking dog on a lead and the issue will never arise, let your dog scare my child/mother/me and not only will it get a swift one in the goolies, so may the selfish, entitled useless owner.

and I dont care how fucking big the dog is or the owners bollocks![/quote]
@thebabessavedme and @Worried234
Astounding, isn’t it? It is as if you are trying to reason with a wall. This is why I said upthread that a law will actually make it socially unacceptable too and this will act as a deterrent too.

[quote Blackitty]@Thewithesarehere
My girly would latch on to any kind of stick that was being waved about in her face regardless of the material it was made out of. She always wins tug of war, I can never hold on, she is just too strong and determined. Thankfully she is well trained and has a lovely nature and she adores people. She will absolutely jump up so I keep her on a lead because I appreciate some people will be scared of a big staffie jumping on them.[/quote]
I appreciate that you acknowledge this and keep your dog on lead. That is a point for another thread: this guy in our village walks his three huge dogs every morning. He is quite incapable of holding even one of them down, let some three, if they decide to go rogue for some reason. There is no way he wouldn’t be dragged off his feet, losing the lead in the process probably, and get hurt enough to lose control.