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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

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

999 replies

Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 12:52

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
VinylDetective · 27/12/2020 15:21

Oh God, not again. Couldn’t you have just added to one of the scores f existing threads? These anti canine threads are so tedious.

CharlotteRose90 · 27/12/2020 15:22

This thread is completely laughable. Because of one stupid owner the witches want all dogs on leads. No my dog is well behaved and will not be going on leads. Don’t look at him and train your children not to go near dogs if you don’t want to be friendly. You can tell non dog lovers a mile off

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:23

[quote LST]@OP I understand your frustration, but how is that fair for people who have a reliable dog? I couldn't get to a dog park. I don't drive and have mobility issues. The fields I let my dog off are a 2 minute walk from my door. You'd have me need to keep my dog on a lead? [/quote]
I understand that and I have said upthread that, as a family, we always stop to say hello and ask for permission to pat. My DCs love it. What I don’t think is fair is the expectation that I should be able to spot the untrained dogs and keep my children safe in a place where they should feel safe anyway. I would think that the poster who mentioned the laws in Canada is spot on: it’s very hard for anyone to tell which dog can be danger and when so we really can’t take that chance around children.

OP posts:
ginghamstarfish · 27/12/2020 15:24

You're wasting your breath hoping for dog owners to be responsible, OP. Some are, but many are idiots who seem to convince themselves that they are so marvellous and clever that they can instantly control their animal, even though neither it nor them has had any training, or understands that not everybody wants to be jumped up on and slobbered over (at best) or attacked (at worst). Twats.

WitchFindersAreEverywhere · 27/12/2020 15:24

Tedious, repetitive...you are right.
Because the same things keep happening, over and over.
What do you think the answer is?
All I want is to be ignored by dogs when I’m cycling, walking, picnicking or just going about my business.

mbosnz · 27/12/2020 15:25

If your dog is able to be effectively recalled, and will not harass people, whether they look at your dog or not, or other dogs, then no, it should not have to be on a lead.

If not, then yes, your dog should be on a lead.

I've lost count of how many altercations I've witnessed out on the common here, between mutual dog-owners alone, who have taken exception at being harassed, or having their animal harassed by other people's unrestrained, poorly trained dogs.

Shinylikeglass · 27/12/2020 15:26

You can tell non dog lovers a mile off

If that's the case, surely there's no problem as you'd keep your dogs well away from them.

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:26

@CharlotteRose90

This thread is completely laughable. Because of one stupid owner the witches want all dogs on leads. No my dog is well behaved and will not be going on leads. Don’t look at him and train your children not to go near dogs if you don’t want to be friendly. You can tell non dog lovers a mile off
Did you even read my OP? I said very clearly that my children were right there with me and the dog ran to them. The owner was so far they could never get to us in time. Even I couldn’t get my child in time though they were only few meters away from me. I have proof of this. In the picture I have, the dog owner is nowhere in the view and my children look completely unaware that there is this hound right behind them, a second away. I invite your to start your own thread if you are so upset.
OP posts:
Whammyyammy · 27/12/2020 15:29

Love it when dog owners shout "its ok, he's friendly" as their dog comes bounding over out of control. I always reply "mine aren't when challenged like this, good luck", soon get their arse into gear.....

Whammyyammy · 27/12/2020 15:32

@mbosnz

If your dog is able to be effectively recalled, and will not harass people, whether they look at your dog or not, or other dogs, then no, it should not have to be on a lead.

If not, then yes, your dog should be on a lead.

I've lost count of how many altercations I've witnessed out on the common here, between mutual dog-owners alone, who have taken exception at being harassed, or having their animal harassed by other people's unrestrained, poorly trained dogs.

^^this is spot on. My dogs do not like being harassed and will react, we always wear a body cam too, so if anything happens, we can prove ours were under control
mbosnz · 27/12/2020 15:33

I had one bellow at me, 'don't worry, he's friendly', and they were quite taken aback when I bellowed back in a less than friendly fashion, 'well I'm fucking not!'

They did come and collect their dog though, muttering under their breath about 'some people'. . .

Incidentally, I love dogs. Very fond of them, had a bull mastiff ourselves, and bullies, and love them. I don't love unknown dogs who I don't know their temperament or their training, coming running at me or mine, be they a chihuahua, or a Bernese mountain dog.

Scottishskifun · 27/12/2020 15:34

Nothing to do with the size of the dog but the training of the dog.

I have a large fast dog (greyhound) the speed she reaches would terrify most adults if she's running towards them but she is well controlled and will walk to heel off lead when instructed and with the reward of a ball. We don't run her in busy places only when there is enough space and few other people about.

Unfortunately like anything in life you get those who are responsible and rose that aren't! My toddler has had far more incidents with small dogs BTW then any who are my dogs size!

LST · 27/12/2020 15:35

@OP I disagree. My dog would have to be kept on a lead unnecessarily if the law was lime Canada. Yes there should be dog parks. But dogs should not be made to be on lead everywhere else

flashbac · 27/12/2020 15:37

Op is there a Facebook page for the park or your local area? Is it worth uploading the vid with your DC face blurred? Yours won't be the only one who may have encountered this idiot. Might be worth publicly shaming? Although it could backfire if there are loads of 'dogs never do anything wrong' people on the group.

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:40

[quote LST]@OP I disagree. My dog would have to be kept on a lead unnecessarily if the law was lime Canada. Yes there should be dog parks. But dogs should not be made to be on lead everywhere else[/quote]
What is your argument for that? Where will you draw the line? My children getting bitten and bloody? Quite a few posters have given examples of the injuries they have suffered. I can see you trust your dog. But I don’t see it that way: I see that it’s not the dog you trust. You trust yourself that you have trained it well. I hope you see the difference because people like me are facing the consequences. I have said upthread that this incident is the forth one that has happened to me and my family.

OP posts:
edwinbear · 27/12/2020 15:42

We went out for a walk today, at a place where it’s entirely reasonable for people to be walking their dogs, off a lead. DS is 11 but still very wary of them after he was chased by one as a toddler. As we got out of the car, we saw another family with about 5 or 6, DS didn’t want to get out of the car he was so anxious. I’m not very fond myself, but these dogs were completely under control, it was actually very reassuring. Sure they ran about, but didn’t come up to us, or jump up with their muddy paws etc, they just minded their own business. It was pretty impressive how one family had so many well behaved dogs.

JustPassingByCarryOn · 27/12/2020 15:43

Always amuses me when some dog owners declare everyone a "non-dog lover" or dog hater just because they'd rather be left alone and not "loved" by your dog.

I'm not a "non-dog lover" anymore than I'm a 'non-people' lover just because I don't stop and chat to everyone I see, stroke their hair and give them a kiss. Such ignorance!

There's a difference between not wanting to interact with strange dogs (not to mention avoiding the possibility of being harmed by one) and actually hating dogs.

You can always tell those sort of dog owners who think it's all about their dog by the way they walk as though they own the pavement, taking up the space with their dog way ahead or behind them. Especially when some of them (dog owners) stare into your soul as if to say "Go on, say something!"

You just know they're the crazies and simply cross the road.

LST · 27/12/2020 15:43

@op my dog is 9. Never once in his entire life has he jumped up or gone towards a child that isn't my own or another dog. Why should I have to keep my highly active border collie on a lead on a field we have been going to since he was a pup to play ball? Because some idiots cannot control their dogs? Really? That is fair?

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:43

@flashbac

Op is there a Facebook page for the park or your local area? Is it worth uploading the vid with your DC face blurred? Yours won't be the only one who may have encountered this idiot. Might be worth publicly shaming? Although it could backfire if there are loads of 'dogs never do anything wrong' people on the group.
It may have been a good idea for me or DH but I won’t be comfortable as my children are in full view. And like you said, there are enough militant dog owners around to make it really unpleasant. It has just occurred to me that my next door neighbour is part of the neighbourhood watch in our village so he will be an excellent person to contact too.
OP posts:
CoronaIsWatching · 27/12/2020 15:46

There's a popular walking path near me, full of families who insist of walking 6 abreast with massive bounding dogs running into you. Fed up of it.

BillyCongo · 27/12/2020 15:46

I'm a runner, out yesterday on national trust land. Had one chase me from behind and jump up at my arm. Luckily it's tooth caught my sleeve not my hand as it has a hole in it. Funnily I didn't give a shit if it was "only playing". Can't control it, put it on a lead.

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:47

[quote LST]@op my dog is 9. Never once in his entire life has he jumped up or gone towards a child that isn't my own or another dog. Why should I have to keep my highly active border collie on a lead on a field we have been going to since he was a pup to play ball? Because some idiots cannot control their dogs? Really? That is fair? [/quote]
What we can do is to invest in dog parks. But I really don’t see, and especially after today, why my children are expected to live with it.

OP posts:
Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 27/12/2020 15:47

My children have never gone anywhere near dogs, hasn’t stopped the dogs though. It’s not just one owners it’s a lot of owners. Why should any person be bothered by other peoples dogs?

LST · 27/12/2020 15:49

@OP yes but as I have said I dont drive so a dog park miles away would be no use to me. Why should I have to put up with my dog being harrased by badly behaved dogs or kids? Same both ways. I hate idiot dogs owners as much as you as it means everyone tars all dog owners with the same brush.

Original poster
Thewithesarehere · 27/12/2020 15:51

I should have mentioned that this was to be our Christmas walk. Kind of ended halfway through as DC refused to go much further and insisted on going home even though they were very excited for this.

OP posts: