DOGS

[Getmeoutofhere2019]

At the beach with my 5 and 2yr old today. Sitting by the wavebreaks building sand castles. Too many dogs off leads coming over and invading our space. Trampling our area and getting in the children's face. Closely followed by an owner saying "oh its ok ... they are friendly " AIBU to be totally annoyed by this. I never know how to respond to the owner. NO Its not OK .... or just smile and nod.

It's no better elsewhere. Recent field trip with school we had an off lead dog rifle through the kids backpacks and nicked food! Owner did nothing!!!

It's not on, my son is scared of dogs (not sure why) so he'd be climbing on my head to get away from a dog.

It’s not ok - I’d freak out as I’m terrified of off lead dogs, having been bitten by one when I was sitting in a park as a child, minding my own business. Since then I’ve had 2 other incidents with dogs and their uninvited attention / one was on those ridiculous stretchy leads were a dog can be 8 feet or more from their owner and therefore not under their immediate control.

Some dog owners don’t seem to accept their pet is not wanted by other people!

YANBU.
I'm a dog owner and would never allow this. DH and I were aghast recently when we were on a forest walk and a family with a small child who was clearly terrified of dogs were being yelled at by an older male dog owner who was shouting "she just needs to get used to dogs, needs to be densensitised" as his 2 springers bounced all around the hysterical child.
We've also had our clothes/kit peed on by a dog at the beach, the owners thought it was hilarious.

Those dogs should be on leads until they learn not to approach people. I say that as a dog owner.

Next time, before the dog gets to you stand up and say a firm gruff ‘No, leave it, get back!’ Hands on hips, block it from getting near your kids.

If it’s too late and it’s already in your space I’d shout at it to go away, leave it, get back there etc and point to it’s owner. If it ignores I’d grab it by the collar and take it back to owner and give owner a piece of my mind.

Do we really need yet another thread on this really? You know you're not being unreasonable.

Just going to turn into yet another dog owner and dog bashing thread.. loads of posters will turn up saying dogs should never be off lead and never be allowed anywhere.. same every single time.

Also most owners CAN recall they just don’t think they need to. When I’m with my dog-reactive dog (who is always on a short lead to stop him attacking dogs who run up to him) he can spot another dog from far away. If it gets too close he starts trying to lunge and barks at it aggressively (I hold him so unless the other dog is stupid enough to keep coming he can’t reach it). Funny how quickly the owners manage to recall or grab their dog when they think theirs is in danger!

@Ileflottante

My dogs are always, always off their leads. But their recall is spot on and could not be less interested in other people. If anything, they avoid other people. Unless people can train their dogs to that level, they should long line them on beaches.

Though I do agree with this

Just going to turn into yet another dog owner and dog bashing thread.. loads of posters will turn up saying dogs should never be off lead and never be allowed anywhere.. same every single time
This indeed. I was talking to a dog owner yesterday in the park, where dogs are allowed of the lead, and where, inevitably there are a lot of kids at the moment. Suddenly, two kids came to my dog, who start to run away from them as she is scared, and they thought no better than to run after him. No parents around. I had to tell the kids to stop and they were scaring my dog. They left and the other dog owner said she had the same issue with kids coming to pet her dog. Hers will tolerate it but hates it, yet she says it happens all the time.

Should I start a thread on stupid irresponsible parents who think it's acceptable to let their kids scare my dog, and add that frankly, every parents are irresponsible idiots and kids should all be on lead?

Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, yes it's been said over and over and over here. Do we need yet another thread on this topic?

I am a dog owner and totally agree with you .
I was also on the beach yesterday with ds 5 and a couple came with a huge what looked like a rottie cross off the lead . We were sitting and it bounded towards us and began snuffling in my bag . Not acceptable at all . I am not scared of dogs usually , but in that situation I was terrified that it could snap at my son and I would be totally powerless .

@vivainsomnia

Just going to turn into yet another dog owner and dog bashing thread.. loads of posters will turn up saying dogs should never be off lead and never be allowed anywhere.. same every single time This indeed. I was talking to a dog owner yesterday in the park, where dogs are allowed of the lead, and where, inevitably there are a lot of kids at the moment. Suddenly, two kids came to my dog, who start to run away from them as she is scared, and they thought no better than to run after him. No parents around. I had to tell the kids to stop and they were scaring my dog. They left and the other dog owner said she had the same issue with kids coming to pet her dog. Hers will tolerate it but hates it, yet she says it happens all the time.

Should I start a thread on stupid irresponsible parents who think it's acceptable to let their kids scare my dog, and add that frankly, every parents are irresponsible idiots and kids should all be on lead?

Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, yes it's been said over and over and over here. Do we need yet another thread on this topic?

I am a dog owner and I don’t think that dogs should be off the leads in parks where children play . In my mind these are “ designed for human “ places . Dogs on leads are fine , but remnants of poo in the middle of football pitches us not on . Areas such as natural woodland are better as parents are on the lookout for dangers , so to say .

If a dog is known to hate or be nervous of kids I have no idea why you would walk it at a time and place popular with children .

@StrangeToSee

Also most owners CAN recall they just don’t think they need to. When I’m with my dog-reactive dog (who is always on a short lead to stop him attacking dogs who run up to him) he can spot another dog from far away. If it gets too close he starts trying to lunge and barks at it aggressively (I hold him so unless the other dog is stupid enough to keep coming he can’t reach it). Funny how quickly the owners manage to recall or grab their dog when they think theirs is in danger!

I see this also, I have a big rescue who is very nervous about other dogs approaching him while he is on the lead (no problems off lead). His recall is not the best so in public areas he stays on lead. Its amazing how quickly people go from shouting they're friendly to quickly calling dogs back or running to fetch them when I shout back that's great but this guy isn't. In answer to the OP is not acceptable for owners to allow this and its just as annoying to other (responsible) dog owners as non dog owners because it gives us all a bad name and as in my example above can lead to dangerous situations for humans and dogs.

If a dog is known to hate or be nervous of kids I have no idea why you would walk it at a time and place popular with children
Oh the irony and totally proving how totally biased posters here against dogs. threads after threads about kids being scared of dogs and how all owners, even of lovely gentle dogs should therefore be forbidden of public park.

When it's the dog that is frightened, it's still the dog that should go elsewhere.

When the dog approaches the kids, the owner is a terrible person, it's ok for the kid to kick the dog, owner is irresponsible.

Kid frighten the kid, the owner of the dog should keep the dog away.

How about parents practice what they preach and teach their kids not to come close, let alone chase small dogs? The park is open for BOTH dogs and kids. Half dogs need to be on the lead, the other half is a big open area where dogs and kids are free to play, respectfully, which my dog does.

I know this is MN, posters mainly parents of little precious darlings, but that doesn't mean I should accept the behaviour of little brats whose parents think pestering a scared dog is acceptable.

Most beaches that I know have specific areas for dogs. Could you go to a beach where dogs are not allowed?

@Happymum12345

Most beaches that I know have specific areas for dogs. Could you go to a beach where dogs are not allowed?

I do this. But dog owners still come on the beach.

Were you on a "dogs allowed" beach? Only as a dog owner whose dog loves the water I can struggle to find a beach where dogs aren't banned. If people are ignoring the ban that is awful and it should be enforced. A lot of people don't attend formal training where dogs are taught recall properly and to ignore other people and other dogs when instructed.

I do however love a good fairly difficult to access dog friendly beach where I don't have to worry about children and picnics I must confess.

@vivainsomnia

Just going to turn into yet another dog owner and dog bashing thread.. loads of posters will turn up saying dogs should never be off lead and never be allowed anywhere.. same every single time This indeed. I was talking to a dog owner yesterday in the park, where dogs are allowed of the lead, and where, inevitably there are a lot of kids at the moment. Suddenly, two kids came to my dog, who start to run away from them as she is scared, and they thought no better than to run after him. No parents around. I had to tell the kids to stop and they were scaring my dog. They left and the other dog owner said she had the same issue with kids coming to pet her dog. Hers will tolerate it but hates it, yet she says it happens all the time.

Should I start a thread on stupid irresponsible parents who think it's acceptable to let their kids scare my dog, and add that frankly, every parents are irresponsible idiots and kids should all be on lead?

Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, yes it's been said over and over and over here. Do we need yet another thread on this topic?

Agree with all of this. I have two very cute dogs and kids just love to come up to them, right in their faces, follow them and chase them..... and the parents just stand there not saying a word.

Do I start a thread on these useless parents, though? No, because there are good and bad parents, just as there are good and bad dog owners. These threads are SO DULL and even more tedious is the poster who thought it was a good idea to resurrect a 6 month old thread to go over the same tired old issue

@vivainsomnia

If a dog is known to hate or be nervous of kids I have no idea why you would walk it at a time and place popular with children Oh the irony and totally proving how totally biased posters here against dogs. threads after threads about kids being scared of dogs and how all owners, even of lovely gentle dogs should therefore be forbidden of public park.

When it's the dog that is frightened, it's still the dog that should go elsewhere.

When the dog approaches the kids, the owner is a terrible person, it's ok for the kid to kick the dog, owner is irresponsible.

Kid frighten the kid, the owner of the dog should keep the dog away.

How about parents practice what they preach and teach their kids not to come close, let alone chase small dogs? The park is open for BOTH dogs and kids. Half dogs need to be on the lead, the other half is a big open area where dogs and kids are free to play, respectfully, which my dog does.

I know this is MN, posters mainly parents of little precious darlings, but that doesn't mean I should accept the behaviour of little brats whose parents think pestering a scared dog is acceptable.

This.

We were recently sitting in a park with our dog on lead. She is not really fussed about children and doesn’t pay them any attention. A child came over to ask about her and at first was keeping a distance. She then without warning lunged and wrapped her arms around the dogs neck to ‘hug’ her, something that would never have happened to her before and we certainly don’t man handle her. Luckily all was fine but I was gobsmacked. Parents shouting ‘aww are you saying hi to the doggy’ 🧐🧐🧐

I was called 'crazy' the other day because I firmly told an overexcited dog (he's friendly!) charging up to me to go away and turned my back on it.

Some (emphasis on 'some') dog owners just really can't understand why people don't love their dogs as much as they do. In my case it's partly because I was bitten by a dog a few years ago as I was crossing a railway bridge. My instinct since then is to move away from any dog not on a lead - friendly or not.

Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, yes it's been said over and over and over here. Do we need yet another thread on this topic?

Yes because its getting worse, R4 had a piece on it, the Dangerous Dogs Act, over 8000 admissions to hospitals (not AE) but stays in hospital due to dog attacks, many are kids who will be maimed for life.

We recently had a thread on hitting a dog and how its akin to hitting a child, so she should LTB, - i wonder if the lack of knowledge of new training techniques is responsible for so many dogs out of control?

imho the number of well trained dogs & responsible owners is far out weighed by the idiots and ignorant.

There def needs to be a far more rigorous appraisal of potential dog owners than there is currently, licence fee's would also pay for more dog wardens - Cornwall has two for the whole county.

It's interesting because I follow a behaviourist who works with "death row dogs" which have killed pets or attacked humans. He is very clear about the huge amount of time, energy and commitment required particularly for larger mastiff type breeds etc. But not to underestimate the effort required for "fluffy" cockapoo types too.

Agree as well kids need to be taught how to coexist with dogs. I always got mine to ask owners before approaching and taught them how to approach dogs calmly etc. It's part and parcel of the things parents should do

@jasjas1973

Yes, there are irresponsible dog owners, yes it's been said over and over and over here. Do we need yet another thread on this topic?

Yes because its getting worse, R4 had a piece on it, the Dangerous Dogs Act, over 8000 admissions to hospitals (not AE) but stays in hospital due to dog attacks, many are kids who will be maimed for life.

We recently had a thread on hitting a dog and how its akin to hitting a child, so she should LTB, - i wonder if the lack of knowledge of new training techniques is responsible for so many dogs out of control?

imho the number of well trained dogs & responsible owners is far out weighed by the idiots and ignorant.

There def needs to be a far more rigorous appraisal of potential dog owners than there is currently, licence fee's would also pay for more dog wardens - Cornwall has two for the whole county.

I disagree. You just don't notice the good dogs and oweners

Yanbu. I am considering Nordic walking poles to have something to whack them with if they don't back away from my toddler when I shoo them away. I had to get between my buggy and a doberman looking thing the other day on a woodland walk!

YANBU, and I say this as the owner of a very nervous rescue dog who hates dogs in her face and will run off if she's scared.