To think bad dog owners don't realise that they are bad dog owners?

[WayTooSoon]

Kind of a thread about lots of threads...

Every so often, threads appear on here saying someone's dog ran up to them/their child/their dog and how the owners respond with "it's ok, he's friendly" or similar. What usually follows is a load of posters saying "bad owners give us good owners a bad name". So is mumsnet entirely populated by "good owners" or are people oblivious to their own shortcomings as pet owners? Aibu to think that if someone is a bad owner, it seems likely that they have no idea that other people see them as a bad owner?

Are you now or have you ever been a "bad owner"?

The trouble is, I think, that many dog owners simply don't realise that there are plenty of people who don't like dogs, are scared of dogs (even supposedly "friendly" ones) or who don't want to be approached by or interact with dogs
And what dog haters don't realise is that the vast majority of people are not scared or hate dogs, most are unbothered at best.

So no, I'm not going to put my dog on a lead each time I pass someone on the off chance they are frightened or hate dogs. My dog will only approach them if they show sign that they want to give him fuss.

@80sMum

The trouble is, I think, that many dog owners simply don't realise that there are plenty of people who don't like dogs, are scared of dogs (even supposedly "friendly" ones) or who don't want to be approached by or interact with dogs.

If your dog is off the lead and you see someone else approaching, you should put the dog on its lead without question. Don't chance to luck and hope that the approaching walker is a dog lover. If they're scared of dogs, your off-lead dog will ruin their walk and could cause a panic attack.

If someone is scared of dogs why would then approach a dog?

@LadyMayoGoodway, and the statistics remain that these numbers are insignificant compare to the number of dogs that are walked every day. Peanuts. Much much lower than the number of children who end up in hospital due to abuse and neglect from family.

Sensationalism doesn't make statistics nor facts.

@LadyMayoGoodway where the hell has anyone said its ok? Are you blind? Can you not read? Many many posters have said if people cannot control their dogs they should be on a lead ffs.

Mmm, so trading the news. The two attacked on the streets were not from a dog on a walk with its owner but a guard dog that had escaped from business ground, so terrible accident but nothing to do with dogs attacking strangers whilst being walked in the park.

The other got bitten by a dog on the leg, but did not suffer life threatening injuries and we don't know the circumstances. Still, that should never ever happen but again, not much difference to my injuries when a kid bumped into me and made me fall on the ground because his parents failed to get him to watch where he was going.

Oh my word @dontdisturbmenow so his injuries weren’t life threatening, so that’s ok then....You really are very disturbing and clearly lacking in any empathy.

The baby a baby was air lifted to hospital, for a dog bite that shows it was incredibly serious and potentially life threatening. He’ll no doubt be scarred and would have been put at serious risk of infections as well as injury, and these are infections which can be very dangerous in a baby. I cannot believe you are equating that to a child bumping into you and you falling over! You are literally unbelievable (quite literally as I doubt very much these things never happened).

And you’re minimising it by saying ‘we don’t’ know the circumstances’ by which you’re insinuating that the baby, a baby is somehow to blame or was asking for it aren’t you.

And we do know the circumstances actually, they’ve been widely reported. He was on the swings in the playground, dog off lead ran up and attacked him.

The trouble is, I think, that many dog owners simply don't realise that there are plenty of people who don't like dogs, are scared of dogs (even supposedly "friendly" ones) or who don't want to be approached by or interact with dogs

I think most dog owners are aware when someone is afraid of dogs - especially when they stand there, flapping their arms, screaming, “Get that dog away! Don’t let it come near me!!!” , when the dog is several hundred yards away, playing ball or walking along, minding its own business....taking absolutely no interest in people passing.

I think what dog haters don’t understand is dog owners are not going to keep their dogs in just because they may meet a person who hates/is afraid of dogs.

Public areas are open to anyone who wants to use them - even dog owners. Dogs are not allowed in children’s play areas and sports playing fields and that’s absolutely right.

Granted, there are dog owners who have no control over their dogs. They are annoying to responsible dog owners. But most do. Again (sigh...) you will only notice the very few dogs who impact on you. You won’t notice the vast majority of well behaved dogs because they don’t bring attention to themselves.

I live in a national park... The incidents of dogs mauling livestock are extremely high. It’s a common occurrence, so that proves to be there’s an enormous amount of crappy selfish dog owners about who think it’s okay to let their dogs off leash in fields. Just because you don’t do it and you are the ‘perfect’ owner doesn’t mean there aren’t a lot of other really rubbish dog owners traipsing about. Sadly.

*me not be

I don’t hate dogs, I love dogs. I have had dogs up to very recently but living in the Lakes has really highlighted how, for the most part, people are very irresponsible with their animals.

@dontdisturbmenow pp only wants to read and hear what she wants. She is a lost cause I fear.

70 sheep in this one incident.... www.fwi.co.uk/news/crime/farmer-loses-70-sheep-in-suspected-dog-attack

....unless of course it was an off the leash cat.

@MarleyTheDog no one is saying keep dogs in but there is a complete lack of respect by dog owners of other users of public spaces, your dog can be walked perfectly well on a lead if you want to go to a family park, National Trust property etc. and there will be many offbeat areas which aren't full of families where you can exercise them off lead. I don't understand what the problem is.....but amongst many dog owners there is an attitude of we can and will do what the hell we want. We and our dogs are the most important and do not need to compromise for anyone. Why? People don't hate dogs, they hate these attitudes.

I mean there's been dog owners on this thread minimising people having to clean dog shit of their pram wheels, why should anyone have to put up with that?

I don't hate dogs at all, quite the opposite, but since I took up outdoor running about 5 years ago and then had children 3 years ago - meaning I spend a lot of time at the public spaces mentioned above, I have been shocked at the amount of dickhead dog owners there are, it really isn't the minority here. Every time we went out last summer there was an incident with an out of control off lead dog, I know you think I'm exaggerating, but I'm really not. We were just sat down on a picnic rug minding our own business or playing in a play ground we should be able to do that safely and without harassment.

so his injuries weren’t life threatening, so that’s ok then....You really are very disturbing and clearly lacking in any empathy
Please read properly before jumping with your now standard dramatic comments. I said in black and white that IT SHOULD NEVER EVER HAPPEN.

How does this translate with saying that it was ok? If you misread dogs intentions as badly as you read posters' comments, it's no surprise you are convinced they are all potential predators!

@poorlykitten have you not seen the reports of a giant black cat roaming? Obviously not saying that was the case with the sheep..

😂 yes, much more likely...🤣 sadly it’s usually dogs and not mythical black panthers.

If your dog is off the lead and you see someone else approaching, you should put the dog on its lead without question. Don't chance to luck and hope that the approaching walker is a dog lover. If they're scared of dogs, your off-lead dog will ruin their walk and could cause a panic attack.

Really?

I am presuming there is some 'depends on the area you are walking in' to this? There has to be. You cannot seriously think this is a reasonable position. I have never had one person ever to ask me to put my dog on a lead as we trot past. He doesn't bother anyone. Why would I need to do that? You can't have such blanket ridiculous rules, people are mostly capable of understanding the impact of their dogs and act accordingly.

I am sorry, but I cannot be responsible for other people's panic attacks. My dog doesn't ever interact with anyone else - anyone who even tries to say hello gets ignored by him (often, much to their disappointment)

This thread is not convincing me that my non-brutal non-attacking non-interfering dog need to go on a lead at all times. It's batshit.

VinylDetective, what are you on about, this actually happened and my DH was not very impressed and doesn't have reservations about speaking up about things, I can absolutely guarantee it did happen. I am on friends of a park committee and there are some advocating dog free picnic zones, if it doesn't happen why would that be requested?? Also, are you having a laugh, people who wan to jog should not do so where dogs run around, so that would be the whole park where I live in a city, where exactly should people enjoy park activities that don't involve dogs then- talk about entitlement!

I still believe it's a minority of dog owners. Yes there's a lot of dog shit (I hate that as much as anyone), but it doesn't mean that it's a majority of dog owners that are like this. Because, as has been pointed out, there are so many dogs. With a lot of dogs, there will be a lot of dog owners, some of whom will be selfish and inconsiderate. You don't notice the well trained dogs because they don't disturb you.

My point is that there are a lot of selfish people around. Some of them will inevitably be dog owners.

@poorlykitten I would like to see a mythical black panther mind

@greatpurplepolkadots

I give up.

Dog owners like @tenbananasaday are never going to see the issue in letting their dogs approach people who don't want to interact despite several posters pointing it out to them calmly and rationally.

For the record - this type of over the top response to people making the point that actually, it's not irrational to be scared of dogs is ... exactly why people in real life won't tell you that actually no, they don't like your dog.

If you went on a walk with me you would see that's not true at all. I go to great lengths to stop my girl approaching randoms using distraction, recall and her lead. I just don't believe a dog that goes in for a sniff is committing the cardinal sin that Mumsnet would have you believe!

LadyMayoGoodwin

Dog owners who can’t control their dogs in public should put them on a lead. How many times have I said that now?

The problem is you keep harping on about all dog owners being irresponsible because there are some irresponsible dog owners out there. We all know! We’ve all met out of control dogs and their ineffectual owners. However, it’s a momentarily annoyance and putting all dog owners (whether responsible or irresponsible) in the same basket isn’t going to help your cause.

If you see someone leaving their dog shit behind tell them....I do! If a dog approaches you. Catch hold of its collar and tell the owner to come and fetch it. I do! These never ending dog hating MN posts are not going to make irresponsible dog owners suddenly change.

As for people being afraid of dogs. That isn’t going to make owners think, “I’d best not take Rufus for a walk today. We may meet someone who doesn’t like him”. Responsible owners will walk knowing their dog isn’t going to present a problem. Irresponsible dog owners will walk because they couldn’t care less who their dog annoys. A person being afraid of dogs isn’t a dog owners problem. Most dog owners wouldn’t want their dog approaching others - whether they are afraid or not. As always dogs who run up to people are owned by people who haven’t a clue how to train their dog. And are a small minority rather than the majority.

I think we all agree that out of control dogs and their owners are a bloody nuisance to all ( Yep... very much like cats and their irresponsible owners 😉) Not all dog owners are useless! And not all dogs are savage!

This is so frustrating, it is not about being a 'dog hater', dogs getting in your personal space which happens loads, getting in the way of a ball game, or putting its muddy feet on you, it's annoying as I haven't come to the park to play with your dog but the classic, 'he is friendly', so what, I am glad for you can I continue with my dog less life now, including looking after my Guinea pigs in my own front garden without your 'friendly' dog with me.

If your dog is off the lead and you see someone else approaching, you should put the dog on its lead without question

Why? If the dog is walking to heel to pass you why should he be put on a lead?