AIBU For not wanting people to let there dogs jump up me or my children?

[ILoveMyMonkey]

Why do people let their dogs jump up into children’s faces and then use the excuse “but it’s only a puppy” as though that justifies it!
Prime example today, nice country walk with Dh and DS8 minding our own business. Stop to look at the view and this dog comes trotting over. Immediately heads for DS who does not like dogs at all. He stands still and the bloody thing leaps up him inches from his face. I stick my leg between him and the dog so it’s now leaning on my leg and move my leg away from DS to kind of use my leg to lever it away - did not kick or injure it at all. Owner comes over after a few mins and moves dog away with her. Then mutters under her breath about me kicking the dog. I told her I didn’t kick the dog and it shouldn’t have jumped up at DS to which she trots out the age old line of “it’s only a puppy!” So put it on a lead until you can control it then.

Why don’t these people ever just say sorry my dog jumped up at your kids face! Rather than blaming you for simple being there!!!!

Grrrr rant over.

*their not there in the title, sorry grammar police

Generally I think that if they were the kind to say sorry, they'd be the kind to have put it on a lead in the first place.

I hate this; my DD is only 4 and is quite scared of dogs from them doing this even on leads. I know for dog people they’re thinking that it is only being friendly but it doesn’t mean that other people are comfortable with it.

Happened to my DD as a toddler in a pushchair, a dog on a long lead got really close and jumped up and barked in her face. She now still dislikes dogs aged 16, though she will tolerate small ones.

Because, OP, we live in the age of the cult of the dog. Everyone has to love dogs and if you don't, you need to visit your GP and get help "for your anxiety" (or in your case, your dd's).

Dogs should be under control at all times. The majority of dog owners are responsible, but some are arses.

What @poppycat10 said!

I agree with you I’m scared of dogs so when I see one without a lead I panic.

YANBU! I have two dogs and never let them run up to people, we always have them on leads around people and other dogs even though they do have good recall as you just never know.

Same goes when people let their dogs run up to others with dogs, just because we have dogs doesn't mean we want others running up to us. Our youngest is quite timid with other dogs so we never know how he will react (hence why he's on a lead). Some people just assume that others shouldn't be bothered by their dogs!

YADNBU I absolutely hate this and feels like it happens constantly. There's so many bad dog owners these days

Unfortunately it’s dog owners like this that give the good dog owners a bad name.

I own a dog and believe all dogs should be kept on leads around others. I too get fed up of other dogs coming over to us when on a walk.

Really pleased that one of our parks that we visit a lot has now said all dogs must be kept on a lead at all times. It’s now going to make us visit that place more with our own dog so we know we won’t have other dogs near us.

Hope your son is ok

When a dog jumped up on my DD (5) in the park, I was taken aback when the owner made no effort to call the dog back - or apologise. I looked at him questioningly and he said, 'oh he's just excited!' I asked him why on earth he was talking about his dog like it was a flipping child! He muttered some swear words and stomped off.

I used to adore dogs, but the sheer number of them now (and more and more ugly, grunting, grunting, deformed breeds), and so many feckless owners (not to mention the dog shit absolutely everywhere), has put me off them unfortunately.

Yanbu.
These irresponsible owners seem to have multiplied recently too.
I dont mind well behaved dogs on leads but the way some owners behave ide quite happily ban dogs in all public places expect dog only areas.

You’re definitely not in the wrong

I’m on a long distance train and this weirdo got on. He had a pit bull with no lead/no collar - so his dog was literally running around loose on the train platforms and was expected to jump up and down to board/exit the train doors by itself. I was worried about the dog ending up on the track. Of course it was a smelly cyclist too, that blocked the aisles with his shit bike and let his dog run up to other passengers. You just can’t fix stupid

Yanbu.

My dd is scared of dogs (ds loves them). We had an owner the other day try to make her stroke their dog, as though they thought theirs was so special and wonderful that she would be cured of her fear at the first touch

Oh thank you so much for all the replies, I’m glad to see it’a unanimous. It’s just so self entitled and rude.

Luckily he’s fine thank you @Flowerlane.
Unfortunately this isn’t the first time it’s happened to him. When he was about 2 we were in a park and a puppy ran after him nipping his head but I couldn’t get to him quick enough and neither could the owner who also used the “it’s just a puppy” line on me - I was not so calm or polite on that occasion and we all left that experience in tears, owner included!
There have also been multiple occasions in between that one and this and every one just makes DS more nervous. I just wish these adults would realise that children are short and a bloody dog jumping into there face is, quite frankly, terrifying.

Of course it’s not ok. If it’s a puppy and doesn’t have decent recall it should at least be on a longline. Dogs have to be under control. This one wasn’t. Not ok.
Sorry this happened OP.
(Yes I’m a dog owner!)

YANBU. I got quite cross when I saw my neighbour and her very little one, out for a walk, and a dog that on all four paws was taller than her rushed up to her and knocked her over. No apology, no acknowledgement even.

Her little one is scared of my cat, and was already terrified of dogs, because of far too many incidents like that. Control your hounds, people!

My puppy at the mo would absolutely jump up at kids, he’s exuberant and excitable.

However, I do not allow him near kids he’s not yet off lead where there are children or anyone he could jump up as he’s a golden retriever so tall and his claws are sharp. I wouldn’t also want some random sticking their foot in his way, you need to manage your dogs environment to protect people from having dogs jumping all over them, train your dog to be a nice well behaved animal who is able to walk in public without being a nuisance.

Our old dog didn’t care about kids, dogs or people and just loved being with me and the kids, he never approached anyone and hopefully our new boy will be the same, training calm well behaved dogs takes time though but I totally understand why people don’t want dogs on them and their kids (my son would go mental if someone’s mutt jumped up on him) I also don’t want other peoples dogs running up to me/my pup either. Hope your son is ok op, not all dog owners are inconsiderate.

I only let my dog off the lead when there are no people/other dogs around and I think it’s massively irresponsible for owners to let their dogs approach anyone/any dog as you just have no idea what the outcome could be.

I learnt this the hard way when my dog was attacked and subsequently became very hostile around other dogs. So now I keep everyone safe but having her under control at all times!

Not ok. I hate dogs and panic if I see one off a lead. I was actually knocked over to the ground by a big dog when out running recently, it ran straight for me and leapt up at speed. Because I'm afraid of dogs, I always THINK they'll do something like that, but this one actually did.

The owner was not one bit apologetic. Just kept saying 'naughty' to the dog, but in that stupid soft baby voice and smiling so you know they don't mean it.
Everyone I've told this story to in real life has said that dogs know I'm afraid and so it's my fault and I need to be less anxious around them. I despair.

DS still has a scar on his nose. He landed flat on his face on the pavement when the dog jumped on him.
Apparently “the dog was just being friendly” and I was a mardy cow asking the owner to recall the dog.
Dog shit... don’t get me started on it.

Just like @poppycat10 said, the cult of a dog.

Mental.

I’m so fed up of this.

Our local park is almost unusable due to dogs off the lead and not under control, ie doesn’t come back when called or owners not paying any attention/ make no effort to call them.

Ds is scared of dogs. In my view he shouldn’t have to run a gauntlet of dogs to walk through the park - nor should anyone, scared or not.

I’m fed up of “he’s friendly”. It’s not the point - keep your dog under control.

It’s a small park and walkers like to be able to just stand and chat while the dog runs about rather than actually walking the thing - there’s a dedicated dog area but they never use it. If you want your dog off the lead, take it to the big country park up the road and bloody walk it!

YANBU. My now 11yo is scared of most dogs because of this especially those off lead. She had a few jump up at her when she was little, and on a dog free part of a beach pinch her spade.
I have no issue with responsible dog owners but so many aren't.

God yes, don’t even get me started on the limp, half hearted voice they use to call the dogs!

Because dogs are increasingly owned by ‘non-doggy’ people who see them as ‘fur babies’ not animals and are completely clueless about training them, disciplining them and keeping them under control in public places.