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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'Don't worry, he's friendly'

467 replies

PraiseBee · 04/07/2021 07:50

Too flippin friendly. Yet again, another dog running up to my four year old DC with a chunk of a branch in its mouth, firmly ignoring it's owners recall whilst they yell at me 'don't worry, Fluffyballs is friendly'. My DC loves dogs but hates dogs rushing up to him and is obviously scared. Large dogs are the same height as him and can easily knock him over. Imagine as an adult being rushed up to by a horse with a bit of tree trunk in its mouth trying to lick your face. I think most adults would be perturbed by this. It seems to be happening more often. Are dogs getting less well trained? I think the thing that makes my blood boil over is that the dog owners seem to think their dog is the most amazing thing ever so of course me and my DC want to bowled over by Fluffyballs. No we really don't and no, I give a shit what your dog is called. AIBU to be so annoyed by this happening every time we go to a children's park?!

OP posts:
RainbowShoes80 · 04/07/2021 07:55

Completely agree.
My 6 year old is scared of dogs and we get this time and time again. The owners come over all cheerfully saying how friendly their dogs are etc whilst my son is hiding behind me. Really annoying ( and I like dogs btw! )

Original poster
PraiseBee · 04/07/2021 08:00

Don't give a shit obvs* Wink. I love dogs too, I really do. But I despise out of control 'friendly' dogs in parks.

OP posts:
burritofan · 04/07/2021 08:02

YANBU, but the hound-loving brigade will be here in a minute to tell you their dog is different and it is you who should train your DC not to be scared and, in fact, you should get a dog yourself to help in this endeavour.

GrandmasCat · 04/07/2021 08:04

I love dogs, I do, but I hate them running towards me with a stupid owner behind who has no control over them and certainly felt like kicking them when they jumped on our picnic or my 2 year old.

Honestly, if you know your dogs run to people, why not put him on a leash as when you are approaching traffic?

Sharonthecat · 04/07/2021 08:04

YANBU. I've noticed an increase in this too. My 6 year old likes dogs, but does not like them running towards him at full throttle......

user1495884211 · 04/07/2021 08:10

Go up and give the owner a big sloppy kiss. If they object, tell them you're just being friendly.

Flowerlane · 04/07/2021 08:10

Dog owner here, this annoys me! We have noticed more dogs running over to us when on our walks. My dog doesn’t want to socialise with you ‘friendly dog’ we want to get on with our walk in piece.
It seems many of the ‘lockdown’ puppy buyers are the problem here, bought a pup couldn’t socialise it properly or go to training classes.

MagentaRocks · 04/07/2021 08:13

My dogs are friendly. If I did allow them to run up to people they would just be after cuddles, but I know that a lot of people wouldn’t like it, some would be scared, and of course there is always the chance one of them would bite either out of excitement or fear/aggression so I don’t let them run up to people. I don’t like other dogs running up to us, so why would I allow mine to do the same.

Yamaya · 04/07/2021 08:14

I hate this too. I have a dog but he's only interested in his ball. Other people letting their dogs run at us now means my 5 year old is scared of dogs, when she wasn't before. Several jumped up at her and scratched her legs and now she is terrified Angry

Sloaneslone · 04/07/2021 08:14

Yanbu. I have 2 cocker spaniels, they are friendly. But even though their recall is spot on, I still put call them back and put them in a lead whenever people get close.

A dog owner should be constantly on watch for people, if their dog is off lead.

I am involved in fostering and rescuing spaniels. And I would agree its got worse. There so many dogs coming through the refuse now, that have no recall or any training at all really. Far more than, what we had before.

Generally, bought not long before lock down, or during lockdown. By people that either don't have the time or knowledge to train their dogs well.

When demand for puppies went up last year, we absolutely knew this would happen.

StillCalmX · 04/07/2021 08:15

Too friendly is the perfect response. I remember once, my Mum's dog laddered my tights with its friendliness. I hadn't a spare pair. Argh........

StillCalmX · 04/07/2021 08:16

@user1495884211

Go up and give the owner a big sloppy kiss. If they object, tell them you're just being friendly.
That made me laugh!!
FayeFayeFayeFayeFaye · 04/07/2021 08:16

My 6 year old is terrified of dogs because of this. I don’t give a shit how friendly people think their dogs are. My child is scared and he’s my priority, control your dog.

Terrazzo · 04/07/2021 08:17

Ugh I fucking hate this too. It’s pretty obvious that an average dog is ducking huge compared to a child. It’s easy to imagine how alarming that would be. People need to take their heads out of their arses.I don’t want your dog breath and slobber in my child’s face. I had to scoop of my kid as a massive boxer was jumping up at him, and I just had to sort of stand there cower over my child in my arms while this dog jumped up at us, eventually he gave up and I watched it go back to his owner who had watched the whole thing and didn’t acknowledge it at all. Arsehole!

SchrodingersImmigrant · 04/07/2021 08:20

Massive dog lover. Absolutely hate useless owners.

Start shouting back "That's good since he has a shit owner who can't train him"

We will need to bring licence and owner training before purchase, like with a car, won't we🙄

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 08:21

YANBU and yes it's getting worse. So many of us said last April that the surge in lockdown dogs will end in tears - so many impulse dog purchases with owners who haven't bothered their arses to train them.

I'm a little nervous of dogs and this energy must attract 'friendly' 15kg ones as Fluffyballs always seeks me out. More than once I've been actually knocked over and have been told things like "he just likes you" by some simpering idiot who thinks I should be grateful their smelly ugly mutt took an "interest" in me.

Don't get me started on dogs who come and hump people's legs!

Darbs76 · 04/07/2021 08:21

There’s a lot of irresponsible owners around. They allow the same to happen with other dogs who are on their lead with their owner when their dog charges over and causes mayhem when they call over ‘don’t worry he’s friendly’. Well what if mine isn’t? Or is anxious and doesn’t want your off lead dog in his face. My dog went through a phase of running up to people and barking so I kept him on his lead whenever we saw anyone and treated him as he walked past nicely. Some people think their dog has a right to say hello to whoever they want as ‘they just want to play’. Drives me up the wall and makes my walks much less pleasant

CantGetNoSleep73 · 04/07/2021 08:22

I hate this too and I have a bloody dog! Ours is always on lead if around anyone but we always get the "ooh don't worry he's friendly" brigade. Pisses me right off as one of our children has asd and hates jumpy dogs or random dogs coming up to her but no matter what we say we just get strange looks and the same incredulous comment "but you have a dog"
Keep your sodding dogs on leads ffs

Strikethrough · 04/07/2021 08:22

"Your dog isn't required to be friendly, it it required to be UNDER CONTROL in a public place!" I'm with you, OP.

Darbs76 · 04/07/2021 08:24

Also this isn’t just down to the pandemic, this has been going on for years. I’ve been told I shouldn’t walk in our local park if I don’t want dogs running up to mine when he’s on lead (he does go off lead too but when other dogs aren’t around). Also been told ‘how can I teach recall if I can’t let him off lead’. They have no clue.

WildfirePonie · 04/07/2021 08:24

Shout at the dog and push it away next time.

It will associate running to strangers = bad experience.

Everyone benefits.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 04/07/2021 08:25

Also when did it become ok for dogs to jump up at people?

I grew up with one certain breed of dog and my mum was like a training ninja - they never went on the sofa, upstairs, never approached people on a walk and NEVER jumped up at visitors.

Went to a friends yesterday and her enormous 1yo Labrador was jumping up so much at me I had to physically push it away. I kept thinking as she watched "Aren't you going to do something, tell it not to do that" Angry

Sockbogies · 04/07/2021 08:25

I had a friend who recently posted on Facebook, utterly outraged about how a couple reacted when her dog ran at them whilst they were birdwatching. Annoyed at their "dramatics" and the mans reaction as he told her to get the dog away. And the main justification for this... "my dog is sooooo friendly" Angry

BlueCupOrangeCup · 04/07/2021 08:25

@user1495884211

Go up and give the owner a big sloppy kiss. If they object, tell them you're just being friendly.
Brilliant! 😂😂😂

If you don’t fancy a kiss then step all over their toes, ruffle their hair and pant in their ears…after all you’re just being friendly.

ellesbellesxxx · 04/07/2021 08:26

Yes. My 4 year old DD is now terrified of dogs and I am having to investigate courses to get her to get over a now fear.