'Don't worry, he's friendly'

[PraiseBee]

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?!

FlaminEckVera I would imagine that anyone reporting something of this kind would have their name kept out of it.

If the dogs have upset enough people there's probably no way it could be traced back to you, although I understand your reluctance.

I imagine no one else has reported is because, like you, they feel they might be identified and are concerned about the fall out.

Sounds like a very difficult situation.

Totally agree.

Some dog owners seem to think that everyone else gives a flying fuck about their dog. Also when the dog owners are laughing like it's all cute that their dog is pelting towards another human.

Don't care if it's friendly, I don't want it near me!!

YANBU. I keep my dog on a lead unless we're in the dog park. And he's a soft natured shih tzu but he loves children and not all children love dogs.

I find this really annoying. I am also, an owner of a very friendly dog. (Well still a puppy). Pre being a dog owner I had a very scared DD and used to hate it when dog would run up to her and the owner says ‘ah she is friendly it’s ok’. It’s really selfish IMO.
Yea I know my dog is friendly, but I certainly don’t expect you to know that! I do off lead training with my dog in quiet areas at 7 in the morning. But for lunchtime and evening walks I keep her on the lead. She’s likes to say hello. But it would be really selfish of me to expect you to want to say hello back!

Yanbu. We need to start calling irresponsible dog owners out on this as parents - make them afraid of being shouted at if their dog runs up to a child. It shouldn't have to be that way.

I will tell people firmly, you need to recall your dog, if you cannot recall them they need to be on a leash around children. One person responded 'but he is just a baby too!' which set off my full tiger mother response 'NO, this is a child, that is an animal'.

I've actually considered buying some kind of anti dog weapon to protect DD, if pepper spray was legal in UK I'd carry some for this purpose.

It was like this when I was a tiny kid even if said dog was a huge, bouncy, slobbering Alsation. Just. Fuck. Off. And I do like dogs.

My ex had the soppiest Labrador ever, so friendly, such a nice face, so calm and such a strong drive to go for small dogs.

He was obviously kept on a lead when there were any other dogs around, but it was a struggle stopping other owners bringing their dogs to him for a sniff.

It normal was like this,

• Don’t bring your dog any nearer, my dogs may bite.
• oh I’m sure he will be fine, see he only wants to say hello.

Idiots! You can warn them but they won’t listen.

When my oldest daughter was a toddler, we were at a local park & a dog (not on a lead) came charging towards her across the grass. She was already nervous of dogs (having been knocked over previously) so I picked her up & started to walk away, resisting the urge to say anything to the owner as I didn’t want to get into a confrontation in front of my child. The woman then started screaming at me that I was a terrible parent for picking my child up & that this was the reason why so many children are scared of dogs because their parents overreact by picking them up. Some people are just irresponsible & stupid!

Totally agree, OP.

I have a very over friendly dog. She is always on a lead - because I am aghast that she might jump on anyone or frighten them. I don't let her, but lots of people approach and so I have to warn them she is likely to jump/try to hug them if they come to pet her.

Lots of people don't like dogs/have good trousers on/are scared/have allergies, and dog owners should always have their dog under full control, either a lead or voice control.

@pigsDOfly

FlaminEckVera I would imagine that anyone reporting something of this kind would have their name kept out of it.

If the dogs have upset enough people there's probably no way it could be traced back to you, although I understand your reluctance.

I imagine no one else has reported is because, like you, they feel they might be identified and are concerned about the fall out.

Sounds like a very difficult situation.

You are probably right. I think I will report her if I still see it happening, say in 3-4 weeks time. Probably will be seeing as how it's been happening for most of the 3 months she has been here.

[quote Oceanbliss]@vivainsomnia There are far too many people who have been killed by dogs, mauled to death. Babies, toddlers, adults, elderly. It is not ok. I don’t care how much you love your dog. Your dog is an animal not a substitute baby, friend, person and does not have more importance then a person.

This thread is on a parenting forum where parents can support each other, share experiences, bounce ideas off of each other.

This thread has been started by a parent sharing their experiences of irresponsible dog owners putting their children at risk. Other parents can come here and share their experiences too.

But you seem to be intent on derailing this conversation in defence of dog owners and their dogs. Attacking parents for sharing their experiences, concerns and support for one another.

Why don’t you start a forum on reddit specifically aimed at dog owners supporting one another instead of being deliberately provocative on a parenting forum.

Because every time I’ve been out where there are dogs playing, being exercised on or off leash I have never seen a single child running up to pat a dog or jump on a dog or be rough with a dog or bite a dog or maul it to death. I have seen on a daily basis dogs running at, jumping on, intruding in a person or group of peoples relaxation, exercise, sport, play, picnic with their owners allowing it.

I have read on the news of unprovoked dog attacks such as sleeping baby or child killed by dog, elderly couple minding their own business on a beach being mauled to death.

These are very serious examples of irresponsible pet ownership. Trivialising this very important topic is to condone it.

Playgrounds are purposely built for children. They are not built for our pets. All people have a right to feel safe. Children should never be made to feel unsafe in a playground or space specifically designed for them. They shouldn’t be prevented from entering that space specifically made for them because they are too afraid to go in there because of an unrestrained dog.

This is a parenting forum. If you don’t like parents or their children bugger off.[/quote]
Perfectly said

YANBU.

I hate this and mine now has a fear of all dogs who pass in case they jump on her (like many have tried).

And it pisses me off too how owners watch their untrained huge dogs do what they don't want so proudly- like dog mauling people and owners saying 'come on kissy' oh she really likes you.

Only today a great big German Shepard walked past with it's mummy and daddy humans, tried to get to the children (thankfully it was on a lead) and went past with mummy telling us it's only a puppy at the point it started jumping up all over daddy (was as tall as daddy) and daddy couldn't get it moving again!

I agree it's all the lockdown buyers with no idea and some dogs who probably now get little midweek attention when the family are at work.

I have 2 dogs and YANBU. 1 is always on a lead as he has shit recall. The other is "free" most of the time but she has spot on recall (unless near water haha). It pisses me off when dogs come bounding over to my 6 year old. If they don't come back when you call them, put them on a lead.

@FlaminEckVera and @PraiseBee

Thanks

YANBU- with you on this one.
Recently a couple of dog owners fondly looked on whilst their massive GS barked in the face of my 3 year old.

"oh he's just saying hello..!"

Well can he not, because he is literally a foot taller than my child who is quite clearly not happy about it.

Same scenario with a little frenchie in the park who knocked DS over, ran off then came back for seconds. I may have pushed him away.

If your dogs don't come when called, they need to be on a lead, for their safety as much as anyone else's. I sound like I don't like dogs, I really really do, I just don't like owners who don't train their dogs.

Our very little dog is very people oriented. I swear he thinks all humans are his very best friend. Children especially. If he even hears a human voice when we are in the building elevator, his tail is wagging like mad in anticipation that he will meet someone other than boring old me.

I keep him leashed 99.9% of the time. Even leashed he strains toward other people and is downright desperate to greet the children. This is hard to manage I must confess. Some kids shrink back and I find myself saying its ok he loves children. Several kids in our building started that way and now ask me where he is and are happy to see and play with him.

We had an adult visitor in our apartment recently and the dog jumped up, coming to mid shin. He shrunk back and said control the dog he's humping me. No he wasn't but really...

It is tough sometimes to curb the enthusiasm. I have never known a dog who loves everyone so much. It is difficult to know how to approach this. The darn dog is just so enthusiastic and happy to meet anyone really.

Said little dog has flawless recall unless he sees a child. Then all bets are off. Drives me mad. He ends up leashed all the time for loving kids too much. Of course he is leashed but it makes me a bit sad.

Totally agree. I had this last week, 2 useless owners standing there watching as their dog bounded up to my obviously frightened child. They showed no interest in getting their dog back or under control so I had to leave my crying child to grab to the dog's collar and drag it back to the owners. Then they had the audacity to say "oh well, we'll put it on the lead just to make you feel better..."

Agree with you. There are a lot more dogs about and they are not well trained.

YANBU. I hate this. A dog on a very long lead ran up to my kids and nieces while we had a picnic at an English heritage property yesterday. The three older ones (only 10, 6 and 3) tried not to look terrified while the owner gazed adoringly on

I hate the 'oh he's friendly' for different reasons.. mine isn't! Mine isn't remotely interested in anyone but her own family, and is nervous of other dogs unless she knows them.. she just wants to be with us and to sniff and mooch, but if other dogs get in her face she will bark or growl at them. So she is on a lead in public..with a sleeve that says 'Nervous'

But she's a very unusual breed, and very fluffy and the number of people who try to pet her.. and when I say please don't, I get 'aw but dogs like me!' Well mine won't.. and she moves away quickly!

She became nervous precisely because of all the owners who let their dogs run free !

On the plus side I can confirm I am not the owner whose dog will run up to you.. she stays clear of everyone :) She's perfectly fine with dogs and people she knows..just like me..she just doesn't want to be hugged by strangers!
We now mostly do long walks in the woods and fields where she can have fun on a long line in peace!

A quarter of a million people end up in A and E with dog bites every year in the UK.
Let me just repeat that. A quarter of a million.
I bet the owners all claimed their fucking savage curs were “just being friendly

Yes and also the parasites and diseases dogs have, one parasite is now found to spreading more that can be deadly to humans. Dogs constantly lick their own arses, drag their arses on the ground, constantly lick their own noses. They get diahorrea and shit all over the grass and it's never explained how this is cleaned up. They shouldn't be anywhere near parks.

vivainsomnia
Do you tell the same to the parents whose precious toddlers get knock off by dogs.

Yes children, especially toddlers, are precious. Dogs are not, they are dogs

Maybe they should keep their kids closer to them and stay away from areas where dogs run free?

This is an increasingly worrying attitude. That parks are for dogs, for their "best boi pitty bully fur baby" to run around off leash, and so children should stay away from parks. This where we are at now and it's getting worse

In the western world, a child is killed every week by a dog. A quarter of a million people, mostly children, in the UK alone end up in hospital with dog bite injuries every year, some life changing, for example amputation of hands or permanent facial scarring. This isn't reported on but it happens and the dog lobbyists will go to court and defend these dogs that injure people and the dog will be put back into the community. It's a scandal that this is allowed to happen. That a dog can bite and injure, even more than once, and be returned to its owner

I agree and I think if your dog runs up to random people you should keep it on a lead in public. I walk my parents dog often, he is deaf and has no recall so he is kept on the lead at all times.

Try riding a horse and Fluffyballs bounds up "Don't worry he's friendly!" as my (flight animal being attacked by a predator) horse controls his instincts until Fluffyballs goes for the throat - then horse legs it towards the main road (yes this did happen and the owner apparently was someone who ran dog training courses!