'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?!

YANBU - I have a friendly people-loving dog - a Springer Spaniel - it drives me nuts that she greets people to get a fuss - I don;t care that most dog owners/dog walkers don;t really mind - it annoys the hell out of me but I can't keep her on a lead for our daily 2 hr walks in open woodland, footpaths and farmland - I do everything I can to stop it happening - other people are perfectly entitled to not like my dog greeting them - I totally understand that and put her on the lead the moment I see people around but we sometimes meet people walking in the woods... all I would say is be aware of passing on any anxiety about encountering dogs to your DS - I see so many kids who are clearly scared of dogs - I think your reactions matter a lot more than you might realise - these problems, anxieties over dogs may only appear years down the line - I have an adult friend who is terrified of dogs - she's an academic, PhD, smart, logical, well rounded person but she has a very real (and to most other people it would seem) irrational emotional reaction to dogs - even pictures of dogs, dogs on TV or in film, even the sound of dogs barking, etc. She has no recollection or explanation about where this fear comes from - it is genuinely debilitating for her (and as a consequence, her family) and affects her when she goes on holiday, on campsites, in beer gardens, parks, beaches, etc..so many different places.

These people are complete cunts. My DD (9) also hates invasion of space by dogs; a build-up of shame saw her crying hysterically in a sort of 'emotions purge' the other day. We often get angry with her for going in the road to avoid dogs and she was saying this and then 'But I can't help it! It makes me feel really stupid!' and of course that made me feel two inches tall and terrible.

So many people just don't get that phobias are real and the temperament of your dog has fuck all to do with it.

When I grew up in 70's/80's people just kept their dogs under control in a public place and an on lead dog meant keep yours away.

Yes this is what I was thinking. I grew up with dogs and I walked ours off lead when In a park no problem. Good recall, didn't run up to people etc the dogs kept on a lead you knew there was a reason.

A friend of mine husband walks their dog off the lead while going everywhere drives me nuts.

I think one of the biggest problems has been with new dog owners not been able to access puppy training classes in lockdown. Mind you even as I write that I know a fair few people who had pups pre pandemic who never did puppy training on their over enthusiastic jumpy puppies! It irritated me that people just don't get how important puppy training is as well as correctly socialising your pup.

We are

Oh this pisses me off 🤦🏼‍♀️

Why do dog owners actually do this? Keep dogs on leads and understand the people do not care how friendly your pet is, we don’t want muddy footprints all over our shoes & coats and slobber all over us. Just because it’s friendly - or they think it’s friendly doesn’t mean anything. Any dog can turn for a start, people have phobias, people are allergic. Among many other things.

Dog owners are so entitled it’s unbelievable.

As a owner of a large breed dog I have to say this is not on. If my girl is off lead which is rare unless in the fenced in dog field near us, I make her stop, pop her leash on and sit until people pass, it is then, in my view, their decision whether they want to pet her or not and we are strict that she will only receive attention when all four laws are firmly on the ground and she behaves. Dogs have to be taught that not everyone will pet them, want the attention and as a dog owner it’s our responsibility to teach it and enforce it, always, without exception.

As the owner of a 2 year old dog this annoys me so much. We’ve spent two years training our dog and working on recall every day. We’re finally at a point where she can go off lead under certain conditions and only when we are observant and aware of what / who is coming and calling her back and putting her on lead as appropriate. Yes it can be tiresome at times and I’d love to just let her go and run freely everywhere we go but - welcome to responsible dog ownership!!! It’s a lifetime of training every day and it’s about keeping my dog and others safe. Why do I work so hard but others can’t be bothered?

*paws not laws

I have two dogs. I am one of those people that prefers animals to humans. But, I have enough awareness to know that not all people love dogs. So when out and about where other people are we don’t take our dogs off lead, ever. There is a dog park a in next town and that is only place we let them off lead.
We live near a lovely big nature reserve and we never let them off lead there either as there is a lot of wildlife that are constantly bothered by dogs. I don’t see our dogs live of running trunks those animals right to enjoy their environment in peace.
I can’t tell you how often we have issues with uncontrolled dogs. Mine have been attacked twice while on leads. On one occasion I was cut through my jeans as the attack dog bit me as I tried to protect my dogs. It’s hot so bad that I won’t take them to the local park because there are so many untrained dogs there. But I predicted this last year when people went nuts for lockdown puppies with no ability to socialise or train their dogs.
Our dogs are well trained and have good recall but they are dogs and you can’t say for certain that they wouldn’t jump up or chase a child so I don’t let them off lead. My daughter had an allergy to dogs as a toddler and we were walking out of a shop once when she was 2/3 when a dog who wasn’t on lead jumped up and licked her face. She was covered in hives in no time and really frightened the owner made a half apology. We were lucky it was just a lick as it happened so fast I couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Dog owners are so entitled it’s unbelievable.

I presume you mean some dog owners are so entitled it's unbelievable.

it annoys the hell out of me but I can't keep her on a lead for our daily 2 hr walks in open woodland, footpaths and farmland

Why not?

Mynameisbrian I can do what I want dude.

YANBU. I absolutely hate this, and would gladly boot any dog that tried to get near my children or I. I don't particularly like dogs, and certainly don't want one slobbering all over my toddlers pushchair. Keep them on a bloody lead if you can't control them.

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.

Or get your husband to jump up, push them over and /or shag their leg.

I have a dog who when walked is always put on a lead when people or other dogs are about. Whenever others approach with Dogs off the lead, I always get don't worry mines friendly. I always respond with mine is not. On many occasions these friendly dogs turn out not too be so bl**dy friendly much to the embarrassment of their owners when they get called out. There is always an element of the unknown with any animal. It is unfair for any pet owners to expect that every other adult/child or other dog actually cares for their creature and wants to be approached by them.

@Kteeb1

What's just as annoying as a dog owner is the amount of people who come straight up to your dog who is on a lead and doesn't ask if they can pet them first. Adults and children do this all the time and the amount of people who get offended when I say no she's nervous is ridiculous. I have a lead for her that says please don't approach but it's hard to see. She won't wear the coat. No adult or child should approach a strange dog without checking with the owner first.

Tbf, I've always taught my two that you never touch an animal without the owners permission first. Whether that's a dog in the park, a cat in the street or a pony at a zoo.

My aunts very friendly dog on many occasions while trying to lick me to death has laddered my tights and I've had to walk round like a tramp, pulled at my clothes leaving marks and pulls, scratched me many times 1 time was quite bad and bled he has such sharp claws. All in the name of love.

I'd be fuming if he wasn't my aunts

If a dog has no recall they should be on a lead until they do, for their own safety and everyone else's regardless of breed, size or temperament!

@SchrodingersImmigrant

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🙄

This made me laugh, will definitely do this.

Am also considering carrying a riding crop on walks to protect us from 'friendly' dogs.

My 11 year old is still petrified of all dogs since one lept at him when he was 3. It was bigger than him and the owner didn't give a toss.

I'm indifferent/antipathetic to dogs. There's a self defence technique which kills a dog instantly (almost). Taught to me once by a psycho I used to know. Never tried to use it, and never expect to use it, but knowing it's there (albeit untried) means I am less troubled by them: they mostly avoid me for some reason. Could be the basilisk stare I suppose, or telepathy?

My dog LOVES people but I'm very aware that he is a bit jumpy and that could terrify a small child so he goes on the lead when we are approaching until well past. It's not difficult to do

Am also considering carrying a riding crop on walks to protect us from 'friendly' dogs.
Make sure it's used on the owner😁

Totally agree. I've seen an increase in these owners in my area since lockdown began. I used to walk my dog in a quite field near my house with the kids. In the year that I walked him there we came across maybe 2 or 3 other dogs, leashed. Last year when everyone was off work there was loads of off lead dogs there, kids were jumped all over and came home bogging and covered in scratches. My dog was attacked by a "friendly" dog and we haven't been back since. He's a rescue and is terrified of people and strange dogs (hence why I walked him in a quiet area) so that particular incident set our training back months. I've had to start walking him at night when no one is around, because he's friendly looking and people constantly try to approach and pet him or let their dogs "greet" him. They usually get a stern "we're not friendly" followed by a growl, they back off pretty quickly.

@larkstar

YANBU - I have a friendly people-loving dog - a Springer Spaniel - it drives me nuts that she greets people to get a fuss - I don;t care that most dog owners/dog walkers don;t really mind - it annoys the hell out of me but I can't keep her on a lead for our daily 2 hr walks in open woodland, footpaths and farmland - I do everything I can to stop it happening - other people are perfectly entitled to not like my dog greeting them - I totally understand that and put her on the lead the moment I see people around but we sometimes meet people walking in the woods... all I would say is be aware of passing on any anxiety about encountering dogs to your DS - I see so many kids who are clearly scared of dogs - I think your reactions matter a lot more than you might realise - these problems, anxieties over dogs may only appear years down the line - I have an adult friend who is terrified of dogs - she's an academic, PhD, smart, logical, well rounded person but she has a very real (and to most other people it would seem) irrational emotional reaction to dogs - even pictures of dogs, dogs on TV or in film, even the sound of dogs barking, etc. She has no recollection or explanation about where this fear comes from - it is genuinely debilitating for her (and as a consequence, her family) and affects her when she goes on holiday, on campsites, in beer gardens, parks, beaches, etc..so many different places.

My dc is not scared of dogs all the time. We had a dog, my sister has dogs. He is scared of random dogs rushing up him in parks, getting in his face, pushing him over. My DC is young but he seems well aware that the owners of these sorts of dogs do not have control of them and that's scary if you're at mouth height. If there was a 5 ft 7 out of control dog running at me is be shit scared too

all I would say is be aware of passing on any anxiety about encountering dogs to your DS - I see so many kids who are clearly scared of dogs - I think your reactions matter a lot more than you might realise - these problems, anxieties over dogs may only appear years down the line

I'm fine for my DC to be afraid of dogs (especially unknown large ones). Fear, or at least wariness, of dogs is a very sensible reaction for young children to have, especially since approximately 1,700 children were savaged by dogs last year. Why exactly should we be teaching children not to fear dogs? There are very real reasons for children to be afraid of dogs.