Another Dog one

[Softfresh]

Took DD to the park today for a picnic lunch and a play after. I have no problem with dogs personally but DD is absolutely terrified of them.

We sat down at the picnic tables and within the space of 5-10 minutes, 3 different groups of people with 8-10 dogs between them decided it was okay to let their dogs pound up to us, off lead and jump and bark all around us. It's okay though because "they're friendly" why do people think this is okay? I don't mind dogs but I still don't want them jumping all over me when I'm eating lunch!

Every time this happened, I told them that DD was afraid of dogs. The first 2 groups were reasonable enough and took the dogs away after a few jumps and barks at us. DD was on edge by this point but I tried my best to calm her down.

Then a mother and daughter approach with yet another 2 dogs, running around our feet, jumping and barking. I explained that DD was scared so asked if she could move the dog. Of course her dog was friendly and wouldn't harm her by this point DD was practically on top of the table trying to get away from them! The woman then decided to tell DD that her dog gets excited when it sees food so she should hide her sandwiches! Wtf! At this point I had enough and told her sternly to move her dog and let us eat our lunch. I've already told her DD doesn't like dogs, she seemed pretty offended by my sharp tone.

Aibu to expect dog owners to keep their animals under control around people eating lunch? Why do these dog lovers think everyone must love their dogs as much as they do? I had to pack up and take DD elsewhere to eat and she spent the rest of the time completely on edge so our lovely afternoon was ruined by selfish rude people Rant over!

@Softfresh Sounds like you need to get your daughter some therapy! Regardless of whether you should 'have' to, you obviously enjoy going places where there happens to also be many dogs. Therefore it would be beneficial to her, for you to help her with her fear.

@aquashiv What's your point? You haven't and I have, have you even read my replies?

My daughter is afraid of dogs because of irresponsible dog owners and bad experiences with dogs. Not only on this day but multiple times in the past. Where did I mention I had anxiety? I have mentioned multiple times that I like dogs, I just don't like them annoying me when I'm eating lunch. I also don't want them jumping around my clearly nervous DD regardless of how friendly they are, this will only exasperate her fear not help her deal with it.

If we wanted to interact with animals, we would visit a petting zoo or somewhere that doesn't have leash restrictions. It's a shame that all the irresponsible owners give all the good owners a bad name. Next time It happens I'm going to start licking and jumping all over the owner, see how they bloody like it.

Because the vast majority of people are not scare and don't mind dogs going to them.

That is a pisspoor excuse for letting your dog run up to random strangers - ‘most of them don’t mind’.

That means it should not be allowed to run up to people,

A dog running up to people is hardly out of control.

A dog running up to people is hardly out of control.

If it doesn’t return when you call it, it’s not under control.

So either you’re not bothering to try to control it, because you can’t be arsed and think other people should be happy to have your dog bouncing around them (possibly setting back their attempts to help their child to get over their fear, possibly not welcoming your dog, possibly thrilled to have your dog running up), which makes you a bit arrogant.

Or you can’t control it, which is technically against the law. You wouldn’t be prosecuted for it, but the letter of the law is pretty clear.

None of our family is afraid of dogs - but how bloody annoying is it when owners have no re call of their dogs IN PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULDN'T BE OFF THE BLOODY LEAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.

On holiday this year (UK) we had at least one wet sandy dog run straight across our blankets, shake and head towards the food bags every damn day.

''Oooh Fluffy, no! Oh Fluffy! Fluffy! Fluffy! No Fluffy! Oh come back Fluffy! Oh sorry, sorry!''

Fluffy is doing what it fucking likes as usual i presume, and all the posturing and shouting from meters away is having no effect.

Fluffy finally leaves and yes we're pissed off but we're trying not to make a big deal of it.

That is not any kind of recall! Also that is not ''people not minding'' your dog, it's people not wanting a confrontation and hoping you and your dog will just fuck off asap.

Because the vast majority of people are not scared and don't mind dogs going to them.

Really, how do you know that, have you researched it?

I'm not at all scared of dogs, I have one of my own but I very much dislike it when dogs run up to me and start jumping around me or my dog.

In fact it happened this afternoon when I was out walking my dog.

Out of control, off the lead puppy. It wasn't aggressive, it was young and playful but the owner couldn't get it to recall, and l didn't want its muddy paws all over me.