to not expect to be snarled at to keep my dog out of someone's way?

[Preggersone]

took my labrador to the shops earlier. Had to cross the footbridge back home, stupidly had gone at 3 so school was just out on the other side of the bridge.

Parents with kids were all crossing the bridge walking about 5 abreast in the same direction, leaving no space for people to walk the opposite way.

I stop with my dog til the big crowd of them get past me (could have just pushed past but didn't) and a woman snarls at me "keep that dog away".

Wtf? I was keeping out of their way anyway, plus, had it ever occurred to them not to take up the entire bloody footbridge to themselves??

"yes but children don't often bite dogs!"

Actually, looking at it from the other point of view, children and adults do frequently hurt dogs. Very many dogs are abused, and some are frightened of people as a result.

This doesn't mean it's acceptable for dogs to show their fear in an anti-social way.

Shouldn't be acceptable for people to do that either.

'Actually, looking at it from the other point of view, children and adults do frequently hurt dogs. Very many dogs are abused, and some are frightened of people as a result.'

Bangandthedirtisgone You'll set me off again. Blame severe late pregnancy hormones, but cried at the Blue Cross ad where the dog gets abandoned by the bin this morning...

I think it is really important that children - especially those who are afraid of dogs - are taught how to behave properly and safely around them. Little things like knowing to stroke under the chin rather than the top of the head can make the difference between a positive dog experience and having a strange dog jump up at them. If children approach my dogs - and I always encourage it when we are out, because I think it is important that dogs get socialised with dogs and vice versa - I sit the dogs down, advise the child to give them a scratch under the chin, or on the chest, and then give them a treat to give to the dogs, telling them how to get a paw first. (My dogs would much prefer the child to throw its arms around their necks for a cuddle, by I understand that a lot of parents aren't keen on their children hugging rottweilers, so I always start with the 'sit and scratch'!)

Parents can pass negative attitudes onto children so easily, and the dogs pick up on that. An overly excited child, who runs past dogs, or waves its hands about, will excite the dog, and that's how I imagine the vast majority of knocking down and chasing happens. This is why I think the OPoster was being entirely sensible, and was definitely not being unreasonable.

Doh - I mean it's important that dogs get socialised with children

I don't need the sarcasm thanks chequers. Jeez I already said that I think the woman in question shouldn't have had a go. Don't you dare bloody patronise me.

Message withdrawn

My father is forever telling people to put their dogs on leads. He is really rude about it... however he's right. They may say their dogs wouldn't hurt or harm, however fathers dog is a little bugger and if another's off their lead and comes sniffing his dog, she'll turn and bite. In answer to the original OP, this lady appeared rude for no reason.

You sound like a decent dog owner and the snarler was rather rude.
But there are a lot of irresponsible dog owners who let their animals crap on the pavament or run lose or jump up. Unforyunately, the responisble ones end up getting the flak.

I dont believe i had a unreasonable hysterical fear of dogs, when I was a child my mum and me were attacked by a dog on a lead, both of us was bitten quite badly and need stitches, for a 6 year old this was pretty traumatic and I had nightmares about it. The dog was sadly put down, sadly as i believe it was the owners fault rather than the dog. I dont hate dogs, I'm just very nervous of dogs I dont know and I have probably passed that on to my kids. At the time my next door neighbour had a lovely dog and she spent a lot of time with me and the dog and I loved that dog so much, even used to take it for walks and look after it when they wernt around, I'm not a dog hater just dont trust dogs that I dont know, or perhaps it should be that I dont trust the dog owner.