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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

A plea to dog-owners

284 replies

Dogsonleads · 19/04/2023 14:00

Please keep boisterous dogs on leads if you have no intention on controlling their behaviour

When walking in woodland with my 10 year old DS this morning pre school (because we were ridiculously early), a fully grown and very boisterous Labrador jumped fully up and put his paws on my sons upper chest. very exited dog, barking, more jumping. Before I can react, my sons runs into my arms and the dog continues to jump, now onto my son’s back.

At this stage the owner comes round the corner, the dog rubs off and I try to call out that this really is not acceptable. Calmly. I get a perfunctory sorry, the dog is being ignored, bounds back, jumps up my legs and manages to “Kiss me on the mouth”. Again, a perfunctory sorry and the owner walks away. Is this acceptable? (At this point I lost my calm 😞and shouted after them as I was upset at being brushed aside, no swear words though )
No attempt to reign in/ educate the dog?

It has taken me probably 5 years to get my son comfortable around dogs, had this happened only 2 years ago he would have been in an all out panic.

so my plea is to please please keep large dogs in sight if they have the tendency to jump, or at least try to mitigate situations that are difficult for others.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Softoprider · 21/04/2023 12:20

@ellie09 · Today 11:56
Child owner here!

IMO, all children, no matter how well they are trained, or how good their recall is, should be on a lead in a public place.

Sorry but I could not resist

Softoprider · 21/04/2023 12:20

It's not in the spirit of the thread Ellie !

Softoprider · 21/04/2023 12:23

So we are back to bashing dogs again and this thread will be allowed to stay unlike mine which was supposed to be lighthearted. MN you disappoint me You really do

LuvSmallDogs · 21/04/2023 12:23

Saltired · 21/04/2023 11:27

No, pugs and chihuahuas are unlikely to harm anything.

Probably because they are bred to such extreme standards that their life expectancy is abysmal.

Show quote history

Pugs maybe, chihuahuas have some of the longest life expectancies among dog dog breeds. Though not great hunters, mine caught a vole once as a puppy and played catch with it like a cat, but it got away.

vivainsomnia · 21/04/2023 12:24

Personally, I find owners of small dogs far worse than large dogs
And here I thought smaller dogs were spared from all the hatred!

My dog has ever caught a squirrel despite daily encounters. They can't be bothered now. One time, they ran towards one and to their surprise, the squirrel didn't move and they were nose to nose. My dog just froze and then turned around to look at me without look of 'what's going on' and then just ran back to me. Not one ounce of agression in them.

Thesharkradar · 21/04/2023 12:37

XelaM · 21/04/2023 11:58

So unless you live in a house with a massive garden your dogs are never allowed to run
around? That's very sad

Show quote history

Yes, it is very sad that people get dogs whose needs cannot be accommodated in human society.
If an animal has certain needs but these needs are incompatible with human society then that animal is not suited to being kept as a pet.
Just because your pet needs something does not mean that others have to put up with it.

Saucery · 21/04/2023 12:39

Haha, @vivainsomnia similar happened the other day with my dog. She is pretty good about not lunging after squirrels now and there was one on a tree stump at the side of the path. Unlike other squirrels it did not move, it just sat there and eyeballed us while eating a blossom shoot. Dog didn’t know what to do! She wouldn’t pass it, in case it had Evil Plans, I think Grin

Original poster
Dogsonleads · 21/04/2023 12:57

XelaM · 21/04/2023 11:14

Fair enough. OP I must say you sound more sensible than the dog-hating crazies your thread attracted.

For what it's worth, I don't think my dog would scare your son (pic attached) but some of the big labs can be very strong and I see why he wouldn't like them jumping on him.

Show quote history

What a lovely lovely picture
thank you for sharing
my son would love to say hello, always assuming invited to do so.

OP posts:
ellie09 · 21/04/2023 13:21

Softoprider · 21/04/2023 12:20

@ellie09 · Today 11:56
Child owner here!

IMO, all children, no matter how well they are trained, or how good their recall is, should be on a lead in a public place.

Sorry but I could not resist

In all fairness, I think my child needs a lead more than my dog, lol

Mischance · 21/04/2023 13:23

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 03:37

How many times have you been knocked over by a dog?

Show quote history

I haven't - because I have a preventive strategy in place. I should not have to have this.

Original poster
Dogsonleads · 21/04/2023 13:32

Softoprider · 21/04/2023 12:23

So we are back to bashing dogs again and this thread will be allowed to stay unlike mine which was supposed to be lighthearted. MN you disappoint me You really do

this thread has bashed dog owners as well as non dog owners

it attracted vitriol from ends of the spectrum

OP posts:
Softoprider · 21/04/2023 13:51

These type of threads bring out the worst in us all

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 14:33

@Mischance I didn't think you had.

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 15:10

ellie09 · 21/04/2023 11:56

Dog owner here!

IMO, all dogs, no matter how well they are trained, or how good their recall is, should be on a lead in a public place.

Dog owner here!

I don't agree.

ellie09 · 21/04/2023 15:26

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 15:10

Dog owner here!

I don't agree.

Show quote history

I would say the majority of dog owners would not agree with me, however just my opinion.

My dog has a good recall and is friendly but at the same time, I don't like an element of control being taken from me and her owner, e.g. if she is spooked by something or a dog approaches aggressively, I feel as though I can monitor the situation better if she was on a lead.

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 15:29

@ellie09 that's your choice, but I don't agree.

OMG12 · 21/04/2023 16:41

ellie09 · 21/04/2023 15:26

I would say the majority of dog owners would not agree with me, however just my opinion.

My dog has a good recall and is friendly but at the same time, I don't like an element of control being taken from me and her owner, e.g. if she is spooked by something or a dog approaches aggressively, I feel as though I can monitor the situation better if she was on a lead.

Show quote history

Completely your choice, but it doesn’t dogs good to be off the lead. Ours has always been of lead since a little puppy, they get a much better exercise that way. I also think mentally it is good for them to have a degree of independence She doesn’t approach anyone just toddles round doing her own thing.

she will always stop and wait when she need to go on the lead or if we tell her to.

XenoBitch · 21/04/2023 16:55

ellie09 · 21/04/2023 15:26

I would say the majority of dog owners would not agree with me, however just my opinion.

My dog has a good recall and is friendly but at the same time, I don't like an element of control being taken from me and her owner, e.g. if she is spooked by something or a dog approaches aggressively, I feel as though I can monitor the situation better if she was on a lead.

Show quote history

I had to drop my dog's lead and let her run when two dogs tried to attack her.
Someone on MN told me that my "out of control" dog, if found wandering the street after escaping the dogs, should be PTS as she could have bit a child.

ellie09 · 21/04/2023 17:02

XenoBitch · 21/04/2023 16:55

I had to drop my dog's lead and let her run when two dogs tried to attack her.
Someone on MN told me that my "out of control" dog, if found wandering the street after escaping the dogs, should be PTS as she could have bit a child.

Show quote history

Exactly. If all dogs were leashed then there wouldn't be issues like this. Unfortunately, there will be some who disagree and it only works when everyone is on the same page.

I find most dog owners look at their dog through rose tinted glasses.

My dog for example, is a Rottweiler. Very well socialised and very friendly. I am also aware that there are some dogs walking who are anxious, some people who do not like dogs, and they have a right to feel safe when walking out and about. This is why I keep her leashed. She gets her "freedom" in the designated doggy park that is set aside for exactly this reason.

Mischance · 21/04/2023 17:30

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 14:33

@Mischance I didn't think you had.

Do you think it is OK for me to have to have a strategy in place for dealing with the loose dogs around our area? Do you not think it might be better for them not to be on the loose? Do you think it is OK that I have to turn back from my walks because of the large loose out of control dogs? Do you find it acceptable that I have to try and make a safe tripod of my stick and legs whilst a dog jumps around me?

Saucery · 21/04/2023 17:56

https://cyfoethnaturiolcymru.sharefile.eu/share/view/s774eea405aa742bfb1bd502fbc3cac17

This is an interesting (and timely, considering this and other threads!) new film by Natural Resources Wales/Countryside Code.
I mean, it’s all blindingly obvious to me, but I’ve lived with dogs most of my life and even in the 70s and 80s our family dogs weren’t allowed to bother other people or livestock. For the not terminally ignorant new dog owner it might tip the balance to be a bit more responsible.

Side note: you don’t have to carry a swinging bag of dog shit on a 6 mile hike. There are containers called Dicky Bags that zip up and clip to the outside of your rucksack. I can confirm you are not followed by the lingering smell of shit 🤮.

ShareFile

https://cyfoethnaturiolcymru.sharefile.eu/share/view/s774eea405aa742bfb1bd502fbc3cac17

Saucery · 21/04/2023 18:00

Mischance · 21/04/2023 17:30

Do you think it is OK for me to have to have a strategy in place for dealing with the loose dogs around our area? Do you not think it might be better for them not to be on the loose? Do you think it is OK that I have to turn back from my walks because of the large loose out of control dogs? Do you find it acceptable that I have to try and make a safe tripod of my stick and legs whilst a dog jumps around me?

Show quote history

I think that if there are people out there who mean dogs harm, out of fear, fear of injury or just being a nasty piece of work (I know you are the middle group, Mischance) then it’s better that dogs are trained not to get in their path.

Baffles me why people would let their dog be potentially harmed because they cba to train a decent Recall.

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 18:02

@Mischance I merely asked if you'd ever been knocked over, which you have confirmed you haven't.

Thesharkradar · 21/04/2023 18:02

Mischance · 21/04/2023 17:30

Do you think it is OK for me to have to have a strategy in place for dealing with the loose dogs around our area? Do you not think it might be better for them not to be on the loose? Do you think it is OK that I have to turn back from my walks because of the large loose out of control dogs? Do you find it acceptable that I have to try and make a safe tripod of my stick and legs whilst a dog jumps around me?

Show quote history

I'll answer on behalf of the person with dog derangement syndrome...yes they absolutely DO think that their dog matters more than you do.
And now I'm off to scatter chocolate covered raisons all over the local walks😀

nomoredriving · 21/04/2023 18:11

@Thesharkradar idle threats ...

You are being ridiculous and sound like a child.... it's really quite embarrassing.

Incidentally, my dog has the leave it command, so when she's off lead, she'll just act on that.

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