Just fucking sick of dogs

[crazyaginglady]

Sorry but I am. I was cycling home from
picking up DS from school with him on the back and a dog came running up beside
me snarling and snapping at my feet on the pedals. I nearly bloody went over but managed to keep my balance and get past it (electric bike). Owner called an apology and I just rode on as it was still off the lead and I was worried for DS.

This is a national cycling path and much used school route so there are always bikes and children 8-9 and 3-4.

A sausage dog decided to bolt towards my 2 year old last month in the park for no apparent reason and I had to scoop him
up to avoid contact.

And don’t get me started in the ‘oh he’s just being friendly’. I don’t want your fucking dog jumping on me or my children or scaring my kids when we are just going about our day.

They should ALL be on leads unless they are in a dog park/field.

”Dogs used to be pets that stayed at home and were only taken on walks. They were perfectly content. Why on earth do people need to baby their dogs? They're animals, pets. That's all.”

here, here

how could ANYONE possibly argue with this?!?

I am a dog owner and believe all dogs should be on lead in public. Too many people have no control of their dogs and it causes issues for other people and for the dogs with responsible owners

So leaner financial times lead to increased dog ownership🤔 That makes no sense. Are people buying more dogs to generate income?

What is behind this massive increase?

Well it wasn’t a toddler @Pinkpinkpink15 and my senior lab would prefer to be left alone, as would I. I’m not free childcare. If he were younger then perhaps I’d see the funny side, perhaps..

Good one lol.
They’re surprised they got caught.
We had a German Shepherd for 17 years - I loved that dog. She was so sweet.
Unless she thought you were a danger to us and then she could be downright vicious.
Dogs belong on leads - if you’re wondering whether or not that means you, it means you.
I’m sorry for your scary experience, @crazyaginglady and I’m glad you’re okay.

I'm terrified of dogs. I've had therapy, tried lots of different things but I can't get over it. Part of the issue is, they're everywhere in daily life. I have a particular fear of walking down a street and a dog jumping over a gate or running out of a garden.

I also have a very active toddler so have had to find ways to still give him an outdoorsy life. Lots of dog owners are kind and understanding but equal numbers aren't and the sheer numbers of dogs around now means I have to really pick where we go as I don't want to pass my fear on.

I remember going for walks all over the countryside growing up and maybe meeting 1 or 2 dogs max. Now, those same places are teeming with dogs off leads. I'm hoping in about 10 years lots of current owners won't replace dogs and it'll settle down a bit again.

The cynic in me would point at backyard/amateur breeders making a quick buck. There’s also a whole industry of dog groomers, animal behaviourists, doggy daycare, kennels etc. much of which has a vested interest in the ‘humanising’ of dogs. It’s a business worth millions.

I have 2 dogs and I absolutely agree with you. Some owners act like their dogs do no wrong and are more important than the people around them! I would be absolutely mortified if my dog did that but then I keep my dog on a lead in busy areas or they walk close to me. They never chase bikes anyway or run upto other dogs as they have been properly trained.

I love dogs, but I’m sick of so many irresponsible owners not keeping the uncontrollable ones on leads or training them with basic manners. YANBU.

The numbers of dogs rose hugely during the pandemic. People were suddenly at home a lot more and wanted a dog to walk and for company. Dogs started getting stolen to satisfy demand. Then the breeders saw an opportunity and filled the gap both home and abroad.

I think social media and the instagrammableness of pets has fuelled this increased 'want' of people to own animals too.

What humans want, humans get.

Selfish species in every respect.

@trythisforsize
many are in animal shelters now, apparently overflowing with cats and dogs left by their owners after the pandemic. Many people didn't think it through.

Not all dogs are out of control. Most are fine, maybe op has had a run of bad luck with them

I'm a dog owner and I agree that they should all be on leads in public. Other dog owners can annoy me too with their poorly behaved off lead dogs.

There's also a huge surge of pets arriving at shelters because owners either cannot look after them, can't afford them or they "got bigger", or owners changed their lifestyle so dog doesn't suit them any more.
Selfish, selfish, selfish

Here comes the shit dog owner.

I’m terrified of dogs. I never grew up with pets, my brother was bitten by a dog outside our house when we were young and I was badly bitten in the street by an Alsatian when I was 18. I live within metres of a beach where dogs are allowed to roam and I’m nervous about walking on it. I’ve just been to Australia and was so relieved to go on some beaches where dogs are banned. Our local council proposed a ban for a section of beach to be dog free in Summer but it was quickly thrown out. I don’t want to offend dog owners and I have friends with dogs that I have taken time to get used to and I’m now fine with - but I hate being made to feel odd because I don’t like dogs.

Considering their apparent ubiquity it is remarkable how few posters on here seem to approve of dogs.

I really don’t know where you’re all living. I walk my dog regularly, and never come across these kind of people who let their dogs run around out of control. Maybe it depends on the area you live? I usually find dog owners on the whole are pretty responsible. Must admit though that I find there’s a lot more cyclists in parks and on canal tow paths, who are really self entitled and inconsiderate. Every two minutes you’ve got them coming up behind you ringing their bells to tell you to get out of their way, and then get abusive if you don’t hear them or don’t move quick enough. Adults should only ride bikes on the roads, and not on paths where pedestrians are.

OP, I hear you and totally agree.
Where I live, owners have been dumping their XL Bully dogs in the local canal.
Other dog walkers and cyclists have found the bodies of these dogs, bloated and floating on the water. As much as I don't like dogs, I can't bear cruelty either.

Dog owner here (over 10 years, not a lockdown dog). There are absolutely bad dog owners who are very annoying to people (and other dog owners too).
We the responsible owners do not enjoy stepping in dog poo either.
However he is two real example which have happened to me and my small dog who is 10 years old.

1. 2 small children running after my 10 year old dog who was not remotely interested in them. The children were shrieking and grabbing at the dog who luckily was still ignoring them. They continued chasing and trying to grab him at which I started to worry because even a placid dog minding his own business can snap. I suggested to the children's dad he perhaps should not be letting them chase strange dogs (I was very polite but actually his children were behaving very badly) and his answer - if anything happens it will be your fault because your dog is not on his lead. So my small dog entirely minding his own business not even reacting to the bad behaviour would be blamed if after 5 minutes of being annoyed by strangers children finally turned round and snapped. He didn't but what an attitude of the dad. I was quite disgusted. He seemed to think it was ok for his kids to hassle my dog like this and woah betide me if the dog finally reacted to being pestered.
2. My dog is 10 and so rarely bothers with anyone now but once in a blue moon a cyclist going in inappropriate speed for the area (usually crowded with people, dogs, children) will go flying be far too fast and too close to a dogs head. The dog normally reacts by chasing the cyclist because he has had a fright. The cyclist normally tries to kick the dog in the head. When cyclists slow down a little to pass and leave a bigger space the dogs will ignore them. When a cyclist goes flying past me and near hits me because they are too close I will swear under my breath because they have given me a fright. Out of 100 cyclists that go past my dog only 1 will cause a reaction. The other 99 he ignores and continues to walk/sniff/investigate because they have left a little bit of space round him and are going at an appropriate speed. I hate cyclists on paths for this reason as they are a danger to pedestrians but I understand they don't want to go on roads as cars are a danger to them.

The point of the post is there are annoying, inconsiderate dog owners. There are annoying, inconsiderate parents and there are annoying, inconsiderate cyclists. There does seem to be a culture on MN though of blaming dogs (or their owners) for everything (rather than the child or cyclist etc)

This just shows the type of awful owner that is attracted to these type of Pitbull crosses.
WHO does that.
I'm no fan of XL pits but cruelty like that is grotesque.
Vets so say are refusing to euthanise them humanely, so maybe this is why they are being killed illegally and then dumped.
Surely any XL can swim, unless canal has steep sides, which doesn't bear thinking about.

The Romanian dog craze was insane - {Covid era} -they were sold to novices mainly, who had zero experience of dogs - the dogs were often dog aggressive and people aggressive and escape artists- now , I just know of ONE Romanian dog, and that one is with experienced dog keepers of big rescue dogs {Gsd/Rottweiler types} for decades who have had him for many years.
Even with their experience he barks and lunges at other dogs, even gentle female ones.

I'm not the only person to say ''Where have all the Romanian dogs gone?'' they are conspicuous by their absence.

It was plainly foolish to buy a dog in Lockdown and not think it through.
Novices turned down by UK shelters were turned down for a reason- often ''second hand'' dogs aren't safe to have around younger children, they don't like being left for hours at a stretch, and they need a hell of a lot of commitment and understanding of the right sort.
Mere love is not enough.

You’re directing your anger in the wrong place, it’s not the dog it’s the owner. Dogs are amazing!

these rukes should apply to cyclists. They’re just as dangerous. I’d like to see them have to dismount and push bikes through areas where there are walkers esp where there are dogs and young children.

This 100%. Despite going to mainly dog friendly areas I’ve never seen this sort of behaviour. Yet seemingly some people can’t leave their homes without being pinned to the ground by a dog.

I agree cyclists are extremely aggressive a lot of the time. I wish they had to dismount and walk where there are pedestrians with dogs and young children. Ideally they should stick to the roads.

out local council created a wide cycle lanne for several miles. Separated from the now much narrower road by bollards. They still ride on the bloody pavement because they have to switch road sides at one point