To not want my 18 month old's face licked by a random dog?

[CitrusBun]

Every morning we take our five year old and eighteen month old children to pre-school through a small local park. The park has a concrete path on it, and we do not stray from the path to the grass either side.

Every morning, there are two adults there with Labradors who are roaming off their leads. I don't have an issue with the dogs being off their leads, but I do have an issue with one of the dogs consistently wandering over and licking my eighteen month old's face. We don't know the dog owners, I've never suggested this approach is welcome, and my eighteen month old simply freezes and has never giggled, smiled or welcomed the approach.

I haven't yet overcome my Britishness to say something, but I will do tomorrow. Before I do - AIBU to have a problem with this? I fully appreciate the dogs aren't dangerous (AFAIK) and that some people like dogs doing this. But doesn't my eighteen month old have the right not to just be licked by a random dog? Or by default is this just accepted behaviour?

I should point out that the owners seem to understand this isn't welcome, because they tend to say their dog's name in a disappointed voice. But they don't make a move to stop him or apologise or anything like that.

That would have the food place shut down by health inspectors. Here, dogs are allowed on leash in certain areas like a beer garden or a cafe or restaurant that has outdoor seating and is labelled as "Dog friendly". They even have water bowls out for the dogs to drink from in these spaces. But (bar qualified Service Animals wearing a harness that clearly labels them as such) they are not allowed inside actual venues/restaurants.

You don't have to 'hate' dogs to think they shouldn't be on public transport or where food is served, that's hyperbole.

Do you like dogs?

Not liking dogs and thinking they're unhygienic is a perfectly acceptable opinion to have, it's equally as valid as the opinion of someone like you who loves dogs. So it's a bit silly to suggest that people who don't like dogs should leave Britain.
The problem with dogs isn't the dogs themselves, it's when their owners let their dogs impinge on other people's lives eg letting them lick people, jump up, bark for ages etc. If dog owners realised not everyone likes dogs and controlled their own animals the two groups would get along fine, but for some reason many dog owners are selfish and completely blind to others' feelings.

Definitely say something. A supposedly friendly dog that was known for this at our local school (pick up/drop off) went to steal a child's ice cream and accidently bit their face. The child was left with scars.

I do realise there are some absolute selfish dog owners and I totally agree that other people shouldn't have to have them impinged on them.

I don't take mine shopping, they are always on a lead and the only children that get to touch them are children that have asked and their guardian has agreed.

The only place mine get to go are walks and when we go away in the campervan.

Yes, I do. But I recognise they are dogs. Animals. Not humans.

Well you are a responsible dog owner then. Good on you for that. Sincerely.

Nobody on this thread has said they are humans. You're the one being awful saying that the UK is grotty.

I said it is grotty to have dogs on public transport and where food is served. I stand by that. I think 99% of people would think the same.

Can I move to your country? 😂 i avoid parks unless I’m with others because I can’t be arsed arguing with dog owners like the one OP described.

I was on a train recently and this dog wouldn’t leave me alone. It didn’t touch me but was standing in my seating area. I told its owner to get it away from me and she did for a brief moment only for it to come back. I ended up changing carriages to escape it.

Also witnessed two dogs fighting on a bus once and on another occasion one urinating on it.

And last time I was in a coffee shop a wet dog shook its fur and water and dander went everywhere. Only one coffee shop in my area is dog free so on the bright side I’ve saved a lot of money on not going to coffee shops anymore 😆

"Also witnessed two dogs fighting on a bus once and one urinating on it."

Christ, that's disgusting! That it's even allowed and not seen as a Health and Safety issue is baffling for a first world country. I could understand it to a point in a developing nation.

I don’t get it either! As bad as that was I’ve heard worse, someone said there was dog poo on a long distance train journey 🤮 and the owner didn’t clean it up so they had to wait until they got to the next station to sort it out.

Also heard people saying they’ve seen dog poo in cafes, tube stations and shopping malls!

Not seen it myself but on a thread here a fair few people were saying they’ve seen dogs around and sniffing food in Sainsburys etc.

A lot of people , including dog owners, are sick of what’s going on now with dogs everywhere.

This week a woman went past me grinning, her dog was behind her on the pavement, about 20 metres squatting a shit. I looked back and the woman was still walking, I called to her that the dog was off lead and messing, she just pretended not to hear. Worthless person.

Few months ago I was driving and a big dog walking behind a woman
wandered in to the busy road, the car screeched to a halt and the car behind it had to brake. The woman ran in the road screaming as she had a fright. Another useless person. Another pointless nuisance dog.

I think anywhere that has as much dog ownership as here is grotty. Shitty pavements. Cannot walk on grass in parks and verges. Dogs in indoor public places. In cafes barking at each other. Is this really what humans have spent thousands of years evolving in to. Going around picking the shit up of an animal, whilst simultaneously leaving a smear in the pavement.

The child was left with scars.

That is sad and it was very preventable. There is no reason to have dogs at school pick up stealing food or otherwise. It’s often a busy crowded area and kids are loud, bouncy and excitable . Not a great place to bring dogs.

No doubt if a dog snaps at one , the usual apologists will blame the kids for agitating it.

Whether an owner thinks a dog is “friendly” or not it shouldn’t be allowed to get close enough to a child to steal its ice-cream.

I probably don't see the worse things. Our local lets dogs in the bar area but not in the restaurant. I think a lot of pubs in the countryside allow dogs in because of hikers, campers etc. I don't visit cafes very often and I've certainly never seen a dog in supermarkets or food shops (that I go in). I also don't use public transport.

The only thing I get annoyed with is people not picking the mess up. That includes the dog crap and just general litter.

Totally agree, i's very sad. I don't have children yet but when I heard of it I couldn't understand why the dog was allowed to run around so often.

They are a great training aid, and in your situation just swinging it back and forth between your child and the dog would probably be all that is required, maybe with a stern "ah" noise.

My own dogs don’t lick my child’s face !!! If another tried too I do not fancy its chances with my4!!

I'm appreciating the nuance of this thread.

This

If this is happening in a park it’s more legit to carry a cricket bat than a pool noodle. You know, for cricket.

Only if you want to be prosecuted. It isn't legal to crack someone else's dog over the head with a cricket bat in this country regardless of some people thinking it should be. As you quite rightly point out, cricket bats are for, you know, playing cricket.

Besides, the pool noodle will be a lot easier to carry, and probably more effective too.

Your initial post states that every day you walk through the park and this dog comes over to lick your kids face. Honestly though looking at your responses on here to others you should have no problem telling the dog owners to piss off and control their dogs