To ask dog owners to keep there dogs away from my my children?

[SparklyPeachMama]

I don't dislike dogs what I dislike is dog owners who think there dogs are more important than my children. You dog might be friendly but I'm not willing to test your theory on my babies.
Your dog should never be closer to me/my family than it is you? If your dogs recall isn't good it shouldn't be off lead when other people are around!

I don’t understand why dogs can’t be required to be on a short, non-extensible leash in public at all times in urban areas.

It would be easy to do. The local council would just be made to put up signs saying “all dogs on leashes”. The councils could be specified in a schedule to an Act.

I completely agree. I've always liked dogs. Always had one as a child and teen ((well, my parents did.) And I think they can make lovable, endearing, and faithful companions.

But this past 5 to 7 years, dog owners have turned into absolute cunts (many of them.) Every time I go for a one and a half to two mile walk around my village, I encounter anything between 2 to 6 dogs on the loose, as people are just letting them run along the country road ... At least a third of the time they jump up me with their muddy paws, or run towards me barking. (sometimes aggressively.)

I've had times when I've seen 3 or 4 dogs loose in a particular country lane (as I am about to enter the lane,) and have had to double back and add an extra mile onto my journey to get home to avoid walking past these 3 or 4 loose dogs ... There's one person, maybe two. There's no way in hell that they're going to be able to control them if they come at me.

Then you've got the absolute fucking morons that have got these extendable dog leads ... They (and I) are walking in a 12 foot wide country road, and they have 1 to 3 dogs on these stupid leads, and the fucking dogs just come at your legs! Many of the owners don't pull the leads in properly, if at all.

One woman the other day pulled her 2 dogs towards her (by pulling the extendable leads in,) as I was walking past. Then when I was literally just 4-5 feet away from her, she started to extend the leads again. So the dogs just came at my legs, and nearly sent me flying into the hedge. (I had tripped on the fucking leads.) All the silly cow did was tut, and pull the dogs back. So it was MY fucking fault was it?!

And this is a common occurrence. Stupid fucking, inconsiderate, entitled dog owners. There is also at least 3 dogs 'missing' in our village in any given month, because people can't be fucked to keep them secured properly. And they have the lead off so often when they're off the property! The vast majority of the time they end up back home after someone finds them and takes them back!

Seriously, you should have to go on a university course to own a dog these days.

Of course there are good dog owners, but the shitty ones seem to outweigh them these days. Never in almost 60 years of life have I known so many bad dog owners, and unruly, badly behaved dogs as I have seen in past 7-10 years.
Oh, and the fucking dogshit! Everywhere! If these useless dog owners can get away without picking it up/if no-one sees the dog do its shit, they will leave it there.

As for the 'maybe you can call your child away from my dog' posters. Get a grip FFS! This thread isn't about badly behaved children being a nuisance, and attacking your dogs - (and as if THAT happens waaaay more than dogs attacking people!' ) Start your own thread - and quit the ludicrous whatabouttery! You sound ridiculous. This thread illustrates that there are waaaaay too many shitty dog owners, stop trying to pretend it's not true because YOUR doggo is soooo perfect! 🙄

And yeah, the 'oh but he's just being friendly' owners can fuck off too! People are not interested in your dog!

,

I've only had one child who was old enough to know better, run up to her squealing and try hugging while my dog was on lead. My dog, was still a puppy then, jumped back and paws up, her nail caught the girl, who burst into tears..her mum just gave her an earful 'I've told you before to never run squealing to a dog, stop crying it's your own fault' The mum said hello to my pup. I obviously apologised, I felt guilty even though we weren't actually guilty of anything. The mum was completely reasonable, and clear that her daughter shouldn't do it.

She is now a middle aged dog.
My dog is kept on lead unless in an enclosed dog field.
She doesn't jump at children. Generally, she isn't interested in children.
With adults usually, she swings her bottom round for a back rub.
Mostly, older children do ask if they can say hello, and I always thank them for asking. She will let them pet her, I know from her body language when she has had enough or isn't in the mood. We move on or don't stop. The ones that try grabbing are usually toddlers and just above, who should be directly supervised by parents. If they aren't, that's on the parents.

I'm a huge dog person and I completely agree with you. It was my choice to have dogs and part of that is taking on the responsibility to make sure they are trained and under control. My dogs are friendly and well trained with a great recall and I will always pop them on lead to walk past children.
Yes children can be unpredictable but surely thats even more of a reason to pop your dog on lead round them, not an excuse to let your dog do whatever it wants. I don't understand that point of view at all

That's still not answering the OPs original point though.

Ok sometimes kids approach dogs. But put that to one side, because it's a different discussion.

Should dogs that have a tendency to approach children in a boisterous/rapid fashion and don't have good recall be kept on a lead?

Whether dog has good or bad intentions, no one knows really. And a toddler/small child certainly wouldn't know. So that is irrelevant.

A PP posted the law regarding out of control dogs. If someone feels that a dog might injure them, that is an out of control dog and against the law.
A child is a 'someone'

“But this past 5 to 7 years, dog owners have turned into absolute cunts (many of them.)”

Yep. Entitled ones too. The idea expressed on this thread that human children are on the same level of importance as their mutt is just one example of the sheer cuntishness.

I agree but also add in the irresponsible parents who let their dc run up to my dog because he’s cute. I mean, he will sit and let them stroke him because he’s awesome, or just walk away if he’s not in the mood, but the parents don’t know that!

dog owners yelling “he’s friendly” rather than “sorry” is a certain breed of owner ime.

Again the OP didn't just say that. OP said that no dog should ever be closer to her family than their owner, regardless of recall.

She also said dogs who have poor recall ought to be on a lead. I think everyone would agree with that, because no owner wants to chase their dog around a beach to retrieve them anyway.

I think it's the first point people are debating, not the second.

You're not unreasonable and this is a problem that dog owners also experience. My dog is kept on a lead at all times and I'm so fed up of off lead dogs bothering him. I can't say how many arguments I've had with people telling them to get their dogs u Der control. They ruin it for everyone!

I've already clarified my understanding of that statement to mean closer to her family than to the owner because the dog has approached them.

If that isn't what the op meant then fine, I've made my point and will leave it there.
I have the flu and haven't the energy to keep making the same point over and over.
You met me on one of my wake windows. Time to crash out again

I agree as I used to hate it when people let their dogs run up to my kids

however I have had young kids approach my on lead dogs from behind and try and grab them. That should be strongly discouraged!!

I have also had a kid try and hit my dog with a stick and another kid tried to hit my in a pram baby with a stick.

and then there are the off lead dogs that are allowed to approach people and dogs without recall. Just because you think your dog is cute doesn’t mean I want muddy paw prints on my coat or my dog wants to interact with them

so I would say both kids and dogs need to be kept under control!!

No, the issue is shit parents who don't control their offspring.

I've answered your question underneath. The one you're repeating, but also just explaining why I think there's debate here.

Either way, no big deal. Hope you feel better soon.

Our council has introduced this: https://www.sefton.gov.uk/environment/pests-pollution-and-food-hygiene/dogs/public-spaces-protection-order-dog-control/

Many owners bloody ignore it though.

Our dog is kept on a lead in public places (such as our local woods) to protect him from other off lead dogs who are aggressive. He's been jumped on by no end of those types of dog before, all with stupid, ineffectual, owners who have no control or ability to recall. It was only the fact that I was right there with him to get their dogs off mine that he wasn't injured.

Some owners seem to think that their dogs have a right to be off lead, regardless of the dogs' temperament or their own (lack of) control / recall. That type of owner drives me mad.

Completely agree with you.

A responsible dog owner will put their dog on a lead in any situation where the dog and the child could come into close proximity. This action is required to ensure the dog's safety so applies even when, unfathomably, dog owners don't care about the safety of children.

After reading these comments, maybe it'd be better to rename this site dogsnet.

I’ve had my dog almost 8 years and have had issues with kids approaching the whole time. He isn’t a teddy bear type and luckily he is very gentle but he does get scared when grabbed from behind.

if a kid asks me if they can stroke him then I’m happy to guide them on the best way as I think it’s important kids are confident around animals and understand their body language

our dog is only off lead in suitable places and he has good recall.

I think these days a lot of people have forgotten that their pet is a dog!!

No, I’m a dog owner and I love dogs, but the OP is correct. Dogs should be able to be recalled, you don’t know what other dogs/people/kids are like with dogs.

I have 2 dogs, one is a sheltie and because he is a ball of fluff we constantly have people coming up to us. The other dog and I are not fans of random interaction so we do our best to avoid people. Perfectly happy to stay away from kids, now just need kids to return the favour and leave my on lead, at my heel, dogs and I alone 🤷‍♀️

Another thread where some owners seem to think their dogs matter as much as children. They don't and there is something very odd in believing that. They are pets, nothing more.

Yeah this. ^ And you sure can tell the bad dog owners from the good ones on here too.

Or keep your dog on a leash at all times as per the law

I couldn't agree with this more!!

Disney has alot to answer for in this backwards world where dogs are valued over children!!

It’s not the law in the UK