Dog running over to me, toddler and pram

[OliviaH2]

I was out walking this morning with my toddler and I also had my baby in the pram, when I saw a very large German Shepherd spot us and bolt over to us. I immediately panicked because of the way it was running over, I knew it was coming towards us.
I shouted “get your dog on a lead” and grabbed my toddler.
The owner shouted back “no I’m not he’s friendly” I shouted get your dog, by that point it had just reached us and sort of jumped and pound it’s paw on the ground. I again shouted “get your dog and put it on a lead” and the guy refused, I said “you don’t know who has a fear of dogs and it’s so irresponsible” but he continued to argue back not doing anything but walking in the other direction, the dog then followed him but he just continued shouting “you don’t have a fear of dogs do you”

I was so shaken up after this!
I’ve had dogs growing up and always thought you put them on a lead when near people. Isn’t this just common knowledge? He argued back so confidently that it isn’t his problem, just wondering what people’s thoughts are on this? I wish there was a way of reporting him?

Rudeness? By asking to get his dog away from me and my children? A perfectly reasonable request.

Idiotic post. Dogs on leads around children or don't own a fucking dog.

The owner is entitled to be there, the dog is not. The dog is not a person. It is not a member of society. It is a lifestyle choice of the owner, and that owner has no right to let their lifestyle choice affect other people’s enjoyment of their lives.

My children regularly socialise with relatives dogs.
I totally see where you are coming from, however if a large dog ran at your small children with intent and speed are you telling me you wouldn’t grab your child’s hand? I had no idea what the dog was going to do, the way it ran with such speed from a distance the moment it saw us was frightening.

Would it it be reasonable to assume if the owner shouted that the dog was friendly, that the person (unless they have a fear of dogs) would no longer be apprehensive?

It didn’t have any recall, the owner refused to call it away. It only followed him after he got some distance

I would put myself between the dog and the child to stop them being knocked over. If the owner is yelling he’s friendly, I’ll happily greet the dog.

Of course not! The ‘he’s friendly’ owners are the worst! Lazy, unable or unwilling to control their dogs and have no perception of other people’s feelings.

Are you the dog owner? I like dogs and have one of my own but I would have been terrfied if a large, strange dog was running towards me in this manner, especially if l had a small child with me. German Shepherds are beautiful, intelligent dogs but notoriously unpredictable. The man's behaviour was entitled, irresponsible and dangerous. A dog that size could easily kill a small child and seriously injure an adult. He should have been on a lead. I have a fairly small, over-friendly dog, who is always on a lead on walks. If he attempts to jump up, he's is pulled aw. Many people are afraid of dogs or simply don't like them.

Long line and harness then. Yes it is entitled

Yes, you expect dogs to be there. But not running up to you!

He should have called the dog as son as it was running towards someone.

You could check with your council if the area you were in is covered by a Public Spaces Protection Order. If so, dogs should be on a lead.

Long lines are the worst invention ever. Dogs can escape from them, people trip over them and most owners have no control of them whatsoever.

Get a squeezy water bottle. A quick squirt of water in the face of a dog that gets too close does the trick!

The difference is no one is saying you can’t walk your dog, merely that it should be on a lead particular as you know your own dog doesn’t have reliable recall!

I also just want to make it clear he didn’t say “sorry he’s friendly” his response to me asking him to get his dog away from us was “no he is friendly I’m not getting him on a lead” it was rude, no apology nothing! Could have been more understanding, or a different outcome had he of been a decent and responsible owner

They can shout what they like, my child is blind and in an off roading wheelchair, he has no clue that "S/he's friendly!" a) means there's a dog approaching and b) that it's approaching him. I have encountered dog owners that insist it's OK because the dog is friendly as it shoves its head into my child's space, scaring the shit out of him.

I reckon you could categorise good and bad dog owners by their usage of the phrase, ‘don’t worry he’s friendly’. Only shitty dog owners say this.

Not really? The OP was with a baby and a young child, why on earth would she take the comment of a complete stranger when it risks the safety of her kids?

Yes the point is we can't walk there because all the dog owners who live in our village walk them off lead. We never know which dogs will have good recall and which dogs "are friendly".
I wasn't suggesting the OP "report" their experience. I was sympathising and sharing my similar experiences, as is the way with a lot of Mumsnet threads.

The man was an arsehole. My daughter would be very scared if a large dog came running up to us. I don't understand the people who defend these type of owners. They are the ones who allow people and other dogs to get attacked. There was a horrible video doing the rounds the other week of an offlead GS in a park attacking a much smaller dog. I am sure the owner thinks his dog was just playing and is 'friendly'.

Fwiw I have reported a dog that kept coming to us agressively and the owner just kept calling it back tamely and as I knew where they lived (the dog bolted out when the front door was opened) the dog warden did visit them so it is not true that nothing will be done.

If she's covered in paw prints that indicates the dog is jumping up.
Its not on.

The man is an arsehole. His dog should only be off lead if excellent recall. How are you to know dog is friendly? Also toddlers are unpredictable he may have squealed or grabbed dog which could have caused a reaction.

Understand why you are upset, I would be too. Not sure what you can do about it though.

Aaah.
The 'friendly' dog bounding over to 'play'.
Of course. Happens when I'm out riding my horse.
Oddly enough when my horse shows he doesn't like this by kicking the dog in the head... the owner is outraged.