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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Strangers who think we all love their dog

381 replies

MaisieMouse87 · 17/05/2025 14:29

I'm a bit pissed off and need a rant. Sitting on the park with my kids, we had a large bottle of water nearly full, next to us on the grass. The top was off as one of the kids had just had some. The park is a large field and we were not near anyone else. We were minding our business.
These two women walked past with a dog on a lead. I didn't expect them to get as close as they did. They came literally right up to us. The dog (on the lead) came between me and the kids and licked the rim of the water bottle. One of the women did a tinkly laugh and I said " oh no" in an annoyed tone and told one of my kids that the water would have to go in the bin now. They just walked off grinning and I heard them say something like " imagine being like that over a dog."
I did not say anything but got up and threw it in the bin. If they'd said sorry it would have been alright or if the dog was off the lead I would have been annoyed still. But the way they actively led it over to us and allowed it to do that, then laughed about it. Aibu for being annoyed? It's not even really about the water. It's about having personal space invaded needlessly when I'm minding my own business by people who are nosy and need to see what I'm doing. And partly people with dogs who think it's acceptable because the dog likes people making a fuss of it. By the way I actually like dogs and have 2 but I have never allowed them to do this and actively keep them away from people in public.

OP posts:
KarminaBurana · 19/05/2025 17:28

Verv · 19/05/2025 17:27

It is troubling to me that you cannot equate adults taking due care and responsibility over their childrens behaviour because they are not "pets".

I believe that an adult should be able to control whatever animal it is they have responsibility for, canine or primate. Troubles me that you dont.

It troubles me that you equate a human child with a dog.

Verv · 19/05/2025 17:31

KarminaBurana · 19/05/2025 17:28

It troubles me that you equate a human child with a dog.

I don't.

So why do you believe that people should control their dogs but not their children?

KarminaBurana · 19/05/2025 17:32

Verv · 19/05/2025 17:31

I don't.

So why do you believe that people should control their dogs but not their children?

I never said that.

Verv · 19/05/2025 17:33

So?
I never said I equated children to dogs, but it hasn't stopped you.

KarminaBurana · 19/05/2025 17:36

Verv · 19/05/2025 17:33

So?
I never said I equated children to dogs, but it hasn't stopped you.

I never said people shouldn't control their children but it hasn't stopped you claiming this.

Dolphin78 · 19/05/2025 17:48

My response to “he’s just being friendly” while the huge dog jumped up knocking over my son and leaving scratch marks down his front. “I’ve got enough fffing friends and put your dog on a lead if you can’t control it!” Meanwhile my Springer who did as she was told looked on with one raised eyebrow.
or the man who put his dog on the bench next to me in a restaurant when I said I don’t want to sit next to your dog he left in a huff! Winner
People are twat badgers…

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 18:50

Verv · 19/05/2025 16:18

You also sometimes need to take pets to public spaces, and if you cant control either your pets or your children, you are the problem.

Why do you need to take pets to public spaces?

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 18:58

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 18:50

Why do you need to take pets to public spaces?

How else do you exercise a dog?

rb124 · 19/05/2025 19:09

JohnofWessex · 17/05/2025 17:33

I suspect that there will be growing calls for public open space to be dog free and the dog owners will have nobody but themselves to blame

First off, I will declare an interest as I am a dog owner.
Councils in England & Wales can set up a PSPO to compel the use of leads and proper poo disposal already. As with most things in life, there has to be give and take on both sides.

Taxtina · 19/05/2025 19:24

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 18:58

How else do you exercise a dog?

Get a garden before you get a dog! It’s not tricky! What gives you the right to exercise your dog in public places? We need to restrict where dogs can go in the same way that we restrict mountain bikers to bridleways and walkers to footpaths. Public places where dogs are acceptable, but the majority dog free.

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/05/2025 19:28

🙄

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/05/2025 19:33

I've got a garden, but they still need to run about. I do take ours where there is hardly anyone around, other than other dog owners. Wouldn't take them shopping or places to eat.

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 19:35

Taxtina · 19/05/2025 19:24

Get a garden before you get a dog! It’s not tricky! What gives you the right to exercise your dog in public places? We need to restrict where dogs can go in the same way that we restrict mountain bikers to bridleways and walkers to footpaths. Public places where dogs are acceptable, but the majority dog free.

We’ve got a garden. We’ve also got two small dogs that need to run at least a couple of miles a day. What gives me the right to exercise them on common land is the law.

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/05/2025 19:41

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/05/2025 19:33

I've got a garden, but they still need to run about. I do take ours where there is hardly anyone around, other than other dog owners. Wouldn't take them shopping or places to eat.

They also need the stimulation that comes with going out and about... checking their peemails etc.

My dog is very old, but she still loves the walk to the local park. Sniffy walks are very important and you don't get that in your own garden.

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/05/2025 19:44

Taxtina · 19/05/2025 19:24

Get a garden before you get a dog! It’s not tricky! What gives you the right to exercise your dog in public places? We need to restrict where dogs can go in the same way that we restrict mountain bikers to bridleways and walkers to footpaths. Public places where dogs are acceptable, but the majority dog free.

Oh go away. Dogs are allowed out in public so get over i.

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:49

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 18:58

How else do you exercise a dog?

In your own garden or somewhere meant for dogs

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:50

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 19:35

We’ve got a garden. We’ve also got two small dogs that need to run at least a couple of miles a day. What gives me the right to exercise them on common land is the law.

Then keep them on a lead and run with them?

if you’ve got nowhere to take a dog then don’t get a dog

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/05/2025 19:50

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:49

In your own garden or somewhere meant for dogs

According to who?
Your own made up rules?

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/05/2025 19:52

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:52

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/05/2025 19:44

Oh go away. Dogs are allowed out in public so get over i.

They can be out but kept on a lead and under control - not running around when they’re able to bother other people

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 19:53

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:50

Then keep them on a lead and run with them?

if you’ve got nowhere to take a dog then don’t get a dog

I don’t need to. We live five minutes walk from the biggest water meadow in England. The only people we ever see on our walks/gallops all have dogs with them.

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

You’re polite aren’t you?

YeOldeGreyhound · 19/05/2025 19:54

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:52

They can be out but kept on a lead and under control - not running around when they’re able to bother other people

Dogs can be under control and also not on a lead.
You have a problem with dogs bothering you, which is fine. But dogs just out off lead and leaving you alone are not doing you harm.

Blushingm · 19/05/2025 19:55

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 19:53

I don’t need to. We live five minutes walk from the biggest water meadow in England. The only people we ever see on our walks/gallops all have dogs with them.

Regardless, they should still be on a lead as should the other dogs you’re meeting - any dog can turn

vodkaredbullgirl · 19/05/2025 19:55

BIossomtoes · 19/05/2025 19:53

I don’t need to. We live five minutes walk from the biggest water meadow in England. The only people we ever see on our walks/gallops all have dogs with them.

We got a massive playing field, kids one end of it, dogs the other. Never seen anyone's dog run up to them.

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