Strangers who think we all love their dog

[MaisieMouse87]

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.

YANBU.

I like dogs, I really do. I like patting and saying a few words to friendly dogs when I am out and about, I really do.

But too many dog owners have no control over their dog and no idea how to regain control. Even worse, some seem to feel they do not need to even try to control their dog. My son’s lunch was eaten off a picnic table by a dog of lead, who put is front paws up on our table and ate it. Another time a friend’s child’s lunch was eaten out of his lap by a dog. The dog ran around trying to eat other people’s lunches whilst the owner completely failed to get it under control. I heard another dog owner blame picnickers for the fact her dog ate their food, saying they shouldn’t eat on the ground in the first place.

If your dog isn’t trained not to grab food, keep it in lead. If your dog has poor or no recall, keep it on lead. If your dog jumps up at people, keep it on lead -some people are scared of dogs. If your dog chases children, keep it on lead - it’s terrifying for children to be chased. . If your dog barks and growls at people, keep it on lead.

I see more kids chasing ducks and pigeons to be fair. I tell the kids off if the parents won’t.

Read the OP properly. It's not a dog hating thread, it's an annoying dog owner thread.

The problem is, it only takes 5% of dogs to be unruly for people to feel like all dogs are a menace, because you have to be wary of all of them as they approach. So it feels like its a bigger problem because that minority impact the majority perception.

We've had countless picnics ruined by dogs running over and taking the food or trampling over it. A dog ate my dog's lunch once, and when my dog was barking at it, the owner was tutting about dogs not being trained to share and be nice to other dogs!

This is what bothers me. I have 2 dogs and I've spent a huge amount of effort training them. I either pick up their shit or bury it (I live rurally), they're not allowed to chase wildlife or bother other people, and they're generally quiet and well-mannered.

But there are two or three playing fields in easy range of me where I can't take them, because other dog owners don't pick up shit and let their dogs run amock. I can understand why dogs get banned from public places, but it is massively frustrating for responsible dog-owners.

@TheOtherSide21 so those reports of loving pets who suddenly bite a child?

as I said my postman needed skin grafts as a supposedly well trained dog mauled him. I was also bitten whilst at work by patients so called friendly dog

no matter what training you say your dog has, it’s still a dog. Dogs bite. Keep your dog away from people unless it’s on a lead and you’re in control

@TheOtherSide21 and children are people and learn to grow and understand so you can’t compare a child to a dog!

You would have been well within your rights to say please go to the local shop and get a.m new water bottle for my children

... because children will grow into adults and are essential for the future of our society. Dogs are an accessory. Stop comparing.

Always this. I do wonder about people who think that dogs should have this level of preferential treatment. They have become quasi humans with status and privilege.

True, and also because there are so many of them now. It's a bit of a numbers game. Even about 7 years ago you never saw them in John Lewis or Caffe Nero. People didn't take them into every human space.

I find a lot of people really expect you to indulge their dogs behaviour and I just can't 😅

To be fair, not wanting a random dog close enough to lick your water bottle isn't dog hating. I don't mind some dogs, I'm not keen on the owners who think everyone has to love their dog though.

Thing is @bugalugs45 you let him lick you but I wouldn’t want him to lick me. I wouldn’t want him to if I lived in your household and I certainly wouldn’t want him to when I was just sat enjoying a cuppa, cake and book in a cafe

This is the point, why should people indulge others' dogs?

All these issues would be solved if the dog-obsessed would get it through their skulls that everyone else is at best indifferent to their animal.

As a dog owner, it is your job and responsibility to keep it to yourself and well away from other people. Not everyone loves your dog. Many people actively dislike your animal. Deal with it.

The reason there are so many is because there are so many dogs and so many shit owners.

I am sick to death of dog owners that haven’t trained their dog I come across it weekly . Last week I’m on my drive with my dog on a lead about to go for a walk ,a tiny woman walks past with a mountain Bernese dog it was massive , it was pulling to get to my dog she had both hands pulling on the lead to try and control it , she then asked me to move back ! Meanwhile my dog is just waiting patiently completely ignoring her dog. On a walk recently my friend put her bag down to get out a drink a retriever runs up snatches her family bag of crisps out of her bag and pops them all over the floor. And the best one I’m throwing the ball on the park and another dog owner picked the ball up hands it back to me and says ‘ you need to stop doing that my dog will have it’ unbelievable . All dogs that haven’t been trained and socialised.

Yes. I didn't used to hate dogs but I do now. Or perhaps I hate dog owners rather than dogs? Anyway, "dog hater" will do. I'm one.

And, dog owners, take note. Since my grandson was attacked by a large dog, he's scared of dogs. If one of you lets your dog get near him and I'm nearby, I'll do my best to hurt or kill the animal, just as I'll try to squash a wasp that seems likely to possibly sting him.

It's not the dog's fault, any more than the wasp's. And in other circumstances, wasps and dogs can be let alone -- if there's a wasp trapped by my kitchen window, I'll try to let it out rather than squash it, for instance. But, dog owners, be warned: if you care for your dog, keep it away from dog-haters like me.

(I don't care about current social norms or regulations about this, btw. Fair warning?)

Because I didn't want to get into a slanging match. They had already heard me firmly say " no" and telling my child the water had to go in the bin. They walked off laughing under their breaths, so anything I had said to them would have been pointless and resulted in an argument with strangers.

Also, you're never going to get an intelligent response from people like that.

Ugh. Just ugh. The posturing and preening of this comment.