I’m so tired of people with dangerous dogs ruining the park for everyone else.

[Purplehat123]

I’m so tired of people with dangerous dogs ruining the park for everyone else.

Every time I take my children and our small cavapoo to the park, there’s always someone with an intimidating dog off the lead. Yesterday it was a man with a huge German Shepherd (and I mean huge), a bully breed on a lead, and an Akita off the lead just wandering around.

This is a busy, very suburban park, full of families and young children. And there I am, trying to scoop up my two toddlers, push the pram with the baby, grab the dog, and move away as fast as possible because I am not taking the risk of one of those dogs attacking. And let’s be honest, if something did happen, I’d have to sacrifice my dog to protect my children.

Even the two dogs that were technically on a lead, if they decided to go for another dog or child, there’s no way he could have held them back. They were enormous, powerful breeds.

And don’t get me started on the Akita. It was off-lead, trotting around freely as if that’s totally normal. Akitas were originally bred to guard property and hunt large game, including bears. They are strong, territorial, and known for being aggressive toward other dogs. They can be incredibly unpredictable and are not the type of breed you let wander freely in a public park full of children and pets.

Today it was a woman with a giant Rottweiler off-lead, paying absolutely no attention while she scrolled on her phone. Again, no control, no awareness. Rottweilers were originally bred to drive cattle and guard livestock, and they are incredibly strong, protective dogs. They have a natural guarding instinct, which can easily turn dangerous when not properly controlled. It’s no coincidence that they feature in so many fatal dog attacks, especially involving children. The number of child deaths caused by Rottweilers is horrifying and well-documented. It doesn’t matter how sweet you think your dog is at home but when a dog like that turns, it’s too late to stop it.

Far too many times my own dog, who is a total wimp and literally gets bullied by a chihuahua, has been attacked by dogs whose owners claim, “Oh, they never normally do that.” It’s always after the fact, once the damage is done.

And honestly, it’s the complete lack of awareness that really gets me. You might think your dog is friendly, but when you’re letting it freely wander up to children and other dogs, especially massive, powerful breeds, it’s terrifying. It might not scare you, but to everyone else, it’s incredibly intimidating.

I love dogs. I grew up with them. But this constant anxiety when I take my children out is exhausting. I shouldn’t have to be on high alert every time we go to the park because someone refuses to take basic responsibility for an animal that could cause serious harm.

Absolutely. They don't even need treatment as such. I have often offered a few tips to people who are clearly anxious. Sometimes they are receptive, other times less so.

I have come across a surprising number of dog owners who are nervous of dogs. It is more common than one might think.

"Oh Grandmother, what big eyes you have..."

Recently whilst walking in my local park Ive experienced a daschund going for my small poodles neck, I quickly lifted her and kicked the dog away. My adult son was bitten on the leg by a border collie whilst jogging through the same park. Every day a junkie walks down my street with an unmuzzled xl bully on a cheap extending lead. I dont know where hes from or his name, so cant report him. I dont think by the look of him he'd be able to control the dog if it got provoked. He also lets the dog do massive 💩💩s on the footpath. Im anxious to walk my 2 dogs incase one day we come face to face and my other dog who is a bit territorial, but on a short lead maybe barks. I totally understand why people have anxiety about dogs, especially big powerful dogs.

@CoubousAndTourmalet😍

Absolutely stunning!

American Pit Bull Terriers have been on the list of banned breeds, Dangerous Dogs Act since 1992. Given it was made illegal to import or breed from them did you report this to the police?

Labradors are higher than Dobermans on the fatalities list - what?! Not in the UK - there has not been a single fatality caused by a Labrador since records began. And this despite the fact that year after they are the UK's favourite breed with tens of thousands of pups being bred annually. There have also been a very small number of fatalities in the UK caused by Dobermans since records began, three I recall from memory. Are your stats from the USA, dogbites.com?

I dont have an 'expected' aggressive breed but he is larger than most dogs (50kg). He is ALWAYS on a lead in public except at dog parks.
We went to training has amazing recall....in training sessions. Out in the big world he is so excited to go and see that person over there , or generally anyone but me, that he switches off his training and bounds over. If you get hit by a runaway 50kg train you are gonna know about it. At best a solid bump, at worse, knocked over possible broken bones.

They never admit to a phobia though if you suggest they get treatment they call you outrageous and say that you're the one with the problem, not them

A phobia is an irrational fear. Being scared of out of control dogs whose owners think it's fine for them to be everywhere and get in your face, is not irrational.

Also, what's the magic solution to this "phobia". It's like when people say "have you got treatment for your anxiety". What is this magical treatment which means bad things can't happen and so you don't need to worry about them anymore?

If you have a dog, your job is to stop it annoying other people. Your pet, your problem. Sadly it's not the case and other people have to constantly change THEIR habits because you won't adapt yours to the fact that you have decided to get a new fashion accessory.

Absolutely not - that is completely ridiculous.

It depends where you live - a lot of owners are great - and where I live it's not too bad. Where my mum lives is awful.

The world does not and should not pander to someone's phobia.
If you have a phobia of something, then it is up to you to manage it. Be that with some sort of exposure therapy or whatever.

@Mama2many73
Same here. Our girl is around 50kg. She's not in any way aggressive nor dog reactive or barky. But she is innately curious, due to being a livestock protection breed. This is the reason we don't allow her off the lead in public. It is genuinely for her own safety. She has no concept of her size.
We are always mindful of the fact that her size is intimidating to some people.

@dynamiccactus
I think you took my phobia comments completely out of context.
As an anxiety sufferer I am always respectful of the sensitivities of others.
However, my dog is my therapy, without her I don't leave the house. I therefore don't believe I should live in fear of others taking objection to my pet, who is, anyway, never off the lead in public.
Given that I've had the same breed since childhood, 48 years, and this is my 8th dog, I do not consider it in any way a "fashion accessory". That would surely be the OP's designer cross.

All pet dogs are fashion accessories. Animals used as playthings for human amusement. Dragged around on the end of a piece of string.

A fashion accessory is a secondary item used to contribute to someone's outfit.
My fashion accessory dog is asleep in a different room to me right now. Not a plaything, and not on a piece of string, whatever it is you mean by that.
She is my best friend and companion. She is family.

If this is genuinely how you feel, then you are very much to be pitied.

No, don’t want to get nit-picky thanks.

Just responding to posters saying ‘BUT 2 DOGS WERE ON LEADS!’, as if there’s no evidence in the OP of any off-lead issue. There was.

OP was moaning that "intimidating dogs" were off lead. She said in her OP they were "just roaming about".
They were not approaching anyone or attacking anyone. Her own anxiety is at play here, not other other people's dogs.

The OP also didn't answer the question as to whether her dog was off the lead or explain what its own behaviour is like. A lot of these new designer crosses are dog reactive.

I see the poster I was responding to there hasn’t bothered replying, nor has the one who suggested OP should use a private park whatever that is.

The shitty-owner apologists really are talking some rubbish on this thread. We’ve now been told that you can’t complain or expect sympathy unless the dog, never mind that it’s an off lead Akita or Rottweiler with the owner paying no attention, actually comes up to you and snarls. Otherwise what’s the problem? Presumably if it does snarl I can just go to a private park. Then get treatment for my phobia of Rottweilers wandering around not under the control of their owners.

The OP’s done herself no favours by disappearing, but the thread has been taken over by idiots now.

If a dog is wandering about and minding its own business, then it is not a menace or intimidating.
Someone worried about an off lead dog that is doing nothing wrong, has the problem.

I have seen no evidence of shitty-owner apologists on this thread. Just responsible dog owners, who want to be able to walk their dogs in peace, without harassment.

Although I would agree that the thread has been taken over by idiots 😏

I agree OP, only read a few of the comments, but it’s clear a lot of people still buy into the lie that breed doesn’t affect behaviour and they will be good dogs if they’re ‘brought up properly’ 🙄

This ridiculous ‘don’t judge my fur baby because of how they look’ is part of the problem.

@crumpetswithcheeze

Of course the breed affects behaviour, so does the upbringing. It's the same with people. The early environment makes a massive difference, but there are also genetic and behavioural factors at play.

You say you've "only read a few comments", so I would suggest that you read the full thread, because the OP did not return. It is hardly fair to jump in and give your two pennorth of "I agree" without objectively looking at the facts in front of you. It is unjust to complain about dogs that are being walked on leads, or dogs that are not exhibiting antisocial behaviour, purely on the basis that you don't like the look of them. It would not, after all, be deemed acceptable to judge humans in this way, based on their race or social status when they are just quietly going about their business and posing no threat to you.

Not all dog owners buy into the "fur baby" thing, but even if they do that is not the issue at play here. You can bet that the OP treats her tiny crossbreed as a baby a hell of a lot more than I do with my giant pastoral dog. I really don't see that comment as being relevant to this thread, other than just emphasising the fact that you have very little understanding of dogs.

I was asleep you wally 🤦‍♀️

Like, are you ok???