AIBU to think muzzling all dogs in public needs to be mandatory?

[Peskylawnseed]

Five. I encountered five unmuzzled and unfriendly dogs on my morning walk today. Three on a flexi line. Two off lead. Not one under control.

It’s not hard to muzzle train a dog. Any adult who wants a dog should be able to do it. If you can’t, don’t get a dog! I am so sick of my dog being attacked, lunged at, snarled at, snapped at or growled at by other people’s uncontrolled dogs. And all whilst the owner stands there and either ineffectually says
’no, don’t do that, bad Rosie’ or just smiles indulgently and rubs their dogs back!! Owners who do that clearly have no idea they are reinforcing their dogs behaviour and I am so sick of my walks being ruined by these people.

Highlight of today was a woman with a bull terrier, which she knows isn’t friendly as I’ve seen it’s dozens of times now, lunging and snarling at mine whilst she just stroked its back and cuddled it. Words fail me. It’s not even about my dogs safety, it’s about her own dogs safety.

And it’s always the same dog breeds. Always.

I know any dog can be aggressive, but at least if you encounter a non friendly poodle chances are it’s on the lead or muzzled!!! I know it’s partly the owner because certain types of people are attracted to these sorts of dogs and 9.9/10 times they’re not equipped to deal with them. Or think beating the dog is how you train it. Or even think it’s funny.
But I am really coming to think all dogs should be muzzled in public because the few are endangering the many. It’s the easiest solution and the most easily enforceable.

It’s some dogs, not all dogs, so YABVU.

Obviously all dogs don’t need to be muzzled, YABU.

YABU

So your dog as well?

The only dogs that should be muzzled are dogs that need to be muzzled.

It's the wrong solution. I'd like to see a genuinely costly and genuinely enforced dog licence system. It could be used to ensure an effective dog warden presence in communities. It could even be linked to a need to provide evidence of attending basic dog training classes.

Yes all dogs…

I

No

There is a man who walks his dogs near my friend’s school. I used to laugh but then realised he was actually right. He walks his chihuahua and grey hound both on muzzles never seen them outside without them.

Both seem friendly as I’ve seen people stroking them he would just rather they be no risk to anyone. Lovely chap to chat to as well.

Also, since when did a muzzle prevent 'lunging and snarling'???

I am a dog sitter and have walked dogs of many different breeds in multiple locations for many years and i have never once had another dog…on or off lead attack, lunge or snarl at any of the dogs…you must have been very unlucky for it to happen 5 times in one day.

So your dog is currently muzzled at all times. What a sad life.

I’m so fed up of dogs jumping up and the owner telling me “he’s just playing”. Irrespective of his motive, I find it frightening because dogs do bite and I have been bitten. I would feel much safer if dogs were routinely muzzled. Either that or strict standards for dog training were enforced but I don’t think that is doable.

I walk my dog daily and do not encounter this behaviour.

Not all dogs need a muzzle. Our dog can never go off lead due to prey drive and needs to be fully controlled for the sake of all cats out there. A long lead is dangerous for his breed and extendable are a complete no no with the breed.

Retractable leads are used on inappropriate dogs too often and dogs need training. We spent years working on our guy as a play thing for him as much as anything else.

He is extremely chill and does not need a muzzle out on walks although he was muzzle trained before we got him as is pretty typical for his breed.

The problem is that the shitty owners don't know, or don't care, that they are shitty owners. The good owners with their well controlled animals would have to muzzle an animal which is not a threat. The shitty owners with their "oh he's just being friendly" animals or their downright dangerous animals will not comply.

The dog would still jump up at you. Unless I stop to chat/say hello to someone I never have dogs jump up at me as I’m randomly walking past. It can’t he that common

The same people who raise badly behaved dogs off lead ect would be the same people who wouldn't muzzle their dogs, so what would really happen is the well behaved dogs wouldn't be able to defend themselves when attacked by these type of dogs

Start carrying a large stick with you?

If it was the law I'd muzzle my dog, but it's not fair that my well behaved dog who has never attacked a human or animal, listens well ect should have to be muzzled because other people can't control their dogs.

Muzzle bad owners instead until they learn how to properly care fir and train their animals.

Yeah I walk at a local dog park where dogs are routinely offf lead and have rarely experienced the behaviour described once on a walk not to mind 5 times over many years of dog walks.

The OPs walk sounds like a walk through a rabies colony not a dog walk.

She didn’t say dogs should be muzzled “at all times” though. She said when they’re in public places.

And what she’s suggesting is not a sad life.

I go for walks on a daily basis, and never encounter the behaviour you see. I know there’s a few smaller local dogs that bark but training is needed, not muzzles, and I’ve seen one owner who’s turned his reactive terrier into a calm dog.

I can’t muzzle my bracephelic dogs (or they’ll die) so it’s a no from me.

You should probably consider moving areas if this is a daily occurrence for you.

And, FWIW, my sweet (on lead) dog was bitten by an off lead Labrador last week, not a bull terrier or any other type of dog.

5 times you say FIVE!

No.