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.

YABU. The owners are at fault in ALL cases. Animals are animals and can behave unpredictably, they shouldn’t be punished for this.
we need to bring back dog licences and make training with owners present mandatory. People do not need to own dogs and if they can’t behave properly and train their pet then they shouldn’t have one. Sorry if this upsets any bad owners here.

What an idiotic post.

where do I start? If your dog has been lunged at, snarled at etc FIVE times on one walk then it’s likely your perfect pooch is doing something to piss other dogs off.

Many dogs are dog reactive for numerous reasons and provided they are on a lead and the owner has control then they don’t need to be muzzled. My girl is dog reactive and we’ve done years of training to help her. It is all down to fear so comforting her CAN be the best reaction in certain circumstances. She still snarls and lunges at dogs she doesn’t like, but I keep her well away from other dogs so there is no physical contact. Sometimes twatty owners of ‘friendly’ dogs allow said friendly dog to charge up to us and get in my dog’s face. I’m certainly not muzzling her just because stupid owners can’t be bothered to recall their dogs.

I’m glad to see the results of your poll are overwhelmingly YABU.

If you don't understand why this is a problem, and shows a mindless, overzealous need to control animals in an extreme way, then you are the problem. Muzzles are no substitute for responsible ownership, behavioural classes and good training. End of.

Lazy dog owners do my head in

All dogs should be on leads in public areas and walked by an adult . Thant should be enough

You lost me at "And it’s always the same dog breeds. Always."

Although I'd cheerily ban extendable leads.

YABU
Muzzling stops bites and eating random things found on walks.
They don't stop dogs lunging, snarling or approaching other dogs. They don't stop bad behaviour, and it sounds like it is the human end of the lead that is the problem here anyway.
Is your dog muzzled?

Absolutely agree - reckon OP has probably annoyed every dog in the park,
It's giving oblivious.

I knew an Alsatian owner like this who was adamant that her raging behemoth was not the problem. Though of course, it was all down to her lack of responsibility and training.

@YoQuieroVino in high traffic places, yes. That includes cafes, restaurants, public transport, vets etc. As I said above, it's for his safety. It's common practice in Central Europe and indeed most of Europe, not sure why it's such a contentious issue for people to do the same in the UK.

@BackToLurk it is always the same breeds. Rotweilers. Dobermans. GSDs. Bull Terrier. Always. It might not be popular to say it, but it's true. I never meet an out of control Lab or an out of control Poodle.

Because those dog breeds are stubborn and difficult to train and shouldn’t be owned by the average person. Again this is a fault with the owner not the dog, they need constant mental stimulation, long walks and good training. Muzzling them will not help this. If you were a good owner you would also understand this.

@aliceyyyy2654 I think it's quite rude to imply I am not a good owner simply because I would rather dangerous dogs in the hands of the ill-equipped were muzzled so they can't hurt others.

🤷 if the shoe fits. Is your dog muzzled when outside all the time?

I suspect the OP is massively over egging what has happened to her and I also suspect she doesnt have a dog!

Five times in one day?? I just dont believe it. I live in an area which you would probably be run out of town from if you didnt have one. Dogs are allowed in cafes etc. Its very rare that I see a badly behaved dog whilst walking around.

YOU ARE BEING VERY VERY UNREASONABLE

Do you live in a particularly rough area? I won’t say I never encounter an aggressive dog but it’s more like once a year.

Depends what you mean by out of control labs. I am experienced with this breed. They are nutters and although rarely aggresive they are teenagers for a long time. Remember Marley and Me? Not all labs but they are clowns, often clumsy and always always in the way!!

I didn’t say it was contentious, I just asked a question. I live in Spain by the way, and very rarely see a muzzled dog. Same in the 10 years that I lived in France.
Is your dog muzzled when these other dogs are coming up to him and acting aggressively?

And often people with these family breeds are so inept that they don’t stop their lovely dogs from harassing other dogs and people. I have met a lot of labradors and poodles whose owners let them get in the faces of other dogs who are clearly uncomfortable. Then these owners are the ones who would be angry if the other dog growled! It’s ridiculous

Bringing back licences won’t make any difference. You’ll still get the arrogant owners who think there dog is perfect as it lunges at you. Just bring in a law that all dogs to be on leads in any public space.

My dog is very friendly and really does not need a muzzle. He was attacked by a larger dog (looked like XL bully). But despite that I wouldn’t want all dogs to be muzzled. I think we need a dog license system where if your dog attacks another dog it can all be easily logged. But muzzles for all dogs is not the answer.

I frequently see 'out of control' Labs. Generally not aggressive, but certainly not under control. My experience is that most of the owners with bigger, powerful dogs tend to spend a lot of time making sure they are under control precisely because of ignorant people who think small dogs, or particular types of dogs aren't a problem, whereas other dogs are. I think that also goes a long way to explain the seemingly disproportionate amount of 'grumpy' chihuahuas and dachshunds.

And my not aggressive staffy cross was attacked by a completely out of control cockerpoo. So there's also that.

You don't have the faintest idea about dogs do you?

Of you're encountering that many "dangerous" dogs, you should buy a lottery ticket, because you do seem to be a stastical anomaly.

Indeed. The only dog that has attacked my (always on the lead) dog was an off-lead Labrador.

I'd muzzle mine if the law demanded it but I know very well that the people who SHOULD already be controlling their aggressive dogs will not muzzle them.

What an absolutely ludicrous suggestion. But I tell you what I would like muzzled.. car music systems. I’m sick of stupidly loud cars driving around playing their music so loudly that you can hear them thuddingly while you are indoors and they are down the street. My only consolation is that they will be using hearing aids by the age of 55.

Dogs smiling as they walk along the road, otoh, are one of the joys of life.

Just back from my walk with my very tired very happy dog.

We didn't get lunged at
We didn't get snarled at
In fact no one bothered us at all. He just chased the ball and sniffed to his heart's content.
Pretty much the same as yesterday and the day before really.

Well it's fairly clear that reported injuries as a result of dog attacks are increasing

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-68503779

Those present a significant cost to society, so something needs to be done about it.

I am not sure about it being common practice in most of Europe. I have lived in Belgium, France, Denmark and Sweden and very rarely come across a muzzled dog. The only muzzled dog I have seen recently was a GR and that dog was muzzled because he kept eating things whilst out, like sticks and stones, so he was muzzled to avoid further surgeries.