to think that an "oh dear, sorry about that" is a piss poor apology from a dog owner......

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

Whose sea-drenched dog bounded up to me and jumped up at me on the beach, and then bounded over to 3 yr old DS and jumped all over him and knocked him over?

Both of us were filthy (was a late afternoon stroll - no swimsuits etc) and although the owner asked if DS was okay (he wasnt hurt), when I replied that he wasnt hurt but he was now filthy dirty - he just said "oh, okay" and wandered off....

Re-reading your earlier post, was it not reported that the terrier was killed? If the police have the incident on record, surely that's grounds to do something under the dangerous dogs act or whatever it's called now?

Wigparty, the person whose dog was killed was an elderly man who had just lost his wife. The jack russell was his wife's dog. The terrier just went up to the rottweiler to be friendly and the rottie just turned on it and killed it on the spot. The old guy was so distraught that he couldn't cope with the idea of dealing with the police etc on top of everything else. Also, the dog warden reckons that people don't want to report the rottie owner (there have been numerous other incidents, but no other fatalities yet - and the dog doesn't just go for terriers, he's none too fond of humans either) because the owner is disabled. I am aware that a properly managed and trained rottie is a lovely dog. And I also know of a Westie round here that has a control order on it because it's so vicious! But it's a fact that an out of control rottweiler or large staffie is going to do way more damage than a barking mad westie. No pigeonholing intended!

I'm not sure I'd call all of 100x's posts a "triumph" tbh. Although she does make some valid points.

I think what it boils down to is respect, and courteousness. And that goes both ways.

I am constantly at DS to not go running up to all dogs to stroke them because they might not want to be stroked. And yes - I have been known to keep him on a lead . He loves dogs. The IL's have a big old soppy dog and he assumes all dogs are the same. They certainly arent. I tell DS when he has weed in the middle of the path. (Yes, he really has). I expect the same of dogs (and their owners). There are no double standards.

If my DS cannot behave himself, he is restrained - even if he means no harm. If a dog is the same - I expect it to be restrained too.

If I was out walking or playing in the park, I'd not go near someone having a picnic. I'd certainly not wander over to them, trample across their picnic blanket and grab a sandwich on my way through - and neither would a dog owner. WHy let your dog behave that way?

If you know your dog has been wading in the sea, and is filthy andd covered in sand, you'd not allow it to jump up at you would you? Why would it be okay to allow it to do that to a stranger?

I dont own a dog. I wouldnt know what kind of calls/messages/signals an owner would use to tell their dog to not jump up. I'm guessing "Down boy" would be a good start, but, considering that DH's dog that he owned when we first got together would come back on a three-note altering pitch whistle sound, I've no idea what other owners use. I'd expect an owner to deal with it themselves tbh. I'd not expect another person to discipline/instruct my children when I was out - they are my responsibility. If they did do something discourteous or disrespectful I'd apologise - and make my child apologise too. It's polite.

I love dogs. We were considering getting one but can only really get Airedales and such like due to the fur and DD's allergies. ANd airedales are remarkably hard to come by round this way! We all love dogs in our family.