Not to want to be yelled at by ignorant pig when i am out with my DD and DP and Ddog!

[LucyEllensmummy]

We have just had a lovely walk along our beach - just the right weather, DD and DP on scooter and me there behind them (quite a long way).

Dog off the lead (small jr type) not bothering anyone with children (he used to do this and was kept on lead but doesn't bother now). Lots of other dogs off lead - loads, hundreds possibly, all happily meeting greeting and generally having fun. Its lovely to watch - my dog is a friendly little character.

So, my dog approaches some dogs on the lead - one of the dogs starts snarling (NOT mine!!) as is quite common with dogs on leads - my dog is a bit dim and thinks it a game so is bouncing around. The owner then starts bellowing at me to put my dog on the lead (by this time my dog had walked off anyway) that i was breaking the law by having him off lead on the beach. Which i know is not true as dogs are banned from that beach between may and september only. Its perfectly legal any other time. My dog wasn't bothering anyone else. Comes when called etc. So the guy gives it all "well we'll see about that" Gets his phone and calls who? The council, the police??? I just go and sit on the wall and say, call who you want, we'll wait!! WANKER!!!!!!! Its not my fault his dog is aggresive to other dogs and his wife goes into a panic. I think he might have an interesting walk today - thousands of dogs on the beach off the lead, with people with and without dogs/children enjoying watching them play.

I would have had my dog on the lead if he were a)bigger (i used to have rotties and only ever walked them off lead in the depths of winter as they are a bit intimidating. b) aggresive c)likely to approach children (i don't like this myself) or liable to be a pain and not come away from other dogs - he is none of these.

What a thoroughly unpleasant man!

Waits to be flammed, just ranting really - i know I ANBU

Bronze .

As a non-dog owner, and one who is a/allergic and b/scared of dogs, why should my walks be ruined by leaping dogs running at me and sniffing me while the owners look on fondly, metres and metres behind, half-heartedly yelling at their precious pups but not REALLY exerting much control?

Potm - that's fine. Even as a dog owner I don't want someone else's dog jumping up all over me. However, when my dog is pottering along minding her own business, not being particularly interested in people, I don't want to get criticised. If someone is approaching who has children who are obviously concerned, my dog is called back to heel and put on the opposite side of me to the children...

Agree wholeheartedly with Princeonthemove, although I guess this thread is not about that.

Some dog owners really really just don't get that children are scared of dogs and see it as some kind of fault in the child or their parent. My dd was chased by a Rottie last year on my own street (she is 10) it has scared her beyond belief, so even the tinest thing coming up to her is going to send her jumping into my arms.

If anyone hit my dog - i would hit them back, i don't care who it is - that is the same as hitting my child!

I would never walk my rottie in crowded areas off lead.

Didn't take long for the dog haters to come out - please read the OP!! where i said my dog never runs up to other people or children, unless they call him of course then he is all too pleased to say hello.

It seemed to me like everyone was having fun at the beech today, no one seemed bothered by the dogs, rather enjoying their antics - I think its so incredably sad that people don't like dogs. I have noticed that they are the sort of people that i actually don't tend to warm to, without even knowing they don't like dogs. Thats with one exception, my friend who is terrified of dogs. but you know, she never makes a fuss of it. Just doesn't acknowledge dogs etc if she goes out - they tend not to bother with you if you show no interest. It would be a sad day for me if i were to go for a walk along the beach, without having at least one dog to stroke.

Fimbo - that is awful, did you know who the owner is, he can be prosecuted for not having his dog under control. I hate people like that.

Kerry - that is actually quite aggresive, there is no need for that Sometimes i think you should be muzzled.

I actually think Mumsnet is the most doghating place i have ever encountered!!! I had to take my dog to the nursery the other day as i was en route to the vets. I tied him up outside (which is actually ten miles from the entrance! so was paranoid he would scream the place down). I was ready to have to defend myself to the army of angry mothers at the nursery gates, fully expecting to be moaned and tutted at. Quite the opposite, everyone was pleased to see my dog, all the children wanted to pet him - he caused quite a delay at the gates I often have to remind myself that RL isn't mumsnet where you are obliged to be outraged at the mere sniff of a four legged friend!

ten miles!!! ?

Whilst I don't think he should have yelled at you, I do feel a bit sorry for the other owner. He's got his dog on a lead after all and to all intents and purposes is doing the right thing. You say your dog wasn't bothering anyone else but that's not really true is it?

Not a dog hater BTW, have owned a dog (and have been bitten by a loose dog). Once bitten twice shy so to speak.

I thought in your OP you said your dog had run up to another person and their dogs?

YANBU about the owners rudeness. However YABU to allow your dog to bounce up to dogs on leads.

I have a lovely golden retriever unfortunately he was attacked several times by dogs off the lead when a junior (they would literally sprint across fields to attack him and one particularly memorable Alsatian that slipped it's lead to have a go, no ideas why) and now he reacts defensivly when dogs bounce up to him or run directly at him. He is fine if the dogs approach him on a lead or by calmly walking up to him. Therefore, I always keep him on the lead as, being a big dog, he could really hurt another one if he decided to really go for it.

However, I would always yell something like "can you call your dog back, mine isn't very good with other dogs" if they look like they are making a bee line towards him (especially if the owner is back a fair way) rather than launch into a rant at the owner.

I am not an aggressive person myself, I would just rather prevent the reaction that some dogs have if my dog gives them a warning "I don't want to play" growl which is to launch themselves at him and me (attached to the other end of the lead). Unfortunately you can't tell just by looking if the dog sprinting towards yours is a friendly little thing or something that is going to yap, growl and start on my dog or just bounce at my dog so much that he feels very uncomfortable.

That all being said I would try and avoid areas that would cause him undue stress due to lots of owners walking dogs off leads and walk him in quieter places and at quieter times but this doesn't always give you a guarantee.

And the bloke who I yelled at 2 weeks ago when his dog ran up to my dog, totally out of control and ignoreing the owner - he assured me the dog was harmless (its the size of a shetland pony, no exaggeration).

Well just found out that the dog has this afternoon savaged my DD's childminder who is the most dog crazy/loving person you could wish to meet. She was on the pavement walking past the dog's garden and it lunged between the bars of the gate and got her arm and nearly ripped it off.

So I'm very glad I yelled at it now and think I will start walking with a stick.

Kerry, i have a border terrier/patterdale cross who stands about 8" high!! I SAID, i used to have rotties which i wouldnt have off lead under such circumstances.

My dog was not bothering anyone, it went and greeted the other dog, who decided to have a pop at my dog - my dog walked off (thats what he does) and the owner got all shirty!!! Interestingly, he didn't say anything to my DP, picked on me - vile man.

He was going to have an interesting walk with all those "out of control" dogs. lmao.

katei, and i would have called my dog back - as i too have had a dog in the past who was crap with other dogs. This guy was simply being aggressive for no reason - the dogs shouted, mine walked off, it was a non incident - apart from him being a wanker

Of course your dog was bothering someone. The bloke was bothered. Your dog bothered his, that's why he growled.

My dog has to be kept on a lead as she bolts. The reason she does this is that she got very frightened by large dogs off their leads charging up to her and attempting to play or sniff her.
She is a fairly small dog and felt very intimidated by this even if the dogs were just being friendly and eventually after a few times that she had bolted we decided to keep her on the lead for her own safety.
I wish people didn't just let their dogs run around and let them bound up to you as they have no idea how another dog is going to react to their dog.

my dog didn't even go hurtling towards his dogs, just greeted them on the way past, he was in front of me because he was keeping up with DD and DP on their scooter.

I have had incidents with dogs jumping up at DD and i do get very angry about this. Have shouted at people before now regarding this. But this wasn't that sort of situation, my dog did nothing wrong and tbh niether did his, he was probably covering up his frustrations at not being able to control his own dogs. His dogs would have probably kicked off if mine was on the lead as they would have had to pass each other on the promenade. If my dog had been on the lead though, he probably would have kicked off right back at them.

We have a little westie who is always on a lead as he's not very obedient. He's as good as gold at home but a maniac when we go out.
Although my husband and I are both dog lovers, our daughter is scared of thm. It's o.k if the dogs are off a lead but leave her alone but some are very friendly and it scares the life out of her.
I think dogs should definatly be on leads if they are not very well trained.
The man sounded like an iddeot but maybe he was worried that his dog might attack yours.

you're in the wrong actually , if it came to a bite, you would be at fault as your dog was in a free area not under "control"

it's very unfair to the dog on the lead to have a dog off its lead running up to them, I wouldn't allow my dog to do this - people who are working hard to train/rehabilitate their dogs just don't need that sort of hassle, and you have absolutely no idea how the other dog will react

if I see a dog on a lead my dog goes on the lead, especially in an area where dogs are being exercised primarily off-lead as you can safely assume there is a very good reason for that particular dog to be on a lead

so, yabu

dittany - i didn't need to call my dog away, because the dog snarled and he came away, it was as he was bounding off that the guy went into one.

But hey, can't please everyone!!

I will continue to let my dog off lead at the beach, until the summer when i tend to walk him elsewhere as there are too many people sat on the beach with food and if its on the floor its fair game! I will continue to let him greet other dogs as most people enjoy letting their dogs interact with other dogs.

I still feel smug and "right" for once