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

At work one day , people were discussing dogs and dog poo etc. One guy who has a dog said "you have to remember how people feel".

Then another stupid women said" but you have to remember that dogs are people too."

ffs. They are not people. They are not children. They're animals.

no, i have not said that AT ALL, the only time my dog goes up to people is when they call him, which they do!

Yes, i love my dog, im perfectly aware that he is a dog thankyou very much - he has his own dog bed. Just like DD. I used to have a lead for DD but understood from mumsnet that it wasn't the done thing.

So UP YOUR BIG SPOTTY BUM [poking tongue out]

Kerry - I don't think she said her dog was as important as her children. She used your child (as you don't appear to have a dog) to illustrate the point that you should not attach unpleasant offensive labels to other people's loved ones without knowing personally whether or not they fit that bill. It's just uncalled for.

Just because one person chose to be annoyed by her dog, doesn't mean her dog is generally annoying. Some people are just uptight miserable arseholes about all sorts of things, and there is definitely a category of dog-owner who is so paranoid and unsociable (or the dog is) that I really don't know why they bother going out into a public place where other dogs will be, at busy times. It's like going to Wembley stadium for the cup final when you don't like football, crowds or noise! OP has accepted with good grace that there are sometimes mitigating factors and she has agreed to take that into account in future. Having said all that, if your child was shy and nervous or a known bully, would you shout at, or warn off every other child that approached him/her to make friends, and say 'stay away from my child - she doesn't need you in her life - she's happy being miserable/nervous/lonely/spiteful/introverted by herself? Or would you think it's perfectly reasonable that children would expect to be able to interact with your child, and hope that it was a social success, but at the same time, keep a watchful eye on things? Might you say, 'Hello, yes come and play but my little girl/boy is very timid so please don't be too boisterous. Or: 'would you mind awfully calling your dog back, only mine's getting on a bit and he hasn't got much patience with playful pups I'm afraid,' or words to that effect.

There are reasonable ways to deal with a problem and unreasonable ways and I think he was unreasonable.

Again, using the child analogy because Kerry appears not to have a dog - not because I think my dogs and my children are equals!

Thankyou tiggy - thats what i was trying to say! I do love my dog very much, but clearly not in the same way i love my child, but i would defind him as i would my child. Why wouldn't i - he has bought happiness to our family when we needed a boost so i am no way going to tolerate people calling him a snappy little runt.

or even defend him

He sounds like a lovely dog LEM.

Wish mine was so friendly.

Thanks threadworm I was quite wary about getting a terrier - i wanted a small dog that could do the rough and tumble but they can be a bit yappy and snappy. Thankfully he is neither, he is just so much fun, but likes nothing more than to curl up on my lap like a cat! He seems to know when im stressed to and gives me either the wide berth that i need, or a cuddle! Its not the same as my rotties and our house does still feel like there is a gap that needs filling - maybe in the summer - not a rottie though, peoples assumptions and reactions too depressing.

Kerry, the equating of dog to child was clearly in the contest of wanting to stick up for her dog, in a similar way to sticking up for child.

It is entirely possible to be utterly devoted to your dog and for that devotion to be not a patch on your devotion to your dcs.

You have been quite very abrasive on this thread, you know, so it isn't surprising if LEM reacts.

It isn't a thread about dogs bugging children. LEM saID IN OP that he doesn't do that.

context

yeah well kerry, you can take it

the idea of hundreds of dogs on a single beach is repulsive. imagine all the shit for a start...all that barking and slobbering. People who imagine they have complete control of their dogs are sad and deluded.

km you ok?

course shes ok 2shoes, kerry is a big girl - she can take a bit of ribbing from me - i wouldnt say it if i didnt think she could take it on her warty old chin!

I've skipped the middle of this enormous thread...
So if dogs can't be let off the lead on the beach in the middle of winter, when can they?
Ok, so if your dog isn't friendly then keep them on a tight leash and warn people early so we can call our dog back, don't leave it until the dog has said hello,... that's too late!
We regularly walk our dog on camber during winter, they are allowed there on or off leashes, Oct-May. You expect to meet other dogs. Luckily ours is extremely well behaved but that doesn't stop random people / children trying to intercept her as she walks past. She just tots on past with her nose in the air!

OMG - 218 posts FFS

I completely sympathise with the OP. I also think dogs should be allowed to run up and greet each other, but some people won't have any other dog near their dog. It is strange.

Like yours, my dog isn't interested in people and children, just wants to play with other dogs, but I have been shouted at like that before and I found it really upsetting. The man who shouted at me even tried to kick my parents' dog, who is the most placid thing you could imagine.

And it's pointless saying dogs should be on leads. They need to run around - you might as well exterminate the lot if you're not going to let them run around, cos their lives wouldn't be worth living.

It sounds to me like the beach the OP went to was an appropriate place to let a dog off a lead - it wasn't the village green or the high street, where of course dogs should be on leads.

So, all in all, YANBU

Meant to say LEM, YANBU, if he doesn't want to meet other dogs he should go somewhere quieter!

definitely Yuck Riven! I would be horrified if my dog went up and slobbered on people, other dogs are fair game, not people.

YABU. All dog owners think their dog is an exception to the rule and would never hurt anyone. I am terrified of dogs, I also think they're disgusting (which is a personal thing) and don't like them anywhere near my baby. So I don't think they should be off leads.

If you're walking a dog on a remote beach or something, fair enough, but not when there's kids or other dogs around.

I used to have an ultra-slobbery one of these. His beard was smelly. Def not acceptable to distribute slobber on people.