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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect dog owners to keep their dogs under control?

200 replies

topher40 · 18/02/2010 10:22

My son and I were on the beach the other day when a dog came charging out of nowhere and almost knocked him flying .I asked the owner to be a little more considerate and she did apologise BUT 20 minutes later the same person was with another group who had 3 dogs which all came running over to where we were. Now I am not paranoid about dogs, I grew up with them, but I think it is a little off to allow your hound just to run around where there are small people especially when they are obviuosly not in the control of the owner. When I got a little testy with this person they gave me a look as if i was at fault. I have no problem with people walking their animals but is it unreasonable to expect them to keep them under control?

OP posts:
tethersend · 18/02/2010 12:49
rainbowinthesky · 18/02/2010 12:50

tethersend - dont do it. It would be a mad discussion!

BendyBob · 18/02/2010 12:52

Next Prime minister

SpicedGerkin · 18/02/2010 12:53

I am sat her PMSL honestly and truely.

Gotta love the dog nuts for a laugh!

MrsC - Unless someone says all dogs Surely it is you who is assuming we are talking about all owners?

Wouldn't it make more sense to pressume unless said otherwise that we are talking about the ones who do let their dog shit everywhere etc?

Yes there are some people who have issue with all dogs but in the same vein there are people who think dogs should rule the world

Both totally mental slightly odd, imo.

MrsC2010 · 18/02/2010 12:53

Now that sounds like one hell of a thread! Reminds me of those drunken pub conversations..."who would win, a rabbit with razor claws or a bear with no paws" type thing...

tethersend · 18/02/2010 12:53

Um... not really rainbow. I'm pretty sure it would be over quite quickly

rainbowinthesky · 18/02/2010 12:55

I'm just wondering where I actually said dogs should rule the world. I responded to a poster who asked me if I thought that and I replied by saying no. I said that if they did it would probably be better than what humans have done.
Now apparently that makes me a nutter who thinks dogs shoudl rule the world (which I would be if I actually thought that).

luciemule · 18/02/2010 12:56

I haven't slated dog owners and love most dogs (especially my fave border terriers). It's the government policies I'm slating. If UK policy changed (like it did for muzzling dangerous dog breeds etc) then I'd be happy and the OP wouldn't have random dogs running up to her DCs on the beach (unless desginated dog beach).

rainbowinthesky · 18/02/2010 12:56

Yes, it would, tethersend, seeing as I dont actually think they should either. Dogs dont tend to plan mass world wars though killing millions of innocent people.

shockers · 18/02/2010 12:57

I've got a dog but I have a real issue with folk who don't train/clean up after their pooches. They give the impression that we're (dog owners) all idiots.

SpicedGerkin · 18/02/2010 12:58

Actually rainbow - i didn't say you did, but there are people who would think it a fine idea.

Point proven that some dog owners are completely slighty over defensive.

MrsC - The rabbit for sure, no brainer really

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 12:58

Spicedgherkin - there is WAY more chance that you will be bitten by my 20MO old son. Actually - this is a very real risk. But no-one is telling me to muzzle my son.

I'm all for dog owners taking responsibility but I'm equally keen for parents to keep their little horrors children under control too.

Many don't.... but apparently it's bad form to pick up on that.

Yes, dogs do bite on occasion. These stories inevitably make the news. Don't think I've ever heard of one where the offending dog was a chocolate labrador.

trixymalixy · 18/02/2010 13:00

YANBU, I would be delighted to see a law like they have in Germany introduced here.

tethersend · 18/02/2010 13:01

I think this thread is coming apart at the seams (no pun intended).

I mean, I started out with a rational, carefully considered proposal to put all dogs on some sort of floating kennel and let it drift out to sea, and it disintegrates into this lunacy.

It sickens me, it really does.

violethill · 18/02/2010 13:02

I agree harimo that parents should keep their children under control too. This isn't an either/or situation. I dislike seeing inconsiderate parenting as well as inconsiderate dog owners.

I agree that the cases about dogs biting which hit the news are relatively rare. However, dogs being annoying, jumping up, sniffing and slobbering are an everyday occurence. I've had a chocolate lab come up and slobber over my coat when I've been out walking and I was mightily pissed off - and told the owner.

SpicedGerkin · 18/02/2010 13:04

God I think people need to keep their brats under control also, but this is a thread talking about dogs.

Do you let your son out of your sight often? Many of the dogs we are talking about the owners can't even see them to know who they are harrassing, but as they are playing we just have to like it?

I choose not to have a dog for a reason, please don't expect me to welcome your with open arms if it bothering me.

paisleyleaf · 18/02/2010 13:06

"But dogs son't have to be vicious and biting people to be bloody annoying".
I agree with BendyBob there.
Some owners seem to think it's a treat for us to have their dog on our picnic blanket.

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 13:24

Oh, I never let my dog out of my sight. Ever. I have a very well behaved doggie... but he's nearly 7 now! He's done his fair share of slobbering in his time!!

Violethill - I have to say, unless you were walking in an area you could honestly HAND ON HEART say you wouldn't meet any dog, then you do have to take it on the chin. It's not the end of the world, is it? It might not be ideal - few things are - but not really losing sleep over, is it?

These threads always remind me of the other MN chestnut: PArent and toddler spaces. I have heard LOTS of childless people say: I CHOOSE NOT TO HAVE CHILDREN. DON'T EXPECT ME TO WELCOME YOURS WITH OPEN ARMS.

Just because you personally don't agree with it, doesn't make it wrong or illegal.

violethill · 18/02/2010 13:29

I didn't say it's the end of the world, I didn't say I'd lose sleep over it - I said it's disgusting to be slobbered all over by someone's dog. Which it is.

If you don't mind animals (or maybe other people?) coming up and licking and dribbling on you then that's cool. Whatever floats your boat. But I don't agree that everyone else should 'take it on the chin'.

I think the lab owner in my case probably saw my point, as she was hugely embarrassed when I told her to keep her bloody animal under control.

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 13:35

I'd have told you to take a hike unless you were on a high street or somewhere else you would naturally assume dogs to be tethered. (under current UK laws)

I'd say the owner was more embarrassed at your bad language.

ShinyAndNew · 18/02/2010 13:38

Of course all dogs should be kept under control. But I am failing to see how the dog in op was out of control? It did not jump on anyone, growl at anyone, bite anyone or knock anyone over. It just ran past someone.

I also get a little confused about where you all live. I live in a small, fairly rough town. We have no specific dog areas, but it is generally accpeted that dogs stay in one area of the beach/park and children the other areas.

My neice is horrfied of dogs, ergo, I don't take her to the bottom end of the beach.

violethill · 18/02/2010 13:38

I was actually very restrained harimo! I could have said a lot worse!

I think we'll have to agree to disagree here. I don't think it's ok for dog owners to let their animals pester other people any more than it is for them to allow their children to behave as a nuisance.

It's a shame some dog owners have attitudes like yours, that the rest of us just have to put up with your animal not being controlled - it puts responsible owners in a bad light.

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 13:48

But, Shineyandnew makes a good point: What exactly does PESTER mean?

If you don't like dogs, then stay to places that dogs aren't going to be.

And Violethill - You can say what you want.... I still think you were out of order. I was once attacked - truly properly attacked - by a dog.. well, the dog was trying to attack mine... my dog was hiding behind my legs and I had DS (then 9 weeks old) strapped to me. The dog warden took A LOT of notice - so much so that I got apologies not only off the dog owner but off all the friends of the dog owner. I could have pressed charges and, at worst, got the dog destroyed...

Dog wardens will take notice of real proper bad behaviour. They, as far as I know, don't press charges for a dry cleaning bill.

I'm not trying to make light of this (honestly, I'm not - I have an extremely well behaved dog) but I just think there has to be a distinction between naughty behaviour and unacceptable behaviour.

weegiemum · 18/02/2010 13:54

"take it on the chin?"

My ds was bitten (through a heavy anorak, jumper, t shirt and vest to break the skin and need stitching) by a border collie when he was 2. He was just walking along - the dog ran up out of nowhere, knocked him to the ground, bit him hard on the shoulder then jumped back, woofing and trying to play with me.

I hit the dog across the nose with the stick dd1 was carrying at the time - there was no obvious owner in site. Dog continued to try to play (ds lying in my arms screaming, blood seeping through his coat by now) so I hit the dog again.

Owner came charging up, yelling I was going to be reported for "animal cruelty" for hitting his dog, while my 2yo was bleeding! Took his dog and marched off.

I reported to police (while at casualty with ds who required a whole load of stitches etc which was very traumatic) but they never found the owner despite my description of him and his dog.

You can't ever say your dog would not bite. My ds is 8 now and still goes crazy if he sees a large dog, especially a border collie.

Keep them under control!

Chulita · 18/02/2010 13:55

I grew up with dogs, I'd love one now but the house/moving situation means it wouldn't be fair (just so you know I'm not anti-dog at all)...but, since having DD start toddling around, I do get a bit worried at the number of dogs around where we live that come bounding up to us. I know they're just wanting to say hello but their snout is DD's face level and I don't want them slobbering on her or knocking her over (she's at that wobbly old woman stage of toddling). We also have very young children out walking large family dogs on their own which again I find worrying because I don't think they could control it if it decided to leg it. We were out in the woods the other day and a labrador came running up to us and stood in front of us barking. DD got upset and started crying, we couldn't get past the dog on the narrow path and when the owners finally turned up they just 'aw, poor little thing is scared of dogs'...which she isn't, she likes them, she was just scared of that one that wanted to 'chat' to us and was not remotely under control. That made me , a dog can be trained, if it's not trained it shouldn't be running free. That's my opinion anyway...