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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:
Chulita · 18/02/2010 13:58

and to say, 'don't go anywhere dogs might be' is a ridiculous statement. For crying out loud...dogs are on every beach (where there's no ban), every green space, every park (again where there's no ban), every town. You can't go out without seeing at least one dog. If I want to go anywhere around here to let DD play or go for a walk, there will be dogs there. I accept that, just keep the things under control!

BendyBob · 18/02/2010 14:01

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

It doesn't work that way harimo.

Your attitude is appalling.

tethersend · 18/02/2010 14:02

If we put all the dogs on a boat as I have suggested, then we could go anywhere.

It's almost as if people don't want to see solutions.

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 14:02

Chulita - YOur own post suggests the answer. I don't know of a single beach that doesn't have a ban in some areas.

And, the main beach I use is in a distinctly NON touristy area in NE England. There are ALWAYS places you can go where you would not expect dogs to be lose.

And, yes, I CAN say my dog would never bite. I CAN say that.

But, weegiemum - I am surprised the police weren't more helpful. Did you get his reg no?

That's all I got for the dog that attacked me - the owners' reg. no. And I had to say i wouldn't press charges - otherwise they would have progressed on my behalf. I didn't want the dog destroyed, just wanted him to understand that he had to stay close to his dog.

teasle · 18/02/2010 14:04

I am a dog owner. I keep my dog under control. I would hate it if my dog knocked into a child- I would be mortified. If it means putting the dog on his lead...er...I put him on his lead.

teasle · 18/02/2010 14:05

wwegiemum- that must have been awful.

weegiemum · 18/02/2010 14:07

The owner I was dealing with ran off with his dog.

My 2yo ds was passing out in my arms from the pain - I didn't think about getting any details at that point - I was too busy waiting for the ambulance (dh was worried a shoulder vein had been torn given the amount of blood we were dealing with).

The police patrolled the park where it happened for several days afterwards but funny enough the dog and owner were nowhere to be found. They were very very helpful and keen to pursue a prosecution if the man was found

One of the things he yelled at me was "it wasn't my dog, my dog would never bite"

You cannot guarantee your dog would not do this.

weegiemum · 18/02/2010 14:08

And if they had found him I would have pressed charges and had the dog destroyed - at the point of the bite, I would have destroyed the dog myself!

Chulita · 18/02/2010 14:10

I agree with more bans, where I live there's no ban on the woods/fields within walking distance, it's open countryside. I believe we all have a right to wander it in safety. I wouldn't want dogs to be banned from frolicking in the meadows, I just want to be sure that a)the owners can see them b)the dogs will stop/heel when told to.
And trust me, around here there is no place we could go where we would not meet dogs.
weegiemum, that sounds horrible!

weegiemum · 18/02/2010 14:14

It was horrible. I usually stay off "dog" threads here.

I'm actually shaking typing about it - ds still has a horrible scar across his right shoulder and neck that will never really go away.

He goes nuts if he sees a border collie - and quite rightly.

We were lucky his shoulder veins were intact - the damage was mainly superficial. But it must have been some powerful bite to get through what he was wearing. And the wee soul was just toddling along on a walk, doing nothing to annoy anyone (well, he was singing "Bob the Builder" IIRC!)

tethersend · 18/02/2010 14:23

Didn't see your post, weegiemum... must type faster

"And, yes, I CAN say my dog would never bite. I CAN say that."

Yes, you can Harimo. You can say that. And you would be wrong.

Original poster
topher40 · 18/02/2010 15:42

ShinyAndNew
Im the OP and my point is why should I be put in the position where I should be concerned about my child being bitten or knocked over or slobbered on by somebody elses animal which surely they should train to come to heel as my animals were when I was young. I was taught to respect other people and their views and that owning an animal, any animal, bought with it responsibilities such as not inflicting it in any way on others who may not see little fluffy as a threat. the animal in question was a Labrador and I think you will find that they are responsible for more bites than any other breed. note I say bites not deaths. Also those of you who may think I am being over cautious should know that my 2 year old has already been climbing abseiling and surfing with me. I DO NOT have an over developed sense of danger, my training ensures I see possible problems before they arise and deal with them.

OP posts:
SerenityNowakaBleh · 18/02/2010 15:52

I'm with tethersend on this boat idea. I cannot stand dogs, and they cannot stand me. I have been attacked by previously docile and happy doggies. They're evil bastards.

And you cannot say that you know your dog would never bite someone. It can happen. Or something traumatic could happen to a dog a turn it into a maniac (happened to someone I know).

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 15:55

weegiemum

You were with your DH when this happened?

Can I ask why WHY????? you didn't follow the dog / owner to it's car?

I know when I was attacked, however scared I was, NO WAY was I going to let it go.

I would have followed that dog for a day and I was taking photos too.

Original poster
topher40 · 18/02/2010 15:55

Lookie here! Out of 247 sample bite cases, the breed that was identified the most in bite cases is....The Labrador. Surprised?

?
Source(s):
www.dogbitelaw.com/PAGES/statisti

OP posts:
harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 15:57

And yes, I will say again You can know your dog will never bite someone.

I will say again: More chance of being bitten by my son than my dog.

violethill · 18/02/2010 16:00

There may well be more chance of your child biting someone than your dog.

And yes, you can say that you know your dog will never bite someone, anyone can say whatever they like. It doesn't mean it won't happen though.

Original poster
topher40 · 18/02/2010 16:01

harimosmummy

Hope you keep them both muzzled then. My mum said exactly the same about our chocolate lab some 30 years ago, then it bit my little brother on the nose. If someone came and started kicking your dog you are saying it would not bite? Strange that.

OP posts:
illgetyoubutler · 18/02/2010 16:01

Reminds me of another thread recently regarding dogs being kept as pets by muslims.
The gist of it was, Muslims cannot keep dogs as pets, only as service, gaurd, or hunting dogs. They are seen as unclean and cause more problems than they are worth. ergo, no dogs, no problems!

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 16:06

yayaya!

Hope you all keep your kids muzzled!!

I'm guessing I'm not the only mother of a 20NO who likes to bite occasionally? No?

Of course not, your precious angels wouldn't ever do that. And you KNOW they wouldn't.

Blah Blah Blah Blah.

Well trained dogs are safer than kids.

I've had far more trouble with kids approaching dogs than the other way round.

violethill · 18/02/2010 16:10

I think you'll find the difference is that most parents of 20 month olds don't let them run around out of control slobbering, annoying and possibly biting other people who are just going about their businss, and saying 'Oh well, just take it on the chin!'

SpicedGerkin · 18/02/2010 16:12

Hmm damage from a 2 year old compared to damage from a dog. Ho hum which would i prefer

As said above i'd be very concerned if you left your child of that age alone long enough for him to approach a stranger and bite them!

Of course now we will get the P&T analogies blah blah.

Point is some people choose to have dogs, some people choose to have children, it's wrong for anyone to inflict that choice on someone who doesn't want it inflicted on them. Anyone who says otherwise is a complete loon

harimosmummy · 18/02/2010 16:14

FFS!!! what do I have to say to get through to you???

I have a dog I have a 20MOson and I have a 6MO DD.

I don't let any of them run out of control.

But, get close to them and it;s far more likely that you will regret getting close to the child - not the dog.

If my child bit a friend / another child / a dog - would I really be baying for blood?

chibi · 18/02/2010 16:15

If it's a choice between a rottie/staffie and a 20 month old I know who I'd rather be bitten by

Original poster
topher40 · 18/02/2010 16:17

harimosmummy

I have a loveely bruise where my little shit bit me. Never said he would not. Agree well trained dogs blah blah blah but the point here is that the dog concerned was NOT well trained. I have no problem with animals that are well trained as they do not do the sort of thing we are discussing. Its the irresponsible dickheads who don't train their dogs I have a problem with. By the way I'm a father.

OP posts: