AGGHH dog owners please stop

[Tiredmumno1]

Right this post is just directed to those of you who think its ok to let your dog of its lead especially in the presence of others, i am so sick of dogs running over and scaring the hell out of my little boy, and when i say he really doesnt like them, the response is the dogs alright it wont hurt, you try explaining that to a 3 year who is shit scared and crying. And on top of that why do i want your dogs dirty scummy paws on my coat after the fucking thing has jumped up at me. Seriously some people dont like dogs, just remember that and have some sense, and those of you that do keep your dogs on leashes or at least under control, well done and praise to those who pick up the dog crap, and shame to those who dont.

I'm sure no mumsnetter ever does this, but I live very close to a park and I'm sure that some dog owners feel that they only have to pick up after their dogs whilst in the park.

The amount of dog poo in my road is increasing and it pisses me off, particularly when it gets on the wheels of DS's pushchair.

Even if you've not got your little poo bags with you please do something with the shit your animal produces to prevent the smelly, slushy shit that I end up trying to avoid every time I walk down my road.

It only takes each dog owner one time to decide they won't bother to clean up to turn a pavement into a shithole!

I haven't read all the replies - just the OP.

As a new pup-owner myself, can I just say that ITA and this kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable. I have always detested those dog owners who have allowed their dogs to come bounding over to my DCs (usually shouting "oh s/he is very friendly" at the same time).

You never know how your dog will react to that particular person or situation, no matter how long you have had them for. Put them on a leash and introduce them (if necessary) in a civilised manner.

MrsSawdust, I have no problems, thank you. The lack of detail in your first post suggested a situation that your subsequent explanation accounted for.

I should add, that after some thought, MrsS, that someone has a problem. In your post you say that your pooch "just manages" to let your DD stroke it. "Just" means "barely" and manages means "by control or design". All of this implies a dog under some duress or strain (not yours necessarily, I might add).

These words were what I was responding to.

If you chose the wrong words, then we all write/say what we don't exactly mean, myself as much as anyone.

If you do mean what you said, then you'll need eyes in the back of your head for that dog.

Yes it is completely unacceptable for dogs to come over to people, to let them jump up at people, for off lead dogs to approach on lead dogs, for dogs to get in the way of joggers and cyclists, for parents to allow children to come up and stroke a dog without permission, not to clear up poo, to leave poobags littering hedgerows.

And the annoying thing is it isn't rocket science but some of it does take hard work on behalf of the owner in the initial training and it appear that some people are lazy gits and can't be bothered and it drives me mad and I fully understand why there is so much bad feeling towards dogs with the behaviour of some owners.

The sad thing is the majority of owners are responsible but people don't remember the well trained dogs as they don't make an impression, it the ones with rubbish owners that are remembered and ruin it for everyone.

...and that smell you have in your house when you've unwittingly trodden in dog shite

too many Stupid Fxxxing Owners round here to count - a lot of them 15 year old boys with half starved staffs who are presumably being trained to kill, sorry, for protection. I run the gauntlet every time we leave the house with my 2 year old. Bring back dog licences.

AND WHILE WE ARE ON THE SUBJECT, CAN YOU ALL ALSO STOP LETTING YOUR DOGS SHIT OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL GATES....IT IS FUCKING APAULING AND DISGUSTING AND SELFISH AND ANNOYING AND YOU SHOULD BE A FUCKING ASHAMED OF YOUR SELVES.
If the kids get shit all over thier shoes, they have to sit with it through out school, or get it in the car, in the house.

JUST FUCKING STOP IT YOU DIRTY FILTHY FUCKING PIGS.

I feel SO strongly about this. If i caught some one i would cheerfully rugby tackle them to the ground and publically humiliate them in the street, i am so utterly utterly disgusted at this behaviour.

The thing is dogs are like children - no too are the same and some need stronger parenting than others.

First dogs, little darling who ignores joggers, cyclists and avoids small children. Second dog has problems with all the above! First dog, basic training only. Second dog - now doing one-to-one with police dog trainer as she is defensive and barks at and chases everthing. She is actually a frightened little dog who just wants to get her two-penny worth in first.

We are having to really up our game which some owners aren't prepared to do.

Just as some parents don't think they can do anything with their child's behaviour, some owners simply don't know what to do. SOme are jst bad and don't care though.

No excuse for not picking up poo, especially on the streets. If the dog is on a lead you can't miss it doing a poo.!

The German situation is not that dogs have to be on a lead. It is that they have to be on a lead in some open spaces but not others. The same applies in many parts of Britain. Dogs are not allowed in some parks and beaches at all, are allowed on some on the lead and some off the lead.

Dogs should not touch strange children and children should not touch strange dogs. Most people know this and make sure their dogs and children don't do this. Some don't.

But OP, your child does live in a society where he is going to come into contact with dogs. That is not going to change. You have a responsibility to help him cope with that or he could end up being overly-fearful of them in real life. I know that the dog situation is not your fault, but there will always be dogs.

The difference between small children and dogs is that a small child is unlikely to cause mortal injury to a dog. A small child is also unlikely to crap on the pavement and is usually cleaner than said dog.

Dogs are also innately trainable...small children are not, but usually respond when you ask them to leave the dog alone...dogs only usually respond to their owner.

Can't believe the ridiculous counter arguments going on here. ffs.

Dog Licences were ridiculous and meant absolutely bot all. Only the responsible owners actually bought them. The idiot owners never bothered - so absolutely pointless bringing them back.

Don't dislike dogs but wouldn't have one because I couldn't be bothered to look after it. That makes me a responsible non-dog owner.

Will never eat at my SIL's house again. After Christmas gathering witnessed her letting dog lick remnants of food off cutlery and dishes before washing them up! Yuk, she used it as some sort of rinsing machine!

flightattendant I disagree - if a dog who doesn't speak English can be trained so can a child.

I have repeatedly asked children age 6 upwards to ignore my dogs but they don't listen. Then if my dogs bites them, despite them being on lead, by my side, does that make me in the wrong?

I was just making a point that sometimes a greater effort in training is needed but some people can't be bothered!

There will always be good owners and bad, good dogs and bad etc.

MillyR - that is easier said than done. My DCs are afraid of dogs, especially my youngest, after several scary experiences of being chased/barked at. At the end of the day even small dogs can seem very threatening to young children.

I do not like dogs but am not afraid of them (mostly) and I try to teach the DCs to be cautious but not afraid. Unfortunatey the actions of irresponsible dog owners make this very difficult.

OP - YANBU - I could have written your post.

2old I think probably if you have given fair warning and the dog is controlled unless approached and bothered for quite some time, ie not just a kid walking nearby, I guess that's probably not your fault...but may be hard to prove iyswim.

However if it is aggressive enough to inflict a serious bite (yes even if provoked with relative ease) then I think you know as well as I it needs a muzzle.

Your dog is probably well within these boundaries.

I totally refute the point about kids being trainable. They simply do not have the neural pathways until a certain age, maybe 4 or 5, to really listen and come away if they happen to be in a silly mood or tired etc.

It's not something you can control with a toddler for instance, though of course it is best to just pick them up and remove from situation if you are able.

Ds1 wasn't afraid of dogs until a huge labrador pushed him to the ground on a beach when he was 3.

The owner just laughed and said 'he broke someone's ankle last week!'

ffs. Minda, you're not wrong but there are surely few parents who really do that? I tend to slightly guard my children, or slow down and stop, while calling to the owner of any dodgy looking dog that is running towards us to ask if it is safe or not.
I don't think that's unreasonable.

However at present I am having to do a routine CBT style debrief on ds every time we see ANY dog...he is nearly 7 btw.
this is since a few months ago when an uncontrolled and probably illegal dog ran towards him right outside school, and threatened him to the point where I had to scream 'don't move' to him, at which point the dog went for me instead but owner eventually wandered over and dragged the bastard creature off.

He doesn't trust any dog now - I have to talk him through 'now is it on a lead? yes..that means you are safe' etc etc even if it's the nicest, gentlest dog imaginable.

the damage that can be done is enormous and it was through no fault of mine.

DD has a love/hate relationship with dogs, she thinks she like them more than she does, and as a baby was absolutely petrified of them. I have tried to ease her fear and when we are in the park if there are friendly looking dogs (and owners) around we might go up, but we always ask if we can pet the dog, I'm trying to instil this into her. However she is only 2.7 and is probably not as obedient as a dog should be so I would expect owners to behave responsibly and call their dog away from my child if it is bounding up to her.

One of the things I miss about the US are cities that do not allow dogs in parks to be off lead except in designated off lead parks.

Denver's Wash Park, for example, was bliss! No dogs off lead and it was enforced.

You could go for a run without worrying about yak dogs assualting you and dog shit everywhere.

& while we are on the subject of shit... I am fed up of fcking cat shit in my garden.... cats should be on leads too!
If you all love your cats so much keep them in your own garden!

What is the point of the stinky pissy animals anyway.

Well, we don't have a garden, so our elderly cat is indoors only.

But cats provide vermin control.

Dogs just are vermin.

expat, if only all animal owners were as considerate as you!

Its not so much the animals i dislike as the imapct that some owners allow them to have on non animal owners.

I want to thank all sensible dog owners who realise that some people and small children and big children don't like dogs and are scared - it is great when you have control of your dog and keep them away

a big thank you you make scared people day with your concerderation.