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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think that dogs in park should be muzzled?

147 replies

hawkgirl · 09/03/2010 21:25

I live in London where quite a few teenagers have fighting dogs in the park around babies and toddlers. Its been a bit scary at times and I know i'm not the only one who worries.

It must be hard to enforce some kind of police control on who can and can't have a certain dog breed, but thinking that around areas where small children play that all dogs should have a muzzle.

OP posts:

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 15:27

So just to make sure, when I'm out and a dog bounces up and sniffs all over us, and I give the owner a look, that is me being out of order?

junglist1 · 09/04/2010 15:28

That depends on the dog I think. The way I see it mine aren't allowed to do the sniffing thing because one is a staffy and one is an American bulldog staffy cross. Boy is always muzzled, girl isn't but I realise people might get a bit wary because of the breed, not necessarily their or the dogs fault but the medias so it's less hassle really

junglist1 · 09/04/2010 15:29

Why aren't the hyphens working FFS
but the medias ?

Downdog · 09/04/2010 15:29

YANBU - I feel the same way.

It's a big problem where I live in London & most of the time these dogs aren't even on leashes. They are at "baby in buggy" height.

I wouldn't consider myself an overprotective Mum by any means, but all these kids walking around with what are effectively lethal weapons - its terrifying. they often hang around playgrounds & parks.

I am a dog lover and have had many dogs in the past (though not currently) - but I think the situation now warrants dogs being muzzled. If it could be limited to dogs of certain breed/size etc fine, but I think realistically it will have to be across the board.

junglist1 · 09/04/2010 15:29

butthemedias

junglist1 · 09/04/2010 15:30

Now I get it flip sake

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 15:32

This is the problem then isn't it.

When dog owners say they keep their dogs under control and away from people, non dog owners take that at face value.

Then of course you go out and all these dogs rush up and it's frightening. Then come on here and say "people don't keep their dogs under control" meaning they don't want the dogs near them at all.

There is a basic misunderstanding here. I understood that people meant their dogs didn't approach people. Now I understand that actually dogs approaching people is considered fine by the dog owning community and not covered by the "under control" comment IYSWIM.

I for one have learnt somethign there.

Downdog · 09/04/2010 15:40

SearchingForMyInnerJoan - I don't want your dog to run up and sniff me while I'm relaxing in the park. I don't want any dog to run over & sniff me really, & that is if I'm in the park or on the street.
You may love, know and trust your dog - I do not.

A friend of mine had her face virtually ripped off by a doberman - a dog kept by her employer, that was at work, that she loved & had spent nearly every day of that dogs life with. By all accounts a great family dog, excellent with kids!! One day the dog bit her badly on the face, in a completely unprovoked attack. She still has much scarring after extensive plastic surgery.

Some dogs do freak out for whatever reason. The breeds on the streets of London (re this thread) have been bred to fight and be aggressive. I do not want them anywhere near me and especially not near children who would be totally defenceless if attached.

junglist1 · 09/04/2010 15:44

Your name is very appropriate to this thread! Is that on purpose

SearchingForMyInnerJoan · 09/04/2010 15:44

Most domestic, well trained, loved dogs - not trophy fighting dogs - let's be clear about the difference (unless where mine is concerned he can smell food) don't go near anyone they know doesn't like them.
They may not be all that bright but they are not stupid.
All my (or any) dog needs to make a fuss of someone is a tiny hint that it is ok.

I am not living in cloud cuckoo land over this - I have had domestic, well trained, loved dogs, all my life.

I think there should be more trust amongst the general public that owners (the above owners) know their dogs.

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 15:49

Dogs are always running up to me and sniffing around and putting the paws up and stuff. We went for a walk the other day and a big puppy ran up and put its paws on DDs chest and knocked her over.

The owners never bat an eyelid and I guess it's because of this misunderstanding.

Thing is I am shit scared of dogs and I always walk to go as far away as possible and still they come. I tend to stay away from parks now and the green space near where we live I tend not to go unless DH is coming. it's such a shame.

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 15:50

Joan you have just said that your dog does approach people and then said that well trained dogs don;t approach people. Which is it? They approach me and the kids like billy-o even though I always tack off in the opposite direction to any dog I see.

EldonAve · 09/04/2010 15:56

100 people a week treated for dog bites as attacks soar 66% (Daily Mail)

SearchingForMyInnerJoan · 09/04/2010 15:56

I think it is a shame that you feel forced to avoid parks and dogs. A great shame.
And of course dog owners should take more care.

I pass hundreds of people a day when out with my dog the majority of which he ignores unless they come to him. We walk past pavements cafes and he is more interested in sniffing trees for signs of other dogs.

But when off lead in the park he will go towards anyone sitting on a bench or the ground because he thinks they might be eating.

That is why I muzzle him.

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 15:58

Oh sorry i see you answered that he only runs up if he can smell food.

I feel really uncomfortable about this.

If I trust dog owners to be doing the right thing... But I have been bitten. If a dog runs up and puts its face in the pushchair with my newborn I should trust that the owner is nearby and everythign is dandy? I can't do that. I am too scared and there are too many people around. Why should I have to have strange dogs running at me when I am quietly going about my business?

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 16:03

Didn't finish my sentence there! Too many people around who aren't in control. I once had to stand and watch as a young dog massacred a load of ornamental ducks on a pond as the owner couldn't get the dog to come back and wouldn't go into the water to get it. DD was knocked down earlier this year - owner didn't bat an eyelid. When I was bitten (in a shop) they said it was a "kiss bite" and laughed. There were teeth marks and it was bleeding from about 3 of the wounds.

These people didn't see a problem with any of this (well apart from the duck lady who just didn't care anough to get her trousers wet) and I am sure describe themselves as "responsible owners". There's never going to be a resolution to this is there.

And that's before we even get on to the "weapon" dogs that DH sees a lot in his work, youths setting them on each other and passers by in the street.

SearchingForMyInnerJoan · 09/04/2010 16:04

I guess it's a sad fact of life that you can't.

I'm just trying to level off the moral high ground and not argue that it belongs to either dog owners or those, like you, who have bad experiences and tar all dogs and their owners with the same brush.

theQuibbler · 09/04/2010 16:05

As there are people on here who have trained their dogs - what's the best thing to do if you think a dog is threatening you? Do you run, stay still, make noise? What should you do?

Last year, I was walking across a small park with my pushchair, and a rottweiler started stalking us.

I thought I was being paranoid and changed direction, but it changed direction too as though it was trying to cut me off. I got really, really panicky imagining how fast it could close the distance and what it could do to my 2 yr old. The owner (a middle aged lady) was doing nothing; she was quite far away.

It got closer walking in a zig zag fashion and started barking at us and I was checking the grass for stones or anything I could think of and then the woman kind of sauntered over and put it on the lead. I burst into tears .

I freely admit that it was this incident, more than anything, that makes me quite happy to think of dogs being muzzled in public. It genuinely frightened me.

SearchingForMyInnerJoan · 09/04/2010 16:10

That is frightening Quibbler and for what it's worth dog owners can get frightened by things like that aswell.

ImSoNotTelling · 09/04/2010 16:11

I don't tar all dogs and dog owners with the same brush.

I have had some bad experiences and am naturally wary. I don't think all dogs are out to bite me. But I know some are capable of that, and I have no way of telling which is which.

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 09/04/2010 16:13

As far as I'm concerned, "under control" means either on a lead, muzzled if aggressive or trained well enough to be off lead without approaching people/cyclists/joggers/riders/other dogs who are on leash. Coming over for a sniff is not acceptable. There are dogs who are capable of just passing by, I have seen them. If a dog is friendly but not well trained enough to only aporoach people with it's owner's permission or when invited, then it shouldn't be off lead in places like parks.

rocknstroll · 09/04/2010 16:19

I'd really like dog free parks. WIth stories like this:news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/8611211.stm
I am frightened of certain types of dog, when AND ONLY WHEN they are with certain types of owner and because of where i live, near finsbury park, there are loads of thoe dogs I find frightened being 'controlled' or revved up more like, by people I find frightening and don't trust to have trained their dog properly. It is just really horrible. I would much rather have dogs in parks and not feel frightened for my kids safety, but as things stand, that is where I am at. I am sorry if this offends any of the millions of owners of well trained dogs, but there it is!

midori1999 · 09/04/2010 17:26

SearchingForMyInnerJoan I'm afraid to say that it is because of irresponsible owners like you that the non dog owning or liking public (and although I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't like dogs, that is their right) think like this and that dogs should be kept on a lead or muzzled at all times. It is hideously rude to allow your dog to approach another person unless that person has soley expressed an interest or permission.

ImSoNotTelling you are correct to assume that you have a right to go to park without a dog running up to you or jumping all over you. Any responsible owner would ensure that their dog does not approach other people without that person's permission either by keeping them on a lead or under proper control by some means other than a lead/ (eg training) as I do. People who don't do this are idiots and asking for people to complain.

SearchingForMyInnerJoan · 09/04/2010 17:51

NOT muzzling my dog would be irresponsible.

midori1999 · 09/04/2010 18:02

"NOT muzzling my dog would be irresponsible"

What would be far more responsible would be to ensure your dog is on a lead or under control so that other people do not have to be approached by it. What part of allowing your dogs to run over to people and their picnics just because it can't physically steal food from them do you think is fair to oher people who might actually be terified of dogs? Why do you think people who don't like dogs should have their space invaded?

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