All those who don't like dogs leaping up at them while they're out, look away now....

[TsarChasm]

Here

And at a 12stone dog too! It'd have totally flattened a child.

@ DrNortherner (did Jen look good in film?)

I am v scared of dogs (childhood experiences with a red setter and a labrador), much more of a cat person.

But I don't hate them and don't want my DC to grow up being scared of dogs, that isn't helped by some owners, it really isn't.

Put the fucking thing down!

Stop defending bloody dogs ffs!

Aw Fimbo that must have been horrifying.

I'm a dog owner and agree that dogs should be kept on a lead in public places where there are lots of people, but it doesn't help that my energetic lab needs off-lead time to exercise and there aren't that many places to do that in apart from the local park (though well away from the playing area)

I could go to the forests, but I don't like to be there on my own, even though she's a big dog she would be utterly useless if someone was to it. attack me!

I don't allow her to jump up, but my PIL's drive me mad because she jumps up at them and I shout down they just say oh I don't mind - no you don't but I do. She has to know that she cannot jump on anyone even in greeting.

They treat their dog like a child and they don't mind their dog jumping and see nothing wrong with it.
We have been at the beach with our dogs and their dog is obsessed with balls, she ran up to a child with a ball and the child was terrified. We know that the dog just wanted the ball but the child and parents didn't adn were understandably angry because MIL didn't do much to call the dog back and was only saying 'she wants the ball'.

If it had been my child I would have been furious adn dh has said that if that happened he wouldn't hesitate to kick the dog away as you wouldn't know what the dog would do (waits for backlash at the comment!)

Jen looked great in the film, really slim and tanned.

Fimbo, I understand your meeting with a Rottie must have been horrific, but it is a bit harsh to say Whitby has made you cry. You have a difference of opinion that is all.

Oooh, yes, I'd kick the bloody thing and I have given dogs a good kicking before now too, when they've jumped up at my kids baring their teeth.

Headache, I can see that you obviously try and keep your dog under control and fair play to you.

What I don't understand is why more and more people seem to opting for large breeds that need such huge amounts of off lead exercise. I understand it more if they are in a rural area and have the space but why keep these breeds in the middle of a town or city?

I was running on Sunday and this bloody great mastiff starting running along parallel to me on the grass behind a fence (public area) and barking fit to bust. To my mild concern the fence came to an end! So deciding that stopping was less of a problem than getting bitten on the bum, I stopped, put my hand out for it to sniff and then stroked it. As i expected he was fine, just curious and a bit noisy.

I am not scared of dogs, and I am tall adult. If i had been a child or nervous of dogs that would have been a lot worse.

The owner came up and apologised and it was clear that he was a nice animal. But TBH that should not have happened. And it helps to tar all owners with the same brush.

I think most dogs are good animals and I don't mind them, but I am aware that if you are naturally nervous this won't be the way you view them.

Sorry I got angry there but christ comparing a punch on the nose from a van driver to an adult who could defend himself to that of a child being mauled by a dog.....well words fail me.

And Dr Northern yes she did make me cry actually its not a difference of opinion she cannot see how horrific the situation was and then to try and compare it to a punch on the nose.

Can I just say again, that I DON'T think it is solely up to the jogger not to go to near the dog - the dog owner has just as much responsibility to keep their dog under control.

But surely when you are out jogging, you have to be aware of potential hazards - that child or that dog might suddenly change direction, the person ahead of you might stop suddenly, someone might trip or a cyclist might fall into your path - and you have to do your best to ensure you have the space and time to react to these hazards so you don't get hurt. And yes, the cyclist should be being careful too, as should the child or the pedestrian or the dog owner.

But the bottom line is that each party should do their best in the circumstances - on a narrow path, the dog owner should have their dog on a short lead so the jogger doesn't need to give them as wide a berth - that seems reasonable to me.

I am sure that no-one here is defending dangerous or out-of-control dogs, and the situation that Fimbo faced is one that should make us all cross, but not all dogs are like that - there are good dogs and bad dogs and good owners and bad owners - just like there are good parents and bad parents, but no-one's suggesting that there should be no more children just because some do terrible things.

Hmm. I love dogs. I love MY dog. In fact, a lot of the time I prefer them to people. It's some of the f*ck-wit, irresponsible owners who should be exterminated and I think it's unfair to demonise dogs in general. Dogs left untrained WILL behave badly, but you have to blame PEOPLE for that. A bit like badly behaved brats - it's the parents' fault.

I agree about dog licenses. I remember as a child we needed a license for our mutt and I don't understand why that system was stopped.

It is commen sense imo not to pass to close to a dog

"Control them or get rid of them and get a goldfish."

As a doglover, I totally agree with this.

Do you know what Fimbo - i didn't get up this morning and think - "do you know what' i think i'll make some stranger on the internet cry."

I was not comparing a punch on the nose to a bite or a mauling from a dog. I was comparing the subsequent attitude i would then take to other dogs / van drivers. A point Sunnygirl later put across better than me with her parenting analogy.

I also said i appreciated how scary it must have been for your children.

I should definitely stay away from dog threads in future.

I AM genuinely sorry i made you cry though. Just done school run and been thinking about this thread.

One problem with the internet is that you can't get nuances of how bad stuff is and i was on my own little soapbox too as it's as particular annoyance of mine how many people on MN (and some in RL) seem to be dog haters.

I have calmed down now - don't worry, I don't make a habit either of radomly crying over what strangers have written. It is just such a powerful thing having your children being in danger and having to make the choice between them as to which one you try to help. It still makes me shaky especially as I happened on my own street. I guess I felt you were being flippant about my children with regard to the van driver comment. It is quite sad as before this my ds was really into dogs although my dd has never been that keen, as we often come across jumpy dogs in parks etc.

We are hoping to get some advice from the Kennel club, my dh's many colleagues with dogs were horrified at what had happened and some have offered to have dd & ds round so that she can see that not all dogs are like this.

But I would like to see on this thread just a little bit of understanding why some people are scared of dogs and don't want them jumping up at them.

Fimbo, it is completely understandable that that experience left you shaken and it was totally unacceptable behaviour from the dog owner.

I think what some people are objecting to is this assertion by a lot of people on MN that all dog owners are like that.

I have never come across anyone who lets their dog behave like that and have never witnessed a dog attack. I do think the vitriol about dogs is massively overdone on this site.

As dog owners, we all KNOW that we have to keep our dogs under control. No-one is disputing that.

Saying all dogs must be exterminated or all dogs must be kept on leads at all times is patently absurd and does not produce a constructive debate.

So I totally agree with Whitby and SSSS.

Well, I'm not a jogger.

I was walking through a park recently with my friend. I made no sudden movement and I hadn't appeared from nowhere. I was simply chatting. This dog came bounding up to me, jumped up at me, muddy paws all over my coat. Owner offered a pathetic apology. I was so f*** cross.

dog owners
the new bankers

The trouble is dollius that the number of useless as opposed to responsible dog owners seems to be increasing in number.

It's the same attitude that makes people play really loud music or have load mobile phone conversations on public transport - just an utter lack of consideration for any other people.

No, all dog owners should not be tarred with the same brush. But perhaps not all people that would choose not to have a dog in the immediate vicinity of themselves or their children should be dismissed as a dog hating hysteric.

Well I think in certain places, on a residential street, childrens playpark etcthen they should be on leads.

That would annoy me too Jalopy, although I have had it happen to me and the dog's claw/nail scratched me quite deeply.

Wasabitpeanut you have put the point across that I have been trying to make quite unsuccessfully.

When did you last get a thank you for holding a door open for someone? It is the same sort of attitude. What always makes me laugh is the people who do move over when you are trying to get passed them with their dog - they walk on the road whilst the dog remains on the pavement.

And I agree with you Fimbo, and have said many times on here, that dogs should be on leads in streets, on the village green, near schools/playparks because of course you can never assume that a dog is safe.

But there are appropriate places to let dogs off leads and it is silly to say that dogs should NEVER be off leads, or should all be exterminated - both of which have been said on this thread.

No-one here is suggesting that not wanting dogs to run up to you equates to being a dog-hating hysteric.

I cannot think of any indidences of very irresponsible dog ownership that I have come across.

I just don't buy that most or even many dog owners are this irresponsible and uncaring.

I would be utterly mortified if my dog jumped on a child and if, heaven forbid, he ever bit anyone - never mind a child - I would have him put down, no question. I always have him on the lead in the road and I never take him to places which would be inappropriate or where there might be lots of people who are likely to be fearful of dogs (small children, elderly people etc).

I honestly believe that the vast, vast majority of dog owners have the same attitude as me. And it is upsetting to see so much vitriol aimed at dog owners generally when it is just not deserved.