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Original poster

what is it with some dog-owners?

18 replies

emkana · 24/03/2004 13:08

There are two in my neighbourhood who really annoy me every time I come across them with dd. They will let the dog come up really closely to dd (who is OBVIOUSLY scared and backing away) while saying "Oh, he loves children" or "Look, he looks like a teddy!" or "Do you want to stroke him?" NOOOOO! Why can't they see that dd hates it?
It really winds me up!

OP posts:

CountessDracula · 24/03/2004 13:13

Why don't you just say "take your dog away my dd doesn't like them!"

katzguk · 24/03/2004 13:15

hi, i'm sorry about the dogs in your area, we try not to let our dog go near other children, even though she loves children. Why not try saying something to the owner? i know i would take offence.

CountessDracula · 24/03/2004 13:31

It's not the dogs' fault katzguk!!!! Only the owners

Freckle · 24/03/2004 13:44

I try to ensure that my children ask before touching someone else's dog, so you'd think that the owners would be as careful. We have a dog and unfortunately my boys often think that all dogs are like him. They also can't always distinguish between a small dog and a puppy. In their eyes, small dog = puppy so it should be alright to stroke.

But my real bugbear is the inconsiderate bstrds who let their dogs crp all over the place and don't clear it up. We walk over a mile to school each day and I spend so much time shouting at the boys to watch where they are walking. Particularly on footpaths and alleyways. I know that people think they can get away with it if the footpath isn't overlooked, but most of them must* know that the footpaths are used by a lot of children and it is downright criminal to leave that sort of mess behind. I am constantly calling the local council asking them to send out a team to clearup (apparently they have to clear it within 24 hours if it's dogs' mess) and the chap at the council has started to recognise my voice! I take my dog with me when I walk the boys to school, but I always ensure that I have the wherewithall to clear up after him. Sorry, hijacked your thread.

Original poster

emkana · 01/04/2004 19:19

Today something happened with a dog that made me soooo angry!!! I was walking across the local playing field with dd1 (nearly 3) and dd2 in a buggy. A dog ran towards us, very fast, and when it reached us it first nearly jumped into dd2's buggy - I turned it around to get away from the dog. Then the dog started jumping up dd1, right into her face, several times. She screamed with terror and I picked her up, feeling rather scared myself. At this stage the owner, who also had a small child with him, finally caught up with the dog and restrained it. I shouted at him that he should watch more carefully where his dog was going and he looked at me disdainfully and said "He was only being friendly!"
FFS!!! I said "And how is my daughter supposed to know that?" and walked away, but I was so angry I was shaking!!! What about those cases in which a child has been seriously injured by a dog?

OP posts:

spacemonkey · 01/04/2004 19:21

the owner is an irresponsible bloody idiot

my dd has been scarred for life after having half her top lip bitten off by a supposedly "friendly" dog

grrr!

Original poster

emkana · 01/04/2004 19:27

Very sorry to hear about your daughter spacemonkey!

OP posts:

coppertop · 01/04/2004 19:48

Ds1 developed a fear of dogs after one jumped on him. It was a Staffie and on one of those extendible leads. The owner was too busy texting on her mobile to notice that the dog had reached the end of the lead. It leapt up at ds1 (then only 2.5yrs) and I had to grab him to get him out of the way (ds1, not the dog). I was so shaken that I couldn't even speak to the owner. She just casually sauntered off still texting away.

Ds1 is now nearly 4yrs old and still terrified of dogs on leads or any that get too close.

Slinky · 01/04/2004 20:16

Had a similar experience with DD1 when she was a toddler - now resulted in her being petrified of dogs.

Walking across playing field to get to the swings once - DD1 (then 2) and DS1 in a pushchair, a dog came bounding up to us. I was wary so pulled DD1 closer to me. The dog knocked her over and then circled her. I was absolutely LIVID and was shouting at the bloke to call it off. He stood there and laughed saying the usual "oh, he won't hurt her, only being friendly, wants to play" stuff. DD1 started screaming and I just lunged at the dog and pushed the bloody mutt out of the way, grabbing DD1.

She was shaking with fear and is now, at the age of 8.5, petrified of dogs and sticks very close to me if we see one without a lead.

Another incident last summer, (same field!) whereby 2 HUGE dogs (not sure of breed) but taller than my 4yo came bounding up to ME and circled me and one jumped up! Again, same stuff "oh he wants to play, wants to kiss you, etc etc".

Pennypocket · 02/04/2004 12:35

Some dog owners are downright irresponsible but some people can be just as bad. DP was walking our dog in a local beauty spot that has a huge resevoir in it. DS aged 2.5 was with him too.
At the point where the path gets quite close to the resevoir the dog slipped his lead and some children in the distance (aged around 8) started calling and waving to him. Our dog raced off to them but instead of going to the children he went to the woman who was with the children (dog has been taught not to jump up at kids). The woman screamed at Dp to get the dog (who wasn't even jumping up but sniffing around) and when he said he would come as soon as he had picked up DS she ordered him to leave Ds alone to get the dog as "no-one would run off with DS". Dp said there was no way he was leaving DS alone by deep water so the stupid woman picked up a stick and started belting our dog with it. Bearing in mind our dog is a rescue dog who has just got over being badly treated, this made my blood boil. all I can say is its a shame I wasn't there. As a result our dog cowers a lot now and seems subdued - not like him at all

We have lived in Yorkshire now for 9 months and have always met lovely people - now we meet 2 thoroughly nasty ones in under 2 weeks (see post about huge row over PT parking spaces - got called gobsh*te then for having an opinion!!)

marthamoo · 02/04/2004 12:52

I had a boxer jump up on ds1 when he was about 2 - he was in his buggy and we were walking through the park. This dog was slathering all over his face and I didn't dare try and grab it in case it bit him. The owner was calling it back but it was taking no notice. When she caught up with us she said "aww, he's just being friendly, he woulldn't have hurt him" - ds1 was screaming by this stage. I said "if you can't control your bl**dy dog you shouldn't take him off the lead." and she looked flabbergasted - like how could I object to her lovely dog slobbering all over my baby's face.

And don't even get me started on dog pooh...

Not really a dog person, can you tell?

Slinky · 02/04/2004 13:13

"like how could I object to her lovely dog slobbering all over my baby's face".

LOL - yep you've hit the nail on the head there!!

Why is it that some dog owners think you should absolutely LOVE their dog just like they do and don't understand why you don't like your face licked????!!

Well, it turns my stomach personally - do not want to be licked by a strange dog who probably had just finished licking its b***ks/backside

Galaxy · 02/04/2004 13:22

message withdrawn

Gumdrop · 02/04/2004 13:25

Oh, I'm really sorry you've had all these nightmare incidents with dog owners. Honestly we're not all like that. I try and keep ours under control, even when they are off the lead - in that they do know when I shout Heel it means right now, and they wouldn't dream of trying to jump up or lick anyone. (And I bag the poo!)

Only a suggestion, but could you try saying in v. frosty terms, "My child IS frightened by your dog, please can you take the dog away NOW". It probably wouldn't make you mrs popular, but it doesn't leave any room for misinterpretation.

Personally I would be mortified if someone said something like this to me.

Gumdrop · 02/04/2004 13:42

Or - if the owner won't control the dog, have a go at doing it yourself. In best Barbara Woodhouse, huntin, shootin, fishin type voice shout "DOWN", "Bad dog", SIT etc.

The only other thing I can think of is if the dog is jumping up then turn your back on it, but that's difficult if they are jumping up at children, who might end up pushed over.

Please don't pick up stick and hit dog with it - you should hit the owner instead - I'm joking, I'm joking!.

maomao · 02/04/2004 13:51

I agree that some dog owners really are very irresponsible. (Don't even get me started on owners who don't clean up after their dogs!) Incidents like these really bother me, because we really go out of our way to not let things like this happen with our dog. Our dog loves children, but when children and/or pushchairs pass by, we take her to the side and make her sit and wait. We only let her approach children if we're asked if they can pet her....

geekgrrl · 02/04/2004 14:06

ooh, don't get me started... we have a public footpath at the bottom of our garden and had to fence our garden in because people were being such t*ssers. I've become a real dog-hater since moving here. Frequently had dogs bounding up to me in the garden (far away from the footpath) and owners totally absolving themselves of all responsibility. The lanes and footpaths around here (Yorkshire Dales) are completely soiled with dog poo and when I walk dd home from school we have to have our eyes firmly planted on the ground.
Have also stopped running outdoors and now use the treadmill, as, suprise, surprise, I do actually find huge dogs racing towards me & barking & growling rather frightening (much to the amusement of their owners).

katierocket · 02/04/2004 14:14

DS (2.5) was bitten by a puppy about 6 months ago

we were in a park and I was next to ds who was running around. dog came bounding over - owners miles away. I'm always nervous around dogs anyway but didnt' immediately snatch ds up - however when dog got too close I went to pick him up only to hear him scream and then i saw blood - everything went in slow motion it was awful - thankfully it was just a nip and I think dog was just overexcited but owners came over and said don't worry it wouldn't bite him. WHen I said "but it has" they went very pale.

I really can't stand the assumption that a dog "will be fine" with a toddler or a baby because I think that even the calmest most well trained dog can be irratic around children.

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