thanks for all the lovely helpful advice and chat.

[ditavonteesed]

since I got cherry 18months ago, seems like yesterday. I have learned so much in that time, and hopefully passed some of that on. I shall be looking elsewhere for the advice in the future and this is the only part of it I will miss.

[hsmile] guess who I just ran into on my walk (inn the park, dd's really wanted to go and I couldnt drag them for miles in this weather and figured nobody would be about anyway) ................

........A friend who happens to be the pat dog assesor for our area

anyway, maybe just a break till after the hols.

scuttle, give that kitten a little gentle squeeze froom me. and you can feed my dc to your greyhound if you like.

Not seen said thread my lovely, but go with my moto FUCK EM!! dont let anything negative here get to you! tis not real the thread (that ive not seen remember) was more than likely a load of bollox anyway.

I am meeting P and co tomorrow in the dog training field, if your pair fancy a romp round with Jake and Lily? we can ignore the kids, smoke loads of fags and hope a greyhound comes along and eats the children ;). Tis only a quickie tho as P is off out with her DC in the afternoon.

sounds lovely 3cute, and just what I need having barely seen an adult all week, unfortunatly we are goign to the cinema at 10am, cherry did really well today and met 2 dogs she has never met before

I've not seen thread either (tend to avoid AIBU altogether!) but am glad to hear the 'maybe just a break' as I'd miss hearing about Cherry and Eric and have had some great tips from you, Dita.

People get hysterical about all sorts of things, I suppose - for some its dogs, for some its politics, etc. I totally agree with whoever said the whole thread was probably a result of half-term holidays and too many stressed angsty people!

As for dogs and kids (which I gather the thread was about?), my mutt was on the lead at the park this morning (he tends to lick toddlers' faces, so I do keep him on when any are about - till he learns a few manners: tips welcome, btw) and a tiny girl came rushing up to Mouse with open arms saying 'doggggyyy!'. I warned the Dad that Mouse was friendly but would lick, but he couldn't say 'no' to his daughter - so the girl got licked and loved it, but Dad, though smiling, was obviously anxious about dog spit.

I wasn't sure whether to apologize or not, as I had warned him - but did suggest he go and wash her hands even though my dog had recently had a clean bill of health

I haven't even looked at that thread; of course I don't think dogs should charge at children or that owners shouldn't pick up poo everywhere, not just outside school, but it always degenerates into a bun fight about all dogs, not just badly behaved ones.

I didn't have a dog growing up, and don't come from a particularly doggy family, but I genuinely had no idea so many people hated dogs quite so much till I joined MN. I'd like to think it's just a very vocal minority, and that the silent majority don't mind them either way, so long as they're under control, but these weekly threads have made me paranoid about taking mine anywhere they might encounter kids, even though both dogs are well-behaved and on leads. They are, though, quite nosy friendly, but I'm even cautious about saying, 'Don't worry, they're very friendly!' as that seems to be some sort of code for 'stand back, he's vicious'.

I like it when dog owners tell me their dogs are friendly - assuming they are friendly looking dog owners! I suppose if my own hackles prickle around a dog owner, I'm less likely to trust their opinion

Thankfully, just about everyone I have met whilst out with dog actually seems to like dogs. I know a couple of dog-phobics, one of which had passed her phobia on to her 7 yr old - who is now patting Mouse without fear, to her mother's gratitude. Although the mother won't come near him herself.

Ahh no worries, next week maybe?

Bless Cherry Now Jake on the other hand decided to hold his gound with an American Bulldog on Monday! :(. Idiot dog!!! but yet a Jack terrorist can get away with bloody murder with him .

Still twas all hot air and lots of clashing of teeth, was scary shit tho :(.