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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

I've just been screamed at by a woman in the park.

274 replies

TantrumsAndBalloons · 24/07/2012 17:26

I have 2 staffys, one is a pup 18 weeks.

I was walking the puppy in the park, it's a massive park, lots of dogs running about off lead, no problems.

The pup was walking next to me, we passed a woman with a toddler in a pushchair on a bench. Milo went to one end of the bench to chase a plastic cup.
The woman screamed "getting your fucking dog away from my child"
I called him, he came over.

The woman then came about 2 inches from my face screaming I was an irresponsible person, I shouldn't let my dog off the lead, he was out of control, she was going to report me.

I don't know what I did wrong tbh, Milo was nowhere near the toddler but she kept saying that he was licking her child's feet, but he was nowhere near her feet and he came back as soon as I called him, he was in no way out of control.

I understand people do not like dogs but isn't this a big of an overreaction?

OP posts:
70isaLimitNotaTarget · 25/07/2012 13:33

People are guilty of making snap judgements (based on what they see in the papers mainly)

Some staffs are little chunky barrels with delicate legs.
Some are more like a boxer in build
And some are really heavy build.

Given that most people have never seen a PitBull, they see and make a snap decision.

Sometimes when I'm out with DD, a dog 'sneaks' up on her ie moseying along, nose down, tail up, looking for the next scent to explore or on it's way to the park and ignoring DD.
If she sees them in advance, she can move herself. If it catches her unaware, she gets a fright.

She's terrified of being breathed on by a dog. The thought of being bitten hasn't entered her head. It's the slobber Hmm

DS OTOH thinks it's a good sign if a dog headbutts him in the nuts and slobbers him Grin .Odd child.

seeker · 25/07/2012 13:34

"Surely if she thought the dog was potentially aggressive, reason would have told her not to ignite the situation by shrieking at you like that" . And again. It's up to the non dog person to react in a dog savvy manner. No it isn't!

Although in this particular case the woman sounds like a loon.

Ephiny · 25/07/2012 13:40

Even if it was a pitbull puppy, that reaction would be inappropriate IMO.

poshbird1 · 25/07/2012 13:47

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns and so we've agreed to take this down.

LookBehindYou · 25/07/2012 13:49

Which they mostly are. This was an area specifically designated for off lead dogs poshbird.

higgle · 25/07/2012 13:49

Most people are not scared of Staffys ( and mine was the only dog of the 4 we have owned that never bit any of us) I have posted before about one of my happiest moments being when we took dear old Porridge to the pub over the road and a lady encouraged her little daughter, about a year old, just walking to wander over to him and give him a hug - he was in seventh heaven.

My personal view is that if you are such a wimp you are scared of a well hehaved dog off the lead you should stay at home. Dog spittle is in fact antiseptic and there is a lovely true story of a dog licking his owners leg which was at risk of amputation from poor circulation and helping him to recovery.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/07/2012 13:51

It. Didn't. Bound. Towards. Anyone.

It. Is. A. Dog. Walking. Area. No. Leads. Required. Clearly. Signposted.

OP posts:
LookBehindYou · 25/07/2012 13:52

Yuck higgle.

I'm going to try this tonight. Go on, let him lick you. It's antiseptic.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/07/2012 13:55

Can I ask a genuine question? A lot of people seem to think there is no circumstances a dog should be off the lead in a place where there might be other people. So where should they be exercised? All dogs need to be exercised, some breeds more than others and they need to be taught recall. I am at a loss to see where I would do this if I am supposed to keep him on a lead at all times. I'm not being sarcastic or nasty, I would honestly like to know.

OP posts:
PrettyPrinceofParties · 25/07/2012 14:05

I'm fairly certain that if all dogs had to be kept on leads at all times then the numbers of dog attacks would go up rather than down.

I remember one of my dogs being attacked by a mastiff type dog, and the owner saying to her friend, 'see this is what she's like when she doesn't get enough exercise'. Well bloody make sure she gets enough then!

There is no way I could be a responsible dog owner if I didn't give my 2 springer spaniels good off lead walks.

Ormiriathomimus · 25/07/2012 14:06

"It's interesting that some people think there are circumstances in which it's ok to shout, scream and swear at a stranger. There aren't. It's unacceptable. The dog thing is a side issue" Well quite.

toboldlygo · 25/07/2012 14:09

Have just caught up with this thread and it really serves to highlight how much hysteria and misinformation there is surrounding dogs in general but especially bull breeds.

It did indeed used to be the German shepherds, then the rottweilers, then the dobes, now the bull breeds. 'Wolfy' looking dogs will be next and we are already dealing with the fallout of that one (breed rescue is inundated as they make bloody difficult pets).

There are hysterical loons in all walks of life. So long as you are not a feckless eejit owner (as has been proven) - ignore, ignore, ignore.

hairylemon · 25/07/2012 14:15

Tantrums, obviously all breeds of dog that require a bit of a run about should be rounded up and shot and replaced with nice little ones you can pop into a handbag. Problem solved. Grin

EldritchCleavage · 25/07/2012 14:16

Erm... she wasn't too frightened to come right up to the Staffie's owner screaming, was she? If I were genuinely scared of a dog I would be unlikely to confront the owner for fear of the dog really going for me.
Chalk it up to oddness, as some have said. And I speak as someone who does not really like Staffies and similar breeds at all.

OP, my DS (then 2) once started trotting after a beautiful husky dog we saw off the lead in the park. His slightly weird owner, a sinister man in dark sunglasses, suddenly growled 'Ee dozz not lark cheeldren'. I have never got DS picked up so fast in my life.

Berris · 25/07/2012 14:17

The woman was out of order for a total overreaction to an off-lead PUPPY. If she feels that way about dogs, she should probably avoid an area where dogs are allowed to be exercised off lead.

My two greyhounds don't go off lead where there might be people, or dogs, or pretty much anything. If they go off lead, they will be muzzled, because I do not want instinct kicking in with them with any small furry - especially the younger one, who has a massively high prey drive.

By the same token, I try to avoid walking my two in places where there are off lead dogs, because they don't really like being approached by off lead dogs, meaning I'm then having to control two big dogs (which is actually fairly easy on martingale collars!).

toboldlygo · 25/07/2012 14:19

Oh, and my dogs are on lead at all times in public spaces. Their recall is extremely poor - it's a breed-specific thing, not for want of training.

They go to obedience and agility training several times per week where they can be exercised in secure compounds, are given free running on my own land (I rent a couple of acres for my horse but also have permission from a local landowner to use some of his fields when there are no livestock present - for the sake of a bottle of whisky at Christmas and the absolute promise to pick up after them), they are worked in harness several times a week. We walk a very great deal on complex combinations of waist belts, giant flexis, long lines etc.

It is possible but the point is that it is not necessary for most dogs - most dogs can be taught a very reliable recall and most dogs present no danger or even inconvenience to most people in public spaces. As always it's the feckless minority who spoil it for everyone else.

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/07/2012 14:20

Of course hairylemon that's the solution.

I reckon if I bought a really big bag, puppy might fit in it.

Big dog however, well he is scared of bags so might be more of an issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/07/2012 14:22

See that's what I mean, I live in a standard sized house with a fairly standard back garden. If that was the only place they had to run they would be frustrated.

OP posts:
EldritchCleavage · 25/07/2012 14:22

Have to say, I've never had a problem with a big dog in any of our local parks, nor any of the demonised breeds, nor with dogs owned by the local toughs, and nor have the DC. It's always the little ones, the indulged ankle biters.

There is a pug in our park that is a serial childbotherer. Its owner has it on a retractable lead she never actually bothers to retract, and always smiles moronically and says 'Oh, she loves children!' Yes, but the child is now muddy, scratched and crying in fear, so bog off. It once jumped up at me when I was on the way to work and laddered my tights with its gnarly little paws. I was not impressed. If you know your dog chases/jumps up at all and sundry, it jolly well should be on a lead.

NovackNGood · 25/07/2012 14:27

Yet another thread about Staffordshire BULL Terriers.

scottishmummy · 25/07/2012 14:28

many people would have chinned the silly cow
hardly conciliatory take on it.at all.
is that a widely shared opinion

Original poster
TantrumsAndBalloons · 25/07/2012 14:30

Can I just state that bloody retractable leads on little dogs should be banned. There is one near us, he jumps all over big dog, wraps the lead around them both and big dog just stands there confused. Every day.

If you have a retractable lead then bloody well retract it.

OP posts:
D0oinMeCleanin · 25/07/2012 14:34

It was a dog on a retractable led that attacked Whippy. It made a run for the end of the lead, jumping a small stream to get to us, taking the owner (who hadn't noticed us) completely by surprise. The sudden tug broke the retract-y thingy and the lead wouldn't retract. The owner was stuck at the other side of the stream to us, totally helpless.

I wasn't quick enough to grab the little bugger. Devil Dog chased it off in the end.

LookBehindYou · 25/07/2012 14:40

I think you're building your own straw man scottishmummy. And your thinking is going along the lines of 'oh ho, so they're talking about chinning and stupid cows, so all dog owners who have their dogs off lead are chavtastic morons who use their dogs to reach the parts their fists can't reach.'

I don't like stupid dog owners because they give me a bad name. In this case the OP was in a dog designated area where it was signed that dogs can be off lead.

PlumpDogPillionaire · 25/07/2012 14:42

seeker - I don't think it requires a diploma in canine psychology to undertand that if you really do want to wind up someone's dog then a good way to go about it might be to shove your face in the owner's face and start shouting at them. And I don't think you need to be 'dog savvy' to realise that that's a vile way to behave.