Scared parents - scared kids

[Doggiedilemma2021]

When walking our dog on the school run there are a large number of parents who seem very afraid of our dog who is on a lead and well behaved and go out of their way to avoid him going near them or their kids which at times includes walking in the road ! I reassure them as much as I am able but it is clear that these parents are teaching their kids to be scared too. I was shouted at this morning for walking my dog on the same pavement as one of these people. Any advice ?

I live in a very ethnically diverse area. Many Muslims regard dogs as being ritually impure - though I also know one Muslim family with a pet dog, so this clearly varies.

Sometimes when I'm walking DDog in the park I find that children of primary age are curious, but not sure if they should stroke him or not. DDog is pretty indifferent to strangers and is invariably minding his own business at this point.

The children are usually only loosely supervised; I use the opportunity to have a chat about always asking the owner before stroking ("most dogs are friendly but some aren't, so you should always ask first"), how dogs use smell to find out about the world (some seem to think that being sniffed is the dog's last action before he eats them) and so on. If it's just a couple of quiet sensible kids I sometimes give them a treat to give the dog. Basic stuff.

It's the teenagers and adults who are keen to avoid DDog. I've had adults give us so much space it's like they were social distancing before it was cool. Memorably, I group of young men all simultaneously jumped onto a park bench to avoid DDog, who was minding his own business at the time.

Fear of dogs is absolutely learned.

It certainly is. I learned it when a large dog bit me.

I’m scared of pigeons. Someone can tell me they’re friendly but it doesn’t put me at ease. I don’t suddenly trust pigeons and want to go sit in the middle of Trafalgar Square just because someone said those pigeons are really friendly

If I see someone is wary of my dogs, I give the dogs a slightly shorter lead so they can’t reach that person and use a ‘leave it’ command. I might also get the dogs to stop, sit and wait while the other person passes. If it’s a tight space, I’ll stop and wait for them to pass. I’d much rather people be wary of dogs, not just because you don’t know what can happen but also for the dog’s sake. Many dogs don’t like being fussed. My two are actually friendly and love a fuss. Dog2 is actually too friendly and we need someone to ask first (and wait for permission rather than just jumping straight in) because if he have warning we can make sure he doesn’t jump and start licking.

As for people shouting at you because you’re going about your business, if you kept your dog close and out of the way then there isn’t much you can do. Some people are just entitled dicks and nothing you say or do will change that.

I’m not a dog hater or a dog lover (dog ambivalent? 😉) but I don’t think dogs have a place on the school run. Too many children behaving unpredictably, running and swinging bags etc.

Apologies- wrong thread!

I tend to move away from dogs on leads because I don't want the dog's person to be that close to me, nothing to do with the dog at all

I too sometimes get this with my bigger dog.

It really irritates me but I just carry on walking regardless and don’t respond, except for maybe an eye roll if they are really over the top

I get this occasionally with my bigger girl (who is calm, quiet and ignores strangers) and it really pisses me off.

I do understand some people don’t like dogs, which is absolutely fine, I watch people around me closely and if anyone looks at all uncomfortable I put my bigger one on a short lead and move further away if I can so I like to think I’m a reasonable, thoughtful owner/person.

What really angers me are the people who are nowhere near my dog and make a big fuss, screaming, shouting, running into the road, hiding behind buildings and unbelievably, putting their frightened child in front of themselves as a living shield and running away leaving their terrified child facing us 😡
And yes, all the above scenarios have happened to me!
And in no instances has my dog ever actually been close to them.

It’s absolutely fucking pathetic and although I bite my tongue it makes me really cross.
When they dare tell their children she might bite them I make a point of telling them she absolutely won’t.

Ooh.
Didn’t realise the first shorter post had gone through there

I had this happen to me when my dog was still a puppy.

Dog and I walking down the street minding our own business, woman and child, aged about 6 years, several yards away, woman grabs child's arm and pulls her into a shop doorway, shouting 'don't touch that dog'.

Small fluffy puppy - dog is now fully grown and weighs 5.7kilo - and I walk on, dog not even having looked in the child's direction.

Parents have a duty to socialise their children with dogs. In their lives they will meet police dogs, guide dogs, assistance dogs and sniffer dogs in various places (clubs, airports, stations). They won't be able to scream and run away in those circumstances.

Walk your dog somewhere else.
And question yourself as to why you chose a dog that people would find intimidating.

@DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Walk your dog somewhere else. And question yourself as to why you chose a dog that people would find intimidating.

I take it that you haven't bothered to read the post about people finding a fluffy puppy a thing of terror?

Some people find ANY dog intimidating. And they can pop up in the most unexpected places.

Is your dog walking to heel or just on lead? If just on the lead then maybe get your dog to walk to heel when people are coming up to pass

I had a soppy, gentle, scared of everything staffie. People often crossed the road from us and I had abuse shouted at me on several occasions.

I have two enormous hounds. I generally step into the road (if safe) or stand at the end of a drive so people have space to get past on the pavement.
I understand people may be wary. They are bloody big dogs and could be intimidating. Some people have had awful past experiences.
But there are some people who I meet that really bemuse me. We often walk at an arboretum. Part of it is dog friendly and dogs are allowed off lead. The other part does not allow dogs at all. Yet people who screech and run (yes really) and scream they are terrified of dogs choose the dog friendly side to walk. I’ve also encountered children screaming with terror whilst being carried by a parent. Why subject them to this??

@DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Walk your dog somewhere else. And question yourself as to why you chose a dog that people would find intimidating.

My dog is a 7kg dachshund.

Please, tell me more about how I've chosen a dog to intimidate people

Shout back at them! If your dog is well trained and wouldn't approach them it's your pavement as much as theirs.

My son doesn’t like dogs and moves well out of their way as he had a small fluffy “very friendly, wouldn’t hurt a fly” dog run up and bite him. I’m tired and bored of “friendly dogs” jumping all over me. I’m not scared of dogs but prefer to move away from their owners, a reasonable number of whom don’t know how to control them. Shouting at anyone is out of line though.

"I also don't necessarily think the school run is the best place for a dog, to be honest. Lots of children don't like dogs, and the ones that do can be unpredictable and over-excitable."

I agree. Just because I like big dogs doesn't mean small children will like them. I avoid doing the school run with my dog for that reason.

@DoesHePlayTheFiddle

Walk your dog somewhere else. And question yourself as to why you chose a dog that people would find intimidating.

My dog is intimidating to some adults and children who don't know her, but she's very friendly. I wouldn't take it personally when they cross the road to avoid her. I have done the same when I see certain breeds in the distance too. It's very sensible to be wary.

My DD is pretty allergic to dogs and having one brush up against her or jump up can be enough to set off her asthma badly enough to need to go to the hospital. Obviously that is our responsibility, but being told "he's friendly" or "don't worry he just loves people" isn't going to stop her having an allergic reaction!

There have been several cases of people being mauled by dogs, I remember distinctly that a child was killed by the family pet, despite it being "so loving", until it ripped her to shreds. I don't think it's fair to call people pathetic for being cautious or wary around them, especially when you don't know how well they're controlled.

It's like what people say about PFB. No one loves/is as interested in your dog as you are. They are probably just smelly and irritating to strangers.

I’ll be honest there’s so many shitty dog owners and pandered dogs that even I, as a dog owner myself, don’t let my children near other peoples dogs.

So many dogs have a habit of just jumping up at passerbys.
One bite could lead to a nasty wound or scar, it’s just not worth it.