Annoying dog!

[tigwig]

Yesterday my 4yr old daughter (who happens to be terrified of dogs) and I were having a lovely picnic at a local lake. We were sat on the grass with a blanket and had finished eating luckily when whilst I was in the middle of re dressing my daughter, after she had wet pants from paddling in the lake, a dog came running over. It was soaking wet and trampled all over my blanket wetting it, ran off with my daughter's wet pants, dripped on my phone and stuck its big wet nose in my bag looking for food!! It also sent my daughter running away crying as she really doesn't like them. Its owner then sauntered over and thought it was funny! She obviously couldn't control the dog and was trying to get hold of it. It did the same to everyone else who happened to be sitting near until she eventually grabbed its collar. She then returned my daughter's knickers and laughingly said sorry. I looked at my wet things and crying daughter and told her she should have the dog on a lead if she can't control it. Am I right? Would you have been a trifle annoyed too? I felt like running after her with a bucket of water!

[paddywak]

Of course you have every right to be annoyed in fact I would be downright angry. Max my GSD is (tho I say it myself) very well behaved but even so when ever we are approaching people, especially with children, I always put him on his lead unless they both know Max and myself, as a full grown GSD running up to somebody can be scarey even if he's a big softy, as most of the people he's running to don't know that. Most responsible dog owners do the same as a matter of course, so I hope you wont blame us all and that your daughter soon recovers from her upset

[dustypuss]

hi whats a GSD ?

[paddywak]

German Shepherd Dog

[alfieblue]

I agree tigwig - and i feel sorry for you!!! I have a pup and he is kept on a lead. Some dog owners are morons and have no respect for anyone else, like you say they find it funny! Yeh, such a joke!!!

My pup was attacked twice by dogs off leads when he was a wee boy and the owners laughed it off!!!

Please believe me, we are not all like that. And i hope u and your wee daughter have recovered from the nasty experience. The owner was a moron.

Don't let it put you off - in future, have a water spray to hand, (tho you shouldn't have to!!!) deal with the owner in no uncertain terms and let them know that the behaviour of the dog (poor thing, prob doesnt know any different due to irresponsibility re owner) is not acceptable. Don't put up with any rubbish and stand your ground!!!

Most of us are good owners and would not wish to upset anyone - but ..... unfortunately there are always a few...... :o) xxx

[sara3]

if you saw it on tv you'd probably laugh but in reality, I'd be p*ssed off!

[lajohn]

i understand and feel for you tigwig.
i would have filled the bucket with sand and water and send the daughter to pour it all over the dog-lady.

[alfieblue]

Ps: meant to say also - the dogs that attacked my pup: it could have been a wee toddler etc! Luckily I had someone that helped me - but what if it had been a wee child - would the owners still have laughed it off??? No brain people!!! They should not have pets!!!!

[lajohn]

good point Alfieblue, omg what if the dog had attacked the child instead? It makes me shudder thinking about if....

[alfieblue]

I agree lajohn - what planet are these people on???

Its such a shame - where i walk my pup, there are loads of toddlers, families etc -(particularly at this time of year)- i always keep my boy on the lead - and people will come up and say hello to us - and everything is under control - happy doggie, happy people, happy me!! Nevertheless, there are some that let their dogs off never mind the consequences!!!

tigwig - please believe me, most of us are responsible owners - enjoy your picnics with your wee girl and stand up to the few that let the side down. :o)xxx With best wishes - pup n alfie xxx

[frankofile]

I absolutely agree, with previous answers, owners like her give all dogs a bad name. But how about this for bad parenting? Some years ago I owned a beautiful, gentle Golden retriever. One day we were relaxing on a secluded beach, me reading, Robbie dozing in the sun. I heard a woman's voice say to a toddler "look, darling, that's a Golden retriever, they are gun dogs with very soft mouths. Put your hand in the doggies mouth" Luckily Robbie was delighted to demonstrate his soft mouth and just wagged his tail as toddler rammed her fist down his throat. If Robbie had retaliated badly he would have been the villain. I was speechless with rage at the mother's stupidity.

[frankofile]

I absolutely agree that dog owners must keep their animals under control, but how about some control from people? Some years ago I was resting on a secluded beach with my very well trained gentle Golden Retriever. I heard a woman's voice say " that's aGolden retriever, they are gundogs with very gentle mouths, Put your hand in the doggies mouth to see how gentle he is" Luckily Robbie played his part to perfection and wagged his tail as a small fist was rammed down his throat. What an irresposible parent, I was speechless. My owm kids grew up with 3 dogs, but were always told never to approach a strange dog

[Illyria54]

I agree, you had every right to be angry, like paddywak I have GSD's except I have 3 of them, in the Summer months when children are on holiday from school my dogs are lead walked on our local commons in case mums and dads are out with the kids, my dogs are off lead only when I can see clearly that there is nobody around, I am lucky in as much as I live on a farm so the dogs run loose around our fields, a lead walk each day doesn't hurt them.
I would like to say here that a dog attacking another dog does not automatically mean that the same dog will go on to attack a child, sadly this is a common misconception which often leads to a dog being put to sleep 'just in case'

[naomi24]

My dogs are all docile and friendly, but one of them is highly likely to go and introduce himself to people when we're out - always in search of a game. Consequently, if there are people around, he's kept on the lead. I'm very aware that although I love my dogs, other people don't, and therefore I wouldn't allow them to be a nuisance to anyone. You had every right to be annoyed.

[jules77]

I would have been annoyed too, and although there are lot of irresponsible dog owners around, there are others who wouldnt have let this happen.

In the same vein there are also a lot of irresponsible 'parents' who let their children run at full pelt towards 'doggies', obviously with the intention of stroking them, but to a dog it can be a daunting sight.

I do think it is a shame that your daughter is so frightened of dogs though, has she had a bad experience?

[tigwig]

thanks for all your answers, I know most dog owners are considerate. Just the ones near me aren't!
Jules, my daughter has always been wary of dogs since she was old enough to know what they are. I have no idea why she gets a little afraid of our cat when he goes mental and purposely charges past her on the stairs!!
I think she has been made worse by my sister in laws dog. She used to keep it locked up in a cage most of the time now it lives in the garden so on the rare occasion the poor thing gets let in it goes mental. Once it ran up to her jumping up it was only licking her but she was absolutely terrified and had never trusted a dog since. She recently played at her friends house and they have a lovely old golden retriever which wouldn't be giddy at all. It had to be put in the kitchen and garden though because she was too scared to go otherwise. Luckily the friends mum was really understanding. I would love her not to be like this but don't really know how to get her out of it. If anyone has any tips for me please share them!

[jules77]

What a shame she is so frightened, but not suprised if her only experience has been bouncy dogs that jump all over her.

She needs to know that most dogs mean no harm, but has to be wary of dogs she doesnt know. If you know anyone who has a small placid dog, it would be good to introduce her that way.