Please call your dog

‘Difficult’ not diffi

My daughter has two large labrador dogs and from the moment she got them she spent money and time on training them to behave when outside and meeting other people - children, adults etc. It only takes a 'friendly' dog to jump up at someone who is frail or frightened, for the outcome to be unwanted and therefore, all these platitudes should not be tolerated. What you can do is to keep your mobile phone in your hand and make out as though you intend to take a photograph of the dog and the owner. You may do nothing with it but it will send a signal that you don't want this kind of 'doggy' attention. The other thing you can do is to google your nearest dog training centre because these days most responsible dog trainers also run sessions to help people such as yourself to overcome their fear of dogs - I have seen this done very successfully with adults and with children. It's all about desensitisation. I believe the onus is on dog owners, and those who have the fear to be socially responsible. However, you can't guarantee what dog owners will or will not do. Therefore, you can be proactive, take the matter into your own hands and take steps to deal with your phobia - you might end up actually liking dogs.

"Unfortunately it is not easy to stop some ‘very friendly’ dogs from jumping up to greet someone. "

Err....yes it is - keep them on a lead.

I try to avoid dog walkers when I walk my dog. Lots of dogs scare me. I will change direct to avoid some dogs. I try to walk my dog at lunchtime. Not so many dogs.

I had a bad experience with dogs which left me with a full blown phobia and I would freeze with fear at the very sight of one, even a poodle on a lead on the opposite side of the road! Thankfull, now I am (almost) cured and I have even had German Shepherds of my own. One product I have found useful for training and deterring dogs from unwanted behaviour is Pet Corrector. This is in the form of an aerosol can which emits a loud hiss which the dogs immediately react to and stops them in their tracks. I only have to show my dog the can and he backs off! You can get pocket size cans from Amazon, give it a try.

Oh I can relate to this. When I was nine we were visiting my aunt's farm. She had working dogs and I used to pet them. They seemed to love the attention. I was stroking one on the head. He put his head back then suddenly snapped, biting me in the corner of the eye and nostril. There was so much blood, my dress was soaked. I was given and aspirin and a change of clothes, that was it! It has left me with a life long fear of dogs. I really hate the way they bounce up to me when I'm in a park, and the owner shouts they're only playing, or being friendly.

It is right that people who are anxious/fearful have to 'deal' with their phobia -- which is usually brought on by the unwanted attention of a dog off-lead in the first instance,an actual attack or being unfortunate enough to suffer an allergy ? I don't agree -- I firmly believe all dogs should be on-lead/muzzled in public -- this is the only way to prevent unwanted attention and/or attacks.Having a dog is not a 'right' but a 'privilege' and unfortunately many people abuse this, and put the rights of their dog to roam off-lead before the safety of others.Having an out-of-control dog off-lead is not lawful, however, this law is not worth the paper it is written on.How is it enforceable? The police only get involved after someone is attacked -- that isn't a risk anyone of us should take and I personally do not wish to take it with my grandchildren.

It is really sad because I love all animals,always have done, but you get to the stage where you actually end up disliking dogs because of their selfish owners.

In the past year [and I'd forgotten about this] I've had a scar on my leg as a result of having a large, overweight brown Labrador jump up at me at speed [to be fair, the owner was very apologetic but had no control whatsoever over the dog]. And the S.O. has to avoid walking our dog at a certain time of day having had a fellow dog walker threaten to 'punch his face in' when he asked him to keep his dogs under control as they were upsetting our dog.

You can and should say as politely as you can when feeling so scared to all of the dog owners who make these remarks you mention, "Yes, but I am terrified of dogs. I was badly bitten as a child. Please consider my feelings."

Plenty of people are scared of dogs and dog owners should take this into account. Most of them do, just as most dog owners have proper control of their animals,but some do not and they are a problem, both for people like you who are scared of dogs and people like me who are often accompanied by a cat who takes violent exception to anyone barking at his mistress!

Thanks for this thread, l cannot tell you how many walks have been spoilt by dog and their owners . Once you buy a dog do you lose all sense of responsible behaviour, as it appears to me.

What about when the owners talk to the dogs as if they are babies. Heavens above.

Sorry, I should have said, I entirely agree that it is not the person who is scared of dogs who "should do something about it", unless she wants to.

Dogs can be trained not to jump up at people, all my father's were and no dog we ever had ever bit anyone!

Here in Denmark it is a legal offence not to keep you dog on a lead, unless you are in a park or wood that is clearly signposted as being a place where dogs are allowed to run loose. This takes care of one problem, as any dog not on a lead anywhere else is a police matter.

In Germany you can only own a dog if you undertake to attend dog-training classes with it.

Perhaps you should start lobbying for similar
laws in the UK?

Eglantine always carry a stout stick! I love a stick and even though there is never any intention of doing harm to the pesky dogs I've found it gives an air of being in control. Also, if you can face it, calmly offering the back of your hand for the dog to sniff has worked for me. I too was bitten as a child so am wary but find the stick method gives me confidence.

I have a dog dazer - battery-operated thingie that emits a high-pitched noise (above our hearing) that deters a dog heading your way.

There are many sensible reasons for not wanting to be approached by strange dogs, friendly or otherwise. There are no good reasons for allowing your dog to be nuisance to other digs or humans. I particularly hate professional dog walkers who let their charges roam around while they only pay attention to their phone. I never let my granddoggie off the lead, because he is very old & not very well, and I am terrified for him & me when loose dogs run up to us.

I kept dogs for thirty years (including a German Shepherd) and each and every one brought me great happiness. They were fantastic with my children and grandchildren and visitors to the house. BUT (sorry to use shouty capitals) people ALWAYS come first. If your dog is likely to run at people/jump up on people/ be "friendly" keep it on a lead. I can't really understand why anybody is unwilling to do this. I have been bitten twice by Jack Russells and only got over my fear of them a few months ago when I stayed with a friend who has one. If I had been so afraid that I couldn't be in the same room as the dog it would have been kept in another room. What IS the problem with putting humans first? Just to emphasise that I am a dog lover (though no longer a dog owner) we've just had two lovely, lively Westies to stay!

I want one of those dog dazers, then I want one of those things the police use to zap the bloody dog owner

I always call any dog I’ve been walking back to me when people without hounds are approaching as I find an overfriendly dog, which most are, quite embarrassing to be associated with. They always seem to be even friendlier if they’re covered in mud and slime especially if the person approaching is wearing a light coloured coat. If the dog is unreliable it stays on an extension lead. My DGdog who’s deaf is kept on an extension lead all the time now. These leads are a boon.

I did have one awkward moment when walking with my DM’s Staffie on a path with a bank one side and a water filled dyke the other. A couple were approaching and about 50 yards away I could see the woman was afraid so called the dog back. She came straight to me (titbits in pocket) and was put on a short lead. Despite the dog sticking like glue to my heels (she was afraid of water and we were on the dyke side) I was still berated loud and long for not getting off the path and daring to even have the dog with me.

lemongrove "Then a woman said ‘don’t try and pat him’ ( the terrier) I said ‘I have no intention of patting him, but if he gets too close I may have to kick him’ and she grabbed him and put his lead one pdq."
I am very fond of dogs myself but was once bitten by a terrier who suddenly stuck his head through a hole in the owner's fence as I passed - it drew blood and jolly well hurt for days. Had I been a child at the time I'm sure it would have affected my view of them for life.

Totally agree with Luckygirl.
The problem is the dog owner who just assumes that another person might, in any way shape or form, enjoy the attention of their dog/s?

I like the Danish idea of having dog walking woods and parks. Dogs do need to run free sometimes, especially those kept in flats. In Norfolk a lot of the beaches in summer time have a dogs to the left of the access and no dogs to the right. Seems to work well.

Public parks etc should be for all to enjoy. Unfortunately not these days. Children are in fenced off areas with their swings and slides etc. Which is fine as no dogs allowed inside. The problem is they have (in our area) space appx one quarter the size of the actual park some even less. The rest of the park is for dogs mainly, and walkers. To play football with the children outside the fenced in part runs the great risk of dogs jumping up, wanting to play with the ball, and DOGS POO! ( not all is picked up by responsible owners.)

And then the problem of taking DGC and DGC’s dog for a walk. DGC wants to go in the play area and the DGdog can’t and hates being tied up. Not to mention the people who don’t want to have children’s balls kicked at them! It’s a conundrum!

Am I understanding this correctly? From what I'm reading, in the UK its ok for dogs to be off-leash out in a public place? That's crazy. Here in Canada, we have off-leash areas (a few parks, beaches, etc) where dogs can run free. Otherwise, when out in public, dogs must be leashed at all times. Non compliance results in fines first of all, then animal control steps in and a biting offence oftentimes results in euthanasia. People are more important than dogs.

We are fortunate enough to live near the sea. Unfortunately the dogs have free reign on the beach for about 7 months of the year virtually making it a no-go area for everyone else. The real problem is the actual numbers, which the local council seem to ignore. There are sometimes around 80 dogs all running at will and it is really difficult to walk without tripping over dogs as they accelerate, in groups, towards balls or chase their ‘friends’ at speed. Regularly we have to contend with their ‘friendly’ advances. And yes, we do turn our backs on them but the grandchildren are still terrified. And don’t start me on bags of dog poo attractively arranged on bushes, excrement on the pavements or the number on dog owners who talk to their pets as if they are babies or children! I used to like dogs!