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Location: Tx
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 86
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There's really quite a lot of trust involved, since the person who does not like dogs has to trust the dog-owner to have taken proper precautions (muzzles/harnesses when needed, proper recall training), whereas the dog-owner has to trust the leash to be in proper working order and trust their dog to react calmly to unexpected things like loud noises or accidentally getting tripped over.
Should a person who doesn't like something feel obligated to avoid any place that thing might be? NO. People have the right to enjoy public places no matter what their personal likes and dislikes are. If you don't like coffee, obviously you don't go to a Starbucks ... but that doesn't mean you need avoid the whole shopping center just because there happens to be a Starbucks nearby.
Originally Posted by
labradork
If someone was phobic or terrified of dogs, then from their perspective it might not be their best interests to walk in areas with loads of dogs running loose.
Agreed.
Originally Posted by
Borderdawn
I dont like being bothered by other peoples badly behaved dogs while I am out walking, similarly I dont like being bothered by other peoples children who act in a similar fashion!!
Agreed.
Originally Posted by
Kerryowner
We were out [for a walk]* when a small child (5ish) said "dog alert, dog alert!" in a loud voice to her parents. I am afraid I couldn't help myself and said in an equally loud voice "child alert, child alert!"
Very clever! Brilliant response!
*brackets mine
Originally Posted by
Kerryowner
... I was accosted by a dog who ran up to me and was doing this manic bounce thing up to my face. This was a dog of a breed I don't like and am wary of and I was not amused and a bit scared.
Dogs like this and their owners are the reason that there has to be a set standard of public behaviour. Societies often have "understood" rules and governments have explicit rules for this very reason.
As far as the woman who doesn't speak English and is afraid of dogs goes, I would make it a point to put your dogs through their paces once you see her, especially if they have any cute tricks. Perhaps when she sees your dog responds to your voice and does exactly what you tell it to do, she will see that your dog is not a threat.
People should keep control of things within their responsibility, whether that be a large shopping bag, a dog, or a child.
However, this person who doesn't like dogs should do his best to remove himself from places like dog parks which are specifically set aside for dogs and their owners.
However, I believe it is perfectly acceptable and polite for a person who doesn't like dogs to say "I don't like dogs, please shorten your leash while I pass." or some such, to which a gracious dog owner would say "Of course!" and restrain their dog by whatever means necessary to ensure the dog does not violate the space of the non-dog-enthusiast.
Originally Posted by
Gnasher
We were sitting at a little side table with our daughter, her chihuahua and Tai, surrounded by people of all ages, shapes and sizes, when this woman looked down at me and declared that her daughter was terrified of dogs, and allergic to them, and could we please move!!
Here's the sticky wicket. IF someone is allergic to dogs, the dog-owner should not be offended at the request to remove the dog. However, the person who is allergic should also make an effort to move, rather than throw all the responsibility on the dog-owner. For example, "Would you kindly move a foot or so that way, whilst I slide this way?" No matter how cute Fifi is, everyone should be able to enjoy their day out and about without sneezing their heads off.
It's also very hard to know exactly how much control you have over your dog unless you proof him, and it's really hard to proof for situations like a busy street with a hot dog stand without actually being on a busy street with a hot dog stand.
I, personally, feel safer with my dog on the leash and would never let him off it even if the social conventions said it was ok. It's better that he under control and feel a little restricted than to be out of control and end up hurting someone or destroying something.