Please call your dog

Well, off I went for a walk in the woods to test out turning my back, lifting my knee, waving my stick etc and would you believe it - not a dog in sight!
I posted for some advice and also to try to understand why some people won't call their dogs. I can see now that responsible owners do and that the others are never going to change, so it is up to me to manage it if I want to go on walking, even just across the green to the shops.

Just a though [and has probably been mentioned already] but, if you're scared of dogs you probably look at them when they're nearby which might encourage them to approach you [same thing happens with cat's, I think, in the opposite way in that they always go and sit on the lap of the person ignoring them!]. Could you sort of train yourself to imagine they're not there? A bit like the way I imagine all the mess in my house isn't there and sit at the computer writing stuff like this...

So those of you who are allergic to dogs, what do you mean? Some dogs don't shed hair, so cannot cause allergy. I was recently invited into a small store with my Yorkie, who doesn't shed hair a grumpy looking lady looked at me and said "I am allergic to dogs". I just replied my dog does not molt? She had no answer to that one.

Please don’t tar all of us dog owners with the same brush - a lot of us are responsible owners, honest! As always, it’s the irresponsible few who give us all a bad name..

Dander (dead skin cells) is what people are allergic to in dogs, Marieeliz, plus urine and saliva.

I also am nervous of dogs having been bitten a few times without provoking them as far as I am aware. Most times it was just nips although one broke the skin ( the owner said 'Oh, He's hungry - he's not been fed yet' which I assumed was a joke.) but the last time was what I would call a ferocious attack. The dog was crouched and growling at a gate I had to go through to get home. I thought, well I've got to go through , he probably won't actually attack me. How wrong I was - I got a bad bite on my leg and the dog held on for ages. My trousers were ripped and my leg poured blood (I had a tetanus jab and stitches) and my leg was black and blue for weeks. I was told by dog owners that I shouldn't have looked scared, 'they can smell your fear!' The owner, who I knew, apologised profusely and said the dog only usually goes for men, as if that is acceptable! Sh didn't know the dog was loose but he is a guard dog as she lives alone.
The trouble is, in my village almost everyone owns dogs and if I have to deliver leaflets door to door I'm nervous about dogs loose in the garden or even barking behind the door in case they nip my fingers. I can't use a stick every time I go out!!
I really don't like them, which most of my neighbours don't understand.

I am astounded by the number of people posting that they have been bitten by a dog on more than one occasion.

I have managed nearly 72 years and been around dogs the whole of my life and never been bitten once, except by the various pups, which of course doesn’t count.

I simply can’t understand it? How does the situation arise?

A tricky one. I could take a short cut through a park but don't do so as the last time a dog ran up to me and I felt threatened and afraid. I've always been rather scared of dogs too. I make sure I have a shopping bag with me and put this between me and the dog so that the bag shields me, as it were.
Now my sister has a dog and I've got used to it, so much so that she sits on my lap during visits.

I think that there are two issues here.

The first is irresponsible owners who do not control their dogs in the proper manner. I think as I have posted on another thread, that you should tell the dog owner that you are very fearful of dogs and expect that they respect your request to be left alone by their inquisitive dog.

The second is the fear of canines by some people. Many of the instances described for instance your incident lovebeige almost 99.9% of the time means the dog is trotting over to give you a good sniff and say hello. It may help and give you a more pleasant time if you could perhaps address this problem. Make friends with someone who has a dog, go walking with owner and dog etc. It may well help your phobia.

Tegan is right. If you look at a dog it’ll think you want to be friends. Look away (difficult I know) and ignore it and it’s more likely to ignore you.

I was delivering leaflets one year and, as I was walking away from a house two small terriers ran after me; it was only when I got back to the car that I realised the back of my leg was bleeding from where they'd bitten me. My ex was bitten by his BIL's dog, but I don't know the circumstances. My friends small daughter was bitten on the face by a dog my friend was looking after; they'd both been sitting on a sofa and the dog woke up and bit her. The dog was pts straight away, although I did feel the situation shouldn't have arisen. I remember a German Shepherd that used to jump out of it's garden onto a flood bank near to where I live; I think I'd been told it was dangerous; either way, I didn't walk that way for a long time; I've always loved German Shepherd dogs and never really been scared by them apart from that one. Everywhere I go I take photos of any unusual dog I meet and we have conversations all the time with fellow dog owners. But I'd forgotten all of the negative things about dogs till I read this thread.

Actually, I should have said negative things about dog owners, really.

tegan little buggers! I would have been extremely mad I must say.

The point is that means a tetanus injection and care. You would have been perfectly entitled to go omthe police. What did the owner say?

I would have been beside myself with fury

A lot of dog owners are completely unaware that dogs need to be socialised and have proper training classes ...this is as much for the dog as the owner. It teaches both pet and owner the rudiments of owning, caring for, and general acceptable behaviour. Some people have"nt got a clue how to look after and teach their dogs or behave in certain situations. If you are going to have a dog as at pet,invest in the training as you will then know how to deal with any situations as they arise. It's a pity Victoria Stillwell's dog training programmes are no longer on TV a lot could be learned from those.

The dog that bit me was a border collie.

I have always been afraid of dogs and last year I had hypnosis to try and get over it. It has definitely taken the edge of it, but even so if a large dog jumped up at me it would still freak me out. People need to stop being selfish and control there dogs

So many tales of woe - so many appalling dog owners. It is shocking.

During my career I had to do many home visits. I have had a dog sit on my lap and growl in my face ("Oh, she really likes you!"); a poodle piss in my handbag; four alsatians rush at me on a garden path; and endless other traumas.

It was utterly crazy that folk who wanted you to visit to help them could not see that having a vicious or badly-behaved dog to greet you was not productive. I used to tell people whom I was set to visit that I would be grateful if they could keep their dogs under control and in another room.

Once the dog has calmed down, explain yourself to the dog owner. I know some people can be horrible but not all.

The problem here is that no council seems to think it is necessary to provide designated dog walking areas. Therefore dog walkers can only walk their pets in shared spaces. In America there are dog runs - fenced areas where dogs and their owners can meet and play. Drinking water is provided along with dog poo bins etc. Considering the amount of skate parks and other facilities councils provide, I don't think it is unreasonable to provide exercise areas for dog walkers - they pay council tax too. I own a large dog. He is extremely people orientated and loves to go for a fuss. However, I don't walk him at busy times and usually go out really early in the morning when I can take him on the beach. When he is in populated areas, he's on his lead and if anybody is scared we stay away. He is only being friendly but if you were scared of spiders I wouldn't keep wafting one in your face and telling you it would be ok, so the same goes for my dog.

I don't see why in these cash strapped times you can expect councils to pay for designated areas. Dogs simply need to be trained and controlled. You never see a police dog or a guide dog causing problems so it shows that dogs are trainable.

By all means have dogs. They're beautiful creatures but keep them away from me.

To the poster who asked about allergies. I'm allergic to the dander. I get rashes and hives when I come into contact with it. If it gets in my eyes they swell and weep until I can hardly see. If I breath it in my nasal passages react first and then, if it's really bad, my chest gets involved. I'm also allergic to the saliva so licking/nipping causes skin problems. If the saliva gets onto my fingers it can be transferred to my eyes.

A dog doesn't have to shed fur to be an allergy hazard.

And why do I have to justify not wanting a dog to touch me. An owner may love their dog, they may see them as a member of the family and even treat them like a child but it's still an animal. Dogs hygiene habits leave a lot to be desired. Just think where they lick.......why should I want it then to lick my hand or, God forbid, my face?

Providing an area where dogs can be let off needed cost councils a penny. They don’t need expensive play equipment, just a poo bin by the exit. If dog play areas are provided as they are in other countries fewer dogs would be loose in woods and parks. Loose dogs could even be outlawed.

For many people their dog is the sole companion. Often living in flats or small properties with only a patio garden. The dog deserves to be able to run occasionally.

I agree Vampire letting a dog lick your hands or face or anywhere else revolting. Our dogs never have. They can be taught.

A couple of years ago we went on a family holiday camping at Sandy Balls in Hampshire. (Four dogs in all.). Dogs welcome - but kept on leads at ALL times. But there was an acre paddock set aside for dogs. Poo bin by the gate. Nine or ten dogs could often be seen playing and interacting together. Doggy heaven. Then they’d be back on the lead and laying outside their tents and caravans tired and happy. And ignoring everyone coming and going.

I'm not afraid of dogs, I'm not allergic to them, and I have had dogs of my own in the past. That doesn't mean that I want other people's dogs jumping up at me! I have lost count of the number of times recently when some over-friendly, uncontrolled dog has jumped up at me while I have been out walking, leaving me with muddy or slobber-covered clothing. It's simply not acceptable!
It was pretty disgusting when we were on a beach and a dog ran over and peed on our belongings, too.

....I can't believe there's a place called Sandy Balls ....

QuEEEniE, what an unpleasant post, you cannot possibly tar all dog owners with the same brush, and as for how anyone talks to the dogs what on earth has that got to do with you!