If your dog is scaring somebody, please restrain your dog

[kipperfan]

The OP has a reasonable point, if he would have toned down the anti-dog/dog owner rhetoric in his post I probably would have thanked it.

I have been a dog owner most of my life, and love them for the most part, but since we're talking about things dog owners do that grind gears...nothing peeves me worse then people bringing their dogs to public beaches. I see it all the time, all summer, every summer. You'll have some that bring their dogs to sit with them, on leash and they generally don't bother me much (despite the fact they inevitably urinate and defecate on the beach where people will want to sit down). But then you have the awesome folks who feel, despite the no dogs signs and tons of kids/old people/etc. in the water and the fact there is a spot the dog could (legally) swim 500 meters down the lake, they insist on allowing their dogs to swim at the beach, alongside all of the people. Now THAT grinds my gears!

[jonesy]

Hello, I like dogs, but some stupid jerk was walking his two dogs acrsss a ped bridge by Sandy beach with no leash. I was walking my bike the other way on the way to work. As we passed one of the dirty beasts suddenly lunged at me and gripped just above the knee, growling in a highly unpleasant fashion. I bellowed loudly and pounded it on the head with my fist and he let go. The stupid jerk paused and says 'what happened' all innocently. I really didn't see the need to explain to him what he just witnessed so I just swore at him. I assume he assumed it was my fault. I still like dogs, but was sorely vexed at both the owner and beast in this case.

[normtwofinger]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

But then you have the awesome folks who feel, despite the no dogs signs and tons of kids/old people/etc. in the water and the fact there is a spot the dog could (legally) swim 500 meters down the lake, they insist on allowing their dogs to swim at the beach, alongside all of the people. Now THAT grinds my gears!

Wrong thread.

The OP had a valid point, until he called the dog owner 'dumb' and 'terrible.' I agree the dogs should have been on leash if they were on a city sidewalk. But, Sliver you could have at least communicated with the owner politely that your daughter is afraid of dogs, instead of acting like they were zombie attack dogs and frantically running away.

Your overreaction confirms to her that the unreasonable phobia is a real and valid fear.

[Superfraggle]

Originally Posted by jonesy

I like dogs, (...) the dirty beasts (...) I still like dogs (...)

I call bull****. If you liked dogs, you wouldn't refer to them as "the dirty beasts".