WhitstableDave wrote:
Oh dear.
Oh, dear, indeed. I've bitten my now nearly bleeding tongue on this thread until now. Thanks to everyone, both dog owners and not, who have provided thoughtful and measured comments and advice.
I’m not a dog person. I never have been, and I can’t imagine that I ever will be. There, I’ve said it, bring on the abuse. My reasons are many and varied, and I don’t feel the need to explain, defend, or justify them. You won’t change how I feel, so don’t insult my intelligence by posting cute photos in response, or by listing all the reasons you love your dog, and why I should too. You can’t “fix” me by exposing me to your dog.
I fully understand how people feel about their dogs, even though I don’t form the same connection, and I respect anyone’s decision to include dogs in their lives, both at home and in the hills. Can you say the same about me? Do you respect my decision to NOT be a dog person, and can you respect my wishes to enjoy my walk without being jumped on, drooled over or to have my leg humped, and to not have to take every step looking to see whether it’s going to be into dog mess? These are some of the more harmless unpleasantries—only those who have been attacked or bitten can truly appreciate the level of fear that can be caused by being approached by an unknown dog at a run.
As Sunset tripper said in an earlier post, this is a multifaceted issue and discussion, and clearly an emotive one. In my experience, many dog lovers incorrectly assume that everyone feels the same as they do. I respectfully suggest that your default assumption be, when approaching someone unknown, whether out in the hills or on a local cycle track, that he or she might not, in fact, be a dog person. Keep your dog(s) firmly under control, on a lead if necessary, until and unless the unknown person shows interest in making an acquaintance. (If you’re unable to control your dog, then that’s a whole ‘nother problem.)
For all the misbehaving dogs I’ve met in the hills, I have seen many more that
are well-trained. Their owners graciously stand to one side with dogs firmly under control, allowing me to pass. Or the dogs return obediently to their owner’s side when called, and/or pay me no mind. For my part, I try to make allowances for doggy mischief that happens on occasion; they are animals after all. But there’s a huge difference between a heartfelt and mortified apology, and a casual “apology” of the “oh, sorry about that, but what am I gonna do, after all, he’s/she’s a dog” variety, without any accompanying acknowledgement of responsibility.
WhitstableDave wrote: Just because some people feel differently to you about some things does not make them trolls!
Agree, Dave, and a comment such as this lies far outwith the general spirit of helpfulness and friendliness (even during lively discussions) of this forum/community.
