Why do people react like this when dogs bark?

Question

i have just been out with my three dogs all terriers, we were playing ball and they were all running around having a good time. along came an older lady say mid 50,s 60s with her grandchild who was about 2 ish they too had a ball a big football . our lot were no where near them until my oldest dog seen they had a ball and ran towards them barking , i knew she was just wanting to play but i knew some people don't like dogs especially around young children, so i called her back and she came running back to me and we continued to play, still not that close to the lady and her grandchild. i did notice that every time one of my dogs let out a bark she would glare at me and she then came storming over and demanded that i put my dogs on their lead and " call off my dogs " whatever that was supposed to mean ! i felt so embarrassed that i left but now i feel hard done by

Answer 1

they do not know your dogs, I have always been taught to be wary of dogs I do not know because I could be bitten if I assume every dog is friendly, anyway it's not a nice feeling to be barked at by a dog you don't know so you can't really blame her.

Answer 2

some people believe that all barking is a sign of aggression, she was just being protective of the child and might have been concerned how you could control 3 unleashed dogs at the same time, some people are afraid of dogs next time keep well away from others

Answer 3

Quote: "I  assume since you didn't name the terrier that there pits. and we act this way cause there dog, cat, kid, killers of the defenseless" End Quote

What a load of c**p and BTW it's stupid ignorant thoughts like this that causes breed banning. You obviously have NO clue what your talking about or anything that is ACTUAL FACT about the breed.

Are some bad? Yes. Are they all bad? NO!  

Answer 4

The old lady probably didn't like her grandchild to laugh and yell, like children like to do, either.  People can be so stuffy.  Children should be seen and not heard; and dogs are even lower in status than kids, so they should be chained up in the back yard and whipped if they make a sound.  If your dogs are causing no trouble, aren't trespassing, and aren't waking people up in the middle of the night with their barking, then just ignore the old lady's glare.  Wave at her cheerfully, invite the little girl to play with the dogs, and maybe the lady will learn that dogs and kids have the right to have fun!

Answer 5

You know your dogs, strangers don't. Barking dogs can be very intimidating and frighten young children.

Were you assuming they were her grandchildren? She could have been minding them and be concerned for their safety.

You say your dog ran towards them barking, try to think how people who don't know you or your dogs would have felt.

Answer 6

i assume since you didn't name the terrier that there pits. and we act this way cause there dog, cat, kid, killers of the defenseless. your dogs should always be leashed and muzzled.  

Answer 7

You should keep your dogs on a lead when out side your property, unless your at a "dog park".  In some states this is the law.

No matter how cute, tame etc. a dog may seem to you, at times they can attack little children. Also many people are afraid of dogs and the dog can sense this and become aggressive. I know that I love my dog, but I respect the rights of others...

At times dogs can become Territorial and strike out.  

Answer 8

i don't like noise

Answer 9

Obviously , she was frightened for her child. I wouldn't be so sensitive about it.

Answer 10

Because many people don't understand dog body language and assume that barking = aggression.

Answer 11

She was right and you are wrong.

Dogs should always be on a leash in public areas

Answer 12

i hate it when dogs bark, it makes me jump, but i dont see why people should get paranoid like that,  

Answer 13

Because unfortunately there are many ignorant dog owners who have nasty dogs, yet don't keep them on a lead, or have them on an extendable lead but don't monitor them as they walk along. Just the other day I was walking my English Bullterrier past a young woman who had an adult black labrador. I held my dog on a short leash as we walked past but she allowed her dog to go in front of us, growl & attempt to bite my dog, who luckily I had full control of & he wasn't even bothering to retaliate (despite the horror stories surrounding the breed)!

     Though this woman's actions sound to me like the over reactions of a namby, pamby grandma who rarely gets access to her grandchildren due to over coming a problem with the sauce! I mean, if what your saying is true, you have 3 very well behaved dogs who react positively to your commands. She could have quite politely asked you to leash them, & I am sure you would have, despite the hassle of all those leads tangling together. She could have even explained her/ the children's fear of dogs & maybe you may have even apologized & taken them back indoors till later on. She was totally out of order If she or anyone else ever treats you like this again I would be so rude as to literally tell them to either shut up with their stupid irrational tirade or fook off!  Dogs are required to be kept on leads, but at the same time we have a right to own as many dogs as we can responsibly look after. We are required to excersize them too, & having more than one dog on leads can be extremely difficult. Common sense from all parties is required, if you know your dogs are well behaved & friendly then taking them on a piece of grass that isn't designed to be a communal park area & having them not on a lead is your prerogative. This coming from the mother of a 4 year old girl who was bitten on the face just a week ago by an unleashed & unsupervised Yorkshire terrier!

Answer 14

Oh people like that make me wild.  terriers are great, real characters and are usually very vocal.

But that doesn't make them bad as you'd expect a mature lady, with 50-60 yrs life's experience,  to know. They came back to you when called and didnt touch the child or her.

I'm sorry the old bat spoiled your walk but  I'm sure your little rascals had a great time.

Ive kept terriers for many years and now have just the one.

Greatest man alive??    It may be the law in the states but not in uk

Answer 15

People can be scared of dogs. You know that they are just playing but not everyone does.

Ok so imagine I had pet Tigers that I let run about and they came up to you and started growling. I just say "don't worry they won't bite they are just playing" - is that really going to allay your fears? probably not. Well that is how your dogs are to someone who fears dogs.

I like dogs by the way.

:)

Answer 16

The long and short of it is people need to learn to live and let live. Parks are for the enjoyment of all, not just kids, and not just dogs, for both.

I sympathize with you as I also got told to put my patterdale on her lead recently, she wasn't even barking or playing though, just quietly sniffing a bit of grass literally about 100 yards from where the complainee was! As I was breaking no law I refused. My dog needs to exercise, she needs to have a trot off her lead, and this is perfectly legal, end of. If she had been barking and over excited, and a child was obviously scared, fine I would put her on the lead. But if their phobia is that bad that they can't tolerate a dog barking on the other side of the park, perhaps they should find somewhere that bans dogs to go to play, there are plenty of places I am not allowed with my dog, try one of them!

I have a massive phobia of spiders, if I went over the park and someone let their pet tarantula run up to me I would react the same way, actually much worse! But if they were sat 100 yards from me with their spider, I would just avoid them. Simple.

Answer 17

What a *********.  Don't worry about it, shes just a grouchy old hag that needs to die.  You were there first, if she didnt like it, she shouldnt have choosen that area.

Answer 18

Dogs barking makes me jump even though I know it's irrational and I'm not particularly scared of them.

Answer 19

Because people dont educate themselves, the media doesnt help either, people would rather stay the way than ask why or show interest. if it happens again just explain to them why your dogs are barking (obviously there excited and see a ball they want to play with and are making it heard) just like a kid would scream 'I want THAT ball.'  Its like someone asking her kids to be quiet because theyre laughing and shouting, playing about. Call off your kids! In that womans words.

Answer 20

I am an older lady who takes my 2 year old granddaughter to a park.  She is afraid of dogs.  A dog leapt at its gate and barked as we were passing by the other day and she was terrified and in floods of tears.  She kept saying "naughty dog bark Chloe".  She didn't understand that it wasn't personal and won't even walk past the house anymore.  The grandmother was probably really scared that they would attack her precious grandchild.

Answer 21

As long as you had your dogs under control you had nothing to worry about. some individuals are really quite ignorant to animals and they are the ones that should be put on a lead, how are children going to understand and respect animals if thay cant watch their behaviour. maybe it was the old dear that needed to be put on the lead, next tell her to either get a life or get her husband to put a lead on her. i have dogs and no-one would tell me what to do, my dogs are under control and they love to bark when playing its only natrual same with kids screaming when they play no different. if she does it again tell her to buzz off i would you have the right right as her.

Answer 22

It's possible she had a genuine fear of your dogs, but she could have handled the situation better.  Like politely saying, "My kids are a bit afraid of dogs, do you think you could put them on a leash for now?"  There really isn't need for her to get all hostile....some people are just witchy, so to speak, LOL.  

In the US, there are leash laws almost everywhere, so in most places you would have been in the wrong, legally.  But if there are no leash laws where you live, and your dogs were respecfully using the area (aside from the one instance where your dog ran up & barked) then the lady was just being over-sensitive and a bit rude.  

Personally, I'd just be on a lookout for this lady from now on.  If you see her approach the area, leash up your pups and go home for a while, or take them for a walk somewhere else.  You can always come back later.  This way, you're being the more mature & reasonable person, avoiding conflict and staying away from unpleasant people.  Don't let yourself sink to her level.  

Answer 23

Usually people know there own dogs and you would know if they would bite or not.I am sick of people lately i have had people threatening to kick my dogs,may i add they are only small dogs.people telling me i should not bring them to a boot sale.Rise above them as they are just not animal lovers and probably hate themselves ,miserable sods,and then you wonder why i prefere animals to people.Go on the grass and enjoy your pets they love you.

Answer 24

If you were in a public place with your dogs unleashed, in an area that prohibited dogs off-leash, then she was right to chastise you.    If it was a park that allowed dogs to run & play off -leash, then she was in the wrong.

Answer 25

In public, use leash.. common sense and consideration for others in park..  Yes, I have a dog and play in public with her but when others come around the leash goes on.