At the exit, our path was blocked by a woman with two huge dogs. They were wolf-like black and white dogs. I don't know anything about dogs, but they were like large snow-German shepherds. The woman and the dogs together were filling up about half the space between the two sets of sliding doors, and completely blocking the way to the area in which we had to leave the trolleys. It wasn't raining outside and it was quite warm, so she could easily have been a couple of meters further away and stayed outside.
Now, if you've been visiting here a while you know I'm not a huge dog fan but I do appreciate that other people like their dogs. I'm not even all that scared of dogs. (Could just be the OCD. Dogs do smell and slobber.) I just would like not to have them thrust into my face. Especially not the huge wolf-like ones. I don't know what these animals are like. For all I know they're not safe with children. I don't know what they're going to do when faced with two small children pushing two shopping carts with flags waving above them. I REALLY don't like that kind of situation. It always makes me feel like liberties are being taken with me.
In hindsight of course I should have just left the trolleys on the other side of the entrance and left her to it. I don't know why the urge to put things back "in their proper place" is so strong in me that I won't even consider any alternatives.
Instead, cunningly, I sighed and looked annoyed (probably shouldn't have done that) and tried to maneuver the children past her and her giant wolf-dogs as quickly as possible. I didn't say a thing to her. I felt like I was being quite restrained.
She, however, did not restrain herself quite so much. My sigh drew forth a lecture from her about how the dogs were perfectly friendly (I don't believe weird dog-ladies, with apologies to any dog-lady readers - I love you all and I'm sure you're not weird in that way) and how I was teaching my children to be scared of dogs. WTF lady. I had just been around the supermarket with two children pushing two small shopping trolleys. I was NOT in the MOOD for a LECTURE. I just rolled my eyes at her and hurried out with the children, muttering under my breath "Yeah yeah, whatever lady."
I don't feel like I'm teaching my children to be scared of dogs. (Am I?) I just don't trust any old large dog with a weird dog-lady attached to it to be safe around my children. I am, when I'm not exhausted, teaching them to be careful around dogs, to not trust them automatically.
I sat in the car, fuming, thinking of all the things I should have said to the woman.
- I'm not scared of dogs, but if I was I would like you to back off with them rather than lecture me in front of my children.
- I'm just being cautious with my children around giant wolfdogs, weird dog-lady!
- How do I know your dogs won't freak out around two children with metal trolleys? What if they accidentally push one into one of their paws or tails? You ARE blocking their way completely.
- Why can't you just stay outside instead of being ALL OVER the entrance to a shop, where dog lovers AND dog haters shop? Everyone is forced to get really close to your GIANT STINKY SLOBBERING carnivores. (Have I mentioned I'm not crazy about large dogs?)
- What the fuck lady? Get your fucking wolves out of my fucking face because I am motherfucking CRANKY after going around the shops all tired, pregnant and with two small children pushing two cocksucking small shopping trolleys. I am NOT in the mood to deal with your fucking animals!
Maybe I'm being unreasonable. But why couldn't that lady just have stayed a couple of meters away from the entrance? I think the owners of very large dogs should be aware that not everyone is a fan of their animals. They could give people the option to avoid their pets, by - for example - not blocking the exit of a shop for an indefinite amount of time. Or the entrance to the rabbit enclosure in the children's farm, for that matter (another place I couldn't get out of without passing a big canine the other day).
Ah well, I hope I haven't alienated all dog lovers out there. It's not dog owners I dislike (I love some of my dog-owning neighbours) - it's the ones that insist on continually pushing their animals into my face.
Stupid weird dog-lady!
*walks off muttering to self like weird non-dog-owning lady...*
Posts
Bless you, Mwa. May your tomorrow be animal-free and empty of weird people.
ReplyDeleteI stepped out into the road the other day (not at a crossing and yes, six months pregnant with my son in a buggy) the road was pretty empty except for a man on a bicycle. I was in the road but resisted crossing because he was cycling quite fast. He said as he sped past, in that 'fatherly tone' "NOT a good idea!".
ReplyDelete"Yeah, thanks Dad" I shouted after him.
I realise that this may look dangerous and that there was some small risk involved but I was perfectly able to calculate the risk (!?). It just really bugged me that he spoke to me in that 'man talking down to a woman' way. After all, I'm sure he's never taken a single, calculated, risk in his life.
Anyway, couldn't he see the size of me? He was definitely coming off worse if there was a collision. Patronising git.
Nope. You're totally right. Anything which has fangs is a possible threat to children. That is that. I don't care how well-behaved the owners claim they are.
ReplyDeleteJeez! I have a dog, and I HATE insensitive dog owners. The ones that don't restrain their dogs at the vet's when I'm there with a cat - "He won't hurt it" _ but my cat, going ballistic, doesn't know that.
ReplyDeleteThe ones that do nothing to stop their dog sniffing your crotch,fucking your shin, and dribbling on your clothes - "He's just being friendly".
The ones that don't clean up after their dog on the street (or worse, in a park).
My dog is far from well-behaved (though he's small and no threat to anyone, just a nuisance), and I keep him on a tight leash when we're in public.
Yeah, right. It's all your fault and you're giving your children a bad attitude. Mothers are such an easy target.
Shuffles off mumbling....
I like your alternative rant - and believe me if I'd been in a supermarket with my kids, the language would have been far worse. Dogs or no dogs.
ReplyDeleteI like most dogs, but you are right not to trust crazy wolf ladies. The other day I was walking along the road (alone, luckily) when this teenage kid walks past with a big, bouncy young dog. I could see it was pulling at the leash and coming towards me so I instinctively walked to the other side of the pavement. Anyway, the thing leaps up and starts chewing my handbag (which luckily was old and from Primark!) I was really not amused but did I get a proper apology from teenager? Non.....
Theres no way dogs have got any business being anywhere near a supermarket entranceway. Yep you should've told her to fuck off.The kids come first no competition.
ReplyDeleteI don't let my kids use the wee trolley because I can't stand the stress. My husband started doing it when I was home with number two. I will never forgive him for it and now if my girls want to shop with me the agreement is they are in my cart or they don't go. I hate Claire bashing litle old ladies shins in a fit of excitement.
ReplyDeleteYup... and once they start, there's no going back....
ReplyDelete@Jo - Thank you, Jo. I'm sure it won't be animal free because we're going to the park, but I can accept them a lot easier over there.
ReplyDelete@Troutie - It's funny how pregnancy does that - on the one hand people patronise and lecture you much more, on the other hand I get all lippy and tell them off. The other day someone shoved me out of the way on the pavement because I was going a bit slow for their liking - with his hand on the side of my boob! (I don't think he was being pervy.) I just shouted abuse at him, and my sister and her husband joined in. It was quite funny.
@Ms. Moon - Thank you. I do wonder if my dislike of dogs gets in the way sometimes. But they were HUGE. And the lady was WEIRD.
@Pueblo girl - I'm sure you're the good kind of dog lover. I don't get that people let their dogs loose in the playground of our local park. It's right next to the nursery school and has these bits of grass and sand that always have two and three year olds tumbling around in them - and then people let their dogs pee and poo there, often still on a leash so the owners are very aware what is happening. Which is just horrible. (There's plenty of space in the rest of the parks for the dogs.)
@nappy valley girl - I wouldn NOT be amused either. With a cheap or expensive handbag. That's really not on.
@Countess - Thank you. I like being vindicated by my interwebs.
@GingerB - Oh, I was regretting it too. I managed to keep them off people's heels, but two children at the same time was TOO much. I've already told them they're not doing it again for a while.
@Jo - Unless mummy's evil... Mwoohahaha!!!
I am completely with you on this one.....in fact such a situation could create a lifetime phobia in a child who is currently dog-neutral (made that term up)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! Supermarkets are torturous enough places with out the addition of wolf dogs and scary lady's giving out unwanted parenting advice..
ReplyDeleteAnd what is that about anyway?..its usually old ladies and always when your child is throwing an almighty wobbly that they appear as if by magic, imparting their "pearls" of wisdom.. hmm...its the devils work i tell u ;)
I think you're teaching them to be cautious. I had a neighbour who taught her children that all dogs were cute little things that you could pet. Her son liked to run up to dogs and hug them, as a result. He got bitten. Badly.
ReplyDeleteI teach my kids to stand at a distance and ask the owner first if they may pet the dog..and if the answer is yes, they are to let the dog sniff the back of their hand first.
I love dogs (I don't own one) but geez...there are enough nasty ones out there that the kids (and other adults) don't need to take the risk.
I like your last rant there. I'd go with that one.
You could have told her that bringing dogs into a place that sells food can get the establishment shut down buy the health department --unfortunately, they are probably her "service dogs" for some unspecified mental disorder... Too many doctors in the Seattle area are willing to write a prescription for "service" animals - then, there are rights that have to be dealth with, as opposed to "therapy animals" that are not allowed everywhere...
ReplyDeleteBy the way, if a dog owner tells you that their dog does not bite - it usually does, as dogs that are trained and behave properly do not have their "non" behaviors announced -- similar to the parent saying their child has "never done that before" when the little devil has done some horrible thing for the third time that you know about :)
I found your blog tonight and am highly amused.
Lunachance
Redmond, WA
Oh, Mwa. That's awful but that post had me chuckling. Good on you for saying something. I never know what to say to people who are rude in Dutch. I just get embarrassed and say nothing. Sometimes I'm not sure if someone is mad or not, it's hard to guage emotions in a foreign lingo, so I just smile and nod and probably piss them off even more :D I don't believe any dog owner when they say "oh but my dog is lovely, wouldn't harm a fly blah blah blah" When I was 8 I got chased by a dog in our street that was allowed to run wild by its owners. It jumped on my back and started going for me. I was just walking home from school and the thing came out of nowhere and started going for me. My coat was in shreds, my back was covered in blood and the owners blamed me for owning the same coloured coat as their daughter and that their dog could be trusted to roam the streets. WTF? (The dog was put down a few months later.) I do like some hounds but they are animals and ANY dog can be unpredictable and go for someone, even the sweetest dogs. People shouldn't force other people to be in close contact with their dogs. They make me a bit nervous.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'll mail you soon about a meet-up. We have visitors in July, I have to go back home and we're off to Paris so I'm not sure how much I'll be here but I'm sure we can do something :)
fbslim.
Sorry but I did chuckle at your rant, I don't like dogs either.
ReplyDeleteThere is an award for you over at mine so hopefully that will cheer you up and not a miniature shopping trolley in sight. x
How about "Fucking MOVE!"
ReplyDeleteOh, but the kids. Damn it.
People with dogs need to realise these things. My neighbours have a MASSIVE German shepherd which salivates when it sees my children. I see the neighbour try (and almost fail) to restrain it. They keep inviting us to theirs for coffee and I keep declining. I love dogs but all animals can be unpredictable and I teach my children not to go and touch a dog they don't know. I once saw a dog lunge at a child in a pushchair in the street, the owner pulled it back and said to the horrified looking mum 'don't worry, he'll only lick her to death'. Oh so that's ok then. In short, I agree with you.
ReplyDeleteYou were completely right!!! I used to love dogs but having people shove them in your face and tell you that they're friendly drives me crazy! Especially here in California - where people sit them on a chair in a restaurant. Crazy!!!
ReplyDeleteI think Europeans in general are a little too free with their animals- taking them everywhere, including restaurants. My in-laws have a small dog (relatively quiet and inobtrusive, but still I don't want her on my couch) that they take everywhere. It grosses me out. I can't wait until the dog dies. There. I've said it.
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh my ass off and love you even more. You are hilarious. And I am a crazy dog lady. But not a weird dog lady. I agree with everything you said. Damn woman-who-blocks-entry-ways-with-slobbering-wolf-dogs.
ReplyDeleteThis made me laugh! I am a weird dog lady. Yeah I'll admit it. The counselling and therapy has to be worth something, if not at least self-acceptance! I have a humungous man-eating wolf eyed Labrador. Don't be fooled she could literally slobber you to death. As for children, well she's very good. She only eats one very small child, a day. I've just come back from shopping at Tescos and OMG I could have done with wolf dog with me. Thanks for the tip MWA. x
ReplyDeleteI am a dog owner, I love my dog- but you were right. My dog is big and is the sweetest thing you will ever meet but I do not expect people to be just accept him, especially in public. But here in the states people are not allowed to just bring their dogs anywhere. I keep a sharp eye on my little one because she thinks all dogs are as friendly as hers and will try to just run up to them
ReplyDeleteMy neighbours try to encourage their dog to 'kiss' my 15 months old daughter's face. WTF?! indeed.
ReplyDelete