WIBU to ask this guy to control his dog?

[BuggersMuddle]

I was slightly scared of dogs growing up, largely due to a couple of family members who didn't train theirs properly, so they tended to jump up, lick and bark loudly in the faces of visitors (well in the face when you're a little kid - I recognise it was probably less daunting for grown ups).

I'm a lot better now, but am still a bit wary of larger dogs off leash / straining and ones that look like the ones growing up (which were mutts, but with a good bit of Alsatian mixed in).

Anyway, a guy came along the street with his dog off leash, which came over and started jumping up. I'm not good with breeds at all, but it was large, brown and very jumpy. The chap commented that he wants to play, but I froze and asked a bit brusquely 'can you please get your dog away from me, I"m not keen on strange dogs'. He was actually really apologetic and I feel a bit bad that I was quite sharp, but it was a big and powerful dog jumping up with paws on my arm.

I think the reason I feel a bit off is that we were on a charity day today on a regular dog walking route and i didn't berate the chap whose small (Scottie sized, but odd colouring) dog wanted to be my friend and was leaping up on me a fair bit, but to be frank, i don't feel threatened by a dog that size, especially when it's clearly of the 'daft' persuasion. Bigger dogs I can only get comfortable with leaping around if I know them and their owners and therefore know they are boisterous rather than attacking.

[formerbabe]

Yanbu! Dog owners seem to expect other people to love their dogs...I don't and I don't want them anywhere near me.

[scurryfunge]

Not unreasonable and it sounds like he reacted appropriately. People should not assume everyone loves dogs.

[BuggersMuddle]

Thanks. I think it was just the guy's face and then I thought of the little dogs and how I was okay with that, but I guess it is different, as while ideally I'd prefer not to have unsolicited dog-jumping, I don't feel threatened by tiny dogs, but sometimes do by larger ones.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

Ywnbu

I like dogs and would have said similar.

[AimlesslyPurposeful]

No, you're not being unreasonable. I can't understand anyone allowing a dog off leash on a street unless the dog walks to heel or has perfect recall.

I have dogs, two of them very large and I wouldn't let them jump up at anyone.The female weighs about 9st and is like a mad kangaroo when anyone comes to the house so we put her on her lead when people arrive so she can say hello without jumping up at them.

I can think of nothing nicer than a friendly dog running over to meet me but I respect the fact that not everyone does and if you choose to have a dog it's your responsibility to make sure it's not a nuisance to others.

[WaywardOn3]

I don't care about the dogs size, a well trained socialised dog of any size shouldn't be jumping all over people. If it does it shouldn't be off lead.

I'd have said something to the small dogs owner though as small dogs generally get away with such bad behaviour purely because they're small.

[porgie80]

Nope. I always restrain my dog when someone else is walking past- if they want to come and say hello they can do!

[pantsjustpants]

If my dog, well puppy, jumped up at someone I'd be mortified and very apologetic! It's just bad manners, and very frightening for some people. I'm not keen on strange dogs myself.

[BuggersMuddle]

I think maybe that's it WaywardOn3 - perhaps I WNBU with the big dog, but was too nice with the little one. After all (and I recall this from experience) it's not so 'wee and daft' if you're 5.

[pigsDOfly]

Not unreasonable at all.

Dog shouldn't be off lead in the street anyway, let alone able to run up to people and jump at them.

Small or large dogs can be scary and annoying.

Today in the park, mad whippet type dog/puppy started running around at enormous speed as soon as it was let off the lead. It started by rushing at and circling my dog, when she wouldn't play it took to rushing aroound and circling various other people, mainly parents with small children (primary school leaving time) and ended up playing wildly with a couple of other dogs.

The owner would call it from time to time but really didn't seem to have proper control over it.

It wasn't a big dog but I find any out of control dogs slightly scary and really annoying.

If I'd had a child with me I would have probably had some very strong words with the owner as it must be terrifying for a small child to have something like that tearing towards them.

[KurriKurri]

Not unreasonable at all. I love dogs of all shapes and sizes, but I was none to pleased when I was lying on the beach once and a huge bouncy opne came and jumped on me - he knocked my glasses off onto the shingle then jumped on them and scratched them. He was a nice dog - not remotely aggressive, just very bouncy and exuberant. So saying a dog is just being friendly is irrelevant, a big dog jumping up can knock someone over or cause damage.

I've had several dogs over the years and one of the forst things I teach them is not to jump up at people - its not that hard and training them is part of being a responsible owner.

[HappyAgainOneDay]

I don't like jumping dogs either. Mostly because I don't want its dirty paws on my clean clothes or its face near mine.

[maninawomansworld]

No YANBU at all. I am a dog lover through and through, I breed them, train them, work them. I currently have 14 dogs.

However, if a dog is in a public place it must be under control. Jumping up at people does not constitute being 'under control' to me.

Dogs are really very easy to train if you buy a couple of books and swot up before you get the animal - there is no excuse. Most people buy a dog then at 6 or 7 months old when it is becoming a bit of a handful think 'oh Christ, he's getting a bit wild, maybe we should think of training him'.
If you start from day 1 then by the time a dog is 6 months old you can have it sitting, staying, walking to heel and not jumping at strangers quite easily. You don't have to be a professional dog trainer for that.

[BuggersMuddle]

Thanks - I'm used to being very assertive at work, but I"m probably used to putting up with stuff outside then bitching at home & I had my 'your contractors haven't delivered our requirements' voice on, which I don't often deploy outwith the office.

[SpanielFace]

Not unreasonable at all. I'm an owner of a very bouncy springer spaniel who is often walked off lead, but if another person is walking towards us, I call her back and make her sit. I'd be mortified if I were the owner of the bouncy dog!

[SpanielFace]

That should say, walked off-lead in appropriate places, like the country park or open fields near us. NOT down the street!

[ChelsyHandy]

YANBU. I've been bitten in similar circumstances, it was quite a bad bite. I am now terrified of dogs. Recently a big dog came bounding over, it was dark and was very threatening as it clearly saw me as a threat to its owner. I could just imagine those teeth sinking in and not letting go...sorry to scare you OP but you were entirely right and the owner deserved it.

[Whippet81]

Nope - I am a dog lover (lying in bed with a greyhound on top of me now).

I have the same problem with people letting their dogs bound over at him. He's very nervous - especially after we were attacked by a Rottweiler a few months back. It has really made me anxious as I thought it was going to kill one of us.

The week after someone let their staffy run at us - it was only being friendly and I don't think it would have done anything at all but I was quite sharp and said 'can you call your dog back please - mine is nervous'. The owner was a bit taken back but tried to get it back - it then promptly ran across the road - how it didn't get killed I don't know - wtf would you let it off?

My greyhound is an ex racer - he has no recall if he sees something he wants to chase so I simply don't let him off. We go on 'play dates' where there are enclosed fields or indoor riding schools etc so he can be let off safely.

I also don't want dogs bounding at me. I have a joint disorder and I don't want to be bashed about thanks.

On the other side I walked past a grandmother with a young child earlier this week - she said 'ooh stand up the wall as a big dog is coming and you don't like dogs DO YOU?'. I'm all for keeping children safe around dogs and learning not to approach etc but encouraging a fear of them is really irresponsible IMO. He was on a lead and calmly walked passed without looking at them.

[pigsDOfly]

I've had the same thing with my small fluffy dog and children Whippet.

We've had children cowering away from her and children screaming and one mother yelling at her child 'don't go near that dog' as if it was some slavering mad thing.

I know some small dogs can be vicious and fair enough if dog was lunging at them, but she was walking nicely on the lead and hadn't even looked their way.

I do think parents of small children are doing them no favours to encourage fearful behaviour around dogs, on the other hand I've also had children just rush up to my dog and hug her. Fortunately, she just accepts their affections but they usually get a gentle mini lecture from me on not rushing up to a dog and asking the owner before petting it.