Or was she?

[Keeleynash33]

In the spirit of a doggy thread I've just read and has had me thinking!

When my dog was still a puppy, so was just an averaged sized dog (think bulldog cross so not vicious looking, not that that should make a difference in my opinion )

I was walking with him in a local park (think big, multiple walkways, lakes etc). Very common for dog walking. I had DD about 1 at the time on my chest in a carrier. Lead (completely acceptable for him to not be on a lead in this area) treats, toy and poop bags in hand.. (responsible owner not hooligan).

We were walking on the grass rather than path as not to get in anyone's way, my dog does not go far ahead (about 2-3 metres maximum) at all and has fantastic recall. A woman was approaching on the path and we were a good 5 metres away sideways as well as still distance away from her and she started screaming, stamping her feet and ranting and raving about 'that dog'.

He hadn't even flinched in her direction, definitely not approached or paid any interest. I called him back and as he turned towards me she threw her walking stick (one in each hand power walk jobby not actual necessity hobbling walking stick) at him!
Hit him on his head! At this point he stopped and looked at her dumbfounded as to what just happened! She raised her other arm to throw the second stick at which point I told her dont dare or I will throw it back! (I probably wouldn't have but I was mad and defensive ).

So, AIBU to think she was out of line? Or was she, as I thought at the time, BU for throwing shit at my dog?!

[echelon]

She was out of line. It's a public park where people walk their dogs. He wasn't near her or approaching her.
You had called him back.

Awful behaviour. YANBU

[Sceptimum]

I had someone go ballistic at me because my dog walked calmly past her and her pram, while offleash, in an offleash dog park. I pointed out the massive, fenced dog free area 50m away and suggested she could go there if she wanted to avoid dogs and she started going on about it not being right to have an offleash dog in this area - which is a clearly designated, sign posted and all, off leash park. People can be weird.

[Fluffyears]

What an evil person. I'd have launched her stick back at her javelin style, hope the pooch is ok.

[Nanny0gg]

Surely that counts as some form of animal cruelty?

[WorraLiberty]

I absolutely can not get my head around you asking this question??

No. It's perfectly reasonable to throw walking sticks at random well behaved dogs, that haven't even glanced in your direction.

I do it all the time, don't you?

[WorraLiberty]

But joking aside, she sounds like a danger to animals.

[Isthatwhatdemonsdo]

I'd have broken both her poles and shoved them up her Jacksy. I think you were quite calm.

[sizeofalentil]

OF COURSE she was unreasonable. If she has such a fear/hatred of dogs then she shouldn't have even been in there in the first place. Your dog was allowed to be in there and I imagine he wasn't the only dog there either.

No idea how she gets through the day.

[ThoraGruntwhistle]

Yes, she was unreasonable to the point of cuntitude.

[WellErrr]

My dog once walked calmly past a sandpit, about 7 feet or so away.
A man who had a child with him suddenly leapt out of it and actually rugby tackled my dog to the ground.

Twas bizarre. Poor dog. I went nuts with the man as did his wife as I was walking away.

Some people are just odd around dogs. Their problem.

[Kn33]

It was after reading I thread where dogs were the subject and dog owners were being branded entitled and people's fears blah blah blah and suddenly thought was I being ignorant and she was acting like your standard scared person would lol.

At the time I was just gobsmacked at how hysterical she was and like I would be walking a human eating hound while carrying a baby on my chest.

[Gide]

Wow, she'd have had her walking poles shoved up her arse if she'd done that to my dog!

Wtf are those poles for? I see people out in my local woods with them like they're going up the fricking north face of the Eiger-the biggest slope might leave you out of breath but it's hardly vertical.

[ZombiesAreClammyDodgers]

Your OP is giving me the rage! She needs those poles shoved where the sun don't shine..

[SweetieDrops]

She was a stupid bitch. I don't even like dogs but no way would I throw something at one that was just minding it's own business.

[Mishaps]

Were there rules about dogs must be kept on leads? Lots of dog owners ignore these. Try the Pembrokeshire Coast Path - it is a wonder no-one has been knocked off a cliff. Still the vast quantities of dog crap are holding the path together I guess!

[Kn33]

Mishaps
Yes rules, well less rules and more general warnings to the public that dogs are allowed off their leads in this particular park along with the please don't litter etc on signs at all the entrances, there are no actual restricted zones however the common courtesy is to pop them on the lead when walking by the children's play areas, which isn't relevant in this scenario