Frightened

Also...people are much warier of a muzzled dog!

The old man had an Irish terrier X that bit someone outside a shop and dog was seized- owner was taken to court- it caused a whole load of stress- his dog was spared destruction, but he had to be muzzled when out in public.

I only know this as this dog and mine adored each other - if they saw each other out on the fields, they'd rush towards each other like long lost lovers -

But one day his dog was muzzled. {and he told me the story}

I think you’ve done the right thing to phone 101. I’ve chatted to our local PCSO before and this is exactly the kind of thing they want to hear about. In the days when there were enough police around then random men hanging around cemeteries are exactly the kind of thing they would have noticed. These days they’re spread to thin to notice, but they still want to have a feel for what’s happening in the local area. This one thing is certainly not something they need to take lots of action on, but it could be that multiple women are feeling unsafe walking there.

Obviously he could have been absolutely innocent, and phoned 101 about the random woman staring at him with a fierce looking dog! All we can do in these situations is follow our gut.

I'm not bothered about your dog getting attacked in a park or your anxiety. You're not bothered about me or any other mourners so why should I be?

Find a suitable place to walk your dog. If it needs to be quiet then find a quiet place, a hill, a field, a quiet street, woodland, a quiet corner of a large park, a private dog field, a beach. Anywhere but the place people bury their loved ones.

Your dog should be muzzled. The man was well away from you initially but you were watching and staring at him because you have a potentially dangerous dog in a place it shouldn't really be anyway.

Well recently I looked at lots of graves in order to get an idea of what kind of headstone I might like to put on a loved one's grave.
Perhaps he was watching your dog to make sure he didn't poo on anyone's grave. Why walk a dog in a graveyard?

Could have been praying, could have been talking to a dead loved one. My friend sits and talks out loud to her beloved late dad (fairly recent loss) and she is in as good MH as anyone else under the circumstances

Not saying you were wrong to trust your impressions but the post was alarmist about people with suspected MH issues

Do you think he might have been looking for a particular grave? I walk a lot in the cemetery near me as it's a lovely spot, and I often see people acting like this and they're searching for a relative's grave or trying to work out which section they're in.
Mind you there are always a few people around so I'm not alone so it's not frightening. I don't blame you for leaving, it's different if you feel uncomfortable and alone.

If your dog could potentially bite, it's best for safety of people and your dog's life that it is muzzled.

If it bites anyone, it will be serious for you and dog could be PTS.

If a dog is that unreliable, it shouldn't be around people at all.

I have noticed that ''nervy'' people have 'nervy' dogs.

A confident dog doesn't bite. {Old man's dog bit someone and it was very nasty}

Things like this are NEVER worth the risk. Sadly, we have to be vigilant, and take no chances whenever we get that gut feeling. A decent bloke would stay clear, not move towards you, and definitely wouldn’t stare. I’d have been on my phone to anyone I could reach, describing him as I calmly walked away.

Then what is your point?
You felt uncomfortable and you left.
Who do you want to play you in the movie made about this traumatic event?

I can give you loads of reasons why I choose the cemetary for a walk.

• My dog was attacked in april by a bull breed and and shepherd breed, this was on my road. Irrelevant. Go to a park

• I suffer anxiety near people.* Irrelevant.* Go to a quiet park

• I have family in this cemetary so feel peaceful when I am walking around with my dog.* So sod everyone who feels upset by your dog's presence?*

I am not going in there to disrespect anybody. I clear up any mess made and am respectful to those I see.* No dog should be shitting in a cemetery whether you clean it up or not.* Do you jetwash the tree it pees on too? No, you don't. Many of the trees and shrubs are planted in memory of an actual person. So upsetting to see dogs doing that. *
*
None of your reasons are good ones. You also stared at this man as he probably reflected on his bereavement.

There might have been a small risk and as a woman you should trust your instincts and stay safe. That doesn't take away from the fact that it is horrible that entitled people think their dog trumps bereaved parents.

If your gut says something is off that should be enough reason to leave. A school was raped at knife point walking to school in my twon last week. Let's not pretend that bad stuff doesn't happen to women and girls at men's hands.

Maybe he was a,wonderful human being and you was somehow totally in the wrong, but risk his feelings over yours?

Women feel off around men in these situations for a reason. Let some other who feels more secure in that situation stay and walk past him. I'd listen to my gut. Like I'm going to tell my kids that the local woodland is not safe.

Kind of weird that he’s not allowed to be having a walk around a graveyard but you are?

YANBU for trusting your gut and leaving if you felt uneasy.

Chances are he was just a busybody as others have mentioned watching to make sure you picked up any dog poo.

Everything @yousexybugger is saying.
OP is determined that she was in danger and being stalked by a maniac yet is happy to return to the scene of her terrifying ordeal tomorrow.
The “talking to himself” could very easily have been him muttering to himself under his breath “why is that bloody woman staring at me constantly?”

'The cemetery has had to provide that because of people thinking it is an acceptable place for their dog to go and do a shit. Whether you pick it up or not, I don't want your dog shitting whilst I'm trying to reflect. Take it to a dog field or the woods or something.'

Yes they are peaceful sanctuaries for visitors. Even if there aren't any by laws people should follow the lead of many if not most cemeteries that ban dogs.

There are so many other places more appropriate. No one wants dog poo or smelly dog poo bins in such places.

I will say that the various graves thing wouldn't be anything to worry about to me as in one of our local graveyards I have 6 relations spread out & we help attend their graves, & as for talking to himself, maybe he was saying a prayer or talking to his loved one which I do at my mum's grave,I talk to her as if she's there,it's a comfort to me & don't necessarily think that makes me a weirdo. If you felt uncomfortable that is fair & did as you saw fit which is great & if it is anything well you have done all you can

Very true. He may have a fear of dogs. Maybe he had been attacked by one.

Why do dog owners drive one mile to walk a dog? <misses point>

There are some strange characters that sometimes hang around our local churchyard. I'd never feel comfortable going there alone. Maybe he was watching to see if you picked up after your dog if he did anything, but talking to himself etc sounds worrying. Don't go there alone again.

You felt unsafe/uncomfortable & left, fair enough.

Re your dog though - was it on a lead and were you walking on main paths (not in and out between graves)? Just thinking I know a number of people who would be looking to avoid contact with a dog or who would worry about dog behaviour in a cemetery (and who would mutter about it).

Re walking looking at different headstones - I've been doing that lately as trying to choose a headstone for a deceased family member and trying to see real-life examples for inspiration, so I probably look pretty odd, although non-threatening.