Frightened

Perhaps he was too scared to come up the hill to get where he needed to go because of your dog? I’m assuming it was off lead if you were worried about it not wearing a muzzle otherwise you’d have been close enough to ensure your dog didn’t bite. I’d not get too close to a person who had an off lead animal with them, regardless of if it’s a collie or a Rottweiler

I get you felt uneasy OP but I have two graves to visit. I also talk to my relatives out loud (if I think no one can hear). I also have a wonder round the cemetery because it's peaceful. Personally I find it odd that you go there just to walk a dog and I may well be watching you wondering what on earth you are doing. What you also have to realise is whilst you realised he kept looking at you, he also noticed you kept looking at him. 50/50 I'd say.

'I suffer anxiety near people'

I think this is the crux of it op .

This is quite likely.

I do visit a Cemetery and bring dog.

Luckily when visiting, dog hasn't pooed in the cemetery, as it's a 20 minute walk to get there.

As for 'talking to himself' could he be on bluetooth?

HOWEVER- I completely agree that if someone sets your radar off, believe it, and get the hell away from them.

I was followed once on a dog walk when in my 30's- the man {younger than me} was definitely following, as I was taking a twisting course to see if he was following.

I think he was trying to scare me, so I caught dogs up and had them on short leads that made them ''keener looking''.

It was unpleasant.

Those saying "I always pick up after my dog" and there are dog poo bins are completely missing the point.

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.

There are plenty of examples in the media and many cemeteries do ban dogs so maybe stop and think about why that might be. Why the need to take your dog there??

www.lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/environment/shame-of-dog-walkers-fouling-a-lancashire-cemetery-657125

petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2087

lifehacker.com/is-it-ever-ok-to-walk-your-dog-in-a-cemetery-1849171034

A flasher was arrested in our local cemetery. Report it OP, he doesn't sound as if he was just visiting a grave.

There are four members of my extended family in the cemetery where my DDad is. I always go and see all of them when I'm there.

I think you were right to follow your gut instinct. But if I were walking between my family graves and a dog walker suddenly turned and stared at me, I'd think they were the one acting strangely.

The police may or may not be interested, depending on what else they are aware of in the area. Cemeteries can be quite isolated and secluded, as can other places where people walk dogs; and yes it's possible that a mugger or other criminal might go for an opportunistic victim when there's no-one else around. (I'd be more worried in places other than cemeteries, as visiting several graves isn't inexplicable to me; but wherever that gut instinct strikes it's worth getting away from)

'Always trust your gut'

I'm not sure that is advisable. There are so many extremely anxious people around, gut trusting is not reliable.

If someone struggles being alone when out and overanalyses other people's behaviour then they should always have someone with them for support.

I think that some men get off on intimidation. A bit like flashing. Walking a bit too close, following a women or staring is easily deniable but will cause a reaction so they can feel powerful.

It's the way she's gone on and on about this danger that never materialised and it being linked to MH. OP thought someone was a potential risk, wanted to ask opinions and reported it. Fine.

But going adding details about how scared she was and how this scary man in the graveyard probably had MH problems with no proof, about him talking to himself, his exact movement. To me it is stirring up both drama and stigma. Language is important.

She's the one who saw him and identified a risk to himself or others. No problem. That's what the police are for.

I didn't like the tone personally. She left safely by car and is confident enough to go back tomorrow so why make such a fuss? He did nothing wrong in the event.

If you’re on Facebook it could be worth checking any local dog walking groups to see if anyone’s mentioned the same guy, or seeing if the cemetery has a Friends of… page and seeing if anyone has posted about similar things

It could be totally innocent, my dad and I spend a bit of time wandering the cemetery as we're still deciding what to plant for mum and are looking for ideas. I often think we must look a bit odd if anyone's watching us. But if you're instinct is telling you to run, run. Always. Much better to look like a weirdo fleeing hysterically from an imagined danger than to remain and find yourself in real danger.

I don't like being near dogs to the point of phobia. People like looking at gravestones, there are even YouTube videos of people doing it. If I had been in a graveyard I wouldn't have anticipated a dog being walked and would have kept a very close eye on where you were.

Excellent point. The OP must've been looking at him every time she saw him looking at her. Maybe he was wondering why you kept looking at him.

Likely it was nothing, but always best to trust instinct and be cautious.

He might have been talking to loved one at grave side watching you as he felt awkward, is nervous of the dog.

But equally could have been more sinister so leaving quickly was sensible. I wouldn't be going back with or without a friend.

Always trust your gut. It may have been nothing, but it is not worth taking the risk, and being frightened is horrible.

I wouldn't report this man though because he didn't really do anything and may have been in a bad way himself, because of losing someone he loved.

'There is nothing disrespectful about taking my dog for a walk in the cemetary'

But many cemeteries don't allow it so obviously some feel it is inappropriate.

Many people wander about looking at gravestones or just taking in the calm and poignant surroundings.

I'd just walk your dog in actual dog walking areas like parks and woods and not bother too much about others minding their own business.

"Why is not OK?
Our cemetery has dog poo bins in several places and a sign reminding people to pick the dog poo up.
They are not banned."

Yes, can you imagine the state that led to them having to do that?

"theres nothing selfish or entitled about walking my dog in the cemetary, loads of people do it."

Loads of people doing it doesn't make it ok. You've been made aware that plenty of people find it disrespectful and uncomfortable. That should be enough for you to take pause and think for a moment. The fact you refuse to do even that proves that your entitlement wins over anything else.

It is entirely possible that he was upset that some dog walker he feels should go elsewhere had interrupted his visit and then stood staring at him before running off.

You definitely did the right thing OP, both leaving and logging it.

I'm fairly sure OP can answer for herself.