Nervous of dogs

I suppose it depends on what you mean by come up to you? If my dog is off lead she will walk on by right next to you (in the same way a human would), ignoring you unless you specifically interacted. If you mean an out of control dog bounding up to you obviously that isn’t on.

YANBU. I do this all the time and have done for 30 years! I’m not a dog person (I’m clearly satan personified).

Wouldn't be a problem if dog owners understood not everyone likes dogs but they don’t. I’ve had some near misses and dog jumping up etc so I’ll just cross the road or change direction now!

You don’t owe it to people to like dogs or their dog.

Thanks to the vast numbers of dog owning tossers out there, there are many places I can't go anymore. I'm disabled, walk with crutches and cannot bear the thought of loose dogs running at me and jumping up/knocking me over - yes it has happened in my fear and haste to get away from the slobbering mutts. I'd quite like to avoid further surgery from a fall, and also prefer not be avoiding piles of shit, ffs.

It's happened to us so much that I actively avoid places like parks now because my son is just a nervous wreck the entire time anticipating a dog coming over because it has happened so often.

But actually, I don’t find it happens all that much when out and about either. It’s obviously not a universal experience, it doesn’t mean that either of you are exaggerating/minimising.

I do sometimes get sniffed at by friends’ dogs in their homes, which can be a bit annoying. (Probably because I smell of cats.)

If it keeps them away, I’m good!

Not unreasonable to be nervous but what you're doing might make matters worse.

Just ignore and keep walking at a steady pace, hands in pockets/by your side. If a dog does actually jump up, stand still, 'be a tree' and ask the owner to recall their dog (in as even a tone as you can manage).

Shouting, staring, waving hands, running, high pitched noises, kicking out - all more likely to wind a dog up, or if the dog is conflicted/anxious etc, trigger an aggressive response.

To be clear here - it isn't your problem what the dogs motivation is, the owner is at fault but - a bite or being tripped up and falling and getting hurt still hurts, even if it's someone else in the wrong.

If someone is sufficiently thoughtless and irresponsible as to let their dog go right up to you, there is no point shouting at them, they don't care and it won't alter how they behave in future. All you'll achieve is a higher likelyhood of injury to you, to the animal and a prolonged altercation.

I wouldn’t do this. You’ll only excite them/make them nervous. Just ignore them completely and keep walking.

people shouldn’t allow their dog to approach you but hey ho, many do.

My elderly mother carries a stick as she hates dogs coming up to her. I’ve have told her not to ever use this to wave at or strike a dog, for the sake of her and the animal.

I think staying still and ignoring is the best strategy. I also have an expressionless face and I don’t engage with the dog. I might glare at the pathetic owner afterwards though.

It is good to know that owners like you exist.

You often post on these threads saying this kind of thing. Implying it does not happen very often and people are exaggerating. I am not scared of dogs but do not like them coming up to me. It does happen reasonably regularly where a dog will come up and sniff at you either outside or in a café etc. It is 50-50 whether the owner is responsible and apologetic or not. But there are definitely untrained dogs that will come up to you even if you are walking down a path not attracting attention. Please don’t dismiss that it happens.

“Shoo” will mean nothing to a dog. You could put your hand out, flat palm up, with a very stern “No!!” Or keep walking and totally ignore. If they jump up you lift one knee up in front of them - not aiming to make contact, just creating a barrier.

If people are coming towards you and sniffing you then perhaps you need to rethink your personal hygiene

We had dogs when I was growing up - but as a grown up I got quite nervous of them until we got our own and I got tuned up back into their body language. I walk a lot with my dog in lots of doggy areas for 6 years now and I've probably been jumped up on by a dog 4 times in all that time.

Most ignore you and if they do come close it's a passing sniff. If you ignore them, they will 99/100 ignore you.

So my answer is more exposure not less!

I'd say "shoo" to a dog, but I wouldn't say "boo" to a goose.

I had a dog like this too, he was a rescue and lived to be 16, never showed an ounce of aggression to anyone or anything, another one that I lost before Christmas same thing, she was the most friendly happy dog, that never even growled at anything in her whole life.

But there is an arrogance and ignorance about people who say their dog 'would never hurt a fly' to strangers, because that can't EVER be guaranteed by anyone.. Even my two gorgeous natured dogs, I would never let approach strangers, or other dogs on lead, because responsible dog owners just don't do that.

You’d be well within your rights to kick out at them (partly joking), especially if the owners ignore you.

I saw a lovely chocolate Labrador puppy (4-5 months old) recently outside a cafe at a local art/music centre with an enclosed courtyard and play area, his lead was tied around table leg. He did try to say hello and his owner said he liked children but he wasn’t allowed to be petted or go up to people unless they said it was ok. Refreshing that an owner is actually training their dog properly.

OP is asking because the "he's only being friendly" brigade are now a significant minority who thinks this behaviour is OK and people should put up with it.

I am runner. I regularly get dogs running up to me and getting under my feet. I'm amazed I haven't tripped yet. There's also one woman with a large dog she has on a long lead and she lets him come up to me every bloody time I see them. The path isn't that narrow but she's not willing to reign him in to let me pass. Peak entitlement!

Where isn’t a dog walking area these days? There isn’t one scrap of public outdoor space near me that isn’t seething with out of control dogs. It’s just so selfish.

Agree with this.

If you haven't seen dogs approaching people they don't know, I can guarantee it's not because it doesn't happen much, it's probably that you've just never seen it or noticed it.

There is a breed of dog owner now that @LakotaWolf mentioned, who thrive on using their dog to get attention, they think their dog is the best dog that has ever existed and they think other people will love them too if they are just given a chance.. so they don't bother training it or keeping it under control and they let it approach adults, children, other dogs etc.. usually with a shout of 'don't worry, he's friendly'! In fairness, normally they are friendly enough, but they have no manners as they have never been taught, and if they end up in a negative interaction because children/adults are scared or other dogs may be reactive, the owner will refuse to see it as their fault.. they're thick as shit basically, and shouldn't own a dog IMO.

I've had dogs all my life, total dog person, and lockdown was where everything changed for me, my dog now, who minds his own business, was chased, jumped on, mounted, and confronted by so many of the above dogs with their stupid 'they're friendly' owners, that he won't tolerate strange dogs coming near him anymore, and even though he walks next to me off lead usually, I have him on lead when we pass anyone, just to reinforce the message that we don't want to be approached.. 90% of dog owners understand that unwritten rule, but we STILL we get approached by ill mannered dogs with idiot owners who want to force an interaction.

My DB’s lovely black lab had to be pts last year - he literally never hurt anyone or anything in his life.