Nervous of dogs

This winds me up so much. I really don’t like dogs. I’m uneasy in their presence and hate the way they smell and slobber. Some dog owners just don’t get it - although most to tbf.

You are right to be wary - they are predatory pack animals and this is the basis of their nature. Nothing fully changes that and anyone who tells you that there dog would not hurt a fly is deluding themselves.

Me neither. Most of the dogs I encounter keep themselves to themselves. But some people, even if they see a dog in a field playing fetch with its owner, will see the dog as being “out of control”.

My son's screaming soon gets them scurrying over for their dog. He is terrified of them.

I really wish more people trained them not to bound up to others/approach them. I'm dreading the summer.

I am a dog person - have had dogs my entire life; my parents had a few when I was born, so I quite literally grew up learning to walk by holding our Great Dane's tail! I currently have two dogs, both large-breed (German Shepherd/Kuchi Dog mix and a Belgian Malinois.) I love dogs.

That being said, you are in no way being unreasonable to be wary of dogs or to cross the street if you see them approaching!

I'll never understand the kind of dog owner who tries to shove their dog into everyone else's faces as if their dog was some kind of posh showing-off accessory like an expensive smart watch. My dogs are part of my family and I love them. They aren't just for me to parade them around and get attention from other people.

Both of my boys are extremely friendly (because I socialized them and raised them to be, and I have cats, so they're also gentle with small things) and I STILL keep them on a short lead when we pass other people on walks. I don't let them wander and I don't let them run up to people. If someone comes up to me and asks to pet them, of course they may pet them, but I don't force my dogs onto other people or into other peoples' personal space.

I don't take any shít from other peoples' dogs if they're off-lead and trying to jump up on me (which is always the owner's fault and not the dog's fault for being loose and undisciplined.) I grab the collar or the loose scruff of skin around the neck and twist, not to hurt the dog, but to get it back on all fours and off its back legs. I also have had success with saying "NO" in a very harsh, loud, deep voice several octaves below my normal speaking voice. I've heard to fold your arms in and turn away from the dog to communicate disinterest, but this only works if the dog is actually friendly and trying to greet you/give you affection. (This method worked wonders on my dogs when they were puppies and clawing and biting everything in the world.) I wouldn't do this to a dog that was being aggressive, reactive, or barking.

A calm and firm "No!" would def be better than "Shoo!", which is likely to be quite an unfamiliar and possibly agitating sound for a dog to hear.

And turning your back would be great. Also, if some lummox of a dog tries to put its front paws on you, a step backwards at the key moment will put them off balance and discourage them.

When my dog was a pup, and at that bouncy stage where she jumped up all the time, I was told to fold my arms and turn away. They get the message that you are not interested.
I did find it sad in a way, as you would not do the same to a child. But different species and expectations etc.

You'd be better off looking away and ignoring it. The dog doesn't know what shoo means. Don't say anything and don't make eye contact.

Hmmm I had another stressful incident today with my small, yappy on-lead dog. I tend to stand and wait for other owners to spot us and put their dog on a lead. Today that didn't happen so I had to stand between my dog (barking) and a lively Labrador shouting 'no no no'. It doesn't make for a relaxing walk! I usually carry a K9 defence spray just in case although I'd only use that as a last resort (also works on dodgy men probably).

I own 2 dogs a breed known to be aloof with strangers. One generally ignores people the other is very wary of strangers and keeps as much distance as possible between them and her. But very occasionally we meet people who squeak and talk in a high pitched excited squeaky voice, wave/raise their hands and sort of jiggle on the spot all because they are nervous of dogs. Both mine will stop and look and the bolder one if this continues might walk over to have a closer look. I often say if you ignore them they will ignore you.
Both have good recall and I always quickly intervene as I fully appreciate many don’t like dogs but lots of dogs are a bit like cattle if you ignore them keep walking and they will do the same become interesting then they will become interested.

I saw a man do that in a hotel abroad , it was quite bizarre and the police were called. Some little dog kept jumping at him and the silly owner just let it. He kicked it to get it off him after the owner didn’t pull it off him. It’s unfortunate but it did the trick.

Personally I’d prefer not to do that as it could backfire, but if I felt I had to I would for the fact of due to current health issues a dog jumping up at me could easily land me back in hospital. I know it’s not the dogs fault but it’s not my fault either and I’m not going to wait to be injured.

Someone else may have had a recent bad experience with dog bites or some other kind of attack and they’re experiencing PTSD with a dog jumping on them.

You can’t expect everyone just to stay still and “see what happens” .

As I mentioned above when I stood still I had my neighbours cockadoodles claws sink into me. Thankfully my thick jeans stopped it from breaking skin and it was just a bit sore for an hour or so, but were I wearing shorts or something it would’ve been a different matter.

We do need more laws about dogs being off leash and keeping dogs under control.

I’ve tried doing the same with humans.

God I hate it when dogs come running up to me.

I understand their innocence. And sometimes they are cute. But dog owners really need to learn that not everyone LOVES dogs.

Keep them on a fucking lead in public if you can't be bothered to train them properly.

Not unreasonable to not want someone else’s dog near you if you haven’t invited them!

However, I would replace ‘shoo’ with ‘sit’ as most dogs won’t understand ‘shoo’, but the vast majority of dogs will have been taught to ‘sit’.

if you don't want a dog's attention then just act confident and keep walking, they'll lose interest. If they keep bugging you, then a quick sharp shoo! should suffice.

It’s interesting that people say dogs shouldn’t approach you. Is this just on the street? I am also a little nervous of dogs and yet sometimes take a shortcut through a wooded path where I have often been approached by dogs, my young ds has been jumped on, his sandwich was grabbed from his hand and gobbled up and owners always say it’s fine, they won’t hurt or laugh. I am a big animal lover but this has made me nervous to walk this way. I also never know what to say or do to get the dog away.

Exactly. Also I tried that staying still and my daft neighbours dog ran full pelt and jumped on me anyway. If it happens again I’ll be looking at proactively deterring it and to protect myself. But I’ve already told them to make sure their dog doesn’t touch me again or I’ll be reporting her.

I never know what to do to get a dog off me 😕 I can't stand being licked or jumped up at, but I don't know what to do to stop it. My instinct is to kick but you can't do that, and they don't understand words.

'Shoo' means naff all to dogs to be honest.

I would say ignore is the best advice, but the idiot dog owners don't register that as disinterest anymore, I think they register that as 'they obviously don't mind being approached by my 'friendly' dog'.. I have this problem with my on lead dog being approached quite often.

A firm 'no' or 'can you get your dog' would make it clear to the owner that you are not receptive to their dog, don't expect them to rush to get them though, any person who lets their dog approach people willy nilly are pretty much a lost cause IME.

I’m wading in here, just because I really feel for the OP and this epidemic of irresponsible, shitty dog owner behaviour has got to stop.

I was out in a park with the kids a few weeks ago, and saw a large doodle breed chase a wee girl along a path, bounding around her in circles, barking. The poor kid was terrified and her dad had to pick her up and move quickly away. Did the owners apologise? Did they fuck.

Dog then locks eyes on me and my (dog-loving) kids. Pulls the same shit. I snap at my son to stay still, and warn the dog off with a loud “uh-uh”. Owner grabs dog, gives me the stink-eye and nobs off.

So no, I wouldn’t blame you OP for repelling the unwanted advances of someone else’s poorly-behaved animal. And I say this as a genuine dog-lover who’s had dogs my entire life. It just makes me so cross. And weary. I don’t know that the solution is.

Turn yourself side on to it and look down saying No!

Does this genuinely happen to you often though? Do you spend a lot of time wandering around dog walking areas?

Of course it's alright to say shoo to a dog. They won't generally understand though

I have two dogs who I walk all the time, and even I spend half my walks shooing away dogs belonging to ignorant owners who let them bound around off lead. Mine are never off lead except for when we're in an secure paid-for field! I have a young dog and an older dog, and for different reasons it could be disastrous if the wrong dog came up to them. The younger one can most definitely defend himself if he had to, and the older one cannot defend herself as she has always been very gentle.

So yes it's perfectly fine to say "shoo" or as a pp said "leave!" to a dog - they'll very likely understand the latter better than the former. I too am wary of off-lead dogs and I wish something were done about it.

The majority of dogs approach because they want to sniff you rather than be petted. I object to being sniffed & coming home with dog snot all over my trousers, never mind the jumpy over friendly ones.

Generally if you keep walking and ignore them they should leave you alone. Otherwise just shout at them, no in the right tone of voice tends to work.