Nervous of dogs

But what is "approaching you"?
I've been yelled at by a man who was running in my local park, on the path, a good 15feet wide, I was on the side of the path with my dog who was just smelling something on the ground, and he ran past me saying "GET OUT OF MY WAY".
Maybe from his perspective I was ON HIS WAY, but I really wasn't. So I'd be curious to know what is "approaching".

I don't know many dogs who would approach someone they don't know in a park, to the point of making contact.

Absolutely should not be on you but as previous people have said it would be better to say leave, sit, away than shop. Standing still etc is really boring to dogs but not your responsibility to have to do that. I had kids that were scared of dogs so now I have dogs they do not approach anyone without express permission and then with a warning that they are bouncy so if they can be stopped if that would be an issue.

The idea that the onus should be on a person who does not like dogs to stand still and let a dog sniff ?! My daughter would have a full blown panic attack if a dog was sniffing her - and clearly not under control of its owner to have got that close to her. We do our best to avoid dogs at all times and I also work very hard to encourage her to feel relaxed - I am always telling her that most dogs are well behaved, most dogs just aren't interested in her...

yet so often we meet very out of control dogs.

My daughter (11) is terrified of dogs. It is the bane of our lives! I am not exaggerating when I say every time we go to public spaces there are off lead dogs that are not properly under control.

She is autistic and really can't cope with the complexity around me telling her that they won't be dangerous - she just does not want them running and bounding in uncontrolled ways in her space -

it happens so often - even when I take her places they are supposed to be on leads.

i wish we had clearer rules around dogs being on leads unless it's a specific dog space.

I agree with standing still, letting them sniff, and hoping they’ll go away. However, when this hasn’t worked and they are making physical contact with me (or my children when they were young) I’ve never met a dog that doesn’t understand “Fuck Off” in an authoritative and reprimanding tone.

No, dogs should not be approaching you. Mine are trained not to and do not approach strangers. However, like a pp said “shoo” is an interesting noise to an untrained dog. You’d be better to put your hands in your pockets, say nothing and keep walking. If the dog persists, keep your hands in your pockets, stop and turn your back. You are now boring to the vast majority of dogs.

My dog is extremely well trained and doesn’t wander up to people unless they encourage him to.

Having said that, let’s imagine a scenario where he approached you.
If you told him ‘shoo’ he would find this noise very interesting and exciting and would want to see what happened next.
Being still and boring is more effective to achieve your desire of being left alone.

You might be better saying ‘leave’ as a majority of dogs know this word and should return back to owner/leave you alone. This has worked for us in the past when we have had an unwelcome dog approach us when walking our own dogs.

Yes, it’s absolutely fine to say shoo to a dog. I don’t think many would be offended.

Just turn your back and ignore!

Can I just get this right.

You're actually asking Mumsnet if it's ok to shoo a dog away when you don't want it near you?

Or have I completely missed something else?

More useful as a clear cue to the owner than for the dog. My dog might not comprehend shoo but I certainly would!

Shouting "go away" will actually excite the dog though. They hear it as "wahay, keep doing what you're doing, this is fun".

Much better to just stand still, look up at the sky and be very boring. They'll lose interest quickly.

I think you're entitled to discourage a dog from making physical contact but how close do you allow them to get? How do you see them off?

The fact that the dog is listening to you and going away means that it is a good-natured dog. The dangerous ones might take your actions as aggressive and respond in kind. Honestly though if your concern is being attacked then letting them sniff you and quickly move on to something else is the safest way.

No dog should be approaching you without the owner having checked it was ok. However how are you ‘seeing them off’?

My dogs are on leads and do not go up to people. Some people with dogs are total dicks. I walk with a stick my very very obedient labs have been attacked multiple times- I’m not afraid to use the stick. I say ‘please recall your dog now’

I’m not nervous around dogs, but I have absolutely zero desire to interact with them, and will certainly ignore any dog that comes up to me, and will shoo any persistent ones away.

Provided you’re not kicking them for coming near you, I don’t see how you could be unreasonable.

A decent owner shouldn’t allow a dog to come up to you unless you want it to.
But it depends what you mean by “ seeing them off” Shouting go away, fine, kicking them in the head, not so much! Hopefully the former!