Completely outrageous dog owner behaviour

Kicking it sounds reasonable to me.

But it is a dangerous threat - or, at least, it is completely reasonable for the person to believe, in that instant, that it is a dangerous threat.

I have an elderly dog who is always on the lead. I've basically had to stop taking him anywhere where there will be off lead dogs because so many owners are so shit.

The last straw was when we were in the park the other day when a huge dog bounded over to us and started jumping all over my arthritic dogs back. I was shouting at her owner to get her back and she just kept saying she was trying. When she eventually got her under control, she muzzled her and said she was sorry, and that she had attacked another dog about a week ago. All said in a very 'oh aren't dogs funny' kind of way. If you can't control your dog keep it on a fucking lead. Walked past the park yesterday and there she is again, off lead and unmuzzled. Owner ineffectually trying to call her back.

Other dog owners have totally ruined walking my dog for me. He just wants to mooch around and sniff stuff but is constantly bothered or attacked by out of control off lead dogs

I think things are getting lost in text here.

People allowing their dogs to rush up to people is unacceptable.

For the person who has been rushed up to, to then go further and kick the animal when it is not a dangerous threat is also unacceptable.

Me saying it is probably a good idea to have a general idea of dog body language if you spend time in these environments (or have this happen an awful lot as seems to be the case on MN) is not the same as finishing that advice with "because people let their dogs rush up to you and that is totally their right as dog owners"

I moved to an area with horses in the fields I walk through. I learned a little (just enough) about reading horse body language because I like that route and want to keep using it.

For your own safety, don’t kick out at a dog: if it grabs your leg you’re down on your arse in a second.

completely outrageous behaviour by a very irresponsible dog owner

Perhaps OP had a panic response. People do.

Yet you qualify your statement with

“people will be along in a minute to say "well I dont know it doesnt mean me harm it isnt my job to read dog body language etc etc"”.

Putting the onus on the person getting jumped on to read the body language etc etc. unless the above quote is meant to be rhetorical?

Which was incredibly stupid as you had no idea how the dog could have reacted. Your actions could have caused it to turn aggressive and then you would have been in a very different situation.

The owner was in the wrong for not controlling her dog. You were in the wrong for potentially escalating the situation which you have already admitted in a previous post, so I am not sure why you're unable to accept that your behaviour could hav escalted the situation.

@TheWildZebra I have not said it’s acceptable for people to let their dogs jump up at people.

It's the exact opposite of what I have been saying.

You’ve missed the point entirely.

the OP is not in the wrong.

you’ve said it’s acceptable for people to let their dogs jump up at people. That they have to make the judgement call themselves as to whether the dog is a risk to their safety.

I am this passionate about it because this is exactly the circumstance under which my best friend was mauled by a dog and spent 6 weeks in hospital having reconstructive surgery. She loved dogs before. Probably wouldn’t have been bothered if they jumped up. Which more proves the point that it is the dog owners responsibility not to let their dogs jump up at people. If they don’t have that control, then they are, as I’ve suggested before, FAFO.

Have you called the police yet @Onepeople or is it more fun making goady posts on MN about things that never happened?

Sigh.....

Both owners in those instances are wrong. No, people do not have to suck it up and bear it. No one is saying a dog can do anything and be fine. No one is excusing a dog rushing up to a stranger and muddying their clothes is fine.

People who let their dogs rush up to people are wrong.

I am getting bored of repeating myself.

Owner allows their dog to cover your clothes in mud and thinks that's OK. So cover her clothes in something unpleasant and then tell her it's fine. I suspect she would not be happy .......

There is a mindset that says a dog can do anything and it's fine - they are just being friendly. The mindset that says that random strangers being covered in mud should just suck it up and stop being such spoilsports.

My friend was knocked to the ground by a dog that was rushing towards her - the owner said it was her fault because she turned her back on the dog ....... what can you say when there are people like this around?

Grow up and be accountable? Did you miss the bit where I said quite clearly both people are wrong?

The owner is wrong (i.e. should take accountability) . I have said that in nearly every post on this thread.

The OP is wrong to kick an animal who was not doing her physical harm (annoying her rather than biting her face off). Also , no one is asking the OP to be all "awwww cute dog" when it is jumping up at her unsolicited and muddying her clothes.

BOTH PEOPLE ARE WRONG

there. Bold, underlined and in capitals. Is that clear?

Shout at the owner who was not in control of her dog, tell her she is irresponsible, an idiot, and inconsiderate arsehole who is making being in a public place unpleasant. All of thise thungs are true. Call her all the names under the sun if you want - she was in the wrong.

But to kick an animal that was not a immediate threat (but an irritating annoying thing) and be weirdly proud about it to the point where you post it on a forum, even anonymously, is weird.

😂 She's fit and well enough to kick "out" at a pet that, whilst annoying, did not have her by the throat.
I'm guessing she'll survive this traumatic ordeal.

Explains why you’re so uneducated then. Pays to not have an opinion on something when you don’t actually know what it is then, eh? Odd.

I didn’t read it as couldn’t be bothered x

Yep, and even if we assume we can tell from what OP has written whether she was scared or not (we can't) the owner didn't know that.

OP you won’t win support from people who just don’t get it. Sensible people do get it.

I was breastfeeding my 3 month baby on a bench recently so hands full and a dog came sniffing around her head!!! I said very politely and firmly to owner “dog away please.” Who didn’t respond. I then said “dog away now please.” She reluctantly moved dog on with a scowl on her face. Thick and didn’t get the point at all (ie I didn’t want her harmless dog sniffing round my babies head). IMO it should be obvious but as before some people just won’t get it so you may as well give up.

Not toddlers but kids can?…. This dog wasn’t killing anyone… Use your brain. Also, by your reply you didn’t actually read my reply. Or maybe you just couldn’t understand it.

Yes I was thinking the same thing. I would completely understand if someone kicked out at my dog if it was repeatedly jumping up at them, which I would never actually let happen in the first place.

Walk me through why that response would be unreasonable?

And those people are completely correct.

your dog is not other people’s responsibility.

grow up and be accountable.

Kicking a dog is weird. And not likely to help.

ive never had a dog do this to me. Seems the kind of thing that only happens on Mumsnet.