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Original poster

To have kicked an old man’s dog?

538 replies

itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:37

This morning I was walking my 2 very small elderly dogs on lead in the woods near me where it’s nice and cool for them.

they love people but they don’t love when dogs run up to them and get all in their face, valid I wouldn’t like that either. If a dog on or off lead just walks past or gives them a quick sniff they don’t mind. I always tell people not to let their dogs come right up to them.
Theyve never bitten just growled and I just don’t want to risk anything.

there was an old man walking a large greyhound type dog off lead and he’s miles away from it it runs at us very fast so I stick my leg in front of my dogs and the dog doesn’t stop runs straight into my leg. He then excitedly throws his foot on top of my smallest dog he squeals in pain and my other dog starts growling and showing teeth.

so I picked them up and then the big dogs starts jumping up at me to get to my dogs so I kick it away.

Old man then starts screaming at me for “abusing” his friendly dog and a lady walking passed then said to him “I saw her kick the dog”

and now I don’t know if I did too much but I was so overwhelmed and worried it would become a fight and there’s no way my old boys would do well in that situation. To make it worse the lady made a post about it in our local Facebook group (luckily no pictures) and everyone’s saying awful things but they only know one side!

For the record the dog was not hurt didn’t even squeal!

OP posts:
LeedsLoiner · 08/07/2026 12:58

If you run into him again tell him that if his dog comes near you or your dogs again it won't be the dog that gets a kick...

Mistymaglets · 08/07/2026 12:57

StiffAsAVicar · 08/07/2026 12:50

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Another one.

Most dogs, MOST, do not appreciate unknown animals running over and getting too close. There is nothing wrong with a dog reacting to this type of bad behaviour by growling or barking or even being afraid.
OPs dogs are not problematic, they have a different temperament. This has nothing to do with lack of control by the owner.

In canine terms the greyhound behaved badly. Some dogs would ignore, some would be fearful, some would give the greyhound a corrective bark or even nip.
All of this is natural behaviour, but in terms of who was in the wrong it's the greyhounds owner for permitting this situation through his own lack of control.

Original poster
itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:56

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:54

Fair enough then. But I just think of course the person would be upset seeing someone kicking their pet!

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I get that it’s upsetting but that’s the position the owner put me in I was pretty upset my dog got his head smacked into the ground for no reason

OP posts:
Tiree1965 · 08/07/2026 12:56

I'd have done exactly the same thing while shouting to have the other dog recalled. I have a reactive dog and when an off lead dog gets too close I shout to have it recalled or I will take action. If your dog doesn't have recall it should not be off lead no matter what the circumstances.

ThatIsABigSon · 08/07/2026 12:55

I am a dog owner and would be fine with you kicking out at my dog if you were holding both of your dogs and he was jumping up at you. The greyhound either had no recall or the man wasn't paying enough attention to his surroundings to recall his dog in good time.

I always leash my dog when walking past another dog on a lead and if I didn't notice a leashed dog and my dog went up to investigate and got a growl or boot then that's my fault!

Pootles34 · 08/07/2026 12:55

Jesus some people's reading comprehension.... OP did ask the man to control his dogs, he completely failed to do so. Do you really think it's acceptable to have a big dog jumping at you, so long as he's not biting?

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:54

Idontjetwashthefucker · 08/07/2026 12:53

Then they shouldn't have been off lead and uncontrollable...I'd have done the same if they were trying to get to me or my dog

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Fair enough then. But I just think of course the person would be upset seeing someone kicking their pet!

LaliqueSaltGrinder · 08/07/2026 12:54

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Or rather, don't train your dog to come back to you when called, don't complain when another owner intervenes to protect her pets.

Original poster
itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:54

CharlotteSometimes1 · 08/07/2026 12:52

The dog jumped at you because you picked up your dogs, you could have dealt with it better.

But can someone actually tell me how? Because when they were on the floor they got hurt? Am i supposed to just let them get hurt because they’re small?

OP posts:
OneQuirkyPanda · 08/07/2026 12:53

itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:49

What should I have done then? I’m honestly happy to hear an alternative but it’s a big dog jumping all over me and I had a dog in each arm!

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Ask the owner to call his dog over while you hold your dogs? I have a small dog who is always on lead as she has no recall and I just pick her up if other dogs are getting too much for her. Usually the owner comes along and takes the dog away and it’s not a big issue.

If the dog was trying to bite your dogs or you then that’s different, but jumping up you playfully then I do think kicking it is a bit much.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 08/07/2026 12:53

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:50

But how would you feel if a stranger kicked one of your dogs? You can say what you like about their behavior and how nobody would ever have to do that. But if you think it's ok then surely you accept it if your own dog gets kicked?

Then they shouldn't have been off lead and uncontrollable...I'd have done the same if they were trying to get to me or my dog

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:53

itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:52

If my dog ran up to and hurt another dog and I had no control over them absolutely defend your dog and kick them if you have to but they never go off lead and they avoid other dogs so never been in that situation

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But how would you feel if it happened? You'd be pissed off right?

Stompythedinosaur · 08/07/2026 12:53

He should have had his dog under better control.

But there doesn't seem to be a need for you to kick it! That was uncalled for. Just shout to the owner to call it away, it doesn't sound like you were in immediate danger.

LostMyPantsAtGatwickAirport · 08/07/2026 12:52

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:50

But how would you feel if a stranger kicked one of your dogs? You can say what you like about their behavior and how nobody would ever have to do that. But if you think it's ok then surely you accept it if your own dog gets kicked?

If my dog was up and in other dog’s faces and behaving in a threatening way I’d have no problem someone kicking her!

Original poster
itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:52

BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:50

But how would you feel if a stranger kicked one of your dogs? You can say what you like about their behavior and how nobody would ever have to do that. But if you think it's ok then surely you accept it if your own dog gets kicked?

If my dog ran up to and hurt another dog and I had no control over them absolutely defend your dog and kick them if you have to but they never go off lead and they avoid other dogs so never been in that situation

OP posts:
CharlotteSometimes1 · 08/07/2026 12:52

The dog jumped at you because you picked up your dogs, you could have dealt with it better.

LostMyPantsAtGatwickAirport · 08/07/2026 12:51

StiffAsAVicar · 08/07/2026 12:50

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When dogs are pushed like that they react. There’s nothing in this post that indicates the OP’s dogs are unsocialised.

Squeeky112 · 08/07/2026 12:51

itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:37

This morning I was walking my 2 very small elderly dogs on lead in the woods near me where it’s nice and cool for them.

they love people but they don’t love when dogs run up to them and get all in their face, valid I wouldn’t like that either. If a dog on or off lead just walks past or gives them a quick sniff they don’t mind. I always tell people not to let their dogs come right up to them.
Theyve never bitten just growled and I just don’t want to risk anything.

there was an old man walking a large greyhound type dog off lead and he’s miles away from it it runs at us very fast so I stick my leg in front of my dogs and the dog doesn’t stop runs straight into my leg. He then excitedly throws his foot on top of my smallest dog he squeals in pain and my other dog starts growling and showing teeth.

so I picked them up and then the big dogs starts jumping up at me to get to my dogs so I kick it away.

Old man then starts screaming at me for “abusing” his friendly dog and a lady walking passed then said to him “I saw her kick the dog”

and now I don’t know if I did too much but I was so overwhelmed and worried it would become a fight and there’s no way my old boys would do well in that situation. To make it worse the lady made a post about it in our local Facebook group (luckily no pictures) and everyone’s saying awful things but they only know one side!

For the record the dog was not hurt didn’t even squeal!

His dog was out of control and jumped at you. It isn't relevant that you were holding a dog to protect them from his hound. I'd report him to the local dog warden. He should keep his dog on a lead if it cannot be controlled.

And I say that as a dog lover. But I've been jumped at before - once when I was out for a run (I gave it a wide berth, it was on a lead, but the oblivious owner allowed it to run and jump at me and injure me), and once when I was out for a walk and stood between three out of control dogs and my family - it jumped straight into me causing an injury.

Original poster
itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:51

StiffAsAVicar · 08/07/2026 12:50

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Well I can control them though can’t I because they are on a lead and the second they growled I scooped them up! you cannot say the same for the other dogs owner

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 08/07/2026 12:50

But how would you feel if a stranger kicked one of your dogs? You can say what you like about their behavior and how nobody would ever have to do that. But if you think it's ok then surely you accept it if your own dog gets kicked?

LostMyPantsAtGatwickAirport · 08/07/2026 12:50

Hawksie · 08/07/2026 12:39

Yes you were wrong to kick a dog.

If your dogs aren't socialized then hire a field for them to be walked in but don't expect socialised dogs to be kept on leads in areas where they can be off lead and expect them to change 363936529936 thousands of years of genetically inbred social behaviour

On lead and having a dog run at them doesn’t mean they are the unsocialised ones - a well socialised dog doesn’t invade unwilling dog’s space, and doesn’t jump up at the owner to try to get to the other dogs 🙄

Would suggest you look at your own dog ownership here and how you think the on-lead dogs were the problem.

StiffAsAVicar · 08/07/2026 12:50

itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:40

if you can’t control your dog they shouldn’t be off lead man could not get his dog to come back to him? What was I supposed to do?

.

Original poster
itsme189 · 08/07/2026 12:49

OneQuirkyPanda · 08/07/2026 12:47

I think you went too far really in kicking a dog that wasn’t being aggressive, if the dog was trying to attack your dogs then fair enough, but it sounds like the other dog was excited and wanted to play. I understand your dogs were on lead and the dog shouldn’t have approached the way it did, but I think kicking a non aggressive dog was taking it too far personally.

What should I have done then? I’m honestly happy to hear an alternative but it’s a big dog jumping all over me and I had a dog in each arm!

OP posts:
Mistymaglets · 08/07/2026 12:49

Dogs are not children.
A dog who invaded another dogs space is not just a cute pooch wanting to " play" it is an untrained and badly socialized animal.

FionnulaTheCooler · 08/07/2026 12:49

He should keep his bloody nuisance creature on a lead in future then shouldn't he. You were defending your own dogs from being hurt by it.