Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Why is it OK that my coat is covered in dog slobber and paw prints?

102 replies

Nevertime · 13/12/2021 11:09

I went for a long walk in the woods yesterday.

I don't dislike dogs, I smile I indulgently at owners with cute dogs, but why do so many owners think it's OK to have their dogs come and jump up at me or slobber on me?. It must be awful for anyone scared of dogs. During my day out, I must have had at least 8 dogs make physical contact with me.

I've just gone to put my coat in and it's filthy.

OP posts:
godmum56 · 13/12/2021 12:58

@oklets

Completely agree. I do think it's mostly 'bad' owners who think you should be flattered and delighted by it. I love dogs myself (although don't love dirty paw prints all over my clothes) but my 2 year old is now pretty scared of them because of this happening repeatedly. I've had massive dogs come up and lick his face, resulting in terrified screaming. The owners response? Laughing and saying 'oh don't worry, he was just giving you a kiss darling'... Idiots.
how can it be mostly bad owners...if an owner allows this, they are bad by definition....not only is it appalling bad manners on the owner's part, it puts the dog at risk
Thatsplentyjack · 13/12/2021 13:01

I had a man let his bouncy Little dog jump (front paws) on to my dd (10 months) in her pram the other day Hmm. It was a friendly little thing and she didn't bat an eye , but I was not please.

user1497207191 · 13/12/2021 13:04

@RunningFromInsanity

It’s strange because only on MN does it happen at this scale. I go on regular 3+hour walks around a very popular area and I may have had a few dogs come over and sniff me but 8 dogs jumping up on one walk?
Certainly not only on MN. This morning I walked just 15 minutes on our canal towpath and there were 4 separate dogs off the lead where the owners didn't give a toss their dogs jumped up all over me with muddy paws etc - if you don't get that on your walks, you're very lucky.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Dogs
TellySavalashairbrush · 13/12/2021 13:06

I am literally washing my coat in the machine as we speak for almost the same reason. Went to visit a friend yesterday who has a 1 year old big dog. I am a dog lover, but have to say after my visit I vowed not to go to their home again. The dog literally jumped up to my scalp level at least 5 times and then on a walk in nearby fields almost knocked me over. I get that it is young and excitable, but my friend did nothing to stop the behaviour and kept harping on about how affectionate the dog was.
My coat was filthy with mud, as were my jeans and jumper. Really unpleasant visit.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 13/12/2021 13:08

I got quite bad scratches down my arm in the summer from a puppy jumping at me in the woods. Yes it was being friendly, the owner was apologetic and working on her behaviour (and I've seen the dog since and she has matured and got a lit better recall) and it was a spaniel which can jump extremely high. But I was still left with a bleeding arm.

My elder DD got a massive fear of dogs as a toddler due to 'friendly' dogs knocking her over. I'm very grateful to friends and neighbours who understand this, keep their dogs on leads or other methods of control around her, and introduce them slowly. Shes not scared of those dogs. Unknown dog running at her shes terrified.

Franklyfrost · 13/12/2021 13:09

Because it’s their precious dog baby and everything it does is delightful, including it’s poos, which is why they’re left out for you to admire.

One day I’m going to flip and jump up on a dog owner, while slobbering and rubbing mud into their clothes

Ylvamoon · 13/12/2021 13:17

@Nevertime - what about all the humans that coo and ahh over my cute puppy when out and about. They encourage him to jump, lick and be generally disobedient... not so fun when he is a 12kg (still small) wet, muddy and jumpy bundle wanting humans to coo and ahh all over him.... maybe blaim them for your dirty coat.

Elodeastar · 13/12/2021 13:18

@Nevertime

I went for a long walk in the woods yesterday.

I don't dislike dogs, I smile I indulgently at owners with cute dogs, but why do so many owners think it's OK to have their dogs come and jump up at me or slobber on me?. It must be awful for anyone scared of dogs. During my day out, I must have had at least 8 dogs make physical contact with me.

I've just gone to put my coat in and it's filthy.

It's not OK, I am sick of off lead dogs running up to us with 'it's ok, he/she is friendly' - maybe so but some folk are scared of dogs, some folk don't like dogs that much, some folk don't want their coat slabbered on/paw marks on, and so on. Dogs should be trained not to run up/jump on strangers, and if they cannot follow that then they should not be off lead at all!
Polmuggle · 13/12/2021 13:18

@Readytogogogo

I don't have a dog and get jumped on every single time I go for a walk in the countryside/ park. I am just so sick of hearing how friendly these dogs are.
I don't have a dog, and don't think I've ever been jumped on when walking.

Yes sometimes a dog will wander over for a sniff and a fuss (which I'm delighted by) but most just see other humans as part of the scenery!

Original poster
Nevertime · 13/12/2021 13:18

[quote Ylvamoon]@Nevertime - what about all the humans that coo and ahh over my cute puppy when out and about. They encourage him to jump, lick and be generally disobedient... not so fun when he is a 12kg (still small) wet, muddy and jumpy bundle wanting humans to coo and ahh all over him.... maybe blaim them for your dirty coat.[/quote]
What about them? It's not them spoiling my coat Grin

OP posts:
julieca · 13/12/2021 13:20

I have no issue with dogs jumping up on me. It ios several years since one has. Do you have sausages in your pockets?

itwasntaparty · 13/12/2021 13:22

@Bollocknays

This happens all the time on the beaches in Cornwall. Dogs all over the place, no lead and no owner nearby either.

Worst still - no lead near a cliff edge. Dogs are always dying around here after a cliff fall.

Just stick it on a lead ffs!!

You've reminded me a friends dog went over the edge off Beachy Head 😢
Bollocknays · 13/12/2021 14:10

@itwasntaparty oh my gosh how awful! It’s traumatic for everyone when that happens. I’ve seen it happen, my kids have too & then the rescue teams risk their own safety to rescue the injured dog and the owners are completely distressed.

It’s an awful thing. Just wish it was less common!

Flowers
fakereview · 13/12/2021 14:12

8 dogs jumping at you on one walk? Blimey. I am not a dog lover At All but I have never had them come up and jump at me, thank goodness. They do sometimes sniff a bit but usually they just ignore me, which suits me fine.

thatsallineed · 13/12/2021 14:16

@Nevertime

Hmm. Yes well I suppose "bad" owners is the obvious answer, but there seem to be an awful lot of people who don't realise others don't want their "just being friendly" dogs all over them.
This is my frequent experience too.

I don't care how friendly their dog is. I haven't gone for a walk to make friends with random curs.

Xenia · 13/12/2021 14:25

It is not okay. They should be made to pay. In fact if every dog were driven from England I would be very happy. Perhaps try licking the clothes of all the owners of the dogs who lick you and see how they like your spit all over their clothes for starters....
This weekend just by the edge of the woods opposite in 4 trees near each other were 2 poo plastic bags obviously been left there a while. I had to collect them all yesterday to be rid of them. Why are so many dog owners utterly awful like this?

Allsorts1 · 13/12/2021 14:28

If you don’t want people to let their dogs greet you then don’t smile indulgently. If you’re on a country walk and greeting dogs off leash then they might be responding to your friendliness by coming over to say hi - they are clever creatures and pick up on cues! My dog ignores most people as a rule, but she does look at faces and if she’s in a good mood and the person is smiling at her, she will trot over to say hello. If that person has the misfortune of having the same colour hair as me, then they will get a friendlier greeting. If they ignore her or don’t smile, she won’t greet them. Jumping is extremely rare - if she’s off lead she’s more interested in sniffing and fun than other people anyway. Not excusing dogs jumping on you, but if EIGHT have on one walk , then the reason might be you!

Insertdeadcatsnamehere · 13/12/2021 15:26

I don't even really like dogs, I'm indifferent at best and I think they're mildly annoying in general, but I've never been jumped up at by anything even approaching the number of marauding hounds who appear to be lying in wait for the average unsuspecting mumsnetter. I must be walking in the wrong parks.

Lockdowninfinity · 13/12/2021 16:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 13/12/2021 16:27

@Lockdowninfinity

They should ban dogs off a lead apart from in designated areas with good signage. I absolutely abhor when owners state that their dog is friendly. Do you speak/think dog Angry. Keep them away from people.
I don't need to tell anyone my dog is friendly when he goes off lead as he doesn't approach anyone. Not everyone is a twat.
Toddlerteaplease · 13/12/2021 16:46

I've got muddy prints on my jeans that won't come out. After a dog jumped up on me. 😾

Ariela · 13/12/2021 16:50

My reply is 'well I am NOT dog friendly' and tell the dog off and tell it to go back to it's owners. (size /aggression permitting of course - I'm used to dogs, so make myself big and scary and tell it off, they run back to owners tail between legs). I am sure I have a reputation amongst dog owners, but frankly it's not on to be jumped on when going for a walk, or if cleaning your car in the front garden to be accosted by a dog with wet feet when I'm not wet (they get full blast of hose if they don't immediately back off).

Ylvamoon · 13/12/2021 16:54

@Nevertime- What about them? It's not them spoiling my coat

But they initially taught the dogs that ALL humans love them and ALL humans want dogs to jump up on them.... 😉

Namechangeforthis88 · 13/12/2021 17:00

Since moving house I realise why some people claim never to have experienced this, while others have it frequently. Some areas are worse than others. The nearest park to our old house it is the done thing to get a labradoodle when your youngest goes into P2. Dog walkers takes it out all week, the family wander round the park paying zero attention to the dog at the weekend, except for mild middle class embarrassment when the dog's behaviour annoys someone.
Our new area is slightly less affluent and the dogs are better behaved. There might be a slightly higher chance that someone will pick a fight with you if your dog jumps on them.

Solution? I thought about taking a lead with me when it was really bad at one point. The next dog that bothered us off lead, I was going to put the lead on the dog and just walk off with it. See how the "just being friendly" set like them apples. Probably take it to the police station or something.

BabyClam · 13/12/2021 17:31

The same happened to us yesterday, over-friendly, under-disciplined dogs ignoring their owners and covering DD5 in mud up to her shoulders.

The conversation here is always 'not all dogs are like that...'

Swipe left for the next trending thread