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

[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.

Ha! I started a thread fairly recently about being so fucking over dogs and exactly the same thing happened as here - dog owners refusing to believe this even happens - despite heaps of people saying it does

I hear you OP they're a bloody menace

@BabyClam

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...'

Well they aren't. But there are twats out there. Like there is enough shit on the ground to tell you that.

I smile I indulgently at owners with cute dogs

This is your first mistake. Any sign of a dog coming too close to me and the owner gets a hard stare off me.

I have dogs but I don’t like being jumped on! I do think a lot of owners have no clue how to train a puppy not to jump up, patting and talking to the dog when it does this simply reinforces the behaviour and the dog thinks it’s acceptable. It’s not a dog problem it’s an owner issue. I have 3 very well trained labs who will sit where they are with one signal. We often come across other off lead dogs who rush up to us. Mine are sat like angels while the other one is often not answering to recall and jumping like a lunatic. I normally find that a small bit of food or a treat thrown at the offender often distracts them enough for me to move away and get on with our walk. People shouldn’t need to do that though, owners should have their dogs under control without annoying anyone else.

I own a dog, I love dogs but I wouldn't put up with this and I don't. My own dog is trained not to jump or even interact unless I say its ok. This has happened to me, I even got but by a 'friendly' puppy the other day. What I do i grab them by the collar and hold them until the owner comes to get them. I do the same when a dog us bothering mine. I don't laugh or smile and I make sure 5he owner knows I'm annoyed.

I was walking to meet a friend in white jeans the other day and two dogs absolutely ruined my outfit. So frustrating.

Bit that's meant to sayv

I agree it is more common in some places than others. I / my kids have had dogs jumping up at us quite often in the local woods. In the local parks I have never had it happen (though have lost the odd picnic and had toys destroyed by dogs). I would tell dogs to go away but I have been told off by owners for being rude to their dogs...

I dont let my dog jump up and she comes back when called etc but....

I live near the lake district. I do wonder why people who hate dogs and mud go to muddy places that are very popular dog walking sites when there are other options available.

Yes, owners should be in control of their dogs but I don't believe (and never will) that all dogs should be kept on leads at all times.

🥱

It’s the daily tedious dog hating thread

My dog needs to run, I can’t keep her on the leads at all times, she would go nuts.

She is just over a year and a half and though her recall his good, her behaviour is still a bit of a work in progress. She will get there, but she needs to learn. She loves people, really loves them and wants to say hi to everyone. I watch her like a hawk and preempt any jumping up, some times she’ll go in for a jump, but can usually be stopped in her tracks with a sharp word.

What I find really annoying are those people that go “oh I don’t mind” and then encourage her. I find myself explaining on a daily basis, no you don’t mind, but lots of people really do and she can’t tell the difference!! So training would be much easier if people would stop encouraging her!

Great comment! Made me laugh out loud.

I used to go for a daily walk in the woods after school drop off and found that if you were unlucky enough to encounter a bouncy dog/ feckless owner at the start, you'd then smell of dog and get the attention of several other dogs. There were certain owners/ dogs I learned to try to avoid.

I accept that my footwear and possibly trouser hems would encounter mud, but I do not want to ruin coats and the rest of my clothes because some idiots CBA to control their dogs.

Most people don't have dogs so I htink it would be fairer o ban dogs from the woods opposite our house as most people walking or running in them don't have dogs, that that someone above suggests those without dogs who do not like dogs avoid woods.

My daughter at her local park has had to tell people repeatedly to move with their dog into the dog section of the park and leave the no dogs allowed section.

Urgh.

I look after a man with LD who is terrified of dogs.

We were having an innocent picnic once when a dog came up to him and started sniffing him.

I ask the owner if she can move her dog away.
Owner tells us how friendly her dog is.
I reply that that’s great, but can you move him away from us?
No, no, he won’t bite. He’s friendly.

I ended up shouting at her to fuck off with her which apparently made me the rude one. WTF?

I love dogs, I don’t mind being approach by them, but the lovely man I was supporting was visibly trembling and she was oblivious to the distress she was causing.

I have a dog and walk him every morning and meet many other dogs and dog owners.

The number of dogs who jump are are very few. Most dogs will come over to say hello, but very few jump up.
Interestingly though, the owners of the ones who jump up don't seem to think it is an issue or that other people should mind.

I do mind. I have put a lot of effort into training my dog NOT to jump up and you should bloody do the same to yours!

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

I would tell dogs to go away but I have been told off by owners for being rude to their dogs

another

I love dogs and don't mind them jumping on me!

But I think it is inappropriate that owners are not controlling their dogs/keeping them on a lead because it should be easy to grasp that some people will frightened and also to avoid confrontation when meeting other dogs.

As an animal lover I am used to seeing my clothes covered in dogs, cats and horses hair now so I have given up on having a pristine wardrobe...

I don’t dislike dogs but I am scared of big ones. In the last few years I have have had two dogs jump up at me One was a small spaniel a couple of weeks ago. Gave me a bit of a start, was a very cute dog and well it only reached knee height. The other was an unusual breed, I can’t remember as a few years ago but my dog expert friend identified it. The dog was enormous and had its paws on my shoulders. I was really terrified. I find if I go for a walk in the woods near me most dogs are on lead or if off lead are really well behaved but at the large park in the opposite direction far more dogs are off lead and seem less well trained.

You have my sympathies OP, wouldn’t let my dog do this, it’s rude and inconsiderate.

All dogs of any size (any animal) should be under the control of their owner when out in a public place unless it's in a designated animal area that is clearly signed. That means a lead. Held tight and relatively short.

^ THIS!! With bells on! It should be illegal to let a dog run loose off its lead in any public place. By "public place" I mean anywhere where the public has a right of access, ie parks, public footpaths and bridleways, common land, open access land.

If people want to let their dogs off the lead, they should do so elsewhere, such as in their own garden, in a designated dog-park or on private land with the owner's permission.

I live near the lake district. I do wonder why people who hate dogs and mud go to muddy places that are very popular dog walking sites when there are other options available.

By this logic, surely the opposite also applies? Why should people take their dogs to places where they know there will be people walking who do not like dogs? Other options (designated dog-walking areas, for example) are available!

I love dogs and have worked really hard to make sure mine are well behaved on and off the leash
I'd be cross if someone encouraged them to jump up 'for a cuddle'
It's bloody annoying, some people don't like dogs at all and that's fine but they still have the right to go out walking

@80sMum

All dogs of any size (any animal) should be under the control of their owner when out in a public place unless it's in a designated animal area that is clearly signed. That means a lead. Held tight and relatively short.

^ THIS!! With bells on! It should be illegal to let a dog run loose off its lead in any public place. By "public place" I mean anywhere where the public has a right of access, ie parks, public footpaths and bridleways, common land, open access land.

If people want to let their dogs off the lead, they should do so elsewhere, such as in their own garden, in a designated dog-park or on private land with the owner's permission.

sorry, but this REALLY pisses me off.

yes, I agree all dogs should be under control. No dog should be allowed to jump up at anyone, that is bad training.

I walk in several local areas. One is a large nature reserve. It is used every day by dozens and dozens of dog walkers.
There is a cycle path that passes through that is used by others, but for the rest, the vast majority of users are dog walkers.

In the summer, there are other users, but still, 80% or more are dog walkers.
It is a lovely wild, delightful place, but it is in the centre of town. All the dogs are off lead. I walk there every day and rarely have trouble with other dogs. Non dog walkers (when there are any) rarely have trouble with dogs.

Over the last few years there have been issues with the upkeep of the reserve and with threats to its existance.
It is the dog owners who have championed and saved this ancient wildflower meadows.

Why the f... should we all have to walk our dogs on short leads there?

On the way there, on the pavement, through the park where the children's play stuff is etc, my dog is on a lead.

Honestly, why is there no space for nuance?
no all dogs don't need to be on short leads all the time.
Time and place.

steppemum I'm afraid that I get just as pissed off when I see people treating a nature reserve as if it were a dog-walking park.
Why would anyone think it is OK to let a dog run free in a nature reserve, especially in the spring and summer when ground-nesting birds are breeding? Disturbance by dogs is the biggest threat to ground-nesting birds.