Sick and tired of being jumped on by random dogs in the park

[strawberrycheesecakey]

So I walk every day in our local park. I can go at various times in the day but whenever I go there is always a dog walker or two there and 9 times out of 10 I will get a dog running up to me and putting its muddy paws all over me. It absolutely ruins my walk; I'm not a dog person and I don't want someone's muddy dog putting its paws all over me when I'm trying to have a quiet walk. I don't know why but I've never seen it happening to anyone else ! Dogs seem to go crazy when they see me. Whilst I'm not afraid of dogs and don't mind them being in public places, I really don't want them coming and jumping at me, wanting to play, running themselves against my legs etc. if I wanted that I would have a dog of my own! The owners are usually apologetic and I can get irritated and ask them to keep their dog on always if it can't be trusted. But it's always a different dog every time.

How do I stop random dogs from approaching me in the park? It's starting to completely put me off going for a walk!

It takes a lot of time and patience to teach a dog not to jump OP, I'm sorry. So if they're doing it to you, I'm not sure they've been trained properly and there will be very little to do in the moment.

I trained mine not to jump with a firm "down", showing him no attention and then when he was good throwing treats on the floor. Not sure this wouldn't make the dogs jump you more though (if they know you've got treats).

I feel your pain, I get jumped on by every other fuckers dogs when I walk mine too.

Dog owners are generally , ime knob ends when ut comes to their precious bloods dogs.

PS

I was jumped on IN A CINEMA CAR PARK last week! Dog was "friendly".

I've got to the stage I am terrified of dogs and I am so done with dogs and their entitled shitty owners.

This thread is such classic Mumsnet 😂

Just because dogs don’t regularly jump up at you doesn’t mean that they don’t jump all over OP! It just means that you live in an area where people actually control their dogs.

OP, I get it. I live in a commuter town well known for its great schools and green fields. So, Londoners move out here when it’s time to start a family. When their kids are around age 8, the fuckers get dogs as part of their kids’ ‘semi-rural idyll childhood’. The adults have little interest in the dog but feel it is good parenting.

But they do not train these dogs. And they know nothing about dogs. And both parents work so they basically ignore the dog all day apart from a couple of quick walks on the local rec.

So if I dare walk on the rec because eg its a shortcut home, a bunch of dogs will race over to me and jump up at me, because these poor guys are so fucking bored that a new person entering the area is astonishingly exciting.

This happens every single time I go there, several times per trip. Over the years I’ve had two pairs of trousers and a coat ruined by the dog claws of strangers. I don’t go there unless I have to, but it’s bloody annoying not to be able to use my local rec!

So how about you all stop accusing the OP of being some bizarre fantasist who comes online to make up stories about dogs jumping up, and instead train your dog or better yet don’t have one.

Try different clothes. See if that helps

I wonder what you keep in your pockets 🤔

I like dogs just fine but everyone seems to be getting a dog these days, and very few seem to know how to train them properly. Shouldn't this be a compulsory requirement, to show that you've attended training classes?

I live on a road where I am one of the very few households without a dog, and I am sick and tired of hearing dogs bark constantly. Obviously it's not the same dog constantly, but there's just so many dogs, that it seems pretty constant.

I also went for a run in the evening the other day, it was only 5 or 6pm but it was dark, and a dog being walked by its owner barked at me as I approached them. As I went past I heard the dog owner mutter 'bloody runners'.

I have also had dogs excitedly jump on me when on a walk, leaving muddy prints on my leggings.

Not cute.

Dog Dazer II

I got an ultrasonic dog alarm thing. It works quite well. Not on deaf dogs obviously, or well trained ones which shouldn't be an issue. Works on my mum too as it causes feedback in her hearing aids., although see rarely jumps up nowadays due to her arthritis.

I'm a dog walker and any dog I can't trust not to jump up at people stays on the lead. No way would I have dogs jumping all over people.

I say
I’d prefer it to be well trained and under control

I do this too!

What do you smell of OP? Some people use essential oils for scent training with their dog.

My dog doesn't jump on random people. The only reason she would jump up at a stranger if if they were waving a treat at her. Are you carrying meaty smelling snacks?

Ooooh I didn't know this was a thing!

I'm sick to death of shit dog owners letting their dogs do whatever they like. And then we're told it's our fault for going somewhere where dogs are - pretty much everywhere!

My autistic son barely leaves the house now as he loves beaches, forests, general outdoor places and we are terrorised by dogs in all those places. I will try this device.

Society has deemed that dogs have priority in outside places and humans can get to fuck.

It doesn't matter what the OP wears, smells of, has in her pockets or cooks.
Bloody dogs should be kept on a bloody lead in a public place when the owners either don't give a shit or the dogs have not been properly trained.

Yeah they should I agree. But they don't. So I was wondering if OP could somehow repel them a bit.

Lunge forward one leg with palm flat towards the approaching dog and shout stop/ off .. had to do this so many times to control dogs with no recall for both myself & my own nervous dog. Generally works.

Lean into them with a command.. if you lean back or start to retreat they think you are up for a game 👍🏻

9 out of 10 times!

Blimey, no excuse for the owners but that is a lot.

I walk miles a day and it's never happened to me, I'd like it though 🤣

I'm glad to see this thread. This happens to me all the time too! All dogs jump at me and recently
At a party a dog chose me to leap up and boot in the face.

This simply does not happen to other people.

I am now trying the no eye contact thing.

I like my friends dogs. I don't mind dogs but I don't like being jumped at. It's really embarrassing too

I get you @strawberrycheesecakey . I too am fed up with the lazy, entitled and poorly informed irresponsible dog owners. I'm fed up with the humanisation of dogs. They don't need to go to a cafe and sit on a seat at the weekend for fulfilment, nor do they need to come for the weekly shop or to have their own wardrobe. I'm sick of insta/ tiktok full of influencers encouraging people to engage in poor ownership behaviour and label it as cute/ funny. You should not be teasing your dog with treats (because aww cute), or encouraging them to snap or bar teeth (hahaha, he's so grumpy lol), or my personal favourite - get toddler age child to pull ears/tail and climb on the dog and film it, whilst dog makes worried face or tries to move away whilst owner goes "oh buster, don't you like that buddy/ it's only your brother playing".

There needs to be some serious dog ownership measures put in place because the amount of poor dog owners is growing. There needs to be some serious owner education on appropriate socialisation and appropriate dog behaviour (approaching strangers and strange dogs, jumping at strangers and other dogs, pulling at leads is very poor dog behaviour). As well as education on responsible ownership and responsible homing.

Responsible owners who train their dog correctly, no problem with those whatsoever.

Do you have a pork chop tied around your neck on a piece of string?

I believe that (according to the internet) this practice can attract this sort of behaviour in dogs.

@strawberrycheesecakey Just out of interest what country are you in?

Only asking as you said running up to a stranger and wiped their sticky hands on their pants and in the UK we would not use pants in this context.

Only asking because I do think in some countries they have dog parks?
Or are you in a park in public?

Completely with you OP, it drives me bonkers when owners let their dog off off the lead then completely lose track of where they are.
I went on a walk last week and had a big dog jump up on me with muddy paws, I appreciate it was being friendly, yes I’m always reminded the dog is “just being friendly”!!!!!!!!
But my jumper was muddy and I was going out for lunch 🙃

And those claws bloody hurt when they're jumping up.