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!

OH LOOK ANOTHER DOG BASHING THREAD

Oh no, another sensible and welcome thread!

I usually carry on walking, but other week i was waiting to go to out with friends so using the bus and a big dog walked past and jumped up, brown muddy paw prints all over my cream jumpsuit...i mean! So had to go home to change. No sorry from owner...just ' come on!' wtf. Not everyone is a dog lover nor find it cute when they arent trained enough

Yes and I do usually get owners getting huffy and saying things like 'he's only a puppy!' He's only young ! He's only being friendly ! Really ? Even a puppy can be a large dog in some cases and any size dog jumping at you is just not right.

@Rubylooloo yes and for good reason. You might not mind being jumped at by random muddy animals but not all of us do and that's perfectly acceptable to be unhappy about .

OK who else had this post on their dog thread bingo card

I live opposite a big park, in 20 odd years this has only happened to me several times.
I walk almost daily and lots of dogs off lead.
It doesn't bother me at all to be honest, dogs are social creatures, l like seeing them running around off lead, l would never get a dog now due to all the hysteria concerning them, when l was a young girl all dogs were off lead and nobody raised an eyebrow.

My three month old golden retriever has only just started going out for walks this week. She jumps up at me but doesn't jump up at strangers - yet.

And hopefully never will, because I am training her not to
I don't like jumping up at me, and she's mine, why on earth would I be okay with her, jumping up at strangers?

Control your dogs

You shouldn't have to OP, but there are dog training apps that you can download. The one I've got has got things like a clicker noise on, so it's reward-based. But I wonder if there are some that make a repellent noise

You could either trigger it when a dog comes towards you or just walk round the park, playing it the whole time, and watch all the dogs run in the opposite direction 🤣

How odd. I walk and run in two local parks at least twice a day. Have done so for a couple of decades. Both parks are heaving with dogs. But I have been jumped on by a dog exactly once in all that time.

So for it to be a quite frequent event for you is strange - there must be something going on that attracts them to you. I think it's unusual for someone to be so unlucky with it.

Have dogs always approached you?

Dog pepper spray. As far as I'm concerned, if your dog can jump upe, I can pepper spray it😁

Maybe OP you reek of something that dogs like? 9 out of 10 times seem pretty out there. Almost quite unbelievable. Do you cover yourself in pedigree chum before going to the park?

The only person my dog ever jumped up at was a lady who was freaking out and shouting about hating dogs (before I was anywhere near her) she attracted my dogs attention with all the excitement.

I'm really pleased for everyone who walks 15 thousand miles a day/lives opposite a dog park/hangs around dogs 24/7 and have only ever been jumped at twice or never. That really must be wonderful for you, truly.

This however does not discount my lived experience. Even if 100 more people come on, repeat and rinse, it really doesn't change my experience still.

I might have to get that app @Tilllly I love the sound of playing that sound on repeat and making all the dogs run in the opposite direction when they see me coming , what a change that would be 😜

🥱

You tired @Costacoffeeplease ? The door is that way >>>>>

Omg, could it be my perfume ?! I've just done a quick search on google and come up with these

My perfume is indeed rose scented. And I was definitely wearing it today.

Will definitely not use perfume from tomorrow and see what happens !!!

Try carrying an umbrella (full size) and use it to gently (but firmly) ward them off

If you are being jumped on 9 times out of 10 then you must be doing something to attract the dogs. Do you speak to the dogs? Do you wave your arms at them? I walk my dog twice a day and have been observing dog behaviour for many years. Dogs do jump up at people sometimes - which they shouldn’t - but it really doesn’t happen as often as you’re suggesting.

Also just seen loads of dog repellers on Amazon, sort of hand held ultrasonic devices. Not sure how they'd be used or if it would be damaging for me to use them as a random stranger and not as an owner, as much as I find it annoying being jumped at I really wouldn't want to harm an animal either.

Nope I don't speak or wave at them obviously ! I think it's fairly obvious from my previous posts that I am definitely not wanting to attract their attention so I try to walk past as quietly and discretely as possible. Sometimes I do have my headphones on and am talking on the phone tho, maybe the dogs think I'm talking to them as I have no one else with me ?!

I personally think it's a bad day if no dogs jump on me. I bloody love dogs and they seem to just always come over to say hi, not all jumping up mind but anyhoo..... Maybe you wear the same cocoa butter I do OP 😜

@keepyourcatsinladies I really wish I felt the same way ! I'm trying to make myself enjoy it but sometimes it just startles me like it did today .. the dog ran past me and I thought ok great we're good today ... only for it to turn back a moment later and jump at my backside 😂 that really did startle me I can't lie . I was so bloody annoyed and kicked off with the owner and it did sort of spoil my walk!

it's defo your lovely whiff 🤣

Bring a walking stick. Spray bottle of white vinegar and citrus.

@keepyourcatsinladies note to self: must refrain from using Brazilian bum bum cream prior to walk in the park 📝📝😂

@grinandslothit wouldn't the spray cause a ruckus with dog owners though? I definitely am trying to have just a peaceful walk and don't want an angry dog owner (and their dog) getting aggressive with me whilst I'm on my own in a park.