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!

This just happened to me the other week when I was walking back from work (it had been a night shift, and of course people do naturally like to walk their dogs first thing in the morning, I get that).

I cut through a local heath/park to get back to where I live as it's much quicker then going the long way round on a mostly quite narrow path, and usually have headphones in - 2 or 3 times now in the past few months some complete stranger's dog has just ran at me from behind, turned around and then suddenly jumped up at me before I knew what was happening! I'm not fond of dogs at all - not a dog person and have had some very unpleasant experiences with them in the past and these more recent ones just puts me off them even more.

The one from the other day was quite a young dog but already rather large and on its hind legs when jumping up was about 3/4s of my height and it wouldn't stop jumping up and on at me - I always sort of freeze up when it happens and it just kept doing it even when I tried to tell it not to. It literally covered me with mud all on my front (which thankfully washed out of my uniform ok!) and it's claws were a bit on the long side so it was pretty uncomfortable for me, and quite scary to be honest.

Eventually it's owner came after it (it wasn't obeying then trying to call it back at all), sort of half heartily apologised for it and put it back on the lead and said something to it along the lines of "well it looks like you're still too excitable to be let off the lead then". I thought to myself for god's sake, if you know what it's like, please don't let it off it at times when there are lots of other people around then!

I think if you can just ensure that you and your dog remain at a sensible distance from other people you won't have a problem.

It does seem a ridiculous amount you’re being jumped on by dogs. I never ever get this!
it must be your clothes or your smell. It’s got to be something
try a different outfit, try no perfume, see what happens

When I was a child I remember a teacher telling us to stop a dog in its tracks:
Dont look it in the eye.
Put your arms across your chest.
Stand still.
As it circles around you - keep yourself turning away from it.
Stand there till its owner comes.

I don't suppose it's anything to do with the OP, her clothes or her smell. More likely to be the route.

I never get jumped on if I walk near my house. But I often walk with a friend near where she lives, and almost always get jumped on on those routes.

I guess in some areas, it is seen as socially unacceptable not to have your dog under control, whereas in other areas, people assume that you will just suck it up if their dogs put their muddy feet all over you. I've noticed that very few owners bother to even apologise.

I think you are walking at dog walking Park.
You need to walk somewhere where there is road .we're dogs are not let off the lead.

I take mine into the off-lead area of the park where the dogs generally find a balance within five minutes, or the offending dog’s owner takes it out.

But acceptable behaviour also includes dogs getting excited and jumping up when they’re young and still learning.
So I’ve found a pointed finger, tense upright posture and a growly “Nooooo…” tells them you’re not interested.
Or a sideways swerve. But that only works if you’re confident around dogs.

I 100% agree that dog owners need to take accountability and ownership for their pets. I've had dogs all my life including ones that needed muzzling/couldn't be let off lead and were generally a bit loopy! Our boy the that we have now has excellent recall and is better off the lead than on. He isn't bothered about approaching anything or anyone just happy to be out. Selfish dog owners are ruining it for responsible ones. All I can suggest is that you remind every bad dog owner that they need to train their dog/s.

Same here, I have stopped going for walks now, such a shame as I need the exercise

Oh look another entitled dog owner response….

If the OP is walking in an area that is specifically designated as a "dog walking park", then you might have a point.

Otherwise you are being ridiculous. Why on earth should non dog owners be restricted to walking on the road instead of walking in woodlands/along river banks etc? We don't necessarily want to walk along the road.

Dog owners are welcome to share these spaces but they have no right to monopolise them or force other people out. They need to take responsibility for their dogs. If your dog is well trained, you can let it off the lead. If it badly behaved, keep it on the lead and ensure that it doesn't bother other walkers.

I have a small nervous rescue dog and I get fed up of the amount of times she's been overwhelmed by big "friendly" dogs. I used to have a big dog and thought little dogs were annoying for barking at him but now I get it. My little dog is so scared of getting jumped on, barreled over or chased she will now bark at any big dog as soon as she sees it to try and keep them away.

One time three big dogs came at us and she was terrified so I scooped her up, since the owner was doing nothing to control them. They were then jumping at me but at least my dog felt safe in my arms. The owner had a go at me for picking them up telling me it was my fault that the dogs were jumping at me! As if it would have been better for my dog to be on the floor with them all over her.

I've owned or worked with dogs over many years and I do think there are a lot more clueless dognowners around now than there used to be. A lot of the dog behaviour programs on TV don't help either giving out bad and misleading advice.

I find it quite astonishing that a lot of the answers are basically saying it’s the OP’s fault. She must cook a lot of meat, carry meaty snacks or wear the wrong type of clothes…..

Ha of course!!
Humans are not entitled to walk undisturbed in a park. They should be kept near roads because parks are only for dogs!
Got it!

I agree, it's all down to bad owners not able to keep their dog under control.

I know.

I get jumped on by lots of dogs and I've been vegetarian for the last 35 years...so definitely don't agree with all of the meaty excuses.

But according to another pp, it is apparently because I have the temerity to walk on public footpaths instead of staying on the roads. I clearly didn't get the memo that such places are the territory of dog owners.

I don't really understand it as I know plenty of sensible dog owners with lovely, well-behaved dogs who wouldn't dream of letting their dogs bother other people in this way. And even the jumping up doesn't actually bother me that much, it's the fact that the owners rarely bother to apologise for the fact that their dogs have just covered me in mud - they can't possibly know that I'm not going somewhere after the walk where I don't want to look a state!

I think this problem has got worse in the last few years. I frequently get dogs jumping up at me even when I'm ignoring them. I think it's mainly just that so many more people got dogs. We know at least half a dozen families who got dogs in the last few years, who never had them before.

To make matters worse, I have a child who is scared of dogs. It's really hard on him, it can feel like we can't go anywhere where he can relax as there are so many dogs about. We seek out places where dogs are supposed to be on leads, but there are always some that aren't. I sound like a broken record, shouting to people to call their bounding dogs away from us...

I don't care if they're friendly or just want to play. I don't want their muddy paws on me, or their sharp claws scratching me, and I don't want my child in tears, again, because some strange dog is jumping up at him.

Feeling particularly pissed off tbh as we're on holiday and literally everywhere we try and go there are So Many Dogs. Country walks. Parks. Cafes. Pubs. Village. Family event. Craft fair. So I have a panicked sad child. Just too many people have dogs now, and too many of those can't keep them under control.

And I actually really like dogs!

I often have this argument with DH! We have two young Golden Retrievers and DH is the main dog walker. Occasionally he’ll come home and say that he’s been shouted at by other walkers because the dogs have jumped up at them. I tell him that he either trains the dogs NOT to jump up under any circumstances (either on other people or on us) or he keeps them on a lead at all times. I tell him that I have every sympathy for anyone that our dogs have jumped on and left muddy marks or hair or whatever. I tell him that he is exactly the type of self-indulgent dog owner that gives others, who control their dogs, a bad name. So, yes, I agree with OP. Dogs should be trained and trustworthy or kept on leads. Particularly around children who can be frightened if a friendly, but large, dog jumps up at them wanting to play

Out of interest, @Rufusroo, what is his response to those arguments?

And when he tells you about the people who have shouted at him about your dogs, does he think they're being unreasonable or does he understand why they're annoyed?

if you lift your knee up then the dog knocks into your knee rather than getting to your body. This doesn’t have to be done in a aggressive way, just a gentle raise of your knee and it should put the dog off jumping up

Dog owners and parents need to understand that we might all love our own kids/dogs, but we don’t want theirs inflicted on us.

Just control both.🙄

Sure. But bear in mind that children are little humans and dogs are just dogs.

Not controlling a dog is a punishable offence. Not true for humans.

Yeah it is awful.
I don't have anything against dogs but some dog owners are nuts.
Terribly trained dogs just running lose and they think it's OK.
My mum is one of these. Her dog is awful. I was with her once and it lunged at a random man trying to bite his leg.. this man kicked the dog in the face. My mum went mental shouting at him.
Later on she shouted at me for not backing her up and I just told her straight that I was on the man's side because of course if an animal tries to bite you the reflex is to kick at it. I told her she needs to get the dog professionally trained for its own sake as well as everyone else's.
She has not done that and just tells me I'm being ridiculous and it's only a little dog and it's cute etc...

Dogs shouldn't be flinging themselves at people.. even if playful. It's dangerous for the dog as well. You do not know how someone will react.
I think people are so selfish when they have pets they don't properly care for just indulge.

I've taught my girls to turn their back on a dog running up to them. "Show them your bum". Seems to reinforce a jump up is not wanted and it's easier to walk away.