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!

@Iscreamtea I have a small dog (only ever owned larger dogs previously) it's a nightmare as she is young and just finding her feet but she's becoming nervous because of the "mines friendly" owners, once again this morning she was on lead when two off lead spaniels came barrelling over and started hassling us, my dogs spinning on the lead and panicking and the owner does the "they are friendly" shout, this time I lost it and shouted at him that my dog was scared and to get his bloody dogs away from us NOW. He didn't apologise or anything just called them and walked past me like I am the arsehole.

It's eye opening isn't it? Because I would never let my big dog approach a small dog that was clearly scared I kind of assumed it was the norm. Now I understand why all these little dogs were shouting at my big softy (who was usually hiding behind me).

As others have said people seem to want their dogs to be able to go everywhere now regardless of whether they're well behaved or whether it's appropriate. We struggle in the summer taking the kids out into country parks as my partners little girl is quite scared of them and we had an unprovoked dog make a be line for her in the park once and before we could see it, it was jumping all over her, she was panicking which panicked her brother and they both ended up falling in the mud. All we got was grief off the dog owners saying we shouldn't come to a ' dog park ' if we didn't like dogs. Wouldn't mind but its a generic park with an actual play park for kids plus a basketball part, and groups use the field for football teams but its our fault her dog had zero recall. Go figure.

Hmm, it seems that some dog owners are making a leap from the fact that dogs are allowed in certain parks to an assumption that these places are actually "dog parks" instead of green spaces that everyone should be free to enjoy.

I get this. I am traumatized by dogs after my neighbours dog attacked me as a child and bit my leg. I was 4. And whenever I am at the park or beach, dogs run upto me and try to climb on me. I literally freeze. I have so much anxiety going to a park or beach knowing that dogs will be there without leads. It's not right that we must suffer and have to avoid such places when dogs can be attacking at times. Children and dogs are different. Animals and children are different. Can people please be more understanding. And the poster is right it is 9 out of ten times for me too. I don't go to parks anymore which is a shame as I live on a beautiful coast with loads of walking and hiking spots in Wales.

And so the dog owners deny there is an issue… I’ve had the same, OP. Left the park covered in muddy paw prints after some ill trained little furball took it upon itself to jump at me. Owner not in the least bothered, and was very rude when I told her I wanted her to pay my dry cleaning bill. This was also a path in a children’s playground that is used as a short cut, not Richmond Park or somewhere like that. There was zero reason for me to expect to get muddy. Feral owners have feral dogs.

I'm with bring me the sunshine I am a dog owner and whilst my dog has done this once or twice it seems a bit strange that it would happen to you every day maybe they like your scent

This. Its an absolute pain. I carry a big stick to block them with.

Maybe get some training ur self into not being scared I'm fed of people running the dog thinks ur playing then the chance reaction comes in to force 😂

I think some of us are simply really interesting to dogs. I don't know if it's because they can somehow sense that I really would rather they give their attention elsewhere, but they always seem to come to me even if I'm with a friend who is a real doggy person. Due to having been bitten as a child, I really don't like big dogs, but boy do they like me. I wouldn't put it at the frequency you state but I definitely regularly get jumped up at.

I love little dogs - I have no problem with them approaching me. They’re just so cute!

But any dog that is taller than knee-height should be either on a lead or trained well well enough to know that running up to people is not acceptable.

From my experience, most larger dogs are well behaved and their owners have good control over them but there will always be outliers.

YANBU OP - I would hate it if a larger dog came running up to me and jumped all over me. It isn’t okay at all.

If your dog doesn't bother/ jump up at other people then Op isn't talking about you.

Dogs are allowed in parks obviously not in kids area ( playground ) and while you do get a few people who don't seem to have any control over there dog in which case they should be kept on a lead those people just shouldn't own a dog as they don't have a clue and I feel sorry for the dog it's usually the people who have the dog for the wrong reason ( status symbol etc)

What a stupid reply. Dogs jump up at me although I stand still and don’t make eye contact.

What would be lovely is if some non dog owners would post occasionally about the positive reactions and interactions they've had.
Like the other day when I got my dog to sit calmly next to me for five minutes while a small child was having a tantrum.
We waited until his mum had calmed him and safely walked past us.
Not a word of bloody thanks, no acknowledgment that he'd sat and waited.
So it works both ways.
Common courtesy and good manners isn't just limited to one side

Do you skip, squeal and carry dog biscuits?
I’m in the park daily with and without ddog and noticed muddy paw prints over the weekend for the first time in years.
I am sorry though, just intrigued.

It's not as easy as keeping them on a lead at all times.
I have a puppy. We do not allow jumping up and try to stop it, but she still does it.

If it is happening to you 9/10 times and different dogs each time my guess is its not normal behaviour for these dogs....its something about you.

Whether it's snacks in your pocket, eating as you walk, the smell of your coat....the way you hold your hands (lots of dogs think I am getting treats if my hand is in my pocket or my hands are clasped near my chest.
Do you work in a butcher or fishmonger?
Do you eat a lot of liver?

It happens to me a lot. I'm vegetarian, live in a meat free house, don't carry food in my pocket and don't eat while I'm walking. I walk with my hands by my sides, and it happens regardless of what I'm wearing.

It happens much more on some routes than others. Maybe not 9 times out of 10 - I don't keep track - but it is certainly a frequent occurrence. There are a lot of dogs, and while your dog might not do it every time they're out, if they do it from time to time and other dogs do the same, it adds up.

As I've already said, it doesn't actually bother me that much unless I have to go somewhere afterwards and don't want my clothes to be muddy. I don't dislike dogs.

What does bother me is the fact that so many owners fail to apologise. Some are perfectly pleasant, of course, but many do nothing or just call their dogs back without any acknowledgement of the fact that their dogs have just put mud all over you. Then you get the people who make stupid comments along the lines of "it's OK, he's friendly", as if that makes it fine!

So honestly, I wouldn't really mind if your puppy jumped on me particularly - she's a puppy, and she's learning - if you were polite enough to apologise for it and acknowledge the fact that not everyone wants dogs jumping on them.

Yes totally agree.
My DD was terrified when she was younger and the "It's OK he's friendly thing really annoys me too.
I was out with our dog a while ago and another dog ran 150yds right up to me with paws on my stomach and his head IN my pocket (treats!).
The owner made limited attempts to call him back and didn't even acknowledge me!

But if I don't let the puppy off and let her learn to make choices, while giving correction....she will never learn.
I live in fear of her jumping on someone "clean" we mostly walk through muddy woods where its just other dog walkers in dog walking clothes, and I put her on the lead if there are other people around or through kids play areas etc.

@drivinmecrazy - thanks for the laugh! Why should anyone be remotely grateful that you’ve done the most basic of things and kept your dog under control? Why should a terrified child have to contend with walking past your dog in the first place? You’ve well and truly proven the point about entitled dog owners though, so own goal for you there 🫢

It happens to me a lot too. I run around a lake regularly and I appreciate it is popular with dog walkers as well as other runners, kids on bikes etc. Every time I get one or all of the following, dogs jumping at me, owners on one side of the path with the dog at the other on a bloody invisible extendable lead (death traps) dogs chasing the swans and ducks while the owners laugh. A lot of dog owners are responsible but there are the few who think their dog should be able to do what it wants because its a dog. I have nothing against them at all but I don't want to be jumped at or tripped over. If you have a dog fine, if you walk it in a busy public area and it jumps up or doesn't have recall then keep it on the lead and/or train it. I am a conscientious runner, I will always move out of the way for other people, stop and let bikes through etc and if someone does keep their dog to the side to allow me past I will thank them.

The child's tantrum and my dog were completely unrelated. He was having his moment before we were even in sight.
We heard it before we saw them and the sound really upset my dog.
As for manners, if I were driving and stopped to let another car through I would expect a thanks , likewise if I were let in I'd than the driver.

@drivinmecrazy - in which case, your waiting probably didn’t even cross the parent’s mind. The last thing I’d be thinking about with a toddler so upset was the feelings of someone hanging around nearby with a dog. In fact, your presence would have only served to make the whole situation more stressful. Watchful dog woman on patrol on top of toddler stress. Marvelous. No thanks required or to be expected 🙄

For context this is on a bridleway used equally by dog walkers, families, cyclists and joggers.
In my experience it's not the dog walkers you have to worry about.
There's rudeness from all sides.
I don't appreciate small children approaching my dog, despite warning parents that he's a puppy and very excitable.
I don't care for cyclists speeding up behind us.
I don't think joggers have to be so bloody rude when my dog might bark as they pass us clad in totally unnecessarily high vis outfits.
My dog is always under control but he wouldn't be a dog if he didn't have some reaction to the situations we encounter.
His usual reaction is one of stress

I agree that parents shouldn't be allowing their children to approach your dog.

I agree that cyclists should be considerate of other path users.

I think that joggers should be able to wear whatever they like but there is no need for them to be rude.

But none of that changes the fact that the main problem that I encounter when I go out for a walk is rude dog owners failing to take responsibility for their unruly dogs.