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!

@Yellowsubmarineunderthesea never run from a dog, their instincts kick in and they chase. You’re much more likely to get bitten if you run. However if a dog is trying to jump on you, you’re fully entitled to kick it. The owner may just think twice about letting their dog off the lead when they’ve got no recall if you do.

Can be anything from walks around the neighborhood doing a few jobs to going on a walk or run in a park or riverbank. Dogs are just accessories to many people who can't be bothered learning how to train them

Even if a dog was close enough for me to kick it, I think my instincts would kick in first and I'd be trying to run. I have been so close to tears over the years, dogs owners not willing to understand the fear some people have is just so baffling

@Yellowsubmarineunderthesea I’m sorry you’ve so many shitty owners around you, there’s no need for it. Think I got very lucky where I stay, no off lead dogs in the streets and our local wildlife walk only dogs with good recall are let off (which isn’t my dog, his recall is crap but he’s a pup atm and we’re working on it so train in places I know we won’t run the risk of him catching sight of other people and going to bother them)

This is my preferred solution, or a stout stick.

Good idea not but feasible when going for a run, walking to visit a friend or doing jobs around the town.

I agree that running in particular is tricky, the dog owner default attitude is that you are in the wrong because running is disturbing their dog 🙄🙄🙄
I just give the fecking things a very wide berth and in particular pay attention to the ones on extendable leads.
I accept that people have a right to their own hobbies and interests but insisting that their hobby thing is a family member and has the same rights as a human is taking the piss.

The dog that bites most is a jack Russell and my medium sized do who loves kids and cats and everyone has been attacked at least 10 times by little dogs I have always had big dogs and only ever been bitten by little dogs

Op, I have a dog that used to live jumping up on people so we have tried to train him. When that failed, he’s now not off the lead unless on the foreshore or in a local field.

As another poster said, buy some cheap water pistols from the £1 shop. The dogs will soon stop and you’ll be able to enjoy you walk more.

Don't know if you're trying to imply we deserve it for living in poverty-stricken areas, but it happens in the local park in my leafy suburb. Where the dogs are supposed to be on leads because of ground-nesting birds. But the birds have all been driven out now... you don't even see their smashed eggs any more... 😔

A teenage girl was walking her dog in our park when it went for me - I said NO!

Teenage girl: Don't you shout at my dog! 🙄

I hate dogs. I'm with you.
I don't want to smell of someone else's dog after it's rubbed up against my leg...

It's interesting to me how many posters follow the logic of "I have never seen or experienced this, therefore it doesn't happen".

I have no particular axe to grind here. I like dogs, and I'm happy for them to be walked in public places. I don't even mind that much when they jump up at me, but I'm telling you that it does happen, quite a lot. You can choose not to believe me, but it doesn't actually change the reality of my experience.

All I'm asking for is that dog owners should have a bit of basic courtesy and respect for other people. Many do, and I have no issue with them at all. Unfortunately many don't. They are the ones that I object to.

I don't like it when owners allow their muddy dogs to jump up at me, uninvited, without a simple apology. If this isn't you, then you don't need to take offence.

Dog owners who say "this doesn't happen to me you must be exaggerating" are saying that because the loose dogs are more interested in their own dogs so they leave the owner alone. People without dogs do not have dogs to deflect that attention, and they do jump up frequently.

Is it just a really busy doggy park? Near my mums house is like an ad for dogs-it’s so crazy there that our dog walks around almost crying! There’s another park nearby and we meet a few dogs but that’s it (our dog loves it there and says hi to all the dogs he meets!)

no help but dogs are a good judge of character, nice that they like you. Maybe you’re secretly a doggy person?!

SwordToFlamethrower
It does happen all the time, happens to me too! Owners think you're mad for being angry their shitty dogsgot you dirty.

Keep your fucking flea bags on leads, how about that?
you seem a bit too angry though? Hope things get easier for you (and hope dogs give you a break!!)

As another poster said, buy some cheap water pistols from the £1 shop. The dogs will soon stop and you’ll be able to enjoy you walk more.
or the dog will attack op?!

Dogs may be excellent judges of character, and I am a nice person, but I am definitely am not a secret dog lover and imo it's not much help to the situation trying to make light of my dislike of sniffing/bouncing dogs with that comment tbh. What good does it do to tell someone that doesn't like dogs that dogs like them 🤷

This makes sense.

I agree dogs are a bloody nuisance off the lead. Some do respond to recall but a lot don't.
I walk my daughters dog a few times a week, it's a nervous reactive creature. He has a hi vis signal on his lead saying give me space but a lot of owners ignore it. They let their dogs run up to him with the usual comment he's just being friendly
Get tough with the owners tell them to keep their dogs on leads

Yellowsubmarineunderthesea
because it’s true and it was a badly timed, light hearted attempt to cheer you up to be honest

The problem with this is by then they have already jumped up and got mud all-over you or scared my grandchild who has been put off dogs because of this type of unwanted attention from them.
The most annoying thing when this happens is when the owners then go onto say he won't hurt you he is just being friendly. And make it look as though it is our fault the dog is jumping up when all we are doing is walking along a path in the park!

I’d still rather take my chances with a Jack Russell than a large dog.

I'm so glad I don't live by any of you well behaved dogs are entitled to be off there leads and as for beating them with sticks and stuff wow if a dog gets a bit over exited and jumps up its not the end of the world and as long as they are not aggressive biting etc get o er it my dog sniffed someone's foot the other day and the commotion the woman made was ridiculous

Well if it's jumping up it's not well behaved, is it.