To have shouted at this dog owner

[swanandduck]

I am terrified of dogs. I can't help it, I've always had that fear. I was walking up the road in the snow yesterday and a woman was walking down, with a ski pole to keep her balance, and her two dogs running around, not on leads. I called out to her asking her to put them on leads as I don't like dogs and she ignored my request and one of them came tearing up at me barking his head off. I was petrified and, when she had half heartedly called him off, I shouted at her that it was a public road and she should have them on a lead. She just walked off and ignored me.
Why, why, why do some dog owners think it's okay to let their pets jump all over strangers, even when the strangers are quite clearly afraid of dogs. On what level do they think this behaviour is acceptable? I always make it quite clear, by putting my two hands in the air and backing away, that I'm afraid of dogs, but the owners never bloody bother to grab the dog by the collar or to have him on a lead in the first place.

swanandduck - poor you, I know exactly what you are going through. My DS2 (7) is terrified of dogs and it really annoys me the way people take no action whatsoever even though they can see he is scared. He has literally run into the road to avoid dogs before. Even today, we were walking along the v.icy pavement and the cutest little andrex puppy came towards us (on a lead I should say) but he was really scared. Normally I'd make him stand in a doorway or something and stand in front but there was nowhere for him to hide so he hid behind a parked car on the road! I have a broken arm (bloody snow ) so can't exactly run after him and grab him. This particular owner was sympathetic but I usually get glares or rude comments like I'm the one in the wrong because my child has a phobia.

YANBU, our neighbour down the road, lets her 'pack' of dogs run around the green at odd times of the day, totally without suppervision.
The pack is led by a X rottweiler, two black labs and an over exitable gun dog type.

To be fair they are only out for a max of 10 mins at a time, but if you happen to be out when they are, they howl at you and come tearing accross barking and growling (very scary)
She does call them off, but it put me off even going for a walk in the street or cycling as you could never tell when they were going to be out.
I have to drive to go for a walk

Strangely, I was going to start a thread the other day with exactly the same title as this, but didn't as I don't post much and one of the only threads I've ever started was about dogs and people will think I'm a troll!
I was however bitten on the trouser by a dog that quite clearly should have been on a lead even in the park. I was running and it came up and started running under my feet - small terrier thing - this went on for some time with owner ineffectually calling it, I smiled and nodded and eventually outran it. Some 20 minutes later and 3 times up the hill and in a much worse mood there was same owner on her phone and her dog. Dog does the same thing, then starts growling then goes for my leg. Luckily it only grazed skin and got my trouser leg. I have to admit to shouting at woman, indeed I used the word woman and suggested she train her dog. In retrospect I should have suggested she put it on a lead. I got absolutely no reaction from her, just a blank gaze - I didn't want to stop as training and starting to really snow - unbelievable. I usually encounter the same dog walkers so I'm sure I shall see her again. If the chasing, or biting, happens again I shall be having a more measured word with her, it's obvious her dog acts like that as it happened twice and i could easily have been bitten. Just not ok. Only good thing was anger and adrenalin from shouting got me up the hill again!

mjinsparklystockings , not not aimed at you at all! You know, I really like dogs, despite having been brought up to be scared of them, and I really don't want my DCs to fear them, but never having had dogs, I never know how to react to them when they are being frisky. There's no more joyful a sight than happy dogs running about and playing in the park sniffing each others' arses , I love it. But I do get angry when owners think the rules don't apply to them re leads or forbidden areas, or just are thoughtless.

Yessir, I am getting really hacked off with some of the rubbish owners (a minority thank goodness). I'd have whipped out my phone in the situation you were in, taken a photo of dog and owner and given it to the dog owner.

Must preview, given it to the dog warden, not owner.

Good plan. If it happens again that is exactly what I'll do.

I forgot to say, on the way home, to add insult to injury I stood in dog poo. I was pretty cross all round. And seriously, I do like dogs, not sure about some owners. Train them and pick up, or don't have a dog.

I firmly believe that all dogs should be on a lead if walking down a public street. I would never dream of letting my boy off, he is too excitable and as a breed is a runner (siberian husky).
Because of his breed we get mixed reactions when we are out for our walks, most people want to fuss him which is fine but he is excitable and jumper but you do get a few who are intimdated by his size/wolf like characteristics - which is understandable, I can't abide staffs and am wary of them.

But if I see a child or an adult who is obviously wary, I always hold him to heal and explain that the reason I am doing so is that he is excitable but friendly.

I also believe that owners should have a license for keeping their dog.

I think the problem is irresponsible is so subjective. A dog licence with some dog equivalent of a highway code maybe would be useful. Something people could point to and say look that's not acceptable. However, at the moment nothing's enforced, from the dangerous dog act down to fouling, which round here at least is endemic.

I never walk mine down the street off the lead - for me that would be totally irresponsible. I do let them off at the beach/wild area which is almost exclusively used by dog walkers, especially at this time of the year. What does get me worried is the occasional family who let their young children run up to my dogs, often squealing, trying to stroke them. Luckily, mine are safe with kids, but the parents don't know that. What on earth are they thinking of?! It's a place that everyone walks dogs and I do know of people that don't go there if they are worried by them.

Some people DO have an uncontrollable phobia of dogs though - even soft gentle dogs. My 19yo DB has aspergers (which you can't see by looking at him), and even at 19, nearly 20yo, will run right into the road in front of busy traffic if there is any sort of dog that is not on a lead. He has almost been run over loads of times, lots of drivers have had to do emergency stops to avoid him. So MJinhiding - despite how well behaved your dog is off a lead, your gentle, exceedingly well behaved dog could cause someone like my DB to get RUN OVER, just because you think it's ok to have your dog off a lead in public.

He cannot help his extreme reaction to dogs that are off a lead, after many many years of work, he can just about cope with dogs on a lead if he can 'press himself' onto the other side of the pavement, but any dog off a lead causes him such extreme panic he can (and has) harm himself. And TBH this goes for those stupid stupid horrid extendable leads where the dog might as well not be on a lead as well.

I have had a dog in the past, and would have never used an extendable lead or walked him without a lead on, as I know that some people either don't like dogs, or worse, have incredible phobias of dogs.

mj you say that you will control your dog if you see someone looking nervous around it but some people myself included know that they have to stay calm and will be doing their utmost to stay outwardly calm yet could at any moment lose control and panic and make the dog jump provoking who knows what reaction.
please keep your brilliantly trained dog on a lead in the street. pleeeeeease!!!!!! set an example!

There is a woman who walks her dog past our house at least twice a day with no lead or collar. It generally stays to heel but is a big dog- ridgeback type - and has a habit of barking very loudly so I think it should be kept on a lead.
Dd2 is 2 and very scared of animals even though we have a dog ourselves ( don't think she quite realises he's an animal..)
When we are out I keep ours on the lead on the streets . Also when out in open spaces I call him and put him on lead or hold his collar when children come near. He is a staffie which can make others nervous and he could knock a small child over if they walked too near when he was turning round for example which would be really scary for the child.
Op Yanbu - I looked after a friends 5 yo the other day she was absolutely petrified I've never seen anything like it. Our dog is getting on a bit and spends lots of time asleep in his bed but she was still really scared and shaking. It was quite a juggling act to keep them totally separate we don't live in a mansion and it was pouring with rain too..

I posted yesterday about a dog ON A LEAD who bit me as I was walking past it on the pavement and it's owner on Sunday. It jumped up at me and bit me on the chest. I've now got fetching blue yellow and purple bruising on ribs and breast.
I reported it to the police who basically weren't interested. I'm following that up.
I sympathise with being stuck on providing enough/suitable space to exercise your dog BUT the bottom line IMHO is that if you can't provide the right conditions as an owner you should NOT keep a dog.
I reckon about three-quarters of dog owners should not really keep dogs. Their lifestyles and environment are just not right for an animal like a dog.

In Italian parks they have fenced in areas for the dogs - not like in the UK where the penned in area is usually the children's playground!

Valhalla

The dog barked and ran up to me barking loudly. That was what scared me.

Jingle

Poor little guy. How can people be so unfeeling towards a frightened little boy? That annoys me even more that adults being frightened. I remember a dog running up to my 4 yr old nephew right beside the duck pond and barking and jumping at him to get the bread. My DN was screaming and the dog owner barely reacted until I shouted at him to call the dog off. I was soooooo angry that time.

swanandduck I would have been scared. I am absolutely terrified of dogs and will cross a road to avoid them even if they are on a lead!

YANBU

I dislike dogs that bound all over me putting dirty feet and slobber all over my coat.

PS YANBU OP. I think I'll be bloomin nervous now of any dog

Toughasoldboots

No, He didn't bite me if that's what you mean. He came running at me barking loudly. I was so scared I cannot remember if he jumped at me, ran around me or what. To be honest, your question quite clearly shows that you have no notion of what it's like to have a fear of dogs. Do you have any phobias? If so, remember the blind terror it causes. If not, lucky you.