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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be a bit annoyed at this dog walker

157 replies

anothercuppaplease · 03/01/2013 16:59

I live close to a forest and lots of people walk down our road to take their dogs for a walk. This morning, I was walking on my street, pushing a double buggy, and a dog walker was coming the other way with 5 smallish dogs, all on leads. No problem there, so far...

The dog walker of her own free will decided to get off the pavement and walk around me as there was not enough space for a double buggy and 5 dogs to be on the pavement side by side - the only thing is, as she passed me, she said in a very cross voice 'THANK YOU!' ermmm so I turned around and said why should I say thank you? It's you who's got five dogs?' She was clearly upset and mumbled something which I didn't get, anyway I just walked away. Should I have said thank you, really? Did she really expect me to get off the pavement because she had dogs? Was I being rude?

OP posts:

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/01/2013 17:51

I used to walk multiple dogs with a babe in a buggy and a toddler in tow.

Did I have right of way then?

FWIW if I have my sisters baby with me and I spot dog walkers I move myself and the buggy to the side because I know it is easier to move a buggy than to successfully manipulate three or more dogs at once.

RyleDup · 03/01/2013 17:52

You were rude. Regardless of how many dogs she had, she moved off the pavement for you. Saying thank you costs nothing.

SparklingSnow · 03/01/2013 17:53

YABU! I just read your post and your attitude is bad! Lots of people have said YABU. Just accept you were in the wrong!

If I had moved off the pavement for someone and they didn't say thank you, I would have though they were rude as well. It's manners to say thank you when someone moves for you.

RyleDup · 03/01/2013 17:55

What's your job? Pushchair pusher?!

SouthernShepherdess · 03/01/2013 17:55

Sorry but I don't blame her for saying "THANK YOU" crossly. I would most probably have said the same. Nothing irritates me more than when I've shown common courtesy and I don't get any thanks in return. There is no "right of way" on a pavement you know..having kids and a buggy doesn't give you any more rights than anyone else. Why is it dog owners are almost classed as some kind of scum because they own dogs? They are like members of the family as well to some of us, and dog owners have a duty to walk their dogs.

YABU and sound like a right arsehole if I'm honest.

rechargemybatteries · 03/01/2013 17:58

She is a person just the same as you. She had every right to be on the pavement. There was no need for her to move out of your way, she did you a favour. And it was rude of you not to thank her. And she was right to pull you up on it - people pushing large pushchairs carrying their precious little babies can become so wrapped up in their "isn't my baby just the best thing ever and the whole world should dance attendance on me and mine because I have babies" notion that they forget that everyone else has entitlements and rights too.

I used to walk 2 large dogs with 3 kids in one pram - it was a high pram with a carrycot an old style silver cross, one baby in pram, one on pram seat, one on tray in the bottom when he couldn't be bothered to walk any more. And two dogs. Would that have trumped you?

ditavonteesed · 03/01/2013 18:00

you cant really believe that you are in the right.

charlieandthechocolatecake · 03/01/2013 18:00

YABU. If she chose not to move you would have had to either go around her or say excuse me.

She moved for your convenience. You should have thanked her.

flowerytaleofNewYork · 03/01/2013 18:01

Why does being in the 'daze' of having small kids mean its not necessary to show common courtesy?

Mia4 · 03/01/2013 18:01

YABU, manners cost nothing. Your last comment does you no favours, you come across flouncy and entitled. Had you come back and said something along the lines of just 'being in a daze with kids and not thinking about it then' but accepting YWBU people wouldn't be reiterating yabu.

CloudsAndTrees · 03/01/2013 18:04

Of course you should have said thank you!

The fact that you didn't makes you rude, and what you said afterwards makes you extremely rude.

Your last post makes you sound both rude and selfish.

LadyBeagleEyes · 03/01/2013 18:05

You were very rude Op.
It's would be an automatic response from me to say thank you.
And did you really turn round and say 'why should I say thankyou'?

coffeeinbed · 03/01/2013 18:07

I hate this with a passion.
Hardly anyone sais "Thank you" when I and my dog make space for them, ever.
It's not hard, is it.
YABU and rude.

cakebar · 03/01/2013 18:09

I always thank the dog walkers who move their dogs to one side when my kids are approaching and they often look surprised, I suspect there are lots of rude parents.

uptheamp · 03/01/2013 18:10

today i made space for a pile of dog crap that was on the ground, i thank the dog owner who left that there

atacareercrossroads · 03/01/2013 18:11

you know what, just for what you said if I was her Id have turned back, overtook you, and then just repeated the incident without giving way

D0oinMeCleanin · 03/01/2013 18:11

I find more people are courteous when I have a single dog, when I have multiple dogs certain people seem to be annoyed by my just being there

Which I can accept when we've got a new foster in and it's bit chaotic while everyone is deciding who walks where, but when they're a group that has been together while and are walking nicely by my side or slightly ahead and all respond to "Here, sit" when I move them out of the way, I find it incredibly rude.

It's usually young mums and buggies that are the rudest and cyclists, who really should not be on the pavement anyway.

HeadfirstForAMistletoeKiss · 03/01/2013 18:12

I like your style at

WorraLiberty · 03/01/2013 18:13

Ahh now I've read your second post OP, I'm pleased she annoyed you.

Perhaps you'll learn from it.

HoneyDragon · 03/01/2013 18:14

Because Flowery when you have birthed offspring you not have to be polite because you are the most important person ever. And having a pushchair means you have right of way over everyone. Ever. Because other people on paths are pavement entitled cunts and should be shot.

Permanentlyexhausted · 03/01/2013 18:17

I think everyone else has already said it.

ditavonteesed · 03/01/2013 18:21

see dooin with the cyclists, I always call the dogs to me and have them sit, I am learning to ride a bike and have been going round the park, nobidy calls there dogs they dart about in front of me and make me nearly fall off. I dont think its a dog owners/non dog owners, some people just have no awareness of others. op still sounds like an entitled bugger though.

Shakirasma · 03/01/2013 18:22

OP you are obnoxious, rude, stuck up and jaw-droopingly entitled. There is no excuse for that. Even the fact that you have children (just like 90% of people here) does not excuse your attitude.

rechargemybatteries · 03/01/2013 18:22

OP you sound in your first post like you resent the people who walk their dogs in the forest walking on "my street". You do know that the street doesn't belong to you and just because you live on the street you don't own the pavement don't you? Living in that street doesn't give you extra rights to walk on the pavement over the dog walkers. Unless your area has a special residents only pavement walking permit?

phantomnamechanger · 03/01/2013 18:22

If I may misquote honeydragon "when you have birthed offspring you not have to be polite because you are the most important person ever"..........

I think when you have DC you actually ARE the most important person ever for setting a good example from birth - OPs kids will grow up very rude if they follow her example! Too many DC already don't bother with basic please and thank you.

In fact, regardless of the giving way business, it would be polite to acknowledge the dog walker, another human being, with a nod or a smile anyway.

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