... to avoid walking in countryside because I'm scared of cows and dogs?

[LilacWine7]

(NC to protect identity as this is embarrassing!)

I have a fear of dogs, I'm fine with them on leads but i hate it when people let them off leads. In fields and woods they seem to run at me out of nowhere, sometimes on narrow path, and owners look bewildered if i ask them to control their dogs. I just don't like being jumped, sniffed at or approached esp if dog is big. AIBU to shout 'please control your dog' when one comes at me? Owners seem to take offence.
Recently I was walking in fells with friend and we stopped outside farm at dusk to check map (standing in a lane) when 3 sheepdogs raced out of farm gates and surrounded us, barking and snarling with teeth bared and hackles raised. We were terrified! We shouted for help but no-one came so we sidled along fence until we got away from farm and dogs didn't follow us after a certain point (this was after about 10 mins standing still as to move in any direction we had to make dogs move out of way). I kept thinking they were going to attack us. My friend was scared too and she's normally good with dogs.

I'm also scared of cows or entering any field of cattle in case they charge or in case there's a bull hidden amongst them. If I see cows i won't go in and if I don't see cows I keep next to fence ready to climb over if I see one. When I was a child I remember getting cornered by bullocks and having a panic attack. My dad (who used to work on a farm) says carry a big stick and wave it at them if they approach, or hit them with it if they get aggressive. He says the same works with dogs.

I haven't walked on farmland since last year, when I fell out with DH because I wouldn't cross a field with cattle and made him walk back the same way. We used to walk in fells instead (no cows) but now I'm scared of another incident with farm-dogs! He thinks I'm 'being ridiculous' and says cows and dogs are harmless. What do you think... AIBU? How do I get over this fear?

Round here- South downs, it is impossible not to encounter sheep/ cows and sometimes wild horses. when I walk through a field of cows I make sure I walk slowly and try to keep a distance.sometimes it's not possible. Quite a few times I've had to walk right through the middle of a large herd on a narrow piece of land. Fence one side/ steep drop on the other. I try to pretend I don't care, even had to pass a massive horned bull. Luckily he was too busy with his ladies to mind me! These herds are used to people though.

Yes horses scare the shit out of me equally.

Cows galore round here roaming common land and not intimidated by cars either which are bigger than people. The other day they were barging the car as we slowly crawled through them and I said to DD I'd have hated to have net this lot when walking.

Our rule is when you enter a field with cows even if they're far off be sure to look out your exits and guage whether the whole of your party (children/older ppl) could make it to an exit if they( the cows) broke into a fast run. Arms wide - look and sound assertive, big stick and if they do get angry let the dog off the lead to take his/her chances which are probably better than yours.
Don't let the cows put you off.

Cows scare me to death. I was on Dartmoor once on an expedition and we started walking through a field full of cows towards the end of our final day. They were nowhere near us when we climbed over the stile and we all kept quiet. There were only 4 of us and we were all wary. All of us were brought up in the country. About half way a cross, the cows came at us and we had to leg it. We properly sprinted with our backpacks and hiking boots and everything. Now if you can imagine an 18 year old who's been hiking for 3 days in sweltering heat with 28lbs on their back sprinting the 400ms, it just shows how scared we were!

I was always wary of dogs but now have 2 of my own (how?!) and can read them better. I find I need to read the owner too.

I suggest you stay away from the countryside. Clearly you are not suited to it. The sheepdogs - as with any dogs - were just delineating their territory. Their barks were not aggressive or threatening - it's just their way of saying "hey! this is where I live!"

It is completely legal to have dogs off lead in many areas and when they approach someone they are simply saying "hi". As you would - presumably - say to a real person. If you don't like it, don't go there.

I walk my dogs in an area where there are cows - and deer, and snakes, and wild ponies, and foxes, and rabbits and badgers, and and and. I relish the diversity of wildlife. The dog doesn't bother the cattle. The cattle don't bother the dog. We also have bees, wasps, may bugs, herons, swans, pigeons, kites, buzzards. Would you like all of them to be regulated and confined too?

And I would yell at you to "please control your nerves" if you yelled at me to "please control your dog" when she was simply minding her own business and enjoying a walk.

I remember as a child having to leg it over a barbed wire fence when a herd decided to charge at us, a really frightening experience. Anyone that says stand your ground and shout waving a stick is bonkers sorry I think I'll leave the buggers alone. The thing is you can't get away from them. Our local council has come up with a terrific idea to keep bracken down - herds of cattle dumped all over my favourite walks.

ShebaRabbit Cows need grass. If you supplement it needs to be for only a couple of months max, you cannot profit from beef raised entirely on grain (luckily for the cows). The ASPCA website even states that they are largely raised out doors. They are only kept inside for a couple of months but it is in the most diabolical conditions. That much is absolutely true. I'll bet it happens in the UK too though.

geekymommy The cattle ranches are huge, that's why they have cowboys .

I cannot believe people that refuse to get their dogs under control. My dog is called to me when we meet other walkers and he's off lead, especially if they have children. Our son is scared stiff of any other dog but his own. I know what a dog phobia is like and I'm not going to let my dog scare the living crap out of someone. If you told me to get my dog under control I would apologise for not having done it first.

Since having a dog - 12 mths ago - I have learnt to read their language better. BUT I am still wary of other peoples dogs as their habits and behaviour are unknown. However seeing it from both sides (ie someone who gets annoyed with inconsiderate owners who do not have dogs on a lead even when they are known to attack cyclists/swans etc etc) as well as a dog owner of an over friendly dog that is easily distracted (ie does come to call but if there is a distraction like a windmilling pedestrian shouting things I don't have a hope in hell of getting her to come back) what I would say is, dont wave arms sticks stones or anything else at a dog, just don't look at them at all, folded arms and slight turn away from them and after initially running up to you they will lose interest. If they go to paw you (ie raise their faces to yours to say hello) lift a leg with bended knee. Most dog owners are very careful and very aware of others, they won't allow a dog free range if they are dangerous, and they would also muzzle in some way if they did. I meet all sorts on our country walks through fields, on tow paths etc including those in pristine white trousers that get annoyed if anyone so much as looks at them!! I mean really?? I would say go and expect to get dirty, expect to meet animals and be aware of the basics to avoid issues, (and cyclists get some ruddy bells for letting us know you are coming we can't see or hear you if you are behind us on the tow path and pedestrians actually have the right of way on most tow paths, bells are better as are manners in case there are those hard of hearing folk daring to go out and about so if we don't hear you don't be rude) and in general be prepared to turn around and go another route - not everything is perfectly maintained - at this time of year it can be very muddy, lots of baby animals and protective mothers - just because there is a right of way doesn't mean you should ignore common sense.

laughing at poster who is annoyed at " please control your dog " when dog comes when called and is under control.

DOGS ARE NEVER RELIABLY UNDER CONTROL WHY DONT BLOODY DOG OWNERS GET THIS SIMPLE FACT.

yanbu.
all dogs and cows have the potential to be evil attacking bastards.
Farmers get this.
Most dog owners don't

tomato you sound like a lovely considerate dog owner.
you should run training classes for owners

I won't go near nature because of the slenderman. Not even real. Shame.

I got chased by two cows when I was a kid. Even now I can't have too much to do with the wet-eyed feckers. They look at me like they can sense the fear.

Took the DC's to the farm not long ago, farmer went to them "Ooh shall we ask if Mummy wants a go at milking the cow?" and I almost soiled myself as I sprinted across the field. DC's had a right old time of it, milking it and shouting "Look, Mummy, I'm touching it's breasts".

We've been to The Gower this week for a break, cows everywhere. The DC's think it's hilarious to run up behind me and shout "moooo" when we're near them. It is not, I've warned the DC's they'll be sold if it continues.

I like dogs though. Dogs can run at me all they want. Just no cows.

My dad (who used to work on a farm) says carry a big stick and wave it at them if they approach, or hit them with it if they get aggressive. He says the same works with dogs.

Your father is an idiot. And cruel.

I don't mind cows. I treat them with the consideration they deserve.
Same with dogs

It's those humans I hate meeting when out walking. Biggest threat of all and make me most nervous.

YANBU to shout "please control your dog" or dogs if they aren't under control.
YANBU to avoid the countryside if you are not confident in the countryside.
I have large dogs which are very well trained and they are my responsibility.

BUT please bare in mind they are animals, my dogs are loving and friendly but don't walk in to my back garden and expect them to roll over and play.

If you approach them you are taking on some even if it only a small amount of the responsibility.

My mother was very afraid of dogs so I know how debilitating it can be. Luckily my dad wasn't and he made sure we weren't and very deliberately taught us how to behave around dogs. Both parents encouraged us to play with our neighbours dogs, my mother certainly didn't want us to have her fears I'm not sure she ever met a cow but I'm sure she would have been afraid if she had.

I would agree with the suggestion that you should get some treatment for the dog phobia, it must limit your life, not just country walks, you can't control the fact there are dogs in the environment - you can learn to control how you react to them.

Here's the thing. If you're that scared of cows and (at a lesser extent) dogs, how about you just don't "do" the countryside?!

They are all part and parcel of being there. I crossed a cow field twice a day, every day for the first 18 years of my life, just to get to school. I got attacked by a cow....errrmmmm....never. It's no big deal.

The tapping mentioned above is Emotional Freedom technique (EFT) and can be very good for phobias. Same as clinical hypnotherapy. Worth a try, anyway!

Those of you who say 'stay away from the countryside if you are scared of cows' are being unreasonable.

We have a right to walk on public footpaths wherever we choose and it's only a minority of paths that go through fields of cows and you don't know when and where the cows will be unless you walk the same paths all the time.

I go walking in the hills of the north of England about two or three times a month and it's probably once or twice a year at most that I have to walk through a field of cows.

I know that the chances of being attacked by cows is quite small, but the fact that they do occasionally attack and seriously injure or kill people makes me justifiably wary. But I don't see why I should avoid the countryside because I am aware of this.

Cows are usually harmless, however are a force to be reckoned with if they suddenly turn. It is particularly rare for a herd of grazing cattle to stampede but it spends on lots of different factors. If there is a cow amongst the herd "a bulling" (ready for serving by the bull) that often causes a fracas with the cattle - they will start blaring (which sounds quite intimidating), jumping on each other's backs eye but they are still very unlikely to turn on you.
The proximity of bulls is also a big factor. You can't run a dairy bull, over the age of 10 months in a field where a foot path crosses. All ther Bulls are banned unless they have cows or heifers running with them

You also don't want yo get in between a cow and her calf!