To demand people keep their dogs away from me on the seafront

[TigerPath]

I'm sick of random dogs coming up to sniff me and DS or getting under my feet. All dogs make me nervous even small ones. And I hate it when they cock their leg on my pram wheels

So now when a dog comes up to me or just before it reaches me I shout to the owner (politely but firmly) 'please keep your dog away from me/my pram'
Most oblige but a number are rude! Yesterday a woman retorted crossly 'but it's the sea-front'. I replied 'they should be on leads' and got a mouthful of abuse. There is a bloody great sign saying 'dogs should be on leads on the promenade'!! I wouldn't care if people kept them to heel but I don't want them touching me, my pram or tripping me up

AIBU??

Jump on you every second?!

That's totally not true.

Sorry op you say you don't hate dogs, or have a phobia etc yet even the jingling of the collar puts you on edge

tiger you would have to look at local websites. However in my experience most beaches don't enforce dog restrictions till May. some beaches have tighter restrictions again in high summer (e.g. Studland in Dorset). This might be dog on lead or no dogs at all - depends on the beach.

m.dorsetforyou.com/walking-dogs-on-beaches

My cat ate my dog.

even the jingling of the collar puts you on edge

Yes because it usually warns me I'm about to be slobbered over/jumped on/have sand kicked in my face by a dog whose ownwer is halfway up the beach.
Far too many big boisterous dogs charging about.
I think they should start fining owners for dogs that cause a public nuisance. Including dogs who approach people playfully, those who poo on the sand and any dog who is not under close control/ leashed. Until there are consequences like a fine, many dog owners will continue to be irresponsible and let their dog bound up to strangers.

And being GF to boot which isn't allowed apparently

tiger I understand exactly what you're describing. I remember it so well from when mine were babies.

I had multiple experiences of smiling at owners and asking them to call their dog away whilst it jumped up at me ( including when I was breastfeeding on a bench). The first few times I was told to 'stop being so stupid, he's fine with children' and 'he's not actually trying to bite you, is he?' I was shocked, especially as my baby was only a few weeks old at the time, but then sort of came to expect it as part of being out on foot rather than my bike on a road as I had been pre-children.

Some of the expressed attitudes of dog owners on this thread - including 'you're being a goady fucker' and 'you're lying' - do unfortunately illustrate why some dogs are allowed to continue to hehave in this way.

If there is a particular area that you go where multiple owners ignore the 'dogs must be on a lead' sign, I'd suggest calling the local police/dog patrol to talk it through with them. They may well put in an appearance to encourage compliance with the law.

Call the police because a dog is being walked off lead?

Rightio.

Some of the expressed attitudes of dog owners on this thread - including 'you're being a goady fucker' and 'you're lying' - do unfortunately illustrate why some dogs are allowed to continue to hehave in this way.

I think some people are exaggerating and there is definitely some goadiness going on, hence deleted posts and shining being banned, and my dog is perfectly well behaved. He doesn't continue to behave in anyway, he's great.

Shining banned?

Yes thank god! I kept reporting it's posts and it was banned in the end.

Farrow what a strange conclusion. After 33 pages you are still missing the point.

Why is it relevant whether I like or dislike dogs? The thread is not about loving or hating dogs. Your posts come across as very emotional.

The thread is about how dogs behave in public, and why many people want them restrained in public places.

Can you really not understand why dogs are often perceived as a nuisance/intimidating/unhygienic? Really?

Why do you think I am being goady, just because my views differ from yours? You frequently accuse people of lying/exaggerating...why? Because you have never been bothered/jumped on by an off-lead dog, you generalise this to the entire population? That anyone with a different experience to yours must be lying, in order to try and goad you?

No matter how much you love your dogs, they will never have the same rights as humans. They do not have a 'right to run free'. Yes, a few people may admire them on walks- this doesn't mean the world is accepting of off-lead dogs. You cannot change how the rest of society perceives them.

tigerseriously, the law and public by laws are on your side. It is an offence to allow your dog to behave in ways that causes another person to be afraid of being attacked. Obviously a bit of a grey area but imvhe, local police, dog patrols and council's have acted quickly when they have had reportings of multiple off lead dogs on areas where they're explicitly asked to be on leads.

Exactly the situation that you describe in your OP.

I will continue to exercise my dog in whatever way I like, law permitting, and will continue to be a responsible and considerate dog owner.

If all dog owners did the same it would be great.

And yes there have definitely been some exaggerating going on!

YABU

Call the police because a dog is being walked off lead?

If the dog is intimidating people, behaving aggressively or running into traffic, calling the police is the right thing to do.

Where we used to live, our neighbours had a dog who was seized by police. He was a staffie-type rescue dog and didn't like other dogs. Another neighbour kept reporting him for growling at her Guide dog, and on one occasion he escaped into the street and attacked a poodle. The police simply turned up at their house and gave them the option of signing over the dog or facing court. The dog was then taken away and destroyed.

Far better to keep your dog under close control at all times, and be aware of how others perceive it.

And what if it's not aggressive or misbehaving? Like the dog on the beach front in your OP?

It just pissed you off because.

Thanks Rosebud, I will contact the local police and dog patrols about people breaking the on-lead rule. It would great if they clamped down on it and made those areas safe and enjoyable for everyone!

The dog in the OP IS misbehaving in going up to someone. The dog's owner is certainly misbehaving by not having it on the lead and not keeping it away from other people.

The dog in the OP didn't do anything.

The OP is about dogs farrow not a dog.

Good luck tiger. In my experience, the police take these issues seriously and have taken prompt action.

The dog went up to TigerPath. It should not have done that even if it was off-lead. It should not have been running free anyway.

No, it doesn't say that that dog went up to her. The OP says that she shouted at the owner for not having it on a lead.