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Original poster

Dog owners put them on a lead!!!

630 replies

BusyJessica · 28/07/2016 14:24

I am a runner, Im so tired of people's dogs running and jumping on me while i'm on a run. Its always dog owners with the larger dogs, if you have a dog that is excitable and is known to chase jump and be a general nuisance to others trying to enjoy the park please put it on a lead.

I suffer severe allergies and today a dog jumped on me while i'm out running and scratched my leg. I have now got a 4 inch scratch which could scar from the knee down. The lazy owner had the dog off a lead and was very overweight so could not keep up with the dog running off ahead.

She then had the nerve to tell me i was out of order for kicking the dog off me.

Please Dog Owners put your dog on a lead.

OP posts:
RhodaBull · 29/07/2016 09:50

I think dogs (in the main) have got better behaved. Years ago dogs weren't trained, they just were. My granny had a dog who after breakfast went out, and was next seen at teatime. People used to say, "Saw Nick in the park," or "Nick was in the high street." !!!

My dog is very well trained - he is the ideal family dog. But - there are still people who shriek and squeal even when he is on the lead. I fear for the future of dogs if these types have their way.

EeksyPeeksy · 29/07/2016 09:51

Me too!

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 29/07/2016 09:52

Well you're not really Waitrose, because you still haven't said how it is possible for dogs to sniff at strangers' feet if they have been called back when running at them? Clearly the running at strangers part doesn't seem like an issue to you because you "know" your dog won't jump on them because it is well trained and you are a responsible owner.

I can see Eeksy's point about some dogs having poor eyesight which is fine; they're obviously sniffing near you and not at you (and if their eyesight is that poor I guess not running towards strangers anyway? I don't know, I know nothing about dogs.) But otherwise, how is your dog sniffing at strangers feet when you are so responsible and have called it back?

Maybebabybee · 29/07/2016 09:52

Where's the understanding that being approached by a dog when you don't want to make its acquaintance is a reasonable attitude?

So just ignore it. Don't kick it or bang on and on about "out of control" dogs.

I'm terrified of spiders. I don't kill them. I remove them with a glass or wait for DH to do it. If there was a local park with abundant spiders I would avoid it.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 29/07/2016 09:52

I think people don't want to see the difference between friendly dog and an aggressive one.

They just lump them all in a big Baby Eating Drooling Feet Sniffing Animal mass.

TheSolitaryBoojum · 29/07/2016 09:55

'Yes, I will wait for those to maybe laws to happen.'

As I said, I've seen a lot of rules, bye-laws and laws come in, and none of them have given dogs more freedom to roam than they had previously.
All have been restricting previously unregulated behaviour. From leads to dogshit to banned on beaches to the dangerous dogs act.
More on the way.

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 09:56

I'm not really what, I'm not really a responsible dog owner, how come? I've never had a negative encounter with anyone in the 20odd years of having a dog - I think I'm doing a great job actually seen as on here people are having negative encounters almost every day.

I can't speak for all dog owners. I can speak for myself though, my dog doesn't run at people, he's too busy sniffing the grass and trying to get into the water. I can't possibly comment on dogs running up to people because my dog doesn't do it.

If he's walking along sniffing and someone walks past and he raises his snout to have a sniff (that by the time someone walks past has lasted about .5 seconds) then no of course I wouldn't call him back, that's absurd Grin

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 29/07/2016 09:57

Can you people seriously not tell the difference between an aggressive dog and one that is being friendly

No, I can't. I have been bitten by a dog that the owner claimed to be "friendly" and laughed as it chased me when I was a child. Then told me it was "just a nip" Hmm. So dog owners need to stop assuming that everyone gives a shit whether their animal is being playful or not.

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 09:58

I don't disagree but there may be more on the way, but as I'm a responsible owner in control of a very well behaved dog I am not worried in the slightest.

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 29/07/2016 09:58

No I meant you're not the "odd one out" Waitrose. Sorry - I should have quoted. I realised it wasn't all that clear after I pressed post.

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:01

If you think people not wanting your animal to sniff their feet are being ridiculous then you are exactly the sort of person to roll their eyes when someone doesn't want your dog running at them

I am the odd one out. I can't get worked up about sniffing, it's a natural instinct that would be very hard indeed to stop a dog from doing, however I do think it's unreasonable to let your dog run at someone. It's not nice to have a strange dog bounding up to you - I wouldn't like it either.

So yes, I am the odd one out.

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:02

This is the mutt in question Shock

Dog owners put them on a lead!!!
WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:02

Crikey he needs a haircut actually doesn't he!

TheSolitaryBoojum · 29/07/2016 10:05

'I don't disagree but there may be more on the way, but as I'm a responsible owner in control of a very well behaved dog I am not worried in the slightest.'

The majority of dogs round here have similar owners, they are both well-behaved and considerate. They are a pleasure to encounter.
So that's great, we agree that further, restrictive legislation will not affect the responsible and their dogs. Only the feckless and the indifferent and inconsiderate.

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 29/07/2016 10:05

Okay maybe I was unclear.

If he's walking along sniffing and someone walks past and he raises his snout to have a sniff (that by the time someone walks past has lasted about .5 seconds)

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about dogs that are nowhere near their owners and have run directly towards me to have a good sniff around. It's not the actual sniffing that's the problem, it's the running towards me. Like I said before, how am I to know whether your dog is running at me to sniff, jump, play or attack?

If a dog walks past me with its owner and sniffs my feet, I don't like it but it is over in a matter of seconds and then I can breathe again. It's when the owner is too far away to stop it from jumping on me should it want to or they leave it sniffing around me for a prolonged period of time (for example if I'm sitting on a blanket or at a bench) that I have a problem.

EeksyPeeksy · 29/07/2016 10:06

I had a dog breed once that was a notorious breed. I'd walk her on the lead apart from one area which was abandoned wasteland that nobody frequented. Even when she was on the lead people would cross the road to avoid us. I was walking with her and my DD in a buggy. It always baffled me.

I guess some people just don't like dogs or certain types of dogs. I get that but there are some behaviours that whilst you may not like are completely non threatening for example a passing sniff as you cross paths.

I don't like walking past people playing football. My face seems to attract them (not sure what that says about your face) but I don't expect people to not play football. If I want to avoid it I have to accept that I may have to alter my route slightly. I guess I kind of view them as the same.

EeksyPeeksy · 29/07/2016 10:07

My face... it says nothing about your face! 🙈

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:07

People that aren't in control of their dogs and are total nuisances to other dogs and humans alike totally deserve stricter dog laws - maybe even licenses. Unfortunately it's always the small minority that ruin it for everyone else.

MuffyTheUmpireSlayer · 29/07/2016 10:08

Eeksy we may well have the same face anyway as I always attract balls. (And dogs!)

I attract balls and dogs, I guess that may say something about me...

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:09

That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about dogs that are nowhere near their owners and have run directly towards me to have a good sniff around. It's not the actual sniffing that's the problem, it's the running towards me

And I totally agree. I can't believe anyone would think that that behaviour is ok. I certainly don't.

As a dog owner I think it's pretty strange to let your dog out of your sight, why would you do that?!

mishmash1979 · 29/07/2016 10:09

I too have great issue with dogs off leads IF they are not properly controlled. My 2 boys have a severe dog phobia caused by dogs jumping/running at them aggressively when small. If a dog won't return to its owner when called it shouldn't b off its lead

WaitrosePigeon · 29/07/2016 10:09

What kind of balls to you attract, the hairy variety? Grin boak

EeksyPeeksy · 29/07/2016 10:13

As long as you're not attracting dogs balls. Now THAT I would have an issue with!

CauliflowerBalti · 29/07/2016 10:16

You know what pisses me off as a dog owner? Other dog owners that don't acknowledge The Rule: if your dog isn't good with other dogs, put it on a lead.

If I see a dog on a lead, I immediately leash my unrulier dog. That's The Rule. I know he will want to say hello, I know that not all dogs like this, I am cool with this, so is my dog. That is The Rule.

When a dog isn't on a lead, I assume that he's ok to say hello. I will stop my dog bounding over at a million miles an hour, which is his natural instinct, but I won't leash him and I will let him say hello.

Too many times this results in either the dog going for him - should be on a lead - or the owner shrieking and picking it up and hissing at me that her precious little princess doesn't like other dogs. Should be on a lead.

I realise this is controversial as many people believe dogs shouldn't go up to other dogs, on lead or not. My personal thought is that it is lack of socialisation that leads to dogs having problems with other dogs, that dogs should be dogs and allowed to play with each other, and that my dog has many vile qualities but aggression isn't one of them - his breed is known for its placidity, he's never gone for a dog or a child despite EXTREME provocation, he's about as safe as a dog can be.

If your dog can't handle other dogs, don't walk them off lead in places where there are other dogs.

This is all.

EeksyPeeksy · 29/07/2016 10:23

I had a dog who didn't like others dogs. She was always leashed apart from the deserted wasteland I spoke of above. She was a rescue dog and didn't have the best history so couldn't introduce socialisation.

So many people let their unleashed dogs come over to her and then act precious when she snarled. She leashed for a reason. It had a red ribbon very visible and still dog owners would think it OK because their dog was friendly. Yeah well mine isn't and will attack!!