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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:
bigreendumbell · 30/07/2016 15:44

I don't trust people that hate animals.

Or people who only get on with animals, but not people.

bigreendumbell · 30/07/2016 15:47

If dogs are going to be off leads then they should have an excellent recall

That would solve all the problems.

It should be law that if you own a dog, you and the dog have to complete (and pass) a dog training course.

bigreendumbell · 30/07/2016 15:48

Or Dog Obedience class. Whatever they're called.

Just5minswithDacre · 30/07/2016 15:53

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

WaitrosePigeon · 30/07/2016 17:24

Or people who only get on with animals, but not people.

Are you implying I hate people?

I love people too Smile

WiddlinDiddlin · 30/07/2016 18:18

From the dog walkers point of view here..

Are you aware as a runner your behaviour is often VERY threatening and intimidating and triggering for dogs?

Most of the time, joggers either run HEAD ON at a dog and owner, or they run up silently behind.

Doing either of those things to a dog is going to put the dog on edge and put you the runner at a bigger risk of being chased, tripped or bitten.

If you are running head on, try to arc around the dog and owner and slow up a little - the owner should see you so have time to side step (if they have room and get their dogs attention, and of course they should do this!) and keep their dog under control.

If you are running up from BEHIND.... slow down, to a walk, pass wide and then carry on running once you are past - running up without warning behind anyone on a path is fecking rude as and often scary.

If you wish to run without stopping or slowing or deviating from your path, then the public parks are not for you, go to an athletics track where you can run round and round as much as you like without annoying anyone or being at risk from a startled or excited dog.

Of COURSE dog owners should have their dogs under control which may mean using a lead depending on the dog and the location - but if you want to keep yourself safe and not scare the living crap out of people and their dogs you have a responsibility to take certain sensible actions.

BluePitchFork · 30/07/2016 18:22

wtf I hope you don't walk dogs in my local park. as a runner it's noty job to keep your dogs under control!

TortoiseVTurtle · 30/07/2016 18:37

Do you have the same attitude to horses Blue? Do you think WTF I can go right up behind them and not give a shit as it's not your problem if you scare them?

We all share this world, some humans are so arrogant sometimes.

BluePitchFork · 30/07/2016 18:50

no, because horses are with their handlers (and keep to bridle paths) and are not bounding up to people having a run or picknick in the park.

Bahhhhhumbug · 30/07/2016 18:51

They can smell your fear that's why they are so interested in you in particular (helpful post of the thread? Grin ). I am still laughing at the PP who queried if you were carrying a string of sausages in your pocket Grin. I am waiting for the thread by the dogwalker asking if aibu to expect joggers to bloody walk in the park when they pass me and my dog

Bettersleepoutdoors · 30/07/2016 19:09

I have to admit that no horse has ever bounded over and trampled over my picnic or swiped a sandwich from the dc's hands.

TortoiseVTurtle · 30/07/2016 19:16

Wow, horses near me use the roads, the other day a jogger, a cyclist and car driver all managed to be courteous and consider the fear of the horse on a single track road. We are very rural though.

TortoiseVTurtle · 30/07/2016 19:18

Allowed in some parks near me too, with their 'handlers' Grin

Bahhhhhumbug · 30/07/2016 19:20

Tortoise for some reason l could hear your last sentence in a Mrs Boquet voice 😂

Bahhhhhumbug · 30/07/2016 19:21

I meant 'We are very rural though' 😀sorry x posts.

TortoiseVTurtle · 30/07/2016 19:24

You were talking about control anyway, so your picnic analogy is irrelevant. Your point was that you should not have to modify any part of your behaviour to avoid scaring an animal. So that would apply to any animal.

I find joggers really aggressive and arrogant in my park, huffing if anyone dares to accidentally slow them down, tutting at people sharing their space.
Just thought I would carry on with the sweeping generalisations...

TortoiseVTurtle · 30/07/2016 19:26

You would have to be a townie to think that all horses stick to bridle ways and had 'handlers' 😂😂😂😂 (joining in the mirth).

WiddlinDiddlin · 30/07/2016 21:18

'You should not have to modify any part of your behaviour to avoid scaring an animal'..

Try that in a car on a road with a horse and see where that gets you...

It's a little thing called common courtesy, manners, consideration for others.

Read my post again - if you are running toward a dog owner who is FACING you and can see you and prepare and call their dog back, put it in a stay, put on a lead or put the dog already on a lead in a safer position - fine, but do give them the chance to do that... you know, look to see if they are struggling and slow up a bit, go around rather than close...

If you are running up BEHIND someone who therefore cannot predict your sudden appearance - yes, damn straight, go around, slow the fuck down have some bloody manners.

If you don't want to take the time to not scare my dogs (which on the whole are on leads if I am walking them)... not sure I'll bother to take the time to ensure my dogs don't scare the shit outta you..

If you run up behind one of my dogs and scare them the reaction is likely to be a 40kg dog who can stand 6foot on her hind legs leaping up and barking like fuck - she won't make contact, she'd be on a 4ft lead, but she will make you shit yourself sufficiently that you fall over or swerve into the road or into the bushes...

Sharing public spaces goes both ways - dog owners should keep their dogs under reasonable control (but dogs barking out of fear and being startled is not unreasonable), but joggers and cyclists should ALSO be polite and courteous, slowing down, calling out that they are approaching from behind, going wide and giving space - these are reasonable adjustments to make.

So yeah I'll say it again if you don't want to make such adjustments and alter your behaviour to be courteous to other members of the public, go do your running in a private safe space where you don't need to do these things.

WiddlinDiddlin · 30/07/2016 21:19

Sorry Tortoise I quoted your line but I am responding to Blue rather than you there!

IreallyKNOWiamright · 30/07/2016 22:27

If you run towards a dog they will feel like you are going to attack them. My dog hates anyone walking or running towards her even on the lead. It invades her personal space.

TheSolitaryBoojum · 31/07/2016 06:25

My daughter was at the railway station yesterday, with a medium-sized hairy dog with a waggy tail and lovely soft ears.
Without asking, a small child came over and petted the dog, rubbed its ears and hugged it. Mummy standing watching with fond smile.
Dog was perfectly OK with that, then two other children from the same group came over and did the same thing, dog started to look a bit anxious at the crowding.
Mum said 'Ohh your dog is so good with little ones'
Daughter said 'It's not my dog, the owner tied it up and went into the shop'
Instant horror, recoil and collecting of children. Dog looked relieved.
Mum shrieked 'Why didn't you say it wasn't your dog? '
'Because you didn't ask. You should ask the owner before touching a dog'
Exactly, it's what I taught my small children, and I wish all parents would do the same.
Why assume that all dogs are up for close encounters with people? Why assume that all people are up for close encounters with dogs?
Why not have a lot more respect on both sides?

WaitrosePigeon · 31/07/2016 07:19

why not have a lot more respect on both sides?

Wouldn't that be nice.

Totally agree with WiddlinDiddlin

Lweji · 31/07/2016 08:04

If you run towards a dog they will feel like you are going to attack them. My dog hates anyone walking or running towards her even on the lead. It invades her personal space.

Perfectly normal.
And it happens to people! My son used to hate it.
But some dog owners on this thread don't seem to understand this. And think that people should just avoid or get used to the dogs, when it should be the other way around. Always.

Just yesterday, we were by the beach near some shops and we spotted a really excited dog, constantly pulling the lead. About 2 min later it got loose and jumped off just about as another dog came close.
The owner excused it with some ball playing by some kids, but the facts were: she wasn't holding the lead properly (not even after it got loose) and she wasn't in control of the dog (she dragged the dog away lifting it's forelegs).
It's not even as if the owner didn't know the dog was trying to escape earlier. And she had no idea what her dog would be capable of, clearly.
The other dog owner didn't make a big deal out of it (in a half hearted way), and the first probably continued happy in her ways. except that I loudly mentioned to DS that some dogs and their owners needed training

WaitrosePigeon · 31/07/2016 08:07

Which dog owners on this thread are you referring to?

I still don't think I've seen anyone on this thread disagree that dogs that can't be controlled should be on leads. I also don't think anyone on this thread has said they don't mind their dog running up and startling people? Correct me if I am wrong.

Lweji · 31/07/2016 08:10

There was at least a specific one. And saying that people shoild know how to respond to dogs. But I'm on my phone now and can't easily scroll back and quote.