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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Spingroll16 · 28/07/2016 15:34

You sound horrible and entitled.

Bore off. Also, if you'd have kicked my dog, I would have gone mad!

teaandcake789 · 28/07/2016 15:34

YANBU. I'm a dog owner, he does have a good recall BUT if he see's a runner or a bike he will try and jump/bark which is why I never let him off the lead unless we are alone in a secure field. I hate it when other dog owners let their dogs off the lead and just ignore them and let them come chasing my dog and then they are just say "ah he's friendly, nothing to worry about". How the fuck do you know? I can't read my dogs mind and neither can any other owner. My dog is friendly with about 95% of dogs we meet but sometimes, for no known reason to me, he just meets another dog he really dislikes and really dislikes him and he has been attacked by other dogs. So you just never know. And for that reason I do think all dogs should be kept on leads when out in public.

PersianCatLady · 28/07/2016 15:34

A dog should be kept on a lead according to the Road Traffic Act 1988.
On the pavement and near a road yes not in a park.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 28/07/2016 15:34

Oh FFS.
This again.

Emmaroos · 28/07/2016 15:36

YANBU and I'm a dog owner who walks her dog off the lead in a park every day. However, my dog has NEVER jumped up at anyone (other than me) because she is wary of people she doesn't know. If she did I'd put her on a lead until I had taught her not to. She also doesn't land on people having picnics and attempt to scoff their food. Again, owners with this little control of their dogs should put them on a lead.
However, I think a dog that runs after you (you say 'chase') is not doing anything wrong as long as it NEVER makes contact with you. And if it is obvious that someone is uncomfortable with a dog's attention then the owner should call it back immediately. Surely that's just good manners? I'd call my children back to me if they were annoying somebody too.
I'm a bit shocked to be honest at some of the people posting who think it's OK for a dog to jump up and scratch a stranger - if a random person scratched you in the park you would call the police and have them charged with assault. I think the rule of thumb has to be that if it would not be OK for another human to do something to you then it is not OK for a dog to do it. I would, if I were you, report this dog to the Parks Police. An official warning would do this irresponsible dog owner the world of good.

StuffYouAllInTheCrust · 28/07/2016 15:37

Well how would you get a dog to jump down if it was a friend or relatives dog? I'm assuming you wouldn't immediately lash out and kick it? It's not an acceptable reaction to a simple case of jumping up. She could have pushed the dog down without using aggression. To react in the way she did to the dog she could quite easily have been bitten. Don't get me wrong, owners absolutely have a responsibility to have control over their dogs but if you're going to run through parks when you already have a fear of dogs you're running the risk of meeting some along the way!

ginghamstarfish · 28/07/2016 15:38

I should think the reason threads like this appear every week is that many, many ( but not all, I hasten to add) dog owners are massive twats and cause problems for others. Many of them literally are unable to comprehend that others do not want dogs running after them, jumping up on them, slobbering over them, shitting everywhere, etc etc. In their minds dogs have the same rights as humans Hmm.
Hence the frequent threads.

Gottagetmoving · 28/07/2016 15:39

I sympathise with you Jessica, but can't you find a running route where you're less likely to meet a dog? Someone running is an open invitation to dogs who love to chase

I cannot believe anyone would say this. Shock

heron98 · 28/07/2016 15:41

I agree entirely.

I am now terrified of dogs and run away from them as soon as I see them.

I also get chased when I'm on my bike which is also terrifying because there are fewer escape routes.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 28/07/2016 15:41

In fact the dog was doing OP a favour by motiving her to run further and faster.

A kind of canine personal trainer, if you will.
It deserves praise and biscuits.

Pearlman · 28/07/2016 15:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bigreendumbell · 28/07/2016 15:42

I'm a bit shocked to be honest at some of the people posting who think it's OK for a dog to jump up and scratch a stranger - if a random person scratched you in the park you would call the police and have them charged with assault. I think the rule of thumb has to be that if it would not be OK for another human to do something to you then it is not OK for a dog to do it.

I don't get why it's OK for a dog to scratch a person. The person should put up and shut up. (or wear leggings)

MilicentKing · 28/07/2016 15:44

www.gov.uk/control-dog-public/overview

States "It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, such as:

in a public place"

snip..and

"Your dog is considered dangerously out of control if it:

injures someone
makes someone worried that it might injure them"

End of. The owner broke the law in allowing their dog to injure the OP.

I (also a runner) have been at the receiving end of dogs jumping up at me while running off road around the fields (public footpaths).

Mostly though, dog owners are respectful and I also make sure to thank them when they recall their dog and stand to let me run past.

allegretto · 28/07/2016 15:47

biggreen - those two sentences seem to contradict each other.

DotForShort · 28/07/2016 15:47

"Dogs who love to chase" need owners who will train them not to chase runners (or any other humans, for that matter).

ginghamstarfish · 28/07/2016 15:47

What dog owners do not realise is that the person being chased/jumped up on/slobbered on/whatever DOES NOT KNOW this animal and what it is or is not likely to do. Thus it is unacceptable and unwelcome and I am truly amazed that any rational person would disagree with this.

Emmaroos · 28/07/2016 15:49

@teaandcake789 You are ascribing your dog's lack of control and aggression to every other dog which hardly seems fair!
My dog doesn't jump up at other people, ever. She has also never so much as growled at another dog, let alone snapped or bitten. Why should I put her on a lead just because you can't control yours? If you are not happy with your dog playing with other dogs then call yours back to your side.
Anyone who knows dogs knows the difference between 2 dogs playing and one dog that is attacking another. If another dog is playing with mine and gets a bit rough with her I call mine back to me...when she's beside me and not running the other dog invariably loses interest.
If my dog ever got attacked by another dog I'd be contacting the Park's Police to make a complaint about that specific dog, not demanding that all the lovely dogs we exercise with in the park were tied up on leads.

Gottagetmoving · 28/07/2016 15:51

I get sick of dog owners smiling in a sickly way and telling me 'he won't bite' when their slobbering dog jumps up at me. Like I shouldn't mind the dog just jumping up, so long as he doesn't bite me??

Keep your dogs on a lead unless you are 100% sure they won't pester people.
YOU love your dog - others may not.

MidnightMoths · 28/07/2016 15:52

I'm with you OP.

I hate being approached by off-lead dogs. I'm scared of them and I think all dogs should be leashed in public parks. Either that or owners should be heavily fined for letting their dog intimidate someone! It may be a 'gentle giant' but you don't know that when its charging at you. It's pure selfishness to let a big dog off-leash in an area where people are walking/running/cycling/pushing prams/children playing.

Have you tried a can of compressed air? It hisses and frightens dogs away.
I wonder if bear-repellent would work on dogs too?

StuffYouAllInTheCrust · 28/07/2016 15:53

Pearlman So I'm unreasonable for pointing out that kicking the dog is more likely to provoke a more aggressive reaction from the dog itself? Confused Okaaaay.....

Pearlman · 28/07/2016 15:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MamOfTwo · 28/07/2016 16:00

YANBU at all. Some dog owners on this thread are very, erm, entitled. My DC are terrified of dogs and I hate it when I see irresponsible owners with their dogs off the lead. I think dogs should be on at a lead at all times in public places. If you want your dog to roam free, use your garden. And as for the "Don't be silly, they won't hurt you" brigade - can you guarantee that? No, you can't.

StuffYouAllInTheCrust · 28/07/2016 16:00

It was 'dangerously' out of control? I must've missed that bit.

I'll bow out of this now but good luck with any future dogs you may kick Pearlman

picklypopcorn · 28/07/2016 16:00

Shouldn't you be training your dogs not to chase runners and cyclists in the first place?

THey are bassets, not at all interested in chasing after them but make very good trip hazards, hence why I grab them to stop them getting in the way of anyone :) It's also to prevent anyone being able to accuse them of being out of control...

Jinxxx · 28/07/2016 16:03

My youngest son is frightened of dogs as he has been attacked entirely without provocation by two different dogs in two different parks. In the first instance a Jack Russell, off the lead with (possibly lazy!) owner way behind, started to dash towards him and he then began to run away. The owner then shouted at him "stand still - he won't hurt you" so my son stood still and the dog ran up and bit him. The owner then turned and ran off and the dog followed.

On the second occasion, which was fortunately just by our house, a large unaccompanied bull terrier ran up behind him and knocked him to the ground and was standing on him with the back of his head in his mouth by the time I ran up having heard his screams. I squirted washing up liquid in its face (which I happened to have in my hand) grabbed my son up and retreated to our garden. It then continued to hurl itself at our six foot gate barking and snarling until I called the police. The owner, who had been trailing so far behind he was out of sight, turned up just as the police car did. The police returned after reading him the riot act to tell us that they would support prosecution which would almost certainly lead to the animal being killed and the owner being banned from keeping animals. We did not press for that largely because we do live in an area where there are a lot of "enthusiastic" dog owners and I was worried that my children might be picked on or our house targeted.

Incidentally, our next door neighbour's dog has attacked and bitten their own daughter. To be fair, they do now keep it on a lead, but what sort of parents?