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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:
Pearlman · 28/07/2016 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PersianCatLady · 28/07/2016 16:06

Some dog owners on this thread are very, erm, entitled.
Whilst that statement is true, there are a lot of very entitled runners and joggers out there too and the way in which the OP described the dog walker in her case probably didn't inspire people to think nice things about her.

NKFell · 28/07/2016 16:08

OP: "AIBU?"
Some MNetters: "Yes"
OP: "No I'm not!"

OK then.

Ghanagirl · 28/07/2016 16:10

BusyJessica
I despair of dog owners on mumsnet!
I posted years ago about a Staffordshire terrier jumping up on my then 18month old twins pushchair my DS who was in front was hysterical with fear and the owner acted like he and myself were being unreasonable!
I was terrified, I've also been in park with friends and their kids and a dog ran up nicked our chicken (we were picnicking) owner took no responsibility whatsoever, not sure why these people even bother being on mumsnetHmm

Lilly948204 · 28/07/2016 16:11

yawn - boring predictable thread.

Miserable, rude and over dramatic OP.

A few sensible people who realise dogs need to be controlled responsibly but OP is being way over the topic. Most good dog owners don't let their dogs chase joggers or go up to children, but can walk their dogs safely off the lead. I do every day, have done for 7 years and will continue to do regardless of your moaning!

The regular dog hating loons who need to get a grip. OMG not all dogs are going to eat your children, not everyone is lucky enough to have a big garden for them to exercise in and if your children are scared of dogs then that is your fault for bringing them up to feel that way. Get over yourselves!

Lilly948204 · 28/07/2016 16:13

Also can I point out that if there was a law to make it a legal requirement to walk you dog on a lead then you would still find those naughty dogs off them. Because their owners don't give a s**t, that is why they are badly behaved.

BluePitchFork · 28/07/2016 16:14

Miserable, rude and over dramatic OP.

irresonsible dog handlers more like

TwoLittleBlooms · 28/07/2016 16:14

I have to agree OP, I want to be able to walk around without dogs jumping at me. I used to have to walk down a canal path to get to work and the amount of dogs that were running (and I mean big dogs, not little things) down that path without a lead was unreal - and more than once I had a muddy mutt jump at me leaving muddy marks before I got to work. Real nice.

When my dd1 was little, we lived in a seaside town and my husband took her to the beach to play with a ball (we lived in a flat not far from the beach so no garden) and bloody great mutt jumped at her, popped her ball, made her cry and the owner just laughed and claimed the dog was only wanting to play. She didn't even try to control her dog which was huge against a small child but then her attitude stank. People like that should not have dogs.

Dogs ought to be kept on leads in any public places.

PuckyMup · 28/07/2016 16:14

YANBU. Bad dog owners give the rest of us a bad name. 99% of dog owners hate bad dog owners just as much as non dog owners do. Jumping up is a personal hate of mine too but a lot of people do tolerate it which doesn't help.

In terms of WHY dogs can be a pest to runners - Runners are fast moving objects coming past a dog. Its not acceptable but its understandable to see why some dogs react initially, either with interest or with chase, and it also can sometimes explain a momentarily lapse of a recall in an otherwise well behaved dog, but it doesn't give the owners a get out clause - if your dog is interested in fast moving objects you should be on the case looking out for potential hazards.
I recall my dogs back if we come in contact with other people on a walk (and we walk in isolated places) but its amazing how many people (usually Runners or Cyclists) who seem incapable of saying thanks for the fact I've coralled all 3 of them out the way so they can go sailing past after appearing out of nowhere!

Gottagetmoving · 28/07/2016 16:16

if your children are scared of dogs then that is your fault for bringing them up to feel that way. Get over yourselves

Rubbish. Children can be scared of dogs even if their parents and family are perfectly comfortable with dogs.
It is dog owners who need to train their dogs properly.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 28/07/2016 16:17

The rule should be that you put your dog off the lead only if you know he will come back if called.
I completely understand that dogs have to run around, I love dogs myself, however I don't like a dog I don't know making contact with me (licking, jumping on me...) or my children.
From my experience, most dog-owners are responsible, it is only a small number who doesn't see an issue with their dog jumping on someone else. This is not OK! And just because we are in a park doesn't mean we have to accept it, we have as much right as the dog to use the park in peace.

MackerelOfFact · 28/07/2016 16:17

Stupid dog owners, they should get a treadmill and exercise the dogs on that so that joggers can enjoy the park in peace!

Oh wait...

MunchCrunch01 · 28/07/2016 16:18

i wish there was some sort of group where if you had a nice friendly big dog, and your own dc, you could register to meet up with children scared of dogs so that you could try and help them overcome it. Dogs can be lovely companions, my dc adore our dog and i feel sad everytime I see kids jump back in fear from my slow, 3 legged 10.5 year old utterly sweet retriever. It's fine to not like dogs, I didn't much when I was growing up, but the fear is sad.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 28/07/2016 16:19

The rule should be that you put your dog off the lead only if you know he will come back if called.
I completely understand that dogs have to run around, I love dogs myself, however I don't like a dog I don't know making contact with me (licking, jumping on me...) or my children.
From my experience, most dog-owners are responsible, it is only a small number who doesn't see an issue with their dog jumping on someone else. This is not OK! And just because we are in a park doesn't mean we have to accept it, we have as much right as the dog to use the park in peace.

MunchCrunch01 · 28/07/2016 16:20

doesn't it just come down to reporting badly behaved dogs? i wish there was some sort of group where if you had a nice friendly dog, you could register to meet up with children scared of dogs so that you could try and help them overcome it. Dogs can be lovely companions, my dc adore our dog and i feel sad when I see kids jump back in fear from my slow, 3 legged 10.5 year old utterly sweet retriever. It's fine to not like dogs, I didn't much when I was growing up, but the fear is sad.

KinkyAfro · 28/07/2016 16:20

I am absolutely gobsmacked at some of these responses to the OP!

HerOtherHalf · 28/07/2016 16:22

YANBU, unless you kicked the dog with excessive or inappropriate force. I like to have my dog off the lead as much as common sense allows but if there is anyone or any other dog within range he goes on the lead unless it's absolutely clear they want to engage with him. If he managed to jump up on someone I would have been negligent and they'd be within their rights to fend him off. Not his fault, he's a dog. Not their fault, their in a public place and have a fundamental right not to be jumped on without so much as a "by your leave". My fault alone. You should have kicked the sodding owner. They're probably the sort that leave bags of poo hanging on trees to be collected by the poo fairies.

PuckyMup · 28/07/2016 16:24

I'm fairly sure if you got these owners to put dogs on leads they'd all pick the flexi leads and allow the dogs to wonder at the end of the leads at 15ft away to tangle up in your legs/benches/trees so be careful what you wish for

NavyandWhite · 28/07/2016 16:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 28/07/2016 16:25

Sorry for posting twice, browser refresh issue...

Lweji · 28/07/2016 16:27

What an odd thread.

If you were injured by a dog, you should have reported it to the police. You could claim for medical treatment from the owner, particularly if you got infected.

Some people in this thread should read this:
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/may/28/hospital-admissions-for-injuries-caused-by-dogs-up-76-over-past-10-years

"Hospital admissions for injuries caused by dogs have risen by 76% in England over the past 10 years, according to official statistics.
The news has reignited the debate over whether enough is being done to tackle irresponsible owners and to protect the public."

And should read this, carefully:
The Dangerous Dogs Act applies to you and your dog!

motherinferior · 28/07/2016 16:27

I run past lots of nice, well-behaved dogs most mornings. Most of them are on leads; the ones who aren't are those like the puppy I encountered this morning, who was so dopey I actually encouraged it to race me. Those dogs have helped me get over a lifelong fear of dogs...

...but just one like the one the OP encountered this morning would scare the living daylights out of me with good reason. She is being totally reasonable. The My Doggie Right Or Wrong brigade is not.

Pearlman · 28/07/2016 16:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Jinxxx · 28/07/2016 16:28

"The regular dog hating loons who need to get a grip. OMG not all dogs are going to eat your children."

I don't think any of the "dog hating loons" actually suggested that ALL dogs are going to eat their children. I did share that two dogs had attacked and hurt my child. I would hope that most responsible dog owners would be appalled by that. I think it's really out of order to mock and make light of it.

Lweji · 28/07/2016 16:28

Stupid dog owners, they should get a treadmill and exercise the dogs on that so that joggers can enjoy the park in peace!
Oh wait...

Actually, humans ALWAYS take precedence.

Unless joggers are likely to scratch or bite dogs, or make dogs trip up.

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