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AIBU?

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Original poster

Keep Your Mutt On A Frigging Lead

209 replies

Psolomon · 06/05/2017 23:04

Out running canalside this morning and an unleashed dog came bounding up, tongue lolling maniacally, and jumped up at me, frenziedly snuffling at my sweaty snatch whilst I frantically tried to side-step its mangy mass. I thundered at its owner: 'Get this thing off me!' and hurled a couple of panicky expletives (I'm not a lover of dogs and to have one jump up whilst running was scary).

AIBU to think far too many dog owners think the world ought to love their mutt? Surely a dog should be controlled on a canal towpath? Grr.

OP posts:
mikesh909 · 07/05/2017 00:37

Because it's (apparently) one rule for human beings and properly trained dogs and another rule for "friendly" ones. Amongst the former two groups, an invasion of another's space in that way would be deemed threatening and unacceptable but somehow it's different if "excitement" is involved? If I came over and jumped on you whilst you were running on the tow-path, or picnicking, or walking on the beach or whatever, and you posted about it saying how traumatising it had been to be leapt upon and been exposed to my bodily fluids, would you still be receiving passive aggressive remarks suggesting you channel your anger more appropriately? No, I didn't think so.

goose1964 · 07/05/2017 00:42

Keeping you dog on a lead doesn't mean a dog can't bite. A few months ago my (pregnant) daughter was bitten on the arm by a dog , looked like an Aquita, as we walked past them. Luckily she was well padded so only had marks on her skin no punctures. I've been past this dog recently and it ignored me totally, so wonder if her pregnancy paid a part. The owner didn't even seem to notice let alone apologise

user1490044978 · 07/05/2017 00:44

In fairness, although I recognise that it can be intimidating to someone not so comfortable with dogs, to have a large dog bound towards you off leash, it does sound like it was a 'friendly' aka non aggressive dog so I'm struggling to understand why it is considered 'irresponsible' of the owner (who I assume knows their dog would be highly unlikely to attack anyone) to keep it off lead in a relatively quiet area?

Please don't think I am dismissing the OP's feeling of apprehension when initially approached by said dog but, as this thread has continued, it has started to sound more and more like there is just a general disliking of dogs and their owners when nothing terrible actually happened to the OP... thankfully of course! I just feel that dog owners should be trusted to know their dogs temperaments and to make a decision over whether it should be on or off lead in certain places! If that decision leads to a situation like this one, as long as an apology is given to anyone it upsets, I can't see the wrongdoing on anyone's behalf!

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 00:45

Erm not sure, I'm on the fence with this one.
Personally I love dogs with a passion and genuinely don't mind or care what dog comes lolloping over to me, I just give it a big hug and move on. Better then it growling at you.

The dogs off lead I can't stand are the aggressive ones, that try and attack my dog.

Worse then that are over confident kids that come up and start invading your space and asking questions..parents don't seem to care that they're talking to a complete stranger?!?.

If you don't like them, shove them off, living a life full of intolerance and irritability over simple things like a happy dog, must make your life rather miserable in my opinion.

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 00:53

Anon your post is a perfect example of the type of entitlement shown by some dog lovers. No one should have to tolerate being jumped on by some random dog who for all they know could be dangerous. Not to mention that some people have a genuine phobia of dogs.

Keep your dog under control or keep it on a lead. It's not fecking difficult.

YNK · 07/05/2017 00:54

I'm far more scared by joggers running up behind me than dogs who usually run towards you from the front.
Last year I screamed as one ran up behind me and he turned his head so he didn't see my dog just in front of me and fell over her. He turned around and swung a kick at her and screamed obscenities at me. Luckily there were people about or I think he might have attacked us.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:02

*DeleteOrDecay
*
I didn't say that it's ok for a dog to do it, I just just said that personally it doesn't bother me.
I said they should just shove it away.

I had a dog phobia for many years after being attacked by the neighbours dog, but I cured it by getting a dog and finding trust in them again.
The op is more likely to get attacked by acting hostile, better just to push it away and carry on jogging.

No entitlement here, I just think being an uptight arsy person, who swears at strangers just isn't the way forward, even if you do disagree with something.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:04

YNK
I have to agree, one sent my daughter flying today cause he wasn't looking where he was going.
She now has a massive egg on her forehead.

mikesh909 · 07/05/2017 01:08

Last year I screamed as one ran up behind me...He turned around and swung a kick at her and screamed obscenities at me. Luckily there were people about or I think he might have attacked us.

A man approaches you at speed and without warning. You feel threatened, in fear of attack. Why is he coming towards you so quickly and lingering so close by? He is, to all intents and purposes, a stranger. Yes, to some people, he is known and probably well liked, but not to you! You don't know him from Adam and you'd much rather he not invade your personal space. Your walk has now been ruined, thanks to the nasty shock of this incident, which after all came to nothing but frightened you just the same.

Its no more acceptable with "excitable dog" in the first line.

CoolioAndTheGang · 07/05/2017 01:11

YANBU. All dogs should be leashed at the very least in public. The owner should be in control at all times and are legally responsible as far as I'm aware but it depends on the Country.

crazycatgal · 07/05/2017 01:13

I spent most of my life scared of dogs because when I was a baby being pushed in my pram a neighbors big dog ran over (no lead, no owner nearby) and started barking in my face in the pram.

I'm mostly over my fear now due to being around dogs that belong to friends and family but if a large dog comes running at me then it's still bloody terrifying.

I do like dogs but please keep them on the lead if they have poor recall.

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 01:13

better just to push it away and carry on jogging.

Why should she have to though? It's the dog owners responsibility to keep their dog under control. If they can't keep it under control then they keep it on a lead.

I don't understand why that is such a difficult concept to grasp.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:18

*DeleteOrDecay
*
Because she was jogging?!

AwaywiththePixies27 · 07/05/2017 01:20

Also please don't confuse dogs who are over friendly, excitable with aggression

I dont confuse the two. I'm often popping off to medical appointments once I've dropped DCs off. I go back through the woods. I dont need an exitable dog to be jumping up me when I'm on the way to somewhere and need to look presentable. Not covered in muddy pawprints, I should be able to use this route just like anyone else.

The same analogy of my child in a restaurant. If he's coming up to your table and being jumpy. He's not causing aggression, if youre not okay with that whole, you shouldn't be okay with a dog being jumpy with someone else.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:21

DeleteOrDecay same goes for, why do I have to suddenly move into a bush to clear the way for a sweaty jogger?
I'm sure the dog owner wasn't proud of what their dog did, but there's no need to make yourself look like a prick by swearing about it.

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 01:22

You're either being deliberately obtuse or you're just not getting it. So I will get and explain it as simply and as clearly as possible:

No one should have to push a dog away from them because their owners can't be bothered to control them. Keep your dog on a lead or ensure you have perfect recall.

The fact that she was jogging has nothing to do with anything.

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 01:24

I think the dog owner was the prick for being irresponsible enough to allow their dog to bound up and jump on a total stranger. I don't think I am alone in this.

NoncommittalToSparkleMotion · 07/05/2017 01:25

Yanbu. I love my dog, but my dog hates most other dogs. I keep her on a lead to keep everyone safe. Because people come first and I'm not an asshole.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:25

DeleteOrDecay

To be fair Iv seen you on MN starting debates with people all the time.
Are you bored with life or something?

Once again, I do not condone jumping dogs, I would never allow my dog to jump up.
But there is no reason to swear at people, who probably already feel embarrassed, it just makes you look like an asshole.

I said she should carrying on jogging and then you said 'why should she' and that's why I said 'because she was jogging'.

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 01:29

To be fair Iv seen you on MN starting debates with people all the time.
Are you bored with life or something?

Seriously?Hmm

I asked why she should even have to shove a dog away in the first place. The owner shouldn't have allowed it to happen to begin with. Therefore owner=irresponsible in this instance.

ThouShallNotPass · 07/05/2017 01:32

My neighbours had a small terrier who they allowed to roam free (farm cottage and shared lane). It was a friendly thing that would bound up the muddy lane and jump up at me for a fuss.

It never got a fuss. I never petted it. I had to shoo it away every time, pushing it away as it jumped up. All while the neighbours watched!

Every fucking day I got covered in muddy paw prints. The dog didn't care what I was wearing. Every outfit needed some mud embellishments... even my work uniform needed muddying up.

Despite me asking, and telling the neighbours to keep their dog in or on a lead, they never did. Not until I kicked out at it before it muddied up what I was wearing to my husband's friend's funeral that day. After getting all pissy at cruel old dog-hating me, they finally started to keep the damn thing under control lest it get punted across the yard with my boot up its arse!

And I LOVE dogs. We used to professionally breed. We were a very dog friendly family but even I get annoyed at a shit dog owner and their apparently friendly yet completely bloody untrained pooches.

anon1987 · 07/05/2017 01:34

DeleteOrDecay

Yes deleteOrDecay Iv seen your name crop up in many an argument on here Hmm

Pushing the dog away shows the dog that they're not welcome in your space.
So Shoving it away would be the best solution. Isn't that just common sense?

swimlyn · 07/05/2017 01:35

…living a life full of intolerance and irritability over simple things like a happy dog…
On the fence? Hardly.

Perhaps the posters on here monotonously defending free-running dogs would care to clarify precisely HOW you know for sure (in the few seconds available) that ‘it’s just being friendly’?

In recent months two friends of ours have been seriously bitten in just the sort of circumstances described above. They of course are handed pathetic excuses like: ‘he’s never done that before!’.

Very succinctly put, DeleteOrDecay. Deliberately obtuse for sure imo. Anon: being an irresponsible dog walker/owner makes you look like an a-hole.

…they should just shove it away…
Thus offering your vulnerable fingers to its slavering mouth. Great idea!

DeleteOrDecay · 07/05/2017 01:35

Yes deleteOrDecay Iv seen your name crop up in many an argument on here

How nice for you. Not sure how that is relevant to, well anything really.

The best common sense solution would have been for the dog owner to either train their dog properly or keep it on a lead.

ThouShallNotPass · 07/05/2017 01:37

Anon, why should anyone have to touch a dog? What if I don't want to shove a dog away? I'm just curious as to why you think the onus is on the passerby/jogger rather than the dog owner to keep the animal away?