Keep Your Mutt On A Frigging Lead

[Psolomon]

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.

"My dog is indeed much more important to me than you. This is likely the case for most dog owners"

Don't get why this is relevant. In my hierarchy my children came above random strangers but I still didn't allow them to climb all over them and slobber on their clothes.

Or should I just have let dc get on with it and call anyone who objected a nasty vile child hater?

I personally like dogs and actually enjoy a doggy cuddle, but ds has been bitten twice (while the owner stood by and assured him the dog wouldn't hurt him) and he is now frightened of dogs.

Come to think of it, dd was a biter, but I always thought it was my job to keep her under control.

The park at the end of our road clearly states when entering from both sides dogs must be kept on leash however 9/10 times my Dh has taken my dd to play football there has been a dog wandering free/chasing her ball and this is the reason why eldest dd can no longer go to the park as she has a fear of dogs jumping up on her after this previously happening and her face being pawed and cut lip. The owners vary from "oh they're just having fun/being friendly" to "oh I'm sorry"

Kali, do you see that rating even a stranger's life as less important than your dog's is something close to psychopathic?

Oh heck. Now I've strayed onto loons-who-leave-their-entire-wealth-to-animals territory.

Ugh I hate this about some dog owners. It happens so often too so it either is not uncommon, or our local highstreet/park/beach is overrun with arsehole owners who think everyone should love their big slobbery furball.

I always grew up with dogs and I love them and have been considering getting one for a long time now but come the fuck on. Even the little yappy ones are a bit scary when they come charging at you out of nowhere and the owner even doesnt notice, or just stands flapping their arms around and screeching. There really should be some kind of competency test done for owning animals. And hefty fines for having then unrestrained in public when they aren't trained properly.

Along with enforced bankruptcy style fines for dog shit left on paths, in public areas or hanging on bags on trees. the last makes absolutely no sense to me and I can only conclude that anyone who has ever done that, or considered doing it is a monumental cunt.

Also

You sound angry OP. Maybe you need help. How can you not love a sweaty wet nose in your sweaty crotch whilst not knowing if the thing attached to the nose will take a large bite anytime soon. I mean, ffs if that happened and you became crotchless you may not have the pleasure of being chased by other dogs desperate for a sniff.

Didn't you know expressing frustration at dogs or their owners on MN is akin to actually kicking a dog off a cliff.

Some of the replies to this thread are ridiculous, but predictable. Never ever let on that you have anything but love for other peoples animals...

I love the replies that say they don't trust or like people who don't like dogs.

Like what?!

But then again, I instantly don't trust people who treat their animals like babies and kiss their dogs. So granted, it's a two way thing.

This thread is like MN bingo.

OP who thinks they're very amusing. Over inflated re-hashing of a minor incident just so they can use the terribly verbose posts they've thought of.

Dog should have been on lead. You were unharmed. Your jog may have been interrupted by what? 20 seconds? Move on.

Having DCs and taking up running has seriously put me off a lot of dog owners.

It's a pain when a dog comes bounding up to you and you can't predict what it's going to do. I grew up with dogs and if I'm not heavily focused I'll slow down and allow the dog a sniff, but I shouldn't have to change my activity because of an ineffectual owner.

More bothersome is that my DCs now have fear of "friendly" dogs. Old dogs, slow dogs, dogs at heel, fine, the DCs will be hesitant but fairly calm. "Friendly" dogs that come bounding up, and the DCs start squealing. I role model being calm and reassuring, but there's not much I can do to relieve this fear that's developed when the soppy owners don't pick up that cowering, squealing children are distressed and control the dog that's causing the problem.

Then there was the random dog that was jumpy while I was pokemoning (so just walking gently) and snapped, scraping it's teeth on my hand. Not a proper bite or scratch, but still felt. I said "your dog's just snapped at my hand" and he gazed up from his phone, and said somewhat limply "Oh, sorry"

I actually like dogs generally, its just a very significant minority of inept owners that rile me.

Then there was the random dog that was jumpy while I was pokemoning (so just walking gently) and snapped, scraping it's teeth on my hand.

I have visions now of you running away from a Vulpix that you should be trying to catch

Hey Jacques, did you ever consider starting up a parenting website where nobody wrote about anything and no-one replied?

:o

No op i don'.
I wouldn't expect a stranger to care more about me than their beloved pet, but carry on with your 'loon' and 'psychopathic' comments.
Amazingly i've manage to disagree with you without insulting you yet you've come across aggressive and try hard throughout your entite thread.

My dog is indeed much more important to me than you. This is likely the case for most dog owners

If you honestly believed that, you would train the fucking thing not to jump up at random people

God, I love my dog more than most people I've ever met, I am an entitled dog owner but I would never in a million years allow my dog to stray from my heel around people I didn't know.

You need to train your dog for everyone's sake - most of all, for your dog.

frillyhorse and where has straighttalker stated that they don't? Not all dog owners allow their dogs too do this, yet she was jumped for stating this sentance and then me for defending it.

Your posts are more and more hilarious op, keep going, they're just so enlightening

YANBU!! I run with my dog on a lead and the number of people I want to taser for having no control over their dogs is unbelievable. It winds my dog up and I swear they try to trip me up on purpose. It is pure selfishness and when people laugh and say "oh he just wants to play" or "she's really friendly" I tell them (through heaving gasps, as not a natural runner) my dog just wants to take the head off their dogs, he's not playing and that's why he is under control on a lead FFS!!!

Am so with you! Except I don't run, I just fall over and end up seriously hurting myself. The black lab owner who let his dog yank him towards my dog with the DH this morning then took one look at my face and decided he would yank it back for going past me with elderly dog learnt quickly.

I am a crazy dog lover, but I object massively to the idiots who let their massive dogs leap at me. I'm very likely to over balance, fall over and be on crutches for weeks. Again. One of mine also hates all other dogs and will try to kill everything from small fluffy things to bloodhounds. He has no fear, the little shit.

Things I find annoying on the canal path on my way to work:

1. People or dogs who walk/use a wheelchair at a different pace to me (I don't want to be overtaken or undertaken ever). People run or jog past me (always make me think I'm about to be attacked and just are annoying) cycle or scoot or are in buggies or prams and overtake me or pass me. Just don't it's annoying.
2. Geese, ducks or other wildlife that are abit possessive about the path (just go in the water or the waters edge you annoying path hoggers).

This post has no point other than to highlight how intolerant I am.

It still baffles me how some people think animals are more important than people. I knew someone who actually said that in a fire she would choose to save her dogs over her nieces/nephews as her dogs were her babies

These dogs, 3 stinky mangy things all shared the bed with her and her husband. Yuck! And they always jumped up at people that visited because they were sooooo friendly! We didn't stay friends very long!

I was sitting in the park, in the sun, enjoying an ice cream and a dog pissed on my back. As it was my own dog I had no one to complain to. He had never done it before but I had refused to give him any ice cream so it may have been a revenge piss. Hysterical for all the other park goers but embarrassing and smelly for me.
I do let him roam free but anywhere there are joggers or cyclists I call him to heel until they pass.

requestingsunshine that's because your pets become your closest family. I love my nieces and nephews but I would certainly save my pets over them in a fire if I had to choose.

^^ wow

tough call, do you save the goldfish simmering away in it bowl, or the screaming kids suffocating in their room?

YANBU. When we were at puppy classes they emphasised the DDA and how a complaint could be made if someone felt threatened by your dog jumping up so that it is vital to keep your dog under control.

I have a rule on walks, dog not to inconvenience humans . It means I need to stay vigilant for walkers and cyclists .only time she isn't put on a lead is if I see another dog owner who has an off lead dog. If they are on lead she goes back on again.

It really is very easy and means dog walks pass without incidence so are enjoyable. I've come across some absolute twats of dog walkers though so not a lot surprises me anymore. The other day a German Shepherd had a massive go at our dog, full on lunging, Barking and growling. Scared the shit out of me and the 2 owners couldn't even muster a quick sorry between them.

Wow Freddie. I sincerely hope you're not my sibling.