To think the majority of dog owners where I live are inconsiderate and arrogant.

[AngryRunner]

I am a runner, I have run the marathon and compete regularly in half marathons, 10k's etc.

I like to run in my local park and i normally run about 5 times a week. I do go at speed faster than most joggers.

However I am constantly harassed by dogs. I tell owners to put it on a lead when there dog is clearly chasing me, jumping up on me. I was bitten by a dog as a child so I don't like them and I am very scared of big dogs.

The reaction I get when I say put it on a lead please is met with total anger/ rudeness from owners. Yesterday I was running and a very large almost wolf like dog was off its lead and started running towards me. I normally stop but it was barking and I just sprinted away it began to chase me for around 200 meters before eventually being distracted by a smaller dog. I was crying and visible shaking when I confronted the owner who was 100meters behind. She said the usual oh he's lovely oh he won't hurt you bullshit dog owners spout. I asked for her name and details as I said I'm reporting her to the police. I felt threatened by the dog and that is all that is needed for her to break the law. The police are investigating.

The week before a dog jumped up at me and I feel to floor from behind. Again the same thing from the owner.

I pay my council tax to use the parks but no longer feel like I can use them because dog owners take dogs off leads. Please it is so inconsiderate. I live in an urban area so road running is horrible with the fumes. Aibu to be fed up of dogs being described as lovely in response to scaring an i being unreasonable to think dog owners should no I have no idea about the character of their dog. Am I being unreasonable to be fed up of being blamed for tempting the dog for keeping fit and doing something I love.

And for the record I know there are good owners but majourity as a runner I've encountered aren't!

Yanbu OP. People may not allow their dogs to be uncontrollable, end of.

For as long as we all mingle in public spaces together we will manage to upset one another. You really need to not run away if chased. It's only going to make it worse. I know it's hard if you're scared but you really need to fight the urge. FWIW joggers in our urban park are the bane of my existence at the moment. I have an old big dog who is losing his sight and hearing. I keep him on the lead. Instead of veering around him joggers will run within inches of him scaring and surprising him. He will then whirl round and sometimes bark. Running is a very triggering behaviour for a dog. A tiny bit of common sense would be fab but no let's thunder right up to him and then pass with inches to spare. But it is what it is. I can't get too worked up about it.

This is the kind of thread that makes me thank God we left Britain and your crazy, petty arguments about joggers, dogs and kids!

As someone who isn't a dog person I definitely find it's dog owners who act entitled, not the people annoyed by the pets. Just as you might not love everyone else's children, we don't love or know your dogs, and they are your responsibility to keep up with and keep under control rather than have them jumping up at us then following casually behind with 'ahh dont worry he's friendly'..

And actually most dogs may jump if they are still being trained. But its not an attack.

Oh really? So I should consider this while peeling a dog off my body? NOPE. No dog should jump on anyone, regardless if they are still being trained or not. If they are still in training, they should be on a lead.

YANBU. I've stopped going to our local park because of these types of dog owners. My 3yo, who is tiny, is always being accosted by huge dogs who bound over to her (into the play area, no less) while the owner shouts something like "it's okay, Fido loves children!" Two or three times she's been knocked to the ground by these dogs. As a result, she's now terrified of dogs. Fuckwits.

Ok, the dog should have been under better control, but don't run away for god's sake! That will just make the dog follow you!

Yanbu

We have this even when we are walking through areas of natural beauty with signs warning of lambs/nesting birds,ponies and signs instructing owners to keep dogs on leads. They never are. A couple of weeks ago we rounded a corner to find two dogs in the middle of the path growling and running at anybody who proceeded down it and then just barking aggressively and cornering circling us even though we were cowering to one side waiting for the owners to appear. When they eventually did they said"oh were they bothering you"( clearly expected them to be). A cat's bum face when I replied that they were and should be on leads. Didn't know you could ring and report,will bare that in mind.

"So in the land of complete overgeneralisation based on isolated shit experiences that is AIBU dog threads... all runners are twats." Amen to that.

That's kinda difficult when we're sharing the pavement or the path. Should I not walk behind people either?
Reet it should have been perfectly obvious that I was referring to runners in the parks & fields, you know like the OP? If you're on a pavement then the vast majority of dogs will be on leads. But equally if you run up behind them like that then you can expect them to react because they'll be surprised & wonder if you mean them harm.
Buckingham if it's a closed play area then you should close the gate - that's what it's there for. If it's not fenced off then technically dogs have the same right to be there, even if it's not ideal.

Most of the parks and open spaces I run in have footpaths. I run on the footpath. People walk on the footpath. With their dogs, their children and their pushchairs. They have a total right to be there. But it's somewhat difficult for me to avoid running behind them! Similarly on the towpath, a popular dog walking, cycling and running spot. The op is running in London - that will be parks with footpaths.

Reet it's the runners who get annoyed that they have to slow down because I have a pushchair and a dog and a toddler on a bike. We are a moving roadblock. I do my best to wrangle everyone out of the way on the foootpath but it's not fast enough and they thunder past the dog. Why not pass on the pushchair side? My pushchair isn't going to mind. The dog however thinks it's fairly aggressive. We all do our best. I think lots of people would be helped by understanding basic canine behaviour and likewise lots of owners would benefit with a dose of empathy for those who are afraid of dogs. But really none of it is worth getting the hump over. The runners have the motivation to go get some exercise and I applaud them. I managed to get my little gaggle of babies/toddlers/geriatric dog out for some fresh air. Most people aren't trying to be arseholes.

I agree @upsidedowndaisy! I find people are generally nice, some more oblivious than others. You can't really expect to pb in a park - there are hazards by dint of it being a public space. Just like being on the road and crossing the road taking aaaaaages ;) always adds minutes to my time. It's silly to suggest that I don't run behind people though. That's just impossible. It shouldn't be that hard.

I cycle by the canal and pedestrians have right of way on the towpath. I have a bell and I always give it a ding as I'm approaching, as too often I've found people somehow don't hear me approach (again, not like I'm some kind of silent bike ninja). But some people react as if I'm chastising them for being on the path! I just want them to know what's behind them. It's same with running, same with digs, you can err on the side of caution and some people just get the hump no matter what.

Reet try calling out a 'morning' as you come up behind them. It's less likely to make us jump than a bell. Goodness knows why we jump, but we do. I spend my walk looking over my shoulder in case someone is sneaking up on us by bike.

Or sing as you cycle!

There are always going to be dogs. Wouldn't it be better for you to have some treatment to improve your fear so they don't bother you as much. Only the jumping up is inconsiderate. Barking is normal, you can't expect dogs not to bark.

I know my 6 month old lab will run up to anyone we meet in close proximity, so when I see someone coming towards us, I put his lead on. Most people do want to stroke him, he is super cute, which is fine but I'd never let him run up to a stranger. He is working on his manners and can't be trusted not to jump up to say hello. Thats not a great experience even if hes not wet from swimming in the river.
He is the friendliest dog but that is no excuse to let him run riot.

I had a dog for 10 yrs...the pleasure he got from being off lead wasn't worth the upset he got from other dogs off lead starting fights ,or chasing him...it got to the point that as soon as we saw another free running dog I popped him on the lead and we went the other way..that was when he was ill before he died...my experience was other dogs were a nightmare jumping up at us both and I hate it...I've just got another dog and won't be letting this one off..I suppose it's not the dogs fault.its other shit owners who haven't trained their dog to recall properly..I wish dogs of leads were banned in certain parks so I could of walked my dog when he was poorly with out being harassed..

My dog chases runners, and cyclists and birds...and any other random shite that catches his attention. Thus he is always kept on a lead except for once per week when I pay for the use of a secure field. Inevitably someone will let themselves into the field whilst I'm using it to run laps/ teach their kid to bike ride/ let their own dog off lead and I then have to go chase them out.
Moral of the tale is that most people are arse holes whether they are dog owners, runners or parents.

My dog started chasing runners very recently - out of nowhere. She's done it 4 or 5 times now, and I'm really trying to train her out of it. It's never aggressive - she's an excitable breed and wants to say hello, but I realise I cannot expect runners to realise this and her behaviour is my responsibility. I have always done all I can to call her back and been hugely apologetic and put her on the lead - which I acknowledge is the least I can do. So far, everyone has been nice about it, thank goodness! Since this started happening, I am constantly on the lookout for runners and when I see one, I call my dog over before she gets too interested and hold onto her until they're well past us (giving her treats to reinforce the good behaviour).

Having said that, she's a dog not a machine and this might go wrong at some point: despite being generally under my control, she might take it into her head to chase someone again. I really hope it's not you - I would be devastated if you reported us to the police and unless the dog is actually showing signs of trying to bite you, I do think it's an over-reaction. Feels like you have taken months of annoyance with dog owners out on one specific owner.

From what you say, this dog ran towards you barking and then (before reaching you) ran towards another dog. I'm genuinely sorry that your fear of dogs is so extreme that this had you crying and shaking - but I don't feel that your extreme reaction was justified. Yes - legally, you can report the dog just because you FEEL threatened - but there needs to be some common sense applied to that. No doubt the owner is now terrified that they will lose their beloved pet.

elle yes i feel very sorry for this owner

And by the way - I say that as a smug marathon runner myself. Just over 4 hours, since you ask

I have a bell and I always give it a ding as I'm approaching, as too often I've found people somehow don't hear me approach
Without wanting to be all anti-bike, I'll admit that it does sometimes annoy me when cyclists (or runners) assume everyone has good hearing and will know they are coming. I could be stone deaf for all they know. To put it positively, I really appreciate the people who see me bumbling along in a world of my own and slow down slightly rather than whizzing past my shoulder.

I must just live in a lovely area. There have only been one or two inconsidate or intolerant dogwalkers, runners, cyclists and walkers in the 8 years I have been walking my dog. All seem to co-exist very happily with 90% of the dogs off lead.

I'm in an anti-dog mood after DS2 was knocked down by a dog and DS1 had his sandwiches taken out of his hand by a dog at the weekend. Both owners v apologetic but is it any surprise that both DC are scared of dogs. Keep them under control!