Aibu to have not picked up my dogs poo?

[greenteaplease]

Today I took my dog out for a walk on the beach, it's a lovely beach and majority of owners including myself pick up their dogs mess.

My dog loves to run out far and swim in the sea, she was ahead of me but in the distance I could see she was crouching down to go to the toilet. I hurried up to catch her however by the time I had got there I realised she had gone to the toilet at the edge of the sea and it was being washed away. I had a look to see if there was anything there but nothing was left.

A man with three large dogs approached me telling me 'your dog has just done a massive shit aren't you going to clean it?!'. I responded that I would have however it's been washed away. He pointed to something floating which wasn't a dog poo and said I should go in and get it.

Aibu to have not gone in? He spoke to me in a really threatening manner and said that it's people like you that make the world a disgusting place. I now don't want to go to the beach for a while as I've seen him there before and he speaks to a lot of other dog walkers, it was very intimidating as there wasn't many around that end of the beach and he was raising his voice and swearing.

If there wasn’t anything there to pick up there’s not much you could have done. If for whatever reason I can’t pick up my own dog’s poo, I’ll pick up another to make up for it.

Yanbu what the hell did he expect you to do. Don't let the bully upset you op.

The idea of it floating around is pretty disgusting, but I don't have a dog so I have no idea if this sort if thing is usual or not.

I think you were both in the wrong. He sounds like an annoying busybody, and if the poo was swept away, well that's it. But, I have had quite a few dogs, and they are pretty regular as to how long into the walk they need a poo. If your dog had not already emptied its bowel, it would be reasonable to assume a poo is on the way, so you should perhaps keep a bit closer to hand.
However, don't allow anyone to intimidate you off the beach.

He actually wanted me to wade into the sea, it wasn't deep but I couldn't see anything there.

He's clearly idiot. Not much you could have done. Don't worry about it op.

I agree with Wowzel.

I also don't own a dog either but can't you keep your dog on a lead until they've gone to the toilet? Dog poo on a beach or in the sea is so digusting.

You were both BU. Your dog should not be so far away.

Why the heck was your dog so far away from you that you couldn't clean up after it? Sounds like you didn't have your dog under control really

I'm not a dog owner and nothing riles me more than seeing a dog turd on the pavement when I'm out with my pram. However, I don't think you were unreasonable at all, you went to look for it and it was being washed away. There was little else you could do!

The sea is full of fish and bird shit. And urine. It's already pretty gross...

YABU-

If your dog had not already emptied its bowel, it would be reasonable to assume a poo is on the way, so you should perhaps keep a bit closer to hand.

^This

Like the PP, I hate dogs and their crap on the pavement (sorry!) BUT I bet my bottom dollar he'd not have said anything to a man like that.

I’m not a dog owner so I could be totally wrong, but should your dog be that far away from you that you can’t clean up after it?

Yabvu. If your dog can take a shit in the sea and you can’t get there in the time to clean it then you are too far away. Grim, gross and irresponsible.

Yes YADBU. Dogs should be on a lead, owners should pick their shit up.

Letting it run around on a beach is irresponsible and then bleating about it being out of your control is pathetic.

But never mind the pro dog vociferous brigade will be on here shortly to tell you you did your best.

She's a springer spaniel, as soon as she gets on the beach all she wants to do is run, it's in her nature. She will only focus on running and getting all of her energy out.

I wasn't so far behind that I couldn't see her at all but not close enough to pick up the mess within seconds of her doing it.

I think poo should always be picked up, but in this instance I'm not sure how you could have done that.

To the PP asking about keeping them on a lead til they go, I had a dog who just wasn't regular at all so this would mean potentially a whole day on the lead. Instead, we just stayed close and kept an eye out to make sure any mess got picked up

People saying about the dog being too far away from the Op. Dogs tend to run and get excited by the sea. When they're off lead, which they're allowed to be on many beaches a dog can be well away from the owner within seconds. I wish people would realise this.

The sea is pretty self cleaning. A fish or plankton will have eaten it by now.

Though, I do agree your dog should not be so far away from you.

Keep your dog on a lead until it's emptied itself the amount of times as is usual in a walk. As a dog owner and a conscientious one at that, my dog stays firmly on lead, near to me so I can clean anything up she deposits. It's vile leaving dog crap and rather pathetic using the my dog was offlead excuse...

I just remember being on the beach with my eldest who was about two at the time when we were knocked over by running dogs. Lovely for the excitable dogs, pretty shit and scary for us though.

OP could have done it by keeping her dog on a lead. It's simple.

This is why some councils sensibly ban dogs from beaches during the summer months.