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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have ranted at this professional dog-walker?

222 replies

Collaron · 22/06/2018 17:24

Beautiful day here today, went for a picnic and dog-walk with a friend. We were sitting at the picnic table in the woods, ddog under the table waiting for any crumbs or sneaky titbits. A dog-walker passes on the path with a flock of dogs - 7 in all - and one of them, a young spaniel runs over to our table and starts jumping around at me trying to get my sandwich. Dog walker call to the dog 'come here' but it doesn't come. I tell it sternly to 'get down!' I hate dogs jumping up but I was also worried that ddog might get defensive at it (it was obviously quite a young dog)
Dog then climbs on to the seat next to me and tries to snaffle food from the table. I get hold of the dog's harness and pull it back to the ground again saying sternly 'get down!' while glaring at the walker who is just staying put with his flock and calling out 'come here' in a lame way.

Finally the dog runs back to him and i'm turning back to my friend when the man calls out in a sarcastic tone 'okay now? Panic over is it?'
I turned back to him and said 'you should have your dog under control'.
him: He is under control!
me: You called it and it didn't come so it isn't under control is it? You shouldn't be walking so many when you can't control them.
him: oh for god's sake, i'm sick of people like you telling me my job! Your dog's perfect is it?
me: no he's not perfect but he's under control. When i call him he comes back to me!
him: (walking away, calling out) yeah, you're perfect aren't you
me: (shouting after him) you couldn't even apologise!
him: (turning back) why should I apologise? He didn't do anything you stupid woman!
me: He was jumping all over me you stupid git!
him: (walking away again) oh push off!
me: (shouting after him) I wouldn't let you walk my dog, you're not a responsible person!
him: I wouldn't accept your dog you stupid woman!
He walked away still gobbing off but I couldn't hear him any more

If he hadn't come out with the sarky comment I would have left it but I felt goaded to retaliate. Once he was gone I would have forgotten all about it but friend went very quiet and said she wanted to get back home. I apologised for the shouting and she said she was embarrassed and perhaps I had 'anger issues'.

Actually I do have anger issues but in this case I think I was justified?

OP posts:
Roomba · 22/06/2018 19:01

I know several dog walkers (all v professional, trained insured etc) and all walk more than 4 dogs at once. I'm not sure there is a 4 dog limit at all - my friend does it and the only limit she was told of was the number she can have in her van at once (and that is a limit set by her driving insurance). She was extremely thorough at researching everything when she set her business up - I can't see her deliberately ignoring a 4 dog limit at all.

Lichtie · 22/06/2018 19:10

He sounds a bit off, but you went a bit Ott given no harm was done.
Young spaniels are great fun, love their boisterous spirit, but yes this one was a bit out of control and walker should have done more. But I suppose bringing another 6 dogs into the mix wouldn't have been ideal either.
If you were worried your dog would attack it are you sure you have control of yours?

Willow2017 · 22/06/2018 19:12

One thing I can't stand is seeing kids suddenly going into panic when they see a dog. I think its very sad
Maybe if irrespponsible dog owners hadnt let their dogs terrify the child when it was small they wouldnt be scared of dogs at all? My son would run blindly if a dog came near him precicesly due to someone thinking a dog jumping up and clawing and snapping at him as a toddler was 'cute' and 'friendly'. It took years before he got over his fear despite everything I did to convince him they were not all like that dog so dont be so bloody patronising by blaming the parents for it.

BTW the dog did not just 'appear at the table begging for food'. It was jumping around op and got up on the seat trying to take the food. Hilarious indeed.

Most people dont give a flying fuck how 'cute' your dog is, keep it away from people unless they want it near them. Its not their responsibility to control your dog for you. If you cant control it then you shouldnt have one.

I sincerely doubt the dog walker would have given a stuff if his dog had done anything else to a toddler or older person judging by the way he spoke to op 'Panic over?' 'I'm sick of people like you telling me my job!' obviously op isnt the first person to tell him to keep his dogs under control.

ZibbidooZibbidooZibbidoo · 22/06/2018 19:16

I would try and find out who he was and post all over social media/FB selling sites so all his clients could see what sort of “professional” he is.

DrunkUnicorn · 22/06/2018 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

crispysausagerolls · 22/06/2018 19:19

YWNBU, and he absolutely should have apologised! Why would it be acceptable for a dog to climb all over a stranger? Can’t understand people saying you telling the dog to get down was “harsh” 😂 should you have used the word please?!

Noqont · 22/06/2018 19:21

should you have used the word please?!

Lol maybe the op should have passed the little pet her lunch 😂

Original poster
Collaron · 22/06/2018 19:21

I expect I'll encounter him again if he goes to those woods regularly - woe betide him (as my old headteacher used to say) if I find out his business name.

OP posts:
JuicySwan · 22/06/2018 19:22

He was a prick.

DeckSofa · 22/06/2018 19:23

YANBU. Standing up for yourself when an idiot lets their uncontrolled dog jump at you, then patronises you instead of apologising, is a good response.

DozyDoates · 22/06/2018 19:26

What a dick.
If I knew my dog walker behaved like that (both with you and not having a dog under control) I would no longer be using their service. Can you track down his business and leave a review (maybe have someone else read it first to make sure it's balanced?)

givemesteel · 22/06/2018 19:28

I think 7 dogs is too many for one person, that means for an hour's work he's probably getting about £70. I wonder if the owners know their dog is going out with 6 other dogs, I wouldn't be happy at all.

If there is a local Facebook site I would describe the incident and the dog walker as I think people have the right to know. If the spaniel had just run off what would he do with the other 6 dogs to retrieve him?

steff13 · 22/06/2018 19:33

He was being unreasonable. I find that when people trot out the "you're perfect," comment, it's because they don't have anything else to say.

IslaBoots · 22/06/2018 19:39

The only 4 dogs per walker is in force in some parts of the country, but not all councils have enforced the rule. I believe it was Hampshire that originally enforced it last year and some other areas followed.

Re your original question - I hate dogs jumping all over me and even being allowed to run up to me or my dog.

However, in this case I think you were OTT. The bloke had 7 dogs. One puppy was the only one not under control. It may have been the first time he had walked the puppy so puppy is unlikely to respond to his voice. He may have walked the dogs many times in these woods and not encountered anyone there before, so became complacent... Who knows?

Given that you have said the 'out of control' dog was a young dog, wearing a harness I would have caught hold of his harness and held him down for a few seconds. If there was no immediate appearance from its owner I would have kept hold of the harness and taken puppy to find its owner. I would then have told owner you have returned his dog before it became injured by your reactive dog. He would have got the message loud and clear- provided your 'reactive' dog was on a lead.

I passed a group of adults, sitting on the floor, having a picnic just inside the entrance to the woods today. There is a park with several picnic tables a 2 minute walk away, where dogs are not allowed.

We all have to live with others who have a different mind set. That's just the way it is.

greendale17 · 22/06/2018 19:40

My local council issued some kind of a cease notice to a local dog walker who was walking excessive amounts of dogs at a time and failing to keep them under control

nocoolnamesleft · 22/06/2018 19:40

Please remember. The standard answer to "I'm tired of people telling me how to do my job" is "Well, clearly someone needs to".

Tambien · 22/06/2018 19:43

But like I said, you acted like someone who doesn’t. A friendly dog approached you, you reacted harshly, grabbed it and spoke sternly to it. It just seems so unnecessary and uptight.

I’m sorry but I just can’t get pass that.
I have no issue with dubs but I do NOT want an unknown dog jumping on my table or trying to pinch some of my food!!
That’s nothing to do with loving or not loving dogs.
It had everything to do with the fact it’s not my dog and said dogis behaving badly. I mean, would any owner be happy to have their dog jump in their dining table and at food from their plates?? I doubt so.

As for talking harshly to the dog, what else was the OP supposed to do? Let him eat their food? Let him go in the table and give him a caress (and therefore reinforce it’s an ok thing to do)
Just be a doormat towards the dog??

Hoopaloop · 22/06/2018 19:46

Absolutely YANBU! What a cock. Probably on £10-15 per hour per dog. I wonder if the owners know how many dogs their dog walker takes out at once? I'd worry that they wouldn't be able to look after them all adequately which is clearly the case here.

WickedGoodDoge · 22/06/2018 19:46

My dog once stole a jam tart from a picnic (in a most unexpected place, in my defence!). I was mortified. Fortunately the family saw the funny side after my profuse apologies, but I wouldn’t have blamed the, at all if they’d been really angry with me.

That dog was not under control and the walker was way out of line. However, I would have made a massive fuss over dog and then sent it on it’s way. Appreciate I’m in the minority here. Grin

WickedGoodDoge · 22/06/2018 19:47

FFS, no apostrophe in its!!!!

Original poster
Collaron · 22/06/2018 19:52

nocoolnamesleft - I will endeavour to remember for another time (wish I'd thought of it this time dammit!)

OP posts:
GabsAlot · 22/06/2018 19:55

like ive said many a time my mum was petrified of dogs

if that had happened to her she would burst into tears-not everyone likes gthem jumping up-hes a crap dog walker

Original poster
Collaron · 22/06/2018 20:02

It may have been the first time he had walked the puppy so puppy is unlikely to respond to his voice.

Then surely he should have it on a training lead? It's not his dog, wouldn't he be worried that it might run off after something and get lost? if I was a dog-walker I wouldn't be so casual with someone else's dog.

OP posts:
crispysausagerolls · 22/06/2018 20:02

Lol maybe the op should have passed the little pet her lunch

Spoon-fed him maybe? 😂

Allegorical · 22/06/2018 20:05

Daffodil you have made assumptions about me here that I really resent.

For the record my eldest absolutely loves dogs and always wants to stroke them. I have always had to push for him to approach with caution and ask the owner of a dog is ok with him approaching them and if he is allowed to stroke them.

I expect the same courtesy extended to me and my children from a dog owner.

My dd is terrified of dogs because of her experiences of a dog owner refusing to put their dogs away even when they are growling and snapping at her numerous times, because they think they are their “babies”

I have constantly tried to tell her dogs approaching are nice doggies if they are approaching her. I am not scared of dogs myself. I did not put these feelings on her. I did actually have dogs growing up. I was also attackrd by one as child
Playing on my own front garden, the owner was not holding the lead, their son was and couldn’t stop it.

I don’t particularly like dogs now. I find them to jumpy and jittery. I prefer the quiet calm of cats. But no I don’t project anything on to my daughter.