To think if you don’t like dogs, don’t walk this route?

[YippeeKayakOtherBuckets]

I’ve just been told off, aggressively, for having my dogs off lead.

We walk to school down a woodland path that is used by literally dozens of dog walkers, I counted fifteen other dog owners just on this walk, the vast majority off lead. There is nowhere on the length of the path that can’t be easily reached by a faster route, the path runs a winding way alongside a quiet road with a wide path.

Anyway, dogs, joggers and the odd cyclist all usually use the route along with pedestrians and it’s generally accepted that you’ll meet several dogs on the way. This woman, who I’ve not seen before, got right in my face and said ‘put your dogs on a lead, I don’t like dogs’.

I’m terrible at confrontation so just apologised and moved on.

But it’s really rattled me. Am I being unreasonable? One of mine is a bouncy 4month old lab, he’s well trained and doesn’t approach people or dogs unless I let him, but he is, as I say, bouncy and large so that might be why she picked on me and not the other dozen people she must have passed.

If I see her again (and have the nerve) wibu to suggest that she walks the other way round?

"You are a tolerant little bundle of joy, aren't you 80smum?"

😂 Well, yes I am as a matter of fact, SchadenfreudePersonified! I smile sweetly and say "it's OK, don't worry about it" or "Gosh, he's a bit frisky isn't he?" to the owner when their pooch has just jumped up all over me out of the blue and covered me with muddy paw prints or circled round and round my legs and almost tripped me up. Owners are usually apologetic and nice people - and I don't want to spoil their day by getting arsey with them when what's done is done and nobody was harmed.

I always hope that the owner of the errant dog is sufficiently embarrassed by such incidents as to take more care next time and keep the dog under proper control.

Perhaps I should make a huge fuss next time? Maybe I am facilitating this poor behaviour by effectively condoning it because I don't rant at dog walkers?

I do find it very disappointing that so many dog owners take their dogs out in public and have no control over them whatsoever. I think it's very irresponsible. But I guess you think it's fine?

Charming attitude but typical of many owners.

I just have little tolerance for fearful shriekers jumping around in panic as my well behaved dog strolls past them. Why should I? I'm not rude or aggressive about it.

I'm aracnophobic you won't find me in a Victorian cellar you will find spiders in abundance which is why I avoid such places going places where I know dogs will be in abundance if your afraid of dogs is something I would not personally do

However I'm not afraid of dogs and will hold my own with the bouncy uncontrolled ones yours was under control so I suspect she has a fear of labs in general or you looked like someone who would not retaliate so she took it out on you

I have two large and scary looking dogs and can honestly say I’ve never had a problem.

Person, cyclist, dog, horse etc appears I recall and put on lead,walk past with both dogs to heel. Usually get thanked and go on my way.

I am 99.9% sure my dogs wouldn’t bother a soul but I put them on lead anyway because they are dogs and that’s what I was always taught was polite and safest to protect my dogs from weirdos

Fucking fed up with dogs being everywhere.

Not the dogs fault right enough. Owners for forcing them on everyone else. “Lol he’s just being friendly” fuck right off

I haven’t RTFT (cardinal sin I know) but sometimes dogs off lead do bother me. I myself love dogs, but since working with people with autism, that are unable to understand if your dog is friendly (it really doesnt help when dog owners say this!) I have increasingly found dog owners to be wholly unsympathetic.

I will politely ask to put their dogs on lead if we are going to walk past, and 9 times out of 10, I get huffs, sighs, and complaints.

Generally we avoid dog heavy areas but, in my area at least, it seems dog owners think their dog has more rights than my service users. There are several dog free parks where people still take their dogs, and people walking their dogs off lead on the promenade where it’s not allowed. Just yesterday an off lead bouncy lab came up to us barking, and my poor SU was visibly terrified, running in the opposite direction. The owners looked at us and shrugged, and carried on. I find this to be rude and quite upsetting, actually.

I know this is not the same situation but I really had to get that off my chest. People with do fears do avoid these places, but sometimes it’s not practical..

I have owned dogs for 17 years now. I honestly have never said the words “he’s just being friendly” more likely “sorry, he’s just not that keen on anyone but family, best leave him be” as they lunge at him for an unwanted stroke.

@Greyhorses, thank you for doing the right thing and being a responsible dog owner,😊👍
I hope some people follow your example

I feel like we need some sort of public education programme you know those television outfits you used to get telling you not to ride a bike at night without a white top on
can't we have something like that setting out the basics of being a dog owner and warning people about the risks of approaching strange dogs
At the moment it just seems like a free for all wild west sort of situation with the responsible people ruining it for the responsible ones

Adverts not outfits 🙄

YANBU OP if you genuinely have control over your dog and he was nowhere near the lady. However, having owned large breed dogs my entire life (German Shepherds then Newfoundlands as a child and for the past 10 years an Alaskan Malamute), I am aware that many owners have quite a warped idea of what under control actually means. Not saying that is you but it’s possible this person has encountered too many out of control dogs hence the rudeness.

As long as you have full control of your dog then other people’s phobias/dislikes are not your concern. I wouldn’t even get into an argument with her if you meet again, I would just completely ignore and walk on.

I do find it very disappointing that so many dog owners take their dogs out in public and have no control over them whatsoever. I think it's very irresponsible. But I guess you think it's fine?

No - I don't think it's fine 80's and if you bothered to read my posts properly you would see that.

I also don't believe that you smile sweetly if a dog jumps up at you, judging from your responses on here - but neither of us have a way to prove our opinion, so

Dogs have a right to enjoy their lives just as much as we do. An owner has a responsibility to train their dog. Parents of hysterical children, or people who dislike dogs need to accept that they will meet dogs in almost all walks of life, and learn to behave appropriately. Screaming and shrieking distresses and overexcites animals - all animals. If the dog is being a pest, ask for it to be brought under control - if the dog is on the other side of a field, minding its own business, then mind yours.

We all have fears and phobias - some are easier to avoid than others. If you fear dogs, they are a common animal, but there are places you are more likely to find them running free than others - those places are parks and woodland etc. Why not try avoiding those areas if you can? Or having hypnotherapy/ CBT to overcome your fear? It will make your life easier in general.

Person, cyclist, dog, horse etc appears I recall and put on lead,walk past with both dogs to heel. Usually get thanked and go on my way.

You are lucky that you always get the opportunity to do this. I have had cyclists, horse riders and joggers just plough through me and my dogs when I am getting their leads on them! Apparently some people can't wait two minutes.

SchadenfreudePersonified some people have disabilities that mean learning to behave appropriately is very difficult or even impossible. These people often like woodland because it is a calm quiet place. They should be able to enjoy their lives too.

Many of them are nervous of dogs because of dog owners letting their dogs jump at them, run around them, lick them and paw them even when the person is showing clear signs they don't want the dog near them. When asked to remove the dog the response is " he loves children and all children love him" followed by weak attempts to call the dog off.

So yes my severely disabled son should be able to go to places he loves even if it means he may behave in unexpected ways if someone doesn't call there dog back quickly enough when it runs towards him.

Dogs have a right to enjoy their lives just as much as we do.

No, they don’t. And it is absurd to think that any pet has any rights at all. Dog owners have no reason to impose any inconvenience, or worse, on other people at all because of their pets. Your dog’s interests come after all those of humans.

By the way, I think we can now be sure that your reference to children and dogs was a straight equivalence.

A couple of weeks ago we were out with ds in his sn buggy in the woods when someone with a puppy decided to approach him and said to the puppy " Let's go and say hello" and put the puppy right next to ds's buggy. The puppy then jumped up at him and pawed him and I had to hold ds's arm and leg to stop him thumping or kicking the dog whilst telling the owner to move it before it got hurt. The owners response was that her puppy was only being friendly.
That is the level of stupid you have to deal with.

Couldn't agree more lovemusic.

"I also don't believe that you smile sweetly if a dog jumps up at you, judging from your responses on here"

That actually made me ! You don't know me SchadenfreudePersonified! I'm very British, in the traditional sense. Do you remember the episode of Fawlty Towers, I think it's "Gourmet Night", where the two ladies are eating dinner in the dining room and muttering and complaining to each other about the quality of the food, the tough meat etc? Then Basil approaches them saying "is everything to your satisfaction, ladies?" and they respond immediately, by smiling (sweetly! ) and saying "oh yes, thank you very much" or something like that? Well, that's me! Typically old-school British!

I acknowledge that there are some responsible, considerate dog owners out there, who put their dogs on a lead when they see walkers approaching. If I see someone attempting to catch their dog and leash it as I approach, I stop and wait while they do it - and then thank them when I walk past.

If you're in a busy park or area with pedestrians and people jogging your dog should be on a leash!!

Not everyone likes them and people in the country need to appreciate that. I think because here people treat them as if they're babies perception is skewed. The lady didn't have to be confrontational about it at all, but dog owners do need to take some responsibility for their pet. At times you may think you're in control of the dog but it Looks as if the dog is in control of you. Many a times it's looks as if the dog is walking the owner not the other way round!

I don't like dogs, but yanbu. I expect dogs to be off lead in nice woodlandish areas. If there's an alternative route that she wanted to avoid dogs on she can use that. Dogs off leads is just one of those things in a country full of dog owners.

Dogs off lead is what you have to put up with in a country full of selfish self indulgent people who see their dogs as equivalent to babies

Children running up to your dogs, when your out walking, is what you have to put up with in a country full of selfish self indulgent people who see their children as the second coming.

People whining about dogs off lead is what you have to put up with in a country full of selfish self indulgent people who think the world should treat them as if they’re something special.

*you’re

Intolerance of other people's life choices is what you have to put up with in this country as it's full of narrow-minded people who cannot accept that other people make difference choices, put themselves in other people's shoes for even one second or put up with some minor inconvenience.

And that works both ways clearly.

If I see someone attempting to catch their dog and leash it as I approach, I stop and wait while they do it - and then thank them when I walk past
👍 Positive reinforcement is the way to go