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?

I remember walking my dog when I was super pregnant and a woman's Labrador kept bounding around me! Didn't jump up but was circling me and I honestly felt scared for my baby! It was a muddy path and all it would take for the seemingly uncontrolled dog to knock me over would have been a whip of the tail! I was holding my bump and must have looked visibly scared as her owner told me I shouldn't be walking the route while heavily pregnant and I just nodded but looking back why should my dog not get walked on a woodland path becuase a bouncing Labrador wants to be off lead! I think the women was probably just concerned she would fall if your dog was bouncing around near her. Not really fair for her to walk on a road? It's basically saying that nature is for dog walkers and anyone else can use the road

All those saying your dog doesnt have a right to be off lead, yes it does. As long as there are no signs stating otherwise and hes under control.

Dogs live to run, play, sniff etc. Walks on a lead permanently would not fulfil their needs, and I dont know of any spaces that are specifically for dogs only. If you cant share a space with a dog without being scared its your issue and you need to get over it.

Dont give it another thought OP, if she comes at you again then set her straight. Her fear is irrational and tbh not your problem (as long as your dog isnt bothering her or approaching her in any way).

I love dogs admittedly but I didn't always. I had a fear of them since I was bitten as a teen. I learned to get over the fear, its never happened again and I realise its ott to be scared of every dog. The world would be a boring and miserable place without them.

Cats on the other hand can go to hell

I get annoyed with threads like this about dogs on/off lead.

Okay so she keeps the bouncy dog on a lead. So it gets less exercise. So It's stressed and has too much energy that it is no longer expending and is more bouncy as a result. How does that help anyone?

YANBU OP but she's a stranger-she doesn't get to have you value her opinion, sod her. This thread has reminded me of my local pub-I went to leave a review and saw that someone had said 'Dogs should not be allowed in places that serve food'. Some people just think they're special. Most pubs don't allow dogs-why would someone who doesn't like dogs especially pick one that does...

YABU The woman can walk where she likes and so can you. The issue is your dogs being off lead. You might think they are under your control, although I’d be surprised if a 4 month old was so reliable, however, many people don’t like dogs ‘bouncing around’ near them. It’s just respectful to keep the dog under clear restraint in a public place. I have a terrier who is now terrified of other dogs and can appear to be quite aggressive because he was approached so many times as a puppy by dogs who were “only being friendly”. The owners of those dogs have made it difficult for me to take my dog anywhere busy now because he gets so stressed. It’s dog owners who are the problem, not the dogs. Dogs are animals not humans and they are unpredictable. You should prioritise the feelings of the people involved not the animals.

fucking entitled behaviour if you ask me op. Why should I not be able to take my kids for a walk in the woods by our house because some dog owners seem to think they have a god given priority over non dog people. DD is now nervous of dogs because people are stupid about letting ‘bouncy’ (out of control) dogs off leads. They cant run about on the grass as the same people only pick up their crap when it is in the middle of the path.

Do you pay for priority access? No thought not. PUBLIC footpath, PUBLIC open space. the clue is in the name. You have a right to walk their, so does the other person - unmolested.

I live near bushy park. Lots and lots of dogs at the park. Two mum with toddlers are walking towards us. I have a boxer ( bouncy but he knows very well not to bother people if I tell him to move on ). He goes up around the children just to sniff around. These two have a hissy fit. Screaming I should have my dog on a lead. Erm piss off. It’s a park and I’m allowed to have my dog off lead. He’s very well behaved and knows exactly how to be around children since he’s grown up around my three.
Some people need to get a grip.

Have people actually read this properly?! Her dog was not approaching or annoying this lady. Why on earth should be forced to put in on a lead? If someone is scared of dogs then that’s their issue and they should seek help if they can’t walk past a puppy without fear, one that’s not even bothering them. I’d have told her where to go.
If you’d have said your dog was jumping up her or running towards her different story. There’s no rule saying dogs have to be on lead so well behaved dogs can do just that.

“Keep your dog on a lead regardless.”

Um... forever?

I’m genuinely curious about this, there’s such a vocal contingent on MN who hunk the answer is simply to keep dogs on leads at all times.

I mean, you guys know that this would be cruel, right?

I would just ignore her tbh. If your dog is not leaping up at her, she should just accept it. She’s going to come across countless people with dogs off the lead on that path by the sound of it.

And cornishcookie you need to seek some help for your child’s fear of dogs. I agree that dogs shouldn’t be allowed to approach people. Many young dogs however think it’s a game when kids start high pitch screaming. I’ve seen adults react just as badly. I would go and get some help if that was my child or they will have an irrational fear all their life.

Kids shouldn't act scared around dogs either-It's a recipe for disaster. Dogs can sense emotion more than we can. A nice natured dog will think 'these people are scared why are they scared whats to be scared of? ! Then it will panic. A dog is much more likely to growl/act up or worse when panicked. Teach kids how to understand dog behaviour (smiley face bouncing-fine, fur up on back, tail between legs, not fine for example) and for god's sake not to run about screaming.

I tend to put my sprocker on his slip lead when children and adults are approaching and praise or reward him (loudly ) for coming back to me... as I too have been told off... and then I let him off when they pass by. Its good training for him too... you can't trust any dog 100% and if they know someone is nervous some dogs react badly making it worse. My animals are my life but I don't expect everyone to think the same. Just a shame she has singled you out, probably because you look like you wouldn't retaliate. Try looking like you'd like to wring her neck lol

Your ‘bouncy’ young dog should be on a lead. And by that I mean under control, not on an extending lead way ahead of you. Defeats the purpose of the lead really. I’ve had dogs off leads or on stupidly long leads jump up on me while I’ve been out walking or running on more than a few occasions. On a couple of occasions I’ve been left with mud all over my clothes from their dirty paws. I’ve also had a itchy rash on my legs from when one licked me when I was wearing a shirt skirt in summer. (I have an allergy to dog dander / saliva.) Is that all ok and just something I should be ok within your world? They’ve also jumped up on my then 18mth old. Maybe you think I should not let him walk and put him in a pushchair instead? I mean, why should his desire to walk infringe upon your dog’s right to ‘bounce’ around.

People saying people shouldn’t walk where lots of dogs are, but that rules out lots of open/green spaces - these are spaces for all, not just dog owners.

In the summer, we had a picnic in local woods. Afterwards wandering and could hear an owner calling for a dog for about 10 mins, then a big dog came up, and nussled open a cool bag and snatched half a baguette out. I tried to wave/push it away, but big unknown dog with kids (2, 6, and 9) didn’t know if it was aggressive, etc. Dog ran off, then came back for the 2nd half. I tried to shoe-it away. Eventually, the owner appeared - a dog walker with about 10 big dogs. Instead of apologising, went on about dogs being off the lead, this being a dog walker’s places, people not usually having picnics...

I don't think you are being unreasonable. If you are a person who doesn't like dogs and the route is one regularly used by dog walkers then wouldn't it be sensible to use another route for your own comfort/feeling of security? I also have a young puppy, to all those saying that puppies shouldn't be let off lead until they know how to behave I counter with the argument how is a puppy supposed to learn how to behave off lead in public if it is not allowed to be off lead in public. I am a doggy person, I find a very good judge of a person's character is how they respond to dogs, there is so much now that is anti dog I get very upset by this anti dog faction, I would never allow a dog that was likely to bite someone/harm them in another way off lead in public but I don't get people that think all dogs should be on leads in public as long as they are under enough control about coming back etc. Dogs are much less aggressive to other dogs in general when off lead as well. I say if you don't like dogs keep away from places where dogs get walked.

YABU This pathway is for everyone not just dog users and dogs should be kept under control on a lead. it is horrible if you don't own pets yourself to have someone elses dog running towards you or jumping up at you and it is up to you to ensure you keep it under control.

Unless there is a sign to say that dogs need to be on a lead, then they just need to be under control. I've never seen a 'dog park' in the UK. A couple of exercise fields maybe, on caravan sites maybe. There are lots of 'No dog' parks. England isn't a very doggy friendly country, I have found Wales, Scotland and continental Europe are much nicer to dogs. They're not convinced that dogs are always going to bite/carry germs like the English are. Ironically, I've caught lots of horrible things from children and been bitten by a couple and I can honestly say, in 30 years of dog ownership, that a dog has never done either.

YANBU, she was as it appears that she was quite aggressive, which neither you or doggy were. It sounds like she's the one that needs a lead; and maybe a muzzle.

Dogs are by law to be kept on a lead in a public place.

Dogs are by law to be kept on a lead in a public place.

Where? Not in NI.

Notreallyhappy - that’s not true. Dogs need to be kept under control, no such law they need to be on leads in the UK

Why are people not reading this properly? The dog was not jumping on anyone or even approaching them. He was just sniffing around minding his own business

Your dog may be as lovely as the one who was on my tube journey this morning, but some are not. (The dog was on a lead). You may also be protecting your dog against less friendly dogs.

Anyone who has ever had a dog jump on them or been attacked could be frightened.

YADNBU, and your dogs are beautiful op

BigArmo you might know your dog and be confident that he's safe to approach small children and "sniff around" them, but those mothers didn't know!

Surely you could have predicted that an unknown approaching dog, off the lead, might unnerve someone who has a small child with them?

If you're capable of so predicting, then you should take steps to avoid the situation and put your dog on a lead when you see people approaching.

If you're not capable of such prediction, then you should keep the dog on a lead at all times - or just not be in charge of a dog.

You are only allowed to have a dog off the lead if it is under close control.

YANBU. People who think you should have your well behaved dog on a lead at all times are the ones who are BU.