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?

@ Ruffin actually we are animals, we might have evolved in a very different (and not necessarily a good one) way but if you break it down to basic’s what do we need to survive? Shelter nearly all animals need shelter, food all creatures need food, water,again every creature needs it, warmth all we’ve done is move from natural caves to man made caves. The biggest thing I think that separates us from the other animals is that they usually kill for food or self defence, we grow other animals to kill for food raise animals in farms so their pelts can be worn as a status symbol and worse we kill each other because they looked at me wrong, don’t believe what I do and have no right to believe in what they want. Some kill for kicks. Other animals don’t behave like that. I think I would rather be considered an animal than a higher level.
OP you didn’t do anything wrong and as long as you are a responsible dog owner and all your coats have poo bags stuffed in all your pockets, my sister goes on group dog walks and anyone who doesn’t pick up the poo is Very loudly offered a bag and not invited again.
Cyclists have had a fortune spent on Cycle paths so why do they think that they can use the footpaths as well? No one is going to win this argument because we are all too selfish and feeling entitled to this that and the other so move on, grow up and do something that is actually constructive that could improve your communities.

If the route is as busy as you say - then obviously everyone's dog should be on a lead. Don't copy other people - set an example. It is wrong that dog owners should allow their pets to worry people. The fact that someone has brought this to your attention should concern you - a four month old dog cannot be possibly fully trained, as illustrated by the fact that he bounces around everywhere instead of remaining at heel. Dogs are all pack animals, they will seek out the company of other dogs with good or bad results. A Labrador is generally not violent, but they are playful which makes them a nuisance to young children and to people who fear dogs. They are particularly annoying when they jump up at someone after heavy rain and dirty people's clothing. I own three working dogs, they cost me a fortune to have them trained properly - but it has been well worth it because they have earned great respect in the neighbourhood.

You are wrong! If you love animals you will take the trouble to get to know animals - before you even purchase a dog, you find out which breed is more suited to your lifestyle and its needs. All dogs are pack animals, they take their discipline from the pack leader - the pack leader in a home is the dog owner.
Similar to your arguments on cyclists - why should dog owners feel that a right of way belongs to them alone?

Dog haters-please remind yourselves that they protected us as early humans, helped us win wars,have rescued people trapped in disasters, have helped SN children gain confidence, help the blind and the deaf and those affected by PTSD, help solve crimes and above all, they're only here because humans keep breeding them.

It is not their fault. And if a dog has a lot of energy and is never allowed off lead, it will go nuts.

find out which breed is more suited to your lifestyle and its needs
And train it to shit in your back yard

Why the fuck these dog phobics can't see that their problem is life limiting and deal with it is beyond me. I dealt with my plane phobia and that didn't even have the effect of constraining total strangers.
I had a dog phobia as a child. I worked on it and got over it. I was then attacked twice, unprovoked and without warning, by dogs on two occasions in one year (once very minor, once that will leave permanent scars).

Dogs are dangerous and it's understandable that people have phobias.

I don’t like my dogs shitting in the garden, actually. That would involve following them outside every time to watch for poos, or risking the kids treading in it.

They poo on walks and I immediately pick it up. Never on the path, either, they both use the grass verges.

In fact I am so enraged by shit leavers that I sometimes (well, I’ve done it twice) give up an afternoon to poo pick along that path, wearing rubber gloves and fairy wings, making a huge commotion about the Poo Fairy. It always abates for a while before building back up again. And I’m pretty sure from my close examinations that it’s the same two dogs, so maybe one shitty owner. Most people aren’t dicks.

I don’t like my dogs shitting in the garden, actually.

but it's ok for them to shit in public gardens, aka the public park

They don’t shit in the park either. They use the grass verges, as I said.

All dogs are pack animals, they take their discipline from the pack leader - the pack leader in a home is the dog owner.

Dogs do not form packs. They form loose social aggregations.

They do not have a pack leader. They sometimes have a father if the social group is a family.

They sometimes have an overly confident or bully dog that has learned aggression works. That dog does not deal out discipline.

There is loads of newer research undoing Mech's idea of a wolf pack, including the idea there is an alpha, and how it might apply to dogs (Mech himself has said he was wrong about alpha wolves). Well worth reading more on, if your interested.

I think you are being unreasonable. it’s a free country and anyone should be able to walk along the path is they want to. I’d think dogs owner need to be respectable of others and control their dogs.

It sounds as though the lady overreacted and wasn’t very nice, but we can only take your word for what happened.

Just be more considerate of others, everyone has a right to be there.

Grrrrt it's not about having a "dog phobia", it's about not wanting dogs running round all over the place (especially on extendable leads) tripping people up, running up and jumping up at people, and yes occasionally biting them.

That's not being "dog phobic", it's wanting to get on with one's life without being hassled.

And yes, working dogs can be useful. But the average pet is not.

If everyone tried not to inconvenience others in life unless strictly necessary, it would be nice.

I’m very allergic to dogs. It’s the dog owner’s responsibility to have control of their dogs, not mine to stay away from
Anywhere there might be one!

You have been very unfortunate Grrrr (sorry if that sounds sarky - it isn't meant to).

This may be interesting to you
www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/animals-and-us/201802/why-certain-people-are-more-likely-be-attacked-dog

I've always owned multiple dogs (between 3 and 6) and have only been bitten once in my life, and that was when I was breaking up a dog fight and got accidentally caught in the melee. (3 stitches and a needle in my bum).

And yes, working dogs can be useful. But the average pet is not.

Obviously, not creature which is not useful to HUMANS should not be allowed to inhabit the planet.

I’m very allergic to dogs. It’s the dog owner’s responsibility to have control of their dogs, not mine to stay away from

Yes - but if you had a nut allergy you wouldn't go to view a "Nuts of the World" exhibition at you local museum, would you? It's a matter of taking sensible precautions. Sometimes you will encounter your allergen in a place you don't expect, but you don't go deliberately to places where you KNOW there's going to be an abundance of it.

Yes - but if you had a nut allergy you wouldn't go to view a "Nuts of the World" exhibition at you local museum, would you? It's a matter of taking sensible precautions.

That's ridiculous. We're talking about open/public spaces here, not a particular exhibition in a particular building. A better analogy would be someone running around a public park throwing nuts randomly around at people, not caring that those nuts could be harmful or fatal to passers-by.

Agreed, that's a ridiculous analogy. You would have to go out of your way to attend an exhibition. we are talking about ordinary public rights of way here. . The woman wasn't allergic to dogs - she just didn't like the OP's "bouncy" ( ie loud and probably aggressive) dog being off-lead. Which bit of that situation is hard to grasp?

No, that's not a good analogy either.
It's perfectly reasonable to expect dogs in a park or open space, whereas a random nutter throwing nuts at people would be at best unexpected!

People with allergies have a responsibility to themselves too - BUT they should still have access to open areas. So people with high-allergy response to dogs etc. should be able to access dog-free zones, which would require dog-free zones to exist. Dogs should have areas where they can run free, and dog owners should be able to access these easily.

Persuade local councils etc. to have "dog parks" and "non-dog parks" and the job is done. It would then be ridiculous in the extreme for dog-phobic/allergic/hating people to demand access to the "dog parks"; just as it would be completely unreasonable for dog owners to demand access to "non-dog parks".

Public open spaces should be freely accessible to everyone, and we all have to take care of, and responsibility for, ourselves and each other. I never approach anyone with a dog because of my allergy. I expect people with dogs to keep control of them so they don’t make me ill. It is ridiculous to suggest I should stay away from places there are lots of dogs.

Why lots of comments about dog haters?

I like dogs, but some dog owners expect everyone else to not mind them being around.

And I agree that a dog needs off lead exercise - so find a field or open space, not a busy path.
I’m still struggling to understand how the OPs bouncy dog was nowhere near the woman if they were on a path.
Honestly I never really noticed how much they were off lead until I had children. One of mine is scared of dogs because of what’s happened to her. Nothing that bad, but she’s been licked, snuffled, and (accidentally) knocked over by ‘friendly’ dogs. One owner watched saying don’t worry he won’t bite as her dog snuffled my 2 year old who was sitting in a low sledge (and was therefore lower than the dog) whilst my 2 year old screamed in fear. I could tell the dog was friendly, my 2 year old couldn’t and was terrified.

My children know never to approach a dog. They used to love having a stroke with a dog, which we only ever did after asking the owner if it was ok (we found a friendly dog owners often offer).

Urgh that makes no sense... fat fingers and small phone made me hit post! Sorry...

I don't like my dog shiting in my garden actually
Not in my backyard
Quelle surprise🙄

Hi newmum - I agree that most people on this thread are being perfectly rational but there are some genuine frothers who really don't seem like dogs and therefore can't accept a reasonable compromise.

I think dog parks would be an excellent idea places where you could go and let your dog off a lead
Other places dogs prohibited or only on a lead and not an extendable lead

I disagree with the idea if dog parks.

I’m a regular person, the fact that I have I dog shouldn’t be a reason for me to be segregated to a “dog park”.

All dogs come with an owner and the owner has as many rights as any other, non dog owning, person.

I’m diligent with my responsibilities, keeping in control, picking up poo, paying council tax and so on, and I don’t want to be pushed off to a “dog park”.

What’s more, there are many dog free playgrounds and other spaces. I don’t go there. Further limitations would discriminatory.