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?

There was a thread about fireworks the other day that got hijacked about dog mess, I find the way that some people shoe horn their hatred of dogs in to any situation really odd.

There was someone the other day complaining that dog owners didn't like fireworks. He said he didn't like dogs, but selfish dog owners didn't care about THAT did they?

I pointed out that he could at least rationalise to himself his irrational fear of dogs, and avoid places where he was likely to meet them - dogs (in fact any animal) can't get away from the horrors of fireworks, even indoors. I did also mention that no-one would push a doberman through his letterbox, or throw an airedale at him as he stood at a bus-stop.

In my experience most dogs are kept under better control than most children, and have better manners than many of them.

I remember being told by the trainer at puppy classes that the school run was not a place to be taking a puppy. Too many unpredictable small children going around.
My small dog is very nervous of all off lead dogs now after too many encounters with "friendly" bouncy dogs. Too many owners are deluded about their dog's behaviour as they are either striding ahead or languishing somewhere in the far distance. Which is also handy for them to ignore their dog's poo. My, always on lead, dog who rolls over submissively when a dog approaches has been pinned down twice by "friendly" dogs and been tossed around like a rag. We now completely avoid all known off lead haunts but it still astounds me how many badly behaved, clearly not under control dogs we come across on a regular basis who spoil walks.

No, I will walk my dog in my street when I chose to because he is always on a lead and always under control.
Well that’s different to a young bouncy dog off lead on a path near a school run at school run time isn’t it?

This isn't a dog hating issue!

I love dogs, but all dogs regardless of age or bounciness should be on a lead if being walked on a route also used by cyclists, joggers and walkers.

I am pathetically scared of dogs but I realise they are lovely when you get to know them ( its due to my brother being bitten as a child). I would never approach someone like that. Sounds like a silly person who understands nothing.
I have found when people are like that, they are often ill in some way.

In my experience most dogs are kept under better control than most children, and have better manners than many of them

Not my experience at all and why almost all beaches down here have dog bans, if the majority were well behaved and owners cleaned up after them, this wouldn't be the case.

A dog on a busy shared path or beach/field etc should be under close control, not allowed to run off out of sight to the OP (in this case) how would the OP be able to clean up after her dog if she has no idea where he is or what he has done?

I have been thinking a lot about this. I personally wouldn't have a four month old bouncy puppy off the lead in this scenario. I don't know how with a four month old puppy you can be sufficiently sure of recall and behaviour, especially with kids and bikes and people all around and all kinds of distractions.

Having said that, the woman was still an arse.

I think fear makes people act in a way they wouldn't normally. She was probably already a bit stressed and she decided to have a go at you because the sight of your dog seemingly out of control scared her. Problem is there is no one answer. I have the most placid dog imaginable. He is often off lead unless on busy footpaths or in the middle of town - he never approaches anyone that he doesn't know - but I've had someone scream at me about my dog scaring her child from the opposite pavement of a road we were walking down. Dog and I just gave her a confused look and she walked on yanking at her kids arm to make him hurry up. I just assumed she was having a bad day and being able to bellow at me made her feel better.

Unless there is byelaw that states all dogs must be on the lead, and you know your dog enough to know he won't approach anyone or run off, YANBU. However you won't get some people to ever see that. They don't like dogs and resent their very existence

OP, is your dog at the stage where he will go into a "down" pretty quickly on command? It would shut that woman up if you did that the minute she hoves into view.

Working labs are so wonderfully biddable that he'd probably learn the instant "down" in half a day.

YABVU
Keep your dog on a lead on a public footpath.
We did a lot of walking a few weeks ago on holiday; one or twice each day we would meet somebody with dogs who would let them run up to us, circle us, jump up on us, etc. All the while the owner is shouting "Rover come back!" and being ignored - followed by "Don't worry - he's friendly!".

I don't want your dogs muddy paw prints on me as he jumps up .
I don't think he is cute or adorable as he slobbers on me.
You don't have the right to take over certain areas for dog owners only. The clue is in the name - PUBLIC footpath.
If you get upset by somebody just speaking to you about keeping your dog under control, multiply than by 100 as to how it feels to be confronted by an unknown dog off the lead.

Responsible pet owners keep their dogs under control and do not allow them to inconvenience people

YANBU, but I dare say the many dog-haters on MN will think otherwise.

As for shared paths. Jaffacake, don't get me started on the cyclists who ignore the speed limit on the shared pedestrian/cycle path in our local park - when there is a perfectly good adjacent perimeter road for them to use - and expect everyone, inc. old people and little kids as well as dogs, to get out of their way.

BitOutOfPractice Agree!

A bouncy dog off lead is an intimidating sight to those who are nervous of dogs. It is quite arrogant to just decide those people can use a different route, to spare you the bother of keeping your dog on a lead.

Responsible pet owners keep their dogs under control and do not allow them to inconvenience people

Exactly. Funnily enough I was thinking about this this morning when I was walking to my local railway station via a trail route. I'd love to run along the extended route but I don't usually enjoy it because of off-lead dogs, so I don't run there.

I often see posts on here and in my local FB groups from dog owners who don't like off-lead dogs either, because they hassle their on-lead dog, so it's not "dog hating" to want dogs on a short lead/under control in public places.

This has got nothing to do with hating dogs. I love them and have two of my own.

This busy path, where children are walking to school is no place for a bouncy four month lab and the way OP describes it he is not even in sight aat times.

Good on the woman for speaking up and highlighting the issue.

I genuinely think some mumsnetters expect all dogs to be on leads all the time 🙄

I’m at work so just quick.

It’s not school run time, as he goes to breakfast club. So no small children.

When I say he runs into the bushes, he is ALWAYS in my line of sight and I call him back as soon as he looks like he’s about to not be.

He goes down on command like a little trooper.

Also I've just seen that you've said "one of mine" in your opening post Yippee. How many dogs do you have and are they also large off lead dogs? As someone with a small anxious dog on a lead I can tell you that my heart sinks when we come across this scenario. Not saying this is you but it is extremely intimidating when multiple dogs surround a leashed dog. An owner may see their beloved "friendly" dogs being sociable. Our interpretation is very different! Thankfully my children love dogs but I can imagine small children being very afraid at large loose dogs on a path. I also have to say, along with working cockers, the worst culprits we've found are the "friendly" labs!

There are lots of irresponsible dog owners. She didn''t know if you were or were not, or if your dogs are dangerous or not. I've been bitten by dogs on a three occasions and now I'm scared of them, especially when I have a child with me.

Not long ago I saw a woman climb on top of a car to get away from a dog that was barking at her and chasing her. The owner did nothing. And don't get me started on people who don't pick up their dog poo, I always say something when I see that.

Just put the dog on a lead, unless you are completely away from people.

Humans and dogs have a special relationship, dogs have been companion animals for humans for millennia eons, we have history, we co evolved
If you love dogs then help them by presenting them in the best light to other people

Not long ago I saw a woman climb on top of a car to get away from a dog that was barking at her and chasing her. The owner did nothing
The poor poor woman she must have been terrified and humiliated I can't imagine how awful that must have been for her

YANBU.