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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

617 replies

YippeeKayakOtherBuckets · 06/11/2018 08:52

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?

OP posts:
jasjas1973 · 06/11/2018 13:24

I was once attacked by a large terrier x, it grabbed me around my ankle as i was on my bicycle on a cycle path, the owner and her companions thought this was hilarious and made zero effort to call it to heel.
I kicked the dog and it run off, the owner and her companions then had a go at me for defending myself.

I like dogs, i ve owned them and worked with them and most dogs are far nicer than their entitled owners BUT because a majority of owners are irresponsible there are now too many and they should be licensed, the funds raised could be used by councils to fund clearing up dog shit and fining owners.

VanGoghsDog · 06/11/2018 13:24

No 4m old dog is fully trained.

And I say that as a dog lover who has fostered several over the years, mostly Labs.

YABU today she should walk elsewhere.

KarmaStar · 06/11/2018 13:25

I'd have put her on a lead op.

JuliaJaynes9 · 06/11/2018 13:26

A small toy dog is a very different thing from a large Powerful guard dog
but the owners of both dogs probably feel that the dog should be able to have the pleasure and enjoyment of running about off lead

Topseyt · 06/11/2018 13:31

Oh, and I love the picture of your lab.

I have an elderly yellow labrador. I well remember when he was the age yours is, even though it was a long time ago. He is 14 now. Still likes to consider himself a pup and likes a run in the fields or park, but he is getting old and creaky.

Enjoy your dog.

DarlingNikita · 06/11/2018 13:33

nordlac, the OP says '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.' so it's a fair assumption that the OP was the only person she spoke to.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 06/11/2018 13:34

Some dogs are bouncy. If they're not running up to people, jumping at them and generally behaving they have every right to be off the lead.

The hysteria on MN about dogs especially those off lead is ridiculous.

My dog is well trained and has never jumped up at anyone as he was taught "off" from 8 weeks old, he would be a depressed soul if he was always restrained and there's no way on earth I would do that to him.

Shoppingwithmother · 06/11/2018 13:39

We went for a walk recently and got into a similar situation. Woman with dog was just off the path as we approached, picking up the dog’s poo. The dog, at that moment on a lead pulled her onto the path so she all but banged into us with her open bag of dog shit.

She then lets the dog off the lead and moves up to the higher path alongside the path we were on. Dog then runs constantly from one path to another right infrint of and around us, going down to the riverbank and then bursting out of the bushes right in front of our feet and running back across our path to the woman.

We get fed up with this and tell her the dog is being really annoying and can she keep it away from us. She acts as if she doesn’t understand what we mean. So we say it again and I say “not everyone likes dogs” Her response is “well don’t go walking on a dog path then”. There are no such things as dog paths - they are paths for anyone, primarily people. Her response annoys me even more than her dog, so I think it is a good thing that you didn’t say that, as it is completely inappropriate and you should walk your dog in a way that does not cause other people any bother, distress, fright, inconvenience,etc

DarlingNikita · 06/11/2018 13:41

Shopping, nice story but the OP and her dog don't seem to have been doing any of the things you describe.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 06/11/2018 13:44

Shoppingwithmother your experience is nothing like what happened with the OP though Confused

Notjustanyone · 06/11/2018 13:57

See I always thought an off the lead dog should be walking with you not wondering off on their own and especially not at 4 months or 16 weeks old! Whilst you can't see them they could eat anything, get attacked by another dog or picked up and stolen.
I have 2 dogs and because they don't stay by my side off lead they are not allowed to be. If your dog is as well trained as you say then you should have no trouble in keeping it next to you when it's off lead.
The woman was rude but your dog was, by the sounds of it, being a silly puppy and was unpredictable which may have unnerved her.
Either keep your dog next to you or on a lead and if you want it to be able to roam free then walk it away from places it's likely to cause a nuisance.

nordlac · 06/11/2018 14:01

A small toy dog is a very different thing from a large Powerful guard dog
but the owners of both dogs probably feel that the dog should be able to have the pleasure and enjoyment of running about off lead

And as long as the dog is trained and behaves appropriately, both are fine.

LuvSmallDogs · 06/11/2018 14:20

You know that people do actually live in areas where people like to walk dogs and are allowed to leave the house?

I generally like (good) dogs, and own one, but I grew up living in an area that dog lovers would drive to on their days off to allow their badly behaved dogs to shit all over. Not long ago a retriever bounced into my parents garden to chase one of their cats - luckily not the frail 19 y/o one - and the owner kicked off when the cat drew blood. Hope the dog and the owner learned a lesson there.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 06/11/2018 14:35

Provided the dog is under control - that is, recalls at the FIRST call, and remains within sight of the owner, it's fine to have it off lead. One of mine is generally off lead because he has excellent recall, and is always looking for his next command. I don't let him go out of sight, or anywhere near other people or dogs (unless they approach him).

However, I do seem to spend my life dealing with other people's runaways - either following my dog, which is not really a problem, or running around my horses' feet and into my fields, which is a huge problem. I've been rather short with a few owners who have failed to recall their dog, then failed to apologise for their lack of control. One pair let their dog off as soon as they were out of sight - I know this because dog came flying back for a second go at the horses.

From this, I deduce that the majority of owners who think their dog is sufficiently trained to be off lead are mistaken. I suspect, as the OP was walking a 4 month old completely free range, she may also be optimistic about her dog's reliability.

Rhiannon13 · 06/11/2018 14:38

It's very difficult to gauge if a dog bounding towards you (or anywhere near you) off the lead is under control or is owned by someone who doesn't give a shit. I regularly come across both: not a great feeling for someone who's nervous about dogs, I'd imagine. Fear of dogs is not always irrational.

DarlingNikita · 06/11/2018 15:04

Whilst you can't see them they could eat anything, get attacked by another dog or picked up and stolen.

The OP says '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.'

Can people not read?

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/11/2018 15:12

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.

And shoot past you from behind, or appear as though by magic round a blind bend, without having the courtesy to sound their bells!

The bastards!

SchadenfreudePersonified · 06/11/2018 15:18

This is like saying all dogs should wear muzzles because poorly trained ones can bite.

Seems reasonable

Well in that case all children should be subject to wearing electronic tags and given curfews because some children are vandals.

Leighhalfpennysthigh · 06/11/2018 15:23

The usual dog hating tribe is out in force I see.

Threads like this is why I do prefer dogs to humans.

Kemer2018 · 06/11/2018 15:23

If it's a public path, why should she have to be mindful of loose dogs?

Keep the dog on a lead or muzzle. Some folk are scared of dogs. It's possible to be a keen walker whilst not being a dog lover.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 06/11/2018 15:25

She was unreasonable to get in your face, but not to tell you she doesn't like dogs and ask for the dog to be put on a lead. I'm a dog owner and hate it when dogs are off their leads. I'm worried they'll attack me or my dogs or the kids.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 06/11/2018 15:25

She was unreasonable to get in your face, but not to tell you she doesn't like dogs and ask for the dog to be put on a lead. I'm a dog owner and hate it when dogs are off their leads. I'm worried they'll attack me or my dogs or the kids.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 06/11/2018 15:25

She was unreasonable to get in your face, but not to tell you she doesn't like dogs and ask for the dog to be put on a lead. I'm a dog owner and hate it when dogs are off their leads. I'm worried they'll attack me or my dogs or the kids.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 06/11/2018 15:25

She was unreasonable to get in your face, but not to tell you she doesn't like dogs and ask for the dog to be put on a lead. I'm a dog owner and hate it when dogs are off their leads. I'm worried they'll attack me or my dogs or the kids.

NameChangeToAvoidBeingFound · 06/11/2018 15:25

She was unreasonable to get in your face, but not to tell you she doesn't like dogs and ask for the dog to be put on a lead. I'm a dog owner and hate it when dogs are off their leads. I'm worried they'll attack me or my dogs or the kids.