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Original poster

To be furious over what has just happened?

652 replies

DippyDiplodocus · 15/01/2019 09:46

Out Walking our dogs and my 6 month old baby in carrier. I have four dogs and look after one of my friend's dogs while she's at work occasionally. My four are quite large, the biggest being big German shepherd size and the smallest is a pug (friend's dog).

Before I get flamed for having too many dogs, two were mine, two my DH's before we met, so obviously we now have four. We aren't the kind of people to get rid of dogs just because we had a child - dogs are family too and we treat them as such.

We live in the countryside, very quiet rural area.
Coming to the end of our walk over the fields (where I never usually see any other walkers) I see another dog approaching - muzzled Siberian husky with a bloke.
At this point I already have four on leads ready for the road back to our house and bent down squat position to put pug on a lead.

I thought man would stop when he saw me bent down but he carried on approaching. I was struggling to get wriggly pug back on lead so I called out to him "can you just wait there a sec so I can get this one on the lead?" - No response and continues towards us.

Still trying to get dog on lead and my dogs are now getting a bit twitchy and unsettled that this bloke is approaching them, so one of mine barks.
Just to add here, our dogs are all very well behaved but they are protective over me and DD and will act accordingly if they feel threatened.

Man takes no notice, I call out again and say "can you just give me a second?" Ignores me completely.

He decides to squeeze by my dogs and I with a stupid smirk on his face. He can clearly see I'm struggling and baby is now crying and the others are pissed off. One of mine pulled forward and I dug my heels in and sat back so as not to land on my daughter.

I shouted at him and called him a fucking arsehole.

If he could have waited one second, I'd have been out the way and that wouldn't have had to have happened.

FFS Angry I just despise people at times.

OP posts:
HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 15/01/2019 10:04

Actually I think its pretty rude of you to assume he was being a twat. He could have just as easily be deaf, have headphones in or not speak English. To presume he was a twat and call him names is unreasonable.

Yes it would have been nice of him to stop and to give you some space but I think you created the problem when you took 5 dogs out for a walk at once whilst also carrying a baby.

Would it not be a better idea to take 2/3 at once and then do a separate walk with the rest? That way you would be in full control of the dogs and not worried about injuring your small child?

PlumpSyrianHamster · 15/01/2019 10:04

I think he may not heard you or didn't speak English.

DaphneduM · 15/01/2019 10:04

We live in the country and my husband likes to go walking every day (without a dog - just himself). There are so many occasions when he has felt threatened by irresponsible dog walkers who cannot control their dogs - they say 'oh he's fine' as some huge beast bounds up. So threatening. Common sense and consideration seems to be lacking among some dog owners.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 15/01/2019 10:05

Well this particular man might be a twat, or he might not be a twat.

But in general there are a lot of them around. You will likely encounter more. And with five dogs and a baby in a carrier you are likely to have more problems.

I think you should be thinking more about the "What ifs": you could so easily find yourself in the middle of a pack dogfight, trying to restrain five dogs with your baby on board. I think it's madness.

backinthebox · 15/01/2019 10:06

Was the muzzled dog on a lead? He has his dog under control in a public place and you were struggling with your's, and it's his fault you nearly fell over on your baby?

Having had a cute little Westie rip apart a bunch of my kids' chickens recently, I have absolutely no patience with people who don't realise that if they don't have instant control over their dogs while they are off a lead then they should keep them on the lead. As for what is she supposed to do with a baby and dog walks? Well, I have horses and because it's a bloody stupid idea to lead a horse around with a baby strapped to you I paid someone else to do it. Professional dog walkers are a thing, I have a close relative and a friend who do it for a living.

Original poster
DippyDiplodocus · 15/01/2019 10:06

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Next time I'll just let them all loose and then I'll get called irresponsible for not putting them on a lead.

OP posts:
SnuggyBuggy · 15/01/2019 10:06

Well if he was deaf or didn't speak English he won't have realised the OP had called him a twat.

MoreCheeseDear · 15/01/2019 10:06

If you can't control them you shouldn't be taking them all out together. Not the man's problem you were daft enough to take that many dogs out without being in control.

Your fault. I can't believe you think otherwise.

ShatnersBassoon · 15/01/2019 10:07

He should have had the nous to anticipate you were struggling with all of those dogs, and at least slowed down on approach.

But - how on earth would you have managed if another dog walker had arrived while all of your dogs were off lead?! You really couldn't quickly round up that many dogs, even without a baby strapped to you.

worridmum · 15/01/2019 10:07

Honsertly the OP seems more of a twat then the other dog walker expecting everyone to fit around her wants and work to her timetable is totally selfish.

Ether walk fewer dogs at a time (aka make more then 1 trip) or keep them on leads at all times if you have your DD with you.

silkpyjamasallday · 15/01/2019 10:07

He was being a prick. Smirking when you were clearly struggling and making it more difficult for you. It might help in future if you can train them to sit by the wall when others are approaching and you need to put leads on, a relative with 5 dogs does this and it makes it much easier.

ApolloandDaphne · 15/01/2019 10:08

He was being an arse. As a considerate dog walker i am always aware of who is ahead of me and if they need a moment. I often meet a woman with 2 GSD, one of which is very reactive. We do the nod, wave and avoid if we see each other or i give her a minute to put her reactive dog back on the lead.

You will not get a fair hearing on here OP. It isn't a very dog friendly place at times.

TheFaerieQueene · 15/01/2019 10:09

It’s just good manners to hold back whilst you put your dog in a lead. I would have done. He is just an arse, language barrier or not, he had eyes.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 15/01/2019 10:09

Next time I'll just let them all loose and then I'll get called irresponsible for not putting them on a lead.

Well thats very mature Hmm. If you honestly cannot see peoples valid point about why walking 5 dogs whilst also carrying a 6 month old baby might not be a great idea then I honestly don't think there is much point in people engaging with this thread.

AhoyDelBoy · 15/01/2019 10:10

DippyDiplodocus
Sorry but with that attitude I think you need to get rid of the dogs. Four or potentially five dogs running free and you with a baby in a carrier. Right, good plan that one.

Tawdrylocalbrouhaha · 15/01/2019 10:10

The OP is shouting "Fucking arsehole" at a man who is walking his (leashed and muzzled) dog in an ordinary manner, probably listening to music, and fails to appreciate that she is talking to him and not her five dogs and...he is a twat?

Riiiight.

Original poster
DippyDiplodocus · 15/01/2019 10:11

I just thought it was common courtesy as that's what I would have done in the same position.

OP posts:
pandechocolate · 15/01/2019 10:11

Think the OP is getting a bit of an unfair time in these responses. She wasn't asking the bloke to wait ages, she had hold of the pug, had to clip it's lead, and step sideways to let him go past. That's hardly a long wait.

As a dog walker there is a certain etiquette around acknowledging other people and their dogs.

HeadsDownThumbsUpEveryone · 15/01/2019 10:12

and...he is a twat?

Exactly Hmm Is it because he is a man I wonder? Therefore the OP who is the one who created the situation with the ridiculous notion of walking 5 dogs with a baby cannot possibly be in the wrong?

Bowchicawowow · 15/01/2019 10:12

He may have been deep in thought or listening to an engrossing podcast. The world doesn’t revolve around you and your dogs Op.

Aus84 · 15/01/2019 10:13

Sounds like he was doing the right thing and you weren't - yet he's the arsehole??

Either keep them all on leads or don't walk them all at once. With a baby in a carrier I don't see how you could possibly (or safely) keep them under control if something were to happen.

beckyh2502 · 15/01/2019 10:13

I think you were been unreasonable to be honest. The guy was probably walking past wondering what you were making such a fuss about (hence the smirk).

I think the fact you've took the time to post about it on here shows how much you over reacted.

troubleswillbeoutofsight · 15/01/2019 10:13

I take my hat off to you continuing to look after your dogs so well with a young baby. I also walk my dogs very rurally and will meet another person about once every couple of months if that. I too leave it until I'm almost at the road before I put their leads on as they enjoy the running about so much and, like yours, have good recall. However, I think you are taking quite a risk with your baby in a carrier with five dogs. I guess I'm projecting here but I've had dogs all my life and still managed to trip over a lead and land on my front while out walking once. I didn't manage to put my hands down to break my fall as I was till holding leads so got quite a bash. It sounds like maybe the fifth dog is the unknown quantity here? As for the man, he sounds like an arse. It doesnt matter of he is non hearing or English not his first language, I'm sure he realised what you were attempting to do

BabiesComeWithHats · 15/01/2019 10:13

IF his dog has a muzzle on he should give you some room. If you have other dogs and a baby, he should give you lots of room. His dog clearly has an issue, there's no indication yours do, so it's up to him to give you some space.

Ergo, he's a twat. Ignore and move on

Original poster
DippyDiplodocus · 15/01/2019 10:13

Not saying it does @Bowchicawowow but if you're in charge of a dog, you ought to be paying a bit of attention to your surroundings.

OP posts:
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