To wish dog owners would control their dogs?

[Petunia99]

Firstly, I'd like to say for the record that I really like dogs and grew up living with them.

I also absolutely love running, and live in an area with lots of parks, woodland and fields which are great for going for runs in. The green space is the main reason my husband and I moved here from a far more urban area a year ago.

There are a lot of people with dogs here, and when I am running the majority are absolutely fine, but I am always on my guard when I see one off the lead as I was bitten on the leg by a stranger's dog last year whilst out on a run. I'm also aware that any dog has the potential to be unpredictable.

I always stop running and stand still if I see a dog which looks like it might be aggressive or chase me, but sometimes I still get the dog running up to me yapping or snapping at my ankles - which is exactly what happened today. Despite standing as still as I could whilst having the dog jumping up and barking at me, it refused to leave me alone, and all the owner did has half halfheartedly call the dog off (which had zero effect) tell me to stand still and tell me that she wouldn't bite. But no matter what, it was really intimidating to have the dog jumping up at me, and she could clearly see that I wasn't happy.

I resent having to stop my run almost every time I go out so that other people's dogs won't chase me, but I do it because I don't know what else to do (any ideas would be welcome!) But AIBU to think that if you're a dog owner with an excitable dog that is prone to chase runners, cyclists and walkers, it would be more considerate to invest in training to stop this behaviour, or if it's really not possible to train the dog out of the habit, put it on the lead if there are other people about?

Dog owner here, YADNBU.
Ddog is under control BUT if I see a runner I call him back and keep hold of him until they pass.

I wish dog owners would control their dogs too. I say this as an owner of several dogs myself - I adore dogs. But I don't adore dog owners.

Dogs out of control are becoming an ever bigger problem for everyone - cyclists, runners, walkers, other dog owners, horse owners, livestock owners, etc. They are harassing people, causing deaths in livestock & accidents & injuries for all they come across when out of control.

If you cannot control your dog off the lead, and recall it instantly if needed, it should be on lead. Livestock, horses, other dogs unhappy to be approached, people who don't want to be approached either - it is not fine to allow your off lead dog to approach them, even if it is 'only playing'. If I had a pound for every time I've heard that! Don't allow your dogs to approach anyone/anything without asking that person/animal owner if it is ok.

As a dog owner I wouldn't have mine behaving like this. Yes ok, they might try to run over to a runner and sniff them but when I call them back they come back and if I couldn't count on them, they wouldn't be off the lead.

I don’t let ours approach anyone or any other dog. It’s bad behaviour. I am quite brusque if anyone lets their dog or children approach ours.

My dog has been attacked three times in the last 12 months, once very seriously. On Sunday I was minding my own business walking in a remote field when it happened again, and I got the "oh my dog isn't aggressive" speech when I absolutely lost my shit.

I've also got a really nervous puppy that I've been too scared to walk due to other dogs bounding up to her "oh it's ok they're friendly" but she's screaming in utter terror as she doesn't know that.

I dread walking mine for the reason that others can't control theirs.

I’m the same cherry palova, I have a very placid daft golden retriever, he never approaches dogs or people and I call him back from both but I expect children to not just run over to him and other dog owners to keep their dogs away. He’s not bothered I just worry a child would hurt him (I have 4 of my own) or he’d be attacked by another dog. Really I should take him out in bubble wrap

I would never allow him to chase or bark at a runner. But not ALL dog owners are irresponsible and some of us ensure we have obedient well trained dogs!

I get the opposite (neither of my dogs have great recall despite endless training!) and I get criticized for not letting them off the lead because it’s ‘cruel’🙄

My dogs are always under control but other people let theirs rush over to mine.... why??

The good thing is they don’t react to either runners or cyclists 👍

I agree provided you don't run up from behind them - it's easy to get your dog back close when you see a runner in front because you have time, but if someone runs up behind you then your dog might think it's a game before you've registered there's someone there (and got over the shock of someone appearing); if you run up behind someone give them a wide berth for everyone's benefit.
It does annoy me when owners let their off-lead dogs run up to on-lead dogs, particularly when it's obvious that the on-lead dog isn't happy. We seem to get that a fair bit and DDog is a bit nervous around some dogs now (age, infirmity, deafness etc.) so doesn't want them appearing behind her and jumping around her.

YANBU.

And you’ll get some sensible responses from responsible dog owners.

But mostly from MN dog owners you’ll get defensive, foolish and anti-social fur baby bullshit.

Get ready.

No fur baby bullshit here @KissingInTheRain (don’t like dog owners much? )
By law dogs must be under control in public. When mine was a pup I drummed into her that EVERY time she saw a runner, cyclist, horse and rider then she had to stand and wait whilst they passed. Now she does it off lead.
I was knocked on my arse whilst out for a walk today. Ouch. A friendly golden.

Yes, my DH says this also, he is a runner too. He says he stops, too, but has had people blame him for the dog barking! Some weird pit bull type dog owner also told him, when he asked him to call the dog off (when our DCs were toddlers) "You gonna make me?!". Not all dog owners are pleasant.

I have a ‘dog aggressive dog’ so to speak, she’s fine with dogs she already knows or in a calmer environment but can snap at other dogs out at the park as the dogs come running over to her and she doesn’t know if it’s friendly or not. She tolerates it but if the other dog doesn’t back off and jumps all over her etc she will give them a nip. This is due to the owners lack or responsibility imo, my dog is off the lead for the simple fact that she does as we say, she isn’t interested in other people/dogs, she just wants her ball and us. I constantly shout she isn’t dog friendly to them and they just don’t care. We’ve had a few run ins with owners who won’t call their dogs back or don’t have control of them when they do call them, they then complain when their dogs get a nip, we don’t encourage her behaviour obviously and I always panic she will end up with a dog that bites back etc and it will end up in a fight, she’s only small so I do worry.

We have now retreated and walk her in a local field where it’s rare to bump into anyone and if you do the people seem to be of the same group of dog aggressive owners so they’re on a lead/under control. Over a year and not a hint of an issue.

I'm a dog owner and I'm with you! Ddog is reactive so she's always on lead unless there's no other dogs in close distance, but so many times we are minding our own business on the quiet side of the park when a dog will come tearing up to Ddog from the other side (park is huge!) with the owner taking absolutely no notice at all, staring at their phone or chatting to their mate. Cue a bit of a dog skirmish, me shouting at an owner who is too far away to hear / not taking any notice and Ddog being upset and even more nervous for a few days when all she wants is to be left alone!

Some dog owners appear to have absolutely no comprehension (or maybe they do and they don't care) that they are allowing their dogs to be a massive nuisance, regardless of whether it's to a runner, another dog, a child with allergies or who is scared of dogs, an elderly person who is unsteady on their feet..... It makes me so mad .

YANBU.

Years ago someone said that in his opinion there were bad dog owners, not bad dogs. He had a point.

Dogs must be trained! I wouldn't dream of letting mine off if he chased runners or even approached strangers - he keeps to himself, doesn't even go up to other dogs.

I wonder if you can get a body cam of sorts OP, that is meant for runners.

I've just ordered one from Amazon. There are a set of 3/4 dog owners in this village who don't give a shit about letting their aggressive dogs off lead to create mayhem. I've taken one set to court this year and will happily do the same to the rest. I'm not standing by and having my dog go through this time after time so hopefully with a camera I can at least prove their dog was out of control.

Thank you everyone, I don’t feel like I’m being over sensitive now!

You’re not being unreasonable in the slightest, bad owners are such a liability. I have a nervy rescue dog who often ends up hiding behind me because another dog has come bounding up to us and won’t leave her alone. If a dog can’t be recalled it shouldn’t be off the lead at all.

YANBU. And that's coming fron a huge dog lover and trainer.

Ddog has very good recall, however, I know to any sociable dog, a runner looks like they are having a great time - many will be tempted to say hello. If I see a runner, I either head the other way and call ddog to come with me, or call him and hold on to him until they pass. Meanwhile, controlled greetings can be practised with friends and family- not strangers who are out on a run.
He is normally only tempted to say hi to the ones in hi vis :)

People not controlling their dogs is a growing problem and most don’t realise they are committing a criminal offence. In your position I’d be tempted to print this page and hand it out to any dog owners who are not hugely apologetic! Might scare them into training or leashing their dogs.
www.gov.uk/control-dog-public

“I was bitten on the leg by a stranger's dog last year whilst out on a run”
OP that stranger could serve 5 years in prison for allowing that to happen (if the law was applied as it should be!)

YANBU - the other day i was sitting on a bench in the park, this bloody yappy thing comes over, jumps on me with muddy paws and tries to get its nose in my food shopping bag - i was furious, my jeans were covered in mud, owner says 'awww he is just being friendly' I dont want a dogs friendship, i want to sit unmolested by your sodding dog and enjoy this tiny bit of sunshine!

As a dog owner, other people's out of control dogs drive me mad. I was recently playing in the park with my Ddog and DGS when a biggish young dog bounded up, floored my DGS and tried to wrestle the ball out of his hands. I pulled it off by its collar and held it until the owner caught up. I was expecting an apology but instead got shouted at that 'You don't hold a dog like that'! Extraordinary.

YANBU at all. My dog is on an extendable lead at all times and the amount of dogs that run over to him even when I've gone out of my way to avoid them is ridiculous. The owners give a feeble call back, but as it's mostly smaller dogs they also shout "oh he's ok" .... yes, but my big husky can be dog aggressive and we clearly don't want you near us!!