To have jogged past dogs from behind??

[cmac76]

I know the topic of dogs/walkers/joggers is covered a lot on here but in this instance I'm wondering if I should have behaved differently so would appreciate opinions especially from other dog owners.

I have just come back from a jog in a nature reserve which is very popular with lots of people - dog owners, joggers, walkers, families etc. I was approaching a woman who was walking in the same direction as me (so I was jogging behind her) and she had 3 dogs off leads - one really large dog and 2 smaller ones. As I was approaching she moved over to one side to let me pass so I assumed all was fine and carried on past her. As I got further on I could hear her shouting so I turned around and could see all the dogs chasing me! I stopped still and all 3 surrounded me barking up at me so I couldn't move.

She carried on shouting but none of them came back to her so I asked her could she please put them on the lead and this is where she kicked off at me shouting that I should never run behind 'a pack of dogs' and 'would I run behind a horse?' I was very wtf at this point and unfortunately did raise my voice back which I do regret as it escalated and of course the dogs probably picked up on this and carried on barking at me. I pointed out how they are not horses, how I should be allowed to go out for a jog in a public place and how her dogs were not well trained if they couldn't be recalled - she got so irate at me and started to get quite close and in my face shouting that they were well trained and not dangerous as they were literally still barking at me and I couldn't move. She also yelled at me, "who the fuck do I think I am...do I think I own the fucking place"

Eventually she put their leads on and I carried on but felt I had to warn some mums coming in the other direction who had toddlers running loose as they were about to cross paths with her.

So Aibu for jogging behind dogs? Should I stop?? I know I was being unreasonable for getting into a shouting match with her but she was so irate from the moment I asked her to put her dogs on the lead. Am I making a mountain out if a molehill? They didn't actually bite me - just barked at me but I felt scared especially as there were 3 of them.

[FairfaxAikman]

I'm a dog owner and her dogs were not under control if they could not be recalled.
I have a dog that runs and barks when given half a chance. I know he's not dangerous but others don't so he's put on a lead in situations where it's clear he will run (discounting idiots who bring bitches in season to public places at peak times - he's been known to run two miles after catching that scent and there's no way I can predict it if I can't see it!)

[AllFourOfThem]

She was BU and needs to train her dogs better before letting them off the lead.

[JMoore]

That's just stupid. Where I live, there always are people with dogs out, especially on the tracks popular with joggers. If you can't overtake the dog walkers, what are you supposed to do?

And I am a dog owner, who often gets overtaken by joggers. We've never had issues. But my dog is always leashed and under control.

[Weatherforducks]

No, you did nothing wrong, the woman knew you were there (as she stepped to the side), she should have prepared her dogs/reliably recalled them. My dog loves barking, would run off if she caught a scent (her recall is dependent on if I have sausages in my pocket), and she would think it was exciting to run with you...so she’s on a lead for most walks (unless we are in a safe place and she wouldn’t bother anyone). My dog is lovely, but others don’t know that and her barking can be off putting.

Occasionally, cyclists/joggers can surprise my dog if coming from behind, but my dog is my responsibility so I’m aware of what’s going on and most make themselves known anyway.

[diddl]

Ah yes, that well known rule about not jogging behind & then overtaking dogs!

[Sparklfairy]

Dogs have a chase reflex and a pack mentality so this can't be the first time this has happened to her! One decided to chase, they all follow, all bark. She's irresponsible and stupid. My dog became unreliable with recall in old age (deaf or cantankerous I'm not sure) and I never let him off the lead then because it was just too risky.

[TheOrigRightsofwomen]

I'm a runner. In your situation I would make the dog owner aware of my presence and then darn well expect them to accommodate my running.

I would have been MAD to be forced to stop (my run time is precious).

Most dog owners are very respectful and I am sure to thank them for stepping aside. There's just the odd twat.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

I run with my dog, so not many people pass us, but if I see anyone coming in the opposite direction I shorten up her lead as she will lunge. People running are prey to her and instinct kicks in, recall goes out of the window and the KILL signs light up in her eyes.

She's a lovely dog, just not when other people or animals are around.

Your dog walker was out of order but probably scared and embarrassed, which made her lash out.

[SunshineAngel]

If her dogs aren't well trained enough not to go running off after people, they should be on short leads. Chances are she was embarrassed and just trying to shift the blame to you.

[LakieLady]

Yes, her dogs should have been under control, and she was in the wrong.

What does help, especially with young dogs whose training isn't quite 100% reliable yet, is if you call out that you're a runner coming along a bit before you get to them. It gives the owner a chance to get the dogs under control before you get there. It's much easier to prevent a dog from running than to stop it once it's started.

I found a warning call really helpful. I could put the dog into a sit from a little way away, even when they were little. They wouldn't run once their bums were on the ground.

That didn't work the day we met a jogger with a dog though. His dog was fat and a good way behind him so he was constantly calling "Rover*, Rover", which happened to be my dog's name too. So she ran after him, thinking he was calling her.

He gave me a mouthful of very sweary abuse about keeping my dog under control, and told me to fuck off and get a life when I explained that she was under control, but it was his control!

On another occasion, I called my dog back, not realising that there were another 3 runners following, who overtook after I'd called her. One of them tripped over her as she ran back. On that occasion, it was apparently all my fault that I didn't have eyes in the back of my head and that my dog came promptly when she was called.

*Neither dog was actually called Rover

[FreshwaterBay]

I would have kept on running. Let here get her dogs.

[LaLoba]

She was a dick, and if it’s any comfort that type of person spoils walks for dog owners too, because no matter how badly their dog has behaved, they never take responsibility.
I run with my dogs, so I’m very aware of the inconvenience and fear they could cause other people. My dogs are my responsibility, not anyone else’s. Her dogs shouldn’t be off the lead at all from the sounds of it.
I call out to people with dogs when running, but that’s just because I am soft in the head where dogs are concerned and don’t want to startle the little darlings! It’s in no way your responsibility. It’s entirely hers, and she can get in trouble with the law just for allowing her dogs to cause fear of attack.

[megletthesecond]

Yanbu.
I'm a runner who loves dogs but if the owner has seen me then I jog on round.

[LimitIsUp]

"She was an entitled twat, as are lots of dog owners."

Right back at you ginghamstarfish i.e. opinionated, generalising twat

cmac76, - the dog owner was completely in the wrong. I am a dog owner and would be mortified if my dogs chased a runner - as it happens they wouldn't because we have worked together tirelessly on recall and its a pleasure to walk them.

My dd and I have been chased before whilst running and its pretty frightening

[RainbowBlanket]

YANBU, but if I were you I’d call out just before I got to her so she could put the dogs on a lead

[AbuelitaAyahuasca]

I’d never run past a loose dog I didn’t know, and doubly extra cautious with groups of loose dogs. The dog walker you encountered was massively unreasonable, poor recall somewhere so public is indefensible.

[Pukkatea]

Totally different to a horse. Horses could be spooked and become dangerous for their rider and passers by, and there is no absolute way to train that out of them. A dog that isn't trained not to chase after people isn't anyone's responsibility but the owners.

[LaLoba]

On another occasion, I called my dog back, not realising that there were another 3 runners following, who overtook after I'd called her. One of them tripped over her as she ran back. On that occasion, it was apparently all my fault that I didn't have eyes in the back of my head and that my dog came promptly when she was called.

It was your fault. Your dog was too far away/out of sight and you failed to control her. If the person she tripped had been hurt, the local constabulary would have held you responsible.

[LoveNote]

I’ve many a time found myself with a joyous little running buddy!


Sometimes I stop so the owner can catch up, sometimes I don’t....mostly, dogs like to run alongside

[Spudlet]

She’s wrong. It is helpful to let people know when you’re coming up behind them and in the case of horses it’s sensible to ask if you can overtake - but it’s not ok for her to blame you for her dogs chasing you! I’m a dog owner and used to be a trainer pre-DC, and I always say morning (or whatever) before coming past because that’s polite and nice in the woods, and I don’t want to make people jump, but I certainly don’t expect to have to stop every time.

[potter5]

I have 2 dogs and they are always on the lead. Doesn't matter where we are. My eldest boxer was attacked by a Jack Russell who wasn't on a lead and was hanging off my dog's neck! TBF the owner did apologise profusely.

The lady with the dogs surely realises that people jog in that area. She is a complete fruitcake to behave like that.

[ChilledBee]

I wouldn't but not because it is wrong or because I shouldn't be able to but because it will be me who is bitten if it spooks them.

[Seasprayandsunshine]

Yadnbu - she sounds mental. If anyone thought she owned the park it was her.

My little dogs like to run with joggers, hence they stay on the lead!
I really can't understand the obsession with dogs being off the lead everywhere. There are free run appropriate spaces - this does not sound like one of them.

[ChilledBee]

Horses could be spooked and become dangerous for their rider and passers by, and there is no absolute way to train that out of them. A dog that isn't trained not to chase after people isn't anyone's responsibility but the owners.

That kind if goes for dogs too. Maybe we expect them to lose too many of their instincts. Maybe horses shouldn't be out where they could cause danger if they were spooked by regular activity such as jogging. I don't get why we absolutely should not do that to a horse because we can't expect it to be trained not to respond that way but do expect that from a dog. I wouldn't have thought there was a great deal of difference in intelligence between the 2 species.

[TwittleBee]

oh OP I feel for you - this has happened to me 3/4 of the times I jogged at our local country park so I no longer jog there and instead jog around the streets instead.