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.

[WomensRightsAreContraversial]

@Skinnychip rude of the rider, but I am wondering why you didn't call out a "Hello" to let them know you were there and waiting to pass?

[TheOrigRightsofwomen]

I feel that what is lacking is an agreed-upon protocol for these sorts of things?

I disagree. The agreed protocol is that everyone should be able to use public shared spaces, respecting other members of the public and basically not being a dick.

[Winesalot]

Nice to know SchadenfruedePersonified. Thank you for answering. Interesting about the different natures of the breeds too.

[Gottobefree]

You are not in the wrong here. I have a dog and sometimes (not often as I've trained her) but she is a sight hound and has a very high chase drive. So when you run (from behind) it's like you are racing the dogs and they want to chase you... it's not dangerous as most dogs see it as fun. However it's not nice for joggers/runners.
You can't change the direction you are running in and asking for the dogs to be put on the lead while you jog off is not unreasonable. I would get hold of my dog immediately and let the runners be free.

However please be safe and remember some dogs might have bad relations with runners or a bad chase drive and if you are circled by dogs you: keep your arms crossed close to your chest (so they don't grab you like a play toy) and you stay still !

The dog owner should of put them on the lead in my opinion x

[MrsBethel]

Keep your arms crossed close to your chest is fine for me, but what about my DS? Dogs often go straight for the crotch... I want grandchildren one day!!!

[BeesKnees4]

I have 3 dogs who are walked off lead but if I see jogger/cyclist coming they are called to my side; excellent recall; which to me is essential if you want to be out and about enjoying walks. This women was an idiot and her dogs shouldn’t be off lead if they chase and bark at people and have no recall.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

If i'm running and see someone with a dog On a lead I either step into the road if it's safe, or I'll say 'good morning doggies' as I approach, more because I worry that if the dog did jerk after me it would hurt the owner particularly if they are elderly or a kid. I do think it's a general courtesy to make some signal to pedestrians with or without dogs that I'm passing. I once scared the life out of a lady walking because i appeared to creep up on her so I do either say good morning or excuse me if I need to come past close.

However. Dog walkers with dogs not on leads shouldn't be allowed to walk them in public places if they can't get them back quickly if necessary, it's dangerous. The amount of times I've been apprehended by some slobbering mutt mid run who thinks it's a fun game to chase me- it's bloody dangerous. I have had to say many a time that dogs should be on leads, and funnily enough it's usually the ones with no control over their dogs who get funny about it.

[SLKKP93]

I have 3 dogs, 1 large, 2 smaller also, im not the lady in the park btw! But i would never have my 3 off lead in a public place like that and my 3 are very well trained and recall is 10/10 but under no circumstance can you trust them 100% with strangers, my mastiff is the softest girl in the world, mothers my DC endlessly and will approach any random being if theres a cuddle going, and my 2 staffies just try and lick people to the bone but still i only allow off lead if its a quiet place and not to much human traffic. I am however lucky to have a hugeee back garden so they do get lots of outside time to run around

[SchadenfreudePersonified]

Dogs often go straight for the crotch... I want grandchildren one day!!!

You'll probably get them, though they may have nose prints on them!

Dogs sniff crotches. I've honestly never encountered one that would bite them! Dogs tend to grab at hands or heels if they are nippers

[Aridane]

I feel that what is lacking is an agreed-upon protocol for these sorts of things?

There is - keep your dog under control

[loserssaywhat]

Definitely not unreasonable. She's completely in the wrong. I'm a dog owner and my dog has zero recall despite trying to work on it and being to training classes etc. I simply cannot let him off the lead because of this. He would probably want to chase after children to play with them but you can never real tell a strange dogs intentions when it's bounding towards you. I wouldn't allow it to happen so he doesn't get off the lead.
She's being ridiculous and irresponsible. You did nothing wrong.

[fluffiphlox]

OH was bitten by a poxy dog on a run last week. Not a big dog or a bad bite (broke the skin though) but the owner was completely blasé about it. And husband LIKES dogs. Many dog owners are tossers.

[RhinoskinhaveI]

Fluffi, it was still in attack and it should be reported to the police🤬
Owners usually are blase about dog attacks if they think they can get away with it, it's in their interest to try and frame it as nothing to get upset about, let me guess did the owner say 'ohhh, he's never done that before you must have frightened him'?
Something like this happened to me, there were no witnesses to the attack, I was visibly shaken and upset the dog owner knew damn well that he could get away with it and he just acted like nothing had happened, after the bite it took me a little while to get myself together and process what had happened, when I came to my senses the man was standing as far away from me as possible so I didn't get a good look at him
🤬🤬🤬🤬

[Maneandfeathers]

I have my dogs on lead when anyone passes from any direction however I probably wouldn’t run past a dog off lead for my own safety.
I always assume nobody has any common sense or the ability to train a dog and quite a few dogs will chase so choose not too run past.
Again I always keep my dogs away from other dogs and keep my small child away from strange dogs too, just self preservation as I’ve seen too many dogs owned by complete idiots!

I must admit I did chuckle at horses can be trained not to spook. I’ve owned horses all my life and yes you can train them until your purple in the face but there’s always a chance something ridiculous will freak them out and you will fly out the side door.
Also there’s a reason very few horses make police horses, they are rare personalities indeed.

[Mummadeeze]

God, wish I hadn’t read this thread now! It has taken me a while to feel confident running past dogs in the park because I was attacked as a child and am scared of dogs. So far all dogs have ignored me running so I have been feeling okay about running but if I got chased it would really freak me out. Especially the thought of three chasing me. Poor you. That women sounds absolutely horrible and rude and should have been apologetic!

[RhinoskinhaveI]

the dog that bit me was on a lead, I give all dogs a very wide berth and I don't run past any loose dogs, I try to stick to areas where they have to be on leads!

[Wheat2Harvest]

I am so looking forward to Bonfire Night.

It is the one night of the year when I feel I am getting my own back on entitled dog owners like this one.

[Derbee]

@Wheat2Harvest what a nasty weirdo you are.

[BuildBuildings]

What so you can only approach dogs from in front. What I'd you are going in the same direction? I don't understand how you would get past?!

[RIBlue]

The people saying ‘my horse would go mental’ are the same people that say ‘I’m mental, me’; just love the drama of feeling special. As the person sitting on the large hazard the onus is on us to listen out for people/cycles coming up behind. If you’re not capable of sitting the spook that might follow, i.e silent cyclist, then you shouldn’t be riding your horse in a public place.

[Whatagreytdoggo]

Im a dog owner and she's an idiot.🙄

[WiddlinDiddlin]

Sharing public spaces requires everyone to be considerate of others, it doesn't sound like this particular dog owner was.

Dog owners should have dogs under control, that means that they don't chase joggers if off lead, they don't ignore recalls or they are on a lead... If you can't do that, take your dog to a hired secure field instead and train your dog until you can.

For joggers, a shared public space means yeah, you might need to slow down and stop or call ahead, be aware of your surroundings so, not listening to headphones.

For passing dogs on lead I would call out and ensure you pass wide and slow.

For off lead dogs I would slow and give the owner time to actually recall their dogs.

If that's something you can't or won't do, run where you don't have to.

[spottedbadger]

You are not U, she was in the wrong. I often jog/walk (and currently waddle at 22 weeks pregnant) in a local nature reserve and get regularly jumped at or charged at by poorly socialised dogs. ‘He’s just friendly’, ‘he’s just a puppy’ and the best one yet, ‘Don’t worry, I’m pregnant too!’ I’m yet to hear ‘sorry about that, I should have kept him on a leash’. Most doggies and owners are well behaved and lovely. Some are just idiots 🤷🏻‍♀️

[countrygirl99]

RIBlue my horse is used to runners and cyclists and wouldn't even look at you but I would find it very hard to hear something that is virtually silent like a jogger or cyclist. That is why we ask you to call out, just a hi or coming past is enough. If good manners aren't your style I suggest you stick to parks.

[Seahorseshoe]

I'd have poo'ed my pants. I'm terrified of dogs.