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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog walking during lockdown

151 replies

Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 15:17

Is anyone else getting enraged by some dog walkers during lockdown?

Walking with my two small children and taking lots of care to keep our 2m distance and every 5 minutes we have a dog off the lead running up to us Angry.

My littlest one freaks out with that at the best of times after a bad experience as a toddler but we have no idea if dogs can transmit the virus or not.

Even if they can't transmit the virus, the dog walker who comes running up to us to reign in their dog certainly can!!

Aibu to think dogs should be on the lead in the current circumstances if their is any chance of them running up to other people?!

I really don't care if your dog is friendly, we don't like them running up to us!!

And the increase in dog poo .. AngrySad

OP posts:
mencken · 30/03/2020 18:24

clearly you've got a fat councillor with a dog... and I'd be very surprised if that councillor picks up the crap or keeps the animal on a lead.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 18:28

Another part of the town I live in has a fenced off green area for excercising dogs. It's not as pleasant to visit as the nature reserve but it seems to me that if these types of areas could be made more available and expanded it would make a good solution for those that say their dogs must have time off the lead

OP posts:
YgritteSnow · 30/03/2020 18:31

When you are about 1m tall and almost every day a big dog comes and jumps at you, it's a fairly rational fear?!

Really? Every day a big dog jumps at your child? I don't believe you.

After8itsgrownuptime · 30/03/2020 18:33

Totally agree gruffalomom - it doesn’t have to be pretty . It’s just a short term solution until we get back to normal and easy to do too.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 18:33

At the moment Ygritte it is almost every day.

I can't help that you don't believe me

OP posts:
Winesalot · 30/03/2020 18:41

Just come back from a walk along my normal run path and to be honest, all dogs were well controlled. It was the other walkers and the runners that were not social distancing. Normally I go in the morning so this was eye opening.

The family groups and couples holding hands not splitting up if needed to walk singly were the biggest culprit. But a couple of runners just ran too close past. As a runner myself, I was surprised at this attitude. But then it did seem to be young people doing it whether it is an indication they are not informed or just don’t care.

adaline · 30/03/2020 18:47

I've never met any of these horrendously out-of-control dogs that seem to be rampant on MN.

I wonder where they all live?

cockapoocrazi · 30/03/2020 18:52

@Gruffalomom problem is you are showing DC he needs to be afraid by making a fuss. This is the biggest mistake you could make. Even if you yourself don't like dogs if one comes running over be excited don't show fear or DC has no hope.

Boshmama · 30/03/2020 18:53

Dogs need to be exercised off lead though. Maybe walk somewhere else if this is happening as often as you say? It must be a very popular place with dog walkers.

Winesalot · 30/03/2020 19:00

adaline near me!!!

Sadly, I have had people from elsewhere staying and going for a run who say exactly the same things without me mentioning a word.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:01

Cockapoo that's two assumptions in on one post of which neither is true!
I don't make a fuss, and I'm not remotely scared of dogs. I grew up with big dogs and my parents and grandparents have always had them.

Weve always kept our dogs under control though. None of them would or do bounce up to people uninvited.

He is not irrationally afraid of them, if something bigger than me came bouncing into me on a regular basis I would be anxious too!

My point today though is that aside from the issues these dogs are causing my child, these dog walkers need to be more responsible in the current circumstances. If you need to come close to me and my child to retrieve your dog, you are not walking it responsibly.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:03

Boshmama if a dog absolutely must be excercised off the lead, then it absolutely must be trained well enough to allow this to happen without interfering with other people minding their own business.

OP posts:
FizzAfterSix · 30/03/2020 19:09

YABU. We live in a crowded island so we need to make allowances and be tolerant of other people/species.
Many people have huge problems. Lucky you if this is all you have to fret about.

ThisFineMap · 30/03/2020 19:09

YANBU. Dogs carry the coronavirus on their coat. Please dog owners keep your dogs away from other dogs and people. We are dog owners and our boy stays on the lead during lockdown when there are others around.

There are now lots of people walking their dogs who normally work full-time and who rely on dog walkers. They don't always have full control over their pets unfortunately as they are not used to it. It's tricky out there right now.

FizzAfterSix · 30/03/2020 19:11

I walk in parks with my dogs all the time and never have dogs leaping up on me. This is such a first world problem, words fail me.

Abraid2 · 30/03/2020 19:13

*Dogs should be kept on a lead AT ALL TIMES, not just in current times.

And I say that as a lifelong dog owner.

There really is no need for a dog to be off a lead in open public spaces.*

Poor sods. Where can they have a (controlled) run then, if you don't have your own fields or a large garden?

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:14

Fizzaftersix after you only a metre tall too?

As it happens I'm immunosuppressed so at much higher risk from this virus than most.

Is it really more important that an irresponsible owner allow it's untrained dog to enjoy its walk than my child and I can take our walk safely?

OP posts:
cockapoocrazi · 30/03/2020 19:16

@Gruffalomom as I've said earlier in this period dogs should be in leads anyway. However your comments are not correct. DS has lots of dogs bound up to him (much bigger) before this started he sees them as fun because if he's been knocked over we make a point of saying whoops or up we come you going to give him a cuddle etc we do not make any negative fuss whether we feel it's wrong or not 🤷🏼‍♀️

Dipi79 · 30/03/2020 19:18

I'm a dog walker and people who haven't instilled good recall in their dogs really piss me off. I'm currently walking my neighbour's dog, who is kept on the lead, as she has never trained him off the lead (poor dog). Because he's a large Sharpei/Staffie, people are always asking me if HE is okay just before their happy little charges leap all over him.
Just wish humans were better trained! 😂🤣

CheshireDing · 30/03/2020 19:19

I have been walking ours at 5.30am for this very reason.

He needs to get off the lead and I don’t want to have to go near anyone if he seems another dog and wants to play.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:21

Don't we all do as you do cockapoo when our children are there? Just as we do when they trip over but that doesn't mean the walker of the dog shouldn't be more responsible.

And right now it just plain dangerous to be too close to either

I'm honestly finding the entitled attitude of some dog owners quite shocking.

If I allowed by child to jump all over your dogs and then threw my hands up as not responsible and told you to walk your dogs elsewhere you would quite rightly be up in arms.

If you can't stop your dog approaching people, put it on a lead!

OP posts:
cockapoocrazi · 30/03/2020 19:31

@Gruffalomom what you say to DS and what you say to dog walker after DS is occupied is not the same thing. If you rant and rave to dog walker DS picks up that it was wrong and scary.
My dog has been on a lead since this started and will remain on a lead until the schools go back, I feel this is the responsible thing to do for my safety as well as other people's. To be honest it sounds from your post that DS is being knocked over by the same dog/dogs everyday in which case if I knew he was scared of them and I would get annoyed I'd go street walking for the time being where you know dogs would be on lead. It's not showing defeat that dog owners reign supreme it's a stressful time as it is without pushing things both ways

Hoggleludo · 30/03/2020 19:31

@FizzAfterSix you need to come where I live!

Happens on every single walk. But then I live in a forest.

Hoggleludo · 30/03/2020 19:34

@Dipi79

My mother used to own a large Great Dane. Because of things that had happened to him previously. He wasn't a good dog with other dogs. Or people. So my mum took him to places where she'd rarely meet others

Problem is. Even with a red lead and a coat that says don't pet. People go. Oh it's ok! Dogs love me! Then try and touch him

Never encountered it before.

Original poster
Gruffalomom · 30/03/2020 19:35

Where have I said I rant and rave at dog walkers cockapoo? My frustration is being vented here!

I'm glad you are putting your dog on the lead, I couldn't agree more in the current circumstances it's the safest thing all around.

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