Dog walkers

[Lockdowner13]

I’ve noticed that since the places we can visit are restricted at the moment due to virus, just how many dog walkers there are.

I’m finding it impossible to take kids out without seeing dog off it’s lead. I really don’t like dogs much.

I’m finding that dog owners round here are selfish. Taking up the whole of the path so I need to run in the road, off lead when kids are walking, taking over the local green space.

AIBU to think that during lockdown some better rules should have been implemented. Eg dog free hours for exercise. We usually go to dog free places for our fun. Eg kids parks, cafes, national trust. Now I’m being forced to mix with dogs and it’s annoying me.

[Lazypuppy]

Its families like you who are the problem. You admit you are walking somewhere different, so why should dog walkers, who have always walked there, change their behaviour.

Dogs need to exercise off lead.

If you don't like it stick to the roads where dogs will be on lead

[Lockdowner13]

Comparing dogs and children is just the sort of thing I would expect from this thread.

[SnowsInWater]

We are in Sydney where "dog zones" are called dog off leash areas, otherwise if you are in public your dog has to be on a lead. There are times when dogs can be off leash on certain beaches, others are absolutely no dogs allowed. There will always be the odd idiot ignoring the rules but generally it works.

[MonicaGellerHyphenBing]

Like many other posters, I as a dog owner have found that since lockdown my usually quiet evening routes are now packed with families with 2 or 3 children taking up the relatively narrow footpaths. Said children often don’t move out of the way or are way ahead of their parents on bikes and scooters. My dogs on the other hand mind their own business and couldn’t care less about your kids. You need to find yourself some tolerance OP or you’ll exhaust yourself.

(I am a parent too, btw. My dogs are better behaved).

[Alymcnabs]

My children, thank god, don’t bite other peoples faces or shit on grass. They don’t run up to strangers and jump up at them. They don’t bark at people. They do not kill pets in private land and run off with them hanging from their jaws

Neither do my dogs.... What’s your point?

[TheVanguardSix]

Welcome to the great outdoors, OP. I see you're new to all of this.
Wait until your kids beg for a puppy!

[FudgeBrownie2019]

My children, thank god, don’t bite other peoples faces or shit on grass. They don’t run up to strangers and jump up at them. They don’t bark at people. They do not kill pets in private land and run off with them hanging from their jaws

Fortunately neither of our dogs does this, so I fail to see your point.

Our dogs are well-behaved, have great recall and manners and haven't ever jumped up people (the puppy did once, when another dog walker we know had treats in her pocket - before I could even say anything she'd given him a firm 'no' and he sat with all the other dogs and waited for his treat - never since) so why shouldn't they be off lead? They run and play and get the essential exercise they need. We've had the oldest one for ten years and have seen a huge increase in the amount of litter and junk chucked on our usual dog walks because of the additional people out exercising with their children. Should we ban people without dogs from walking their children because some of them drop litter?

[darrenlacey]

We’re finding the same this week. Are usually child free walks are being overrun with families coming out to the sticks in groups to run around and picnic on private land. Dog gets upset as he doesn’t like children much because, in his first home, they were unkind to him.

Love this.

[Macncheeseballs]

So just people with children littering

[GertrudeCB]

@Lockdowner13 are you enjoying stiring the Hornets nest ? Bore off.

[Utterlydespairing]

I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs

[Utterlydespairing]

And I don’t have a dog

[CherryPavlova]

My children, thank god, don’t bite other peoples faces or shit on grass. They don’t run up to strangers and jump up at them. They don’t bark at people. They do not kill pets in private land and run off with them hanging from their jaws

No my dog doesn’t do any of these things either and, if he bit, he would be destroyed. Unfortunately his experience is poorly controlled children egged on by stupid parents running up to him and thinking he is some sort of Disney toy. We rarely take him into towns or parks but inevitably some daft parents will say, “ Look Kylie-Lou, a lovely spotty dog, go and say hello”. I say no please don’t but they assure me Kylie-Louise loves doggies. “Don’t you, babe?” I say no. He dislikes children. The insistent parent in a puffer jacket and leggings watches as I put him on a lead. Then says to thumb-sucking, whinging child, ”You can say hello now”.
Invariably, it results in me having to grab child’s arm and say no very firmly. The dog barks. He’s big, so has a very loud bark.
Parent then storms off dragging the tearful child and moaning loudly about vicious dogs and battle axes. You cannot cure idiocy.
If are fearful of dogs why go to somewhere known to be used by lots of dog walkers? We have lots of places to walk where there are fewer dogs.

[darrenlacey]

have been attacked by dogs 3 times in my life - all unprovoked, and once by a pack of six snarling brutes being walked off leads by a useless “professional” dog walker on a public footpath, totally out of her control.

Did these 6 dogs actually attack you or just come and sniff you. You sound like a hysterical twat.

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

There will be even more soon.

My neighbours are looking for a lab, after a few years of not having a dog and all litters are reserved.

There will be dogs literally covering the parks nose to tail. Be ready!

[FudgeBrownie2019]

Not at all - but if OP wants to complain about all dog owners why can't anyone complain about all people out with their DC? Why is it fine to lump all dog walkers (who've been walking those walks far longer and more frequently than the locked-down parents) into one group but not parents with DC?

I've seen children on our walks drop litter - can I lump them into one homogenous group and ban them from walks now or is that ridiculous?

[Geekydeaky]

Wow just because you don’t like dogs doesn’t mean people can’t exercise their dogs. You’re probably one of those people with kids who scream and hide when they see a dog because you’ve passed your feelings on.
I have a working cocker spaniel who is amazing off the lead, isn’t interested in the slightest in people or their kids just runs straight past to follow a scent. If he doesn’t get to run off the lead and burn off energy then he’s a loon at home. The only place he’s off the lead is in the woods near our house where he has every right to be running around free not bothering anyone.

[PeaPeaEeByGum]

I walk my dog every day on national trust land and run in to all sorts of people I never saw before lockdown. But not when it’s cold or wet. Only the sunny days.

[Twigletfairy]

Dogs don't NEED exercise off the lead. There are plenty of games you can play with them that tires them out. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. There's also a wonderful invention called long lines. I say this as an owner of a very active, demanding dog. A very active, demanding dog that is still knackered after going for a walk on the lead.


I have no qualms about dogs being off lead if they're under their owners control at all tines. My 3 year olds leg was recently broken by a friendly dog while we were walking my dog on a lead. To say I have no tolerance for dogs approaching us would be an understatement

[darrenlacey]

I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs

Same here. Something very odd about these people.

[Prisonbreak]

I would suggest you seek help for your deep hatred towards dogs. This is your problem and the world should not accommodate your irrational thinking

[LEELULUMPKIN]

I thought the very same thing about a family stood in the queue at asda the other day and allowed their offspring to run amok, banging into me and others and laughing whilst doing it.

My dog however is impeccably behaved in comparison.

[Satsuma2]

You seem like the type of person I try to avoid op, self obsessed, whiny and way too much negative energy. I can't stand other people's children, even the well behaved ones. But I put with the entitled parents and their bratty brats because life's too short. Dogs I love but people of your ilk, not so much. I don't have a dog at the moment but hope to get one when I move. I'll take all the dogs, you can have all the brats getting in the way.

[ConstantlySeekingHappiness]

LOCKDOWN SHOCKER

Precious parent realises other people have been living in the same world all along. Precious parent hadn’t seen them before because they had been going to specific places. Precious parent is now going to these places with her precious children. Precious parent thinks these “other people” should not be there.

Precious parent is outraged that these “other people” don’t immediately jump out of her way now that she is going to these places.

“How dare they” says precious parent, “I have to move out of their way, it’s an outrage... and their savage child eating dogs should be put down.”

[FudgeBrownie2019]

Dogs don't NEED exercise off the lead. There are plenty of games you can play with them that tires them out. Mental stimulation is just as important as physical. There's also a wonderful invention called long lines. I say this as an owner of a very active, demanding dog. A very active, demanding dog that is still knackered after going for a walk on the lead.

You're basing that opinion on one dog - yours.

Other owners have stated that their dogs do need time off-lead to exercise. Most owners know their dogs better than you or I do and if their dogs need to be off-lead that's their business.