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.

As a teacher that goes for runs with her dog off lead, this has not been a good week for me on MN

As a child I was scared of dogs. I was knocked over and barked at in a park as a 4 year old and it stayed with me.
When I had dc I didn't want them to grow up like me so I learnt about dogs, their behaviour and needs etc and stopped seeing them as attacking monsters. Dc are grown up and have no fear of dogs.
You say you dont like dogs so could you do that OP? Gradually familiarise yourself with dogs and learn about them? They re not scary once you know about them.
As for going out in lockdown my son and I take big walks round nature places and off track woods etc most days (both our workplaces are closed) and we have mostly met with polite dog walkers and cyclists/runners who all move out of each others way and greet each other.
Obviously young families with dc are out too and we have to make way for wobbly 6 year olds on bikes etc but nobody owns the place so it's live and let live.
I think lockdown and the virus is hard enough without making it a battle between everyone.

@Lockdowner13 It was a lab and it was on a lead but lead was too long. Child bitten on face.

^ I'm willing to bet that the child went close to the dog with it being on a lead and all...

Well the world was a better place when we all had our own routines and places. I avoided parks early in morning when there were lots of dogs. People didn’t walk their dogs on certain days/times as they were at work.

God yes, all children were at schools, the mummies were in Starbucks or in the gym and the MAMILS in the office.

I could walk my dogs at my hearts desire.

Those were the days. This is why I want the schools back on June 1st, if not sooner.

@Bluesrunsthegame

Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. Boredom, excitement or warning mostly. The two dogs you mention sound as if it’s a territorial thing - barking to protect their people, rather than their territory if they are barking when their people are around and not barking when they are not.

Your neighbour shouldn’t be going out and leaving a small dog in the front garden though.

Wrong. Child ran by with her friends. Dog was tied to a post. Not being watched. Not being controlled. Owner admitted liability. Dog was destroyed.

@Lockdowner13 so the child got to close to the dog...

One of my dogs is very cute and friendly, and the people that want to pay him is doing my head in under current circumstances

My dogs wouldn't object at all if people wanted to pay them. Bloody expensive tastes they've got.

No the dog was on an incorrect lead. The lead was very very long. The owner took full responsibility. The child didn’t even see the dog. Wow victim blaming at its best going on here. If we cannot get “close” to dogs then that reiterates my point further.

I put my dog on the lead when I see runners or she chases them. There’s no way she’s going to be kept on lead all the time in the huge meadow where I walk her. She needs to run too.

Perhaps you should go out on a lead, OP, so you see how it feels.

@Lockdowner13 I would not let my child go near enough to a dog on a lead especially without an owner.

I despair that parents think it's acceptable to let their rabid children run up to my on lead dog and complain if she jumps up at them. It's disrespectful.

If you don't like an off lead dog running up to you why should children or adults come up to my on lead dog.

There is no legal maximum lead length FYI so it can't have been on an incorrect length of lead.

In fact I want to call BS that it even happened

I’m absolutely gobsmacked that people have tine to look back at previous posts? Maybe you need to go walk your dog or so something else to keep you busy! Haha

Surely if you've been here as long as you claim, you'd know that this happens when people doubt the intentions of posters posting particularly goady-frothy posts like this.

OP, it's fine, you don't like dogs. Other people do. Most dogs are fabulous little things that won't hurt you. But if you're bothered by them, walk in places where there'll be fewer dogs then you won't have to get angry online.

Also, wherever you live it sounds like they're possibly putting something in the water that's making the dogs particularly angry. Consider doing an Erin Brockovich and looking into that to keep yourself busy during lockdown perhaps because the dogs I see on our daily walks round here are lovely things with great owners. There's only one exception, an old wolfhound called Tessa who is a bit angry and her owner keeps her under control and muzzled at all times - no cause for complaint.

OP you claim that children don’t bite. Have quick google... They do. I know many children who have bitten other children - Early years worker here. They are not put down though - Thank God!

Feed the dogs, not the Goady Fido?

Stop Ha Haing OP. It makes you sound demented. If you bit anyone now you’d have to be PTS for suspected rabbies.

Rabbies?

Haha haha

Funnily enough today I was thinking the same about people with small children. The places I normally run my dog off lead are now overrun with families going for their daily walk that they never bothered doing before. Consequently I have to keep putting my dog on a lead in case she approaches someone (she isn't aggressive, she loves everyone and assumes they all want to say hello)

It is a bit of a conundrum. Maybe having dog free/child free sessions would work but I can't see who would police it.

Bloody kids, ruin everything

Yeah I’d be up for having child free places/times too. In fact it pisses me off when I go to places to have a night away from my kids and there are kids there. Eg cinema on a Saturday night to see a scary film and someone came with a baby!

I'd love the chance to walk my dog with entire families on bikes forcing me to walk in the road or in the bushes.

I'm afraid I agree with the dog owners. Same experience. Have always been able to walk the dogs in peace and quiet- now suddenly there are kids who can't control their bikes/scooters careening all over the place, and parents screeching to get away from the scary dog 🙄who has been less of a pain in the arse than the out of control children, it's a two way thing. I keep my dogs under control, you keep your kids under control, and I'll ensure my dogs come nowhere near you, if you ensure your kids do the same.

Wouldn’t you all like your own space where you could tread in dog poo all day long and leave your bags around a bin “to collect on way back from your walk”. You could be off lead for as long as you want. No children allowed. Just whole location for you and your “he’s just being friendly” dogs

I’m looking forward to getting all our usual run routes(with and without) dogs and dog walking routes back from the hoards of people out for their “daily exercise”. Ambling along at a snail’s pace, stopping suddenly to look at maps or change direction with they realise they’re lost. But it’s a new world and we have to learn to live and let live a bit.