Dogs knocking people over 🦮

[MoreLikeThis]

I go walking in the countryside several times a week and invariably meet people out walking their dogs. AIBU to think that if you can't be certain your dog won't knock people off their feet they should be kept on a lead at all times (unless they are in designated dog walking areas) obviously I don't think I am being unreasonable 🦮
I was knocked over last week and the guy was apologetic but explained the dog was young and was still being trained. 😰 Even after the dog knocked me to the ground he didn't put it on a lead. I don't think it is his choice whether or not to put my safety at risk.
I'm young and fit and I wasn't hurt but if I had fell awkwardly I could have been.
There was a large dog walkers field close by so it's not as though the guy didn't have a choice about where to walk the dog.
Is anyone willing to admit they don't put a lead on their dog when there is a chance it might barge into someone and knock them over?

Maybe this is too boring for AIBU as I am so clearly in the right 🤔

You are quite clearly in the right

Uuurgh I hate this, I have lost count of the times I've been jumped up on by dogs. Last time was a big intimidating dog. I'm fit and strong but always worry about more vulnerable people and kids too. I'm a runner and always slow to a walk near dogs, or indeed stand still if they're excitable till the owner gets them under control. Trouble is loads don't seem to have any control!!

YADNBU, but MN is very pro-dog so I expect you will be told YABU

I have two big dogs (both rescues and one liable to love people so much they could get knocked over If they aren’t strong - he leans on your legs and weighs over 50kg - he was beaten so it’s his way of going look at me, I love you please don’t hit me)

I agree with you actually. He has great recall but we only let him off where we can see people coming from far enough away that we will be able to get him back on lead before they get within his must love range.

I love big dogs, even big bouncy puppies and will happily interact with them when out, but it’s very silly to assume everyone is confident with big dogs or has the strength to keep themselves upright when a lump of bouncy teenage dog barrels into them

YANBU, my 70 year old mum was knocked to the ground when a massive dog ran straight into her from behind and took her feet out from under her. Also, nearly took out my then 3 year old who was walking next to her. Moron owners were throwing ball for said dog on a busy public footpath and threw it over our heads so dog could run ahead and catch it. They didn't so much as apologised as they walked on by. Sadly, a lot of entitled jerks out there (and a disproportionate number of them seem to own dogs).

We no longer go to this area to walk now as a few months later, another dog cornered my 3 year old against a fence. She had stepped up on a log on the side of the path as a dog was running towards us and she was little and it was very big. Dog jumped up on the log and pushed her up against a barrier fence with me yanking it off her. All I got from the owners was some choice words and threats. It's a shame as it's a really nice place to walk, but seems to attract the worst of them.

@Smorgasbored0000

YADNBU, but MN is very pro-dog so I expect you will be told YABU

MN is very pro responsible dog ownership; most people who genuinely care about dogs will be in the YADNBU camp. An untrained dog which could knock someone off their feet is also liable to hurt other dogs or be a danger to itself, in addition to the unacceptability of hurting people.

YANBU. Dogs should be on leads until properly trained for recall. You are lucky you were not seriously hurt. Soneone very young, elderly etc may not have been so lucky.

But MN thinks 'furbabies' can do no wrong so prepare yourself!

YANBU my dog is walked off lead most of the time but has perfect recall and is not bothered by others, be they adults, children or dogs. It pisses me off when others let their dogs come bounding up to him. He doesnt like to play and be bounced on and because he is off lead it doesn't make him fair game. If your dog has shit recall it needs to be on a lead or walked somewhere where there is no risk of them bumping into others. That said, you're probably going to have a thread full of 'all dogs should be on lead all the time' which annoys me because responsible dog owners shouldn't be punished for idiots behaviour

I own two dogs and while they're not big enough to knock anyone over, I apologise profusely if they ever do anything to inconvenience anyone else (eg VERY occasionally they will jump up and put their paws on someone which is not typical for them, but unacceptable behaviour so I apologise).

It drives me MAD when other people allow their dogs to jump up and put muddy paws on me and then they don't bother to apologise. If someone's dog actually knocked me over and they did nothing to control the dog, I would be having sharp words with them immediately.

In conclusion: YANBU :)

YANBU. If your dog can't be trained or is being trained keep them on a lead. You can get very long ones anyway.

YANBU. Ive ended up covered with bruises from an excitable adolescent dog I was walking, he could have easily hurt someone unintentionally (he was I the process of being trained, and his jumping was usually limited to his carers). My DD was knocked off her bike by a dog at 5years old. If the dog can't be trusted, it needs to be kept close.

I’ve one that had no interest in people at all and one that thinks all humans are there to love her, she’s not allowed off the lead. She’s a great galumphing elephant of a dog but thinks she’s the size of a chihuahua.

It drives me mad that some people won't recognise that even small dogs can cause harm. I was bitten by a dachshund over the summer - I was walking past in the park, owner was scrolling on their phone and didn't notice the dog run at me and bite at my foot. The bite itself wasn't that deep, but there's a scar, and it required a trip to A&E to be scanned and dressed, plus follow up trips to the doctor to check for infections and a horrible course of antibiotics. If you aren't going to be 100% alert to what you dog is doing, at least keep it on a bloody lead.

YANBU. The only time I’ve been knocked over by a dog it was my DB’s Lab. We were walking on a very narrow path in sand dunes, dense prickly bushes each side. Dog was somewhere behind me, SIL was some way ahead of me, she called the dog and I could hear the daft bugger thundering along the path but there was nowhere to get out of his way and nothing to do but brace for impact. I was winded but otherwise ok. Dog didn’t give a shit.

MIL (mid 60s) had her arm broken by a friend's dog, when it knocked her over last year. It's knocked over 3 other people since, that we know of, and one of them also broke a bone. They still won't put it on a lead and it makes me furious.

I've always had dogs, who eventually had perfect recall and (I think more importantly) would sit/lie down on command even if they were 100+ meters away. It takes time to get them there and there's a point where they've almost got it, when you can't be 100% sure, but if you don't let them off then you can't teach them the last bit, which is obedience at a distance. But then you pick your spot carefully. You don't let them off the lead just anywhere.

This angers me so much OP stupid selfish people and there ‘oh he’s bloody friendly “ dogs .. I’m 5ft 1 and a very petite woman I have been knocked over countless times i now carry dog spray even in areas that people are NOT allowed their dogs off leads .. I’m so sorry this has happened to you and I really think people who allow this to happen should have their dog removed from them , if a dog is not under control then they are not safe !

@ChaosMoon

MIL (mid 60s) had her arm broken by a friend's dog, when it knocked her over last year. It's knocked over 3 other people since, that we know of, and one of them also broke a bone. They still won't put it on a lead and it makes me furious.

I've always had dogs, who eventually had perfect recall and (I think more importantly) would sit/lie down on command even if they were 100+ meters away. It takes time to get them there and there's a point where they've almost got it, when you can't be 100% sure, but if you don't let them off then you can't teach them the last bit, which is obedience at a distance. But then you pick your spot carefully. You don't let them off the lead just anywhere.

I’m so sorry about your mum and hope she’s ok now ! I would have sued the dog owner as they are a repeat offender..

Of course you are being reasonable, but that isn't why you posted this is it? You just wanted to start another anti-dog thread. Nobody (including every single responsible dog owner) would disagree with you, and you already know that. So the only purpose in posting this question at all is to get people to enter into diatribes against dog owners, responsible or not.

You know what I hate. Irresponsible owners of children who run straight up to my dog to stroke, pat or hit the dog without a care in the world because it will be the dog who gets the blame if he objects to a child hitting him. But I don't see the point in posting too numerous to mention AIBU posts about the irresponsible owners of children. And don't even get me started on the owners of teenagers....

I’m a dog lover but this happens all too often and especially with young kids. I can’t stand irresponsible dog owners

@Smorgasbored0000

YADNBU, but MN is very pro-dog so I expect you will be told YABU

Don't be silly. I'm very "pro dog", but that doesn't mean I approve of people letting their dogs do whatever the hell they want.

Of course YANBU - I have 2 large dogs and would be absolutely mortified if they knocked someone over!

However, people who come over to fuss them when they are on lead, and start winding them up so they jump up and lick them on the face are fair game

My 2 year old was knocked flat by a huge dog on the beach last week. The owner told me it’s a beach where dogs are allowed... yes that’s fine; we like dogs but just because dogs are allowed there doesn’t mean I expect my little one to get knocked over by them as the dog wants my sons stick!!!

"YADNBU, but MN is very pro-dog so I expect you will be told YABU".
You must be on a different MN to me.

I shouldn't join in with these threads because they just get me all annoyed but I agree with you completely.

Even if someone has the most perfectly behaved dog, the owner doesn't know what they might encounter on a walk. An aggressive dog that's also off lead, a terrified child, a vulnerable person, a cyclist who isn't looking where they're going...