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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Dogs knocking people over 🦮

71 replies

MoreLikeThis · 10/11/2020 12:11

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?

OP posts:

Fouroclockonamarblemorning · 10/11/2020 13:25

I’m obsessed with dogs but there’s no way this should happen. I don’t blame you for being annoyed. If a dog can’t be trusted not to jump up, it should be on a short lead.

LST · 10/11/2020 13:29

@ChikiTKI so what do you suggest? A dog that is under control off leash with good recall and doesn't ever hassle anyone, should be kept on because of irresponsible owners?

DulcimerOfDestiny · 10/11/2020 13:33

I would never have my dogs off-lead outside a fenced location where they had a right to be and could be safe, as much for the dogs' safety as anything else.

I love dogs, but of course they should be kept back from other people to respect personal space, just as I hope random people (including children) won't come running up to me unexpectedly. It's basic manners.

DiseasesOfTheSheep · 10/11/2020 13:36

I have one dog who is ludicrously well mannered and wouldn't knock over a fly. He's almost invariably off lead, but always under close control and supervision.

My other dog is a slavering hound of the baskervilles type who would throw you into the abyss without a second thought. He's only ever out in public muzzled, on a lead and under cover of darkness.

Dog owners who allow their mutts to run wild and harass people do nobody any favours.

Whoknowswhocares · 10/11/2020 13:37

@ChikiTIKI

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...

But if the dog is perfectly behaved, then none of those situations pose a problem if he/she is off lead, so long as the owner notices and acts accordingly. Off lead out of control dogs are a bloody nuisance and absolutely should be kept on a lead but that doesn’t mean all need it

ThatBitch · 10/11/2020 13:42

YANBU. I have a lovely fluffy huge dog who is incredibly friendly and fairly well trained... however I cannot trust him not to greet everyone and it wouldn't take much for him to worry someone with his size, therefore he is never off lead unless introductions are made and everyone is happy for it. People often ask for him to be let off to play. I hate it when other people's dogs come charging over to him or us when we are out. Put the damn thing on a lead if it won't listen every single time.

Billben · 10/11/2020 13:43

Fully agree with you. I’ve got 2 dogs the sizes of Shetland ponies who would do some serious damage if they knocked a person over. I once had to block a huge dog from jumping up on me being all friendly. I bollocked both the dog and the owner when she tried to make excuses for him. I love dogs but if I can control mine then you should yours. I don’t take this nonsense even from small dogs.

ThatDirection · 10/11/2020 13:51

You are definitely in the right. I know of two people who have sustained broken bones from being run into at force by dogs. They've been in a lot of pain, had to have surgery and a lot of time off work.

Original poster

MoreLikeThis · 10/11/2020 13:54

I'm glad to see IANBU 😌

Moondust001
"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."

I'm afraid your mind reading skills
have failed you this time. I like dogs. I don't like dog owners who are happy to take the risk that their dogs might knock me over.

RinseWindHat
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

Honestly, Id appreciate the apology but I still don't think that this is ok. Even if your dogs are little they still might unbalance someone. If you feel embarrassed when they jump
up imagine how you would feel
if they caused someone to fall over.

OP posts:

Whatamesssss · 10/11/2020 13:56

YANBU

No they shouldn't be off lead but it is not the dogs fault, it's the irresponsible owner.

We really need a Dog Licence again and only given to people who can pass a test on care and training and competence. These utter eejits who have no idea shouldn't be allowed to own a dog or have children.

Original poster

MoreLikeThis · 10/11/2020 13:58

BTW I don't think all dogs need to be on leads. I've known plenty that don't jump up or bother people.

OP posts:

Original poster

MoreLikeThis · 10/11/2020 13:59

@GreyishDays

You are quite clearly in the right

Are you my husband?

OP posts:

RincewindsHat · 10/11/2020 14:10

@MoreLikeThis

I'm glad to see IANBU 😌

Moondust001
"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."

I'm afraid your mind reading skills
have failed you this time. I like dogs. I don't like dog owners who are happy to take the risk that their dogs might knock me over.

I don't think it's OK either, I do my best to never let them jump up and call them back if I see them looking like they would approach anyone out walking. Almost all the time they ignore anyone they see but occasionally for some reason they will put paws on someone. It's happened twice this year to my recollection and we walk twice a day, every day - I don't think the occasional instance is reason enough to have them on leads all the time as I want them to run around to be physically fit, and we're also typically walking when there are minimal other people around.

wingsandstrings · 10/11/2020 14:11

My friend had her arm broken badly when she fell due to a perfectly friendly but out of control dog. YADNBU. The other thing I dislike are dogs jumping up with muddy paws, this has happened a couple of times on my walk to work as I walk across a park (in glorious pre-pandemic times when I actually left the house to go to work). Once a dog laddered my tights, a couple of times I was left with mud-stains on my work clothes that I just had to wear through-out the day. Every time the owner would give a half-hearted apology along the lines of 'but s/he's just being friendly'. Despite this I am a dog-lover.

DreadingSeason2020sFinale · 10/11/2020 14:15

I'm a massive dog lover but I agree. I HATE loose dogs that owners know will knock over or just jump up at you.

I lived on a farm and a tenant in a cottage had a Westie dog constantly loose, shitting everywhere and bothering animals (but not attacking). It would run up to everyone (all the other tenants and farmers) and jump up on them leaving them covered in slobber, hair and mud.
I'd asked them a few times to get their dog on a lead or keep it inside as it was a working farm but they'd smile and say he was harmless, won't hurt you, just wants to be friends... etc. Until the final time I was dressed nicely for a funeral and it covered me in mud on the way to the car. I was furious and told the woman that if I her dog loose again I would "kick the fucking thing into the next fucking field"

She kept it confined after that at least. So now I have no problem telling a dog owner that if their dog touches me I'll send it flying. (I don't think I ever would but they shouldn't allow their dogs to do what equates to assaulting you!)

UsernameNotSaved · 10/11/2020 14:27

You realise you’ve used the Guide Dog emoji there? totally ignoring the point of the thread

TheDowagerDuchess · 10/11/2020 14:40

Dogs should be on a lead or have perfect recall. When you’re training them, take them somewhere isolated, not a popular walking spot.

Ds is scared of dogs and we get all the “oh he’s friendly”. So what? DS is entitled to go for a walk without being approached by your dog.

TheDowagerDuchess · 10/11/2020 14:42

Whatamesssss - I agree we should have dog licences again. Would save the RSPCA millions too - money people never intended to be spent on prosecutions to get irresponsible owners banned, but is currently the only way.

I also think you should need a licence to be a company director but that’s by the bye.

dottiedodah · 10/11/2020 14:44

I love dogs! However would be mortified if mine knocked anyone over! We live near the Coast ,and last Summer a lady asked me if I would put mine on a lead as someone elses dog had knocked her to the floor!I was a little nonplussed but did as she asked .Most responsible dog owners will not allow their dogs to run amok any more than they would let their child knock another child over!

Nottherealslimshady · 10/11/2020 14:45

As an owner with a dog that is the clumsiest dopiest steamroller going, YANBU. If you dog cant walk by your side then it should be on a lead, especially in the countryside. But it will always happen. Actually saw a man encouraging his dog to attack a sheep last year, it was a little ratty thing and the sheep could easily have killed it.

SunshineCake · 10/11/2020 14:45

YANBU I taught mine not to jump as she could easily knock someone less solid over.

EerieSilence · 10/11/2020 14:50

@EatDessertFirst you're talking bollocks.
I have a 6 months old puppy whose over 63 pounds. Her recall still sucks because she's a puppy and while she's trained well, she has the brain of a canine child.
When outside, she's on the leash. When someone passes us, we take care she doesn't go near them, fortunately we are past the stage she really wanted to jump at everybody because she just wants everybody to love her but she still could. The only problem are strangers who come over and want to pet her because hey, a new playmate! She's trained hard to behave so hopefully one day, when she's matured, we can trust her enough to let her run off the leash.
A good dog owner is a responsible dog owner. It's like driving a car.

EerieSilence · 10/11/2020 14:51

who's over 63 pounds
Grammar, Eerie, grammar!

ArcherDog · 10/11/2020 14:51

Obviously it’s not unreasonable to not want to be knocked over by a dog so not sure what you are expecting from this thread.

However my dog is large and when he’s running around with his doggy friends they do tend to forget to go around people and can run into the back of your legs.
So he could knock people over. Obviously I would apologise profusely if that happens.

Original poster

MoreLikeThis · 10/11/2020 15:01

@UsernameNotSaved

You realise you’ve used the Guide Dog emoji there? totally ignoring the point of the thread

So I have. 😯 No, I hadn't noticed. I was using my phone and didn't see it had a little harness rather than a lead.

OP posts:

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