To not want other people’s dogs to jump up at me when out walking

[Trevorwhatever]

Have just been on a walk in the sunshine and during the walk (across a football field in a park at that point) a medium/large sized dog ran up to me and kept jumping up at me putting its muddy paws down the back of my light coloured coat. I shouted at it to go away as the owner stood by making no effort to put it on a lead or to call it away. She just shouted ‘sorry’.

She then walked off shouting ‘you shouldn’t be walking across the fields if you don’t love dogs’.

I then shouted back ‘if you you can’t keep your dog under control then keep it on a lead’.

I was really mad I had to finish my walk in a muddy stained coat and now have to wash it because of someone else’s laziness.

Aibu to think I should be able to walk where I like without other people’s dogs jumping up at me?

Yes I hate it. I don't really like dogs and it irritates me that owners think you love their dogs 🙄

That's why I take a walking stick.

Oh good, the daily dog-bashing thread, on exactly the same thing which has been done to death a thousand times.

You know you're not being unreasonable so I'm not sure why you had to ask.

Yanbu at all
She should have the dog on a lead if she can't control it

I love dogs but completely agree. On the other hand - I walk mine in a specially enclosed dog area of my local park - it’s gated, there’s no need to go through it etc. I saw a woman once walk through it dressed head to toe in cream and look throughly pissed off when a couple of puppies jumped up at her.

I had this the other week. Ineffectual owner said “She’s just friendly. Doesn’t mean any harm”. Tell that to my fucking coat which was covered in mud.

Take a chill pill @lockheart or read another thread instead

I hate dogs jumping up and running towards me. It would be nice to be able to go for a walk knowing you weren't suddenly going to have to deal with dogs and dog poo and bags of dog poo and dogs off leads.

On the other hand - light coats and muddy parks are never a good idea!

@Noddyandbiggerears

On the other hand - light coats and muddy parks are never a good idea!

Unless the coat is ankle length it's reasonable to expect it won't get muddy though. I do hate dogs jumping up whilst owners shrug helplessly.

This happened to me a few weeks after major abdo surgery. I burst into tears and the dog owner carried on chatting to his friends and didn't even check that I was ok.

I dont care how friendly you think your dog is, I dont want to interact with it.
Absolutly no issue with dogs who ignore me, or go straight back to its owner as soon as it's clear I'm unhappy. Big issues with dogs who run round my feet or bark at me, and either dont come when called or who have owners who dont call them back.

YANBU.

It’s more splashes and accidental flicks I was thinking of - not muddy paw prints which of course shouldn’t happen.

@Lockheart

Oh good, the daily dog-bashing thread, on exactly the same thing which has been done to death a thousand times.

You know you're not being unreasonable so I'm not sure why you had to ask.

Tedious, isn’t it? I walk our dog every day, meet at least six dogs every time and it never happens to me. We’ve trained ours not to do it.

OP, you should have gone up to her and asked her who is going to pay to dry clean your coat.

Next time you see tell her she owes you £20 for the dry cleaners.

I don't have a dog but is there anything you can do to ward off a dog coming to you?

No you're not being unreasonable. But you already know that.

This thread will just get overun now with people demanding dogs need to be on a lead at all times.. yay

I am a dog owner. I think this is very bad manners. I don't let my off lead dog approach people (being aware that not everyone likes them and some are scared of them) but sometimes they stop and encourage her over so they can stroke her (she is very appealing-looking) - rather annoying in the time of Covid.

No, YANBU.
There’s been an explosion of dog ownership since Covid, and many of them have incompetent owners with no idea of how to train a dog.
So, over the next few years I hope all the dog lovers are ready for increasingly draconian laws restricting the freedoms of your animals and the legal consequences for you. Driven by the incidents that will ensue from said dogs and owners.

No you're not being unreasonable at all.

But a load of dog owners will be along to tell you how cruel you are and how their dogs have every right to go everywhere, be into everything and how dare you even suggest otherwise. Much like the owner you met, in fact.

And dogs should be on short leads at all times if they have a habit of chasing or running up to people.

The best thing to do is cross your arms, ignore the dog and turn your back on it. Generally the dog is trying to get your attention.

Unfortunately, despite many owners doing their very best to train their dog, there are idiots who will pet or even worse, feed other people's dogs when the dog jumps up.

It doesn't make it right but does explain how difficult it can be. I speak from experience.

I once asked a guy not to feed my dog, not once but again and again. Just asking him should have been enough but I took the trouble to explain why. See above.

His response was that people who don't like dogs shouldn't be walking in the park. These people are nuts but what can you do?

I do like dogs but think that all owners of dogs should be able to control them. If you can’t control them when off a lead then keep them on a lead at all times. If your dog responds to your commands and doesn’t jump up at other walkers then i would say it’s fine to let them off the lead.

Not a dog bashing thread. More of a lazy dog owner bashing thread.

@cologne4711

No you're not being unreasonable at all.

But a load of dog owners will be along to tell you how cruel you are and how their dogs have every right to go everywhere, be into everything and how dare you even suggest otherwise. Much like the owner you met, in fact.

And dogs should be on short leads at all times if they have a habit of chasing or running up to people.

No they really won’t. Most dog owners wouldn’t let this happen or would be mortified if it did.

AuntieMarys and what do you do with your walking stick?

Yes she should have kept her dog under control, would a dog putting his muddy paw prints on me spoil my walk? No. Tend to get muddy trousers anyway this time of year, paw prints brush off easily. If you’re not scared by the fog I’m a bit meh tbh.

YANBU she's being an irresponsible dog owner. She'll be the same type of woman I shout at to get her dog to stop jumping on my dog who is afraid of other dogs. Oh she just wants to play. Yeah well my dog clearly doesn't.

My dog is a jumper. I keep her on a short lead. If someone asks to stroke her I say yes but make sure you tell her to sit of you dont want a bear hug. If you tell her to sit she'll sit for a fuss.