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?

I should add my 'attacks' were on a bike path...you know, where someone should reasonably be able to move on without dog attacks....

It's a minority of dog owners who are irresponsible.

You keep saying this, but I'm telling you that my experience is that around half of the dogs I have encountered recently have been poorly controlled with owners who have done nothing to apologise. I believe you that this hasn't been your experience, and I'm prepared to accept that this may be unusual or that I have been particularly unlucky, or that the kind of owners who walk their dogs in the places I go tend towards being a bit rubbish, but I definitely recognise the feeling expressed by others on this thread that this attitude is on the increase.

@CunnyLingus

A pair of shoes with a stout tip works well. A swift kick to make the point brings matters to a good conclusion.

Disgusting

There does have to be more control of dogs.

There should be enforceable rules such as -
Dogs must be on leads in public places.
Short Lead lengths specified in public places
If dogs are left to bark inside or outside then owners should be warned, then fined
Dogs allowed out without owner - warning, then fine
Serious fines for allowing dogs to foul public areas.

Dog and owner places should be developed for dogs to exercise
Dog licenses brought back in

I had something similar happen this week. I was sat on a bench breastfeeding my baby and an English bulldog came over and started trying to lick my baby and got mud all over my jeans. The owner (who was with two mates) was shouting at the dog to come back but it wasn’t paying attention to its owner which panicked me so I stood up to get the baby out of its reach and my baby was surprised and popped off my nipple and I ended up flashing all three guys with my entire boob....

Some of these comments are just awful.

If a dog comes bounding up to me I will assume it's friendly unless it gives me a reason not to. It's very unusual for a dog to randomly attack a person, especially a random member of the public in a public place. You will know if it's an aggressive dog as opposed to a friendly dog by the dog's body language. A dog bounding up to someone is not an aggressive act, nor is it a precursor to biting.

Yes, I understand it is annoying to people not interested in interacting with dogs but to kick or hit an animal for being annoying? What kind of person does that.

I can honestly say I would be so angry if someone hit my dog because she annoyed them. I would rather they hit me. I'm not a voilent person by any means but if you hurt my dog I can't say I wouldn't hurt you back, I can definitely say I would be phoning 999 and reporting you for animal cruelty.

I hate it too. Someone and there dog walked past me an my 18 month old earlier ..my child wasn’t even that interested in the dog an she let it come right up to him and said “ oh does he want to say hello” I said” oh better not do I don’t let him stroke strangers dogs” She was soooo offended ! Actually I don’t want your stinky potentially vicious dog coming near my child thanks !

And I’m sick of seeing dog shits and bags of dog shit dumped all round the parks 🤮

I love dogs and have owned a few over the years. I would never let my dog big or small run up to anyone particularly now as more people are using parks you don't know is they are scared are not.

My friend has a teeny docile dog and when a few of us met up when we could another friend was terrified quite sacred and I was shocked as she is quite a formidable woman and I think you have to respect that not everyone is comfortable with dogs. 

@hf2345

And I’m sick of seeing dog shits and bags of dog shit dumped all round the parks 🤮

I know it's just vomitus isn't it 🤢 and it's just everywhere Little bags of dog faeces as far as the eye can see 🤮

I can honestly say I would be so angry if someone hit my dog because she annoyed them. I would rather they hit me. I'm not a voilent person by any means but if you hurt my dog I can't say I wouldn't hurt you back, I can definitely say I would be phoning 999 and reporting you for animal cruelty.

blackkitty1234 If your animal came bounding up to me, I wouldn’t be waiting around to find out if it was friendly or aggressive, because it’s clearly already out of control as you’ve allowed it to bound over.

I would be right there with you on the phone call too, as I would happily let them know about your out of control dog off a leash.

Along with the warning you’d receive for keeping your animals in check, you’d also be given a severe warning and perhaps a fine for wasting police time calling 999 when it wasn’t an emergency.

YANBU and I say that as a dog owner of two very interested and excitable dogs. Leashes are necessary if a dog owner can't control their dog/their dog isn't trained well.

A dog bounding up to someone is not an aggressive act, nor is it a precursor to biting

No but it can easily be a precursor to someone getting knocked down or someone getting mud or dog slobber on them.

@hf2345

And I’m sick of seeing dog shits and bags of dog shit dumped all round the parks 🤮

We all are. Dog owners particularly. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve picked up shit irresponsible dog owners have left and the number of abandoned poo bags I’ve picked up and taken to a bin.

I’m really sick of all dogs and their owners being tarred with the same brush. Incidentally my dog isn’t “stinky”, hence my most dog averse friend saying incredulously “But she doesn’t smell!”. No, because she’s healthy and regularly bathed.

I can honestly say I would be so angry if someone hit my dog because she annoyed them. I would rather they hit me. I'm not a voilent person by any means but if you hurt my dog I can't say I wouldn't hurt you back, I can definitely say I would be phoning 999 and reporting you for animal cruelty.

And here we have it. The absolute worst dog owner. So you'd let your out of control dog bound up to someone, they bat it off because they don't want your mutt to do that, and you escalate the situation by then assaulting the person. I can see the headlines now. You wouldn't be painting yourself in glory here that's for sure.

I like dogs but omg it's so annoying when they do that. I've had clothing ruined by excited dogs jumping up where their claws pull the threads of clothing. I once had tights on and it was a dog owned by someone I know actually, the dog split my tights and cut my leg with its claw it jumped at me so forcibly it really hurt.

A dog bounding up to someone is not an aggressive act, nor is it a precursor to biting

This is how many people develop a fear of dogs! It's a natural reaction to fear any uninvited 'bounding up' on you. And, in many cases the bounding up does precede a bite!

Most of us don't want an animal 'bounding up' on us!

Dog owners just need to stop their pet dog bounding up on people!

@Kaliorphic

I can honestly say I would be so angry if someone hit my dog because she annoyed them. I would rather they hit me. I'm not a voilent person by any means but if you hurt my dog I can't say I wouldn't hurt you back, I can definitely say I would be phoning 999 and reporting you for animal cruelty.

And here we have it. The absolute worst dog owner. So you'd let your out of control dog bound up to someone, they bat it off because they don't want your mutt to do that, and you escalate the situation by then assaulting the person. I can see the headlines now. You wouldn't be painting yourself in glory here that's for sure.

That’s unreasonable. You don’t know me or my dog, if you did then you would know that she’s a nervous rescue who doesn’t get off her lead. I don’t think people should go round abusing animals because a dog jumped up at them. Why should the dog suffer because it has a rubbish owner? There is no excuse for animal abuse.

@MoreLikeThis
Yes, it’s unacceptable. Literally nobody is saying it’s ok.

@emilyfrost
Do you work with the police because you seem to think you know it all? In my experience the police won’t come out unless a dog has actually injured a person. I had to report an out of control dog, and they directed me to the council dog warden who was worse than useless. I think the owners got a verbal warning which was pretty pathetic considering how out of control their dog was. I complained to the police after that who explained that although the incident met the criteria for the Dangerous Dogs Act, it was extremely unlikely that it would be pursued by the prosecuting fiscal due to low priority. You are being extremely naive if you think the police would come out because a dog jumped up at you.

I wouldn’t hesitate to call the police if I saw anyone abusing an animal. If a dog jumps up at you, why don’t you hit the owners and not the poor dog, because that is where the blame really lies.

You don't know me or my dog
I don't know you and I don't need to know you, you are not my problem and your dog should not be my problem
Keep it away from me
Thank you

@blackkitty1234 You are aware I never said I would call the police, yes?

I said I would stand there while you did and watch you be penalised for wasting police time—on an emergency number no less for a non-emergency—and an out of control dog if you’re letting it jump up at people.

Your dogs history and circumstances are irrelevant. If you cannot train your animal you keep them on a lead.

Why don't you hit the owners and not the dog
Because then I'm in a fight with a thug AND it's dog!

@StoneofDestiny

A dog bounding up to someone is not an aggressive act, nor is it a precursor to biting

This is how many people develop a fear of dogs! It's a natural reaction to fear any uninvited 'bounding up' on you. And, in many cases the bounding up does precede a bite!

Most of us don't want an animal 'bounding up' on us!

Dog owners just need to stop their pet dog bounding up on people!

Literally nobody is saying it’s okay. I was just responding to all these twits that think it’s fine to go round hitting and kicking animals.

You clearly don’t know a thing about dogs or canine behaviour if you think ‘bounding’ is a precursor to aggression.

@emilyfrost
I only said I would call the police if someone abused an animal and yes, I DO think animal abuse is an emergency.

@Yohoheaveho
Then don’t go round making assumptions and calling people bad dog owners when you don’t know them or they may quickly become your problem.

I only said I would call the police if someone abused an animal and yes, I DO think animal abuse is an emergency.

blackkitty1234 Defending yourself against an animal jumping up at you is perfectly justified and is not even close to animal abuse, so yes, you would be penalised for wasting police time and having an out of control mutt.