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?

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.

It's not dog-bashing to be annoyed at at the owner for not controlling her dog. OP is perfectly entitled to post about it.

Dog not fog -always be scared of fog -just watch The Mist

I have a dog and I'd still be pissed off if someone else's dog did that to me

I’ve had so many dogs jump up at me while my baby is in a carrier on me. The owners have pretty much all said “oh look, he wants to say hello to the baby” or similar. Meanwhile I’m shit scared that the dog is going to take a mouthful of baby foot.

I like dogs but this really pisses me off.

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.

I was thinking the same thing. I'm out multiple times a day in places dog walkers frequent and have never come across this. Every second day there is a thread here about dogs jumping up or whatever by people who are clearly not being unreasonable(and know they aren't which makes me wonder why do they all feel the need to post about it), of course dogs shouldn't jump up on strangers but you know that so quite why you can't just seek out one of the other 10million threads on this topic and post your moan there instead of making another thread in the same thing is beyond me.

@OuiOuiKitty or alternatively you could read another thread if this one annoys you so much.

Tedious, isn’t it? I walk our dog every day, meet at least six dogs every time and it never happens to me.
I’ve never had a random dog jump over me either - I feel a little left out.

I do wish there was a bit more variety in the dog bashing threads though.
“I was out today and a labradoodle gave me a dirty look. I feel completely humiliated and think both dog and owner should he put down. Aibu?
Have been shaking and crying ever since”

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.

Yes this. I try really hard to stop my dog jumping up and he has great recall. But he's also cute so loads of random people actively encourage him to jump up for a cuddle which makes my training harder because they effectively reward him.

Plus people flapping when a dog approaches just look more interesting to the dog. Just stop, don't look at them, turn your back. They are much less likely to jump up than if you start shouting at the owner and flapping about.

Would the belligerently entitled dog owners keep to their own separate places, allowing others to use open spaces? The others include those who are too frail and will easily fall to the ground, those with walking problems, elderly people, small people, those with allergies, with traumatic histories, ground living wildlife and ground nesting birds, and of course farm stock.

Yanbu. They also have claws, a dog jumped up on my elderly nana and gave her a skin tear.

Plus people flapping when a dog approaches just look more interesting to the dog. Just stop, don't look at them, turn your back. They are much less likely to jump up than if you start shouting at the owner and flapping about.

Sounds like a badly trained dog rather than people 'flapping'. Keep your dog on a lead if you can't control it.

We shouldn't have to stand still or shout the owner. The owner should pre-empt the situation and not allow the animal to approach others. No behaviour modification needed on the part of the walker.
Some dog owners do manage this. I suspect these are the ones who use the ample litter bins rather than creating a dog poo tree.
I love animals, I'm not keen on those dog owners who think their dog is more important than people or those who can't be bothered to look after them properly.

I keep getting the "he's just being friendly" brigade letting their off-lead dogs jump up at my two year old who is just walking along nicely holding my hand. No running or flapping or anything. One of them knocked him over yesterday

My DD is terrified of dogs and we get this a lot round here, rural, big fields, big dogs running off lead. I have to say MOST owners are great. I or DD, will call to owner that DD is afraid of dogs, and most will call back and put on lead. Some have even had a chat with DD, and offered her the chance to get to know the dog, all actually really helpful, especially when they are big hounds. On the other hand there are a couple of walkers, who relish in their dogs jumping up on everyone, and seem to think it is hilarious..... it's not.

We regularly pop in to a local jewellers who has a great dane, and DD spends time with him as he is so docile. I only note this, as to how lovely some dog owners are, others, not so much.

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.

Sounds like a badly trained dog rather than people 'flapping'. Keep your dog on a lead if you can't control it.
My dog isn't a problem. Like I say, he's got good recall.
I run and often get dogs running up to me, if I stop running and turn my back they go away, if I keep running, looking at them and trying to stay out of their way they think its a game and chase me.
Dogs aren't robots and are affected by those around them as well as their owners.

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.

What a load of old shite. The majority of dog owners are sensible and responsible. I (and all the people I walk my dog with) would be mortified if our dogs did this to anyone. Dogs shouldn't be off lead in any public space of their recall is any less than perfect.

I think people who say "keep your dog on a lead unless it 100% never jumps up/goes up to people" are the same people who get annoyed about toddlers being in supermarkets in case they have a tantrum

Also - how do you train a young dog to have perfect recall in all situations if its not allowed off lead where there are distractions?

I'm a dog owner and yanbu. I keep my dog on a short leash around others to prevent them doing this.

@QuentinWinters

I think people who say "keep your dog on a lead unless it 100% never jumps up/goes up to people" are the same people who get annoyed about toddlers being in supermarkets in case they have a tantrum

Yep!

Plus people flapping when a dog approaches just look more interesting to the dog. Just stop, don't look at them, turn your back. They are much less likely to jump up than if you start shouting at the owner and flapping about

Your dog should be kept on a lead if he’s still being trained not to approach people. Train him on your own land or at a dog training class, not somewhere he’ll be a nuisance to other people.

People tend to ‘flap about’ and shout at the owner because they’re scared. Or because they’re trying to shoo your dog away from their kids or baby in pram. Not everyone knows (or feels able) to turn their back on a dog and ignore it, they feel threatened or cross and react accordingly.

My DD has been knocked face down in the mud by enthusiastic dogs more than once, it put her off the park and nature walks for over a year.

On mn it's very much frowned upon to not absolutely love all dogs.
Personally I can't stand 99% of them. Me and dc have had random dogs jumping at us and it's horrible.
After telling people they need to control their dogs I normally get them swearing at me or them acting all confused because they're friendly and just want to play!
They then get very offended when I reply that I don't want to play with their dog(s)!

I think people who say "keep your dog on a lead unless it 100% never jumps up/goes up to people" are the same people who get annoyed about toddlers being in supermarkets in case they have a tantrum grin

Er, no. The two situations aren't comfortable. A toddler in a supermarket isn't likely to get muddy feet marks on OP's coat.

*comparable