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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

304 replies

Trevorwhatever · 26/11/2020 13:31

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?

OP posts:
blowinahoolie · 26/11/2020 15:06

"That's why I take a walking stick."

🤣🤣

Welcometonowhere · 26/11/2020 15:08

I have to admit in all my years of dog walking it’s only happened to me once, and in fairness it was just a puppy. The owner apologised. I wish I had a slightly more dramatic tale to share.

QuentinWinters · 26/11/2020 15:08

As I said upthread, I'm not talking about my dog Grin
I'm talking about effective ways not to be jumped on, given that some dogs are clowns and some owners aren't fussed.
You can't expect "all owners must put their dog on a lead" but not consider modifying your own behaviour. Its a hiding to nothing.

Meraas · 26/11/2020 15:08

Plus people flapping when a dog approaches just look more interesting to the dog.

I also think the word 'flapping' reveals a real contempt for non-dog owners.

blowinahoolie · 26/11/2020 15:08

Had someone's Labrador jump up at me, it was excused away by the owner as her Labrador isn't trained. I would be embarrassed if it had been my dog. Even more reason to train a dog properly if it's large breed. Labrador or not. Even if it's friendly. Not all people like dogs.

Birdsandbeez · 26/11/2020 15:10

All animals should be in a zoo or on a plate and that includes dogs.

Meraas · 26/11/2020 15:10

You can't expect "all owners must put their dog on a lead" but not consider modifying your own behaviour. Its a hiding to nothing.

No, and I bet you would blame the victim if your dog bit them, for 'flapping'.

Welcometonowhere · 26/11/2020 15:10

I don’t think it does - some people do flap insofar as they wave their arms around. Some children especially will start screaming and running around and some dogs think that’s a game.

Welcometonowhere · 26/11/2020 15:11

God no biting is totally different. I have never had and never would have or tolerate an aggressive dog.

But I have known playful, stupid dogs. There’s a big difference although I appreciate that if you’re scared of them it isn’t very nice.

StrawBeretMoose · 26/11/2020 15:12

@Noddyandbiggerears

It’s more splashes and accidental flicks I was thinking of - not muddy paw prints which of course shouldn’t happen.
That makes sense @Noddyandbiggerears, I'd thought you were saying the OP's coat was the issue rather than the untrained dog.

I do think the majority of dog owners would take steps to prevent this, but equally I know some who can't control their own dogs properly (a neighbour ended up with a dislocated shoulder trying to stop her on lead dog doing this).
Then there will be some who don't give a shit, just as in all walks of life.

Milkshake7489 · 26/11/2020 15:14

I adore dogs but still think YANBU. Owners are responsible for their dogs, end of story.

A lovely friendly labrador nearly knocked me off my feet today. He was definitely just excited and wanted to say hello... but that doesn't change the fact that I'm 7 months pregnant and would rather not deal with a fall.

SomewhereInbetween1 · 26/11/2020 15:16

Is this a question you genuinely need help to find a conclusion to?

NuniaBeeswax · 26/11/2020 15:20

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

If only there were a million other threads on this exact same subject you could have looked at.

PattyPan · 26/11/2020 15:24

Yanbu, this is why I don’t go for a run in the park because I’m worried a dog will chase me. I bloody hate useless dog owners!

skybluee · 26/11/2020 15:26

The thing is a toddler has never attacked or scratched me, whereas dogs have - and bitten me.

I think a lot of this may depend on where you live in some ways.

mindutopia · 26/11/2020 15:27

Yes, happens every single time we try to take a walk. Honestly, I almost don't even go out for walks anymore as lazy dog owners are such a nightmare around here. Over the summer, dd had been playing in a river and was sat down in a field trying to put her shoes back on and a dog came running for her and knocked her over (you can imagine dog was bigger than she was given she was sitting down). Dog wouldn't recall and owner had to come over and pull it off her (was not being obviously aggressive, just 'friendly' as in trying to pin her to the ground). This happened not once, not twice, but three f ing times because the dog had no recall and as soon as owner dragged it away it came running right back for her.

Eventually, dd had to smack it in the face with her shoe (which she still hadn't been able to get on) a few times and I had to kick it before owner finally came to get it and physically carried it out of sight.

BashfulClam · 26/11/2020 15:38

I love it, I actually get down to the dogs level and play/wrestle them....I like dogs more than people though.

Welcometonowhere · 26/11/2020 15:39

That could have been really dangerous mind. How old is dd?

figgypudding24 · 26/11/2020 15:40

@Sertchgi123

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?

This. My dog is actually quite well trained and rarely ever jumped until recently where I've seen other dog owners have been ENCOURAGING her to jump up and then giving her a treat and or making a fuss of her! Fuming isn't even the word. I'm 7 months pregnant (starting to find it hard to sprint after her to stop this behaviour) and she is a fully grown 2 year old golden retriever so not a little dog to jump at people. Having to undo their stupidity is infuriating let alone worrying that she might do it to someone who is afraid/doesn't want a huge lolloping idiot of a dog to jump at them! Not to mention now instead of having a lovely walk with a dog that is usually friendly but good mannered - only approaching people (gently with all paws on the ground) when encouraged by them for a stroke. I now have a dog that thinks if she jumps at people she might get a treat! 2 years hard work being ruined, I'm having to start again not letting her off and having to retrain and change where I walk my dog to avoid these idiots!
Birdsandbeez · 26/11/2020 15:47

@NeonBella

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 couldn't agree more.

Theres nothing more annoying than having a quiet drink with friends when someone walks in with Fido and expects you to stroke the filthy slavvering beast while telling you all about how friendly he is.

They then get offended when you move to another table.

Rosebel · 26/11/2020 15:55

Where do people live where this happens so much? I have had it once in 40 years and a good portion of that was living in the countryside.
I have also had dogs and never let them jump at other people.
Does it really happen as much as people claim on MN?

IntermittentParps · 26/11/2020 15:56

She was a twat and you should have pursued her and said it had ruined your coat. I find usually dog owners are very apologetic if their dog even approaches me, let alone jumps up. I don't mind at all and sometimes I encourage it, if it looks like a friendly approach, but I always appreciate the politeness of an apology.

NataliaOsipova · 26/11/2020 16:00

Does it really happen as much as people claim on MN?

Yes!

Bobby28 · 26/11/2020 16:04

YANBU. I’m a dog lover and owner. If dogs have no re call and are prone to doing things like this they should be on a lead. My own dog can be a bit of a shit (a cute shit) so she’s always on a lead! Her re call is poop.

As much as I love dogs I get anxious when dogs approach me particularly if I have my dog too. She begs really stressed when dogs come running up close to her! (She got attacked by a group of bigger dogs and she’s never got over it)

LolaSmiles · 26/11/2020 16:05

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
Precisely my thoughts.

It's like the ones where someone says 'AIBU to think people should take their dog's poo to a bin and not leave bags hanging in the trees like poo baubles'.
Like anyone is going to say 'YABU poo baubles are the best'