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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:
lemonsquashie · 26/11/2020 19:37

Don't you just hate it when a dog jumps up at you and the the owner shouts over: don't worry, he's friendly/he won't hurt you!

midnightstar66 · 26/11/2020 19:43

I'm a dog owner and also hate this, and just unruly off lead dogs in general. Dpup sometimes barks at people if they come too close so I'm very careful where I let her off the lead and also remain vigilant and call her back regularly to enforce recall. I'm forever having dogs bound all over me and her in the park while the owners just look on lovingly. The worst at the moment is school pick up where a selection of mums with entire large Male dogs are standing gossiping while my tiny female on her first season is being terrorised on her lead. When I pick her up they are jumping up and it's causing her to become snappy. Owners oblivious! Grrrr. I'd never realised quite how inconsiderate some dog are until I got one myself!

Extraslice · 26/11/2020 20:42

@lemonsquashie yes usually accompanied with a laugh! Apparently I have to amend my dd’s behaviour so the dogs can do as they please

pickledplumjam · 26/11/2020 22:32

Dogs aren't robots. How do people think you train a dog not to jump? You let it meet people abs when you think it's consistent enough you let it off the lead. This doesn't always go to plan. Dogs don't sign an affidavit saying they now understand and will never jump. I really can't get excited about other people/animals infringing on my space. Shit happens. Kids kick balls when they shouldn't. Cats shit where they shouldn't. Young dogs jump when they shouldn't. Peoples kids play too loudly. But really is it that big a deal?

PurpleDandelions · 26/11/2020 22:41

when you've just had major abdo surgery then yes it is a big deal.

fortunately all but one of the dog owners near me are able to control their dogs

CurbsideProphet · 26/11/2020 22:47

YANBU. There is nothing wrong with not wanting random dogs to jump at you. Recently a dog off lead came charging towards me barking and growling. The owner said "oh he's just friendly" but then had to physically restrain him in order to let me walk past.

YellowPostItPad · 26/11/2020 22:56

I agree OP. I am frightened of dogs due to many negative experiences like this
Dog owners should not let their dogs jump up on people or run up to people barking - it is frightening to many people and it is unpleasant to have dog drool or mud put on your clothes.

Amidone · 26/11/2020 22:56

I hate it when this happens. I am totally with you OP.

YellowPostItPad · 26/11/2020 22:56

@Noddyandbiggerears

On the other hand - light coats and muddy parks are never a good idea!
Why would it matter what colour your coat is if you are walking through a park?
Skysblue · 26/11/2020 22:59

Yanbu. Fed up of getting muddy paw prints all over my coat. Love dogs. Hate strange barely- trained dogs jumping up at me.

Happymum12345 · 26/11/2020 23:32

Perhaps her dog jumped up at you because you smell tasty to a dog? I can’t imagine why else a dog would do that? Do you carry a meaty sandwich around in your pocket?

LioneIRichTea · 26/11/2020 23:43

I love dogs but the comment “ you shouldn’t be walking across fields if you don’t like dogs” is just ridiculous 😂😂😂

megletthesecond · 26/11/2020 23:52

Yanbu.
I love dogs, to the point I'll happily stop mid run if one wants to say hello. But owners who merrily brush off dogs jumping up really annoys me.
There's a woman at our parkrun with a bonkers collie and it's got mud over my coat a couple of times. She just laughs when it jumps up.

Lalliella · 26/11/2020 23:57

This gives me the absolute rage. If you can’t control your dog don’t let it off its lead.

timeforanewstart · 27/11/2020 00:14

I hate this too was out walking my dog when a lab came round the corner who had clearly been in the river who bounded up to me jumped up and nearly sent me flying ,the owners just looked at me and half apologised whilst dog ran off to do to next person
My dog doesn't jump up generally and I call him away when near anyone unless they ask if they can pet him etc, we may love him but I don't assume everyone else does

RattleOfBars · 27/11/2020 09:23

How do people think you train a dog not to jump? You let it meet people abs when you think it's consistent enough you let it off the lead. This doesn't always go to plan. Dogs don't sign an affidavit saying they now understand and will never jump.

You take it to training classes or train on your own land with friends/family. When you’re certain it’s recall is impeccable and it doesn’t jump up, you let it off and keep it to heel or within a couple of metres of you. You don’t just let it off and hope for the best!

What if it knocks over an elderly person or someone unsteady on their feet, or a child? What if it runs up to an on-lead dog (who is on-lead because it’s dog-aggressive and may react by attacking yours when it invaded his space?)

Pumkinseed · 27/11/2020 09:29

Yani, there are a lot of deluded dog owners out there who fail to understand that not everyone is feeling the love for their muddy and drooling canine friend.

I had an argument with a lady on the part. She had a rottweiler who wanted to jump onto me and I asked her to put the dog on the lead. She gave me a mouthful that he only wants to play. I don't frigging care if it wants to play. I am a) scared of big dogs and b) was in. wool coat which I did not want to get muddy.

in the end I had to walk back and take a different route as he would not put the dog on the lead. Some people are just irresponsible dog owners.

Ginandplatonic · 27/11/2020 09:30

Excellent. I’ve not seen a dog/dog owner bashing thread for a while. Since it is completely obvious you are not being unreasonable in this case I’m not sure what the point of this thread is, other than to invite the MN anti-dog brigade to pile on.

PawsAndPhytoncides · 27/11/2020 09:33

In several years of walking at least once a day - often twice or three times, I could count in single digits the number of times someone else dog has jumped up at me. That's walking in urban and rural settings all over the country.

No one is being unreasonable to not want to be jumped on. I actually think most dog owners realise that - and many deliberately walk in areas they are unlilely to meet other people. A good grovelling apology goes a long way if your (currently being trained) dog does get out of control and jumps up.

Time2change2 · 27/11/2020 09:43

The thing is many people would forgive if there was an apology, but so many times there isn’t. It’s like the dog owner simply doesn’t care.
How about I get my preschooler to Chuck some mud on your clothes and then just say ‘they only want to play’ smile and walk off

Getitdonesharpish · 27/11/2020 09:49

My kind of person pickledplumjam

SpectralPlot · 27/11/2020 10:01

Has anyone considered that the frequency of this topic coming up just might have a connection to the increasingly feckless owners?

I like dogs BTW.

Moistmolly · 27/11/2020 10:46

I keep a bag of doggy treats on me for such occasions. If the dog is interested in the food, it tends not to jump up Grin

emilyfrost · 27/11/2020 10:48

@pickledplumjam

Dogs aren't robots. How do people think you train a dog not to jump? You let it meet people abs when you think it's consistent enough you let it off the lead. This doesn't always go to plan. Dogs don't sign an affidavit saying they now understand and will never jump. I really can't get excited about other people/animals infringing on my space. Shit happens. Kids kick balls when they shouldn't. Cats shit where they shouldn't. Young dogs jump when they shouldn't. Peoples kids play too loudly. But really is it that big a deal?
Ahh, so you’re one of the owners that can’t control their dog.

You train your dog, but clearly that’s alien to you.

VinylDetective · 27/11/2020 11:07

Nobody can guarantee to control their dog 100% of the time any more than they can guarantee their child will always do as they’re told. That’s the problem with sentient beings. My dog has perfect recall 99.9% of the time but I would never be foolish enough to say she’s always going to come when I call.