To expect dog walkers to keep their giant dogs on leash around other peiple

[Thewithesarehere]

I am still quite sick after seeing a dog, nearly my DC’s size, running after my DC knocking them to the ground and running over them.
DC is covered in mud. I was taking a picture of them running to me and it happened in a flash. I shouted at the dog owner who something like put your own children on leash.
Why the hell people don’t keep such huge dogs and then let them off leash in a public park around children? DV is covered in mud, shivering and complaining that their leg hurts where it hit a rock and that they are scared of dogs. I wish I had done more but don’t know what else I could have done.
AIBU in feeling bloody furious?

Theres a certain large woodland near me (where I was bitten by the dog) and I just won't go running there any more, as its just constantly being bothered by dogs. I don't know how anyone actually walking their dog can bear it. Friends with horses no longer ride there any more and signs have been put up complaining about mountain bikers but I can't say I've ever seen one - I'm convinced the whole wood has been effectively taken over by aggressive dog walkers.

I also had horrible abuse shouted at me by some guy with a German Shepherd type dog which repeatedly ran in front of me as I tried to go past him and jumped up at me, while he watched, making no attempt to call it off. He started filming me on his phone and was very much trying to twist it into somehow being my fault. It was the weirdest thing ever.

(I have nothing against dogs! - I have noticed that some of them don't like people running though as it "causes their dogs to chase you" - well not if your dog was on the lead or you'd bothered to train him/her!

I understand all the responsible owners feeling hard done to at the thought that they and their dogs are penalised because of the other sort, but these are really not rare occurrences. I walk and run in our local woodland regularly. I'd say it's very rare to be out for an hour or more and not have a dog either run round my ankles, which is very dangerous if you're running or jump up at me making me muddy.

I have to agree though, that usually the big dogs are properly trained, it's the little ones owners seem to have no control over.

It’s nothing to do with the size of the dog or whether it is on a lead.

It’s everything to do with the behaviour and temperament of the dog and whether it will recall reliably.

These threads seem to appear every couple of days on here and it infuriates me every time. It tends to be small dogs who are badly behaved IME, jumping up and getting your clothes filthy, while the owner just laughs. If my, somewhat larger, dog jumped at somebody, I’d (rightly) get a proper earful off someone, but it seems to be fine when it’s a little thing.

Agree 100%. Happened to me as a 3 year old. I am in my 40s and I am still scared of digs. Utterly ruined part of my life. I cannot take my kids to the park or a walk in the woods on my own. I can’t visit friends with dogs.

It is utterly awful.

Why cannot owners keep their dogs on a lead? Or why are there not designated dog walking areas? It is utterly unacceptable that dogs can run up and jump at me and my kids.

I wish there was political appetite to do something about it.

[quote LST]@OP yes but as I have said I dont drive so a dog park miles away would be no use to me. Why should I have to put up with my dog being harrased by badly behaved dogs or kids? Same both ways. I hate idiot dogs owners as much as you as it means everyone tars all dog owners with the same brush. [/quote]
I am sorry but I don’t think we can agree on this. The second incidence was when a dog owner led their lead-free dog jump right at some children, including mine, that were coming out of our local splash pool. Today, we had enough layers in to potentially stop or break a bite. But I am not ready to accept that sort of danger around my children. I just wish I had done more this morning. I just sort of froze and then shouted.

I had a dog knock over my DC once (He was walking down a path, dog ran up to him and jumped up at him) some owners are nicompoops

In my experience most people are not fully in control of their dogs. Some are and it’s a pleasure to watch. Unless we’re in a quiet open field ours are on leads. One of our dogs hates being harassed by other dogs he doesn’t know - the number of people who let their dogs come up to harass him is unbelievable. Infuriating.

There are responsible dog owners, for sure. But that's life, isn't it? A lot of rules/laws come about because some idiots mess it up for others.

@Thewithesarehere

One picture caught everything in one shot.

What has happened around us is the victims are putting them on the social media pages. Some included the owners which sent them ballistic when they found out....but there wasn't much sympathy for the owners and their out of control dogs.

Is a modern version of community shaming really. Personally I view that all dogs in a public place should be on a lead and some breeds muzzled

@op agree to disagree then. I'm just happy knowing my dog will never ever be made to be kept on a lead in his lifetime.

I’m a dog owner and while I agree that lack of training is the real issue, I do personally think a dog’s size has to be considered when around other people/dogs. A larger dog can be truly terrifying, whereas a little Corgi or Yorkie coming fairly close or trotting past someone on a path isn’t going to intimidate most people.

I love dogs but would be terrified of a German Shepherd or a Wolfhound came anywhere near me, simply because I know they could seriously injure me. A German Shepherd attacked my dog a few months ago and it was horrible- he yapped at her when she came close to us and she got irritated with him, I suppose. Her owner was very apologetic, but I still remember those teeth!

Of course people can trip over a small dog as well so that can’t be ignored.

I get the frustration but dog parks are not the answer.

Dog parks put lots of highly excited dogs, often of varied ages and sizes, together in a relatively small space.
That is a recipe for disaster!

Shy dogs or dogs who don’t particularly want to socialise with other dogs are run at and jumped all over and lots of fights can break out as a result.

I can guarantee 100% if I took my dog to a dog park she’d be completely overwhelmed and traumatised.

Not all dogs should be on lead 24/7 either, some very active dogs really do need to run about to be exercised adequately.

I’m so sorry that your DC have been victims of poor dog owners, we aren’t all like that and I absolutely understand the anger but enforcing 100% leash only except for the dog park is not the solution.

I understand that for some dog owners, their dog's welfare and interests are paramount.

Obviously, however, other people are not going to place such a priority on other people's dogs welfare and interests. And if, what seems to be a growing number of arrogant and badly behaved owners continue to allow their dogs to be a nuisance, and sometimes a dangerous one, it's very likely that these dog owners are going to spoil it for all dog owners, as there will be growing pressure and will to enact laws that restrict their dogs freedom of movement.

I do think that the covid restrictions have exacerbated this issue. There are more first time dog owners about with Lockdown dogs. Also because we are more restricted areas that are pretty much deserted dog walking areas in normal times are obviously being used by families for exercising themselves and their children.

Everyone needs to adapt.

I walk my 1 year old Golden Retriever off the lead over the fields but on the lead in the park. Today when there were loads of children around I slipped the lead back on when there were young ones about, she normally ignores children but I can't take the risk of her accidentally knocking one over.

Dog owners just need to exercise some common sense. Sadly not all do.

Your issue is with the dog owner, OP.
For them tk respond 'put your child on a leash' is really, really odd and awful.

Let's hope most owners would be hugely apologetic - I know I would be (even though my dog is very well trained and this would be unlikely to happen).

You seem to be winding yourself up quite a bit via this post, though. You may be better off coming off, calming down and stopping catastrophising.

@cantdothisnow1
"Everyone needs to adapt. "

No the dog owners should be responsible and keep their dog on a lead

@normalmumandwife if they aren't trained.

[quote Normalmumandwife]@cantdothisnow1
"Everyone needs to adapt. "

No the dog owners should be responsible and keep their dog on a lead[/quote]
Not all dogs need to be kept on leads all of the time. Dogs need to be able to run.

Dogs need to be on leads if they can't be trusted off them.

If people are walking in known dog walking areas then they should expect that there will be some dogs off the lead, they should not expect to be attacked or jumped up by the dogs. I'm not talking about national trust places. i'm talking about fields that when there is not a pandemic are pretty much exclusively used for the purposes of exercising dogs or possibly by runners.

In public places all dogs should be on leads. Things would be safer and there would be less confusion about which dog owner is responsible for their dog mess.

@StoneofDestiny completely disagree. Not fair in the slightest and hopefully will never happen

@HeelsHandbagPerfumeCoffee - No doubt the doggy apologists will be along shortly to make out it’s your fault and you should have known better

Really? I have never once, in the millions of threads about this topic, seen anyone actually say this. The consensus by dog owners is always that dogs should be under control and should not be off lead if they cannot behave.

Some dog owners do ask that parents keep their children under control as parents often let their dc harass dogs without asking.

In both situations they are asshole adults who are inconsiderate of others by not having their dog or child under effective control. Consideration and respect for others goes a long way towards ensuring public spaces are enjoyed by all.

I have more of an issue with the ankle bitters snarling and snapping at my dogs whilst they are on a lead! Ankle bitters allowed to run free to attack. All dog's should be trained and not allowed to knock children flying.

Ive found some dog owners seem to find “off lead” as some sort of status. Many owners at our local park still snort at us because we refuse to let our dog offlead (because he is an utter shithead mentalist and won’t come back and would also probably clothesline a child in the name of play), so he’s never off lead. But these peoples dogs are off lead and have gone for my dog and other dogs, they don’t come back, one just runs over the bloody main road when it fancies. Yet they act so superior with their leads around their necks while their untrained dogs are causing loads of chaos. I wouldn’t mind a law similar to Canada tbh.

But at the end of the day this dog (and all dogs who are allowed to run up and approach people with no immediate recall) would be classed as being dangerously out of control and could see the owners liable for fines or prison. Report wherever you can op. It’s not right people getting away with being lazy owners!

@cantdothisnow1 - completely agree.

I've spent around 1-2hrs a day at nearby fields for the last 5 years. Pre-COVID, they were almost entirely and exclusively used to exercise dogs off lead.

Since COVID there have been some walkers / families. Typically not dressed for the weather / wrong footwear for the mud and sodden ground.

I'm sure when restrictions are lifted, they'll be gone again.

There is still not excuse for allowing your dog to run out of control, and to not be utterly mortified if your dog DOES, for whatever reason, knock someone over, is really awful behaviour.