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AIBU?

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Original poster

To have carried on running?

718 replies

OdettySpaghetti · 02/10/2021 08:06

Went for a run this morning. Ran past a couple of women with offlead dogs (cockapoo and a frenchie) which chased me as I passed them. They were not aggressive, more like running alongside me. The owners shouted of them but the dogs ignored them and carried on following me. I kept on running - before long we (me and dogs!) we’re quite a distance from the owners who were miles behind shouting and running (in a fashion) after us. I ran my usual route, off this path and into a wooded cut through, dogs still by my side. I’m getting pissed off at this point as I know I’m coming to a road and will need to stop so the owners can get their dogs. Sure enough I come to the road and stop. The dogs stop too and just start sniffing around but because we’re now close to a road I feel I have to take the dogs back before they dart across it so I head back the way I came, fuming that this has messed my run up. When the owners catch up one says “if you’d just stopped running we could have got them ages ago!” I replied that their dogs are not my responsibility to which they replied “no need to take them close to a main road though is there? Where is your common sense?” So livid now I say “get your fucking dogs under control, next time I don’t stop at the road”.

AIbU to have not wanted to mess my run up?

OP posts:
SnakesandKnives · 02/10/2021 13:25

Lol at the couple of posters who keep posting to make it seem like there is some balance to the views here and that not everyone thinks dogs should actually be controlled by their owners. Or at least the vast majority do anyway

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 13:25

Can we just sum it up with all the 'should/shouldn't' that everyone loves.

The owners should have kept the dogs on the lead.

The owners probably should have paid more attention and reacted sooner.

OP should have acted in a kind, if annoyed manner and stopped.

OP shouldn't have been a twat and continued to run knowing that after 1/2 mile and away from sight of their owners, they were unlikely to run back.

OP should have contributed to a potentially very dangerous situation by getting close to a road.

All concerned should have apologised.

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 13:26

Lol at the couple of posters who keep posting to make it seem like there is some balance to the views here and that not everyone thinks dogs should actually be controlled by their owners
Who is that?

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 13:27

OP should have contributed to a potentially very dangerous situation by getting close to a road
Oops, shouldn't have Grin

Bella43 · 02/10/2021 13:28

Posted before I was ready. I don't know what else to suggest apart from changing your route in the future. That's what I've had to do. I run near main roads where dogs can't be off leads. I know that's not much help to you know but just wanted to let you know that I get where you're coming from. I've been chased by dogs and had dogs run towards me which is scary.

PlonkyWillyWonky · 02/10/2021 13:29

Tsk @vivainsomnia don't be so bloody sensible and using your common sense
Grin

Luanna1 · 02/10/2021 13:31

Oh it didn't take long for the 'be kind' brigade to appear on this thread, did it?!

IvyM · 02/10/2021 13:33

The dogs thought you were playing with them, and while they're not your responsibility if by stopping 1 min you're making someone's day better why not do that kindness. Dogs need to run off lead every day to stay healthy and they learn perfect recall by being off lead. If they would have run into that road and got hit by a car they're masters would have felt like their children got hit by a car. It's not our responsibility to be kind but random acts of kindness do make our world better.

Moonface123 · 02/10/2021 13:34

What a thoroughly miserable bunch you are saying you would have kept running.
How incredibly petty, l would have stopped running, it wouldn't have hurt, people have become so bloody obnoxious around dogs.
Run on a treadmill if you don't want your run "messed up "

icedcoffees · 02/10/2021 13:34

You’re not a runner are you? My dh would be so cross if he had to stop his run because of people who can’t control their dogs.

No, but why is that relevant? It wouldn't hurt your DH to jog on the spot for a few seconds while the dogs were put on the lead, would it?

What happened to being kind?

AnneElliott · 02/10/2021 13:35

I don't think YABU. The owners should have their dogs under co trip - what if someone was to steal one? They're making it so easy!

Not everyone likes dogs and wonders need to realise that. DS was chased by a puppy on a beach when he was about 2. DS was terrified and running in circles and the pup was only playing. But the wonders laughed - until I picked up their precious pup. Then they couldn't move quick enough.

I would never have hurt him but of course they weren't to know that. Just as my DS didn't know that the bouncy puppy wouldn't bite. Hopefully they got the point.

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 13:36

@PlonkyWillyWonky GrinGrin

Oh it didn't take long for the 'be kind' brigade to appear on this thread, did it?!
Oh no, didn't realised I belonged to a brigade for believing that kind actions are usually the best ones!

Are we not allowed to promote kindness on MN?

WaltzingBetty · 02/10/2021 13:41

[quote vivainsomnia]@PlonkyWillyWonky GrinGrin

Oh it didn't take long for the 'be kind' brigade to appear on this thread, did it?!
Oh no, didn't realised I belonged to a brigade for believing that kind actions are usually the best ones!

Are we not allowed to promote kindness on MN?[/quote]
Why do you only seem to think the OP should have been kind though ? - you missed out where the dog owners should have been kind enough not to allow their pets to be a nuisance, kind enough to take responsibility, kind enough to apologise to her for their dogs chasing and disrupting her activity.

The thing is when you use 'kindness' to try and prove a one-sided point, it isn't actual kindness or decency. It's a rather obvious attempt at manipulation by claiming moral superiority.

That's not actually 'kind'

RobinPenguins · 02/10/2021 13:42

@IvyM

The dogs thought you were playing with them, and while they're not your responsibility if by stopping 1 min you're making someone's day better why not do that kindness. Dogs need to run off lead every day to stay healthy and they learn perfect recall by being off lead. If they would have run into that road and got hit by a car they're masters would have felt like their children got hit by a car. It's not our responsibility to be kind but random acts of kindness do make our world better.
Your dog being hit by a car is absolutely nothing like your child being hit by a car, FFS. That’s such an offensive comparison. Try a random act of kindness of your by not making such absolutely ludicrous statements.
jajabanks · 02/10/2021 13:44

I have a dog and would need t expect you to stop. I don't let my dog off lead as I don't trust it to come back a 100% of the time. The owners shouldn't let theirs off either and are dick heads to have a go at you. Not your problem

RudestLittleMadam · 02/10/2021 13:49

Wow OP they’ve got quite some cheek! You’re right, their dogs, their responsibility. This includes making sure they don’t let them off the lead if they don’t have good recall.

PlonkyWillyWonky · 02/10/2021 13:52

@WaltzingBetty, did you ignore her previous post and just wade on in there???
Give
Me
Strength

Gingerwarthog · 02/10/2021 13:52

@fluffedup

I don't think there's anything wrong at all with keeping on running (that's what I used to do, back when I could run) or with getting aggressive and saying you won't stop at the road next time, because the owners deserve that. We all know you would actually stop - it's not the dogs' fault - just the owners who are arseholes.

I was standing by my back gate a few weeks back checking on some shrubs. A dog being walked off lead starting barking at me, so I turned away and ignored it. The owner made no attempt to call it back. It then jumped up at me and muddied my trousers. The owner said it was because I was standing still!

I've had this too when out running. Muddied running kit, torn kit when dogs have jumped up. Even scratches. Sometimes you make a decision to run on to avoid this -and OP had no way of knowing how long the dogs would follow her. Dog owners who use long trailing leads and key their dogs walk on the opposite side of a path to them oblivious to other pedestrians are also being irresponsible in my opinion. Trip hazard.
DietrichandDiMaggio · 02/10/2021 13:53

@PlonkyWillyWonky

Would it really have hurt you just to have jogged on the spot for a few minutes? A bit of kindness goes a long way
Only a non-runner would suggest 'jogging' on the spot.
venusandmars · 02/10/2021 13:56

Hmm, a bit difficult. I puppy walk for guide dogs. Recall training is massively important, however with my most recent pup I didn't know she would follow a runner UNTIL it actually happened. And like you, the runner didn't stop. So (as an unfit 60 year old) I was trying my best to chase after them.. Now I look out for runners and make sure the dog is under control, but I didn't know it would happen that first time.

And yes, I was really pissed off with the runner who clearly knew the dog was running with her.

SusieBob · 02/10/2021 13:57

Yes, the owners were being dicks but I would have stopped (and have stopped on runs when dogs have got a bit friendly) when if became clear the dogs were going to continue chasing. It's just better for all involved.

SusieBob · 02/10/2021 13:59

"My dh would be so cross if he had to stop his run because of people who can’t control their dogs."

How does he cope if he has to cross a road or if someone else dares to be on the pavement?

Sometimes (and I say this as a 50 mile a week runner) you have to stop a bit and that isn't suddenly going to mess a run up. If you want to run completely uninterrupted go to a track or use a treadmill.

Mummyoflittledragon · 02/10/2021 14:02

@WaltzingBetty
I didn’t criticise the op for being able to run. I said she is lucky. And that running is self actualisation. It is her and a lot of runner’s presumptions that people can run after their dogs to catch them and I framed it in terms of waiting for dog owners as a societally responsible thing to do and what I do.

My dogs don’t go off with every runner or dog and if they did, I wouldn’t be able to take them out as a walk for them is more of a run around as I can’t go far. But if they did, I wouldn’t be able to catch them.

In any case, your tone in other posts makes me think I’m happy inside my head thanks.

PlonkyWillyWonky · 02/10/2021 14:03

@DietrichandDiMaggio 🙄 if you say so...

WaltzingBetty · 02/10/2021 14:03

[quote PlonkyWillyWonky]@WaltzingBetty, did you ignore her previous post and just wade on in there???
Give
Me
Strength[/quote]
@PlonkyWillyWonky

You mean the one where she said The owners probably should have paid more attention and reacted sooner.

Yeah thanks I read that. It doesn't remotely change my point
You seem to have ignored the fact that I've already posted several times though and simply 'waded in' to accuse me of wading in.
Makes you look a bit foolish.

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