Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
purplesequins · 02/10/2021 16:00

@JaniieJones

'Then how do idiot owners learn? They won't change their behaviour or 'be kind' themselves unless there are consequences.'

They don't learn but as I said running off with dogs running after you is never going to help is it. You can't teach everyone a lesson! just deal with situations as they arise. Jogging on the spot to allow them to grab the dog is not a hardship surely.

keeping dogs on a lead is not really hardship either...
NotAnotherPylon · 02/10/2021 16:05

@purplesequins I started writing a similar post earlier about the amazing disappearance of untrained dogs when it rains, but deleted it by mistake. Part of the reason I like running in the rain is precisely because of this!

AlthoughTheyFlyByJumboJet · 02/10/2021 16:05

They obviously should have kept their dogs under control, on leads, but once you saw they were sticking with you, you might as well have stopped then. You knew your route took you across a road, and it was clear they weren't giving up following you.

Annoying for you, but you ended up having to stop anyway. Might as well have done it earlier and had it over with.

bettyboodecia · 02/10/2021 16:08

Idiot owners. YANBU. You have no moral responsibility to stop at the road either.

icedcoffees · 02/10/2021 16:09

@mumof2exhausted

Urghh to all those saying you should have stopped your run / run back are clearly not runners!! I wouldn’t have stopped at all. If you are training why should your run be ruined
Because some things are actually more important than a training run or getting a PB.

Personally I think it takes a spectacularly selfish person to deliberately continue to run towards a road with unleashed dogs following them.

Stopping isn't really a big hardship.

mbosnz · 02/10/2021 16:17

The post by one poster, where she pointed out that she spends pretty much all her time caring for others, being generous, thoughtful, putting others before self, except for when she's running. That's her one time 'off the clock' where she gets to do what she wants, for herself, just focussing on what she wants to do.

We perhaps shouldn't assume that a stranger has any more 'be nice' left in the tank.

It might have been nicer to stop and let the dog walkers mooch on over at their leisure to assume some responsibility for their dogs, but ultimately, the runner is under no obligation to do so. Perhaps these dog walkers should bear that in mind - someone who was less 'nice', might just have continued to carry on regardless.

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 02/10/2021 16:22

[quote NotAnotherPylon]@purplesequins I started writing a similar post earlier about the amazing disappearance of untrained dogs when it rains, but deleted it by mistake. Part of the reason I like running in the rain is precisely because of this![/quote]
Oh wow

NEver thought of this but so true!!

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 02/10/2021 16:23

Because some things are actually more important than a training run or getting a PB.

Agreed.

An inconsiderate and entitled stranger dog owner and the dog are NOT two of them Grin

Rosebel · 02/10/2021 16:32

When the dogs kept running after a few minutes didn't you think it might be a good idea to wait for the owners, as obviously you were going to have to at some point?
No it's not your responsibility and they should be under control or on a lead but personally would have waited after a minute or two.

StoneofDestiny · 02/10/2021 16:32

Bloody dogs and their bloody owners!! You were definitely not in the wrong for trying to continue your run. The owners should have better control

Agree 100%
I'd have kept running as being chased by two strange dogs of any size would have scared me to run even faster.
The dog owners are entitled idiots.

pinkhampoppy · 02/10/2021 16:33

I agree they should be under control and if they like to run away with runners should be on a lead.

However, I have dogs, and if it had been me I would have stopped much sooner so the owners could get them under control and my run would have carried on as normal.

You knew there was going to be danger ahead, the problem could have been solved without ruining your run.

sunflowerdaisies · 02/10/2021 16:34

@EmbarrassingAdmissions

Yes I'm a runner, parkrun run director and boot club member. Maybe it's because used to sharing spaces I don't get annoyed by dogs, children, cyclists etc.

icedcoffees · 02/10/2021 16:40

@Reallyimeanreally2022

*Because some things are actually more important than a training run or getting a PB.*

Agreed.

An inconsiderate and entitled stranger dog owner and the dog are NOT two of them Grin

They might have been inconsiderate and entitled but neither of those things should stop you from being a decent person and stopping so the dogs can be leashed and kept safe.

It takes a special kind of selfish to continue to run towards a road knowing you have loose dogs following you, imo.

Ytrigging · 02/10/2021 16:40

Free dogs! The dogs clearly want to live with a runner. You’d have been doing them a favour to adopt them.

(Sarcasm in case that wasn’t clear)

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 02/10/2021 16:41

@icedcoffees

I’ve been very painfully nipped in the past when I did just that
Never again

Dogs you don’t know are unknown entities. So just as if a stranger man was running after me on a run - I bloody run.

And sod the welfare of the man or the dog

megletthesecond · 02/10/2021 16:43

The owners were twats but it would have been better for you to stop once you realised the dogs were with you.

I stop if a dog is trying to trot along with me and send them back.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 02/10/2021 16:52

@mbosnz

The post by one poster, where she pointed out that she spends pretty much all her time caring for others, being generous, thoughtful, putting others before self, except for when she's running. That's her one time 'off the clock' where she gets to do what she wants, for herself, just focussing on what she wants to do.

We perhaps shouldn't assume that a stranger has any more 'be nice' left in the tank.

It might have been nicer to stop and let the dog walkers mooch on over at their leisure to assume some responsibility for their dogs, but ultimately, the runner is under no obligation to do so. Perhaps these dog walkers should bear that in mind - someone who was less 'nice', might just have continued to carry on regardless.

That post resonated for me - I feel similarly about my running. I bet it's not a super unusual approach, especially among women.

Dogs doing this is really annoying. I am a considerate runner, I know it's on me to swerve to get around others on the path with a nice big gap, even if it slows me down. I know if I can't pass comfortably I just have to wait.

Having to stop or slow down hugely (and no, 'running on the spot' doesn't avoid this) is annoying. When I'm desperately needing my headspace because the other 23 hours of the day I'm on call for the competing demands of others, it ruins my flow (kind of like drilling from next door when you're trying to meditate, say). When it's a hard run because I'm tired or hormonal or coming back from a layoff or just generally demotivated, the extra effort in losing my momentum and having to start again can feel close to the last straw. When it's a good training run and I think I'm going to beat my pb on that segment on strava, it's annoying to lose that. Yes, some things are bigger, obviously. Wouldn't bat an eyelid to stop to help someone hurt or catch a runaway child or whatever. But something as avoidable as a dog with poor recall would piss me off.

And I get that it might be a first or a one-off or whatever... but often I think it isn't. Nobody I've had to stop for so they could catch their dog has ever seemed surprised by its behaviour, and very few have thanked me or apologised for stopping. Based on my anecdotal experiences, I think they thought it was normal and no problem all round.

icedcoffees · 02/10/2021 16:56

[quote Reallyimeanreally2022]@icedcoffees

I’ve been very painfully nipped in the past when I did just that
Never again

Dogs you don’t know are unknown entities. So just as if a stranger man was running after me on a run - I bloody run.

And sod the welfare of the man or the dog[/quote]
I'm sorry you've been nipped in the past - that's obviously not okay.

An aggressive dog, however, will be aggressive regardless of whether you run or stop - after all, most dogs can outrun us over short distances.

In general, running will only maintain the dogs' interest further - they love to chase.

Leibham · 02/10/2021 16:59

What if the dogs owner is going through some serious shit, depressed, distracted, unwell and it’s a one off slip up….not ok then though to excuse it right? You would highly doubt it was a one off right?

Oh but some joggers can’t be inconvenienced for two seconds on account of it.

You don’t just switch off being a nice human being because you’re on a jog thats bullshit.

eastmidswarwicknightnanny · 02/10/2021 16:59

I get totally where you are coming from havent had way to many near misses with uncontrolled dogs not been bitten but close shaves more luck and quick feet but had scratches, extending dig leads and dreamy owners or ones on their phone are a nightmare.

Dogs off leads that come near me I stop more due to fear from prev near misses and shout the owner often i get a they are safe and i respond with a yep they all say that but could you grab them before I run off.

A dig block my path into a field the other morning owner not visible I had to get the dog to park to get his attention the dog was fine came with me bloke strolls back from a good half mile away and said oh dudnt know he had stopped he has never done that before quick polite chat and an apology I was on my way yeah it ruined my fast run of the week but hopefully he will be more cautious in the future.

As a walking family my now 6yr old is terrified of dogs due to being chased by too many "friendly" dogs usually the little yappy varieties on footpaths where they should be on leads inc in fields with livestock stupid people exist everywhere.

But I echo the shitty dog owners not bad dog comments but have noticed myself developing a fear from too many bad experiences.

nannannanana · 02/10/2021 17:00

@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
I would have stopped. Yes it's not ideal. Maybe the dogs were in training. I mean where else can you practice recall except when out.
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 02/10/2021 17:04

@icedcoffees

I run 10k in 38 minutes

I could outrun a cockapoo and a frenchie!

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 02/10/2021 17:05

The owners need to train their dogs however you could have stopped once you realised the dogs were chasing you 🤷‍♀️

Bitterbean · 02/10/2021 17:05

You could see they were trying to get the dogs back, but couldn't run as fast as you perhaps, but carried on with the dogs following you. As they said, if you'd just stopped running they could have gotten the dogs. Not technically your responsibility but YABU in my opinion.

WaltzingBetty · 02/10/2021 17:08

@Leibham

What if the dogs owner is going through some serious shit, depressed, distracted, unwell and it’s a one off slip up….not ok then though to excuse it right? You would highly doubt it was a one off right?

Oh but some joggers can’t be inconvenienced for two seconds on account of it.

You don’t just switch off being a nice human being because you’re on a jog thats bullshit.

How do you know the runner isn't going through similar shit and is using running as a coping mechanism? Plenty of people do. Why should the one thing they do to support their mental health be disrupted by irresponsible and entitled people?

You can cut that argument both ways 🤷‍♀️

Swipe left for the next trending thread