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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:
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 03/10/2021 09:58

@Macncheeseballs

Cars aren't really a fair comparison, the car has every right to be driving on that road
And the car hasn’t been chasing the runner, potentially wanting to nip or jump up at them
chocolateorangeinhaler · 03/10/2021 10:08

@Macncheeseballs

Cars aren't really a fair comparison, the car has every right to be driving on that road
As do do dogs being in a park that the OP was running through.
vivainsomnia · 03/10/2021 10:40

Haha, 21 pages and we are back to where we were on page 1!

An overall agreement that whoever is in charge is solely in the wrong whatever the outcome and therefore others never ever bear any responsibility.

That is, unless your parent and you exceptionally fail in your responsibility because parents are always entitled to get it a bit wrong at times.

Dog owners are never ever allowed to get it a bit wrong.

Thankfully, this is in MN world mainly. It certainly isn't in mine and I'm so glad that I still evolve mainly in a place where most try to support eachother especially when it is easy to do so rather that take a self righteous stand.

HeadNorth · 03/10/2021 10:41

@Doje

But you did have to mess your run up!

Yes, absolutely they should have had their dogs under control. But once you realised they didn't, it would have made more sense to run them back earlier, rather then persevering with your run, and then having to take them back anyway, from further away!

But you hope the dog will get bored/stop chasing you and go back to its owners. Once the OP realised that wasn't going to happen and she had got to a road, she went back. The OP's behaviour seems reasonable to me and the dog walker was entirely unreasonable, to not have control of her dog and then to get arsey with the OP.
Reallyimeanreally2022 · 03/10/2021 10:43

@vivainsomnia

Haha, 21 pages and we are back to where we were on page 1!

An overall agreement that whoever is in charge is solely in the wrong whatever the outcome and therefore others never ever bear any responsibility.

That is, unless your parent and you exceptionally fail in your responsibility because parents are always entitled to get it a bit wrong at times.

Dog owners are never ever allowed to get it a bit wrong.

Thankfully, this is in MN world mainly. It certainly isn't in mine and I'm so glad that I still evolve mainly in a place where most try to support eachother especially when it is easy to do so rather that take a self righteous stand.

21 pages and you are still struggling to comprehend that this is a very regular occurrence for runners. Being chased by dogs.

And comparing dog owners with parents…. Ok then

DinkyDiggies · 03/10/2021 10:44

Dog owner here. If it were my dog, I’d have apologised profusely and thanked you for stopping. My dog is my responsibility not yours.

Macncheeseballs · 03/10/2021 10:53

Chocolate, if a runner had chosen to run across a road with cars driving on it, then yes they would choose to/have to stop. If the runner had not chosen to have dogs chasing them, then no I do not think they have to stop

BertramLacey · 03/10/2021 11:09

Haha, 21 pages and we are back to where we were on page 1!

21 pages and no sign of the OP. I guess she's still out there, running.

Multicolouredsequins · 03/10/2021 11:18

Some dog owners seem to be so entitled and unreasonable these days. I was out walking recently and a woman's Pitbull/bulldog comes running directly at me. I freeze and keep still, not particularly scared, but having had muddy paws up my jeans from other dogs on previous walks, don't really want to deal with that again. "He's just a puppy!" She shouts from a distance. I smile weakly and eventually the dog turns and goes back to her. I carry on my walk and she shouts "rude!!". I stop and ask her, sorry, do you mean me? Yes, apparently I should have replied (and said what exactly?). I told her where to go. Horrible! I think she was annoyed that I didn't coo over/fuss her dog. If my son had been with me he would have been terrified.

BakingOfTheFoodCats · 03/10/2021 11:41

Yanbu

Tevion28 · 03/10/2021 12:01

I would have stopped and let them get thier dogs.

Gingerwarthog · 03/10/2021 12:21

I've said it previously and so have other posters - when you are out running and are being chased by dogs you don't know how long they will continue to run with you.
You hope they will go back.
You may not want to stop for fear of being jumped at, having your kit torn, nipped or scratched - all of which has happened to me when I have stopped running to return dogs.
A dog can do a lot of damage and some runners are genuinely scared of them.

sunglassesonthetable · 03/10/2021 12:23

The owners were dicks. I would have apologised profusely if my dog had done that.

NotAnotherPylon · 03/10/2021 12:36

So, how many times is there an expectation to 'be kind' to irresponsible dog owners before you decide you've had enough? Once? A dozen times? A hundred times?

I run three times a week and approximately a third of those runs are affected by dogs on the loose or on long leads. I was able to go out at 6.30am during the summer, so didn't have the potential worry of mad dogs and their charming owners. But the mornings are dark now, so it's back to running at times when people are walking their dogs. The majority are fine and we all get on with our respective activities. There is even the odd smile/greeting exchanged (shock, horror). Plenty of dog owners let their dogs run about a bit. Some dogs ignore me, some have a wee look and decide I'm not very interesting, a few will run towards me but return to their owner when called and the odd one will come right up and get in my way or jump at me, sometimes because they ignore their owner's call and other times because the owner doesn't bother their arse calling them. I can't tell which scenario will unfold because I'm not clairvoyant. But I do have to be constantly vigilant to allow for the shortcomings of others.

I run onto the grass so that I'm not puffing in anyone's face as I pass by. That's me being considerate. Where is consideration of those owners who permit their dogs to run amok? It works both ways.

BrendaBubbles · 03/10/2021 12:41

The dogs wouldn’t have got run over even if they did follow as OP wouldn’t run across traffic surely.

purplesequins · 03/10/2021 12:46

@Gingerwarthog

I've said it previously and so have other posters - when you are out running and are being chased by dogs you don't know how long they will continue to run with you. You hope they will go back. You may not want to stop for fear of being jumped at, having your kit torn, nipped or scratched - all of which has happened to me when I have stopped running to return dogs. A dog can do a lot of damage and some runners are genuinely scared of them.
totally this
Mrstamborineman · 03/10/2021 13:28

This behaviour by dog owners makes me so cross.
A dog chased my son, who being scared ran, the dogs chased, my som was petrified and screaming. The owner still did fuck all. Tosser! I had to shout get your dog!
Not dogs fault. Entitled prick owners who think they can predict every move their dogs makes.
Yanbu.

meanderingthrough · 03/10/2021 13:57

I’d say 2 out of 3 runs I’m inconvenienced by dogs in some ways, generally fairly benign, sometimes super threatening. It gets a bit wearing always being the nice, accommodating one stopping, going back, changing direction!

CovidCorvid · 03/10/2021 14:03

I had a very similar incident when on a recumbent bike once on a shared use path. Miles from any roads so the dog wasn’t in danger. But it chased me for about half a mile. I’m low down on my bike and it was snarling and lunging at me…..so I wasn’t going to stop! I was scared I W as going to get bitten. I hoped if I pedalled fast enough I’d lose it and it would go back but it did a good job of keeping up!

The male owner ran after us shouting something. Female owner was screaming hysterically, I’m not sure if she was screaming because she was worried her dog was going to bite me or disappear.

I did stop in the end when there were some walkers coming the other way as I felt a bit safer. The owner was apologetic and I explained I didn’t stop as I was scared. But the walkers had a go at me and said I should have stopped ages ago. Actually I think if dogs chase cyclists they should not be off lead on a cycle path.

Grellbunt · 03/10/2021 15:03

Is it Canada where dogs must be on leads as default unless a specific designated area. Bliss.

vivainsomnia · 03/10/2021 15:19

Once the OP realised that wasn't going to happen and she had got to a road, she went back
Haha, really, after a few miles as she states in her OP? Any half brained person would have known that after 3 minutes of running by their side, there was a very good chance it would continue to do so for longer!

21 pages and you are still struggling to comprehend that this is a very regular occurrence for runners. Being chased by dogs
Yet I've run weekly or more, for 30 + years, in parks commonly used by dog walkers, and my only experience is a handful of dogs running along side me for maybe 15 seconds! I also walk my dog twice a day in dog and runner friendly areas and never see it happen. It's oy in MN that it is a regular occurrence!

And comparing dog owners with parents…. Ok then
Well, both are in charge of potential dangerous beings if not looked after properly, so yes, there is some commonality.

21 pages and no sign of the OP. I guess she's still out there, running 😁😁 considering the story was most likely made up by yet another journalist, it's not that surprising!

Bluetitsfly · 03/10/2021 15:26

Just stop 🤷‍♀️

Gingerwarthog · 03/10/2021 15:32

Viva- I'm really pleased that you haven't had a bad experience with dogs while running because no runner should experience it.
I don't know if you're in a running club to talk with others or if you read any running magazines but being harassed and even bitten or scratched by dogs is a common problem.

JacquelineCarlyle · 03/10/2021 15:47

@LongDissidence

I wish dog owners would actually control their dogs. I'd say about 10% of dog owners do, and the other 90% let them run all over, poo everywhere, jump all over people, chase other dogs/ animals whilst they ineffectively call the dogs back.

You're kinder than me, I'd have kept on running.

I completely agree with this - id have kept running too.
deadleaves · 03/10/2021 15:50

@vivainsomnia

Haha, 21 pages and we are back to where we were on page 1!

An overall agreement that whoever is in charge is solely in the wrong whatever the outcome and therefore others never ever bear any responsibility.

That is, unless your parent and you exceptionally fail in your responsibility because parents are always entitled to get it a bit wrong at times.

Dog owners are never ever allowed to get it a bit wrong.

Thankfully, this is in MN world mainly. It certainly isn't in mine and I'm so glad that I still evolve mainly in a place where most try to support eachother especially when it is easy to do so rather that take a self righteous stand.

Look , since having children my children have been knocked down by a pack of dogs running at full speed in the park, we have been held at bay by snarling, growling dogs several times, my eldest has been bitten by a dog that ran at him and my children have been chased by dogs several times. In nearly all of these instances the owners made fuck all to weak and ineffective efforts to control their dogs. One finally made an effort when, after twice telling her to call off her dog, I told her if she did not move her arse to retrieve her dog I was going to start kicking it (I was held a bay against a wall holding my baby and with my toddler hiding behind me, whilst the dog growled and snapped at us). Only then did she start to move faster than a stroll towards us whilst screaming ' fuck you, fuck you , don't you dare kick my dog, fuck you fuck you.'

So many owners don't get it 'wrong a bit' they just don't give a fuck that that their untrained, anti-social dogs are threatening to other people and terrifying to children.

So no, I have absolutely no patience left for dog owners who allow their untrained, badly behaved dogs to be unleashed.

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