Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

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:
Summerfun54321 · 02/10/2021 08:52

I don’t like dogs so would have found dogs chasing me really intimidating. And no way would I have got them by the collar and taken them back to their owners, I’d have just crossed the road. You were a lot more helpful than I would have been OP.

Grellbunt · 02/10/2021 08:53

The whole dog thing in the UK is just getting ridiculous

They're animals, they need to be kept under control

And if you get one it's your responsibility to do that

So over this

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 08:54

"No but it's probably decent to acknowledge your failings and not blame the runner who very kindly returned your out of control dogs for not returning them sooner*
Kind? By keep going until she took the dogs out of sight to a road? There's nothing kind in this action at all.

Yes they were wrong. They clearly didn't expect this scenario. It most likely never happened before. They had a shock, they got scared, and all OP cared about is to give them a lecture and moan about her disturbed run. So so sad.

chaosrabbitland · 02/10/2021 08:55

its fair enough they should have had the dogs on a lead .but thats as far as it goes. im wondering where your common sense is as well .it wouldnt have taken a minute to have just let let them get dogs . but you wanted to be all entitled and arsey and carried on at which point you had to stop your run anyway .
you sound like the sort of person who if one of the dogs had been hit by a car would be on here posting well i was right to carry on wasnt i .nothing to do with me the dog ran in the road and got hit by a car because i couldnt be bothered to stop half a mile back . no wonder the owners got aggressive with you .

TheHoundsofLove · 02/10/2021 08:56

@SamMil

I would have stopped /run back earlier.

Lots of things aren't our responsibility, but mistakes happen and even the most well trained animals don't do exactly what we want 100% of the time, so sometimes being a nice person involves doing things that inconvenience us slightly to help others.

It's just courtesy surely. Like if someone's child runs towards a road, you would help stop them, even if it is a busy road and the parent should have been holding them.

If you want to make a point, then stop but mention (without swearing at them Confused) that the dogs should probably be on a lead if they don't have good recall. Generally making a point calmly and kindly will resonate with someone more than deliberately making things worse and then swearing at them.

This is how I feel too, both as a dog owner and as a runner. They were in the wrong, but mistakes happen and I'd have stopped earlier.
BiteyShark · 02/10/2021 08:57

As a dog owner you are not BU at all.

I used to put mine on a lead when I saw a runner when he was a puppy and now he is an adult he just ignores runners as he never got into the habit of chasing. Same with cyclists although I get him to sit and stay as they pass in case he decides to wander in front of them.

Maybe it will give the owners a wake up call that they can't expect anyone else to be responsible for training their dogs except themselves.

DrinkingWishingSmokingHoping · 02/10/2021 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 08:58

No time really for misbehaving dogs but the longer it went on the more time was gonna be required to sort it out
Exactly that. Yes it's annoying, not saying it wasn't, but there was no need to escalate it to this level. Total over dramatisation.

If I had to have a go at all the parents who let their kids pay no attention at all when I run, get in my way, with bikes, scooters, or just running not looking at all where they go, I'd be out of voice by the end of my runs.

It's life, you get a noted, you deal with it there and then and move on!

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 09:01

Out of curiosity OP. If a 5yo started to run in your direction, not paying attention, their parents oblivious as talking to each other. The kid runs into you and with the speed falls down and hurt themselves. Would you keep running and shoot at the parents they are idiots for not controlling their kid.

Or would you stop, check they were ok, and just apologise to the parents but explain they ran into you in a pleasant voice however annoyed you are that the incident messed up your time?

YourFinestPantaloons · 02/10/2021 09:01

@DrinkingWishingSmokingHoping

You’re an absolute arse.
😂 how do?
YourFinestPantaloons · 02/10/2021 09:01

*How so 🤦🏼‍♀️

YourFinestPantaloons · 02/10/2021 09:01

@vivainsomnia

Out of curiosity OP. If a 5yo started to run in your direction, not paying attention, their parents oblivious as talking to each other. The kid runs into you and with the speed falls down and hurt themselves. Would you keep running and shoot at the parents they are idiots for not controlling their kid.

Or would you stop, check they were ok, and just apologise to the parents but explain they ran into you in a pleasant voice however annoyed you are that the incident messed up your time?

Kids are not dogs.

HTH

pictish · 02/10/2021 09:02

Yanbu. I run and encounter this fairly regularly. I stop after a certain distance because they become annoying and I know the owner can’t keep up. They’re usually apologetic but the odd one or two who have reacted as though I were at fault have been politely informed of the contrary.
I had a golden retriever give chase once, I stopped when it became clear the dog wasn’t interested in responding to its owner’s calls whatsoever. The dog started springing at me at face level, barking away excited, playful, not aggressive but still huge and alarming, it would have sent a kid flying. That lady got a bit of a mouthful I must admit.

DarkSideOfTheGym · 02/10/2021 09:03

I have a dog and think you were completely reasonable but did the right thing stopping at the road. Too many owners let their dogs off the lead when they clearly don’t have the training for it or haven’t practiced around distractions.

Rather than blaming you the first thing the should have said was probably ‘Sorry’ Hopefully they’ll learn from this incident.

FateHasRedesignedMost · 02/10/2021 09:03

They should have had them leashed if they couldn’t recall. What if they ran alongside a child or a person afraid of dogs? Or into traffic? Or at a reactive dog?

I probably would have stopped and shouted at the dogs (something like ‘go home, leave it, get back’ and waved my arms, stamped a bit to show I wasn’t playing or up for racing).

If I wasn’t in a hurry I would have gone back to the owners and let them know what I thought of people who let their dogs give chase!

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 09:03

Oh and for the 'i am a responsible owner and put my dog on the lead', I have much more issues with those who's dog is on the lead the other side of the walk so I can't get through. Or the dog running straight in my way as I try to pass through.

Much more dangerous than a dog running along side me!

vivainsomnia · 02/10/2021 09:04

Kids are not dogs
So it's ok for parents to be irresponsible and let their kids cause accidents, but dog owners, might as well shout them.

Only on MN!

RobinPenguins · 02/10/2021 09:05

I don’t think I would have stopped at the road this time, tbh. You don’t sound the least bit cold or psychotic for what you said. They have dogs they can’t control.

pictish · 02/10/2021 09:06

P.s I like dogs. I’ve had one before and will have another when I have time to dedicate to it. I’m not so fond of ninny-headed owners who let their dog off the lead when they haven’t got full control. Recall has to be watertight. If it’s not, don’t.

HikingforScenery · 02/10/2021 09:06

Honestly, the nerve of some people! Why should their dogs be your responsibility?

I would’ve stopped running and walked quickly past though because I’m not a fan of dogs at all and would’ve wanted the owners to get them the heck away from me so I could continue running.

YourFinestPantaloons · 02/10/2021 09:07

@vivainsomnia

Kids are not dogs So it's ok for parents to be irresponsible and let their kids cause accidents, but dog owners, might as well shout them.

Only on MN!

No, but losing a dog is not nearly the same as losing a child. HTH
MiddleClassProblem · 02/10/2021 09:07

@vivainsomnia

Out of curiosity OP. If a 5yo started to run in your direction, not paying attention, their parents oblivious as talking to each other. The kid runs into you and with the speed falls down and hurt themselves. Would you keep running and shoot at the parents they are idiots for not controlling their kid.

Or would you stop, check they were ok, and just apologise to the parents but explain they ran into you in a pleasant voice however annoyed you are that the incident messed up your time?

If one of the dogs had hurt it’s self the OP may have stopped. It’s a very different situation. I’m sure if a man with a knife jumped out in front of OP I’m sure she would have aborted her route too.

Insert completely irrelevant situation here.

HikingforScenery · 02/10/2021 09:08

@vivainsomnia

Out of curiosity OP. If a 5yo started to run in your direction, not paying attention, their parents oblivious as talking to each other. The kid runs into you and with the speed falls down and hurt themselves. Would you keep running and shoot at the parents they are idiots for not controlling their kid.

Or would you stop, check they were ok, and just apologise to the parents but explain they ran into you in a pleasant voice however annoyed you are that the incident messed up your time?

Hmm
Birdkin · 02/10/2021 09:09

@vivainsomnia

Kids are not dogs So it's ok for parents to be irresponsible and let their kids cause accidents, but dog owners, might as well shout them.

Only on MN!

No that’s what most people think? Only on MN would you have people arguing kids and dogs are equivalent to begin with Hmm
delorisvancartier · 02/10/2021 09:09

You did nothing wrong! Not your problem at all. It infuriates me when I'm out running and building up a good pace and people try and stop you to ask for directions. Like seriously I'm in the zone don't break my pace!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread