To have pushed the dog with my foot

[AGreaterGrate]

I did not kick it, or hurt it, but pushed the barking, growling, yapping thing away with the side of my foot as it kept biting towards my ankles.

I'm SO fed up of dog owners not controlling their dogs!

I'm a runner and will go out of my way to give dogs lots of space, I stop and walk if one is wearing an 'I'm nervous' vest, I never run up behind a dog and their owner, I love dogs and have fostered many so I recognise when a dog may be triggered by a runner and I give space/start walking/Cross over the road etc.

But it's always little yapping ones on extendable leads, IF they're on lead at all, and owners not giving a crap, as they run towards me, with zero recall, nipping at my ankles. Yes, I will push your dog away if it's not under your control.

We can all agree we wouldn't have many of these issues if people kept their dogs on leads.

I have two sighthounds who don't appreciate being ran at or yapped at and I'm sick of idiots shouting 'he's friendly!' at me when I'm trying to shield their dog from getting a piece of my hounds mind! Keep it on the lead for FFS, for your own dogs safety as well as everyone else's.

Would it be easier if you had actual control of the dog?

Sticking your foot out to 'push' away a dog is putting yourself in danger if the dog intends to be aggressive as you have offered a foot/ankle/leg to bite down in and hang on to which may result in your being toppled over, resulting in your neck/face/arms and hands now being exposed and in reach of the dog.

You are better off standing still and letting the dog sniff you as that's all most want to before they move away.

Shrieking, screaming or shouting will encourage them to give you attention so remain quiet but if you have to speak do so firmly.

If you have food that you are eating don't hold it up high and wave it about as the dog will think it's a game, try and wrap it up and place in a bag and walk away. Use the word NO firmly.

Don't pick up small dogs when you see a bigger dog as that will expose the underbelly of your dog and set off the prey drive in some hunting breed dogs who will jump up to try and nip the belly and your hand and fingers may well be in the way.

And the guy whose dog killed a 10 year old got 7 years in jail for not controlling his dog. Neither are useful comparisons although I hope that my example will encourage at least a few idiot owners to keep their dogs under better control.

OP no you weren't unreasonable. I am fed up of having to modify my behaviour and running (and walking) routes to avoid out of control dogs. I mentioned on another thread last week that someone actually let their dog OFF a lead as my DH and I approached!

If I don't have a dog, that doesn't have an impact on anyone.

If I do have a dog, it's up to me to make sure my dog doesn't have an adverse impact on anyone else. Much like kids. But dog owners (and some parents) don't see it that way - everyone has to love their little darlings. No.

The extendable leads are also dangerous.

I've just googled the video in response to this, and no he did not push a cat with his foot. He didn't even "just" kick it. He drop-kicked it.

You can't be serious @Binkybix . You really expect cyclists to stop for every dog owner? Cycles don't make a noise, so expecting them to approach you non silently is also bizarre

@saraclara i agree with you! I was quoting the person with the dog and saying she was crazy😀

They certainly are. A long line is preferable if a dog can't be let off to run, perhaps due to injury or training but ordinary walking along a dog should always be on a short lead so that the walker has more control.

YABU if you didn’t also scream “control your fucking dog you moron” at the same time!

I own a dog and I HATE dog owners who can’t control their animal.

I've only just seen the replies this morning so apologies for late responses. I don't think it's inconsiderate to give someone 5 seconds to get a dog on a lead or under control when it's for everyone's benefit. The dog wasn't out of control until we were both surprised by a silent jogger/cyclist from behind.

When I could see and hear anyone coming she would be put on the lead, both joggers/cyclists have voices and have able to warn anyone they're behind them. I also actively avoided high traffic areas but obviously still share the space with others out of my control so occasionally was surprised by something I wasn't expecting. These surprise incidents were rare and when they did occur it was mere seconds out of an hour + walk. My dog can run faster than a jogger or a cyclist just passing by but both would be at risk if I couldn't put her on a lead or grab her collar. She would be safe off the lead for 99% of the walk but would obviously put her on the lead when needed so why on earth would I walk her on the lead for 100% of the walk when 99% would be safe.

What I'm asking is for a little warning from people approaching at speed from behind so I can get control of my dog (although that dog has now passed). If you're already passing me when I've become aware of your presence all I can ask you to do is slow or stop so I can grab my dog. It's also possible that dogs may just choose that moment to get in the way of an oncoming cyclist/jogger so they should be allowing people to grab their dogs anyway to ensure everyone is safe.

This is completely different to the OP's situation who takes all the steps I would ask of people approaching an unknown dog (especially from behind) and therefore is only defending herself when a dog approaches.

Also just to add, I'm not walking on roads or cycle paths, this is moorland, farmland and other places off road where dogs, joggers, cyclists and other walkers use the same spaces in the dales. I'm not seeking out areas just for cyclists and joggers. It's quiet country pathways where I might see a handful of other walkers in an hour not your local park. I deliberately went to low traffic areas so my dog could be safely let off for the majority of the walk.

It's the approaching in silence from behind that's the issue for me. If I'm not aware of your presence I can't do anything about it.

Dog owner and dog lover here. Absolutely not wrong to give it a push away to prevent a bite.

I am SICK to death of small yappy spoilt little shitty dogs (with shitty useless owners) running up to my big dog and getting in his face, they are off lead, he's on lead and then the owners get all precious and huffy when my big dog puts them in their place with a paw on their yappy little heads.

These owners have absolutely no idea of dog behaviour, can't read the signals and come out with that crappy "he's friendly" thing. What if mine isn't? (He usually is but if yours is trying to bite his nose, not so much).

As if because they're small they should get away with bad behaviour? If a big dog behaved this way they'd be screaming all the way to the police and dog warden but apparently because they're "cute" no they are ratty little shits they should be allowed to pester anybody? Utter twats.

Breathe. Jeez I think I needed that rant OP thank you and thank you for your consideration when running.

Anyone coming on here to berate OP and has a yappy little fucker who runs up to other dogs, please know we hate you. Train yourself then train your dogs.

If the dog was yapping and growling then choosing to actually make contact with it sounds a good way to get bitten em instead of just being threatened so in that sense YABU. I stand still and wait for owners to collect.

WTF? No, that was not at all comparable.

Have you even read the Zouma story? The words used are 'kicked, slapped and dropped'. Not 'pushed'. Different words have distinct meanings.

YANBU.

Can't believe the entitlement of dog owners sometimes. I was running up a path once when I saw a man ahead. I slowed to a walk and walked past him, didn't see his dog until the last minute because it was sitting at the side of the path not on a lead. The man said I should have given the dog more space. I told him to put it on a lead if he was concerned.

It's not up to the general public to look out for dogs everywhere they go just in case they get attacked.

My 7 year old developed a dog phobia due to dogs jumping up at him when he was 2. He's better now but it's taken him years to even go near a dog.

On public footpaths, dogs should be on leads (not extendable) unless they can be trusted not to chase after other people. Can't believe this even needs to be said

I’m starting to develop a real phobia of dogs because of the rise in dog ownership - so many out of control dogs around now. And all those owners of big dogs having a go at small dogs are crazy - small dogs yapping at your heels are really fucking annoying but NOTHING in comparison to the sheer terror of having a large or medium sized dog barrelling towards you that you know could seriously maim you or your child. It’s terrifying.

And yes don’t get me started on “they’re just being friendly!” 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

You'd be perfectly entitled to kick it if it was trying to bite you, let alone push it with your foot.

As long as it really was a very light push and not a kick and he genuinely was trying to bite you then that's fine and YANBU.

If he either wasn't trying to bite you OR if it was a true kick then you are being very unreasonable.

I hate it when cyclists and runners come up behind you as you are walking along minding your own business looking at the birds and taking in the peace and quiet and either shout 'move' or ring the bell. It's beyond rude and makes me jump.

If you are running on a well trodden path for walkers with or without their bloody dogs, then suck it up or find a less busy thoroughfare I say.

Good manners come in lots of ways. We should all try a little harder. It's not difficult to be polite and respectful of others.

As a child in the 80s I was taught to always keep my dogs on a short lead by my side when passing other people. Seems decent common sense has been lost since then.

No I don't agree at all. If the op could be scared of dogs she entitled to be out an about and not be approached by uncontrolled dogs. It's the owners fault if the dog gets hurt

YANBU. And I say that as a dog owner. Said dog (7 months old) has brillaint recall generally but has recently taken to chasing runners. Not ideal and we are working on it, and while she doesn't bite if we did fail to recall her I wouldn't blame a runner for pushing her off them.

I run too btw, and yappy ankle chasing dogs are one of the things I hate. So fully aware of how not ideal our puppy's new habit is.

They should use a bell or call out- not to do so is unsafe. How can I stay out of your way and keep my dog out of your way if I don't know you are there?
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To have a cycle suddenly appear next to you is really startling. If I shriek because I'm startled, then my dog alerts and gets agitated too.
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This is absolute nonsense.

I've been bitten by a dog in the circumstances you describe, it was quite dark, I passed a small group quite slowly and their unseen dog launched itself and bit me quite seriously on the thigh, torn clothes, blood drawn, medical attention required.

The dog is alive today because I didn't see it as the irresponsible one and decided to let the idiot owners have it with both barrels instead.

But yeah seeing a number of people justifying having an out of control reactive dog that might randomly attack people is fucking bonkers

Yep and the pp asked runners to do the same

Crazy imo, dog owner needs a new system - lead / training etc

I generally love dogs and have owned them at various points but I am starting to become increasingly nervous out in public. There seem to be so many dogs around these days and so so many arsehole owners. My six year old has been jumped on and knocked over so bloody many times when he was smaller that he's gone from being delighted to see them to frightened of them. And every single owner says "oh sorry, he's just excited". To them, it's not a big deal, it's an incident over in seconds in which my child wasn't actually hurt. But when it's the third time that week, it is a big deal to my son.

My dad is a postman and has had to kick many dogs. I would absolutely kick a dog which was trying to attack me. Or push it away if I thought that was all that was necessary.

The real problem where I live is that the owners are just as aggressive. A small dog was killed in a park by a large, aggressive dog last weekend. I've seen the couple with their dog before. Absolutely no control, the thing is huge and difficult to physically overpower and they seem to own it specifically for those reasons. I don't want to take my child to that park anymore. It's actually down the road from where an old lady was killed by dogs a little while ago, which made national news.

I also remember a time when a very large, aggressive dog was roaming the streets in the area I live. A woman had been housed down the road (apparently to get away from her abusive, drug dealing ex). He moved in too and brought the dog with him. He didn't walk it, just let it wander the streets attacking people willy nilly. The police told us not to approach him because he was a violent man. I was pregnant at the time and had to keep a baseball bat by the door so I could protect myself when I left the house. I didn't actually leave the house unaccompanied while it was around. Our front garden was fenced so we had a few people every week jump into our garden and knock the door for help. I came across it twice. Once, I was with my boyfriend and it was trying to attack us. My boyfriend was hitting it and every time I tried to run away it went for me. I had to call my parents who came running down the road with bats to hit it too. Another time, it was early in the morning and making a beeline for us. My boyfriend told me to run down the road and he'd get it to chase him. I actually watched him kick it in the face three times with steel toe capped boots on and it just shook its head and went for him again. I don't trust dog owners at all, to be honest and after that experience I'd have no qualms about protecting myself by any means necessary.