To be pissed off at this woman?

[whatsup00]

This evening I went for a walk. I was walking along the ring road/duel carriageway when I saw a woman and a dog up ahead. The dog looked back at me but it looked fine (and nice). As I caught up with them I said "I'll wait til the cars go past to overtake you" and the women said I needn't do that. I waited and then went to overtake them and the dog lunged violently at me. The woman pulled back on the lead and the dog was upright snarling and trying to bite me. As a lightening response I jumped into the road. I could have been hit by a car very easily.

The woman didn't even seem vaguely bothered. She said "oh that's naughty" and then said "sorry". I left because I didn't see the point of having a conversation near a dog that wanted to bite me.

But dogs like this keep ruining my day. I can't go to my local park because of it. I'm actually allergic to dogs, so I really don't want them to touch my clothes and I'm worried they could rip my jacket (it's a puffa jacket) which I love and I cannot afford to replace it if it gets ripped, I'd be really upset. Also, I don't want to have to get home and wash all of my clothes because a dog has been on them. But at the other park I've been knocked over by dogs. I've been laying on the grass with my eyes shut (in the summer) and had a dog jump on my face (I hurt my neck jumping up). I've been bitten by a corgi. I've been scratched badly by a rottweiler. My sister is terrified of dogs after seeing one bite me (I'm not terrified of them, IDK if it was worse for her witnessing it, we were quite young).

I just want to be able to go on a walk or be outside. But now I find I have to be 'on alert', I can't relax. They are mostly off leash and run over and it just is getting too much now. Any ideas as to what I can do?

I wish we had dog parks like the USA, as there could be a dog free section for people who want that. The only dog free place I know of is the children's play areas of parks, which I can't go in!

Also if the woman reads this (I know I'm probably being silly about this). I'm not shaming you. I just was quite frankly scared by what could have happened.

I doubt she be on here, but then again.

Well it would be just my luck!

YANBU. Every other fucker has a mutt now and very few of them are trained or well behaved.

I also was hesistant about posting this. I actually like dogs. I love golden labradors, pomeranians and chihuahuas. I like most of them. So I'm posting to see if anyone has ideas. Have I done anything to make this happen? I don't think so, but who knows. Do I smell weird or something? How can I make them not do this? Is it my jacket? Anything I'm doing? How can I avoid it... apart from.. well, I don't know. Turning around when I see them... which sucks.

I completely agree with you. Dogs shouldn't be off their leads in public.

I personally think that dog parks would be a great solution as they could run free to their hearts content there.

This dog was on a lead.

It's not you. A lot of dog owners are selfish arses tbh.

Yep. Thankfully, I don't think it was one of those lengthening/retractable leads. It was more like a piece of thick rope.

Dogs are bloody everywhere now and they're a pita mostly. I even have to deal with them in a work context due to witless twats thinking it's cute to get them on the camera during teams calls. Fuck off. Meetings are dull enough and go on for long enough as it is without me having to spend time looking at your fucking boring pet. "Say hello to the camera, Barry" and all that. Seriously, fuck off.

I am worried this is going to end with me being bitten again. Actually, I saw a sign in a different area saying they weren't allowed off their leads on public roads, but IDK if this applies to my area. In the park they seem to wind each other up/aggravate each other and fight. I hate the snarling noise, it sounds like a wolf!!

I’m really uncomfortable around dogs. I swear they can sense that as I quite often have one come bounding over to me, if I’m out for a walk or running. Lockdown was the absolute worst for this as people didn’t want to come too close to retrieve their dogs who would come up and be barking or jumping up.

I have no idea what to do about this as I feel as though I’m in the minority; most people I know LOVE dogs and would cross the street to make a fuss of one. Most owners I’ve encountered seem to assume that everyone loves their dogs as much as they do, so they don’t prevent them from coming close.

I have no advice for you, OP. But I certainly don’t think you’re being unreasonable.

^ LOL. I wouldn't mind one on a webcam. At least it can't bite you! Maybe I should get a webcam myself and put it on my front.

I have an allergy to dogs… don’t expect any “fur baby” types to understand.

Trains, Cafes, Pubs … dogs, dogs, dogs. Someone sat next to me on the train, with a dog, and had a meltdown when I asked them to move. I see people allow dogs on seats, and I always think to myself “if I say there next, I would be in a state within minutes” . You go out for a walk, and they are running up to you .. brushing up.. leaving you covered in hair.

I did ask the train company if they could specify one carriage as “pet free” .. but nope

you’ll get little sympathy on here OP, but I feel your pain.

Thanks pirate. My area seems to have a very high dog ownership rate! They are everywhere. It doesn't seem to be so much the tiny ones or very large ones, it's the medium size dogs. I've considered climbing onto a bench to get away from them before. I know not to run (right?). You're not meant to run away from them as they will chase. But that's easier said than done if it startles you or lunges. If I hadn't run into the road I 100% would've been bitten by this dog and it was actually quite a large one. It looked nice as well :/

Most dog owners shouldn't have dogs.

I wasn't the lady, but I've just had the opposite.

I have a dog who is not aggressive but friendly which I get can be annoying.

Woman walking towards me with her two junior school aged grandchildren, one on either side taking up the whole pavement.

Road is to my left, I step onto the grass verge on my right to give them space but dog is still on the edge of the pavement (nowhere near them). I then get a torrent of abuse because I'd 'rather let a child walk near the road than a dog'.

They had the whole pavement and she was already making the child walk nearest to the road.

Everyone seems so angry and intolerant these days.

Onions, I've had to actually leave a hotel before because a dog or cat had been in the room prior to me being there, I left at 3am... had to checkout, because it was that bad. There were hairs everywhere (It was a budget hotel). I don't think they had cleaned it prior to me checking in. Sorry you have an allergy too, it's really annoying and restrictive.

fruit they should have just gone single file. That seems daft. I just want them not to touch me, I don't mind anything else. It was sort of rearing up in the air, it was scary tbh.

So what can I do?

• Is it better to avoid eye contact? So if I see one, don't look at it... don't meet its eyes... just look away?
• I try to walk away/walk around/go another route if possible, but it's not always possible to do that. The pavement is quite narrow where I was earlier, and you can't go the other side.
• Should I just say "I'm allergic to dogs" or would that annoy the owners?

I hear you. Dog owners are so blind to how their animals are perceived by others. Yesterday I had someone’s dog chase me (I was jogging), keep jumping up, biting my clothes and getting under my feet. The owner did nothing, I had to grab it’s collar and walk it back to them and they were just smitten with how sweet their dog was. The only thing to do is give dogs as much space as possible and be aware of the differences between excited and aggressive behaviour.

I don't know really.

I think the thing I've learnt is that people can be arses across the board. Owning a dog is just like being a parent - there are good ones and bad ones.

Also dogs need to learn just like children, and some are a work in progress.

Aggressive dogs need to be controlled though - that's not your responsibility.

If you told me you were allergic to dogs as i was walking towards you, I'd be careful to give you a wide berth.

Hahaha I have two dogs and I still feel like this in meetings

I rather pay for a dog enclosed field, to take mine too, or up the hills where I live.