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!

I love dogs but I hate most owners.

I’ve had them go for DS, bowl him over and chase me while running. Bit outing but there is a lady in my area who has 5 huskies who never get walked and constantly running loose on the streets as they’ve “broken out”. Why on earth did she get 5 dogs of a breed that is known for their need to run as well as their howling when she lives in a terrace and cant be arsed to walk them.

@whatsup00 I could have written everything you say here, I also have a phobia so get really panicked if they approach me, so in your situation I would have turned around and walked the other way to avoid passing the dog (which means I often end up taking much longer routes than I need to!)

I’ve been told to stand still, cross my arms and look away if a dog approaches so they find you boring and move on.
ive also been known to shout “please control your dog now!” at the useless owners.

thank goodness not all dog owners are as inconsiderate, but I agree with other posters that there has been an explosion of them since Covid and I sometimes can’t go places I want to because of the owners who don’t give a sh!t 😖

YANBU
I hate dogs, and I hate dog owners who think the sun shines out of their dogs arse even more.

They seem to be everywhere now and it seems like they can never be left at home?
One pissed on the floor of the shopping centre the other day. Unless it's a service dog, there's no need for it to be in the flipping shopping centre!

I feel I've finally found my people. Most people look like you are an absolute psychopath for not wanting to be jumped at and licked by their precious pup.
I can set my child on you if you like....
If I had a pound for don't worry he/she's very friendly interest rate hikes would be a doddle..
I told my boss if they organise bring your dog to work day I would be working from home.

I think the fact you stopped to let the traffic pass and talked to the owner somehow alerted the dog to give you attention.
I ignore them , perhaps walk slower, to avoid tripping over them or their lead but just walk by.
You could try putting strong perfume on , or on your legs - see if that puts them off. The strong smell might keep them awAy.

Slightly off topic... the amount of dog poo on the pavements by our local school is disgusting. Winds me up.

Most dog owners are irresponsible. YANBU

I don't think you are being unreasonable.

We have a people-reactive lab, who barks and sometimes jumps at people when she's on the lead and it's really difficult, to be honest. However, we have 'I need space' cover on her lead, and obviously make a conscious effort to stay away from people/warn them etc. I can't understand why this woman encouraged you to walk past? Perhaps it was totally out of the blue from her dog...

Ironically, we have the opposite problem of people attempting to fuss and approach our girl, despite being warned not to

I have seen dog repellent sprays and alarms and wondered if they are any good. It's impossible to go out for a walk with kids without meeting them, and getting fed up of dogs running up, barking, growling and jumping. It's scary when a child is smaller than the dog, and scary for me too to be honest. I don't know if using a repellent would make the dogs more aggressive though I understand some hikers carry them. May be worth considering.

I go months without seeing a dog and I regularly go for long walks round my area. I'm not a massive fan of them tbh but they just aren't an issue where I live. I'm always shocked to read these on MN.

However, is a dual carriage way the best place to be walking? That seems pretty dangerous in itself if there is no barrier to the road.

@Butterbean9 I'm with you, I hate dogs too. God forbid you say that to anyone in real life though, you get looked at as if you are a child murderer.

My stupid downstairs neighbour had a dog that used to bark for 8 hours solid every day he went to work...and he worked shifts, so that meant it would be barking all fucking night at least twice a week. It was old and could barely stand, let alone walk so it never went out. I heard his sister complaining to another neighbour about how he'd been told by the vet it needed to be put to sleep...and that was 3 years ago! He finally did the right thing and had it put to sleep this summer. You can bet I fucking celebrated!

"Oh isn't he/she sweet" idiot owner says as it jumps up at you, ripping your clothes and getting crap all over you..."No, get it off me before I punch it" is my usual reply...

YANBU. I have two small children who both loved dogs from the buggy but as soon as they were out and walking they had strange dogs coming up in their faces and now they're terrified.

I get really annoyed by them when I'm out on a walk too. Particularly if they jump up on me and the owner says 'oh it's ok, he's friendly', yes, he might well be, but he can still put mud on me or put a hole in my tights and I bet the owner wouldn't be prepared to pay for dry cleaning or new tights!

DD and I were having a picnic in the park in the summer and a random dog bounded up out of nowhere and helped himself to our picnic. We couldn't eat any more of it after that as he'd slobbered over it. Owner just said sorry and walked away, leaving us with no more food! DD was furious!

I put my dog back on the lead today when a woman was walking across the field with her toddler.

But if everyone is being considerate there's no reason why there can't be room for everyone.

Picnics are a bloody nightmare though. No matter how well I try to train him, I'm not sure my dog will ever be picnic secure.

🙄

Another dog hater here, lol. I don't actually hate dogs at all, but I'm accused of hating them because I don't want random dogs in my personal space in public.

I grew up with dogs, from crazy rescues to pedigree working dogs. My family work with animals, so they were responsible with training and being mindful of others in public. But I'm finding increasingly lately that so many idiots now own dogs, and they have no idea how to be responsible owners.

I think my feelings are exacerbated by having a baby and moving to an area where lots of idiots without two braincells to rub together decide they need to extend their penis by owning strong, powerful breeds and make a dangerous situation even worse by not only not properly training them, but encouraging aggressive behaviour 🙃

I cannot stand owners who think everyone should love their pet. I don't. Get it away from me and definitely get it away from my baby in his pram!!

I was responding to the OP's larger point:
"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 have an extendable lightweight hiking stick I carry.

I have a leg injury which is slowly, slowly getting better. I don't actually need to stick but I carry it because of the blooming dogs. Before anyone gets carried away, I don't use it to hit the dog, I use it to create a barrier. I put the stick in front of the part I need to protect and turn the rest of my body away. I am also very vocal- not rude but along the lines of 'I have an injury and I'm protecting my leg- you need to get control of your dog.' But really loudly. Perhaps you could try the same but 'I am very allergic- you need to get control of your dog.'

I'm a little self conscious about my limp, so I usually walk later at night with my OH- it was really hard during the heatwave as there were loads of dogs out being walked, much later at night.

On the other side, I'm really trying to reach my dog not to jump up - but random strangers encourage him.

I'm forever asking them to 'just keep walking, pay no attention to him' but they rarely do.

Has anyone tried using repellent sprays or alarms? I have wondered about carrying them on a long walk over moors, but not sure if it would make dogs more aggressive.

YANBU! My personal "favourite" is the dog owners who let their dogs wander along the cycle paths and then complain at me as I have to screech to a stop as I can[t get past!

I think I love you 🤭

What on earth were you doing walking along a dual carriageway?!

I remember being on a train and a bloke insisted a woman take her dog off the seat next to her so he could sit down. She really felt that a dog who travels for free should have priority over a person who pays for a ticket. They were going to crufts after all!