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'm not scared of dogs in the slightest and was walking and this small dog jumped up and bit my hand making me bleed. Yesterday on the way to work a guy behind me walking his dog was shouting at it as it was barking and going for people walking past it. Apparently its not normally like it, so he said 😒 yanbu.

A dog tried biting my 2 year old nephew last week too thinking of it! He was walking and my brother had to grab him.

I love dogs. Don’t want one but can see the appeal.

What I hate is feckless owners who leave dog shit all over the place! In parks where children play, across the path so you have to walk in the road to avoid it, sodding everywhere!

I don't really like dogs, don't want the fur or drool on me, or jumping up on me or sniffing me and absolutely can't stand it when dog owners think it's acceptable for their dog to do this because 'they are friendly.' Can I not be allowed to just not like dogs???

The dog should have been controlled.
But surely I'm not the only one who thinks you seem to have a lot of run ins with dogs!
I'm a dog owner so I'm in the park every day and I've not been jumped on or attacked or whatever as you seem to be.
And yes I put my dog on a lead if it's necessary and I don't let him jump at people

I’m slightly puzzled by all the dramas you have been part of involving other people’s dogs I walk my dogs twice a day in all different environments. I’ve rarely have any involvements with other dogs on my walks bar the odd one saying hello, there is v rarely any need to have any physical contact. Dogs don’t jump up at me, my dogs ignore other dogs.

I really do believe that the people who don’t like dogs seem to attract the attention of dogs because of their body language. Try and relax more when you see a dog, don’t look in its direction. The dog will more than likely ignore you if you don’t look like you might be fun to antagonise 🤷🏻‍♀️

This probably isn't useful but I think they can sense your unease.
I love dogs and will have a good cuddle with ones I meet and I've never been bitten I've been snarled at though but not all dogs are friendly.

YANBU. So many thoughtless and inconsiderate dog owners who make no attempt to keep their dogs away from other people. There are notices all over my local parks saying dogs must be kept on a lead. But they are widely ignored by selfish dog owners.

On the other hand it's refreshing to read a thread like this that hasn't been taken over by ignorant and defensive dog owners spluttering and blustering at everyone.

I am totally with you. Too many lock down dogs and ignorant (in both senses of the word) owners. I once witnessed a dog run up to a man quietly sitting on the grass minding his own business in the park, reading a book. Muttley ran over and dragged the man’s sock off his foot and ran off with it. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The owners were all ‘ooh isn’t he a card!’ After a ‘hilarious’ chase around the park and a tug of war with the sock, the dog owners chucked it back to him with a jolly chortle. Lovely! We all like a ripped, saliva infested sock to pop back on for the walk home.

I'm a dog owner and I agree wholeheartedly. My dog is anxious, not very sociable, and when we are out and about she just wants to be left alone to enjoy her walk, sit quietly with us and soon. So we go to very quiet areas to walk, and in the very rare occasion we go to the pub or somewhere with her we will be sat tucked away with her under the table out of the way. I'm very clear about telling people she's not very friendly, doesn't want to be patted by strangers, approached by other dogs etc. Most people take no notice and let their dogs do what they want anyway, there are an awful lot of untrained dogs and people who shouldn't really be owners out there.

My advice would be to shout loudly before you get too near 'can you please keep your dog away from me thanks'. You don't need to explain yourself further.