To expect people to stop their dog jumping up at me?

[NevertooearlyforGin]

I enjoy walking at our local beauty spot which is a very large forest and heath area, it’s very popular with dog walkers. The problem is I really don’t like large dogs running up to me and jumping up at me which seems to happen most times I go, usually the dog owner is some distance behind so they can’t see their dog jumping up at me.

This happened again today, and a large dog and two smaller ones ran up to me and jumped up, the big ones paws reached my armpits. For context I was attacked by an Alsatian at the age of 9 in our local park, I don’t assume all dogs are aggressive but I am nervous around large dogs.

Today I plucked up the courage to say something to the owner, I asked him to stop his dog jumping up at me because I am scared of large dogs. He was very arrogant and laughed at me and said then I’d ‘come to the wrong place.’ As if the countryside exists for dog owners and nobody else and I was being ridiculous expecting him to control his pets.

The area is managed through grazing by the local forestry commission (usually hardy breeds of ponies, sheep and cows), there are frequent incidents of animals being worried and often mauled by dogs, I’ve seen this happen and there are signs saying that animals that don’t have a string recall should be kept on leads.

AIBU?

@Piglet89 Ah I see. I agree with you in that it is not okay for someone to leave their dog barking in the yard, it’s not fair on the dog or the neighbours - and the resolution should not be on you to buy noise cancelling headphones.

However, I think the majority of dog owners on this forum have actually said I own a dog and think jumping up/not controlling your dog is unacceptable. I think this kind of comment reflects why some dog owners feel frustrated by this post, one bad experience with a dog/dog owner does not reflect all dogs and dog owners. I know many on here would say it is not one bad experience, however, I don’t even own a dog, I do have a small child, we often go walking in a massive public park and a nature reserve right by our house, we see multiple dog walkers every day and have never had an issue. Maybe we are lucky and I’m sure some areas are worse than others but I do feel like some comments on here have been massively blown up in terms of how it impacts their day to day life (more so than any comments condoning any bad behaviour from dogs/dog owners). I think if people had responded going “yes it’s unacceptable for a dog to jump up on strangers, and yes dog owners should ensure they have good recall before letting their dogs off the lead in public places” no one, or most reasonable people and the majority of dog owners, would agree with this. However it moved to inflammatory comments against all dogs and dog owners, and frankly - it’s boring and stops any dog owner taking these comments seriously as they just feel attacked.

Wow, essay over 😅

@FromWalesAndBackAgain fair enough; my complaint about a dog was not about it jumping up, which was the question in the OP.

As an aside, is interesting that, had I posted as an OP about my issue, there would be at least one dog owner (@GloriousGlory in this case) who would disagree with my approach and be on the dog/dog owner’s “side”. I think it’s insidious attitudes like this that pit dog owners against people who don’t, TBH.

@Piglet89 oh there definitely would be - there are definitely bad dog owners out there - and there are dangerous dogs - I don’t deny this. I just get frustrated by the generalisation and inflammatory comments (not saying yours is inflammatory- it is not, but there are many on here) - it dilutes the actual point. For example, if you made your comment as an OP there would be 20 people who agreed with you (prob both those who owned a dog and those who didn’t) and one comment where someone didn’t agree with you, and that one comment would give credence to many posts bashing all dogs and dog owners - which then alienates most dog owners even though they’d have agreed with your original post.

I asked why you said "thankfully" there isn't a law for dogs to be on leads, and you replied because YOUR dog needs exercise. Then some posts about how well behaved YOUR dog is. You also took umbrage to the very thread itself because you didn't think it applied to you.

Literally everything you have posted you have made about yourself and your dog rather than recognising that off lead dogs are a problem

Have you read my other posts? Dogs who don't have recall should never ever be off lead. Full stop. I said that a blanket 'all dogs on lead' is unfair on the ones who have trained dogs. Stop responding to me if you don't want me to answer 😂

Maybe it wouldn't be fair. Life isn't fair. But the fact is there are a huge number of dogs out there with poor recall and/or the owners don't care. It's a big problem and a blanket all dogs on leads would solve it.

Well, no it's not. But in this instance I can walk my dog off lead and will. So at least his life can be fair.

I hate the He's very friendly line too. I have taken to saying back yes but my child isn't. My DS is autistic and can be as unpredictable around dogs as dogs can be around children. Sometimes he loves a dog bounding up to him other times he is likely to freak out and the animal could get kicked/hit. It's so annoying as I'm trying desperately to teach him not to just go up to dogs and touch them and then they run up to him so he thinks he can run up to them. I live in fear of him meeting a dog off the lead with no recall.

On a positive note there are some amazing dog owners who have been kind enough to let my DS practice his dog meeting skills with them. As due to his ASD he needs to actually do things to learn them. I really appreciate people who hear me explaining to my DS why he can't run up to dogs and they offer him a chance to greet the dog in a controlled way.

surely very few haven’t experienced the very same problems that are being complained about. If they are lucky enough not to, do they really think everyone else is making it up?
Well, no I haven't. I take my dog out twice a day, the local park and then further afield and I can count on one hand the number of dogs who have jumped on me.

I don't think others are making it up but they gave a different definition of jumping. If a did is nicely trotting along but happens to look at people they pass on their way, these people will conclude they are running towards them. If the dog happens to bounce close by, they'll call this jumping. I've seen it, people making a fuss because a dog got a bit too ose to them despite not giving any attention. Somehow, they don't seem to have the same reaction when it's human being passing close by.

I think there are also some hypocrite attitude. My dog is small and very cute so gets a lot if attention. It's people calling him to come to them so they can pet him. Thankfully, he is not too friendly with people he doesn't know. It seems there is quite a bit of picking and choosing. Ok to call a cute dog to pet but a larger dog that dares to pass by them and it's a scandal.

Dogs are like kids, they need to let steam out and running is the best activity for them to do and get the exercise they need.

A dog that does jump with their paws in someone chest is very wrong and that owner certainly needs telling off but there is always so much drama and exaggeration on these threads!

When I'm with DD at her counselling session tomorrow where she's trying to deal with her dog phobia, caused largely by off lead dogs, I'll try to be comforted by the fact that at least your dog's life is fair. Her human life isn't fair though, autistic and scared witless.

It's not me you need to bitch at. It's twats that have no control over their dogs.

My human life isn't fair either. Not many are.

I don't think any dog should be off lead though, so you're part of the problem.

YANBU, OP.
I have just had enough of bloody dogs. They're everywhere and no thanks, I don't want your little Fido leaping up at me or licking me, thanks. I'm sure you think your Fido is adorable but I Just Want To Be Left Alone, thank you.

I'm not doing a thing wrong. Start a petition. Get the law changed

I don't think any dog should be off lead though, so you're part of the problem
No the problem is that your daughter has an irrational fear and she happens to be born in this country where not all dogs have to be on the lead. No-one's fault.

Is it actually irrational to be scared of dogs though? They can scratch and bite and they can kill. Her fear is certainly disproportionate, but I'm not sure it's fair to say that any fear of dogs is ever irrational. It's not like being scared of buttons or some such.

Is it actually irrational to be scared of dogs though? They can scratch and bite and they can kill
Irrational or disproportionate, you can't blame the dog owners not putting their well behaved care free dog on the lead just because your daughter as a disproportionate fear of dogs in general.

Good in you though for taking her to counselling for it. Any fear is dreadful so I hope she overcomes it.

It's not about me wanting well behaved dogs put on leads because DD has a fear of those. The point is she wouldn't have developed the fear in the first place if all dogs had been on leads and had never bound up to her. Clearly we can't rely on owners with the dogs who should be on leads to do so, unless they were made to. Would be a shame for those with perfect dogs perhaps but honestly I'm past caring. They all make our life an absolute misery.

YANBU in the slightest @NevertooearlyforGin

I have a large nearly 2-year-old Rottweiler and we've worked very hard in training her to be respectful of both people and other animals when we're out and about (because of the bad reputation Rottweilers get), although that puts us in the minority...

In terms of practical advice, should you find yourself in a similar situation; turn your back on the dog and do not interact with it. Don't shriek or make loud noises or spin around trying to get away, just keep your back to it and your arms folded. It should then get bored of you and return to its owner

Well, no I haven't. I take my dog out twice a day, the local park and then further afield and I can count on one hand the number of dogs who have jumped on me

what about if you go out without your dog? I don't think you can compare the situation of someone out for a walk or run without a dog.

To be honest I thought people were exaggerating too, but it changed in my area a few weeks ago and it's a nuisance now.

It's not about me wanting well behaved dogs put on leads because DD has a fear of those. The point is she wouldn't have developed the fear in the first place if all dogs had been on leads and had never bound up to her. Clearly we can't rely on owners with the dogs who should be on leads to do so, unless they were made to. Would be a shame for those with perfect dogs perhaps but honestly I'm past caring. They all make our life an absolute misery

exactly this. And yes, it's 100% rational to be scared of dogs. Some are well behaved and leave you alone. Many do not. And remember some people have allergies too!

But the people who don't give a shit, still won't give a shit. So the only off lead dogs you'll get is the ones that are already owned by twats

what about if you go out without your dog? I don't think you can compare the situation of someone out for a walk or run without a dog
The experience was the sane before I had my dog. He's small anyway so it doesn't deter bigger dogs. I'm more alert to how they might behave towards him.

My closest friend is scared of dogs after being bitten by one as a kid. That fear, which I totally understand has really clouded her judgement though. When we go in walks, she'll panic and hang in to me if she sees a dog approaching, saying it's coming for her. I can tell the dog is just walking pass, making eye contact but that's all. She is convinced it's staring at her and about to jump at her. It's no fun for her but even she would never say that all dogs should be on leads.

People suffering from dog allies are not that common and certainly won't get an attack because a dog in the park passed them a bit too close.

I'm imagining a law which is properly enforced, my ideal would be removal of the dog to make sure people complied. There would always be people who break the law but if the penalty was severe enough they'd be few and far between. What it would certainly do away with is the "oh don't worry, he's friendly" brigade who don't realise they're twats.

No need to say fortunately it's not going to happen, this is just me dreaming of an ideal world.

i would like to see a proper licence scheme. That people had to have training to ensure they understood their responsibilities and what they were taking on before they got a dog.
And yes I’m a dog owner.