Muddy paws dog jumped on me on walk, WWYD?

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I was walking across a park yesterday and two spaniels bounded towards me about 50 yards away from their owner. I could tell they were going to try and jump up at me so I avoided eye contact with them and told my dd to do the same.

Unfortunately one still did jump up at me multiple times and left mud on my clean trousers.

I shouted at the owner to please keep her dogs under control as one had got mud on my trousers. Not in an aggressive or rude tone though.

In my opinion if you don't have sufficient control over your dog to stop them doing this they need to be kept on a lead in public. The owner didn't seem very bothered and I think there is zero chance of her preventing this happening another time to someone else or possibly even to me again. I feel pretty annoyed about it.

I think there are some owners who either don't think it's a problem when their dogs jump up at strangers or who just don't care.

What would you do if this happened to you?

@Figmentofmyimagination

some proper SCRUFFY people on here on who don’t care if they’ve got mud on their clothes unless they’re on their way to a job interview 🤣

Gross.

YANBU, happens to me every time I go out and I'm tired of it and dog owners who act all huffy and wronged when you call them out on it.

@Wilson the OP asked a question. I answered with what I would do if walking through a park and this happened.

Or keep chocolate in your pocket and feed their dogs if they bother you. Dog owners don't seem to like strangers feeding their dogs very much.

Feeding the dog something that could kill it make it very ill because it jumped on you seems a rather extreme response.

These threads always unleash the homicidal though. 🙃

Agreed, but they can be trained properly.

It’s not “scruffy” to not mind getting mud on you when you’re going to an inherently muddy place. It’s precious, bordering on hysterical, to go to a muddy place and have an issue with mud. Do you go swimming and complain about getting wet?

Not to mention it’s illegal (and fucking stupid).

Well, there's an answer to that. Keep the dog on a lead and then there's no risk of them being fed by the person you've let your dog jump on.

Win win

Not to mention it’s illegal (and fucking stupid)

Which piece of legislation says it's illegal to feed a dog in public?

There are laws around nuisance dogs though.

Lovely.

This happened to us actually. We were walking around the paths by our house. Two Labradors came bounding over and one jumped so hard into my back (i had just had surgery on shoulder a week before) and the owners were all (oh don't worry, they're friendly - like I give a shit) also knocked my son over hard

So my husband said if you can't control your dogs then keep them on a lead.

They went mental at us, called DH a cunt and told us to mind our own fucking business 😂

I think dog owners who call out oh they're friendly are thick as shit, or sorry @nalabae lack common sense. Do they really think that's what every single person is worried about? People could be ill, recovering, be scared of dogs, or shock horror, not want to get dirty. YOUR dog should not be inflicted on everyone.

So yeah, if you are the type of dog owner who would get aggressive back with someone who calmly says to you that perhaps you should keep your dog on a lead in an area full of pedestrians, well then sorry but you are a massive twat

I love dogs btw.

some proper SCRUFFY people on here on who don’t care if they’ve got mud on their clothes unless they’re on their way to a job interview 🤣

Wouldn’t claim that I LIKED it but fortunately, my possession of a washing machine means they don’t stay muddy for long.

Have since learned upthread that having washable clothes must mean they’re “cheap” so not surprised to see “scruffy” being bandied about now too.

Are parks inherently muddy? Our local one has paths, tennis courts, a skate park, formal gardens, a Grade II listed hermitage, public loos, bowling green, two cafes… There are muddy areas, sure, and some puddles, but it’s not the wilderness. I walk through it daily and remain mud-free, even when not on my way to a job interview! It’s easily done, barring off-lead dogs.

Not when you're walking on the paths they're not. Dogs bounding around the grass often get muddy though

Which piece of legislation says it's illegal to feed a dog in public?

Animal cruelty laws perhaps? Deliberately feeding a dog a substance that is noxious to canines? Dunno. Doubt a case has ever made it to court but who knows.

Yes, parks are inherently muddy. Obviously. 😂

Nah.

You know the answer to the problem

If you can't control your dog then keep it on a lead.

Or risk it getting fed :-)

Well, it’s criminal damage for one.

Hypothesis: it is not the parks that are inherently muddy but you.

Well, it’s criminal damage for one.

To the dog?

Or to the human whose clothes are ruined / been knocked over etc?

It’s criminal damage. Many cases have made it to court. Poisoning people’s pets is, unfortunately, not a rare occurrence.

When the dogs come bouding up to you, point your finger and say "Sit" in a stern and deep-pitched voice.