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Original poster

Muddy paws dog jumped on me on walk, WWYD?

768 replies

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:36

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?

OP posts:
Br1256 · 19/02/2023 18:38

This is annoying but what I find more troubling is when dogs bounce up to a small child as happened to my grand son….owner said he is just being friendly. Would love to know how she would react if an animal as big as her bounced over

keepcalm11 · 19/02/2023 18:41

My just over a year old lab is very boisterous. He is now trained to the point where he is off the lead in our regular dog walking field and I can trust him 90% of the time to stay near me and not run over to other people. But every now and again, for no apparent reason other than he really likes the look of someone, he will run over and jump up.

It is embarrassing, I apologise profusely. Usually apology is accepted and we go on our way. But once I got short shrift, fair enough.

I personally would be happy to receive muddy water water pistol as revenge and/or my and pooches' photo on a wanted poster if it would make the party concerned feel vindicated.

😅

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/02/2023 18:43

keepcalm11 · 19/02/2023 18:41

My just over a year old lab is very boisterous. He is now trained to the point where he is off the lead in our regular dog walking field and I can trust him 90% of the time to stay near me and not run over to other people. But every now and again, for no apparent reason other than he really likes the look of someone, he will run over and jump up.

It is embarrassing, I apologise profusely. Usually apology is accepted and we go on our way. But once I got short shrift, fair enough.

I personally would be happy to receive muddy water water pistol as revenge and/or my and pooches' photo on a wanted poster if it would make the party concerned feel vindicated.

😅

I just wouldn't be able to let my dog off knowing he could possibly run off away from me and upset someone.

MrsPetty · 19/02/2023 18:44

@AllThingsServeTheBeam as I said instinctively. And especially if I had one of my DC with me. The OP is right if there’s a chance a dog is going to jump up on a stranger it ought to be on a lead. The owner is at fault.

Islandgirl68 · 19/02/2023 18:50

Well they should be if they are the kind that go jumping up on complete strangers. Badly trained dogs do that.

Jem57 · 19/02/2023 18:57

Is this a wind up😂

8fttrampoline · 19/02/2023 18:58

When my son was 3 one of those bouncy friendly dogs ran towards him and bounced him of the footpath. He's 8 now and still flinches when there's a dog with no lead in the vicinity.

ASimpleLampoon · 19/02/2023 18:58

Blip · 18/02/2023 11:41

I think it's reasonable to walk across a city park without having to wear "easily washable" clothes that you don't mind getting muddy!

Where I live many people walk through parks to get to work so I should hope its not expected.

TrainedObserver · 19/02/2023 19:05

Jem57 · 19/02/2023 18:57

Is this a wind up😂

Nope. There are indeed selfish and unapologetic dog-owners out there. No joke.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/02/2023 19:06

MrsPetty · 19/02/2023 18:44

@AllThingsServeTheBeam as I said instinctively. And especially if I had one of my DC with me. The OP is right if there’s a chance a dog is going to jump up on a stranger it ought to be on a lead. The owner is at fault.

Course it's the owners fault. But I just wouldn't recommend punching a dog in the face

JS91 · 19/02/2023 19:18

Small dogs - pick up and turn around and walk away. Maybe they'll think next time.

And for the record, we have an equivalent to 'leash laws'. It's a legal requirement to have your dog under control at all times. There are more specific/detailed ones related to paths near livestock. Frankly we need a way to report on this issue. Increase microchip scan range, equip body cams with scanners! :P

Lozois99 · 19/02/2023 19:24

My dog is safe, controlled, and knows noy to jump up but is also frequently confused by people she encounters who encourage her to come up and jump up to say hello and reward her with scratchies and affection. Ive never quite known how im meant to counter that as its lovely

Her recall is excellent. Shes never so much as yipped at a person, she loves affection and (unfortunately) because she’s extremely cute like a little teddy most walkers love to stop her and say hello and shower her with love and sometimes treats.

I only let her off the lead in fields/country paths and i dont think anyone would expect to come back from those spick and span. But i do think its unfair of me to keep her on the lead because sometimes she wanders up
to someone to say hi. I also know if i didnt like dogs i would probably feel the complete opposite. I think generally certain areas are known to be very doggy so its good to avoid those if you dont want to meet dogs

Messyhair321 · 19/02/2023 19:28

Yes in for a penny in for a pound I'd just have played with them once I was muddy!

TrainedObserver · 19/02/2023 19:33

Messyhair321 · 19/02/2023 19:28

Yes in for a penny in for a pound I'd just have played with them once I was muddy!

That makes sense as your username suggests appearances aren’t that important to you ;-)

8fttrampoline · 19/02/2023 19:50

But i do think its unfair of me to keep her on the lead because sometimes she wanders up
to someone to say hi.
I think that's exactly why she should be on a lead.

IndiaDreamer · 19/02/2023 19:53

@TrainedObserver your user name makes you seem like you judge everyone

XenoBitch · 19/02/2023 19:57

I have had dogs jump up on me, but they tend to be young so are still learning their way in the world. Tbh, I love it, and always give them some fuss too.

When my dog was small, she jumped up on my neighbour and left a paw print on his top. I was mortified, but he was fine with it.

I would hate to think someone would go all barrels blazing to a dog owner if it happened to them. You don't know what is going on with someone.

Hmm1234 · 19/02/2023 20:43

I think you should wear black every day and avoid parks

Windbeneathmybingowings · 19/02/2023 20:47

Can’t bear this. If it can’t behave, keep it on a lead.

”he’s friendly”
yeah but I’m not, get the fucking thing off me

LouDeLou · 19/02/2023 22:18

I wouldn’t have mud on my trousers as I’d have kicked that fucker as it approached.

Control your fucking dogs.

Mediocrates · 19/02/2023 22:40

I imagine I’d feel mildly inconvenienced and a little bit peeved, but I don’t think I could bring myself to be particularly worked up about it to the point where I continued to think and moan about it afterwards.

My dog is quite the arsehole and therefore never off the lead, which means I never have to worry about the possibility of him getting anyone muddy. I think it’s fair to say I’d be mortified and sincerely apologetic

browneyes77 · 19/02/2023 22:48

Have had this happen to me a few times when I’ve gone to local nature reserves/parks. And they sometimes tell their dog off and sometimes they don’t. Either way, it’s annoying their dog does it in the first place.

I think it’s pretty rude to let your dog jump up people. If you know it does that, keep it on the lead.

I love dogs and I don’t blame the dog at all. They’re just coming to say hello and getting all excited for a new person to be friends with. The owners are the ones at fault for not having better control of their dog.

TangledUpinBlu · 19/02/2023 23:01

Dogs who can't be recalled 100% reliably and especially those liable to jumping up or barking should be on a lead.
Some people are afraid of dogs, I am, I don't care if he's friendly or doesn't bite, keep it far enough away from me that it doesn't matter if he's friendly or a killer hound.
I don't want your animal close enough to touch me.
My child is friendly and doesn't bit, doubt anyone would want him snaffling thier picnic, running up to them messing up clothes or sticking his big head in your babies pram . .its anti social to let dogss behave like this and it can also be dangerous for people with real phobias who will do anything to get away from your out of control, potentially deadly animal.

Staffielove23 · 19/02/2023 23:27

I’ve been in this situation on both ends as dog owner and walker. Both times the dogs were called back but got distracted. A simple ‘sorry’ in passing did the trick and I didn’t think much more of it. Did the owner not even attempt to call the dogs back? That would annoy me slightly.

Thehappygardener · 20/02/2023 00:11

I have a dog who is pretty reasonable at recall and he’s off the lead in parks. I also carry £20.00 in cash on me in case he makes someone’s clothes muddy and I can offer the money for dry cleaning. In 7 years of having our dog, he hasn’t jumped up and my £20.00 is still safe!

I think that had the dog owner apologised to you, the muddy clothes might have been ok for you. But she frankly sounds like one or two of the very entitled dog owners in our park who really make me feel embarrassed to have a dog in case other park users feel we are all the same. And no, I don’t want to be jumped on or my dog to be jumped on either!